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  1. A bstract We study Euclidean D3-branes wrapping divisors D in Calabi-Yau orientifold compactifications of type IIB string theory. Witten’s counting of fermion zero modes in terms of the cohomology of the structure sheaf $$ {\mathcal{O}}_D $$ O D applies when D is smooth, but we argue that effective divisors of Calabi-Yau threefolds typically have singularities along rational curves. We generalize the counting of fermion zero modes to such singular divisors, in terms of the cohomology of the structure sheaf $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\overline{D}} $$ O D ¯ of the normalization $$ \overline{D} $$ D ¯ of D . We establish this by detailing compactifications in which the singularities can be unwound by passing through flop transitions, giving a physical incarnation of the normalization process. Analytically continuing the superpotential through the flops, we find that singular divisors whose normalizations are rigid can contribute to the superpotential: specifically, $$ {h}_{+}^{\bullet}\left({\mathcal{O}}_{\overline{D}}\right)=\left(1,0,0\right) $$ h + • O D ¯ = 1 0 0 and $$ {h}_{-}^{\bullet}\left({\mathcal{O}}_{\overline{D}}\right)=\left(0,0,0\right) $$ h − • O D ¯ = 0 0 0 give a sufficient condition for a contribution. The examples that we present feature infinitely many isomorphic geometric phases, with corresponding infinite-order monodromy groups Γ. We use the action of Γ on effective divisors to determine the exact effective cones, which have infinitely many generators. The resulting nonperturbative superpotentials are Jacobi theta functions, whose modular symmetries suggest the existence of strong-weak coupling dualities involving inversion of divisor volumes. 
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  2. Abstract Conca–Rossi–Valla [6] ask if every quadratic Gorenstein ring $R$ of regularity three is Koszul. In [15], we use idealization to answer their question, proving that in nine or more variables there exist quadratic Gorenstein rings of regularity three, which are not Koszul. In this paper, we study the analog of the Conca–Rossi–Valla question when the regularity of $R$ is four or more. Let $R$ be a quadratic Gorenstein ring having ${\operatorname {codim}} \ R = c$ and ${\operatorname {reg}} \ R = r \ge 4$. We prove that if $c = r+1$ then $R$ is always Koszul, and for every $c \geq r+2$, we construct quadratic Gorenstein rings that are not Koszul, answering questions of Matsuda [16] and Migliore–Nagel [19]. 
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