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Due to the orbifold singularities, the intersection numbers on the moduli space of curves Mg, n are in general rational numbers rather than integers. We study the properties of the denominators of these intersection numbers and their relationship with the orders of automorphism groups of stable curves. We also present a conjecture about a multinomial type numerical property for a general class of Hodge integrals.

We show how two topologically distinct spaces-the Kahler K3 x T^ 2 and the non-Kahler T^ 2 bundle over K3-can be smoothly connected in heterotic string theory. The transition occurs when the base K3 is deformed to the T^ 4/Z_2 orbifold limit. The orbifold theory can be mapped via duality to M-theory on K3 x K3 where the transition corresponds to an exchange of the two K3's.

Let X be a smooth complex projective variety. Using a construction devised by Gathmann, we present a recursive formula for some of the Gromov–Witten invariants of X. We prove that, when X is homogeneous, this formula gives the number of osculating rational curves at a general point of a general hypersurface of X. This generalizes the classical well known pairs of inflection (asymptotic) lines for surfaces in P^3 of Salmon, as well as Darboux’s 27 osculating conics.

In two very detailed, technical, and fundamental works, Jun Li constructed a theory of Gromov-Witten invariants for a singular scheme of the gluing form Y_1\cup_D Y_2 that arises from a degeneration Y_1\cup_D Y_2 and a theory of relative Gromov-Witten invariants for a codimension-1 relative pair Y_1\cup_D Y_2 . As a summit, he derived a degeneration formula that relates a finite summation of the usual Gromov-Witten invariants of a general smooth fiber Y_1\cup_D Y_2 of Y_1\cup_D Y_2 to the Gromov-Witten invariants of the singular fiber Y_1\cup_D Y_2 via gluing the relative pairs Y_1\cup_D Y_2 and Y_1\cup_D Y_2 . The finite sum mentioned above depends on a relative ample line bundle Y_1\cup_D Y_2 on Y_1\cup_D Y_2 . His theory has already applications to string theory and mathematics alike. For other new applications of Jun Li's theory, one needs a refined degeneration formula that depends on a curve class Y_1\cup_D Y_2 in Y_1\cup_D Y_2 or Y_1\cup_D Y_2 , rather than on the line bundle Y_1\cup_D Y_2 . Some monodromy effect has to be taken care of to deal with this. For the simple but useful case of a degeneration Y_1\cup_D Y_2 that arises from blowing up a trivial family Y_1\cup_D Y_2 , we explain how the details of Jun Li's work can be employed to reach such a desired degeneration formula. The related set Y_1\cup_D Y_2 of admissible triples adapted to Y_1\cup_D Y_2 that appears in the formula can be obtained via an analysis on the intersection numbers of relevant cycles and a study of Mori cones that appear in the problem. This set is intrinsically determined by Y_1\cup_D Y_2 and the normal bundle Y_1\cup_D Y_2 of the smooth subscheme Y_1\cup_D Y_2 in Y_1\cup_D Y_2 to be blown up.