6609 research outputs found
Sort by
Which Hessenberg varieties are GKM?
Get PDFHessenberg varieties H(X, H) form a class of subvarieties of the flag variety G/B, parameterized by an operator X and certain subspaces H of the Lie algebra of G. We identify several families of Hessenberg varieties in type An−1 that are T -stable subvarieties of G/B, as well as families that are invariant under a subtorus K of T . In particular, these varieties are candidates for the use of equivariant methods to study their geometry. Indeed, we are able to show that some of these varieties are unions of Schubert varieties, while others cannot be such unions. Among the T -stable Hessenberg varieties, we identify several that are GKM spaces, meaning T acts with isolated fixed points and a finite number of one- dimensional orbits, though we also show that not all Hessenberg varieties with torus actions and finitely many fixed points are GKM. We conclude with a series of open questions about Hessenberg varieties, both in type An−1 and in general Lie type
Paying for what Kind of Performance? Performance Pay, Multitasking, and Sorting in Mission-Oriented Jobs
Get PDFHow does pay-for-performance (P4P) impact productivity and the composition of workers in mission-oriented jobs when output has multiple dimensions? This is a central issue in the public sector, particularly in areas such as education and healthcare. We conduct an experiment, manipulating compensation and mission, to answer these questions. We find that P4P has significantly smaller positive effects on productivity on the incentivized (quantity) dimension in the mission-oriented setting relative to the non-mission-oriented setting. On the other hand, P4P generates no loss in performance on the non-incentivized (quality) dimension of effort in the mission-oriented setting, whereas it does so in the non-mission-oriented setting. In both mission and non-mission settings, P4P attracts higher ability workers, but it does so at the expense of attracting more motivated workers in the mission setting
The Giant Accreting Protoplanet Survey (Gaplanets): Optimization Techniques for Robust Detections of Protoplanets
Get PDFHigh-contrast imaging has afforded astronomers the opportunity to study light directly emitted by adolescent (tens of megayears) and “proto” (\u3c10 \u3eMyr) planets still undergoing formation. Direct detection of these planets is enabled by empirical point-spread function (PSF) modeling and removal algorithms. The computational intensity of such algorithms, as well as their multiplicity of tunable input parameters, has led to the prevalence of ad hoc optimization approaches to high-contrast imaging results. In this work, we present a new, systematic approach to optimization vetted using data of the high-contrast stellar companion HD 142527 B from the Magellan Adaptive Optics Giant Accreting Protoplanet Survey (GAPlanetS). More specifically, we present a grid search technique designed to explore three influential parameters of the PSF subtraction algorithm pyKLIP: annuli, movement, and KL modes. We consider multiple metrics for postprocessed image quality in order to optimally recover at Hα (656 nm) synthetic planets injected into contemporaneous continuum (643 nm) images. These metrics include peak (single-pixel) signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), average (multipixel average) S/N, 5σ contrast, and false-positive fraction. We apply continuum-optimized KLIP reduction parameters to six Hα direct detections of the low-mass stellar companion HD 142527 B and recover the companion at a range of separations. Relative to a single-informed, nonoptimized set of KLIP parameters applied to all data sets uniformly, our multimetric grid search optimization led to improvements in companion S/N of up to 1.2σ, with an average improvement of 0.6σ. Since many direct imaging detections lie close to the canonical 5σ threshold, even such modest improvements may result in higher yields in future imaging surveys
Smith College Campus ADA Accessibility Report
Get PDFWith Smith College being a residential campus for a diverse population of students, accessibility around campus is extremely important for the wellbeing of these students. All students should have access to physically accessible paths to move around campus.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. The act addresses a wide range of topics related to accessibility, including but not limited to: physical accessibility and accessible design, equal employment opportunity, discrimination prevention, and benefits. This project focuses specifically on physical accessibility across Smith College campus. The standards referenced for the rest of this report are based on the most recently updated ADA standards from 2010.
Most of the buildings on campus were built before the passing of the ADA, and because of this they are not required to meet ADA requirements unless they are subject to large-scale renovations. In order for Smith to truly be an equitable institution, it must be proactive and implement changes to make campus more accessible as soon as possible instead of just waiting for major renovations. Through this project, we will investigate the extent to which the campus is accessible to all students through evaluating select criteria for campus pathways and identifying potential areas for improvement. In our data collection, we prioritized paths on the basis of being essential for traveling across campus and accessing frequently used academic buildings, parking lots, and facilities. We also primarily focused on paths because our community partner is the Smith College Botanic Garden, who wanted to know how they could use Smith’s 21st century landscaping plan to improve accessibility on campus. The criteria we chose to focus on include path width, the presence of cracks/potholes/obstacles that hinder accessibility, path slope, the presence of stairs, the presence of railings, and path material. All of these factors are important to consider when thinking about potential physical barriers that can hinder movement
An Experiment on the Effects of Using Color to Visualize Requirements Analysis Tasks
Get PDFRecent approaches have investigated assisting users in making early trade-off decisions when the future evolution of project elements is uncertain. These approaches have demon-strated promise in their analytical capabilities; yet, stakeholders have expressed concerns about the readability of the models and resulting analysis, which builds upon Tropos. Tropos is based on formal semantics enabling automated analysis; however, this creates a problem of interpreting evidence pairs. The aim of our broader research project is to improve the process of model comprehension and decision making by improving how analysts interpret and make decisions. We extend and evaluate a prior approach, called EVO, which uses color to visualize evidence pairs. In this scientific evaluation paper, we explore the effectiveness and usability of EVO. We conduct an experiment (n = 32) to measure any effect of using colors to represent evidence pairs. We find that with minimal training, untrained modelers were able to use the color visualization for decision making. The visualization significantly improves the speed of model comprehension and users found it helpful
The Challenges and Benefits of Using Meadows to Enrich College Landscapes
No full textIn the pursuit of sustainable and ecologically conscious campus design, academic institutions such as Smith College are reevaluating the domination of lawns and considering alternative ground covers. This paper explores the nature of meadows, lawns, and other ground cover, and their benefits and drawbacks, especially in academic settings. The paper also draws insights from interviews with five other academic institutions managing meadows, highlighting their experiences, challenges, and successes. Meadows emerge as a compelling and sustainable alternative to traditional lawns, offering heightened biodiversity, reduced resource inputs, and increased resilience. Meadows also present significant educational opportunities within the college campus environment, intersecting with various academic disciplines. Finally, there are challenges in establishing meadows on college campuses, as meadows still demand labor, although it is less than lawns. Particularly the requirement of a specialized skill set for successful growth, separate from turf maintenance skills. Based on these findings, the report recommends that Smith College consider in-house management under the Smith College Botanic Garden (SCBG) for the future development of meadow areas. This approach, in line with SCBG\u27s commitment to education, entails creating a dedicated position to oversee meadows, with a specific focus on education and related concerns such as invasive species control. Looking forward, the report identifies promising opportunities for meadow implementation in specific areas of the campus. Ultimately, this report aims to underscore the potential of meadows as a sustainable and enriching landscape element within Smith College campus
From Stage to Page: Theater and Story as Literary Practices
No full textBook abstract: This book presents multiple innovative literacy approaches promoting self-leadership and agency, aspiring to transformation and hope for individuals and communities by showcasing practical field experiences (qualitative research, quantitative research, case studies, etc) supported by a theoretical framework -- Provided by publisher.https://scholarworks.smith.edu/the_books/1003/thumbnail.jp
Preliminary Perspectives on Information Passing in the Intelligence Community
Get PDFAnalyst sensemaking research typically focuses on individual or small groups conducting intelligence tasks. This has helped understand information retrieval tasks and how people communicate information. As a part of the grand challenge of the Summer Conference on Applied Data Science (SCADS) to build a system that can generate tailored daily reports (TLDR) for intelligence analysts, we conducted a qualitative interview study with analysts to increase understanding of information passing in the intelligence community. While our results are preliminary, we expect that this work will contribute to a better understanding of the information ecosystem of the intelligence community, how institutional dynamics affect information passing, and what implications this has for a TLDR system. This work describes our involvement in and work completed during SCADS. Although preliminary, we identify that information passing is both a formal and informal process and often follows professional networks due especially to the small population and specialization of work. We call attention to the need for future analysis of information ecosystems to better support tailored information retrieval features
The Long Field: Wales and the Presence of Absence: A Memoir
No full textFor readers of H Is for Hawk, an intimate memoir of belonging and loss and a mesmerizing travelogue through the landscapes and language of Wales Hiraeth, literally “long field” in Welsh but famously hard to translate, means far more than its English approximation of “homesickness.” It is something like a bone-deep longing for an irretrievable place, person, or time—an acute awareness of the presence of absence.
In The Long Field, Pamela Petro braids essential hiraeth stories of Wales with tales from her own life—as an American who found an ancient home in Wales, as a gay woman, as the survivor of a terrible AMTRAK train crash, and as the daughter of a parent with dementia. Through the pull and tangle of these stories and her travels throughout Wales, hiraeth takes on radical new meanings. There is traditional hiraeth of place and home, but also queer hiraeth; and hiraeth triggered by technology, immigration, ecological crises, and our new divisive politics. On this journey, the notion begins to morph from a uniquely Welsh experience to a universal human condition, from deep longing to the creative responses to loss that Petro sees as the genius of Welsh culture. It becomes a tool to understand ourselves in our time.
A finalist for the Wales Book of the Year Award and named to the Telegraph\u27s and Financial Times\u27s Top 10 lists for travel writing, The Long Field is an unforgettable exploration of “the hidden contours of the human heart.” Source: the publisherhttps://scholarworks.smith.edu/eng_books/1009/thumbnail.jp