GKM theory of rationally smooth group embeddings

This thesis is concerned with the study of rationally smooth group embeddings. We prove that the equivariant cohomology of any of these compactificationscan be described, via GKM-theory, as certain ring of piecewise polynomial functions. Moreover, building on previous work of Renner, we show that the embeddings under consideration come equipped with both a canonical decomposition into rational cells and a filtration by equivariantly formal closed subvarieties.The techniques developed in this monograph supply a method for constructing freemodule generators on the equivariant cohomology of Q-filtrable GKM-varieties.Our findings extend the earlier work of Arabia and Guillemin-Kogan on equivariant characteristic classes.In the last two chapters of this work, inspired by the papers of Brion and Renner, we compute explicitly the GKM characters associated to any group embedding. Our major result describes the equivariant cohomology of rationally smooth embeddings in terms of roots, idempotents, and underlying monoid data

Battling Baby Brokers: A Comparative Analysis of the United States’ Versus Europe’s Adoption Policies

Child adoption involves the permanent transfer of parental rights from a child’s biological or legal parents to another party. Parties in the Unites States (US) have engaged in this process in various forms for centuries. Today, over one hundred thousand children are adopted by American families each year. Many of these adoptions take place privately through agencies. An agency assists in the process of matching prospective adoptive parents with birth parents from whom they will adopt a child. In exchange for this assistance, the prospective adoptive parents pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees and expenses to the agency and, in many circumstances, to the birth parents as well. Despite the inherent risks associated with a business model built upon brokering the exchange of children for money, private adoption agencies go largely unchecked by the US government. This relative freedom to contract for children perpetuates exploitation and corruption by allowing adoption agencies to prioritize profit at the expense of vulnerable populations. By contract, European countries like France, Germany, and Italy maintain stringent regulations and guidelines over the child adoption process. The countries offer more flexibility in structuring the adoption, stricter government oversight throughout the process, and greater transparency from all parties involved. This Note argues that the reason for these differences between the domestic adoption processes is that the US prioritizes profits over people while these Europe countries focus principally on the child’s best interests. The US has turned domestic adoption into a privatized business where the focus of the process is money rather than the child. Europe does not allow potential revenue to eclipse the intended purpose of adoption to give a child in need a suitable home and life. This Note argues that the US would benefit from engaging in greater oversight and enacting broader guidelines, and that the government should look to these European countries for a better model

Social Cartography as a Tool for Conflict Analysis and Resolution: The Experience of the Afro-Colombian Communities of Robles

The field of conflict resolution is in constant evolution. Every day, theories are defined and redefined, and new contributions are made to the field. This continuous process challenges scholars, researchers, and practitioners to develop new conceptual and methodological frameworks for the analysis of conflict. This article highlights the potential of social cartography (participatory mapping) as a tool for the transformation of environmental and social conflicts at the household, community, national, and international levels. The advantages of social cartography as an appraisal, planning, and analytical tool for conflict transformation are illustrated here with a case study of the Afro-Colombian community of Robles

Cultural Resources Intensive Survey for the Proposed Cypress Creek Hike and Bike Trail for Timber Lane Utility District, Harris County, Texas

The Timber Lane Utility District plans to construct a hike and bike trail adjacent to and across Cypress Creek in the unincorporated town of Spring, Harris County, Texas. The project would begin north of Cypress Creek with connection to the existing Timber Lane Park paved trail system and would terminate south of Cypress Creek near Werrington subdivision. The area of potential effect (APE) includes the construction limits and all areas subject to temporary disturbance during construction. The width of the proposed paved trail varies from 10 feet to 20 feet, with a 14 to 24-foot wide cleared trail corridor, and an assumed depth of 3 ft including signage, landscaping, lighting, and drainage features. Total project length is approximately 13,935 linear feet, located between Timber Lane Park and Werrington subdivision (7.76 acres). Approximately 9,500 feet of existing trail and maintained right of way (ROW) will be improved as part of the project (5.25 acres). Approximately 4,435 feet of trail would be constructed within undeveloped property (2.51 acres). Nine trail heads, five of which are at existing locations, are proposed for the project. The five existing trail heads are located at Timber Lane Park and along Rambling Brook Drive. The four new trail heads would be located at Rambling Brook Drive, Millhouse Road, the Mercer Arboretum, and at Sago Island Drive. Proposed trail head features will include benches, a drinking fountain, and a kiosk presenting a trail map and information. The trail will span across Cypress Creek via three 14-foot wide weathered steel truss bridges, including abutments. The assumed depth of impact will be 12 ft below the surface. The trail will also span a tributary of Cypress Creek, located north of Briarcreek Boulevard, via a similar truss bridge. A retaining wall is also proposed for a portion of the trail located near an unnamed intermittent stream. However, the trail will avoid impacts to stream features and other waterbodies and wetlands located along the project area. The total project cost has been approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization of which the federal share is 80 percent. Timber Lane Utility District would be responsible for the remaining 20 percent and for all non-federal or non-state participation costs associated with the proposed project. A cultural resources survey The APE was assessed in accordance to guidelines set forth in the Antiquities Code of Texas (Section 191.0525) and those in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800). From March 5 through March 8, 2013, Paul M. Matchen (Principal Investigator) and Trisha Gonzales (Archeological Field Technician) from the Cultural Resources Department of TRC’s Austin office conducted an intensive archeological survey within the project APE. This work involved a 100 percent pedestrian survey and selective shovel testing (N = 28) across the 3.3-mile long tract. Twenty-eight shovel tests and two deep backhoe trenches were excavated. These subsurface investigations found no significant cultural deposits. In addition, no standing historic structures or cemeteries were observed within the APE during this survey. For these reasons, no eligibility considerations were made for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (36 CFR 800) or for nomination as a State Archeological Landmark (Chapter 191). Archeological clearance is recommended for this proposed undertaking by the Timber Lane Utility District within the proposed APE. No further cultural resources investigations are recommended. However, in the event that any human remains are encountered during the undertaking all work should cease immediately and Timber Lane Utility District should notify local law enforcement, who in turn will notify the local medical examiner’s office. If these remains are not recent, the Texas Historical Commission should be notified