Intersecting brane geometries

We present a survey of the calibrated geometries arising in the study of the local singularity structure of supersymmetric fivebranes in M-theory. We pay particular attention to the geometries of 4-planes in eight dimensions, for which we present some new results as well as many details of the computations. We also analyse the possible generalised self-dualities which these geometries can afford.Comment: 29 pages. (v2: Two new sections have been added. Paper is now more than 50% longer. A guided tour of the eight-dimensional geometries is presented along with the computational details. We have also included a discussion of the possible generalised self-dualities afforded by these geometries.

Some calibrated surfaces in manifolds with density

Hyperplanes, hyperspheres and hypercylinders in $\Bbb R^n$ with suitable densities are proved to be weighted minimizing by a calibration argument. Also calibration method is used to prove a weighted minimal hypersurface is weighted area-minimizing locally.Comment: 7 page

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN A NICHE SERVICE MARKET: DEVELOPING A BUSINESS MODEL FOR A DOG TRAINING ENTERPRISE

In 2012, there were almost 70 million dogs in America, which resulted in an increase in demand for pet services, including dog training (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2012). Based on statistics from the U.S. Pet Market Outlook 2013-2014, consumer spending for non-medical pet services will exceed $20 billion, growing at about 6.0% annually (Packaged Facts, 2013). Dog sports such as agility have become increasingly popular, which has increased the demand for dog training facilities and instructors that offer sports training classes in addition to traditional obedience classes (Kalter & Sprung, 2013). This growth in demand has led to an increase in the number of new ventures offering specialized training services. The purpose of this study was to conduct exploratory research in order to determine the market for dog training in Raleigh, North Carolina. By conducting industry and regional analyses that focus on the local consumer demands, how their needs are currently being met, and what the potential market is, a business model can be developed for the use of entrepreneurs in this niche service market. To help determine the market for dog training, a confidential survey was distributed to dog owners in Raleigh, North Carolina with questions focusing on five main topics: participant demographics, dog demographics, prior training, desired future training, and limitations. By having a better understanding of the market needs in the area, entrepreneurs can develop their business services around the customer demands and limitations and increase their likeliness of success

Understanding Mobile Search Task Relevance and User Behaviour in Context

Improvements in mobile technologies have led to a dramatic change in how and when people access and use information, and is having a profound impact on how users address their daily information needs. Smart phones are rapidly becoming our main method of accessing information and are frequently used to perform `on-the-go' search tasks. As research into information retrieval continues to evolve, evaluating search behaviour in context is relatively new. Previous research has studied the effects of context through either self-reported diary studies or quantitative log analysis; however, neither approach is able to accurately capture context of use at the time of searching. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of task relevance and search behaviour via a task-based user study (n=31) employing a bespoke Android app. The app allowed us to accurately capture the user's context when completing tasks at different times of the day over the period of a week. Through analysis of the collected data, we gain a better understanding of how using smart phones on the go impacts search behaviour, search performance and task relevance and whether or not the actual context is an important factor.Comment: To appear in CHIIR 2019 in Glasgow, U

Exploring resilience for effective learning in computer science education

Background and context: Many factors have been shown to be important for supporting effective learning and teaching – and thus progression and success – in formal educational contexts. While factors such as key introductory-level computer science knowledge and skills, as well as pre-university learning and qualifications, have been extensively explored, the impact of measures of positive psychology are less well understood for the discipline of computer science. This preliminary work investigates the relationships between effective learning and success, and two measures of positive psychology, Grit (Duckworth’s 12-item Grit scale) [6] and the Nicolson McBride Resilience Quotient (NMRQ) [3], in success in first-year undergraduate computer science to provide insight into the factors that impact on the transition from secondary education into tertiary education

Strangers in a Strange Land: A Study of Second Language Speakers Searching for e-Services

While the recent trend of digitisation of government and related services offers many advantages, it could introduce problems for those who are less information literate or who have particular issues searching for and understanding the necessary content. In this study ten participants, who speak English as a foreign language, were given four search tasks designed to reflect actual information seeking situations. They completed pre- and post-search questionnaires to identify the relevance of the task, their English language ability and search experience. Our results suggest that, despite a perception that they performed to the best of their abilities, were bookmarking relevant documents and that the given tasks were easy, the students were actually often choosing documents that are only partially or tangentially relevant. The repercussions of this discrepancy are clear and suggest that much more assistance is needed before such services can be made 'digital by default'

Perceptions of the effect of fragmented attention on mobile web search tasks

Mobile devices are rapidly becoming our main method of accessing the Internet and are frequently used to perform on-the-go search tasks. The use of such devices in situations where attention must be divided, such as when walking, are common and research suggests that this increases cognitive load and, therefore, may have an impact on performance. In this work we conducted a laboratory experiment with both phone and tablet devices with the aim of evaluating common mobile situations that cause fragmented attention, impact search performance and impact on user perception. To do this the distraction level was varied by simulating 3 everyday situations: 1) walking quickly (on a treadmill), 2) navigating a pre-defined route and 3) sitting still which was used as the baseline condition). The results showed that different experimental conditions had a number of different effects on the participants' perceptions of their own search performance, how hurried they felt and how engaged they were in the tasks

Searching on the Go: The Effects of Fragmented Attention on Mobile Web Search Tasks

Smart phones and tablets are rapidly becoming our main method of accessing information and are frequently used to perform on-the-go search tasks. Mobile devices are commonly used in situations where attention must be divided, such as when walking down a street. Research suggests that this increases cognitive load and, therefore, may have an impact on performance. In this work we conducted a laboratory experiment with both device types in which we simulated everyday, common mobile situations that may cause fragmented attention, impact search performance and affect user perception. Our results showed that the fragmented attention induced by the simulated conditions significantly affected both participants' objective and perceived search performance, as well as how hurried they felt and how engaged they were in the tasks. Furthermore, the type of device used also impacted how users felt about the search tasks, how well they performed and the amount of time they spent engaged in the tasks. These novel insights provide useful information to inform the design of future interfaces for mobile search and give us a greater understanding of how context and device size affect search behaviour and user experience

A new probabilistic ranking model

Over the years a number of models have been introduced as solutions to the central IR problem of ranking documents given textual queries. Here we define another new model. It is a probabilistic model and has no term inter-dependencies, thus allowing calculation from inverted indices. It is based upon a simple core hypothesis, directly calculating a ranking score in terms of probability theory. Early results show that its performance is credible, even in the absence of parameters or heuristics. Its semantic basis gives absolute results, allowing different rankings to be compared with each other. The investigation of this model is at a very early stage; here, we simply propose the model for further investigation

What's interrupting your search? A diary study of everyday mobile search interruptions

Web search is a common activity in a mobile context. However, the nature of performing tasks in a mobile environment means there is the risk interruption. While the effects of interruptions on mobile search have been studied in recent years, the nature of such interruptions occurring in real-world mobile settings have not. Using a diary study approach, we collected data from 20 participants on the everyday interruptions they faced conducting mobile web searches over a 10-day period. We used inductive open coding to categorise the nature of the interruptions assigning each interruption to a category/sub-category combination. We then used a deductive coding approach to classify each interruption as being either internally or externally-induced; and mobile or non mobile-specific. We found a broad range of interruptions, which we have organised into an extensive taxonomy. Further, a substantial proportion of the interruptions are externally-induced and more than half are unique to mobile contexts. The empirical evidence of the nature of mobile search interruptions in our findings provide insight into the complex environment of mobile search, information upon which to base future mobile search studies (e.g., surveys, controlled laboratory studies), and motivation for the study of search interface designs that can help mitigate the effects of such interruptions.Peer Reviewe