Emerging Jets

In this work, we propose a novel search strategy for new physics at the LHC that utilizes calorimeter jets that (i) are composed dominantly of displaced tracks and (ii) have many different vertices within the jet cone. Such emerging jet signatures are smoking guns for models with a composite dark sector where a parton shower in the dark sector is followed by displaced decays of dark pions back to SM jets. No current LHC searches are sensitive to this type of phenomenology. We perform a detailed simulation for a benchmark signal with two regular and two emerging jets, and present and implement strategies to suppress QCD backgrounds by up to six orders of magnitude. At the 14 TeV LHC, this signature can be probed with mediator masses as large as 1.5 TeV for a range of dark pion lifetimes, and the reach is increased further at the high-luminosity LHC. The emerging jet search is also sensitive to a broad class of long-lived phenomena, and we show this for a supersymmetric model with R-parity violation. Possibilities for discovery at LHCb are also discussed.Comment: 45 pages, 22 figures. v2: Typos fixed. v3: Minor modifications, references added, version accepted in JHEP. Supplementary code can be found at github.com/pedroschwaller/EmergingJet

A Longitudinal Student Outcomes Evaluation of the Buffalo State College Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Buffalo State College (Buffalo State) is the largest of the 13 colleges of arts and sciences in the SUNY (State University of New York) system. Its total enrollment is nearly 11,000, with an undergraduate enrollment of 9,139. Experiential pedagogies, including undergraduate research, are reflected across the undergraduate programs and Buffalo State College has placed increasing emphasis and resources on expanding undergraduate research opportunities for students in all academic disciplines. Our use of the term ‘research’ is broadly defined by the standard practices established within each academic discipline and includes scholarship and creative activities. It is assumed that the activity will produce original results and contribute to the body of knowledge and creative works within a discipline

Circularity Broker Roles in the Food Waste Recovery Industry: A Case Study

Food waste is a pressing global issue, with one-third of all food produced for human consumption being wasted, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2017). To tackle this problem, many digital platforms and organizations focusing on food waste recovery have emerged. These organizations value food that would otherwise become waste, creating substantial opportunities to reduce the overall amount of food waste. However, the opportunities and challenges of growth for these organizations remain understudied. This study explores a business's position in the food waste recovery industry by applying the circularity broker theory (Ciulli et al., 2020) to the business. The objective of this research is to analyze what kind of circularity broker roles are relevant in food waste recovery businesses and how these roles manifest in the case study of Misfits Market. Through a case study approach, this study observed the food waste recovery business of Misfits Market. This research then identifies the opportunities and challenges of Misfits Market's actions in the industry. Thematic analysis is then used to further analyze and gain insights from the data. The findings reveal significant insights about how engaging in circularity broker roles affect opportunities and challenges in the industry. In Misfits Market's actions as a circularity broker, it was observed that recovered food offers new business opportunities and cost savings but that staying relevant and balancing supply and demand are challenges. Furthermore, through food waste recovery, a company can build positive sentiment for their brand and create new revenue streams. It is also necessary to ensure users on the supply and demand side of the platform about the food safety guidelines in place throughout the platform. Mobilizing volunteers, partners, and stakeholders can build brand recognition and positivity through donations to food banks and collaborations with like-minded businesses. Creating successful integration of users with the platform can also allow companies to provide alternative channels to sell products that cannot be sold to traditional retailers. Lastly, measuring financial impact and waste recovered showcases important environmental and social responsibility principles

Swift UVOT Observations of Core-Collapse SNe

We review recent UV observations of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) with the Swift Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) during its first two years. Rest-frame UV photometry is useful for differentiating SN types by exploiting the UV-optical spectral shape and more subtle UV features. This is useful for the real-time classification of local and high-redshift SNe using only photometry. Two remarkable SNe Ib/c were observed with UVOT -- SN2006jc was a UV bright SN Ib. Swift observations of GRB060218/SN2006aj began shortly after the explosion and show a UV-bright peak followed by a UV-faint SN bump. UV observations are also useful for constraining the temperature and ionization structure of SNe IIP. Rest-frame UV observations of all types are important for understanding the extinction, temperature, and bolometric luminosity of SNe and to interpret the observations of high redshift SNe observed at optical wavelengths.Comment: Figures are enlarged and colorized from print versio

Assessment in Undergraduate Research

This chapter focuses on assessment as an integral element of the continued success and sustainability of undergraduate research (UR) and describes the EvaluateUR method, a proven approach to assessing the skills and competencies of UR students, which also contributes directly to student learning. The chapter concludes with brief remarks on the assessment of course-based UR and two projects now in progress that are adapting the EvaluateUR method to these assessments

THE INFLUENCE OF SHAFT STIFFNESS ON ANKLE JOINT KINEMATICS AND KINETICS DURING WALKING IN HIKING BOOTS

Most hiking boots are characterized by a firm construction and typically a higher shaft to protect the ankle against direct contact with the environment and ankle sprains. Little is known how variant shaft stiffness influences walking mechanics. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of different commercially available hiking boots on ankle joint loading. Fourteen subjects were walking with and one low-shaft and four different high-shaft shoes in a gait laboratory. Ground reaction forces and lower extremity kinematics were collected to extract ankle joint angles and joint power using an inverse dynamics model. Results showed significant differences between low and high shaft all high-shaft boots with some of the latter also being different. Results indicate that the shaft construction may have substantial effects on walking economy in hiking boots