Consumer Willingness-To-Pay for a Resilient Electrical Grid

The research objective is to estimate consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for electricity grid fortification. Data are from a representative survey of Oklahoma citizens. Extreme weather events, aging utility infrastructure, increased demand for affordable energy, and terrorism threaten the safety and security of the way most citizens access electricity. This study is a first look at public willingness to support energy grid security measures in the United States Southern Great Plains. Findings suggest that consumers would pay an additional $14.69 in monthly utility bills for a fortified grid. This WTP estimate is close to a recent energy bill hike of$14 initiated by local electricity providers. The findings provide policymakers and energy providers with information on consumer willingness to support efforts to modernize the current grid

Behaviors and motivations for weight loss in children and adolescents: Weight Loss Behaviors and Motivations in Children

Examine the association between weight loss behaviors and motivations for weight loss in children and adolescents and the association of weight status with these behaviors and motivations in a nationally representative sample

Probing the Space of Toric Quiver Theories

We demonstrate a practical and efficient method for generating toric Calabi-Yau quiver theories, applicable to both D3 and M2 brane world-volume physics. A new analytic method is presented at low order parametres and an algorithm for the general case is developed which has polynomial complexity in the number of edges in the quiver. Using this algorithm, carefully implemented, we classify the quiver diagram and assign possible superpotentials for various small values of the number of edges and nodes. We examine some preliminary statistics on this space of toric quiver theories

Dynamic Versus Static Oxidation of Nb/Al-AlOx_x/Nb Trilayer

High quality Nb-based superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junctions with Al oxide (AlO$_x$) tunnel barriers grown from Al overlayers are widely reported in the literature. However, the thin barriers required for high critical current density (J$_c$) junctions exhibit defects that result in significant subgap leakage current that is detrimental for many applications. High quality, high-J$_c$ junctions can be realized with AlN$_x$ barriers, but control of J$_c$ is more difficult than with AlO$_x$. It is therefore of interest to study the growth of thin AlO$_x$ barriers with the ultimate goal of achieving high quality, high-J$_c$ AlO$_x$ junctions. In this work, 100\%\ O$_2$ and 2\%\ O$_2$ in Ar gas mixtures are used both statically and dynamically to grow AlO$_x$ tunnel barriers over a large range of oxygen exposures. In situ ellipsometry is used for the first time to extensively measure AlO$_x$ tunnel barrier growth in real time, revealing a number of unexpected patterns. Finally, a set of test junction wafers was fabricated that exhibited the well-known dependence of J$_c$ on oxygen exposure (E) in order to further validate the experimental setup

Phases of planar 5-dimensional supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory

In this paper we investigate the large-$N$ behavior of 5-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ super Yang-Mills with a level $k$ Chern-Simons term and an adjoint hypermultiplet. As in three-dimensional Chern-Simons theories, one must choose an integration contour to completely define the theory. Using localization, we reduce the path integral to a matrix model with a cubic action and compute its free energy in various scenarios. In the limit of infinite Yang-Mills coupling and for particular choices of the contours, we find that the free-energy scales as $N^{5/2}$ for $U(N)$ gauge groups with large values of the Chern-Simons 't\,Hooft coupling, $\tilde\lambda\equiv N/k$. If we also set the hypermultiplet mass to zero, then this limit is a superconformal fixed point and the $N^{5/2}$ behavior parallels other fixed points which have known supergravity duals. We also demonstrate that $SU(N)$ gauge groups cannot have this $N^{5/2}$ scaling for their free-energy. At finite Yang-Mills coupling we establish the existence of a third order phase transition where the theory crosses over from the Yang-Mills phase to the Chern-Simons phase. The phase transition exists for any value of $\tilde\lambda$, although the details differ between small and large values of $\tilde\lambda$. For pure Chern-Simons theories we present evidence for a chain of phase transitions as $\tilde\lambda$ is increased. We also find the expectation values for supersymmetric circular Wilson loops in these various scenarios and show that the Chern-Simons term leads to different physical properties for fundamental and anti-fundamental Wilson loops. Different choices of the integration contours also lead to different properties for the loops.Comment: 40 pages, 17 figures, Minor corrections, Published versio

The Grizzly, February 7, 2002

The Bluelight Hits a Stoplight: Kmart Files for Chapter 11 • Reinstatement of Zeta Chi Charter On Hold • Alan Morrison and Friends to Perform at Heefner Organ Recital • Opinions: Not Everyone Loves Valentine\u27s Day; Tri Sig Strikes Back; Nowhere to Park • Wynton Marsalis is Coming to Campus! • Berman Museum: A Fun and Relaxing Alternative • When the Weather Outside is Frightful • Comparative Pricing Report: Cell Phone Plans • Spring Fashion Preview for Women • Record Breaking Results at Widener Invitational for UC Track & Field • Hussey Twins are Double Trouble • Bears Turn the Bullet in the Opposite Direction • Gymnastics Gods Shine on Johnson; Girls Set Three School Records in Second Straight Win • Men\u27s Basketball Splits Two League Games • UC Women\u27s Basketball Hits Three Game Winning Streak • UC Women\u27s Lacrosse Aiming for Final Four in 2002 • Bears Swimming Claws Their way Through the Water, Falling Short to a Powerful Franklin and Marshall Teamhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1506/thumbnail.jp