The Higgs masses and explicit CP violation in the gluino-axion model

In this work, we adress the phenomenological consequences of explicit CP violation on direct Higgs-boson searches at high energy colliders. Having a restricted parameter space, we concentrate on the recently proposed gluino-axion model, and investigate the CP violation capability of the model subject to the recent experimental data. It is shown that the Higgs masses as well as their CP compositions are quite sensitive to the supersymmetric CP phases. The lightest Higgs is found to be nearly CP even to a good approximation whilst the remaining two heavy scalars do not have definite CP parities.Comment: 20 pp, 14 eps figs, title is changed, the manuscript is improved using the latest experimental data, some figures and references adde

s-Channel Production of MSSM Higgs Bosons at a Muon Collider with Explicit CP Violation

A muon collider with controllable energy resolution and transverse beam polarization provides a powerful probe of the Higgs sector in the minimal supersymmetric standard model with explicit CP violation, through s-channel production of Higgs bosons. The production rates and the CP-even and CP-odd transverse-polarization asymmetries are complementary in diagnosing CP violation in the Higgs sector.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Some statements for clarity and references added. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Determination of Optimum Frame Rates for Observation of Construction Operations from Time-Lapse Movies

Construction professionals have been using time-lapse movies in monitoring construction operations. However, some amount of detail is always lost in the interval between two consecutive frames in a time-lapse movie. This poses the question: By how much can the frame rate be lowered from the standard 30fps (frames per second) to allow for the accurate observation of construction operations from a time-lapse movie? This paper addresses the problem by establishing the optimum frame rates for observation of activities related to mortar mixing and block handling. The activities were first recorded at the standard rate of 30fps. Using the Adobe Premier Pro video editing software, the records were then segregated into still images from which 15 different time-lapse movies of various time intervals were generated. The movies were then shown to 25 Construction Managers. A structured questionnaire was employed to capture the level of accuracy with which Construction Managers could interpret the job site situation from each movie. The results suggest that 1fpm (frame per minute) is sufficient for the accurate tracking of labourers involved in mortar mixing while 1 frame in every 20 seconds is sufficient for accurate identification of number of cement bags used. However, for tracking number of blocks off-loaded, and those damaged, 1 frame in every 2 seconds is required

Probing MSSM Higgs Sector with Explicit CP Violation at a Photon Linear Collider

The CP properties of Higgs bosons can be probed through their s-channel resonance productions via photon-photon collisions by use of circularly and/or linearly polarized backscattered laser photons at a TeV-scale linear e^+ e^- collider. Exploiting this powerful tool, we investigate in detail the Higgs sector of the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model with explicit CP violation.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures. Some comments added and typos corrected. To appear in Phys. Rev.

On the EDM Cancellations in D-brane models

We analyze the possibility of simultaneous electron, neutron, and mercury electric dipole moment (EDM) cancellations in the mSUGRA and D--brane models. We find that the mercury EDM constraint practically rules out the cancellation scenario in D-brane models whereas in the context of mSUGRA it is still allowed with some fine-tuning.Comment: 10 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Imperatives of Commodities Stockpiling in Nigeria

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/52-04 Introduction Nigeria’s development has always hinged on its natural resources. The level of exploitation and degree of development of the resources have been playing and may likely to continue to play a central role in the economic, industrial and food security status and the wellbeing of the nation (Aribisala, 1993). Prior to independence, Nigeria depends on its forest resources for perspective planning for economic development. As far back as 1899, the perspective planning for economic development was to exploit the forest resources (Adeyoju, 1975). The export revenue from forestry grows at 1%, 8% and 28.8% between 1950-1960, 1960 - 1970 and 1970 - 1980 respectively (Aribisala, 1993). At the time of independence, Nigeria depended on export of agricultural products such as cocoa, cotton, groundnut, palm oil, palm kernel, various timber species, hides and skin, processed tin ore for its foreign exchange. The development of these resources was vigorously pursued by the British trading firms and this increased agricultural production and productivity, enthrone sustainable forest resources management principles and ensure optimal mineral development practices in order to aid optimisation of export of these commodities.  In the minerals sector, minerals such as tin, columbite, and coal constitute major exported commodities and intensification of exploitation activities led to  discovery of oil in the 1950’s and its exploitation from Oloibiri, Rivers State in 1956. The high price commanded by oil compared to other commodities in the international market brought oil to the forefront of exported commodities, and turned farming and related activities into lacklustre activities.  The petrodollars led to initiation of policies such as import substitution through the First National Development Plan, 1962 – 1968; and in 1970 – 1974; the Second Development Plan which highlighted the weakness of the import substitution strategy such as limited markets which do not allow for spread of industries, nor-allow for intermediate or capital funds (Aribisala, 1993).  These made government to shift policy forms to public sector led industrialisation, and, the establishment of big linkage industries such as Pulp and Paper Mills, Fertilizer Plants, Salt Refinery, etc. Although, these postponed the restructuring and transformation necessary to make the Nigerian economy self-reliant and self-sustaining, it created the impetus for local sourcing of industrial inputs.  The road to focus on the development of local industrial raw materials became imperative due to the vagaries in oil prices as the low price of oil in the international markets make importation of finished and semi-finished raw materials too expensive to the industrialisation strategy and forced the closure of many industries.  Since 1980’s to the present, the nation has tossed with a privatisation scheme and a holistic programme for the development of local raw materials for use in the manufacturing sector of the economy.  These led to establishment of government agencies such as the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in 1987 and a host of others.  It is imperative to stress that the dependence of the nation on commodity export and industrial processing has had its toll on optimal resource availability locally. Despite government’s effort to promote industrial utilisation of locally available raw materials and the establishment of a number of presidential committees for commodities development, capacity utilisation is still low across most industries.  Likewise efforts being made to promote food availability, economic and physical access to food are still facing several constraints, making it mandatory to put in place strategies that would promote improved capacity utilisation in the industries and to enhance food availability in the country

Prospects for Post COVID-19 Era Optimisation of the Forest Products Industry in Nigeria

COVID-19 pandemic has taught nations a number of lessons..  The lockdown by nations to slow the spread of the disease created a demand and supply shocks that led to drop in international trade and investment flows of 30% to 40% respectively.  Nigeria is not immune from this development. The country also depends on importation of secondary raw materials for its industries.  As a result of acute deforestation, the economic wood species in Nigeria have reduced significantly forcing the forest industries to rely on importation of raw materials such as Plywood, Medium and High Density Fibreboards, 0 OSR boards and a host of others as most of the particleboard and plymills have closed operation as a result of unavailability of prime wood species.  The near absolute dependence on these raw materials led to disruption in the operation of the forest industries as a result of the lockdown in international trade occasioned by the CODID-19 pandemic.  Production of most items in the sector has reduced significantly.  For instance the sawmills operated at 28% of its installed capacity while the plymills and particleboard mills operated at below12% and capacity utilisation respectively.This development necessitates the need for adequate plans to be made for the post COVID-19 era optimisation of the forest industries in Nigeria.  This can only be achieved through initiation of policy that will enthrone Public-Private-Sector-Partnership in sustainable production of industrial raw materials, most especially, roundwood in the country.  The total availability of roundwood of 30cm in diameter and above is less than 300,000,000m3.  Thus, Nigeria may run out of industrial roundwood in the next 5 years.  As a result, Nigeria must enthrone adequate policies to ensure sustenance of its ndustries most especially, those that have to do with industrial roundwood and wood based panels production.  Also adequate policy is required to promote programmes such as wood reuse, environmental planting, development and industrial utilisation of bamboo, formation of forest industry clusters and wood products certification. Keywords: Roundwood, clusters, plywood, certification, wood reclamation. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-16-16 Publication date:August 31st 2020

Prospects for Kenaf Textiles Production in Nigeria

Textile fibres are the predominant fibres used for textiles production in Nigeria since the 1960’s. However, the number of textiles industries in the country has reduced drastically as a result of drastic reduction in cotton production, old and absolute technology predominant in the sector and lack of basic infrastructures.  Efforts to increase cotton production have not met with adequate success despite the development of improved long fibre varieties.  To increase textiles production, textile experts have been studying the properties of Kenaf bast fibres for textiles production.  The research on Kenaf fibres are being programmed to include softening of Kenaf fibres, characterisation of woven fabrics, production of non-woven fabrics and development of products such as furniture underlays, carpet backing and wall covering.  To boost production, there is increasing interest in natural fibre composites utilisation in the textiles sector globally in view of their potentials to replace synthetic fibres and their sustainability.  Experts are increasingly concentrating on Kenaf/cotton fibres utilisation.  Several studies indicated that mercerisation drastically improved softness of hand for both fabrics industry.  Blending cotton fibres with kenaf with proper treatment results in higher value end products, making kenaf a viable textile fashion fibre.  The sustainable development of Kenaf/cotton textiles will impact significantly on the textiles industry in Nigeria in view of the huge potentials the nation has in Kenaf production. Keywords:  Bast fibre, Kenaf, cotton, mercerisation, alkali treatment, degumming