Radioactivity Measurements of the Jos Tin Mine Tailing in Northern Nigeria

The activity concentrations of 226Ra and232Th in Jos Tin mine tailings and its environment were measured using Hyper-pure Germanium detector (HPGe). Preset counting time of 30,000s was used for each sample to avoid statistical errors. Results showed the activities varied from one site to another. The activities of 226Ra and232Th are much higher than the recommended average limit given by UNSCEAR in the mining sites and even at 500 m away from the mining site. At 1 Km away from the mining site the activity measured is within the limit for normal background. The ratio of activity of Thorium to Radium is greater by factor of 5 in all the samples in the mining site and 500 m away which should be about unity. The mean absorbed doses (1828.66, 252.08 and 171.07 nGyh-1) for Site1, Site2 and 500m from mining site respectively in air are equally high compared with (51 nGyh-1). Also, the estimated effective dose equivalents are much higher than the recommended limit except for 1 Km from the mining site. There is need to improve waste management practices in this industries in order not to expose those living and working in this environment to health hazards associated with these radionuclide

Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking and Nonstandard Neutrino Oscillations

In this thesis, we propose four different scenarios that solves the tachyonic slepton mass problem of Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking (AMSB). We also address the question of neutrino oscillation using non standard interactions. In the first two chapters we introduce the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics and Supersymmetry (SUSY). We review models of SUSY breaking in the third chapter. Chapters four, five, six and seven have our various models that address the negative slepton mass problem of AMSB. In chapter 8, we propose a simple solution to the neutrino oscillation problem based on nonstandard interactions. AMSB is an attractive scenario which can neatly solve the flavor changing neutral current problem of SUSY models. However, the simplest such model has tachyonic sleptons, which is unacceptable. The first model we propose is based on a non-Abelian horizontal gauge symmetry broken at the TeV scale. In this model the sleptons receive positive mass-squared from the asymptotically free SU(3)_H gauge sector. The second model is a class of supersymmetric Z^\prime models based on the gauge symmetry U(1)_x=xY-(B-L), where Y is the Standard Model hypercharge. For 1<x<2, the U(1)_x D--term generates positive contribution to the slepton masses. The third model is the quark-lepton symmetric model based on leptonic SU(3)_{\ell} gauge symmetry. The negative slepton mass problem is cured by virtue of the positive contribution to the slepton masses from the SU(3)_\ell gauge sector. This model also leads to unification of Standard Model gauge couplings in a non trivial way. The fourth model is bassed on an asymptotically free SU(2)_H gauge symmetry broken at the TeV scale. This model is viable and also solves the tachyonic slepton mass problem of AMSB. Finally in chapter 8, we show how the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) experiment puzzle may be solved by adding new physics terms to the standard interactions.Department of Physic

Determinants of Dividend Payout of Financial Institutions in Nigeria: A Study of Selected Commercial Banks

The study examined the various determinants of dividend payout of selected Commercial Banks in Nigeria. Secondary data collected from 1989-2010 were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression technique. The findings revealed that while current earnings, lagged dividend and lending rate were the major determinants of cash dividend payout in these banks, Inflation rate and liquidity ratio failed to explain the variation in dividend payout. Also, these banks had a lower Average Marginal Propensity (AMP) to pay out of current earnings of 30.67%.This implied a profit retention of 69.33% during the period, indicating the conservative nature of management of these banks. The paper recommended that if informed Nigerians are to be encouraged to buy more shares in the banking sector, management of such banks should strive to reduce their retained earnings. This is necessary due to the axiom of time value of money. Since money invested in shares is part of individual investments, shareholders should have maximum return on their investment, such as dividend. Key words:  Commercial banks, Dividend Payout,   Determinants, Nigeria

Financing and Supply Chain Operations Resilience and Juxtaposing: The Role of Finance in Improving the Supply Chain in the COVID-19 Pandemic Environment

Amidst the renewed quest for supply chain resiliency, finance outgrows its traditional role in B2B; instead, finance position itself to become a more integrated partner in supply chain management activities. Areas such as global trade management and supply chain risk management are fluid areas for finance to flourish, coupled with increasing demands for finance to take a more active role in supply chain management. The global supply chain has experienced several disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme climate change-induced events, natural disasters, conflict, financial crises, recessions, shortages of raw materials for manufacturing, and macroeconomic imbalances; however, futuristic disruptions are already projected by several stakeholders in the logistics and transport sector. Hence, companies must concentrate on building their resilience to all manner of supply chain disruptions. The initial motive of firm management to increase leverage and engage in financial goods is diminished when the economic dilemma of supply chain value is resolved; by so doing, the internal financial situations could facilitate the advancement of enterprise value. Keywords: supply chain, financial service innovations, distribution dimension, COVID-19 DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/15-7-01 Publication date: April 30th 202

Genomic diversity and characterization of lungwoms

Analysis of the genetic diversity of organisms plays an important role in research of related species and clinical applications. Lungworms (Dictyocaulus spp) have been identified in many species of ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the genomic variations of lungworms species, which could potentially lead to practical control methods and therapeutics in the distinct species of lungworms. To determine genetic relatedness, lungworm DNA was isolated from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), New Zealand Red deer (Cervus elaphus), Louisiana cattle (Bos taurus), Mississippi cattle, and Wisconsin cattle and extracted, amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis. Currently, the PCR protocol has been unreliable and protocols are being designed to give more consistent results. At the moment, different approaches are being used to get the PCR to run and be able to get consistent results when amplifying. Once the PCR is fully functional, the next steps will be DNA cloning and sequencing for further investigation of the different species.https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2019/1005/thumbnail.jp

Constraining Z' From Supersymmetry Breaking

We suggest and analyze a class of supersymmetric Z' models based on the gauge symmetry U(1)_x = x Y - (B-L), where Y is the Standard Model hypercharge. For 1 < x < 2, the U(1)_x D-term generates positive contributions to the slepton masses, which is shown to solve the tachyonic slepton problem of anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking (AMSB). The resulting models are very predictive, both in the SUSY breaking sector and in the Z' sector. We find M_Z' = (2-4) TeV and the Z-Z' mixing angle \xi = 0.001. Consistency with symmetry breaking and AMSB phenomenology renders the Z' "leptophobic", with Br(Z' -> e^+ e^-) = (1-1.6)% and Br(Z' -> q q-bar) = 44%. The lightest SUSY particle is either the neutral Wino or the sneutrino in these models.Comment: 34 pages in LaTe

PENGGUNAAN LKPD CONCEPT CARTOONS UNTUK MEREMEDIASI MISKONSEPSI PESERTA DIDIK SMP PADA MATERI HUKUM ARCIMEDES

AbstractThis research aims is to establish the remediation of student’s misconceptions by using LKPD concept cartoons on Archimedes principle at SMP Kristen Immanuel II Sungai Raya. The form of this research is the pre-experimental design which is consisted of one-group of pre-test-post-test design. The sample of this research is students of class VIII D (n = 41 student) which are chosen by random sampling technique of an intact group. This research instrument is a diagnostic test which consists of 9 questions with multiple choices. Based on data analysis, the findings are : (1) The percentage reduction of students who misconceptions, after remediation are 81%, 68%, 64%, and the average is 71%. (2) There is a significant conceptual change whit Mc Nemar statistic test (χ_hitung^2 = 44.17; dk = 1 ; ∝ =0,05) after remediation. The effect size is 1.86 (high category. Based on these results. It was expected that LKPD concept cartoons can be used as an alternative remediation activity to improve misconceptions experienced by the students. Keywords:  Remediation, Misconception, LKPD, Concept Cartoons, Archimedes Principle