An Analysis of Neptune's Stratospheric Haze Using High-Phase-Angle Voyager Images

We have inverted high-phase-angle Voyager images of Neptune to determine the atmospheric extinction coefficient as a function of altitude and the scattering phase function at a reference altitude. Comparisons between theoretical model and observations help separate the contributions from molecular Rayleigh and aerosol scattering and help determine the variation of the aerosol size, concentration, and scattering properties with altitude. Further comparisons between models and data allow us to place constraints on the location and composition of the hazes, the concentration and downward flux of certain condensible hydrocarbon gases, the eddy diffusion coefficient in the lower stratosphere, and the thermal profile in parts of Neptune's stratosphere. We find that a distinct stratospheric haze layer exists near 12(sub -1, sup +1) mbar in Neptune's lower stratosphere, most probably due to condensed ethane. The derived stratospheric haze production rate of 1.0(sub -0.3, sup +0.2) x 10(exp -15) g cm(exp -2) sec(exp -1) is substantially lower than photochemical model predictions. Evidence for hazes at higher altitudes also exists. Unlike the situation on Uranus, large particles (0.08-0.11 microns) may be present at high altitudes on Neptune (e.g., near 0.5 mbar), well above the region in which we expect the major hydrocarbon species to condense. Near 28 mbar, the mean particle size is about 0.13(sub -0.02, sup +0.02) microns with a concentration of 5(sub -3, sup +3) particles cm(exp -3). The cumulative haze extinction optical depth above 15 mbar in the clear filter is approx. 3 x 10(exp -3), and much of this extinction is due to scattering rather than absorption; thus, if our limb-scan sites are typical, the hazes cannot account for the stratospheric temperature inversion on Neptune and may not contribute significantly to atmospheric heating. We compare the imaging results with the results from other observations, including those of the Voyager Photopolarimeter Subsystem, and discuss differences between Neptune and Uranus

Resonance absolute quantum reflection at selected energies

The possibility of the resonance reflection (100 % at maximum) is revealed. The corresponding exactly solvable models with the controllable numbers of resonances, their positions and widths are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE - SECTORS PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN HOUSING DELIVERY IN, NIGER STATE. NIGERIA

Abstract: One of the greatest challenge confronting both rural and urban residents in Niger State is the need to provide adequate shelter. This study examined the individual significant contribution of the public and private sector in public-private partnerships (PPP) in housing contracts in Niger State, Nigeria. The study review that PPP has so far achieved little success in providing decent and unaffordable housing accommodation to Nigerlites. Accordingly to Niger State housing corporation 2 bedrooms flat worth N3,500,000.00 and 3 bedrooms flat worth N4,500,000.00 so it’s clear that the houses are unaffordable to low and medium incomes earners. The researcher finding that the private sector in Niger State can be said to have contributed very little to the development of an urban project in the state, however, even this insignificant level of participation has been serious challenges by poor funding and lack of policy framework to regulate it activities. Therefore, it is paramount importance that the state should develop a regulatory framework and partner with the private sector in this regard so as to ensure that the resident of Niger State has access to this important component of the human environment. Researcher concluded that to ensure the effective participation of the private sector in housing delivery in Niger State in general and Minna in particular, the following recommendation has been put forward (1) Aside from providing enabling environment for the private sector to develop real estate, government should also invest more in provision of site and services scheme this will hasten the development of estate sector.  (2) The establishment a power federal mortgage bank (FMB) and  urban development bank would guarantee investors access to loan and other facilities needed for mass housing development.(3) strengthening the activities of the Niger State Ministry of land and housing in order to ensure that both the formal and informal neighborhood save provided with sanction and neighborhood facilities and (4) The establishment of a PPP steering committee in the Niger State that would be responsible for the general oversight of state’s PPP arrangement. (5) Finally, the study recommends that to ensure the success of public and private partnership in housing delivering, all tiers of government must strive to complement the weakness of the public sector with the strength of the private sector.

Detection and phenotypic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria.Methods: A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 μg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks.Results: A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI valueswithin the range of 0.3 to 1.0.Conclusion: This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area.Keywords: MRSA, beta-lactamase, antibiotics, multidrug resistance, clinical samples, community samples

Mycobacterium tuberculosis spoligotypes and drug susceptibility pattern of isolates from tuberculosis patients in South-Western Uganda

BACKGROUND: Determination of the prevalence and drug susceptibility of the M. tuberculosis strains is important in tuberculosis control. We determined the genetic diversity and susceptibility profiles of mycobacteria isolated from tuberculosis patients in Mbarara, South Western Uganda. METHODS: We enrolled, consecutively; all newly diagnosed and previously treated smear-positive TB patients aged ≥ 18 years. The isolates were characterized using regions of difference (RD) analysis and spoligotyping. Drug resistance against rifampicin and isoniazid were tested using the Genotype(® )MDRTBplus assay and the indirect proportion method on Lowenstein-Jensen media. HIV-1 testing was performed using two rapid HIV tests. RESULTS: A total of 125 isolates from 167 TB suspects (60% males) with a mean age 33.7 years and HIV prevalence of 67.9% (55/81) were analyzed. Majority (92.8%) were new cases while only 7.2% were retreatment cases. All the 125 isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis strict sense with the majority (92.8%) of the isolates being modern strains while seven (7.2%) isolates were ancestral strains. Spoligotyping revealed 79 spoligotype patterns, with an overall diversity of 63.2%. Sixty two (49.6%) of the isolates formed 16 clusters consisting of 2-15 isolates each. A majority (59.2%) of the isolates belong to the Uganda genotype group of strains. The major shared spoligotypes in our sample were SIT 135 (T2-Uganda) with 15 isolates and SIT 128 (T2) with 3 isolates. Sixty nine (87%) of the 79 patterns had not yet been defined in the SpolDB4.0.database. Resistance mutations to either RIF or INH were detected in 6.4% of the isolates. Multidrug resistance, INH and RIF resistance was 1.6%, 3.2% and 4.8%, respectively. The rpoβ gene mutations seen in the sample were D516V, S531L, H526Y H526D and D516V, while one strain had a Δ1 mutation in the wild type probes. There were three strains with katG (codon 315) gene mutations only while one strain showed the inhA promoter gene mutation. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the TB epidemic in Mbarara is caused by modern M. tuberculosis strains mainly belonging to the Uganda genotype and anti-TB drug resistance rate in the region is low

Teknik Jaringan Syaraf Tiruan Feedforward Untuk Prediksi Harga Saham Pada Pasar Modal Indonesia

To predict the condition of stock price, several technical analysis models have been used and expanded such as MACD, Fourier Transform, Accumulator Swing Index , Stochastic Oscillator etc. For input they are using the various prices such as Open, high, low , close , volume, BID, ASK price, and the output is a graphic that shows the decision whether to sell, buy or hold. Another method to determine the stock price by using Fundamental Analysis method. Fundamental method is an analysis that is based on the ratio or financial report from the existing company. Neural Network System Technology has been implemented in various applications especially in introduce the pattern. This power has attracted several people to use Neural Network for medical, Finance, Investment and marketing. Assuming that the prediction of the output system (next output prediction) is deterministic, than the suitable N.N model to predict it is Feed Forward. The prediction of the stock price is the complex interaction between unstable market and unknown random processes factor. The data from stock price can be determined by time series. If we have daily data from a certain period, for example : Xt(t = 1,2,...) than the stock price for the next period (t+h) can be predicted (the timing used can be in hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly). To get the good prediction, the inputs from several aspects of the share prices have to be input in Neural Network after that the weighing principal can be adapted to minimize the wrong prediction in the first future steps. By using the final weighing, an action is done to done to minimize the total error in the second future steps. Due to that, the risk of Investor's decision to sell or buy the stock can be minimized. This paper will discuss on how to use and implement Time Series Neural Network to predict the stock market in Semen Gresik (SMGR) and Gudang Garam (GGRM

Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of Uranus from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrometer: 2. Determination of the Mean Composition of the Upper Troposphere and Stratosphere

Mid-infrared spectral observations Uranus acquired with the Infrared Spectrometer (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope are used to determine the abundances of C2H2, C2H6, CH3C2H, C4H2, CO2, and tentatively CH3 on Uranus at the time of the 2007 equinox. For vertically uniform eddy diffusion coefficients in the range 2200-2600 cm2 s-1, photochemical models that reproduce the observed methane emission also predict C2H6 profiles that compare well with emission in the 11.6-12.5 micron wavelength region, where the nu9 band of C2H6 is prominent. Our nominal model with a uniform eddy diffusion coefficient Kzz = 2430 cm2 sec-1 and a CH4 tropopause mole fraction of 1.6x10-5 provides a good fit to other hydrocarbon emission features, such as those of C2H2 and C4H2, but the model profile for CH3C2H must be scaled by a factor of 0.43, suggesting that improvements are needed in the chemical reaction mechanism for C3Hx species. The nominal model is consistent with a CH3D/CH4 ratio of 3.0+-0.2x10-4. From the best-fit scaling of these photochemical-model profiles, we derive column abundances above the 10-mbar level of 4.5+01.1/-0.8 x 10+19 molecule-cm-2 for CH4, 6.2 +- 1.0 x 10+16 molecule-cm-2 for C2H2 (with a value 24% higher from a different longitudinal sampling), 3.1 +- 0.3 x 10+16 molecule-cm-2 for C2H6, 8.6 +- 2.6 x 10+13 molecule-cm-2 for CH3C2H, 1.8 +- 0.3 x 10+13 molecule-cm-2 for C4H2, and 1.7 +- 0.4 x 10+13 molecule-cm-2 for CO2 on Uranus. Our results have implications with respect to the influx rate of exogenic oxygen species and the production rate of stratospheric hazes on Uranus, as well as the C4H2 vapor pressure over C4H2 ice at low temperatures

Commissioning of the electron injector for the AWAKE experiment

The advanced wakefield experiment (AWAKE) at CERN is the first proton beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment. The main goal of AWAKE RUN 1 was to demonstrate seeded self-modulation (SSM) of the proton beam and electron witness beam acceleration in the plasma wakefield. For the AWAKE experiment, a 10-meter-long Rubidium-vapor cell together with a high-power laser for ionization was used to generate the plasma. The plasma wakefield is driven by a 400 GeV/c proton beam extracted from the super proton synchrotron (SPS), which undergoes a seeded self-modulation process in the plasma. The electron witness beam used to probe the wakefields is generated from an S-band RF photo-cathode gun and then accelerated by a booster structure up to energies between 16 and 20 MeV. The first run of the AWAKE experiment revealed that the maximum energy gain after the plasma cell is 2 GeV, and the SSM mechanism of the proton beam was verified. In this paper, we will present the details of the AWAKE electron injector. A comparison of the measured electron beam parameters, such as beam size, energy, and normalized emittance, with the simulation results was performed

Effect of Ethanol and Acetone Cosolvents in Enhancing Electrokinetic Remediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil Obtained from a Pipeline and Storage Company, Kaduna Nigeria

A lot of work has shown that despite the effectiveness of the traditional electrokinetic remediation (EKR) technology in decontaminating soils with different types and amounts of contaminants, it can be enhanced by a number of strategies for extra effective performance. This work presents the effect of ethanol and acetone cosolvents in enhancing EKR of crude oil contaminated soil (COCS), collected at a depth of 1 m from a petroleum pipeline and storage company, Kaduna Nigeria using graphite electrodes to pass 1 V DC/cm across EKR setups enhanced by incorporating 20% ethanol and 20% acetone separately as cosolvents in the anode compartments of the setups. The total petroleum hydrocarbon results showed that the crude oil content of 78,600 mg/kg present in the COCS exceeds permissible limits for soils. Average removal efficiencies of 74.61% and 67.79% obtained from 20% ethanol and 20% acetone cosolvents enhancements respectively showed that 20% ethanol, with higher removal efficiency, is a better cosolvents for COCS than 20% acetone. Although 20% ethanol has been shown to be a better cosolvents compared to 20% acetone, either of them can be incorporated into EKR technology for enhancing the remediation of COCS