African eyes on Bristol European Green Capital 2015

This article was published in the second issue of the Bristol Cable, and illustrates preliminary data collection and analysis by the researcher, of environmental equality and sustainability in Bristol 2015

Transforming our world: Afrophobia and the need for disaggregated statistics to monitor equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This working paper of advocates disaggregated data collection and analysis, as asserted by Target 17.18 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this respect the researcher re-asserts this is imperative for norm and policy development to address race inequality and hate crime, as a result of Afro-phobia in Europe

Leaving no one behind: People of African descent & the sustainable development goals (sdgs)

Background briefing circulated to members of ENAR Steering Committee on Afro-phobia. It highlights draft recommendations of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, and empirical findings of my research study in relation to SDGs

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A RECONFIGURABLE PLATFORM FOR A MICROSATELLITE PRODUCTION

The process of satellite assemblage, integration and testing is challenging and requires considerable care. Hence, the provision of a support platform which provides easier mechanical mounting and unmounting within a design facility and its sources of mechanical disturbance. The provision of an indigenous low-cost platform to cater for microsatellite production is sought, and in this research, a partially reconfigurable platform to produce microsatellites (mass range between 10-100 kg) was developed. The materials used for the fabrication were carefully selected, and considerable attention was placed on the overall weight of the platform based on various criteria such as Density, Yield strength, Modulus of elasticity. The Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) for the various parts using Solid works was done, which also involved the design in accommodating the two standardized diameters for launch vehicle adapters for microsatellites. The design calculations necessary for the completion of this work and weight budget analysis was done to determine the final weight of the platform. Analysis System (ANSYS) software was used to validate the structural integrity of the platform under loading conditions. The stress analysis of the platform in a vertical position which is the most critical loading case was performed. Also, there was no mechanical damage or failure found on the platform. The procedure adopted for the development of the equipment can be used on the development of similar projects. The developed machine is both manually and mechanically operated. The developed platform has the capacity of carrying a maximum satellite weight of 150 kg

Rethinking Zoning Formula as Political Panacea for Ethnic Conflict and Governance Crisis in Nigeria

As a nation of highly diverse ethnic and interest groups, Nigeria’s march towards nationhood has been marked with conflict and dissention not particularly untypical of a plural society. To address this, various measures have been put in place to recognise the rights of individuals according to his/her regional/ethnic background with a view to ensuring that benefits percolates accordingly. This paper examines Nigeria’s political history since pre-independence and the various mechanisms that have been used to instill peace in the country’s political space. The paper reviews these instruments and their challenges within the framework ability to achieve the desired goal of peace and good governance and the subsequent adoption of the zoning formula for key positions as well as rotational presidency. Considering the records of stability of the political system in Nigeria, which the zoning formula and rotational presidency appeared to have engendered since 1999, the study found evidences of improved and strengthened ethnic relations, albeit politically. Consequently, such affirmative political strategy in which the interests of the various sections of the country are factored into the political space has become critical to enhanced ethnic relation in the Nigerian polity. Keywords: Dissention; Conflict; Zoning; Governance crisi

Physicochemical Assessment of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with a Mixture of Ginger, Garlic and Cinnamon

Some physicochemical changes in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with a mixture of ginger, garlic and cinnamon was evaluated. During starter phase, 150 broiler chicks were divided into groups A and B of 75 birds each, and were randomly fed diets 1 and 2 respectively for 3 weeks. The average weekly weight gain by the chickens maintained on the mixed spices supplemented diet (235.15±15.55g) was significantly lower (p<0.05)compared with the weight gain by the control (274.26±20.23g) in the Starter phase. In the Finisher phase, group A was sub-divided into groups C and D while group B was subdivided into groups E and F and fed for additional 3 weeks. The average weekly weight gain by groups C (242.31±4.97g), D (282.46±15.04g), E (260.14±81.11g) and F (236.67±24.29g) did not vary significantly. The evaluated carcass characteristics and haematological indices when compared with the control did not vary significantly. The serum cholesterol levels (mg/dl) in groups D (101.40±4.13), E (106.60±4.59) and F (100.20±9.83) were significantly lower (p<0.05) in comparison with the level in group C (127.00±8.83). Groups E (46.96±8.62mg/dl) and F (47.44±6.35mg/dl) had significantly (p<0.05) lower LDL-C compared with the control (70.56±8.75mg/dl). Therefore, mixture of ginger, garlic and cinnamon may have no effects on the overall weight gain, carcass traits and haematological profiles but could decrease the risk of atherogenesis and CVD in broiler chickens. Keywords: Cinnamon; ginger; garlic; spices; physicochemica

Measurement of the branching ratios of the decays Xi0 --> Sigma+ e- nubar and anti-Xi0 --> anti-Sigma+ e+ nu

From 56 days of data taking in 2002, the NA48/1 experiment observed 6316 Xi0 --> Sigma+ e- nubar candidates (with the subsequent Sigma+ --> p pi0 decay) and 555 anti-Xi0 --> anti-Sigma+ e+ nu candidates with background contamination of 215+-44 and 136+-8 events, respectively. From these samples, the branching ratios BR(Xi0 --> Sigma+ e- nubar)= (2.51+-0.03stat+-0.09syst)E(-4) and BR(anti-Xi0 --> anti-Sigma+ e+ nu)= (2.55+-0.14stat+-0.10syst)E(-4) were measured allowing the determination of the CKM matrix element |Vus| = 0.209+0.023-0.028. Using the Particle Data Group average for |Vus| obtained in semileptonic kaon decays, we measured the ratio g1/f1 = 1.20+-0.05 of the axial-vector to vector form factors.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures Submitted to Phys.Lett.

Measurement of the Ratio Gamma(KL -> pi+ pi-)/Gamma(KL -> pi e nu) and Extraction of the CP Violation Parameter |eta+-|

We present a measurement of the ratio of the decay rates Gamma(KL -> pi+ pi-)/Gamma(KL -> pi e nu), denoted as Gamma(K2pi)/Gamma(Ke3). The analysis is based on data taken during a dedicated run in 1999 by the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS. Using a sample of 47000 K2pi and five million Ke3 decays, we find Gamma(K2pi)/Gamma(Ke3) = (4.835 +- 0.022(stat) +- 0.016(syst)) x 10^-3. From this we derive the branching ratio of the CP violating decay KL -> pi+ pi- and the CP violation parameter |eta+-|. Excluding the CP conserving direct photon emission component KL -> pi+ pi- gamma, we obtain the results BR(KL -> pi+ pi-) = (1.941 +- 0.019) x 10^-3 and |eta+-| = (2.223 +- 0.012) x 10^-3.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Phys. Lett.

Measurement of the branching ratio of the decay KL -> pi e nu and extraction of the CKM parameter |Vus|

We present a new measurement of the branching ratio R of the decay KL -> pi e nu (Ke3), relative to all charged KL decays with two tracks, based on data taken with the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. We measure R = 0.4978 +- 0.0035. From this we derive the Ke3 branching fraction and the weak coupling parameter |Vus| in the CKM matrix. We obtain |Vus|f+(0) = 0.2146 +- 0.0016, where f+(0) is the vector form factor in the Ke3 decay.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures. accepted by Phys Lett.

Measurement of K^0_e3 form factors

The semileptonic decay of the neutral K meson, KL -> pi e nu (Ke3), was used to study the strangeness-changing weak interaction of hadrons. A sample of 5.6 million reconstructed events recorded by the NA48 experiment was used to measure the Dalitz plot density. Admitting all possible Lorentz-covariant couplings, the form factors for vector (f_+(q^2)), scalar (f_S) and tensor (f_T) interactions were measured. The linear slope of the vector form factor lambda_+ = 0.0284+-0.0007+-0.0013 and values for the ratios |f_S/f_+(0)| = 0.015^{+0.007}_{-0.010}+-0.012 and |f_T/f_+(0)| = 0.05^{+0.03}_{-0.04}+-0.03 were obtained. The values for f_S and f_T are consistent with zero. Assuming only Vector-Axial vector couplings, lambda_+ = 0.0288+-0.0004+-0.0011 and a good fit consistent with pure V-A couplings were obtained. Alternatively, a fit to a dipole form factor yields a pole mass of M = 859+-18 MeV, consistent with the K^*(892) mass.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures. submitted to Phys. Lett.