Infrastructure-For-Resource Scheme: Solving Nigeria Infrastructure Challenge and Driving Industrial Development

Industrial development is intricately linked with infrastructural development, such that without adequate infrastructures, industrial development is forever impeded. There is excruciating shortage of infrastructure in Nigeria, with the current estimates of Nigeria Infrastructure deficit being in the excess of $200 billion (over N30 trillion). This paper discusses the infrastructure-for-Resource deal as a viable option for solving the infrastructure challenge of Nigeria.It analyzes Nigeria’s foray into the model with the oil-for-infrastructure deal of the Obasanjo regime. It identified that the underlying reason for the failure of the scheme to yield the expected result was that the deal did not provide fair value for Nigeria because it was poorly negotiated. It recommends adopting systems of open and publicly accountable bidding for oil, gas and mineral licenses under the Infrastructure-for-Resource deals, thereby creating competition in this class of deals, and significantly reducing the problem of not providing fair value for host country. Keywords:Infrastructure-for-Resource, oil-for-resource, Infrastructure, infrastructure deficit, industrial developmen

Retinoblastoma - A Clinico - Pathological Study in Ilorin, Nigeria*

Retinoblastoma is the commonest childhood primary malignant intraocular neoplasm that is often characterized by spontaneous regression. They display photoreceptor differentiation. This study provides the clinical presentations and histological profiles of retinoblastoma in Ilorin, Kwara \u2013 State, in the North Central geo-political zone of Nigeria. A retrospective study of clinically and histologically verified retinoblastoma at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara \u2013 State, Nigeria from January 1989 to December 2000 was undertaken. The clinical and histological features were analyzed using the patient's case folder and surgical pathology records. There were 20 patients, 9 males and 11 females (M:F ratio 1: 1.2), age range from 5 1/2 months to 6 years with 23 eyeball tumours histologically confirmed retinoblastoma during the study period. Proptosis with chemosis was the most common clinical presentation (84.6%). Bilaterality was 15% in this study. Enucleation and Exenteration combined with chemotherapy were offered to 15 (75%) and 5 (25%) patients respectively. A poorly differentiated type with extensive areas of tumour necrosis was the commonest histological pattern. Thirteen (65%) of the patients died before completing the course of chemotherapy

The outburst of an embedded low-mass YSO in L1641

Strong outbursts in very young and embedded protostars are rare and not yet fully understood. They are believed to originate from an increase of the mass accretion rate onto the source. We report the discovery of a strong outburst in a low-mass embedded young stellar object (YSO), namely 2MASS-J05424848-0816347 or [CTF93]216-2, as well as its photometric and spectroscopic follow-up. Using near- to mid-IR photometry and NIR low-resolution spectroscopy, we monitor the outburst, deriving its magnitude, duration, as well as the enhanced accretion luminosity and mass accretion rate. [CTF93]216-2 increased in brightness by ~4.6, 4.0, 3.8, and 1.9 mag in the J, H, Ks bands and at 24 um, respectively, corresponding to an L_bol increase of ~20 L_sun. Its early spectrum, probably taken soon after the outburst, displays a steep almost featureless continuum, with strong CO band heads and H_2O broad-band absorption features, and Br gamma line in emission. A later spectrum reveals more absorption features, allowing us to estimate T_eff~3200 K, M~0.25 M_sun, and mass accretion rate~1.2x10^{-6} M_sun yr^{-1}. This makes it one of the lowest mass YSOs with a strong outburst so far discovered.Comment: To be published in A&A letter; 5 pages, 4 figure

The first WASP public data release

The WASP (wide angle search for planets) project is an exoplanet transit survey that has been automatically taking wide field images since 2004. Two instruments, one in La Palma and the other in South Africa, continually monitor the night sky, building up light curves of millions of unique objects. These light curves are used to search for the characteristics of exoplanetary transits. This first public data release (DR1) of the WASP archive makes available all the light curve data and images from 2004 up to 2008 in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. A web interface () to the data allows easy access over the Internet. The data set contains 3 631 972 raw images and 17 970 937 light curves. In total the light curves have 119 930 299 362 data points available between them

AMI-LA radio continuum observations of Spitzer c2d small clouds and cores: Perseus region

We present deep radio continuum observations of the cores identified as deeply embedded young stellar objects in the Perseus molecular cloud by the Spitzer c2d programme at a wavelength of 1.8 cm with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Large Array (AMI-LA). We detect 72% of Class 0 objects from this sample and 31% of Class I objects. No starless cores are detected. We use the flux densities measured from these data to improve constraints on the correlations between radio luminosity and bolometric luminosity, infrared luminosity and, where measured, outflow force. We discuss the differing behaviour of these objects as a function of protostellar class and investigate the differences in radio emission as a function of core mass. Two of four possible very low luminosity objects (VeLLOs) are detected at 1.8 cm.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, accepted MNRA

On Justification, Idealization, and Discursive Purchase

Conceptions of acceptability-based moral or political justification take it that authoritative acceptability, widely conceived, constitutes, or contributes to, validity, or justification. There is no agreement as to what bar for authoritativeness such justification may employ. The paper engages the issue in relation to (i) the level of idealization that a bar for authoritativeness, ψ, imparts to a standard of acceptability-based justification, S, and (ii) the degree of discursive purchase of the discursive standing that S accords to people when it builds ψ. I argue that (i) and (ii) are interdependent: high idealization values entail low discursive purchase, while high degrees of purchase require low idealization values. I then distinguish between alethic conceptions of justification that prioritize ends that commit to high idealization values, and recognitive conceptions that favor high discursive purchase. On this basis, I argue for a moderately recognitivist constraint on idealization. To render the recognitive discursive minimum available to relevant people at the site of justification, S should set ψ low enough so that it is a genuine option for actual people to reject relevant views in ways that S recognizes as authoritative. (The Appendix applies this to a Forst-type view of reciprocity of reasons to draw out some limitations of this view.) [Draft available from author on request.

AMI Large Array radio continuum observations of Spitzer c2d small clouds and cores

We perform deep 1.8 cm radio continuum imaging towards thirteen protostellar regions selected from the Spitzer c2d small clouds and cores programme at high resolution (25") in order to detect and quantify the cm-wave emission from deeply embedded young protostars. Within these regions we detect fifteen compact radio sources which we identify as radio protostars including two probable new detections. The sample is in general of low bolometric luminosity and contains several of the newly detected VeLLO sources. We determine the 1.8 cm radio luminosity to bolometric luminosity correlation, L_rad -L_bol, for the sample and discuss the nature of the radio emission in terms of the available sources of ionized gas. We also investigate the L_rad-L_IR correlation and suggest that radio flux density may be used as a proxy for the internal luminosity of low luminosity protostars.Comment: submitted MNRA

AMI-LA radio continuum observations of Spitzer c2d small clouds and cores: Serpens region

We present deep radio continuum observations of the cores identified as deeply embedded young stellar objects in the Serpens molecular cloud by the Spitzer c2d programme at a wavelength of 1.8cm with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Large Array (AMI-LA). These observations have a resolution of ~30arcsec and an average sensitivity of 19microJy/beam. The targets are predominantly Class I sources, and we find the detection rate for Class I objects in this sample to be low (18%) compared to that of Class 0 objects (67%), consistent with previous works. For detected objects we examine correlations of radio luminosity with bolometric luminosity and envelope mass and find that these data support correlations found by previous samples, but do not show any indiction of the evolutionary divide hinted at by similar data from the Perseus molecular cloud when comparing radio luminosity with envelope mass. We conclude that envelope mass provides a better indicator for radio luminosity than bolometric luminosity, based on the distribution of deviations from the two correlations. Combining these new data with archival 3.6cm flux densities we also examine the spectral indices of these objects and find an average spectral index of 0.53+/-1.14, consistent with the canonical value for a partially optically thick spherical or collimated stellar wind. However, we caution that possible inter-epoch variability limits the usefulness of this value, and such variability is supported by our identification of a possible flare in the radio history of Serpens SMM 1.Comment: accepted MNRA

Farmers’ Perception of Viral Diseases and Their Management in Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Production in Benin

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important solanaceous cash crop in Benin; however, productivity is limited due to several key constraints, especially diseases caused by viruses. We sought to understand farmers’ perceptions of viral diseases, management strategies deployed, and to identify the virus population affecting pepper production in Benin. To assess farmers’ perceptions and management of viral diseases, a survey was carried out in four agroecological zones of Benin. A total of 144 pepper farmers were interviewed using the snowball method. A total of 52 pepper leaf samples with virus-like symptoms were collected and diagnosed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or PCR. Pepper production systems varied across agroecological zones (P ≤ 0.001) with a predominance of farms practicing monoculture (82%). The majority of farmers (89%) indicated that pests and diseases were the main constraints to increased production. Cucumber mosaic virus (92% of the total samples), Pepper vein yellow virus (52%), and Pepper veinal mottle virus (50%) were the major viruses detected in pepper fields in Benin. There were both single (29%) and mixed (71%) infections of the viruses, suggesting that mixed infections are common for pepper in Benin, confounding efforts to reduce virus infections. Nearly 100% of the farmers surveyed were not aware of these viral diseases. They also could not directly relate symptoms of virus infection to the presence of aphids, whiteflies, or thrips. Farmers relied primarily on synthetic insecticides (93%) to control virus vectors. Interestingly, some farmers applied commercial (12%) and homemade (17%) biopesticides, with neem-based preparations being the most widely used. A total of 15% of farmers used companion cropping with maize, mint or basil and 43% of farmers used crop rotation as a cultural management practice to control viral disease and vector pressure in pepper fields. The implications of this work include the importance of training farmers and extension agents on diagnosis of viruses and their vectors causing viral diseases. This study provides baseline information for the development of host-resistant cultivars and deployment of integrated pest management strategies for pepper in Benin to reduce farmer losses

WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit

Aims: We report the discovery of WASP-38b, a long period transiting planet in an eccentric 6.871815 day orbit. The transit epoch is 2 455 335.92050 ± 0.00074 (HJD) and the transit duration is 4.663 h. Methods: WASP-38b's discovery was enabled due to an upgrade to the SuperWASP-North cameras. We performed a spectral analysis of the host star HD 146389/BD+10 2980 that yielded Teff = 6150 ± 80 K, log g = 4.3 ± 0.1, v sin i = 8.6 ± 0.4 km s-1, M* = 1.16 ± 0.04 Mʘand R* = 1.33 ± 0.03 Rʘ, consistent with a dwarf of spectral type F8. Assuming a main-sequence mass-radius relation for the star, we fitted simultaneously the radial velocity variations and the transit light curves to estimate the orbital and planetary parameters. Results: The planet has a mass of 2.69 ± 0.06 MJup and a radius of 1.09 ± 0.03 RJup giving a density, ρp = 2.1 ± 0.1 ρJ. The high precision of the eccentricity e = 0.0314 ± 0.0044 is due to the relative transit timing from the light curves and the RV shape. The planet equilibrium temperature is estimated at 1292 ± 33 K. WASP-38b is the longest period planet found by SuperWASP-North and with a bright host star (V = 9.4 mag), is a good candidate for followup atmospheric studies