215 research outputs found
OIL VALUE VARIATIONS AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS TOWARDS WEALTH CREATION OF OIL AND GAS VENDING CORPORATIONS
The study investigated the effect of oil value variations and cost-effectiveness towards wealth creation of oil and gas vending corporations. The main objective of the study was to determine whether oil value variation impact on cost-effectiveness in the processes of wealth creation in oil and gas vending corporations in Nigeria. Data were obtained from secondary sources such as annual financial reports of corporations which were within the coverage years of investigation. Simple regression technique was used to analyze the data collected. The findings revealed that, oil value variations do not significantly affect cost-effectiveness in the processes of wealth creation of oil and gas vending corporations under consideration. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the management of companies should devise effective strategies in regulating and controlling the effect of oil value variations on their corporate cost-effectiveness towards wealth creation. JEL: L20; L22; L72 Article visualizations
CHARTERING FUNDING AND RETURN ON ASSETS OF GUARANTEE CURRENCY STORES
The study set out to examine the chartering funding and return on assets of Guarantee Currency Stores. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. The main purpose of the study was to generally evaluate the extent to which chartering funding could be considered as a better option amongst the various options of funding and extent which chartering funding affect the return on assets of guarantee currency stores. Data were collected from the annual reports of the selected Guarantee Currency Stores and the data were analyzed using regression method. The findings revealed that there is positive and significant relationship between funding charter, debt funding and return on asset respectively. Based on the findings, it was concluded that funding charter is one of the major sources of funding any asset as this option of funding ensures ample return on asset. The policy and economic implications are that; Guarantee Currency Stores should think through and judiciously appraise funding charter alternative in the construction of their capital structure as this increases return on asset more than others sources of capital while Machinery Charter Union of Nigeria should create more awareness on the significance of funding charter to encourage those Guarantee Currency Stores seeking for funds to use either funding charter or debt capital taking into reflection the benefits of the two options in terms of improved corporate return on asset. Article visualizations
Multiband Comparative Study of Optical Microvariability in RL vs. RQ Quasars
We present the results of an optical multi-band (BVR) photometric monitoring
program of 22 core-dominated radio-loud quasars (CRLQs) and 22 radio-quiet
quasars (RQQs). The aim was to compare the properties of microvariability in
both types of quasars. We detected optical microvariability in 5 RQQs and 4
CRLQs. Our results confirm that microvariability in RQQs may be as frequent as
in CRLQs. In addition we compare microvariability duty cycles in different
bands. Finally, the implications for the origin of the microvariations are
briefly discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journa
Antibacterial Activities of Nepetalactones Against Public Health-Related Pathogens
The antimicrobial activities of (Z,E)- and (E,Z)-nepetalactones, 2 major compositional compounds from the essential oil of catnip (Nepeta cataria), were first discovered from fly larval development media studies with over 98% inhibition of bacterial growth. Further investigation demonstrated inhibition of the growth of various bacterial species of public health significance. Catnip oil showed antibacterial activity against 5 Gram-positive and 9 Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity varied among the original essential oil from the plant and its major compositional compounds as a blended mixture or an individual compound. Growth inhibition was observed against 5 Neisseria species, with particularly strong inhibition against Neisseria sicca (with MICs ranging from 0.5 to 5 mg/mL) that provided comparable or increased levels of growth control produced by 2 antibiotics (Ceftiofur and Cephalothin). The development of plant-based antibacterial agents to prevent or delay the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is discussed
Targeted alveo-pleural fistula endobronchial valve treatment using ventilation scintigraphy
Persistent air-leaks can be difficult to localize in radiology. Bronchoscopic management of air-leaks requires identification of the leak\u27s location to allow suitable targeted treatment. One-way endobronchial valves have become a suitable option for persistent air-leaks. In this report, a combination scintigraphy and one-way endobronchial valve treatment successfully resolved a persistent air-leak
The Transit Light Curve Project. V. System Parameters and Stellar Rotation Period of HD 189733
We present photometry of HD 189733 during eight transits of its close-in
giant planet, and out-of-transit photometry spanning two years. Using the
transit photometry, we determine the stellar and planetary radii and the
photometric ephemeris. Outside of transits, there are quasiperiodic flux
variations with a 13.4 day period that we attribute to stellar rotation. In
combination with previous results, we derive upper limits on the orbital
eccentricity, and on the true angle between the stellar rotation axis and
planetary orbit (as opposed to the angle between the projections of those axes
on the sky).Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ [21 pages]; minor change
Reverberation Measurements of the Inner Radius of the Dust Torus in Nearby Seyfert 1 Galaxies
The most intense monitoring observations yet made in the optical (UBV) and
near-infrared (JHK) wave bands were carried out for nearby Seyfert1 galaxies of
NGC 5548, NGC 4051, NGC 3227, and NGC 7469. Over three years of observations
with MAGNUM telescope since early 2001, clear time-delayed response of the
K-band flux variations to the V-band flux variations was detected for all of
these galaxies. Their H-K color temperature was estimated to be 1500-1800 K
from the observed flux variation gradients, which supports a view that the bulk
of the K flux should originate in the thermal radiation of hot dust that
surrounds the central engine. Cross-correlation analysis was performed to
quantify the lag time corresponding to the light-travel distance of the hot
dust region from the central engine. The measured lag time is 47-53 days for
NGC 5548, 11-18 days for NGC 4051, about 20 days for NGC 3227, and 65-87 days
for NGC 7469. We found that the lag time is tightly correlated with the optical
luminosity as expected from dust reverberation (),
while only weakly with the central virial mass, which suggests that an inner
radius of the dust torus around the active nucleus has a one-to-one
correspondence to central luminosity. In the lag time versus central luminosity
diagram, the K-band lag times place an upper boundary on the similar lag times
of broad-emission lines in the literature. This not only supports the unified
scheme of AGNs, but also implies a physical transition from the BLR out to the
dust torus that encircles the BLR. Furthermore, our V-band flux variations of
NGC 5548 on timescales of up to 10 days are found to correlate with X-ray
variations and delay behind them by one or two days, indicating the thermal
reprocessing of X-ray emission by the central accretion flow.Comment: ApJ, March 2006, v639 issue, 24 pages, 33 figures, 10 table
Inner Size of a Dust Torus in the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 4151
The most intense monitoring observations yet made were carried out on the
Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151 in the optical and near-infrared wave-bands. A lag
from the optical light curve to the near-infrared light curve was measured. The
lag-time between the V and K light curves at the flux minimum in 2001 was
precisely 48+2-3 days, as determined by a cross-correlation analysis. The
correlation between the optical luminosity of an active galactic nucleus (AGN)
and the lag-time between the UV/optical and the near-infrared light curves is
presented for NGC 4151 in combination with previous lag-time measurements of
NGC 4151 and other AGNs in the literature. This correlation is interpreted as
thermal dust reverberation in an AGN, where the near-infrared emission from an
AGN is expected to be the thermal re-radiation from hot dust surrounding the
central engine at a radius where the temperature equals to that of the dust
sublimation temperature. We find that the inner radius of the dust torus in NGC
4151 is 0.04 pc corresponding to the measured lag-time, well outside
the broad line region (BLR) determined by other reverberation studies of the
emission lines.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 13 pages, 3 figures;
Corrected typo
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