POPULATION POLICIES : FORMULATION,IMPLEMENTATION AND PROSPECTS KEY ISSUES IN NIGERIA’S POPULATION POLICY IN THE 1990S

This paper reviews Nigeria's population policy which was adopted during the first quarter of 1988. The policy has been adopted at a time of social and economic stress. The policy document is divided into eight sections, each section highlights demographic and socio-economic aspects of the society. The major constraints to the realisation of the policy objectives are mentioned and the future prospects to the year 2000 are appraised

Measuring the Interpretability of Unsupervised Representations via Quantized Reverse Probing

Self-supervised visual representation learning has recently attracted significant research interest. While a common way to evaluate self-supervised representations is through transfer to various downstream tasks, we instead investigate the problem of measuring their interpretability, i.e. understanding the semantics encoded in raw representations. We formulate the latter as estimating the mutual information between the representation and a space of manually labelled concepts. To quantify this we introduce a decoding bottleneck: information must be captured by simple predictors, mapping concepts to clusters in representation space. This approach, which we call reverse linear probing, provides a single number sensitive to the semanticity of the representation. This measure is also able to detect when the representation contains combinations of concepts (e.g., "red apple") instead of just individual attributes ("red" and "apple" independently). Finally, we propose to use supervised classifiers to automatically label large datasets in order to enrich the space of concepts used for probing. We use our method to evaluate a large number of self-supervised representations, ranking them by interpretability, highlight the differences that emerge compared to the standard evaluation with linear probes and discuss several qualitative insights. Code at: {\scriptsize{\url{https://github.com/iro-cp/ssl-qrp}}}.Comment: Published at ICLR 2022. Appendix included, 26 page

Further constraints on the optical transmission spectrum of HAT-P-1b

We report on novel observations of HAT-P-1 aimed at constraining the optical transmission spectrum of the atmosphere of its transiting Hot-Jupiter exoplanet. Ground-based differential spectrophotometry was performed over two transit windows using the DOLORES spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). Our measurements imply an average planet to star radius ratio equal to $\rm R_p/R_{\star}$=(0.1159$\pm$0.0005). This result is consistent with the value obtained from recent near infrared measurements of this object but differs from previously reported optical measurements being lower by around 4.4 exoplanet scale heights. Analyzing the data over 5 different spectral bins 600\AA$\,$ wide we observed a single peaked spectrum (3.7 $\rm\sigma$ level) with a blue cut-off corresponding to the blue edge of the broad absorption wing of sodium and an increased absorption in the region in between 6180-7400\AA. We also infer that the width of the broad absorption wings due to alkali metals is likely narrower than the one implied by solar abundance clear atmospheric models. We interpret the result as evidence that HAT-P-1b has a partially clear atmosphere at optical wavelengths with a more modest contribution from an optical absorber than previously reported.Comment: Accepted by Ap

Contribution de la Régénération Naturelle Assistée des ligneux dans l’approvisionnement en bois des ménages dans le département de Magaria (Niger)

Cet article présente les impacts de la Régénération Naturelle Assistée (RNA) sur l’approvisionnement en bois des ménages dans deux terroirs villageois (Arasofoua et Gaounawa) du département de Magaria au Niger. L’objectif visé était d’évaluer la quantité de bois utilisée au niveau des ménages pour les différents usages (bois énergie, construction, et service). La méthodologie utilisée pour atteindre cet objectif a consisté en des enquêtes auprès des ménages sur le type de bois utilisé et leur quantité ainsi que des mesures pour évaluer le changement induit à travers la pratique de la Régénération Naturelle Assistée. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les populations de ces villages arrivent à satisfaire leurs besoins en bois de feu et de service. Cette technique est pratiquée depuis 1994 dans ces villages. Chaque exploitant collecte en moyenne 24,9 et 17,5 m³ de bois par an dans les deux terroirs villageois respectivement en fonction des différents types d’usage (chauffe, construction, ustensiles de cuisine, etc.) et types de bois utilisés. Environ 90,8% des exploitants n’achètent pas le bois. L’autoconsommation moyenne en bois dans les deux villages est de 57,8%. Les transhumants et les coupes frauduleuses, constituent les contraintes majeures de cette pratique. Sensibiliser et former davantage les paysans aux techniques de régénération et impliquer les femmes dans cette nouvelle pratique favoriseraient la constitution de parcs agroforestiers.Mots clés: Innovation, ménages, produits ligneux, Sahel, Nige

Rapid intravenous rehydration of children with acute gastroenteritis and dehydration: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends rapid intravenous rehydration, using fluid volumes of 70-100mls/kg over 3–6 h, with some of the initial volume given rapidly as initial fluid boluses to treat hypovolaemic shock for children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and severe dehydration. The evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of rapid versus slower rehydration remains uncertain.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on 11th of May 2017 comparing different rates of intravenous fluid therapy in children with AGE and moderate or severe dehydration, using standard search terms. Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Non-RCTs and non-English articles were excluded. The primary endpoint was mortality and secondary endpoints included adverse events (safety) and treatment efficacy.Main results: Of the 1390 studies initially identified, 18 were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 3 studies (n = 464) fulfilled a priori criteria for inclusion; most studied children with moderate dehydration and none were conducted in resource-poor settings. Volumes and rates of fluid replacement varied from 20 to 60 ml/kg given over 1-2 h (fast) versus 2-4 h (slow). There was substantial heterogeneity in methodology between the studies with only one adjudicated to be of high quality. There were no deaths in any study. Safety endpoints only identified oedema (n = 6) and dysnatraemia (n = 2). Pooled analysis showed no significant difference between the rapid and slow intravenous rehydration groups for the proportion of treatment failures (N = 468): pooled RR 1.30 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.93) and the readmission rates (N = 439): pooled RR 1.39 (95% CI: 0.68, 2.85).Conclusions: Despite wide implementation of WHO Plan C guideline for severe AGE, we found no clinical evaluation in resource-limited settings, and only limited evaluation of the rate and volume of rehydration in other parts of the world. Recent concerns over aggressive fluid expansion warrants further research to inform guidelines on rates of intravenous rehydration therapy for severe AG

The Interiors of Giant Planets: Models and Outstanding Questions

We know that giant planets played a crucial role in the making of our Solar System. The discovery of giant planets orbiting other stars is a formidable opportunity to learn more about these objects, what is their composition, how various processes influence their structure and evolution, and most importantly how they form. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune can be studied in detail, mostly from close spacecraft flybys. We can infer that they are all enriched in heavy elements compared to the Sun, with the relative global enrichments increasing with distance to the Sun. We can also infer that they possess dense cores of varied masses. The intercomparison of presently caracterised extrasolar giant planets show that they are also mainly made of hydrogen and helium, but that they either have significantly different amounts of heavy elements, or have had different orbital evolutions, or both. Hence, many questions remain and are to be answered for significant progresses on the origins of planets.Comment: 43 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables. To appear in Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, vol 33, (2005

The impact of atmospheric circulation on the chemistry of the hot Jupiter HD 209458b

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from EDP Sciences via the DOI in this record.We investigate the effects of atmospheric circulation on the chemistry of the hot Jupiter HD 209458b. We use a simplified dynamical model and a robust chemical network, as opposed to previous studies which have used a three dimensional circulation model coupled to a simple chemical kinetics scheme. The temperature structure and distribution of the main atmospheric constituents are calculated in the limit of an atmosphere that rotates as a solid body with an equatorial rotation rate of 1 km/s. Such motion mimics a uniform zonal wind which resembles the equatorial superrotation structure found by three dimensional circulation models. The uneven heating of this tidally locked planet causes, even in the presence of such a strong zonal wind, large temperature contrasts between the dayside and nightside, of up to 800 K. This would result in important longitudinal variations of some molecular abundances if the atmosphere were at chemical equilibrium. The zonal wind, however, acts as a powerful disequilibrium process. We identify the existence of a pressure level of transition between two regimes, which may be located between 100 and 0.1 mbar depending on the molecule. Below this transition layer, chemical equilibrium holds, while above it, the zonal wind tends to homogenize the chemical composition of the atmosphere, bringing molecular abundances in the limb and nightside regions close to chemical equilibrium values characteristic of the dayside, i.e. producing an horizontal quenching effect in the abundances. Reasoning based on timescales arguments indicates that horizontal and vertical mixing are likely to compete in HD 209458b's atmosphere, producing a complex distribution where molecular abundances are quenched horizontally to dayside values and vertically to chemical equilibrium values characteristic of deep layers.M.A., O.V., F.S., and E.H. acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC Grant 209622: E3ARTHs). Computer time for this study was provided by the computing facilities MCIA (Mésocentre de Calcul Intensif Aquitain) of the Université de Bordeaux and of the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour. We thank the anonymous referee for a constructive report that helped to improve this manuscript

Spitzer 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron full-orbit lightcurves of WASP-18

We present new lightcurves of the massive hot Jupiter system WASP-18 obtained with the Spitzer spacecraft covering the entire orbit at 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron. These lightcurves are used to measure the amplitude, shape and phase of the thermal phase effect for WASP-18b. We find that our results for the thermal phase effect are limited to an accuracy of about 0.01% by systematic noise sources of unknown origin. At this level of accuracy we find that the thermal phase effect has a peak-to-peak amplitude approximately equal to the secondary eclipse depth, has a sinusoidal shape and that the maximum brightness occurs at the same phase as mid-occultation to within about 5 degrees at 3.6 micron and to within about 10 degrees at 4.5 micron. The shape and amplitude of the thermal phase curve imply very low levels of heat redistribution within the atmosphere of the planet. We also perform a separate analysis to determine the system geometry by fitting a lightcurve model to the data covering the occultation and the transit. The secondary eclipse depths we measure at 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron are in good agreement with previous measurements and imply a very low albedo for WASP-18b. The parameters of the system (masses, radii, etc.) derived from our analysis are in also good agreement with those from previous studies, but with improved precision. We use new high-resolution imaging and published limits on the rate of change of the mean radial velocity to check for the presence of any faint companion stars that may affect our results. We find that there is unlikely to be any significant contribution to the flux at Spitzer wavelengths from a stellar companion to WASP-18. We find that there is no evidence for variations in the times of eclipse from a linear ephemeris greater than about 100 seconds over 3 years.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Accpeted for publication in MNRA

Evaluation of Water Infiltration Equations on Fadama Soils of Jos – North, Plateau State, Nigeria

The main purpose of this study is to obtain water infiltration parameters of the Fadama Soils on the Jos Plateau. Estimation of water infiltration on a soil is a major constraint due to its variability depending on local soil characteristics. This could be used in simulating infiltration for the Fadama soils when designing agricultural projects. Field measurement of infiltration were made using the double ring infiltrometer at the three locations (Rizek, Kerker and Shen – du) on the Jos Plateau. Readings were taken at intervals of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100,105,  110, 115 and 120minutes. A set of field measured cumulative infiltration depths were used for the estimation of the model parameters for the five models, while the other set was used in simulating the infiltration equations. At Rizek, Horton and NCRS model performed better (0.997) followed by Philip’s model (0.973) while Kostiakov and modified Kostiakov’s model have the least value of 0.923 each. Philip’s model has the best fit (1.00) followed by the NCRS’s model (0.999) at Kerker while the Kostiakov and modifiedKostiakov’smodel had 0.997 each and Horton with the least value (0.986). At Shen – du, Kostiakov and modified Kostiakov performed better (0.997), then, Horton with (0.986), NCRS has 0.993 with Philip’s model having the least value (0.991).The study indicate that Kostiakov, Philip, Horton, NCRS and Modified Kostiakov’s models were capable of simulating infiltration for the Fadama soils (Rizek, Kerker and Shen – du) on the Jos, Plateau. Keywords: Infiltration Equations, Fadama Soils, Kostiakov Equation, Infiltartion Model

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Korban Letusan Gunung Semeru Melalui Program Aksi Solidaritas Kemanusiaan di Kabupaten Lumajang

The geographical location of this volcano is in two urban areas, Malang and Lumajang. This service analyzes the needs of the Semeru community after the burst of Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, both from the psychological aspect and the aspect of economic needs. Method The method used is participatory action research using a rapid rural appraisal (RRA) approach and a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach. Can ease the burden on the community of victims of the eruption of Mount Semeru b. people receive education in dealing with with various life problems so that they are not depressed c. People are driven and inspired to rise to organize a brighter life. Conclusion Humanitarian solidarity action program is important to be carried out as a form of implementing empathy and sympathy for the wider community, especially the people who need to solve various problems they face. The solidarity action programs carried out from the psychological aspect are a. educate people who experience depression through a spiritual approach b. assist in logistics and cash to ease the burden suffered by the victims of the Mount Semeru eruption