Reducing Social Exclusion in Disadvantaged Urban Areas through Transportation

Cities in both developing and developed nations have long struggled with marginalized members of their population unable to access employment, education, and opportunities needed for social mobility. This limited access to opportunities transcends the globally acknowledged issue of urban inequality. Scholars refer to the phenomenon as social exclusion, involving the lack or denial of resources, rights, goods and services, and the inability to participate in the normal relationships and activities, available to the majority of people in society. Medellín, Colombia suffered from social exclusion for decades with drug cartels, gangs, and military groups leaving isolated communes entrenched in violence and poverty. However, the city has reinvented itself since the twenty-first century with innovation in public transportation and urban policy that have integrated these communes with the rest of the city, spurring growth and reducing violence. A study of Medellín’s transformation reveals the significance of mobility, social interventions, and the government’s collaboration with residents and the private sector in decreasing social exclusion. Medellín presents an example for other cities in need of engaging with their citizens to reduce marginalization and foster urban prosperity

Rural and urban differences in metabolic profiles in a Cameroonian population

< 0.001 respectively). However, total Cholesterol (TC) and LDL-c were significantly higher in urban than in rural men (p<0.001 and p=0.005) and women (p <0.001 respectively). Diabetes� rate in this population was 6.6%. This rate was higher in the rural (8.3%) than in the urban area (6.0%). Age and RHR were significantly higher in diabetic women than in non-diabetics (p=0.007; p=0.032 respectively). In a multiple regression, age was an independent predictor of SBP, DBP and RHR in the entire population. Age predicted blood glucose in rural women only. BMI, WC and BF% were independent predictors of RHR in rural population, especially in men. WC and BF% predicted DBP in rural men only. Anthropometric parameters did not predict the lipid profile

Osteoprotegerin in relation to insulin resistance and blood lipids in sub-Saharan African women with and without abdominal obesity

BackgroundOsteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily that inhibits bone resorption, has been suggested as a potential marker of cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to assess the relationship between insulin resistance, lipid profile and OPG levels in obese and non-obese sub-Saharan African women.MethodsSixty obese (44) and non-obese (16) volunteer women aged 18 to 40years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Their clinical (age, height, weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures) and biochemical parameters (fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)) were measured using standard methods. Insulin levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, while OPG levels were measured using the ELISA technique. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), body mass index (BMI) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated using standard methods. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥ 80cm.ResultsOPG levels were higher in obese than in normal subjects, though the difference was not significant (p = 0.9). BMI, waist circumference, percent body fat and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in obese than in non-obese subjects (p < 0.05). In these subjects, only age significantly correlated with OPG levels (r = 0.831, p = 0.003), while none of the anthropometric nor metabolic parameter did, even after adjustment for age. In obese subjects, OPG levels fairly correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.298, p = 0.058), and significantly correlated with HOMA-IR (r = −0.438, p = 0.018). After adjustment for age, OPG levels remained negatively correlated to HOMA-IR (r = −0.516, p = 0.020) and LDL-C (r = −0.535, p = 0.015) and positively correlated to HDL-C (r = 0.615, p = 0.004). In multiple linear regression analysis, age was a main determinant of OPG levels in non-obese (β = 0.647, p = 0.006) and obese (β = 0.356, p = 0.044) women. HDL-C was also associated to OPG levels in obese women (β = 0.535, p = 0.009).ConclusionThe positive correlation of OPG with HDL-C and HOMA-IR, and its negative correlation with LDL-C suggest that it may be a marker of insulin sensitivity/resistance and atherogenic risk in obese African women

Life cycle assessment of the overall energy consumption of a road construction project and its management in Cameroon

A methodological approach of Life Cycle Assessment is presented in order to compare the energy consumption of three variants of a road tracing in Cameroon. &nbsp;The three variants are stretches of 11.99 km (variant 1), 9.68 km (variant 2) and 11.11 km (variant 3) on the road from Ngaound&eacute;r&eacute; (departure point in the North of Cameroon) to Moundou (arrival point in South-West of Chad).&nbsp; In assessing this energy, construction, exploitation and maintenance phases are taken into consideration in two scenarios. &nbsp;Scenario 1 assumes that unit consumption based on traffic is constant, and scenario 2 assumes that this consumption is reduced by 50% as from 2022. &nbsp;The results obtained show that in both cases, variant 1 consumes more energy than variant 3. &nbsp;Variant 2 consumes the least energy. &nbsp;The contribution of the exploitation phase to the energy consumption is high, amounting 85.5% in scenario 1 and 78.1% in scenario 2. &nbsp;Energy consumption in construction mainly depends on the presence of architectural arts works on the section and its contribution to the overall energy consumption that remains weak lower than to 5.32% or 8.08% in scenario 1 and 2, respectivelyKeywords: energy consumption, road construction project, Cameroon&nbsp;Citation: Mpele, M., A. Elime Bouboama, L. M. Ayina Ohandja, and J. Madjadoumbaye. &nbsp;Life cycle assessment of the overall energy consumption of a road construction project and its management in Cameroon. &nbsp;Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 63-73.&nbsp

EFFECTS OF PROBLEM-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY ON SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN CIRCLE THEOREMS

AbstractThis study was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of Problem-Based Instructional Strategy (PBIS) on students’ performance in circle theorems in Mathematics. The study is a quasi-experimental type of non-randomized, nonequivalent pre-test and post-test control group involving a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial design, indicating instructional strategies at two levels (Problem-Based Instructional Strategy and conventional method), gender at two levels (male and female) and scoring level at three levels (high, moderate and low level). The target population was all Senior Secondary School students in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. A total of 244 students participated in the study. The research instrument used is Circle Theorems Performance Test (CIRTPT). t-test statistics and ANCOVA were employed to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that: there was a significant difference in the performance of students taught circle theorems using PBIS and those taught with conventional method (t(242)=2.87; p0.05); there was no significant difference in the performance of male and female students taught circle theorems using PBIS (t(110)=0.52; p0.05); and there was no significant difference in the performance of students on the basis of score levels when taught circle theorems using PBIS (F(2,108)=2.31; p .05). Keywords: circle; gender; performance; problem-based learning AbstrakTujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh Strategi Problem Based Learning (PBM) terhadap kinerja siswa terkait teorema lingkaran dalam Matematika. Penelitian ini merupakan jenis eksperimen semu dengan jenis kelompok kontrol pre-test dan post-test non-randomized, nonequivalent yang melibatkan desain faktorial 2 x 2 x 3, yang menunjukkan strategi pembelajaran pada dua tingkat (Strategi Pembelajaran Berbasis Masalah dan metode konvensional), gender pada dua tingkat (laki-laki dan perempuan) dan tingkat penilaian pada tiga tingkat (tingkat tinggi, sedang dan rendah). Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah semua siswa Sekolah Menengah Atas di Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Sebanyak 244 siswa berpartisipasi dalam penelitian ini. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan adalah Circle Theorems Performance Test (CIRTPT). Statistik uji-t dan ANCOVA digunakan untuk menganalisis data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan kinerja siswa yang diajar teorema lingkaran menggunakan PBM dan siswa yang diajar dengan metode konvensional (t(242)=2,87; p0,05); tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan dalam kinerja siswa laki-laki dan perempuan yang diajarkan teorema lingkaran menggunakan PBM (t(110)=0,52; p0,05); dan tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan dalam kinerja siswa berdasarkan tingkat skor ketika diajarkan teorema lingkaran menggunakan PBM (F(2,108)=2,31; p 0,05).Kata kunci: gender; kinerja; lingkaran; problem based learning  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/mtk/v10i1.pp1-1

Improved near real time surface wind resolution over the Mediterranean Sea

International audienceSeveral scientific programs, including the Mediterranean Forecasting System Toward Environmental Predictions (MFSTEP project), request high space and time resolutions of surface wind speed and direction. The purpose of this paper is to focus on surface wind improvements over the global Mediterranean Sea, based on the blending near real time remotely sensed wind observations and ECMWF wind analysis. Ocean surface wind observations are retrieved from QuikSCAT scatterometer and from SSM/I radiometers available at near real time at Météo-France. Using synchronous satellite data, the number of remotely sensed data available for each analysis epoch (00:00 h; 06:00 h; 12:00 h; 18:00 h) is not uniformly distributed as a function of space and time. On average two satellite wind observations are available for each analysis time period. The analysis is performed by optimum interpolation (OI) based on the kriging approach. The needed covariance matrixes are estimated from the satellite wind speed, zonal and meridional component observations. The quality of the 6-hourly resulting blended wind fields on 0.25° grid are investigated trough comparisons with the remotely sensed observations as well as with moored buoy wind averaged wind estimates. The blended wind data and remotely wind observations, occurring within 3 h and 0.25° from the analysis estimates, compare well over the global basin as well as over the sub-basins. The correlation coefficients exceed 0.95 while the rms difference values are less than 0.30 m/s. Using measurements from moored buoys, the high-resolution wind fields are found to have similar accuracy as satellite wind retrievals. Blended wind estimates exhibit better comparisons with buoy moored in open sea than near shore

Association of serum leptin and adiponectin with anthropomorphic indices of obesity, blood lipids and insulin resistance in a Sub-Saharan African population

Abstract Background There is little data on the metabolic effects of adipokines in sub-Saharan African populations. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship of leptin and adiponectin, with obesity, plasma lipids and insulin resistance in a Cameroonian population. Methods We enrolled 167 men and 309 women aged ≥18 years from the general population in Cameroon. Data were collected on waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat (BF%), fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids, adiponectin, leptin, insulin and homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Pearson’s correlation and multiple stepwise linear regression analyses were used to determine correlates of leptin and adiponectin serum levels. Results The prevalence of obesity was higher in women compared to men (p < 0.0001), and Central obesity which is more prevalent particularly in women (WC = 42.4 %, WHR = 42.3 %), is almost for 90 % comparable to %BF (42.7 %). Adiponectin negatively with BMI (r = −0.294, p < 0.0001), WC (r = −0.294, p < 0.0001), %BF (r = −0.122, p = 0.028), WHR (r = −0.143, p = 0.009), triglycerides (r = −0.141, p = 0.011), HOMA-IR (r = −0.145, p = 0.027) and insulin (r = −0.130, p = 0.048). Leptin positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.628), WC (r = 0.530), BF% (r = 0.720), (all p < 0.0001); with DBP (r = 0.112, p = 0.043), total cholesterol (r = 0.324, p < 0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.298, p < 0.0001), insulin (r = 0.320, p < 0.001 and HOMA-IR (r = 0.272, p < 0.0001). In multiple stepwise regression analysis, adiponectin was negatively associated with WC (β = −0.38, p = 0.001) and BF% (β = 0.33, p < 0.0001), while leptin was positively associated with BF% (β = 0.60, p < 0.0001), total cholesterol (β = 0.11, p = 0.02) and HOMA-IR (β = 0.11, p = 0.02). When controlled for gender, HOMA-IR was found significantly associated to adiponectin (β = 0.13, p = 0.046), but not BF%, while the association previously found between leptin and HOMA-IR disappeared; BMI and WC were significantly associated with leptin (β = 0.18, p = 0.04 & β = 0.19, p = 0.02 respectively). Conclusion This study, which includes a population who was not receiving potentially confounding medications, confirms the associations previously observed of adiponectin with reduced adiposity especially central adiposity and improved insulin sensitivity. Confirmatory associations were also observed between leptin and obesity, blood lipids and insulin resistance for the first time in an African population. Gender was significant covariate interacting with insulin sensitivity/insulin resistance and obesity indexes associations in this population

Review and assessment of latent and sensible heat flux accuracy over the global oceans

For over a decade, several research groups have been developing air-sea heat flux information over the global ocean, including latent (LHF) and sensible (SHF) heat fluxes over the global ocean. This paper aims to provide new insight into the quality and error characteristics of turbulent heat flux estimates at various spatial and temporal scales (from daily upwards). The study is performed within the European Space Agency (ESA) Ocean Heat Flux (OHF) project. One of the main objectives of the OHF project is to meet the recommendations and requirements expressed by various international programs such as the World Research Climate Program (WCRP) and Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change (CLIVAR), recognizing the need for better characterization of existing flux errors with respect to the input bulk variables (e.g. surface wind, air and sea surface temperatures, air and surface specific humidities), and to the atmospheric and oceanic conditions (e.g. wind conditions and sea state). The analysis is based on the use of daily averaged LHF and SHF and the asso- ciated bulk variables derived from major satellite-based and atmospheric reanalysis products. Inter-comparisons of heat flux products indicate that all of them exhibit similar space and time patterns. However, they also reveal significant differences in magnitude in some specific regions such as the western ocean boundaries during the Northern Hemisphere winter season, and the high southern latitudes. The differences tend to be closely related to large differences in surface wind speed and/or specific air humidity (for LHF) and to air and sea temperature differences (for SHF). Further quality investigations are performed through comprehensive comparisons with daily-averaged LHF and SHF estimated from moorings. The resulting statistics are used to assess the error of each OHF product. Consideration of error correlation between products and observations (e.g., by their assimilation) is also given. This reveals generally high noise variance in all products and a weak signal in common with in situ observations, with some products only slightly better than others. The OHF LHF and SHF products, and their associated error characteristics, are used to compute daily OHF multiproduct-ensemble (OHF/MPE) estimates of LHF and SHF over the ice-free global ocean on a 0.25° × 0.25° grid. The accuracy of this heat multiproduct, determined from comparisons with mooring data, is greater than for any individual product. It is used as a reference for the anomaly characterization of each individual OHF product

Musculoskeletal disorders among secondary school teachers in Douala, Cameroon: The effect of the practice of physical activities

IntroductionMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent an important threat to public health in both developed and developing countries, and are present in many occupational sectors including education. Regular practice of physical activity (PA) is known elicit preventive effects on the occurrence of MSDs.ObjectiveThis study aimed at determining the prevalence of MSDs and the preventive impact of PA on their occurrence among secondary school teachers.Participants and MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 179 teachers in five government secondary schools in Douala, Cameroon. The Nordic and Ricci-Gagnon questionnaires were used to determine MSDs and to assess the level of PA, respectively.ResultsThe 12-month and 7-day prevalence of MSD (PMSD-12m and PMSD-7d) were 84.3% and 69.3%, respectively. The most affected body regions by MSDs were neck (PMSD-12m = 54.2%, PMSD-7d = 33.5%), lower back (PMSD-12m = 43%, PMSD-7d = 33%), and shoulders (PMSD-12m = 35%, PMSD-7d = 22.9%). Compared to female, males were protected against MSDs during the last 12 months (OR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.16–0.93; p = 0.04). The risk of MSDs during the last seven days was higher in teachers aged 30-40 years (OR = 2.86; 95% CI 1.14–7.14; p = 0.02) and 40-50 years (OR = 4.28; 95% CI 1.49–16.29; p = 0.008) than those under 30 years. This risk was tripled in inactive teachers (OR = 3.07; 95% CI 1.40–6.78; p = 0.005), compared to their active counterparts.ConclusionMSDs are prevalent among secondary school teachers and associated with aging, gender, and lower level of P

Green gluing of tropical wood Part III: X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of Frake and Ayous green wood's Glue line

Green gluing of tropical wood Part III: X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of Frake and Ayous green wood’s Glue line. Emmanuel Njungab1,2, René Oum Lissouck2,4, 5Christine Labrugère, Ntede Ngah Hippolyte2, Régis Pommier3, Louis Max Ayina Ohandja2, Joseph Noah Ngamveng1 1 Laboratory of Macromolecular Chemistry (LCMA), Faculty of science, The University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon. 2 Laboratory of Mechanics, Materials and Structures (LMMS), ENSP, The University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon. 3 Institute of Mechanics and Engineering (I2M-GCE), The University of Bordeaux 1, France. 4 National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS), UMR 5295, France. 5Centre de Caractérisation des Matériaux Avancés (ICMCB, CNRS-UPR), The Université of Bordeaux 1 Abstract: We have recently succeeded to bond two tropical african woods Ayous and Frake in the green state by the glulam technique using a one component (1C-PU) polyurethane adhesive. Durable bond line was achieved and succeeds to meet the structural standard requirement. Scanning electron microscopy performs on the glue line show a good embedding of the glue on the wood fibers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy also referred to as Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the interaction of both tropical woods with adhesive. Unlike theoretical expected urethane functional group, xps analysis indicated a high proportion of non hydrolyze urea group and hydrogen bonding of nitrogen (N) at 399,5 eV and 400,5 eV respectively. This foreseen that polyurea polymers and hydrogen bond are the most probable bond to strengthen the gluline. Key words: Green gluing, Tropical woods, Sanding, 1C-PU, XPS, FTIR, Polyure