Emprego dos jovens e a economia informal urbana na Zâmbia

Orientador: Hugo Miguel Oliveira Rodrigues DiasDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de EconomiaResumo: O problema do emprego dos jovens nas áreas urbanas é um dos desafios mais críticos que a Zâmbia enfrenta hoje. O rápido crescimento populacional face a um crescimento lento do setor formal está colocando uma pressão significativa no governo para criar empregos formais suficientes para a crescente população jovem. Esta transição demográfica tornou a economia informal urbana numa fonte importante de emprego e renda para a população jovem pobre, pouco qualificada e marginalizada na sociedade. Absorvendo quase 90% da população, o setor informal é o maior empregador na Zâmbia. É desnecessário dizer, no entanto, que os jovens dentro da economia informal urbana enfrentam uma variedade de desafios no acesso a oportunidades de trabalho decente, meios de subsistência decentes, bem como no aumento da produtividade de suas atividades econômicas. Os jovens são o grupo mais vulnerável no sector informal, na medida em que são mais suscetíveis a empregos e salários de baixa qualidade, emprego inseguro e explorador, bem como pobreza e exclusão social. Este documento dá uma visão geral do problema de emprego entre os jovens na Zâmbia e suas possíveis ramificações. Em segundo lugar, o estudo destaca maneiras pelas quais o país pode criar empregos formais suficientes, bem como como pode promover a economia informal urbana com vista à criação de empregos entre a população jovem em idade ativaAbstract: The Youth employment problem in urban areas is one of the most critical challenges Zambia is facing today. Rapid population growth against a slow growing formal sector is putting significant pressure the government to create enough formal jobs for the growing youth population. This demographic transition has resulted in the urban informal economy becoming an importance source of employment and income for young people who are poor, low skilled and marginalized in society. Absorbing nearly 90% of the population, the informal sector is the biggest employer in Zambia. Needless to say however, youth within the urban informal economy face a variety of challenges in accessing decent job opportunities, decent livelihoods as well as enhancing the productivity of their economic activities. Young people are the most vulnerable group in the informal sector in that they are most susceptible to low quality jobs and wages, insecure and exploitative employment, as well as poverty and social exclusion. This 'paper gives an overview of the employment problem among the youth in Zambia and its possible ramifications. Secondly, the study highlights ways in which the country can create enough formal sector jobs as well as how it can promote the urban informal economy for Job creation amongst the youth working age populationMestradoEconomia Social e do TrabalhoMestre em Desenvolvimento Econômic

Characteristics and Outcome of Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Analysis of 163 Patients in Enugu

Background: As with most ailments common to adult and paediatric age groups, studies that describe and characterize paediatric traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) lag those of their adult counterparts. This is more so in the developing countries where national data are not well developed. The development of local clinical  guidelines has been shown to positively impact outcomes of paediatric TBI. Data on the characteristics and outcomes of TBI among paediatric age groups will provide a framework for the development of an  all‑encompassing management guideline. Methods: In this study, a retrospective review of demography, mechanism of injury, pattern of presentation, nature of treatment, duration of hospital admission, and outcome of children aged 0–17 years managed for traumatic TBI at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu‑Nigeria was performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Relevant test statistics were used to test for associations. AP = 0.05 was considered  statistically significant. Results: Atotal of 163 patients’ medical records were retrieved and analyzed. Of these, 117 (71.8%) were males and 46 (28.2%) were females. Their ages ranged from 6 weeks to 17 years with a mean age of 7.66 ± 5.1 years and peaked at 3–5 years. No difference in mean age between gender (P = 0.427). Pedestrian motor vehicular accident was the most common cause of injury. Fall from fruit trees and assault were peculiar to children from suburban/rural areas. TBI severity on admission was mild (44.2%), moderate (38.7%), and severe (17.2%). Other systemic injuries were present in 33.7%, of which long bone fractures were the most common (23/55). Abnormal brain computed tomography findings were seen in 83.2% with skull fracture being the most common finding. Operative procedures were carried out on 19.6% of patients. Conservative measures were the mainstay of management. The mean  duration of hospital admission was 14.01 ± 11.8 days was significantly associated with admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Score (P < 0.0001) and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at discharge (P = 0.03). The overall outcome was good (GOS 4 and 5) in 92.0% and has a significant association with GCS on admission (P < 0.0001). Long‑term (Extended GOS) was 8 in 98.2% of those followed up. Conclusion: Paediatric TBI is mainly mild to moderate in severity with a male predilection. The main cause is road traffic accidents with most victims being pedestrians. Management is mainly non-operative and the outcome at discharge is good even in a middle‑income country and significantly determined by GCS on admission

LEPTIN RECEPTORS IN CAVEOLAE: REGULATION OF LIPOLYSIS IN 3T3-L1 ADIPOCYTES

The present study has tested the hypothesis that leptin receptors are localized in caveolae and that caveolae are involved in the leptin-induced stimulation of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Leptin, a peptide hormone, is secreted primarily by adipocytes and has been postulated to regulate food intake and energy expenditure via hypothalamic-mediated effects. Exposure to leptin increases the lipolytic activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We isolated caveolae from 3T3-L1 adipocytes using a detergent free sucrose gradient centrifugation method. Leptin receptors were localized in the same gradient fraction as caveolin-1. Confocal microscopic studies demonstrated the colocalization of leptin receptors with caveolin-1 in the plasma membrane, indicating distribution of leptin receptors in the caveolae. We disrupted caveolae by treating cells with methyl--cyclodextrin and found that leptin induced lipolytic activity was reduced after caveolae disruption, indicating an important role of caveolae in the signaling mechanism of leptin

Thermal desorption of H₂O ice: from nanoscale films to the bulk

The desorption properties of H2O films are investigated across a wide range of film thicknesses from 53 nanometres (nm) to 101 micrometres (μm) using a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) and temperature-programmed desorption. Three desorption stages are observed belonging to amorphous solid water (ASW), stacking disordered ice I (ice Isd), and hexagonal ice I (ice Ih). The desorption of ASW is only detectable for the ≥10 μm films and is separated from the ice I desorption by 10–15 K with an associated desorption energy of ∼64 kJ mol−1. The desorption energy of the 53-nm film was found to be near 50 kJ mol−1 as also noted in the literature, but with increasing film thickness, the desorption energy of ice I rises, reaching a plateau around 65–70 kJ mol−1. The reason for the increased desorption energy is suggested to be due to molecules unable to desorb due to the thick covering layer of H2O and possibly re-adsorption events. Before complete desorption of ice I at around 220 K for the 101 μm film, a two-stage ice I desorption is observed with the QCM for the ≥10 μm films near 200 K. This event corresponds to the desorption of ice Isd as corroborated by X-ray diffraction patterns collected upon heating from 92 to 260 K at ambient pressure. Cubic ice is not observed as is commonly stated in the literature as resulting from the crystallization of ASW. Therefore, ice Isd is the correct terminology for the initial crystallization product of ASW

Diabetic Nephropathy in Childhood: Predictive Tools and Preventive Strategies

Diabetic nephropathy is the commonest microvascular complication in both types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. Disease pathogenesis is based on a multifactorial interaction between metabolic and hemodynamic factors. In response to hyperglycemia, which disrupts the body’s metabolic milieu, a cascade of complex molecular events occur leading to glomerular hypertrophy, tubular inflammation, mesangial expansion, oxidative stress, and renal fibrosis. Beyond the conventional microalbuminuria, which can predict disease onset, novel biomarkers are now proving more reliable as predictive tools. While several reports show that glomerular and tubular biomarkers are more sensitive than microalbuminuria, tubular markers specifically constitute earlier predictors of the disease. Similarly, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress have been demonstrated as dependable diagnostic tools. As an important cause of mortality from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), diabetic nephropathy constitutes an important challenge in diabetic care. Interestingly, strict glycemic control assessed by glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1 c) estimates, and antihypertensive therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) ± calcium-channel blockers form the main strategies for preventing its onset and slowing down its progression. Other strategies include uric acid antagonist, and renin and endothelin inhibitors. This book chapter discusses these predictive tools and possible preventive strategies

Cranial bony decompressions in the management of head injuries: Decompressive craniotomy or craniectomy?

Objective: Decompressive surgery is one of the available options in dealing with traumatic brain injury (TBI) when clinical and radiological evidence confirm that medical treatment may be insufficient. This can be achieved either by complete removal of the bone or by allowing it to float, but the indications and utility of these are yet to be resolved. This study examines the indications and outcome for both procedures.Materials and Methods: Review of all cases of bony decompression done at the Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, Nigeria from August 2002 to May 2010. Prospectively recorded data of CT, MRI, operating room, clinics and wards were utilized.Results: There were 38 patients out of whom 35 were males and 3 females. The mean age was 36 years (range 15-80). The causes of the predisposing TBI were road traffic accidents (RTA) (79%), gunshot (10.5%), and assault (7.9%). Decompressive surgery was unilateral in 36 and bi-frontal in 2. Decompressive craniectomy with bone stored in anterior abdominal wall pocket was done in 8 patients and decompressive craniotomy with bone left in situ in 30. Of the latter, bone was unsecured and allowed to float in 13 and the craniotomy was lightly anchored with sutures in 17 patients. Surgery was performed within 24 h in 68.4% of cases. Mortality was 21.1% overall but was up to 25% in the more severely injured patients who had craniectomy.Conclusion: Bony decompression is useful in the management of head trauma. Careful selection of cases and appropriate radiological assessment are important and will guide decision for either craniotomy or craniectomy.Key words: Craniectomy, craniotomy, trauma flap, traumatic brain injur

Traumatic Extradural Hematoma in Enugu, Nigeria

Aim: Acute traumatic extradural hematoma (EDH) is life threatening and requires prompt intervention. This is a study of incidence and outcome of consecutive patients with EDH managed in Enugu, Nigeria against a background of delayed referral. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively examined all consecutive trauma cases managed between 2003 and 2009 and analyzed patients with acute traumatic extradural hematoma in isolation or in combination with other intra cranial lesions. Age, sex, cause of injury, time of presentation, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), pupil reactivity, treatment and clinical outcomes were determined.Results: Of 817 head injuries, 69 (8.4%) had EDH, a mean of 9.9 patients per year. Males were 57 (83%) and females 12 (17%). Peak age incidences were the second and third decades of life, with a mean age of 30.2 years. Causes were road traffic accidents (57%), assault (22%) andfalls (9%). Twenty-six (38%) patients presented within 24 h of injury and only one patient presented within 4 h. The average time lag before presentation was 94.2 h. At presentation 39% had GCS of 13-15, 27% had 9-12 and 34% had 3-8. The most common location of hematoma was temporal (27.5%). Forty (59%) patients had surgery while 14 (20%) were managed conservatively. Ten patients (14.5%) died and of these 70% hadGCS <8 and 60% had a seizure.Conclusion: We conclude that early appropriate treatment of EDH results in good high quality survival (Glasgow Outcome Score 4 or 5). Low GCS should not be an absolute contraindication for surgery. Seizure prophylaxisshould be considered in patients with GCS <8.  Keywords: Demography, extradural hematoma, head injury, outcom

Frequency and Predisposing Factors to Hypoglycaemic Events: Experiences at a Diabetes Youth Camp in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Early detection and management of hypoglycaemia is an integral part of care in diabetes camps. The objective of this report was to present the frequency of hypoglycaemic events and possible predisposing factors in a diabetes camp in Nigeria.Methodology: The blood glucose recordings for twenty one children and adolescent aged 6 years to 19 years who attended aweekend diabetescamp were analyzed. Further information about subjects was retrieved from completed pre camp documents.Results: Eight (38.1%) campers had hypoglycaemia and 7(43.8%) of the episodes occurred at 2am check. Hypoglycaemia was recorded in 17(7%) of 252 blood glucose recorded with a rate of 0.4 per camper/day. The mean insulin unit/kg/day was significantly higher in children with hypoglycaemia compared with those without (p= 0.03). 40% of campers with HBA1C less than 7.5 had hypoglycaemia and the mean HBA1C and BMI Z score of campers with hypoglycaemia was lower than in those without. This finding was however not statistically significant. Fifty percent of younger campers aged 6 to 12years had hypoglycaemia compared to 35% of older campers.There was no statistically significant relationship between age, sex, duration of diabetes and occurrence of hypoglycaemia.Conclusion: More than a quarter of campers had hypoglycaemia. Mean insulin dose was significantly higher in campers who experienced hypoglycaemi compared to those who did not. Frequency of hypoglycaemia was higher at 2 am check and following hiking before lunch