Evaluation of the Living Conditions and Health Perceptions of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Handlers in the Informal Sector in Dakar

Electrical and electronic devices are becoming an increasingly important part of our society. In Africa, and in Senegal in particular, the handling and management of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) that has reached the end of its life is mainly informal. This professional environment is characterized by the disintegration of the sector and the social heterogeneity that can be found there. The objective of this study is to assess the standard of living of electrical and electronic equipment waste handlers in the Dakar region, as well as their perception of their health. A survey was used to obtain information on sociodemographic background, living arrangements, perception of health status, and good practices to be implemented in case of work-related health problems. Life style, perception of general health and health problems were ranged as excellent, very good, good, average and poor. Informal recyclers in the Dakar region lived mainly in rooms and buildings as tenants (49.1%), or in family homes (48.4%) before starting this activity, and 51.2% continue to live in rooms and buildings as tenants compared to 41.4% who still live in a family home. The perception of health status ranged from poor to excellent, and 4.9% believe that they are limited in work due to a disability or health problem. Informal work is a heterogeneous phenomenon that makes research and policymaking particularly complex. There are several external factors within informal WEEE re-cyclers that can cause health problems or functional disability. However, the living conditions and the perception they have of their state of health are contradictory to the working conditions and the social environment to which they belong. A biomedical approach would consolidate these achievements by confirming or invalidating them.

A Review of Informal Employment Research

With the development of the economy and society, employment forms have shown a trend of diversification. Informal employment has become an important form of employment, and governments have introduced policies to protect the rights of informal workers. This paper reviews the literature on informal employment and summarizes the definition, role, and impact of informal employment, governance, rural informal employment, and women’s power in informal employment. The study concludes that the impact of informal employment is twofold. On the one hand, informal employment provides employment opportunities and contributes to economic growth. On the other hand, the wages, working environment, and institutional security of informal workers are inferior to those of formal workers. In addition, most studies have focused on urban spaces, and there are fewer studies on rural informal employment, especially for rural women. Due to gender, education level, and family care, informal employment has become the main employment form of the rural female labor force, and it is particularly important to study their employment status and rights protection.

Insomnia Burden among Informal Caregivers of Hospitalized Lung Cancer Patients and Its Influencing Factors

Objective This study aimed to reveal the insomnia burden and relevant influencing factors among informal caregivers(ICs)of hospitalized patients with lung cancer.Methods A cross-sectional study on ICs of hospitalized patients with lung cancer was conducted from December 31,2020 to December 31,2021.ICs’burden was assessed using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment(CRA),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and Insomnia Severity Index(ISI).Linear and logistic regression models were used to identify the influencing factors.Results Among 289 ICs of hospitalized patients with lung cancer,83(28.72%),53(18.34%),and 14(4.84%)ICs experienced mild,moderate,and severe insomnia,respectively.The scores concerning self-esteem,lack of family support,financial problems,disturbed schedule,and health problems were 4.32±0.53,2.24±0.79,2.84±1.14,3.63±0.77,and 2.44±0.95,respectively.ICs with higher Activities of Daily Living Scale(ADLS)scores were associated with a lower risk of insomnia,with an odd ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI)of 0.940(0.898–0.983).Among the ICs,female gender(OR=2.597),alcohol consumption(OR=3.745),underlying medical conditions(OR=11.765),long-term caregiving experience(OR=37.037),and higher monthly expenses(OR=5.714)were associated with a high risk of insomnia.Conclusion Of the hospitalized patients with lung cancer,51.9%experienced insomnia.Patients’ADL,ICs gender,alcohol consumption,underlying medical conditions,caregiving duration,and monthly expenses were influencing factors.Therefore,prompt screening and early intervention for ICs of patients with lung cancer is necessary.

Rice vs.Wheat:How Rice Farming Shaped Informal Finance in China

China’s financial system is characterized by the coexistence of both formal and informal finance,and informal finance appears to be more prevalent in the south of the country compared to the north.In this paper,we use the historical demarcation of rice-farming regions and the percentage area of rice sown to ascertain the regional distribution of rice farming in the south and wheat farming in the north in order to analyze the role of rice farming in the evolution of different types of financial institutions in China.We find that rice cultivation has a positive effect on informal financial development,though its impact on formal finance is insignificant.Unlike wheat farming,rice cultivation requires farmers to collaborate during busy farming seasons and necessitates the construction of irrigation systems.Such collaboration helped enhance an acquaintance society,in which both parties to transactions enforced the rules and contract terms of their own initiative,paving the way for informal finance.This paper not only demonstrates the cultural roots of the regional financial disparities in China but also expands the research on the ways in which farming practices from the past have shaped the development of China’s present financial markets.

Escherichia coli Pathotypes in Children with Acute Diarrhea in an Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya

Diarrhea is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged Escherichia coli (DEC) accounts for 30% - 40% of childhood diarrhea cases. To identify the pathotypes involved in diarrheal outbreaks in Kenya, we analyzed archived E. coli isolates from children E. coli confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done using the VITEK®2 instrument. Pathotype identification was performed via conventional polymerase chain reaction. Of 175 E. coli isolates, 48 (27%) were DEC pathotypes, with enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) predominating (71%, 34/48). Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) represented 19% and 10% of isolates, respectively. Enteroinvasive and enterotoxigenic pathotypes were not identified. All DEC isolates were susceptible to amikacin, ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem and tigecycline. Conversely, most (>80%) isolates were resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Half of all EAEC and EPEC strains were resistant to cefazolin while half of EHEC isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin. In total, 18 resistance phenotypes were identified with “ampicillin-cefazolin-ampicillin/ sulbactam-sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim” predominating (33%, 16/48). The majority (81%) of DEC isolates were multidrug-resistant, with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production identified in 8% of these isolates. This study highlights the predominance of Enteroaggregative E. coli and multidrug resistance of DEC pathotypes. Studying the epidemiology of diarrheal disease and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, will aid in identifying dominant etiological agents of diarrhea and newly emerging resistant strains in informal settlements.

Physicochemical Properties and Health Risks of Informal E-Waste Processing at Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria

This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells in the market area and analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium. The health index (HI) for children and adults was above the tolerable threshold levels, indicating a potential health risk to the population. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the sources of metals in groundwater, and the results showed that informal e-waste processing was a significant source of contamination. The study highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the potential health risks associated with informal e-waste processing and ensure public health and environmental safety.

范式的补充还是取代？——评塞西尔·巴尔蒙的informal

本文主要以informal书中库哈斯和巴尔蒙合作的两个作品为例,阐述informal思想中的若干重要概念。并引申出对结构技术进步的可能性,工程师和建筑师间的可能关系以及建筑学的可能发展方向等方面的反思,从而完成对informal这种以鼓励原创性为主的思想方式的批判性继承。

Informal Networks of Power and Control of Deviation in Post-Soviet Non-Democracies

Informal networks, practices and institutions may be observed in many different social contexts, particularly in politics. In certain political regimes, certain forms of informality are to be expected and are also tolerated more than in others. Political informality in Eastern Europe may be presented on an axis with two poles, with many variants or combinations of informality and formality between them. These positions also allow the identification of specific regime types and legal systems. This chapter seeks to contextualize the distinction between the formal and the informal and to relate it to types of political regime, the principal focus resting on informal politics. Specific political contexts may produce practices of informality that have become so generalised that they can be described as cultures of informality. The interesting question is： to what extent are specific forms of informal structures more resilient in particular regime types than in others？ Particularly looking at some of the more-or-less autocratic Euroasiatic states, one can easily recognize that the very purpose of informal politics and institutions is to restrict or eliminate political competition. Forms and meanings of what is informal and formal change the further one moves eastwards. Formal rules are and may be used together with informal institutions to control society. All this points to specific cultures of informality that can be observed, as well as different cultures of trust and distrust. On the other hand, such cultures of informality have to be considered in the context of specific political systems, together with their regimes （the concrete configurations of political power） and their organisations. This paper looks particularly at hybrid non-democracies and suggests one might consider them, in the perspective ofNiklas Luhmann＇s system theory, as parasites of functional differentiation.

Optimization Strategies of Urban Informal Commercial Space under Demand Orientation

Commercial behavior in towns and cities is mainly divided into formal and informal behavior.Rapid urbanization has enabled formal commerce to develop more and more perfectly in towns,basically meeting the living needs of residents. However, because of problems such as urban history and management mechanism, informal commercial behavior formed by floating stallholders and other employed people is widespread in towns. Due to the characteristics of instability, flexibility and richness,informal commerce has gradually developed into an important business to attract residents and tourists. In this paper, the general characteristics of informal commercial behavior in towns, the characteristics of the urban public space bearing this kind of commerce, and residents' demand for informal commercial space were summarized, and then the optimization strategies of this kind of public space were put forward to help towns make full use of their scattered space, create diversified commercial places, and add vitality to urban space while providing residents and tourists with daily life needs and convenience.

The Environmental Impacts of Informal Economies in China: Inverted U-shaped Relationship and Regional Variances

This paper aims to the debate on the nexus between informal economies and the environment by investigating the long-term dynamic impacts of China’s informal economies on pollution and considering regional differences in informal economies’ pollution.This paper uses the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes(MIMIC) model to estimate the size of informal economies and employs econometric models to examine their relationships to pollution based on provincial-level panel data from 2000 to 2017. The results indicate that informal economies’ effects on environmental pollution are not purely positive or negative. Rather, our model indicates that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between informal economies and pollution in the long run in China;this means that the level of environmental pollution increases at first and then decreases with the growth of informal economies. Further analysis shows that while this inverted, U-shaped relationship is significant in different regions of China, it is affected by different environmental impact factors. The paper concludes by discussing the policy implications for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Improving caregiving competence, stress coping, and mental well-being in informal dementia carers

AIM: To study the effectiveness of Reitman Centre "Coaching, Advocacy, Respite, Education, Relationship, and Simulation"(CARERS) program, which uses problem-solving techniques and simulation to train informal dementia carers. METHODS: Seventy-three carers for family members with dementia were included in the pilot study. Preand post-intervention data were collected from carers using validated measures of depression, mastery, role captivity and overload, caregiving competence and burden, and coping styles. To assess program effec-tiveness, mean differences for these measures were calculated. One-way ANOVA was used to determine if change in scores is dependent on the respective baseline scores. Clinical effects for measures were expressed as Cohen's D values. RESULTS: Data from 73 carers were analyzed. The majority of these participants were female(79.5%). A total of 69.9% were spouses and 30.1% were children of the care recipient. Participants had an overall mean age of 68.34 ± 12.01 years. About 31.5% of participating carers had a past history of psychiatric illness(e.g., depression), and 34.2% sustained strained relationships with their respective care recipients. Results from carers demonstrated improvement in carers' selfperception of competence(1.26 ± 1.92, P < 0.0001), and significant reduction in emotion-focused coping(measured by the Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations,-2.37 ± 6.73, P < 0.01), Geriatric Depression scale(-0.67 ± 2.63, P < 0.05) and Pearlin's overload scale(-0.55 ± 2.07, P < 0.05), upon completion of the Program. Secondly, it was found that carers with more compromised baseline scores benefited most from the intervention, as they experienced statistically significant improvement in the following constructs: competence, stress-coping style(less emotion-oriented), sense of mastery, burden, overload. CONCLUSION: Study results supported the effectiveness of the CARERS Program in improving caregiving competence, stress coping ability and mental well-being in carers caring for family members with dementia.

Problem-Solving Based Intervention for Informal Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Background: Caregiving for someone is a huge task for informal caregivers. The caregiving role is often challenging and overwhelming for them. Stress, burden, and depression have been frequently identified as the negative caregiving experiences. This systematic review synthesized the available evidence for the problem-based intervention provided for caregivers as there is little insight about the effects of problem-based intervention on caregivers. Objectives: To describe: 1) the design of problem-solving intervention;2) the effects of problem-solving intervention for caregiver outcomes. Methods: This review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews which entail setting research questions, selecting relevant studies, charting the data and synthesizing the results. FPRISMA guidelines were adopted and several databases were searched including MEDLINE;EMBASE;web of science. This review contains literature from 2012 to 2019 on problem-solving-based intervention which intended to caregivers. Results: 41 publications representing 27 unique problem-based interventions. Problem-solving-based intervention has different extent effects on caregiver emotion status, burden and quality of life. Conclusions: Problem-solving intervention is promising in caregiver intervention which could reduce caregiver depression, anxiety and burden.

Informal Settlements： A Shape Grammar Approach

Informal urban development is seldomly covered in academic studies or professional architectural training. This article sets forth the first stage of a novel study that observes the informal city using the methodology of analysis of architecture called shape grammars. The idea is to recognize peculiarities in the occupation of the land and the volumetric features of the buildings. Rocinha favela, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is taken as a case study with the primary aim of extrapolating a set of rules for its morphological features so that these rules can be used to generate new shapes, whilst bearing in mind the issues of adaptation and transformation which are so characteristic of informal settlements. There is some expectation that this study may help improve the housing and public space in the favela and enable new housing programs to observe the way the buildings and different architectural elements combined, forming a new channel of interchange with the spatial organization of the favela.

Systematic Logic Controller Design as Sequential Function Chart Starting from Informal Specifications

Today＇s automation industry is driven by the need for an increased productivity, higher flexibility, and higher individuality, and characterized by tailor-made and more complex control solutions. In the processing industry, logic controller design is often a manual, experience-based, and thus an error-prone procedure. Typically, the specifications are given by a set of informal requirements and a technical flowchart and both are used to be directly translated into the control code. This paper proposes a method in which the control program is constructed as a sequential function chart （SFC） by transforming the requirements via clearly defined intermediate formats. For the purpose of analysis, the resulting SFC can be translated algorithmically into timed automata. A rigorous verification can be used to determine whether all specifications are satisfied if a formal model of the plant is available which is then composed with the automata model of the logic controller （LC）.

Can One Drink Informal Water Alternatives Directly? Using Mobile Phone to Establish Trust in Quality

The informal water market in cities within the Global South is expanding, thanks to drought associated water shortage challenges and other socio-hydrological factors. A midst the growth is the inherent information signal asymmetry driven mainly by the vendors’ unwillingness to share the actual quality data of their source water with their customers. As a result a big mistrust environment has been created as currently;the customers have no mechanism to verify the water quality in real time. This paper aimed at developing an android application software system to fill the gap. The system is to operate the water vending business landscape as a trusted social network site (SNS) using handheld mobile phone devices. An Agile-Scrum methodology was utilized as it allows for quick changes to the system as necessary. An android platform was chosen as the initial Operating System (OS) to run the software system due to its faster global outreach capability. Specifically, Android Studio 3.4.2 IDE running on Windows 10 was deployed. And the primary languages used within the IDE were;Kotlin for the functionality and XML for the user interface (UI). Additionally, the Firebase SDK tools were used for cloud-based database functionality. The results of the prototype include;user side access and feedback exchanges, backend side supports and other added functionalities. The paper is of the strong view that since the system works on anytime-anywhere modality, then it is possible that one can drink the informal water directly. The system is recommended for full scale trial in the affected cities.

The Role of Private Water Vending in Nigeian Peri-Urban Informal Settlements: Implication for Policy Makers

This paper presents a study of water vending in 3 informal settlements of Yola North in Adamawa State of Nigeria. These settlements represent the fast growing urban areas often dwelling in unplanned and unsecured tenure. Access to safe water supply has great influence on the health, economic productivity and quality of life of the people. But meeting this need is one of the major challenges facing the urban communities of Nigeria today. A field survey was conducted in the area with 100 observations of households in each of the three informal settlements. These settlements are Sabongari -University village, Vinikilang and Wuro Jabbe. The survey solicited for response concerning household water source, water per capita use and household size. Findings revealed that about 92% of respondent in Sabongari-University village, 66% in Vinikilang and 87% in Wuro Jabbe depend on vended water from borehole, hand dug well as well as surface water sources which are delivered by hand pushed trucks. Owing to the absence of piped water networks in the study area, households are forced to rely on available water sources which are precursor to water borne diseases. It is advocated that the public agencies should evolve special programs for regularizing informal settlements, meaning the legalization of land tenure, layout corrections and service upgrading if service is to meet the poor informal dwellers.

The Key Triggers for the Transitioning of Informal SMMEs to Formal SMMEs:A Baseline Survey of the Gauteng Province——South Africa

This paper presents the views of 623 informal and formal small,medium,and micro enterprises(SMMEs)operating in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.The objective of the study was to identify challenges and benefits that are experienced by SMMEs during and after the registration process leading to the transition from informal to formal business,the level of awareness by the SMMEs of the registration information,and the procedures in addition to the potential factors that inspire or discourage informal and prospective business registration.The reason for including both informal and formal SMMEs in the survey was to compare the perceptions of these groups of businesses regarding the triggers and/or barriers to register as a formal business.The results show that for both informal and formal businesses,the liability of paying taxes was a major challenge while improved workers’health and safety accrued as a major benefit.Own research emerged as the main source of access to business registration information and procedure.The costs involved in registration were highlighted as one of the major factors discouraging registration but the prospects of expanding the customer base and the ability to achieve a higher turnover as some of the main inspiring factors.The study recommends the development of policies that provide an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises but also to implement measures that improve productivity through access to finance,skills,infrastructure,markets,and technology transfers.

Study on the Influence of Informal institution on Rural Legal Construction in Northwest Ethnic Minority Region

The Informal institution in Northwest Ethnic Minority Region has dual effects on rural legal construction. In the process of rural legal construction,it can make up for the defects of formal institution to reduce the cost of legal construction,and increase benefit. It also has negative influence on social function,and can't be conducive to the social stability,development and harmony. Civil law is to be more valued,thus avoiding and hampering the implementation of national laws and even covering the operation of national laws,so it is impossible to achieve rule of law. The coordinated development of Informal institution and socio-economic development in Northwest Ethnic Minority Region will contribute to stable and harmonious social development in Northwest Region.

Determinants of inequality in health care seeking for childhood illnesses:insights from Nairobi informal settlements

Background:An in-depth understanding of patterns of inequities in healthcare seeking among the urban residents is critical in identifying appropriate interventions strategies.The study evaluates determinants of inequality in health care seeking for childhood illnesses among informal settlement residents in Nairobi,Kenya.Methods:Data from the second Nairobi Cross-Sectional Slum Survey(NCSS 2012)was examined.The inequality in seeking health care for childhood diarrhea as the prototype illness was assessed using concentration index(CI).The wealth index based on the household possessions and amenities was used as a measure for socioeconomic status.Results:A total of 2027 qualified women were included in this study.About 16.6% of children born of younger mothers aged<20 years had diarrhea and a similar proportion of children(16.3%)was observed among mothers who were unemployed.The CI of-0.026 on health care seeking for diarrhea among children points to significant inequality among the urban poor(95% confidence interval:-0.028 to-0.023).Conclusion:Occupation of parents,age of mothers,ethnicity,marital status and children's age were major deter-minants with regard to disease outcome and to a broader extent inequality in health care seeking for childhood illnesses.Enhanced bottom top community health invigoration strategies in health information awareness and services access would be instrumental.

Informal Sector Solid Waste Collection and Recycling in Zaria, Nigeria

Management of solid wastes has become a critical issue for almost all the major cities in Nigeria. Although the responsibility for solid waste management remains primarily with the local government councils, several other stakeholders are playing significant roles in the system. In Zaria, the scavengers, waste pickers and collectors eke out a living by collecting waste and selling recyclable materials out of the urban solid wastes. The paper utilized data collected using questionnaire survey, in-depth discussion guides and open-ended interviews to examine the socio-economic characteristics, the functions, aspects of involvement of children, the working conditions and problems of waste collectors and pickers in Zaria. The paper found that the sector is the only means of solid waste collection in several sections of the town and is a source of livelihood for the poor. The activities help in realizing the aim of modern waste management, that is to move up the solid waste management hierarchy by reducing reliance on disposal and increasing recycling. In spite of these important functions, informal waste collection and recycling are associated with problems of unsanitary conditions and health risks to the communities and the waste collectors. Recommendations have been made to integrate the informal sector into the formal waste management by incorporating the employment needs of the urban poor and enhancing the efficiency of government in addressing the main problems.