Economic Stress, Precariousness and Risk of High Blood Pressure: A Descriptive Survey of Life Models within Households of the Central Region of Cameroon

Context/Objective: High blood pressure (HBP) currently represents the most widespread chronic non-communicable disease in Cameroon. The increase in its prevalence in the country is the result of multiple factors including economic stress imposed by precariousness, poor living conditions, sources of anxiety, anguish, depression and other behavioral disorders. Economic stress is a globalizing concept that integrates into a purely hermeneutic approach, a particular functioning of the nervous system of an individual who faces employment problems and precarious remuneration conditions. The non-satisfaction by an individual of his basic needs due to insufficient financial means can cause him to become irritable, aggressive, and socially and symbolically isolated, thereby increasing the desire to resort to morbid life models such as excessive consumption of narcotics and other psychoactive substances often associated with high blood pressure. The fight against the emergence of BPH is a complex, multifaceted and multifactorial reality that requires taking into account economic stress. The main objective of this survey is to describe the situation of economic stress within the Cameroonian population, which imposes precariousness and life models at risk of high blood pressure. Specifically, we determined the level of household income and the sources of income. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a descriptive aim among five hundred households in the Central Region of Cameroon was conducted. A probabilistic technique called simple randomness was used. The number of households to be surveyed was determined indirectly using the Cochrane formula. Data collection in face-to-face mode using a physical questionnaire took place from July 1 to August 31, 2023, after obtaining ethical clearance from the Regional Health Research Ethics Committee, Human from the Center and an administrative authorization for data collection. Regarding their processing, the data was grouped during processing in Excel sheets. Normality and reliability tests of the collected data were carried out. For this, the Chi-square test was used for data with a qualitative value and that of Kolmogorov-Sminorf for data with a quantitative value. Descriptive analysis was possible using R software version 3.2, SPSS version 25.0, XLSTAT 2016, PAST and EXCEL programs from Microsoft Office 2013. Results: The main results highlight economic stress, with 45.60% of households surveyed earning less than US$154 per month;55% of household heads were women in single-parent families;14% of household heads were unemployed, 22% worked in the private sector and 19% were self-employed. This general economic situation leads to precarious living conditions, thereby increasing the risk of high blood pressure among the Cameroonian population.

A Method in Mixed Frequency-time domain for Fatigue Life Estimation of Steel Girders of Cable-stayed Bridges Due to Buffeting

发展了斜拉桥钢主梁抖振疲劳寿命的混合时－频域方法．在本方法中，首先建立了桥面处的风速风向概率密度函数，导出的应力谱因其包括背景分量而不再是窄带谱．据应力谱模拟出了疲劳应力的时间历程，并用雨流计数法统计了其幅值特性．基于修正的Ｍｉｎｅｒ定理导出了考虑风速风向作用的桥梁主梁抖振疲劳寿命的估算公式，并用此分析了杨浦大桥钢主梁的抖振疲劳寿命．结果表明，风向对抖振疲劳寿命有很大影响；杨浦大桥主梁的疲劳寿命远大于设计寿命．

Uncertainty in life cycle economical analysis of cassava-based ethanol fuel

Biomass ethanol fuel is not only renewable but also environmental-friendly. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is developing the cassava-based ethanol fuel. Economical performance of the project is the key issue. The traditional life cycle economical analysis is just a static calculation process. Uncertainty is the character of cassava yield, cost of cassava plant, cassava price, tax rate and gasoline price, and the economical performance of the project is determined by these aspects. This study proposes an economical model of cassava-based ethanol fuel. The method of Monte Carol is used to simulate the economical performance. This method conquers the shortage of the traditional way. The results show that cassava-based ethanol fuel can get survived when the tax is exempted. Finally, the study also evaluates the potential of the economical performance.

Load Test and Fatigue Life Evaluation for Welded Details in Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge

To study the fatigue performance of welded details in the orthotropic steel decks,the steel box girder for Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge is taken as the research object.Based on the field monitoring data obtained from the load test,the stress response test of the orthotropic steel box girder under wheel loads is performed and the correctness of the vehicle test data obtained from the field monitoring data also have been verified by the numerical results of the finite element model.Based on the Miner linear cumulative damage theory,the S-N curve of the Eurocode3 specification is referenced,and the fatigue life calculation formula of the welded details is determined according to the actual structural features.The fatigue life evaluation of the four typical welded details is obtained.The results indicate that:The load test data is compared and verified by the numerical result of finite element model.The local effect of stress distribution is remarkable.The stress measurement points on the four typical welded details are mainly based on low amplitude stress cycles.Most of the stress ranges are 2-10 MPa,among which the stress range of the welded details at the U-rib butt joint is larger.The fatigue life of welded details in the 14 mm thick top plate is smaller than that of the 16 mm thick top plate corresponding to the fatigue life of the welded details.The rib-to-rib butt welded joints and the openings of the diaphragms were prone to fatigue failure.Among them,the welding details of the 14 mm thick U-rib butt joints first appeared fatigue failure.The arrangement of the diaphragm can effectively increase the fatigue life of the top-U rib weld and improve the fatigue performance at this detail.

Energy, Environment, Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Cassava-based Ethanol Used as Automotive Fuel in Guangxi Province, China

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to compare the energy, environmental and economic impacts of converting cassava to fuel ethanol in Guangxi Province, China. The entire life cycle is a system that includes stages from cassava farming to ethanol fuel combustion. A computer-based model was developed to assess energy, environmental, and economic (EEE) life cycle implication of cassava-based ethanol fuel. The LCA results for fuel ethanol were compared to conventional gasoline (CG) as a base-line case. On the life-cycle bases, the use of cassava-based ethanol fuel in Guangxi may consume more energy but reduce greenhouse gas, VOC, and CO emissions. Life cycle cost results indicate that although fuel ethanol currently is not competitive compared to conventional gasoline, it has great potentials when there are subsidies and/or yields of cassava planting are improved. In terms of balancing the energy, environmental and economical, the introduction form of cassava-based ethanol fuel would be E10. The assessment results generated from this study provide an important reference for Guangxi policy makers to better understand the trade-offs among energy, environmental effects, and economics for the most effective using of regional energy resources.

Stone Bridge and Village Life World：A Case Study on Luqiao Village in Shandong Province, China

Based on the custom of stone bridge and village, by categorizing and interpreting the relationship between Lufeng Bridge （鲁封桥） and Luqiao Village （鲁桥村） in Southern Shandong Province, China, this paper focuses on discussing the dynamic of rural society change in China and the practice of village life world. It provides detailed materials of field research about folk life of stone bridge and village in North China. Here village life world not only includes the folk integration of their everyday life, but also covers local villagers cognitive attitude towards village, such as village history, legend, belief, ritual, clan and other everyday life styles. Expounding and reconstructing of village life world, shows the essential meanings and categories of bridge folklore, it also demonstrates the consequence of shifting connection between stone bridge and village life. Firstly, the crucial context of understanding village life world is still promising. Secondly, folklore fieldwork is an significant part to comprehend the connotation of village life world.

The Impacts of Lower Population Growth on the Quality of Life and Economic Development：China＇s Experience

China is the most populous country in the world.The total Population on the mainland of China has in-creased from 540 million in 1949 to 1.18 billion by the end of 1993.China adopted a population policy by namc of"controlling population growth and im-proving the quality of the human resources',which has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese pcoplc.The overw helming majority of the Chinese people have recognized the necessity for implementing the family planning programme not only for the sustained devel-opment of the country,but also for the benefits of their own familie cs.

Net Present Value Method: A Method Recommended by ISO 15686-5 for Economic Evaluation of Building Life Cycle Costs

The publication of ISO 15686-5 is significant for studies related to the life-cycle costs of buildings. Among the many economic evaluation methods, the NPV method is recommended for use by this standard. This study explains the concept and method of PV, and then provides an explanation of the concept and method of NPV, and points out the limitations in the practical application of the method.

Influence of Long-term Climate on Fatigue Life of Bridge Pier Concrete and a Reinforcement Method

This paper quantitatively evaluated the fatigue life of concrete around the air-water boundary layer of bridge piers located in inland rivers,considering the long-term climate.The paper suggests a method to predict the low-cycle fatigue life by demonstrating a thermal-fluid-structural analysis of bridge pier concrete according to long-term climate such as temperature,velocity and pressure of air and water in the process of freezing and thawing in winter.In addition,it proposes a reinforcing method to increase the life of damaged piers and proves the feasibility of the proposed method with numerical comparison experiment.

A Valid Method for the Forecasting Economic Life Circle of Equipment

In this paper, the degrading regularities for quipment reliability and performance are discussed. Based on the isodegrading model, the characteristics of the cost and benefit in the equipment life circle are studied. Using the principle of getting maximum Net Annual Value(NAV), a valid method for forecasting economic life circle is proposed.

Stress, Executive Function, Resilience and Quality of Life in Portuguese Subjects in Situations of Economic Insufficiency and Unemployment

The aim of this study is the investigation of the impact of stress of Portuguese subjects in situations of economic insufficiency and unemployment on executive function and quality of life and the coping strategies and resilience skills used. The sample consists of 41 participants. The psychometric instruments used are validated for Portuguese population, measure (perceived) stress, coping, material deprivation, resilience and quality of life, defined by World Health Organization. Executive function has been evaluated through performances at Stroop and Berg tasks. It has been concluded that, in this population, resilience skills and active coping strategies are positively correlated with quality of life. Quality of life is negatively correlated with material deprivation. Active coping strategies are supported by adequate executive function, which neurobiological substrate is dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex. Not active coping strategies correlate negatively with cognitive flexibility, suggesting the presence of a deficit at infero-lateral prefrontal cortex.

The Environmental Impacts and Economic Benefits on Comprehensively Promoting Alternative Fuel Buses in China: Life-Cycle and Scenario Analysis Based on LEAP Model

With the continuous development of urban public transportation, the harmful GHG emissions and pollutants generated by itself and the consequent issues such as the losses of residents’ health, economic value and residents’ welfare have become the focus of social attention. In order to study the impacts of promoting new energy vehicles on public transportation pollution mitigation and residents’ health benefits, this paper adopts the LEAP model to build some scenarios that fulfill different development needs to quantitatively analyze the ownership of new energy buses, the reduction of pollutants and the losses of residents’ health welfare. It is concluded that promoting new energy buses comprehensively can significantly reduce the emissions of atmospheric pollutants and the economic losses of residents’ health, but cannot fully realize the targets of greenhouse gas reduction under Life Cycle Analysis.

The significance of resource recycling for coking wastewater treatment:based on environmental and economic life cycle assessment

The sustainability of the coking industry is supported by reasonable production profit and environmental quality requirements.The traditional measures substantially increased the related costs for enterprises to reach standards.This paper aims to develop a comprehensive cost combined environmental impact assessment method that is necessary for the analysis of wastewater treatment systems.Typical three coking wastewater treatment processes in China were evaluated.Results showed that eutrophication dominantly contributed to the overall environmental effect.Improving effluent quality could significantly reduce the total environmental impact.In terms of an economic perspective,the price of raw materials was the main factor that affected the operating cost of comprehensive treatment.Based on subsystem analysis,the pretreatment stage accounted for the majority of environmental and cost burdens,respectively reaching 64%-78%and 64%-86%.Optimizing the pretreatment process by enhancing the efficiency of high concentration raw material recovery and substituting toxic raw materials for extractant could reduce the environmental impact and economic cost by 43.8%and 57%,respectively,which was an effective way to improve the potential performance of coking wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs).

Health Inequalities during 20 Years of Rapid Economic Development in China (1980-2000):A Mortality Analysis

Objective To examine the influence of China＇s economic reforms on population health and regional mortality rates.Methods Longitudinal study measuring the mortality trends and their regional variations.Using data from the three most recent national censuses,we used the model life table to adjust the mortality levels within the population for each census,and to calculate life expectancy.We then examined the variation in patterns of mortality and population health by economic status,region and gender from 1980-2000.Results Life expectancy varied with economic status,province,and gender.Results showed that,although life expectancy in China had increased overall since the early 1980s,regional differences became more pronounced.Life expectancy for populations who live in the eastern coastal provinces are greater than those in the western regions.Conclusion Differences in life expectancy are primarily related to differences in regional economic development,which in turn exacerbate regional health inequalities.Therefore,it is necessary to improve economic development in less developed regions and to improve health policies and the public health system that address the needs of everyone.

Effect of crack-closure treatment on fatigue durability of cracked rib-to-deck welded joints in steel bridge decks

To evaluate the effect of treating long cracks with the impact crack-closure retrofit(ICR)technique,three rib-to-deck welded specimens with a crack length of about 100 mm were tested.The metallographic structure,crack section,crack propagation life,and stress variation were analyzed.Finite-element models were also developed,and some optimal values of certain parameters are suggested according to the simulated results.The results show that new crack sources are generated on both sides of the ICR-treated region because of the stress distribution.The fatigue lives of cracked specimens with long cracks are significantly improved by the technique.Considerable residual compressive stress is also induced,and so it is suggested that the optimal impact angle to be applied to real bridges should be 70°.The stress at the weld root is distributed uniformly with the crack closed,and the optimal crack-closure depth is 4 mm.To evaluate the effect of different crack-closure depths in tests,it is recommended that a hot-spot stress method which is extrapolated by three reference points should be adopted.

The dynamic economic evaluation method of shale gas resources

At present, most shale gas exploration and development areas in China are difficult to provide sufficient and effective production data to support economic evaluation, since they are still in the initial stage of low exploration level. In addition, ecological and environmental factors are not taken into account in the evaluation process, which does not meet the needs of green energy development of China. Aiming at above problems, the dynamic economic evaluation method of shale gas resources based on calculus principle is proposed. The Arps hyperbolic decreasing curve model will be used in the evaluation of single shale gas well production, which can evaluate single well production of shale gas by fitting the existing dynamic production data to generate the production decreasing curve. Therefore, the variation regularity of the cumulative production of single well shale gas within the study area can be obtained by the model mentioned above. According to the variation regularity of the cumulative production obtained from the Arps hyperbolic decreasing curve model, the recovery period of single well cost, ultimate economic life and the ultimate economic resource can be evaluated dynamically by analyzing the variation regularity of the cumulative sales revenue and cumulative input cost of single shale gas well. Then the evaluation result can be further extend to the whole evaluation areas, in order to analyze shale gas resources ’ economic value in evaluation regions under different shale gas price conditions. The results of the above evaluation methods are not only conducive to improving the economic benefits of relative shale gas development enterprises, but also provide a basis for the national energy strategy deployment.

Maximum Expected Benefit-Oriented Optimal Maintenance Decision for Existing Bridges

Abstract An optimal maintenance program is the key to making appropriate decisions to minimize cost and maintain an appropriate lev- el of safety. In this paper, the strategy on repairing and strengthening of existing bridges based on time-dependent reliability was analyzed with the maximum expected benefit as the objective function. Risk ranking and lifecycle cost analysis were considered in the reliability-based bridge assessment. A practical application of risk-ranking decision was illustrated herein based on updated inspection informarion with the bridge at survival age 35. The effects of improvement of live load and difference of repair methods on time-dependent reliability of existing bridges were studied. The decision method can be used in real projects, with the cost of failure consequence and the risk of failure considered.

Sustainability Assessment of Wastewater Systems: An Environmental and Economic Approach

To address current challenges regarding sustainable development of wastewater treatment and provide scientific support in decision procedures towards sustainable solutions, new approaches, frameworks and methodologies about different possible solutions and their potential sustainability implications are needed. One way to facilitate sustainability assessment of wastewater is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology;however, it fails to map the full scope of wastewater impacts. This paper presents a framework to evaluate the performance of Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTF) taking into consideration various factors for insuring environmental sustainability. A total of nine indicators, seven environmental and two economic related to four wastewater treatment facilities, were assessed. Apart from evaluating the sustainability, this study also discussed the link of life cycle approach and social aspects of wastewater. The results show that for the environmental dimension using LCA provides information on different types of environmental activities and different impact categories. LCA can thus be used to quantify and compare the multiple types of impacts caused by one type of use or emission, as well as the various resource uses or emissions that contribute to one type of impacts. For the economic dimension, there is still a need for consistent and robust indicators and methods. The empirical results suggest that the environmental sustainability framework can be used in the first phase of the decision procedure that leads to a strategic choice for sustainable resource recovery from wastewater in developing countries. This motives researchers and decision-makers to consider the whole picture, and not just individual aspects, when considering different futures scenarios.

Repair and Strengthening Assessment of Existing Bridges Based on Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis

The strategy on repair and strengthening of existing bridges based on time-dependent reliability was analyzed with the maximum expected benefit as the objective function. A sample of risk-ranking decision was illustrated based on updated inspection information with 35 survival age. The effect of improvement of live loads and difference of repair methods on time-dependent reliability of existing bridges are considered. The results show that the decision method can be used in real project, with the cost of failure consequence and the risk of failure considered.

Sustainable Economic Development:The Necessary Dialogue between Environmental Law and Economics

This article aims to analyze the distinction between the concepts of economic growth,economic development,sustainable development and environmental justice;the inter-action between Environmental Law and Economics in the paradigm of environmental justice,and what is the purpose of such interaction;and environmental justice as a possible solution to the installed state of environmental imbalance.To this end,the concepts of economic growth,economic development,sustainable development and environmental justice are investigated;Complexity Theory and its transdisciplinary approach;and environmental justice as a new order capable of reversing a state of installed environmental imbalance.To obtain the results desired by the research,the method of approach to be followed will be the empirical-dialectical,using bibliographic research,having as a reference system of the Law and Economics of Richard A.Posner.In conclusion,it is pointed out that there is a need for a new development model,which,based on transdisciplinarity,should seek solutions in favor of socioeconomic-environmental balance for present and future generations,as a way of overcoming the state of environmental imbalance installed,as well as all the economic,political,cultural,social and environmental impacts caused by it.