Dilemmatic experiences of young migrants in Accra,Ghana: The merciless hands of pirate urbanization and landlordism

The general pattern of internal migration in Ghana has been north to south. While a number of studies have focused on the vulnerabilities and urban problems associated with this pattern, the dynamics of internal migration with emphasis on young people in a slum setting have not been explored. To accomplish the goal of understanding the dynamics of internal migration among young people from the north of Ghana to Old Fadama, an Accra slum in the south, two specific objectives have been pursued. First, I explore the housing and environmental stressors encountered by young migrants at the destination and their proposed strategies to deal with these stressors and second, I explain how government policies are lagging behind to deal with these stressors. I use insights from the concepts of pirate urbanization and landlordism to show that substandard structures and the monetization of equity (property) among the relatively more privileged in the slum exacerbate the predicaments of these migrants. Drawing on the concepts of sovereign power and non-sovereign power, I suggest that lessons from the elements of these concepts (such as ethnic net-like organizations and governmental agencies) provide entry points for programmatic and policy directions aimed toward these young migrants in a high-risk environment. I use a mixed-methods approach to examine the objectives of this work. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with young migrants (aged 10–29) in Old Fadama. I find that the major stressors faced by these young people include poor shelter, lack of sanitation, poor health outcomes, and human right violations, and these are exacerbated by the privatization of squatting.     

Double quarries—Grade and artificial hard aggregates

The article deals with an interesting quarry in NW Slovenia, Yugoslavia, which exploits two kinds of rock at the same time: quartz keratophyre at the bottom and dolomite at the top, both of them of mid-Triassic age. Both rocks are processed in the same screening plant as aggregates for bitumen and cement concretes. Explorations for quartz keratophyre with tuffs started in 1966 for wearing courses of motorways. As such rocks are relatively few in Slovenia, and also in Yugoslavia, high grade carbonate aggregates were also proposed for less exacting roads and for lower layers of motorways. In the meanwhile, also artificial aggregates made from basic slags from ironworks were investigated. Good quality was ascertained and confirmed by a survey in use on a road.     

Geotechnical investigations for the selection of a hammer foundation on a highly weathered gneissic rock in ghana

A geotechnical investigation comprising percussion drilled boheroles and trial pits and field and laboratory index engineering tests were carried out in a highly weathered gneissic rock in Tema-Ghana. On the basis of this investigation, a DEEP BLOCK FOUNDATION was selected for a hammer in a forging factory. The effect of embedded foundations on vibrations has been highlighted in the paper. Computation of settlements of the selected foundation and that of the other structures could not be discussed in detail due to the lack of technical data relating to the actual hammer to be used.     

Phylogenetic diversity of aqueous microorganisms separated after the advanced tertiary of tap water

The species composition of bacterial community of the drinking tap water and water samples taken at different purification stages of the water conditioning plant at an enterprise producing special drinks has been analyzed. This study involves the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and the use of molecular biology methods based on the phylogenetic analysis. The following bacterial species were identified: Bacillus nanhaiensis, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis. All the studied strains belong to phylum Firmicutes, class Bacilli representing Gram-positive microorganisms that are not pathogenic to human. The presence of the bacteria investigated in different habitats such as the drinking chlorinated water, in the presence of stress factors (arid climate, high or low temperatures, depleted soil, and the occurrence of disinfectants) indicates their ability to easily adapt to new living conditions expanding their habitat.     

A technical basis for regional aggregates policies

The planning system in England and Wales, the scale of the aggregates industry, and problems due to high levels of demand for aggregates are briefly outlined. A planning policy initiative to solve the problems is described. The information base required for preparation of these Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales, and the scope of research commissioned by the Department of the Environment in support of work on aggregates policy are reviewed.     

An unusual foundation for an arch dam in mauritania

Between the years of 1981 and 1983 a 45 metres high arch dam was constructed for irrigation purposes at the Gorgol-Noir, a tributary of the Senegal River, in the semi-desert zone of southern Mauritania (Sahel). North of the city of M'bout the Gorgol-Noir erodes through a range of Precambrian metamorphic quartz-schists, trending north to south. The paper describes the investigations—engineering geological and the rock mechanics—undertaken in the course of the design and construction of the dam. Of particular importance were cavities located on the valley sides, proved to be related to shale intercalations.     

Legislation and administration of inground waste disposal in new South Wales and Victoria,Australia

Legislation and administration of waste disposal is primarily a State and Local Government responsibility in Australia. The legal and environmental principles that form the base of present and possibly future legislation and administration are described. Some problems are discussed and in particular that of legal retro-responsibility for wastes. New South Wales and Victoria have different legislative and administrative systems. Both are complex with many overlapping Acts. The role of the recently implemented Environment Planning and Assessment Act (1979) on siting waste facilities in N.S.W. in discussed. Control of disposal in Victoria is decentralized whereas in N.S.W. management is focussed in the Metropolitan Waste Disposal Authority.     

Development of materials specifications and emplacement procedures for backfilling nuclear fuel waste vaults

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Ontario Hydro are conducting a research program to assess the environmental impact and safety of the concept of disposal of nuclear fuel waste in an underground vault in plutonic rock of the Canadian Shield. The Vault Sealing Program, one of the components of the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program, is concerned with the development of materials specifications and emplacement procedures for backfilling the vault. Backfilling materials would surround the nuclear waste containers and fill all vault openings to minimize leaching and movement of radionuclides. This paper presents the procedure followed to select candidate backfill materials, the integration of mathematical modelling studies and physical testing for the definition of materials specifications, and the principal elements of the recommended handling and emplacement systems.     

Enhancement of fire protection with directional cooling spray nozzles by use of AFFF

This paper will describe the work done and results of the study to characterize various directional cooling spray nozzles when used with Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Agents.     

Estimating room flashover potential

Flashover is the ultimate event in a room fire signaling the final untenability for room occupants and greatly increased hazard to other building spaces. Despite this importance, hazard evaluations of furnishings and other common fuel loads have normally not been based on estimates of flashover potential. This paper considers a simple combustion model and examines available experimental data.     

Laboratory testing of pile fabrics — A proposed flammability standard

At the request of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Bureau of Standards developed a proposed standard for the flammability of upholstered furniture. This paper briefly describes the proposed standard and its history, and examines the performance of pile fabrics tested at the University of Washington Textile Laboratories in accordance with the provisions of the proposed standard.     

Characterization of Flaring and Non-Flaring Container Filled Votive Candles

Authors were provided two sets of 24 exemplar candles. Of these, 24 were identified as the same that the provider had observed “flaring”. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the material showed that the candles that did not flare were soy based wax and that those that did flare were petroleum based wax. Burning the candles showed that melted wax in some petroleum based candles was ignited by the wick flame and produced a pool fire inside the candles’ glass container. Based on measured mass loss rate and the heat of combustion of petroleum based wax, the calculated power output of a normal burning candle is ca. 30 W. When the liquid wax pool ignited, the output was ca. 230 W, with significant flame extension above the top edge of candle’s glass container. The FTIR analysis also showed that twelve of the petroleum based wax candles had a simple hydroxyl compound, likely an alcohol, peak that was not present in the second sample of one dozen petroleum based wax candles. Burn testing showed that the candles from the sample with hydroxyl ignite a pool fire after burning for 15 to 30 min; the second sample of petroleum based wax candles, those that did not have the hydroxyl compound, did not ignite a pool fire. This suggests that the hydroxyl compound reduces the flashpoint of the wax to an ignition temperature attained after burning the candle for tens of minutes. Once the hydroxyl compound petroleum based wax melts and reaches a temperature above its flashpoint/flame point, it vaporizes sufficiently to be ignited, with flame extension of 152 mm (6 in) or more above the wax pool. This flame extension or “flaring” represents a significant fire hazard in that it may ignite nearby combustibles or fracture the candle’s glass container and release burning wax.     

A Regionally-Applicable model of union growth: Comment

This paper criticizes the approach used by M. Snowbarger in “A Regionally-Applicable Model for the Study of the Growth of Organized Labor,” The Annals of Regional Science, February, 1974. It is argued that the division of union membership change into “product-market” and “factor-market” effects has serious conceptual flaws, as well as using a special case of decomposition of change in a weighted aggregate, so that unambiguous partitioning of total change is impossible.     

What determines entry? Evidence from Sweden

In this paper, I examined what conditions affected the entry of Swedish limited liability firms 2000–2008, while making a distinction between regular entrants and those that survive for at least 2 years. I used a dataset that makes it possible to trace entry geographically as well as in what industry it occurs down to the 5-digit NACE level. Results suggest that the conditions influencing regular entry were similar to those influencing surviving entry. Political variables, e.g., municipal tax rate and the ideology of local rule, were of limited importance. Meanwhile, municipalities with industries with high minimum efficient scale of production or high market concentration rates were considerably less likely to see new firm formation. Substantially, more entry occurred in municipalities with high-income and a well-educated population. The importance of the level of education appears stronger for surviving entrants than for regular entrants, pointing to the importance of human capital.     

Efficiency in water quality control for the Wilamette River

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, P.L. 92-500, requires tertiary treatment of all effluent by 1983; Oregon State policy focuses on maintaining future effluent discharges at a level no greater than current levels. The Federal and State policies are combined in planning for the future management of the quality of the Willamette River. As a consequence, the Willamette will be clean-too clean- and the economic inefficiency inherent in the water quality control plan will cause misallocation of public resources. This misallocation could be avoided by incorporating economic principles, especially cost comparisons and the consideration of alternative procedures, into the water quality plan.     

Durability assessment of crush rock road base

Crushed rock road base derived from either volcanic breccia or dolerite is used extensively in the Syndey Metropolitan area. At present three methods of pretreatment of part of a sample are specified by the Department of Main Roads to predict material breakdown during construction. In addition the dry/wet strength variation is measured to determine material durability. This testing is based on the 10% Fines Test procedure. This paper describes an investigation carried out to ascertain whether the three methods of pretreatment are, indeed, necessary with volcanic breccia and to determine the relationship between the effects of various methods of pretreatment and the aggregate strength parameters.     

Detection of rock material variation by sonic velocity zoning

Quality variations in a hydrothermally altered dolerite from North-East England can be related to changes in dry density, porosity and strength, and in the results of standard tests on aggregates. Alteration can be detected as colour changes across sawn slabs, and the different types of altered dolerite can be characterised in terms of the standard micropetrographic indices. Sonic velocities through a 32 mm slab show satisfactory linear relations to density, porosity and percentage of sound minerals. Contours of equal sonic velocities or travel times can be drawn on the face of the block and the resultant broad zonation corresponds satisfactorily with the hydrothermal zones established by colour variations and detailed micropetrographic analyses.