A study of unskilled migrant construction workers in developing countries

Over the past twenty years, migrants have become essential to the construction industry’s workforce in developing countries. This thesis is a labour migration study and investigates the involvement of migrant workers and their issues in the wider labour market with a particular focus on the construction sector. Although there is research on the living and working conditions of migrant workers and growing acknowledgement of the construction industry being hazardous for low skilled workers in particular, there has been little research on employment conditions given the new requirements that have put considerable pressure on the industry. This study takes a qualitative approach, with in-depth interviews with both employers and employees in the construction industry. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 12 managers from the UAE (n=5), and the KSA (n=7). In addition, data was collected from the fieldwork in Thailand, which includes face-to face in-depth interviews with managers (n=10) and with migrant workers (n=22). The experiences of the 44 participants in this study provide the basis for understanding the situation of migrant construction workers. The aim is to find ways for improving the conditions of migrant construction workers in developing countries. Based on the experiences of the participants, this study positions migrant workers within the construction industry by examining the factors that have the greatest impact on the lived reality of work. It considers how they could enjoy positive migration and work experiences in the sector that would allow them to both contribute to and benefit from the new developments within the construction industry. The conceptual models were designed based on the fundamentals of system thinking for a system of several elements under the key catalysers migration and employment. It is vital that knowledge be gathered about factors acting as force to changes within the construction industry to ensure that policies and practices relating to migration, employment, Occupational Health and Safety, and wellbeing are well evidenced. This thesis contributes to existing knowledge by shaping the linkages that reveal the opinions, requirements, and experiences of migrant construction workers. The study outlines recommendations for improving conditions for migrant workers in construction sector

Személyre szabott kezelés szinkrón, nyirokcsomó-pozitív petefészek- és vastagbéldaganatban

Absztrakt A 71 éves nőbetegnél jobb alhasi fájdalom és láz miatt sürgősségi laparotomiára került sor. Makroszkóposan duplex coecum és colon transversum, továbbá szigma/bal petefészek daganatának gyanúja merült fel. A szövettani vizsgálat szinkrón bal petefészek- (papillaris adenocarcinoma) és colon transversum (tubularis adenocarcinoma) daganatot mutatott. Mind a két primer daganat a regionális nyirokcsomóikba adott áttétet, továbbá a petefészek-daganat infiltrálta a szigmabelet és távoli áttétet képzett a coecum területére. Immunhisztokémiával a nyirokcsomóáttétek egyértelműen elkülöníthetők voltak: petefészek-eredetű CK7-pozitív, coloneredetű CK20- és CEA-pozitív. A szikrón primer daganatokat kombinált kemoterápiával kezeltük (FOLFOX-4 és heti paclitaxel). A kombinált kezelést a beteg jól tolerálta. A ritka eset hangsúlyozza annak jelentőségét, hogy a többszörös primer daganatok egyénre szabott kemoterápiás sémával kezelhetők jó hatásfokkal és enyhe mellékhatásokkal. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(23), 939–943

Laboratory investigation of suction distribution in a modified capillary barrier system

This paper investigated the effect of transport layer in the diversion capacity of natural capillary barrier system using laboratory slope model. The slope model was constructed with stainless steel and 5 mm thick acrylic sheets. Grade VI and grade V soils classified as sandy silt of very high plasticity (MVS) and silty gravel of high plasticity (MHG), respectively were arranged in the slope model with sand and gravel transport layers sandwiched at their interface. The model was subjected to different rainfall intensities using rainfall simulator to determine the behaviour of water flow and suction distribution in the slope model. The results obtained show a modification in the suction distribution behaviour and the natural capillary barrier effect was sustained. It was also observed that a transport layer formed with gravel material was more effective in diverting the infiltrating water compared to that of gravelly sand. This occurred because the upper grade VI layer possessed capillary forces due to its finer pore structures and relatively large air entry value, thus, it retained the infiltrating water, and the gravel transport layer possessed relatively larger pore structures compared to the grade VI layer and hence it possessed higher hydraulic conductivity values and small water entry value. This arrangement, provide a capillary break and allowed the infiltrating water to flow above the interface. Therefore, the inclusion of transport layer provides a definite path through which the infiltrating water flows and diverted laterally. Thus, improving the performance of natural capillary barrier effect

Developments in nanoparticles enhanced biofuels and solar energy in Malaysian perspective: a review of state of the art

The rapid rise in global oil prices, the scarcity of petroleum sources, and environmental concerns have all created severe issues. As a result of the country’s rapid expansion and financial affluence, Malaysia’s energy consumption has skyrocketed. Biodiesel and solar power are currently two of the most popular alternatives to fossil fuels in Malaysia. These two types of renewable energy sources appear to be viable options because of their abundant availability together with environmental and performance competence to highly polluting and fast depleting fossil fuels. The purpose of adopting renewable technology is to expand the nation’s accessibility to a reliable and secure power supply. The current review article investigates nonconventional energy sources added with nanosized metal particles called nanomaterials including biodiesel and solar, as well as readily available renewable energy options. Concerning the nation’s energy policy agenda, the sources of energy demand are also investigated. The article evaluates Malaysia’s existing position in renewable energy industries, such as biodiesel and solar, as well as the impact of nanomaterials. This review article discusses biodiesel production, applications, and government policies in Malaysia, as well as biodiesel consumption and recent developments in the bioenergy sector, such as biodiesel property modifications utilizing nanoparticle additions. In addition, the current review study examines the scope of solar energy, different photovoltaic concentrators, types of solar energy harvesting systems, photovoltaic electricity potential in Malaysia, and the experimental setup of solar flat plate collectors (FPC) with nanotechnology