Exploring conceptions of legality and the meaning of asylum law in Johannesburg.

This study examines Malawian asylum-seekers’ conceptions of legality and examines their decisions to lodge an application for asylum in South Africa. Framing the research question, data collected by the Forced Migration Studies Program at the University of Witwatersrand suggest that although the Refugees Act of 1998 and the Regulations of 2000 are designed to protect all asylum-seekers, there are limitations to the tangible gains of asylum-seeker status. With significant opportunity-cost barriers associated with accessing the Refugee Reception Offices and limited return on the investment of time and resources, this research project explores migrants’ explanations of their motivation to engage with the state’s asylum apparatus. Fifteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews with individuals and two group interviews were conducted at the Crown Mines Refugee Reception Office in Johannesburg. Throughout the interviews, respondents were asked questions regarding their upbringing, experiences in Malawi, motivations for relocating to South Africa and understanding of law, specifically as it relates to asylum. While respondents indicated that instrumental gains factored into their decisions to apply for asylum, findings present a spectrum of legality that incorporates several layers of legal motivation. Further, while this report reveals that individuals’ conceptions of legality may exhibit a degree of flexibility due to current situations, it also entails an analysis of key factors influencing the development of one’s legal consciousness. Additionally, this study suggests that many asylum-seekers believe they are applying for a status for which they are qualified for and entitled to in accordance with their own understandings of immigration la

Fatigue-Induced Damage in High-Strength Concrete Microstructure

A high-strength concrete subjected to compressive fatigue loading with two maximum stress levels was investigated and the behaviour was evaluated using the macroscopic damage indicators, strain and acoustic emission hits (AE-hits), combined with microstructural analyses utilising light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A clustering technique using Gaussian mixture modelling combined with a posterior probability of 0.80 was firstly applied to the AE-hits caused by compressive fatigue loading, leading to two clusters depending on the maximum stress level. Only a few cracks were visible in the microstructure using light microscopy and SEM, even in phase III of the strain development, which is shortly before failure. However, bluish impregnated areas in the mortar matrix of higher porosity or defects, changing due to the fatigue loading, were analysed. Indications were found that the fatigue damage process is continuously ongoing on a micro- or sub-microscale throughout the mortar matrix, which is difficult to observe on a mesoscale by imaging. Furthermore, the results indicate that two different damage mechanisms take place, which are pronounced depending on the maximum stress level. This might be due to diffuse and widespread compressive damage and localised tensile damage, as the findings documented in the literature suggest

Rectal cancer in Luxembourg : a national population-based data report, 1988–1998

BACKGROUND: Morphologic criteria which might help to support the need for a preventive strategy for early detection of rectal cancer were analysed. Population-based data on rectal adenomas with high-grade dysplastic changes (n = 199) and invasive adenocarcinomas (n = 912) registered by the national Morphologic Tumour Registry (MTR) and diagnosed in a central department of pathology in Luxembourg between 1988 and 1998 were considered. METHODS: The analysis concerned time trends in frequency, crude incidence, tumour-stage, the rectal "high-grade" adenoma/invasive adenocarcinoma-ratio and the survival rates. Histopathological tumour-stage parameters (UICC/AJCC, 1997) in a consecutive series of 641 resected rectal cancers and their relationship with the observed patient survival are investigated. RESULTS: The majority of invasive adenocarcinomas are diagnosed at a late stage (i.e. Stage II and III) into contrast with the highly significant increase (355 %) in frequency of rectal high-grade adenomas (Stage 0). During the two-time periods 1988–1992 and 1994–1998 Stage I and Stage IV-cases decreased by 11 % and 47 % respectively. Tumour-stage correlates with prognosis. The rectal high-grade adenoma / invasive adenocarcinoma-ratio improved significantly over the last five years. CONCLUSION: Over the study period, there has been a highly significant rise in the incidence of resected rectal adenomas with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. The ratio of early tumours to invasive cancers has risen while the numbers of colonoscopies and rectoscopies remained unchanged respectively decreased. As the number of advanced tumour-stages remained stable, mass-screening procedures focusing on the fifty to sixty age group should be reinforced

Einfluss der Gesteinskörnung auf die Ermüdungsschädigung in hochfestem Beton

In diesem Beitrag wird der Einfluss der groben Gesteinskörnungsart auf das Ermüdungsverhalten von hochfesten Betonen analysiert, beschrieben und vergleichend dargestellt. Dabei werden zwei hochfeste Betone mit Basalt und Granit als Grobzuschlag auf zwei Spannungsniveaus, Sc,max = 0,85 und Sc,max = 0,70, untersucht. Mit Hilfe der Schallemissionsanalyse und mit detaillierten Dehnungsmessungen werden die ablaufenden Schädigungsprozesse erfasst und anhand von Schädigungsindikatoren wie Steifigkeitsdegradation, dissipierte Energie je Lastwechsel und Schallemissionsaktivität ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen dabei signifikante Unterschiede in den ablaufenden Degradationsmechanismen, aufgrund der unterschiedlichen mechanischen Eigenschaften der Gesteinskörnung auf und geben Hinweise auf generelle ermüdungsbedingte Schädigungsprozesse im Betongefüge.In this paper the influence of the coarse aggregate type on the fatigue behaviour of high-strength concrete is analyzed, described and compared comparatively. Two high-strength concretes with basalt and granite as coarse aggregate with two different stress levels, Sc,max = 0.85 and Sc,max = 0.70 were investigated. With the acoustic emission analysis and detailed strain measurements, the ongoing damage processes were determined and evaluated on the basis of damage indicators such as siffness degradation, dissipated energy per load cycle and acoustic emission activity. The results show significant differences in the ongoing damage mechanisms due to the different mechanical properties of the coarse aggregate and give indicators of general fatigue related damage processes in the concrete structure

Atypical glandular cells in conventional cervical smears: Incidence and follow-up

BACKGROUND: Atypical glandular cells on cervical smears are often associated with clinically significant uterine lesions. The frequency and accuracy of AGC-NOS (i.e. atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified) diagnoses, regardless of the gland cell type or the degree of suspicion, and their outcome were investigated. METHODS: From January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1999 a total of 261 patients had an AGC-NOS diagnosis made by conventional cervical Papanicolaou smear interpretation representing 0.05% of all Pap-smears analyzed at the national level. 191 (73.2%) patients had a subsequent histological examination, 8 samples were not representative by origin and were excluded. RESULTS: Out of 183 AGC-NOS diagnosed, 56.3% (103/183) were associated with tissue-proven precancerous and/or cancerous lesions, 44% being of endocervical and 56% of endometrial origin. 75% of all AGC-patients were asymptomatic. 66.7% (6/9) of the patients with subsequent invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma (AC) and 56% (28/50) of those patients with invasive endometrial AC were without clinical symptoms. 3 patients out of 9 with an invasive endocervical AC were 35 years of age or less. 10.1% and 12.3% of all 'new' tissue-proven invasive endocervical or endometrial AC respectively recorded by the national Morphologic Tumour Registry (MTR) were first identified by a cytological AGC-NOS diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of the cytological AGC-category even in the absence of a precise origin or cell type specification. 56% of the AGC-diagnoses being associated with significant cancerous or precancerous conditions, a complete and careful evaluation is required

Colon cancer in Luxembourg: a national population-based data report, 1988–1998

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades time trends in incidence rates of colorectal cancer, changes in the proportions of stage at diagnosis and changes in the anatomic sub-site distribution of colon cancers have been reported in some European countries. In order to determine a strategy for early detection of colon cancer in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, all consecutive colon adenocarcinomas diagnosed during the period 1988–1998 at a nation-wide level were reviewed. METHODS: The population-based data of the national Morphologic Tumour Registry report all new high-grade adenomas (i.e. high-grade intraepithelial adenomatous neoplasias) and all consecutive new invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon diagnosed in the central department of pathology. Attention has been focused on variations in incidence, stage, anatomical site distribution and survival rates. Rectal cancers were excluded. RESULTS: Over the study period, 254 new colonic high-grade adenomas and 1379 new invasive adenocarcinomas were found; the crude incidence rates of colon adenocarcinomas grew steadily by 30%. Comparing the two 5-year periods 1988–1992 and 1994–1998, the crude incidence rates of high-grade adenomas (stage 0) rose by 190%, that of stage I cases by 14.3%, stage II cases 12.9% and stage III cases 38.5%, whereas the crude incidence rates of stage IV cases decreased by 11.8%. The high-grade adenoma/adenocarcinoma ratio increased. The right-sided colonic adenocarcinomas in elderly patients (>69 years) increased by 76%. The observed survival rates correlated with tumour stages. The overall observed 5-year survival rate (stage I-IV) was 51 ± 3% (95% confidence interval). CONCLUSION: The increasing incidence rates of colon adenocarcinomas, the persistence of advanced tumour stages (stage III), the mortality rates which remain stable, and the changing trends in the age- and sub-site distribution underline the need for preventive measures at the age of 50 in asymptomatic patients to reduce mortality from colo(rectal) cancer

Der Bucklige oder die Macht der Arbeit! : bürgerliches (Original-) Schauspiel in 4 Acten ; (in der Königsstadt zu Berlin unter Direction des Herrn Wallner zur Darstellung angenommen)

von B. ScheidenErscheinungsvermerk überklebt: Theatergeschäfts-Bureau A. Heinric

Rectal cancer in Luxembourg : a national population-based data report, 1988–1998

Abstract Background Morphologic criteria which might help to support the need for a preventive strategy for early detection of rectal cancer were analysed. Population-based data on rectal adenomas with high-grade dysplastic changes (n = 199) and invasive adenocarcinomas (n = 912) registered by the national Morphologic Tumour Registry (MTR) and diagnosed in a central department of pathology in Luxembourg between 1988 and 1998 were considered. Methods The analysis concerned time trends in frequency, crude incidence, tumour-stage, the rectal "high-grade" adenoma/invasive adenocarcinoma-ratio and the survival rates. Histopathological tumour-stage parameters (UICC/AJCC, 1997) in a consecutive series of 641 resected rectal cancers and their relationship with the observed patient survival are investigated. Results The majority of invasive adenocarcinomas are diagnosed at a late stage (i.e. Stage II and III) into contrast with the highly significant increase (355 %) in frequency of rectal high-grade adenomas (Stage 0). During the two-time periods 1988–1992 and 1994–1998 Stage I and Stage IV-cases decreased by 11 % and 47 % respectively. Tumour-stage correlates with prognosis. The rectal high-grade adenoma / invasive adenocarcinoma-ratio improved significantly over the last five years. Conclusion Over the study period, there has been a highly significant rise in the incidence of resected rectal adenomas with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. The ratio of early tumours to invasive cancers has risen while the numbers of colonoscopies and rectoscopies remained unchanged respectively decreased. As the number of advanced tumour-stages remained stable, mass-screening procedures focusing on the fifty to sixty age group should be reinforced.</p