Assessing the role of modern supply chain management practices in fish farming towards availability of farmed fish in Lilongwe City (Malawi).

The purpose of this study was to explore supply chain management aspects in Fish Farming, by assessing the role of contemporary supply chain management practises towards increased availability of farmed fish in Lilongwe city. The objective of this study was to assess how adoption of contemporary supply chain management practises in fish farming would lead to increased availability of farmed fish through effective production and distribution of farmed fish. . This study was important because it gives an insight into different supply chain management techniques which can be used by the fish farmers in ensuring effective distribution of fish which will reduce costs and improve services delivery. Through a survey that was carried out with fish farmers, it was established that the post-harvest section of fish farming is still under developed which leads into substantial losses especially during the rainy season. Predominant causes aredue to inability to preserve fish stocks, and lack of key equipment suitable for controlling temperature considering the perishability of fish as well as lack of market orientation which led to failure in identifying stable and reliable markets. The study recommends that the Government and private sector stakeholder groups need to to create a centre which will be responsible for coordinating the fish farmers and the customers. The above mentioned centre will be responsible for market research so that the farmers find reliable and stable fish markets. It also recommends that establishment of farmers association will also help in availability of farmed fish through consolidation of fish quantities at club level and selling them in bulk. This will be particularly important in such a way that it will give the association greater negotiation power when selling their fish products hence more bargaining power on determining fish prices

Deutsch als "leicht zu erlernende Fremdsprache"

The goal of this paper is to encourage the search for accessible language features and teaching and learning facilitators which can ease the way into German as a Foreign Language (DaF). The paper begins with a terminological discussion, followed by a first model of the most important factors concerning the initial entry into FL territory. After a short review on previous work in this area, I consider methods for utilising knowledge of accessible language features and teaching and learning facilitators. Finally, suspected facilitating features - which have come to light through research as well as classroom observations – are exemplified. These, however, are to be understood as working hypotheses and thus still 'under construction'. Through this paper, I would like to invite other researchers to consider a new perspective on DaF with the intention of changing the status quo: "Applied linguistics is not simply a matter of matching up findings about language with pre-existing problems but of using findings to explore how the perception of problems might be changed. It may be that when problems are reformulated from a different point of view they become more amenable to solution. This changed perception may then, in turn, have implications for linguistics." (Cook : 2003: 10) My goal will have been achieved when the focus of this paper becomes a motivation for improving DaF teaching ("problems [...] become more amenable to solution") - and, should it lead to "implications for linguistics", so much the better. Ziel dieses Beitrages ist, eine umfassende Suche nach leichten Stellen und Erleichterungen beim Zugang zum Deutschen als fremder Sprache anzuregen. Nach Begriffsklärung und einem ersten Vorschlag zu den für die Zugänglichkeit einer Sprache ausschlaggebenden Faktoren (1) sowie einem kurzen Überblick über Fundstücke zum Thema (2) steht die Rolle der praktischen Umsetzung von Erkenntnissen als Hauptinstrument für den Bereich der Erleichterungen und die Nutzung leichter Stellen im Mittelpunkt (3). Dabei werden einige Kandidaten benannt, die sowohl aus vorliegenden Forschungsergebnissen als auch aus Beobachtungen in Alltag und Fremdsprachenunterricht (FSU) gewonnen wurden. Die so gewonnenen Einsichten sind als Arbeitshypothesen und somit als im Wandel begriffen zu verstehen. Ich möchte mit diesem Beitrag einladen zu einer neuen Perspektive auf das Deutsche als Fremdsprache, und zwar mit der Absicht etwas zu verändern: "Applied linguistics is not simply a matter of matching up findings about language with pre-existing problems but of using findings to explore how the perception of problems might be changed. It may be that when problems are reformulated from a different point of view they become more amenable to solution. This changed perception may then, in turn, have implications for linguistics." (Cook : 2003: 10) Mein Ziel ist erreicht, wenn sich vorliegende Fragestellung als Schlüssel zu verbesserter DaF-Unterrichtspraxis ("problems [...] become more amenable to solution") erweist. Falls sie sogar "implications for linguistics" zeitigt, umso besser

Analysis of fatigue crack growth retardation due to overloading by using AFGROW

The effect of mode I and mode II overload on subsequent mode I crack propagation is studied on single edge notch specimen of Aluminum alloy. The application of overload spike during constant amplitude high cycle fatigue introduces a large plastic zone which enhances the magnitude and size of compressive residual stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip. This enhanced compressive residual stress field reduces the available crack tip driving force, thus causing a reduction in fatigue crack growth rate. It has been observed that the number of cycles to failure increases with increase in the overload application angle. The material used in the present investigation was aluminum alloy (Zn- 4.6, Mg- 1.4, Mn-0.5, Cr-0.1, Zr-0.1, Ti-0.03) having yield strength of 250 MPa. Single edge notched specimens of dimensions 52 mm*170 mm*6.5 mm were prepared in the LT- direction. The notches were of flat type cut with jewellary saw up to a length of 15mm. Before the fatigue test, the notched specimens were precracked up to a length of 16mm. The fatigue tests were carried out in tension-tension constant stress amplitude mode using sinusoidal loading conditions in an Instron-4553 electromagnetic resonance (EMR) machine. The tests were performed at a stress ratio R=0.1 and loading range of ∆P=7000 Newton’s. For the values obtained from the experiments we get the graphs. To calculate the plastic zone size for the applied overload we have to write the maximum fitting curve for the values obtained from the experimental data. The experimental work is carried out for the specimen on INSTRON machine and the experimental results can be noted down. In the present work the fatigue crack growth retardation is obtained by AFGROW software using different boundary conditions and plastic zone sizes are obtained for mode I overloads. Plastic zone sizes are also calculated from experimental results and comparison of the experimental results with the simulation results are carried out

Fungal contaminants in drinking water – a topic of future concern?

Fresh water is, depending on geological features of the area, derived to the public either from groundwater or surface water. Production of clean drinking water in a modern society with increasing population and urbanisation often requires the use of different physico-chemical methods. Finally, water quality is controlled based on the parameters listed in Drinking Water Directive (98/83/CE). Fungi are not listed in the current directive and therefore not specifically monitored. However, their presence in fresh water is well documented-in the last 30 years scientists from 19 European countries isolated more than 400 different fungal species from surface, ground-and tap water intended for human consumption. While water cleaning procedures remove 8-90% of fungal propagules, the remaining ones form together with bacteria biofilms inside tap water systems, later affecting the taste and odor of water. Several water-related fungal species were recognised as opportunistic or emerging pathogens; among these fungi from the genera Aspergillus, Candida, Exophiala, Fusarium, Penicillium and Stachybotrys require special attention. Presence of opportunistic fungi in drinking water can pose a health risk to consumers due to daily contact with water via several exposure points, such as drinking, showering and use of household appliances operating with water. Case reports listing fungi as causative agents of allergies, opportunistic infections and intoxications are growing each year-12 million people are at risk of invasive fungal mycoses, additional 12 million have allergic fungal sinusitis, 4.8 million patients suffer from allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and 6 million have fungal eye infections. A billion of people around the world suffer from skin, nail, and hair infections. With increasing transitory and serious immune alterations among patients also a need for monitoring of fungi increases, not only in drinking water, but also as a parametric value for biofilm formation on materials in contact with drinking water.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High Incidence of an Emerging Opportunistic Pathogen <em>Candida parapsilosis</em> in Water-Related Domestic Environments

Candidiasis is one of the common fungal opportunistic infections, usually associated with diverse Candida species. Candida albicans, C. glabrata complex, C. parapsilosis complex, C. tropicalis and C. auris are often identified in affected patients. Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto is an emerging cause of hospital-acquired Candida infections, predominantly in Southern Europe, South America and Asia. Home environment is a less known source of infection despite frequent isolation of C. parapsilosis from kitchen surfaces and household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerators. C. parapsilosis is one of the first colonisers of novel dishwashers and a member of stable fungal communities on rubber seals worldwide in concentrations up to 102 CFU/cm2. It colonises also drawers for detergents in washing machines and drainage channels in refrigerators. Tap water and groundwater act as vector for entrance of C. parapsilosis in the indoor environments. Within C. parapsilosis, four clinically relevant phenotypes can be distinguished. Experimental data on the prevalence of C. parapsilosis isolates phenotypes, obtained from indoor environments, will be presented. Smooth phenotype prevails in dishwashers and washing machines, while crepe and crater dominate in water. In conclusion, the ability to colonise diverse environments and accordingly switch phenotypes defines C. parapsilosis as a versatile, domestic environment-related opportunistic pathogen