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Aufsatz
Squeezed thermal phonons precurse nonthermal melting of silicon as a function of fluence
(2013)
A femtosecond-laser pulse can induce ultrafast nonthermal melting of various materials along pathways
that are inaccessible under thermodynamic conditions, but it is not known whether there is any structural
modification at fluences just below the melting threshold. Here, we show for silicon that in this regime the
room-temperature phonons become thermally squeezed, which is a process that has not been reported
before in this material. We find that the origin of this effect is the sudden femtosecond-laser-induc ...
Aufsatz
Pesticide-handling practices of smallholder coffee farmers in Eastern Jamaica
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
Pesticide use among smallholder coffee producers in Jamaica has been associated with significant occupational health effects. Research on pesticide handling practices, however, has been scarce, especially in eastern Jamaica. This explorative study aims at filling this gap and provides a first basis to develop effective interventions to promote a safer pesticide use. A random sample of 81 coffee farmers was surveyed. The majority of farmers reported to suffer from at least one health symptom associated with pesticide ...
Aufsatz
Management practices and challenges in smallholder indigenous chicken production in Western Kenya
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
The potential benefit of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) production is still under-exploited in Kenya despite the efforts by different stakeholders to mainstream this production system as a pathway to rural development. The production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity and low commercialization of the enterprise. This study which dwells on the current management practices and challenges faced by smallholder indigenous chicken farmers was conducted to gain insights into the ...
Aufsatz
Climate change and hunger as the challenges in the global food system
(Department of Organic Food Quality and Food Culture at the University of Kassel, Germany and Federation of German Scientists (VDW), 2013-04-25)
In the last decades, there has been a growing tendency towards international trade and globalisation, particularly leading to a significant increase in flows of agricultural commodities worldwide. From a macroeconomic perspective, the commodity projections are more optimistic than the previous years and the long run tendency shows an increasing demand for feedstock. However, the strong shifts of shocks and fluctuations (in terms of prices and volumes) are a concern to global food security, with the number of hungry ...
Aufsatz
Urban and peri-urban agricultural production along railway tracks: a case study from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) contributes to food security, serves as an opportunity for income generation, and provides recreational services to urban citizens. With a population of 21 Million people, of which 60 % live in slums, UPA activities can play a crucial role in supporting people’s livelihoods in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This study was conducted to characterize the railway gardens, determine their role in UPA production, and assess potential risks. It comprises a baseline survey among 38 ...
Aufsatz
Assessing adaptation – Climate change and indigenous livelihood in the Andes of Bolivia
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
Based on a case study of Charazani – Bolivia, this article outlines the understanding of adaptive strategies to cope with climate change and its impact on environmental and socioeconomic conditions that are affecting rural livelihoods. Mainly qualitative methods were used to collect and analyze data following the framework for vulnerability assessments of a socio-ecological system. Climate data reveals an increase of precipitation and temperature during the last decades. Furthermore the occurrence of extreme weather ...
Aufsatz
Agroforestry systems of timber species and cacao: survival and growth during the early stages
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
In recent times, increased emphasis has been placed on diversifying the types of trees to shade cacao (Theobroma
cacao L.) and to achieve additional services. Agroforestry systems that include profitable and native timber trees are a viable alternative but it is necessary to understand the growth characteristics of these species under different environmental conditions. Thus, timber tree species selection should be based on plant responses to biotic and abiotic factors. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate ...
Aufsatz
Rural households’ social capital and welfare: A case study of Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(Kassel University Press, 2013)
In a household or nations production system, social capital has been recognized as an input having major implications for project design as well as policy development. Using a structured questionnaire, household level data was obtained from a representative sample of 300 rural households in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal. This study employed the conventional household economic behaviour model under constrained utility maximisation to examine the effect of social capital on the welfare of household, testing the hypothesis that ...