50 research outputs found
Assessment of Dairy Feed Resources, Feeding Practices, and Nutritional Feed Quality in Selected Districts of Malawi
No full textThis study assessed dairy feed resources, feeding practices, and the nutritional quality of feed types across three dairy-farming districts in Malawi, Dowa, Thyolo, and Mzimba. The study aimed to investigate how feed types, storage practices, farmer training, and experience influence feeding decisions and feed quality. A structured, pre-tested questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews with 396 dairy farming households selected from 24 Extension Planning Areas (EPAs). Additionally, 126 representative feed samples were collected from farmers’ storage facilities for laboratory analysis. Data were cleaned and prepared in Microsoft Excel (2007) before statistical analysis using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic, feed resources and feeding practices. Pearson’s Chi-square tests were employed to test associations between categorical variables, while the Kruskal-Wallis test assessed nutrient variation across feed types. A Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) was used to evaluate the influence of feed type and storage method on nutrient composition, accounting for district-level variability. The findings revealed that feed resources used by farmers fell into five main categories: crop residues, grasses, concentrates, agro-industrial by-products, and non-conventional feeds. Crop residues and local grasses were the most widely used, while agro-industrial by-products and non conventional feeds were significantly underutilized. Training and farming experience significantly influenced feed choices and feeding frequency (p < 0.001). Seasonal variations were observed, with green forages dominating during the wet season and crop residues dominant in the dry season. Chemical analyses indicated significant differences in nutrient composition across feed types (p < 0.05). Legume residues had higher crude protein (CP) and lower fiber fractions, whereas grasses exhibited higher levels of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Storage methods significantly influenced nutrient retention, with open and shaded storage resulting in greater losses of CP and ether extract and higher contamination with ash and fiber. GLMM analysis confirmed that both feed type and storage method significantly affected nutrient outcomes, with district-level variation captured as a random effect. The study concludes that despite meeting minimum CP levels required for rumen function, most feed types fall short of high-protein quality standards. Enhancing feed conservation practices, xi increasing access to protein-rich supplements, improving storage infrastructure, and expanding farmer training programs are essential strategies to improve dairy nutrition and productivity in smallholder systems. Also, strengthening participatory research and continuous monitoring to support adaptive improvements in feed resource management
Studies on the development of the brain of 7 and 12 day old rat embryos taken from pregnant females injected with trypan bide, 1957
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An analysis of the yield of the investments of a selected group of legal reserve life insurance companies, 1929-1936, 1937
No full textA NEW GENUS OF DISTOMES (TREMATODA) WITH LYMPHATIC VESSELS
No full textThe trematodes described in this paper are but two of over 100 species collected from marine fishes in 1934, during the third G. Allan Hancock Expedition to the Galapagos Islands. The author\u27s presence on this expedition was sponsored in part by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. A brief preliminary report on the trematodes collected has been made (Manter, 1934) and a more complete report on the digenetic forms is in preparation. An early description of these two forms is felt justified in view of their significance in connection with the phylogeny of the Distomata. The author has already indicated (Manter, 1935) a relationship between certain allocreadiid-like distomes (Megasolena Linton and Hapladena Linton) and amphistomes. The new genus described below further substantiates such a view and indicates that the Anallocreadiinae in particular may be involved. A discussion of these relationships will follow a description of the new species
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Music in the Fiction of Willa Cather
No full textThis thesis explores the use of music in the literary works of author Willa Cather
Optimizing Reduction in Muscle Fatigue in FES Using Stimulation Patterns
No full textIntroduction: During functional electrical stimulation (FES) the onset of muscle fatigue limits the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In previous work, variable frequency trains (VFT) have been suggested to take advantage of a tension enhancement property in muscle. The varying of other parameters in stimulation trains, such as amplitude, was found to be lacking in literature. Here, the effect of various VFT and variable amplitude train (VAT) configurations on muscle fatigue were investigated. Methods: Ten different stimulation trains were tested in fatigue trials in the left tibialis anterior of 21 healthy rats. The state of the muscle was measured before and after each trial. Results: The VFT starting with two high frequency pulses caused significantly less fatigue (p < 0:001). The force-time integrals of the VAT starting with 8 high amplitude pulses are significantly larger (p < 0:05). Conclusion: The results of the VFT agree with previous studies; VFTs with two high frequency pulses are the optimal stimulation patterns in reducing muscle fatigue. Compared to conventional trains, VATs starting with 8 high amplitude pulses had a beneficial influence on muscle fatigue. The opposite pattern, a VAT ending with 8 high amplitude pulses produced a significantly larger force-time integral. Although a small significant difference was established in muscle fatigue for these VAT conditions, VFTs with two high frequency pulses performed better. A combination of amplitude and frequency variation should be explored in further research
Modelling Short-Range Stiffness: Comparison Between Hill- and Huxley-type Muscle Models
No full textMusculoskeletal models often use Hill-type models to study and simulate muscle behaviour. Due to fast simulation time and ability to simulate large and slow movements Hill-type models have remained largely unchanged throughout recent years. Large and slow movements spend a large part in steady state behaviour and thus experience limited influence of transitional behaviour. However, during small and fast movements, transitional behaviour has more influence and causes inaccuracies in Hill-type models, which can cause an overestimation of muscle force. One characteristic of transitional behaviour is short-range stiffness (SRS). This property is a result of crossbridge dynamics and causes an increase in stiffness when muscle velocity changes. Huxley-type models are capable of simulating transitional behaviour, but are computationally expensive. The goal of this article is to identify the optimal parameter values for two Hill- and one Huxley-type model using a surrogate optimization algorithm and determine if these models can simulate general behaviour and SRS. The parameters are fitted to one soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscle of a cat. All models were able to simulate the experimental data with an average RMS of 6.6N and 4.8N for the Hill models and 5.5N for the Huxley model. However, all three models were not capable of predicting SRS during isometric contractions and the method of determining SRS during non-isometric contractions proved unusable. Thus, the Huxley model that was used had no advantage over the used Hill-type muscle models. Furthermore, it was concluded that the simplest Hill was the only model viable for real-time application
