Nutritional Potential of Centrosema pubescens Mimosa invisa and Pueraria phaseoloides Leaf Meals on Growth Performance Responses of Broiler Chickens

Aims: The objective of this study was to access the growth responses of chickens fed different leaf meal supplements. Study Design: The experimental design used was completely randomized design for the chicks and completely randomized block design for the growing pullets and cockerels. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were carried out at Bora Poultry Unit of Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T;) Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiments were carried out between the years 2004 to 2009. Methodology: Nutritive potentials of Centrosema pubescens, Mimosa invisa and Pueraria phaseoloides leaf meals (LM) were determined and evaluated using different types of chicken within the years 2004-2009. The diets were formulated to contain 0,20/25, 30/40, 60/75 and 80/90g LM/kg feed and 120 to 150 birds were used in each experiment. Each treatment was replicated three times. All ingredients in each experiment were of constant weight, except the soybean and groundnut cake which test ingredients replaced some percentages weight for weight. Data on feed intake and weight gain were subjected to oneway ANOVA and comparisons were made using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results: Results revealed that the LM are rich in crude protein (21.36-23.34%) and ash (4.25 – 9.14%). The most available mineral elements were potassium (0.45-1.85%) and calcium (0.60 – 1.726%). The concentration of tannin was highest in the LM (1.57- 3.35g/100gDM) unlike oxalate (0.037-0.065g/100gDM). The poorest LM in terms of nutritive value and chicken performance was Mimosa invisa leaf meal (MLM), while the best was Centrosema pubescens leaf meal (CLM). Inclusion of 40 – 60gCLM/kg feed for Black Nera chicks and finisher pullets and 75gCLM/kg feed for broiler starters and finishers resulted to significant (P<0.05) reduction in feed intake and weight gain. Feed intake and weight gain of broiler starters and finishers and cockerel growers fed 20 – 60gMLM/kg feed supplements significantly (P<0.05) and progressively decreased with increased dietary concentration of MLM supplement. Broiler starters and finishers fed 30-90PLM/kg feed had increased feed intake, which was progressive, unlike their weight gain which depressed significantly (P<0.05) with increased concentration of Pueraria phaseoloids leaf meal (PLM). Conclusion: Hence, 20 and 25g CLM/kg feed is recommended for pullet chicks/growing pullets and broiler chicken, respectively, while PLM and MLM are not recommended, for chicken nutrition due to depression in growth rate

The need to improve the interface between in-hours and out-of-hours GP care, and between out-of-hours care and self-care

Background. Considerable changes have occurred over the last 5 years in the organization of out-of-hours care in the UK. Users’ experiences of their care are an important part of ‘quality of care’ and are valuable for identifying areas for improvement. Aim. To identify strengths and weaknesses of out-of hours service provision in Wales. The design of the study is a cross-sectional survey. The setting of the study is nine GP services, three Accident and Emergency units and NHS Direct in Wales. Method. Survey using the validated Out-of-Hours questionnaire. We identified the four most and least favourably rated items regarding users’ experience of care. These were analysed by type of care provided, telephone advice, treatment centre and home visit groups. Results. Eight hundred and fifty-five of 3250 users responded (26% response rate). Across providers and types of care, consistent strengths were the ‘manner of treatment by call operator’ and the ‘explanation of the next step by call operator’. Consistent weaknesses were the ‘speed of call back by the clinician’, the ‘information provided by the GP’, ‘getting medication after the consultation’ and ‘when to contact the (in-hours) GP’. Conclusions. Users of out-of-hours care identify clear and consistent strengths and weaknesses of service provision across Wales. Specific areas for improvement concern the interface between in-hours care and out-of-hours care and between out-of-hours care and self-care. GP surgeries need to give better information on how to access the out-of-hours services. Out-of-hours providers should improve their advice on how and when to access in-hours surgeries and also improve the availability of medicines after out-of-hours consultations

Delays in response and triage times reduce patient satisfaction and enablement after using out-of-hours services

BACKGROUND: several different models of out-of-hours primary care now exist in the UK. Important outcomes of care include users' satisfaction and enablement to manage their illness or condition, but the determinants of these outcomes in the unscheduled care domain are poorly understood. Aim. To identify predictors of user satisfaction and enablement across unscheduled care or GP out-of-hours service providers in Wales. The design of the study is a cross-sectional survey. The setting of the study is nine GP out-of-hours services, three Accident and Emergency units and an all Wales telephone advice service in Wales. METHODS: postal survey using the Out-of-hours Patient Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to fit both satisfaction and enablement models, based on demographic variables, service provider and treatment received and perceptions or ratings of the care process. RESULTS: eight hundred and fifty-five of 3250 users responded (26% response rate, range across providers 14-41%, no evidence of non-response bias for age or gender). Treatment centre consultations were significantly associated with decreased patient satisfaction and decreased enablement compared with telephone advice. Delays in call answering or callback for triage and shorter consultations were significantly associated with lower satisfaction. Waiting more than a minute for initial call answering was associated with lower enablement. CONCLUSIONS: giving users more time to discuss their illness in consultations may enhance satisfaction and enablement but this may be resource intensive. More simple interventions to improve access by quicker response and triage, and keeping users informed of waiting times, could also serve to increase satisfaction and ultimately impact on their enablement

Implementation of Productivity Apps to Increase Financial Inclusion in Peer-To-Peer Lending Platform

Peer-to-peer lending (P2P lending) is growing rapidly in Indonesia in line with the advanced of digital technology. This new platform is expected to support the Indonesian government strategy in increasing financial inclusion. Although the new platform is easily accessible using the mobile phone, some Indonesians are still reluctant to use the apps by themselves. There is an urgent need of human touch to educate and give appropriate information about the system. The role of direct sales agents of the P2P lending platform is key to gaining the trust of the prospective borrower. The P2P lending platform must be able to develop and implement apps to monitor activities and increase productivity of its direct sales agent. The purpose of this research is to analyze the implementation of sales management activity apps to increase the productivity of the direct sales agent, simplify the application procedure, shorten the approval time, and finally increase the financial inclusion in Indonesia. The object of the research is MODALKU, one of the largest P2P lending platforms in South East Asia. The target user of the apps is all the direct sales agents who are approaching prospective borrowers from the ultra-micro segment market. The result of the research showed that the direct sales agents play an important role in educating the prospective borrower in using the technology and explaining the benefit of the loan application in supporting their businesses