LIMS: Database for livestock performance data. Version 1.2. Computer program with system documentation

The LIMS (Livestock Information Management System) software package is designed to facilitate the recording and processing of livestock data in developing countries. The package is not specialised for use with any particular species or production system, but can be used with data for any mammal species for a variety of purposes, such as research, extension and commercial production. The objective is to provide user with a computerised tool that allows them to manage complex livestock performance data set, and to provide help in livestock management without relying on specialist computer and data management support. The LIMS software package has been designed to address six key issues in management of livestock performance data, viz, balance of flexibility and standardisation of data definition, documentation and definition of data sets, assistance in deriving non-observed data (breed, parity, mating - parturition connection), data validation and error correction, reporting for animal management, and data extraction and calculation of standard performance traits for statistical analysis. In order to address these various aspects of livestock data management, the LIMS software has a modular design, with different modules addressing each of the above mentioned issues. A generic data set is distributed along with the LIMS software. LIMS is developed in the CLIPPER language. All data in a LIMS data set are stored in dBASE III + compatible data files

Stochastic Resonance of a Flexible Chain Crossing over a Barrier

We study the stochastic resonance (SR) of a flexible polymer surmounting a bistable-potential barrier. Due to the flexibility that can enhance crossing rate and change chain conformations at the barrier, the SR behaviors manifest many features of an entropic SR of a new kind, such as the power amplification peaks at optimal chain lengths and elastic constants as well as the optimal noise strengths. The pronounced peaks that emerge depending on the chain lengths and conformation states suggest novel means of manipulating biopolymers, such as efficient separation methods, within undulating channels.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure

Lateral phase separation of confined membranes

We consider membranes interacting via short, intermediate and long stickers. The effects of the intermediate stickers on the lateral phase separation of the membranes are studied via mean-field approximation. The critical potential depth of the stickers increases in the presence of the intermediate sticker. The lateral phase separation of the membrane thus suppressed by the intermediate stickers. Considering membranes interacting with short and long stickers, the effect of confinement on the phase behavior of the membranes is also investigated analytically

Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Plants of Chelia District, West-Central Ethiopia

This study was aimed at carrying out ethnobotanical investigation of wild and semi-wild edible plants (WSWEPs) involving documentation and analysis of the associated indigenous knowledge in Chelia District, West-Central Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviewing, direct matrix ranking, focus group discussions (FGDs), and guided field walks with informants were employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 58 WSWEPs species classified into 48 genera and 30 botanical families were documented. The Moraceae with five species (16.66%) and Asteraceae with four species (13.33%) were the most represented families with high number of wild edible plant species. However, Urtica simensis (Urticaceae) (74.3% of informants), Chionanthus mildbraedii (Oleaceae) (68.4% of informants), Carissa spinarum (Apocynaceae) (66.1% of informants) and Ficus sur (Moraceae) (65.3% of informants) were the highly cited wild food plants. Most of the WSWEP species were shrubs represented with 21 species (36.20%) followed by trees and herbs with 18 species each (31.03% each) and liana with one species (1.72%). About 13.33% of the WSWEPs of Chelia District were endemic to Ethiopia. The average number of WSWEPs reported by women was more than that reported by men, and similarly senior members of the community also reported significantly higher numbers of edible species than younger members (P<0.05). The key informants reported significantly higher mean number of edible species of WSWEPs than the general informants (P<0.05). Women (80.1 ±1.6%) and children (76.1 ±2.3%) were the major gatherers followed by men (13.2±2.4%) and all household members (12.9 ±1.3%). The majority of respondents (77.4 ±2.1%) reported that WSWEPs were consumed by all household members followed by women (23.1± 2.2%), elders (15.8 ±2.3%), children (19.4 ±1.6%) and men 8.2±2.1%). Most inhabitants predominantly consumed fruits (40%) and fresh leaves (17.5%) followed by shoots (12.5%). Based on multipurpose criteria, Cordia africana, Vepris dainellii and Chionanthus mildbraedii were the most commonly used multipurpose species. Forests were the major reservoirs contributing 19 species (18%) of WSWEPs followed by woodland and disturbed bushland adding 28 species (17%) and river banks contributing 26 species (16%). Our analysis also showed that agricultural expansion was identified as a major threat to WSWEPs followed by overgrazing and fuelwood collection in the study area. In light of our findings, we recommend further research on the possibility of adapting, growing and intentionally managing some of the commonly consumed WSWEPs as well as on the toxicity and nutritional composition of these plants to ensure safety of consumption and economic benefits

Seroprevalence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in Borana and Guji lowlands, Southern Ethiopia

A multistage cross sectional serological study and questionnaire survey were conducted on contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in selected districts of Borana and Guji lowlands, Southern Ethiopia, to determine the prevalence of the disease and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease. A total of 900 sera samples were collected and tested using Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Questionnaire surveys were conducted with 69 randomly selected households. Out of the 900 goat sera samples tested, 119 (13.2%) were seropositive for CCPP, giving an overall seroprevalence of 13.2 % (95% CI=11.0%-15.4%) in the study areas. A seroprevalence of 18.3% (95% CI=14.3%-22.7%), 11.7% (95% CI=8%-15.2%) and 9.7% (95% CI=6.3%-12.6%) were recorded in Liban, Teltale and Moyale districts respectively. The seroprevalence recorded in Liban district was significantly different from that of Moyale district (

Segregation of receptor-ligand complexes in cell adhesion zones: Phase diagrams and role of thermal membrane roughness

The adhesion zone of immune cells, the 'immunological synapse', exhibits characteristic domains of receptor-ligand complexes. The domain formation is likely caused by a length difference of the receptor-ligand complexes, and has been investigated in experiments in which T cells adhere to supported membranes with anchored ligands. For supported membranes with two types of anchored ligands, MHCp and ICAM1, that bind to the receptors TCR and LFA1 in the cell membrane, the coexistence of domains of TCR-MHCp and LFA1-ICAM1 complexes in the cell adhesion zone has been observed for a wide range of ligand concentrations and affinities. For supported membranes with long and short ligands that bind to the same cell receptor CD2, in contrast, domain coexistence has been observed for a rather narrow ratio of ligand concentrations. In this article, we determine detailed phase diagrams for cells adhering to supported membranes with a statistical-physical model of cell adhesion. We find a characteristic difference between the adhesion scenarios in which two types of ligands in a supported membrane bind (i) to the same cell receptor or (ii) to two different cell receptors, which helps to explain the experimental observations. Our phase diagrams fully include thermal shape fluctuations of the cell membranes on nanometer scales, which lead to a critical point for the domain formation and to a cooperative binding of the receptors and ligands.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figure

Report on Training of Trainers (TOT) in Tigray Region on Africa RISING Project Validated Technologies/Innovations in the Ethiopian Highland

United States Agency for International Developmen

COD and colour removal from molasses spent wash using activated carbon produced from bagasse fly ash of Matahara sugar factory, Oromiya region, Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour from a melanoidin solution using activated carbon produced from bagasse fly ash (BFA). Melanoidins are heterogeneous polymers and major contributors to the dark brown colour of molasses spent wash, which is an extensive cause of environment pollution. The surface area of the BFA was determined as 160.9 +/- 2.8m(2)/g with 90% of particle less than 156.8 mu m in size. Characterization of the BFA by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups, whereas X-ray diffraction analysis indicated its amorphous nature. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis showed a heterogeneous and irregular shape of pores. Among the adsorption isotherm models analysed, the Freundlich model fitted best to the experimental data, indicating a maximum adsorptive capacity of 124.80 mg/g. The removal of COD and colour from a melanoidin solution with this activated carbon was carried out using an experimental design taking 4 factors into account. These were adsorbent dose, contact time, pH and initial COD concentration, with removal of COD and colour as response variables. COD reduction was influenced by initial COD concentration whereas colour removal was dominated by contact time, which was in line with the findings of principal component analysis. The maximum COD removal recorded was 61.6% at the optimum condition of adsorbent dose of 4 g in 100 mL, contact time of 4 h, pH 8 and initial COD concentration 6 000 mg/L, whereas the decolourization of melanoidin solution was 64% at adsorbent dose of 4 g, contact time 4 h, pH 3 and initial COD concentration 6 000 mg/L. Hence, activated BFA is a promising option for simultaneous removal of COD and colour from molasses spent wash under the stated conditions