International Research and Academic scholar society

IRASS Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies

Issue-10(October), Volume-3 2026

1. Organizing Livestock Markets in Kenya's Drylands: Evolution, Instituti...
133

Ekiru Francis Anno*
School of Doctoral Studies, Unicaf University, Lilongwe, Malawi
1-13
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJMS.v3.i10.0190

Livestock production is central to the livelihoods and economies of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Kenya’s drylands, yet its commercial potential is constrained by fragmented production and marketing systems, weak institutional coordination, inadequate infrastructure, information asymmetries, insecurity, climatic shocks and unequal bargaining power. This study examined the evolution, institutional arrangements and business models underpinning livestock-market organization in Kenya’s drylands and developed a framework for sustainable market coordination. A qualitative-dominant multiple-case study design was employed, focusing on four models: the Organized Livestock Marketing Model, Livestock Marketing Associations (LMAs) and Co-management Model, Meat and Livestock Assembly Model, and Livestock Market-Yard Management Model. Turkana County constituted the principal empirical case, supplemented by evidence from Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Baringo and Tana River. Data were collected through 45 semi-structured key-informant interviews, 10 focus group discussions, documentary review and direct market observation, and analyzed using thematic, historical, within-case and cross-case approaches. Findings show that the four models represent complementary dimensions of livestock-market development. The Organized Livestock Marketing Model provides market architecture by coordinating actors, information, livestock flows and market linkages. The LMA and Co-management Model strengthens collective action, representation and shared governance, although uneven implementation limits its effectiveness. The Meat and Livestock Assembly Model enhances aggregation, specialization, downstream linkages and value addition, while the Market-Yard Management Model institutionalizes infrastructure management, regulation, service delivery and commercial operations. The study concludes that sustainable livestock commercialization requires integration of these functions rather than isolated interventions. It proposes a Sustainable Livestock-Market Coordination Framework linking production, aggregation, market linkages, value addition and governance to improve connectivity, efficiency, competitiveness, commercial viability, resilience and institutional sustainability in Kenya’s drylands.

2. Particle Size Distribution and Mean Diameter Characterization of Beach...
4

Sivamani Selvaraju*
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Unit, Department of Engineering and Technology, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Salalah, Oman
14-21
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJMS.v3.i10.0191

Particle size distribution is an important physical characteristic of coastal sediments, influencing sediment transport, depositional behavior, permeability, packing characteristics, and particle–fluid interactions. The present study investigates the particle size characteristics of beach sand collected from Haffa Beach, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, using sieve analysis and moment-based particle diameter calculations. A sand sample with an initial mass of 100 g was subjected to particle size separation using sieves with nominal apertures of 2.000, 1.000, 0.710, 0.500, 0.355, and 0.250 mm. The representative particle diameter of the pan fraction was taken as 0.180 mm based on the Tyler method. The recovered sample mass was 99.51 g, corresponding to a mass recovery of 99.51%. The particle size distribution revealed that the fractions retained on the 0.250 and 0.355 mm sieves accounted for approximately 83.08% of the recovered mass, indicating a pronounced concentration of particles within the intermediate size classes. Several moment-based mean particle diameters were evaluated, including the number–length mean (\(D_{10}\)), surface mean (\(D_{20}\)), volume mean (\(D_{30}\)), volume–surface mean (\(D_{32}\)), and volume–mass mean (\(D_{43}\)). Their corresponding values were 0.2405, 0.2480, 0.2567, 0.2751, and 0.3078 mm, respectively. The cumulative particle size distribution was further analyzed to estimate characteristic percentile diameters. Logarithmic interpolation yielded \(d_{30}\), \(d_{50}\), \(d_{60}\), and \(d_{90}\) values of 0.2865, 0.3355, 0.3640, and 0.4749 mm, respectively. The median particle diameter corresponded to medium sand according to the Wentworth grain-size classification. The findings provide a quantitative characterization of the investigated beach sand and demonstrate the relevance of different mean particle diameter definitions for engineering and sedimentological applications. Further analysis of finer particle fractions and grain morphology is recommended to improve sediment sorting assessment and support interpretation of coastal sediment transport processes.

3. Artificial Digestion Surveillance for Trichinella in Slaughtered Pigs...
3

Richard Kusi Boateng*1, Kwame Antwi Darkwa1, Prince Oduro Kwarteng1, Bright Arthur2
1*School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, 2School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
22-27
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSJMS.v3.i10.0193

Background. Trichinella infection is a foodborne zoonosis acquired mainly through undercooked pork. Direct evidence of infective larvae in pigs is scarce in Ghana, where earlier work relied largely on serology. Methods. In a cross-sectional study (April–September 2025), muscle from the tongue, diaphragm and masseter of 100 pigs slaughtered at three facilities in the Kumasi metropolis was pooled (10 g per pig) and examined for larvae by pepsin–HCl artificial digestion followed by stereomicroscopy. Management practices on 25 farms in five source communities were assessed with a semi-structured questionnaire and a direct-observation checklist. Results. Trichinella larvae were not detected in any of the 100 pigs (0/100; exact 95% CI 0–3.6%). The pigs were 62 females and 38 males of five breeds. Of the 25 farms, 23 (92%) used intensive and two (8%) semi-intensive systems; none was free-range. Environmental hygiene was rated best or better on 15 farms, good on nine and poor on one, and 23 farms (92%) reported regular deworming. Conclusions. No larvae were detected in pigs from predominantly confined, peri-urban production in Kumasi. With 100 pigs, the study can exclude only a prevalence above about 3.6%, and individual pigs were not traced to farms, so the husbandry findings are descriptive and do not explain the negative result. Targeted, larger surveillance of free-range pigs, where serological exposure has been reported, is the priority for Ghana.

4. A Study on Interdisciplinary Terminology Translation: A Case Study of...
0

Wang Xiaotong*
University of Shanghai for Science and technology
28-32
http://doi.org/10.67564/IRASSMSv3.i10.0192

Culture-loaded word translation is a core issue in interdisciplinary terminology research. Beyond linguistic transfer, it requires reconstruction of cultural connotations. Rooted in national ethos, Chinese culture-loaded terms carry both symbolic and communicative values and risk semantic loss and cultural mismatch in overseas dissemination. This article takes the Chinese “Loong” as a case, reviewing its translation evolution since the 16th century and comparing dragon, loong and Chinese dragon across historical contexts. Drawing on linguistics, cultural studies, translation studies, history and intercultural communication, it explores driving factors, Sino-Western metaphor gaps, discourse power shifts, domestication-foreignization tensions and debates on loong. It concludes that such translations reflect cultural discourse contests rather than mere technical decisions. Translators should avoid binary extremes, balance cultural fidelity and readability, adopt scenario-based strategies and promote terminology standardization for effective Chinese cultural communication.





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