West Suffolk College

Water treadmill (WT) exercise has become a popular tool for equine training and rehabilitation. However, few studies describe the long-term effects of WT exercise in low water on muscle development (MD). This study's objectives were to compare MD changes over a 40-week period in sport horses that regularly used WT in low water within training (Group WTH, n = 55) and a control group that did not (control, n = 28). Subjective MD assessments were undertaken using an adaptation of a previously published method at weeks 0, 20 and 40. For Group WTH, MD significantly increased in the neck, pelvis and hindlimb adductor and abductors between weeks 0 and 20. Neck, thoracic, thoracic trapezius, lumbar, pelvis, quadriceps, hindlimb adductor and abductor, and hamstring musculature increased between weeks 0 and 40. Thoracic musculature only increased between weeks 20 and 40 (p ≤ 0.001 for all). In the control horses, MD did not significantly change between weeks. Regular WT exercise appears to increase MD, particularly for musculature used to create movement patterns seen on the WT. WTs may be appropriate for use under veterinary guidance as part of a directed rehabilitation/training programme to increase core and hindlimb MD.

Known for their high energy density, lithium-ion batteries have become ubiquitous in today’s technology landscape. However, they face critical challenges in terms of safety, availability, and sustainability. With the increasing global demand for energy, there is a growing need for alternative, efficient, and sustainable energy storage solutions. This is driving research into non-lithium battery systems. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on recent advancements in non-lithium battery technologies, specifically sodium-ion, potassium-ion, magnesium-ion, aluminium-ion, zinc-ion, and calcium-ion batteries. By consulting recent peer-reviewed articles and reviews, we examine the key electrochemical properties and underlying chemistry of each battery system. Additionally, we evaluate their safety considerations, environmental sustainability, and recyclability. The reviewed literature highlights the promising potential of non-lithium batteries to address the limitations of lithium-ion batteries, likely to facilitate sustainable and scalable energy storage solutions across diverse applications.

An indispensable guide to the earliest contemporary account of the Franciscan Order in England.