5,719 research outputs found
Life is too short to be serious all the time: Donald Duck presents unconventional motivations for publishing in academia
No full textIn this food for thought article, we introduce the ‘Donald Duck Phenomenon’ to consider ten unconventional reasons for publishing in academia. These include (i) symbolic immortality, (ii) personal satisfaction, (iii) a sense of pride, (iv) serious leisure, (v) cause credibility, (vi) altruism, (vii) collaboration with a friend or family member, (viii) collaboration with a hero, (ix) conflict or revenge, and (x) for amusement. The article was inspired by the lead author’s social media search for a co-author with the surname ‘Duck’. Through LinkedIn, the lead author, Associate Professor William E. Donald, who is based in the UK and specialises in Sustainable Careers and Human Resource Management, found a collaborator, Dr Nicholas Duck, based in Australia and specialises in Organisational Psychology. While the collaboration may appear somewhat ‘quackers’, per one of Donald Duck’s famous phrases, “Life is too short to be serious all the time, so if you can’t laugh at yourself then call me… I’ll laugh at you, for you”. We hope that this article offers some interesting insights, particularly for academics at the start of their scholarly journey, and acts as a way to stimulate conversation around unconventional reasons for publishing in academia
Comparative genomics in chicken and Pekin duck using FISH mapping and microarray analysis
No full textBACKGROUND:
The availability of the complete chicken (Gallus gallus) genome sequence as well as a large number of chicken probes for fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) and microarray resources facilitate comparative genomic studies between chicken and other bird species. In a previous study, we provided a comprehensive cytogenetic map for the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and the first analysis of copy number variants (CNVs) in birds. Here, we extend this approach to the Pekin duck (Anas platyrhynchos), an obvious target for comparative genomic studies due to its agricultural importance and resistance to avian flu.
RESULTS:
We provide a detailed molecular cytogenetic map of the duck genome through FISH assignment of 155 chicken clones. We identified one inter- and six intrachromosomal rearrangements between chicken and duck macrochromosomes and demonstrated conserved synteny among all microchromosomes analysed. Array comparative genomic hybridisation revealed 32 CNVs, of which 5 overlap previously designated "hotspot" regions between chicken and turkey.
CONCLUSION:
Our results suggest extensive conservation of avian genomes across 90 million years of evolution in both macro- and microchromosomes. The data on CNVs between chicken and duck extends previous analyses in chicken and turkey and supports the hypotheses that avian genomes contain fewer CNVs than mammalian genomes and that genomes of evolutionarily distant species share regions of copy number variation ("CNV hotspots"). Our results will expedite duck genomics, assist marker development and highlight areas of interest for future evolutionary and functional studies
Does limited virucidal activity of biocides include duck hepatitis B virucidal action?
No full textBACKGROUND: There is agreement that the infectivity assay with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) is a suitable surrogate test to validate disinfectants for hepatitis B virucidal activity. However, since this test is not widely used, information is necessary whether disinfectants with limited virucidal activity also inactivate DHBV. In general, disinfectants with limited virucidal activity are used for skin and sensitive surfaces while agents with full activity are more aggressive. The present study compares the activity of five different biocides against DHBV and the classical test virus for limited virucidal activity, the vaccinia virus strain Lister Elstree (VACV) or the modified vaccinia Ankara strain (MVA).
METHODS: Virucidal assay was performed as suspension test according to the German DVV/RKI guideline. Duck hepatitis B virus obtained from congenitally infected Peking ducks was propagated in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes and was detected by indirect immunofluorescent antigen staining.
RESULTS: The DHBV was inactivated by the use of 40% ethanol within 1-min and 30% isopropanol within 2-min exposure. In comparison, 40% ethanol within 2-min and 40% isopropanol within 1-min exposure were effective against VACV/MVA. These alcohols only have limited virucidal activity, while the following agents have full activity. 0.01% peracetic acid inactivated DHBV within 2 min and a concentration of 0.005% had virucidal efficacy against VACV/MVA within 1 min. After 2-min exposure, 0.05% glutardialdehyde showed a comparable activity against DHBV and VACV/MVA. This is also the case for 0.7% formaldehyde after a contact time of 30 min.
CONCLUSIONS: Duck hepatitis B virus is at least as sensitive to limited virucidal activity as VACV/MVA. Peracetic acid is less effective against DHBV, while the alcohols are less effective against VACV/MVA. It can be expected that in absence of more direct tests the results may be extrapolated to HBV
Revisiting Tony Price’s (1979) account of the native vegetation of Duck River and Rookwood Cemetery, western Sydney
No full textThe Duck River Reserve and Rookwood Cemetery in the highly urbanised Auburn district of western-Sydney hold small but botanically valuable stands of remnant native vegetation. In the late 1970s, local resident G.A.-(Tony) Price, recognised the value of these remnants, both for the species they held and the clues they could give us-to the past, and spent three years surveying and collecting plants at these sites. Price recorded the species present and-their abundance, and described the habitats in which they were found. He observed the ecology of plant interactions,-moisture, shading and fire response, interpolating them into a picture of the landscape and vegetation of the district-prior to European settlement. At a time when field botany was inaccessible to many, and the focus of conservation was-largely on the broader scale, Price’s local scale work at these sites was unusual and important. Though never formally-published, Price’s 1979 account ‘The Vegetation of Duck River and Rookwood Cemetery, Auburn’ has been cited in-all subsequent work of consequence for the area. This paper presents and reviews Price’s work and discusses his-observations in relation to the current vegetation of these areas. Tony Price’s contributions also highlight the value and-role that ordinary citizens can play alongside professional botanists and plant ecologists in long term data collection,-considered observation and environmental management. A copy of Price’s original unpublished account has been-included as an appendix to this paper
Use Of Beluntas, Vitamin C And E As An Antioxidant For Reducing Off-Odor Of Alabio And Cihateup Duck Meat
No full textBesides chewy, red in color, duck meat also have a distorted smell (fishy/off-odor). For consumers who are not familiar, the smell is not preferred. Duck meat contains high unsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acid is an ingredient which is prone to oxidation. Two strains: Alabio and Cihateup ducks were used in this study, each consist of 3 replications. Four treatments were: 1. Commercial diet without antioxidant (control = K0); 2. Beluntas leaf meal (0.5%) + commercial diet (KB) 3. Beluntas leaf meal (0.5%) + commercial diet + Vitamin C 250 mg / kg (KBC), 4. Beluntas leaf meal (0.5%) + commercial diet + vitamin E 400 IU/kg (KBE). This experiment was designed in Completely Randomized Design. The result showed that response of Alabio and Cihateup duck to feed treatment in saturated fatty acid content and unsaturated fatty acids in meat and skin of the same, namely the feed treatment of KBE high and low of KBC. Beluntas leaf meal as much as 0.5% + vitamin E in the feed could be reduced the intensity of off-odor and maintain good performance of duck
Poems on several occasions: By Stephen Duck.
No full textxl,334,[2]p. ; 4⁰.Includes: 'An account of the author' and a subscription list.The final leaf contains an ode "written since the preceding pages were printed off".Augustan Reprint Society: preliminary leaves and The Thresher's Labour by Stephen Duck only, xxii-xl, 27 p.Reproduction of original from the British Library.English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT90234.Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group)
Analysis of the influence of solar generation on electricity consumption: the Duck Curve
No full textopenNella presente tesi si ha l’obiettivo di studiare l’andamento della serie di differenza tra il carico totale dell’energia fornita ai consumatori e la produzione da fonte fotovoltaica con frequenza oraria nel periodo che va da inizio 2018 a fine 2022, in Italia. Tale serie di differenza considerata nell’arco di una giornata prende il nome di “Duck Curve”, per la forma caratteristica che assume. La valutazione della stagionalità della serie viene effettuata mediante la scomposizione dell’indice di Gini proposta da Grossi e Mussini nel 2021
Truncation of the NS1 protein converts a low pathogenic avian influenza virus into a strong interferon inducer in duck cells
No full textThe NS1 protein of influenza A viruses is known as a nonessential virulence factor inhibiting type I interferon
(IFN) production in mammals and in chicken cells. Whether NS1 inhibits the induction of type I IFNs in duck cells is currently unknown. In order to investigate this issue, we used reverse genetics to generate a virus expressing a truncated NS1 protein. Using the low pathogenic avian influenza virus A/turkey/Italy/977/1999 (H7N1) as a backbone, we were able to rescue a virus expressing a truncated NS1 protein of 99 amino acids in length. The truncated virus replicated poorly in duck embryonic fibroblasts, but reached high titers in the mammalian IFN-deficient Vero cell line. Using a gene reporter system to measure duck type I IFN production, we showed that the truncated virus is a potent inducer of type I IFN in cell culture. These results show that the NS1 protein functions to prevent the induction of IFN in duck cells and underline the need for a functional NS1 protein in order for the virus to express its full virulence
- …
