Search

Infection by the novel duck reovirus (NDRV) in ducklings causes high mortality, which leads to substantial economic losses in the duck industry in China. To date, no commercial vaccine is available for this disease. In this study, linear B cell epitopes of the sB protein of the NDRV were predicted and recombinant multiple linear B cell epitopes (MLBEs) were constructed through linkers. The recombinant MLBEs were then expressed and purified. One-day-old Muscovy ducklings were immunized with different doses of MLBEs and challenged with 5 × 104 ELD50 of the virulent CHY strain of NDRV 14 days after immunization. The ducklings vaccinated with 20 and 40 µg of MLBE performed no clinical signs or gross or histopathological lesions, indicating 100% protection against infection. The viral load in the liver and spleens of these birds was significantly lower than that in the control group. Additionally, these ducklings exhibited positive seroconversion at 7 days after vaccination on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results indicate that MLBE of sB could be used as a candidate for developing vaccines against NDRV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection by the novel duck reovirus (NDRV) in ducklings causes high mortality, which leads to substantial economic losses in the duck industry in China. To date, no commercial vaccine is available for this disease. In this study, linear B cell epitopes of the sB protein of the NDRV were predicted and recombinant multiple linear B cell epitopes (MLBEs) were constructed through linkers. The recombinant MLBEs were then expressed and purified. One-day-old Muscovy ducklings were immunized with different doses of MLBEs and challenged with 5 × 104 ELD50 of the virulent CHY strain of NDRV 14 days after immunization. The ducklings vaccinated with 20 and 40 µg of MLBE performed no clinical signs or gross or histopathological lesions, indicating 100% protection against infection. The viral load in the liver and spleens of these birds was significantly lower than that in the control group. Additionally, these ducklings exhibited positive seroconversion at 7 days after vaccination on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results indicate that MLBE of sB could be used as a candidate for developing vaccines against NDRV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The popularity of Muscovy ducks is attributed not only to their conformation traits but also to their slightly higher content of breast and leg meat, as well as their stronger-tasting meat compared to that of typical domestic ducks. However, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic research on the development of breast muscle in Muscovy ducks. In addition, since the number of skeletal muscle myofibers is established during the embryonic period, this study conducted a full-length transcriptome sequencing and microRNA sequencing of the breast muscle. Muscovy ducks at four developmental stages, namely Embryonic Day 21 (E21), Embryonic Day 27 (E27), Hatching Day (D0), and Post-hatching Day 7 (D7), were used to isolate total RNA for analysis. Results: A total of 68,161 genes and 472 mature microRNAs were identified. In order to uncover deeper insights into the regulation of mRNA by miRNAs, we conducted an integration of the differentially expressed miRNAs (known as DEMs) with the differentially expressed genes (referred to as DEGs) across various developmental stages. This integration allowed us to make predictions regarding the interactions between miRNAs and mRNA. Through this analysis, we identified a total of 274 DEGs that may serve as potential targets for the 68 DEMs. In the predicted miRNA‒mRNA interaction networks, let-7b, miR-133a-3p, miR-301a-3p, and miR-338-3p were the hub miRNAs. In addition, multiple DEMs also showed predicted target relationships with the DEGs associated with skeletal system development. These identified DEGs and DEMs as well as their predicted interaction networks involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and muscle development were most likely to play critical roles in facilitating the embryo-to-hatchling transition. A candidate miRNA, miR-301a-3p, exhibited increased expression during the differentiation of satellite cells and was downregulated in the breast muscle tissues of Muscovy ducks at E21 compared to E27. A dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested that the ANKRD1 gene, which encodes a transcription factor, is a direct target of miR-301a-3p. Conclusions: miR-301a-3p suppressed the posttranscriptional activity of ANKRD1, which is an activator of satellite cell proliferation, as determined with gain- and loss-of-function experiments. miR-301a-3p functions as an inducer of myogenesis by targeting the ANKRD1 gene in Muscovy ducks. These results provide novel insights into the early developmental process of black Muscovy breast muscles and will improve understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current experiment was performed to investigate the influence of different dietary levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, immune response, caecal microbiota, and carcass characteristics of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) during 7 to 63 d of age. Methods: A total of 240 unsexed 7dold ducklings were distributed into five (treatment) groups; each one contained six replicates with eight ducklings each. Birds of the first group were fed basal diet without MOLM and served as control, while the other four groups were fed basal diet with 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.0%, and 2.0% MOLM inclusion level, respectively. Results: The obtained results revealed that including MOLM in the diets significantly improved body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency compared with the control group. Among the different MOLM inclusion treatments, increasing MOLM inclusion level decreased (p<0.05) such previous parameters. Decreasing MOLM inclusion levels in duckling diets increased (p>0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and nitrogen free extract, however all MOLM treatments were significantly higher than the control group. Results also revealed that feeding ducks lower MOLM inclusion levels (0.25% or 0.50%) improved blood parameters (p<0.05) compared with the higher inclusion levels (1.0% or 2.0% MOLM) and the control group. Ducks fed different MOLM levels had significantly higher phagocyte index and activity, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity compared with control group. Conclusion: Despite the beneficial effects of all MOLM treatments on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, physiological status, and immune response of duckling, the increasing MOLM inclusion level in the diet had deleterious effects on such studied traits, consequently 0.25% was the best MOLM inclusion level in duckling diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscovy duck-origin goose parvovirus (MDGPV) is a new virus resulting from the natural recombination of Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) and goose parvovirus (GPV). Previously identified MDGPV strains were found to have two recombination regions, one in the P9 promoter to the NS region and one in the VP3 gene, or only one recombination in the VP3 gene. In 2022, a novel strain of MDGPV known as 2022FZ was identified from China's mainland. Complete genome sequence analysis showed that there were three recombination regions in this strain: one located in the P9 promoter-NS (425–612 nt) region, one in the NS2 (1,483–1,824 nt) region, and one in the VP3 (3,124–4,248 nt) region, respectively. The recombination regions in the P9 promoter-NS, NS2, and VP3 genes were substituted with the relevant GPVs sequences, whereas the MDPV virulent strain served as the skeleton in this instance. In addition, the 2022FZ strain had multiple unique aa mutations in the NS protein and the VP protein. The Muscovy duckling challenge test showed that MDGPV-2022FZ is less pathogenic to Muscovy ducklings than two recombinant or sole recombinant MDGPV strains. For the first time, our study identified a three-region recombinant MDGPV strain and detected the novel recombination event in the NS2 gene. These results contribute to our understanding of the pathogenicity and genetic diversity of duck parvovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The provision of environmental enrichments to Muscovy ducks could reduce the expression of the aggressive behaviors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of black soldier fly (BSF) and yellow mealworm (YM) live larva provision on Muscovy duck performance, excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECM), behavior, and blood parameters. Methods: A total of 126 3-day-old female Muscovy ducklings were allotted to 18 pens (6 replicates/treatment, 7 birds/pen) and assigned to 3 experimental treatments: a control group fed commercial feed, and two experimental treatments fed commercial feed plus the 5% (based on the expected daily feed intake, as fed basis) of BSF and YM live larvae (BSF and YM groups, respectively). A two-phase feeding program was applied: starter (from 3 to 31 days of age) and grower-finisher (from 32 to 55 days of age). The live weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Larva consumption times were collected, and video recordings were performed during 3 periods (P) each day: the hour before (P1), during (P2), and after (P3) the larva administration. ECM were evaluated at 3, 31, and 55-day-old. Finally, the total red and white blood cell counts, serum proteins, lipids, and liver and renal function serum enzymes were evaluated on 12 birds/treatment. Results: The experimental treatment did not affect the growth performance of the birds (P > 0.05). Larva consumption times were always similar between the two insect species, except at 14–18 days of age, were BSF larvae were consumed faster than YM larvae (P < 0.001). The birds showed less walking activity during P2, and preening behavior increased in YM birds during P3. The C birds increased the attack behavior over the weeks (P < 0.05). During weeks 1–3 the YM group reduced the attack frequency (P1 > P3; P < 0.05). Finally, the provision of live BSF and YM larvae significantly reduced the ECM at 55 days of age and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Live BSF and YM larva supplementation in Muscovy duck improves duck welfare, without impairing birds' growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation in diluted semen from Muscovy drakes after the induction of oxidative stress (OS) on the sperm motility, kinematic parameters and biochemical markers – lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and total glutathione (tGSH) concentration. The pooled semen was distributed equally into three parts, diluted (1:3 v/v) with IMV Canadyl, HIA‐1 or AU, and stored at 4°C for 6 h. Later, the semen was equilibrated at 20–25°C for 15 min, and divided in Eppendorf tubes. The sperm samples (final concentration of 50 × 106 sperm cells/mL per sample) were incubated at 37°C for 30 min in the absence (−) or presence (+) of 0.1 mM FeSO4 + 0.5 mM H2O2 (Fenton system) and the following combinations of antioxidants: ascorbic acid + Trolox (A + T); ascorbic acid + Desferal (A + D); Trolox + Desferal (T + D) and ascorbic acid + Trolox + Desferal (A + T + D), all of them in a final concentration of 0.1 mM. Thus, the total number of samples was 30 and in each one, the sperm motility, velocity parameters, LPO and tGSH were determined. The motility and kinematic parameters of the diluted semen with added antioxidants were restored by up to 20% after inducing OS via the Fenton reaction. Dual combinations of antioxidants (A + T, A + D, and T + D) lowered LPO levels, but not equally across different extenders. After the induction of OS, the tGSH levels in diluted semen with IMV–Canadyl were not affected by the added antioxidants. Whereas antioxidant combinations in diluted semen with HIA‐1 or AU had a beneficial effect and partially restored tGSH levels. In conclusion, the results showed that the extender IMV–Canadyl is well balanced and protected the Muscovy semen under OS conditions, while the other two extenders HIA‐1 and AU can be improved by adding antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was conducted to investigate the growth performance, hematological characteristics, and carcass merits in four duck breeds (Pekin, Star 53, Muscovy and Mulard ducks). A total 80 ducklings one day old were used in this work till the age of 12 weeks. Each of the ducklings was allocated to 4 replicates (5 ducks/replicate). The obtained results denoted that the Mulard had the heaviest body weight (4234 gm) followed by Muscovy, Star 53 and Pekin (4029, 3659 and 2938 g., respectively). Muscovy ducks had a highly significant dressing percentage (84.39 %) compared to that of Mulard, Pekin and Star 53 (83.23, 74 and 72.72 %, respectively). Mulard duck had the highest values in Hemoglobin and MCHC by (25 and 49 %) in Pekin and Star but (32 and 24 %) in Muscovy. Lymphocyte in Muscovy increased about two times of Pekin, Star 53. Conclusion, performance, carcass characteristics, and blood parameters were all generally better with Mulard ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Microsatellites are important markers for livestock including ducks. The development of microsatellites is expensive and labor-intensive. Meanwhile, the in silico approach for mining for microsatellites became a practicable alternative. Therefore, the current study aimed at comparing whole-genome and chromosome-wise microsatellite mining approaches in Muscovy and Mallard ducks and testing the transferability of markers between them. The GMATA software was used for the in silico study, and validation was performed using 26 primers. Results The total number of the detected microsatellites using chromosome-wise was 250,053 and 226,417 loci compared to 260,059 and 238,462 loci using whole genome in Mallards and Muscovies. The frequencies of different motifs had similar patterns using the two approaches. Dinucleotide motifs were predominant (> 50%) in both Mallards and Muscovies. The amplification of the genomes revealed an average number of alleles of 5.08 and 4.96 in Mallards and Muscovies. One locus was monographic in Mallards, and two were monomorphic in Muscovies. The average expected heterozygosity was higher in Muscovy than in Mallards (0.45 vs. 0.43) with no significant difference between the two primer sets, which indicated the usefulness of cross-species amplification of different primers. Conclusion The current study developed a whole-genome SSR panel for ducks for the first time, and the results could prove that using chromosome-wise mining did not generate different results compared to the whole-genome approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The variety of indigenous duck germplasm contribute maximum to the poultry industry in India, besides chicken population. In southern part of India, the available duck genetic resource, particularly Arni ducks (comprises of Sanyasi and Keeri ducks) of Tamil Nadu, has its own characteristics with innate potentiality of higher productivity without any input system of management. Genetic characterization and diversity of indigenous duck genetic resources has not been properly studied. In the present study, the genetic diversity of Arni ducks with other indigenous and exotic duck germplasm were analysed with microsatellite markers. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood samples of six duck populations. Molecular characterization was carried out with duck specific FAO recommended microsatellite markers. The genotyping of ducks was done based on the size of 4324 PCR amplicons of 23 microsatellite loci, which were subjected to capillary electrophoresis using automatic sequencer. Result: A total of 222 alleles in six duck populations across 23 microsatellite loci with a mean of 9.65±0.95 alleles were found. Kuttanad duck variety had the highest number of alleles (139) followed by Sanyasi (136), Keeri (129), Muscovy (118), Assam (91) and White Pekin (78) ducks. The mean observed number of alleles was 6.04±0.59, 5.91±0.76, 5.61±3.17, 5.13±0.44, 3.96±0.76 and 3.39±0.40 in Kuttanad, Sanyasi, Keeri, Muscovy, Assam and White Pekin ducks respectively. The overall mean polymorphism information content (PIC) values among the six duck populations was 0.6269. In most of the duck populations, the mean PIC value was more than 0.5 except in Assam (0.4815) and White Pekin (0.3725) ducks. The observed heterozygosity was the highest in Keeri ducks (0.5217) and lowest in White Pekin ducks (0.2766), while, the mean expected heterozygosity was the highest in Sanyasi (0.5628) and lowest in White Pekin (0.4038) ducks. The variations in the observed and expected number of alleles, differences in PIC of various microsatellite loci might be attributed to the genetic variability of the duck populations, number and type of microsatellite primers utilised for analysis and the genetic diversity of the duck breeds under study. Higher FST value indicates the substantial degree of breed differentiation among the studied duck populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1581 King John III of Sweden added Grand Duke of Finland to his royal title. Traditionally, this has been seen as marking the Swedish army"s victories in the Swedish-Russian war, as challenging the power and rule of Grand Duke of Muscovy Ivan IV or explained in the context of early modern state formation. This article seeks to understand the logic of taking the title of grand duke as a continuum of medieval patterns of thought about princely power and rule. Ruling lands, vassals, and people were still very much connected with the ruler's person and princely and dynastic powers understood in the medieval way. Princely titles played a crucial role in this game of – sometimes even overlapping – powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As 16th-century Muscovy started returning to European policy using military expansion, diplomacy and propaganda, the question of renewing its communications with the Holy Roman Empire, the leading continental power, swiftly arose. To that end the tsars used every possible tool, including gifts to the emperors and their diplomats. However, Russian presents, gift-giving practices and rituals were strikingly different from those of their imperial counterparts, which offered new diplomatic possibilities to both tsars and emperors, although sometimes that difference impeded their communications, self-representation and foreign policy. This article sheds light on what gifts the Russians gave to the Austrian Habsburgs and their emissaries, how they were given, received and understood, how well they worked as diplomatic, cultural and self-representation tools and what they can tell us about the mutual images of the Russian and imperial elites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ivan the Terrible's image in English derives from sixteenth-century English accounts of travelers to Muscovy, some parts of which remain unchanged in the five novels written in English dating from 1896 to 2015 discussed in this article. Creative license, of course, triumphs over historical veracity; the novels abound in factual errors. The enormous increase in knowledge about Muscovy that has become available to novelists from historical research during this period had little or no impact on authors of historical fiction. The novelists' interpretations of Ivan vary. Ivan is presented as a failure or a success as a ruler, as a man both rational and insane, disparities that reproduce the lack of consensus among historians. The novels disagree on whether his executions were justified by treason or no more than excrescences of his volatility. What is most interesting in these novels is not their all too predictable Eurocentric bias, sensationalism, or anachronisms, but their unanimous invocation of one element of Ivan's personality. Even when Ivan is doing the right thing, even when he is successful, he remains first, last and always a monster. This aspect of his life and rule dominates all five novels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is dedicated to a famous Ukrainian monastic saint - Jov Knjahynyc'kij (ca. 1550-1621), a founder of Manjava Skete (also known as the Great Skete) in the Carpathian Mountains, an Orthodox monk, who spent a big part of his life en route between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Mount Athos, Moldavia, and Muscovy. His itinerary can be reconstructed on the basis of his Vita, which was composed probably soon after his death. Its author is known as hieromonk Ignatij from Ljubarov. The Vita was published in 1860 by Anthony Petrushevych (1821-1913),1 a Ukrainian historian and linguist. It was also Petrushevych, who edited the most important sources for the early history of the Manjava Skete - the Spiritual Testament by Theodosius as well as the monastic rule of the skete.2 Already the first monograph on the history of Manjava Skete, from its establishment in 1611 until its closure in 1785 by Julian Celević (1843-1892), was based on Petrushevych's editions.3 The translation of Jov's Vita and of the spiritual testament of Theodosius into English was prepared in a critical edition with commentaries by Sophia Senyk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional value of egg yolk in terms of fat content and fatty acid (FA) composition is needed to evaluate their possible effect on human cardiovascular health and disease. This study determined the FA-based nutritional indices/ratios of egg yolks from 29 breeds belonging to seven poultry species (chicken, mallard, quail, Muscovy, guinea fowl, turkey, and ostrich) in a government poultry research station at Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines. At least four pooled samples (each consisting of four egg yolks) per breed were randomly collected and immediately frozen at -20 °C until analyzed for fat content and FA composition by gas chromatography. The major FAs in egg yolk with the highest proportions by weight of total FAs were oleic acid C18:1 n-9 (30.6-43.9%), palmitic acid C16:0 (22.2-54.4%), linoleic acid (LA) C18:2 n-6 (0.4-16.6%), and stearic acid C18:0 (4.0-12.1%). Compared to chicken and quail eggs, the mallard egg yolk seems to have more health benefits because of a lower LA to a-linolenic acid C18:3 n-3 (ALA) ratio (15.70: 1), atherogenicity (0.45), and thrombogenicity (0.91) - as well as higher yolk weight (22.7 g), fat content (31.8%), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio (1.73: 1), health-promoting index (2.20), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (2.26). Among mallard breeds, the egg yolks from Tsaiya and Pekin were superior to that from Itik-Pinas breeds. Egg yolk from other poultry species generally had lower FA-based nutritional values. Significant breed differences in fat content, FA composition, and nutritional indices/ratio were also reported for egg yolks from chicken, quail, and turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few debates in late seventeenth‐century Muscovy were as heated as the controversy over the naming of the Resurrection "New Jerusalem" Monastery (1656). This essay draws attention to an overlooked sixteenth‐century source, a letter by the Greek‐born Slavic translator Maksim Grek (d. 1556), which played an important role in shaping the Church's thinking. Maksim's letter helps to explain why Jerusalem ideology took a very different path in Russia than it did in Western Europe, and why replications of the Holy Sepulcher are only very rarely encountered in Muscovy. Maksim's letter introduces several themes which foreshadow the course of the later debate: the irrevocability of Jerusalem's name; the inalienable holiness of the loca sancta; and the connection between the holy sites and churches built on them. These themes, in turn, invite a reconsideration of the success of Jerusalem ideology in Muscovy, which has often been taken for granted. We first situate this contrarian text in its original context and then trace its mediation through important Ruthenian authors who guaranteed its wide reception in Moscow. Our study demonstrates that the Russian clergy and the Moscow Synod of 1666/67 based their critiques of the 'New Jerusalem' Monastery's name on a reading of Maksim's letter and its mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examined the growth characteristics, nucleotide sequence variations, and economic evaluation of two duck breeds. For this investigation, 150 each of 300 male Muscovy and Pekin ducklings aged one week were used. Body weight gain (BWG) as well as the initial and final live body weights were noted. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) and average feed intake (AFI) were also calculated. After the giblets and carcass were weighed, the percentages of the eviscerated carcass and giblets to live body weight were noted. For extracting DNA, blood samples from ducks of each breed were taken and placed in tubes with disodium EDTA as an anticoagulant. For real-time analysis, RNA was taken from the liver and breast muscle of each breed. In terms of economic criteria, each breed's total variable costs (TVC), total costs (TC), total return (TR), net return (NR), values for the difference in net profit, and economic efficiency percent were assessed. In comparison to Pekin breed, the Muscovy breed exhibited higher ultimate BW, BWG, dressing percentages, and liver percentages. However, the Muscovy breed experienced a considerable fall in AFI and FCR. PCR-DNA sequencing of IGFBP3, FGF5, MSTN, PGAM2, ApoVLDL-II, ACACA, SCD, FASN and LPL genes revealed nucleotide sequence variations in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between Muscovy and Pekin breeds. Muscovy had a much higher gene expression profile for growth markers than Pekin breed. Muscovy breed displayed greater TR, NR, net profit difference%, and economic efficiency% compared to Pekin ducks. According to this study, Muscovy ducks showed greater growth features than Pekin ducks. Identified SNPs and the gene expression profile of growth promoters, together with economic factors, may serve as proxy indicators for selection the best breed of ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the various approaches to the study of early modern Russia. He mentions how historical scholarship relates to contemporary politics, the work on Russian kinship by Stepan Borisovich Veselovskii and its role in political culture, and the question of autocracy and its subsequent authoritarian governments.

The historiosophical conceptual approaches of M. Markevich are analyzed, in relation to the interpretation of the historical progress of Ukrainians from the time of Rus until the liquidation of the Hetmanship and the incorporation of all the Ukrainian lands of the Dnipro region under the scepter of the Russian Empire. In the era of the formation of modern nations, European intellectuals faced the need to formulate a historical concept regarding the right of stateless peoples to their full and independent political life. Turning to the past involved the search for the necessary evidentiary facts of the eternal exclusivity of the linguistic, cultural, and historical path of progress of the ethno-community. Accordingly, historical science had to document the ethno-national autochthonousness of the people in order to help them revive their political self-organization. This was the main goal of M. Markevich when writing «History of Little Russia» and in other works. For the first time, the scientist proposed a new scheme of periodization of the historical progress of Ukraine, which distinguished Ukrainianness from the generally accepted historiographical concept of the Russian Empire. Currently, M. Markevich proposed to radically revise the ethnogenesis of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples and interprets the role of the Cossacks in the life of Ukrainians from a different position. According to the scientist’s vision, the Ukrainian people maintained their state status during the period of political union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the reign of Sigismund II. According to the scientist, the historical intermission of statehood lasted only half a century. B. Khmelnytskyi together with the Cossacks restored Ukrainian statehood and concluded a new political union with Muscovy on equal terms. However, in the relations of the Hetmanship with the Russian Empire, M. Markevich adheres to the traditional views characteristic of the eighteenth-century Ukrainian Cossack political system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of short beak dwarf syndrome caused by novel goose parvovirus (NGPV) have been prevalent in China since 2015, resulting in a high mortality rate of ducks. Herein we evaluated differences between two NGPV strains: Muscovy duck‐origin (AH190917‐RP: MD17) and Cherry Valley duck‐origin (JS191021‐RP: CVD21) NGPV. Both of them showed certain level of pathogenicity to primary duck embryo fibroblasts, Cherry Valley duck embryos and ducklings. CVD21 showed comparatively stronger pathogenicity than MD17. Only CVD21 caused obvious cytopathic effect (CPE), characterized by cell shedding; further, the virus titer of MD17 and CVD21 was 102.571 ELD50 (i.e. median embryo lethal dose)/0.2 ml and 106.156ELD50/0.2 ml, respectively, and the mortality rate of CVD21‐ and MD17‐infected Cherry Valley ducklings was 100% and 80%, respectively. In addition, CVD21 had a greater influence on the growth and development of ducklings. Furthermore, we found that MD17 could infect Muscovy duck embryos and produce lesions similar to Cherry Valley duck embryos, but it could not infect Muscovy duck embryo fibroblasts (MDEFs,) and Muscovy ducklings. MDV21 had no infection to MDEFs, Muscovy duck embryo and Muscovy ducklings. We then sequenced the complete genome of the two isolates to enable genomic characterization. The complete genome of MD17 and CVD21 was 5046 and 5050 nucleotides in length, respectively. Nucleotide alignment, amino acid analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that MD17 showed higher homology to goose parvovirus (GPV), while CVD21 demonstrated stronger similarity with NGPV. Moreover, the two isolates shared 95.8% homology, with encoded proteins showing multiple amino acid variations. Our findings indicate that Muscovy ducks seem to have played a crucial role in the evolution of GPV to NGPV. We believe that our data should serve as a foundation for further studying the genetic evolution of waterfowl parvoviruses and their pathogenic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new disease designated as Pale liver disease (PLD) has been circulating in Chinese Muscovy duck flocks since 2014, which is characterized by fatigue, diarrhoea, sudden death and acute hepatitis with pale and haemorrhagic liver. In this study, the etiological agents of PLD were isolated, causing a significant cytopathic effect (CPE) by cell rounding. Virus particles were observed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation. The same disease was reproduced by experimental infection with the isolate BG61. The whole genomes of isolates were 43,842 nt in length with a GC content of 47.11%, similar to French Muscovy duck adenovirus strain GR with a GC content of 46.08%. The isolates shared 99.71–99.95% and 93.31–93.33% identity with Chinese Muscovy duck adenovirus isolates and GR strain, respectively. The DNA polymerase gene of all Muscovy duck adenovirus strains formed a separate genetic lineage with 99.55–100% amino acid sequence identity. All Chinese Muscovy duck adenovirus isolates contained two fibre genes. In contrast, only one fibre gene was found in GR, the only representative strain in species Duck aviadenovirus B. Anti‐DAdV‐2 serum antibodies had a weak neutralizing activity against Chinese Muscovy duck adenovirus isolates. The phylogenetic trees of the complete genome, hexon and fibre proteins revealed that all Muscovy duck adenovirus strains formed a major genetic lineage consisting of two clades. Thus, both GR and Chinese Muscovy duck adenovirus strains were proposed to be included in the same species of Duck aviadenovirus B belonging to the genus Aviadenovirus. The species Duck aviadenovirus B included two serotypes or genotypes, such as GR, which represents the strain of serotype 1 or genotype 1 (DAdV B1) and Chinese Muscovy duck adenovirus strains, which belong to serotype 2 or genotype 2 (DAdV B2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potentiality of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), D‐Aspartic acids (D‐Asp), Maca or vitamin C, as antioxidant agents, to reduce negative impacts of high ambient temperature on semen quality, oxidative capacity and fertility of Muscovy ducks was investigated. Seventy‐five Muscovy males (34‐wk of age) were distributed randomly into five experimental groups of fifteen ducks each. The first group was fed a basal diet without supplementation and served as a control. The other four groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg CoQ10, 400 mg D‐Asp, 500 mg Maca and 200 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid) per kg diet for 17 consecutive weeks under high ambient temperature conditions. The dietary inclusion of antioxidants significantly maintains better semen variables and a higher fertility rate either for fresh or preserved semen. Among the tested antioxidants, the Maca group showed the best status and outperformed the others in terms of motility, viability, sperm cell concentration, intact acrosome and membrane integrity percentages, total proteins, total antioxidants capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, and the fertility rate for the fresh semen, as well as, forward motility, SOD and MDA for the preserved semen. The CoQ10 showed similar results to Maca in some measurements. Conversely, the basal diet had the poorest performance in all examined variables. The dietary incorporation of antioxidants (Maca or CoQ10) enhances fresh and preserved semen quantity and quality, as well as the fertility rate of Muscovy males under high ambient temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to cover the competitive struggle of Ukrainians for foreign markets in the second half of the seventeenth century. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism and determinism. Both general scientific (system analysis, synthesis, analogy, generalization) and special historical (critical analysis and comparison of sources, comparability, problem-chronological) methods are used. The scientific novelty. For the first time, the question of the legitimacy of the claims of previous historians about the functioning of the all-Russian market at that time is raised and the role of Ukrainians in this process is reconsidered. Conclusions. Separating from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the National Revolution, Ukraine acquired several fundamentally important economic problems. One of them was the possibility of free maritime trade. In particular, in the north the territory of the first covered part of the Baltic coast, and in the south the Ukrainian lands occupied by it had access to the Black Sea. Although decentralized, politically and economically weakened Poland could not fully guarantee trade across the Baltic Sea, where various foreign merchants, especially Germans, were determined to be powerful competitors, Ukrainians used this path. After leaving the Commonwealth, the situation in this matter, of course, became much more complicated. On the Black Sea coast, the power of Turks and Tatars, who were constantly at war with Muscovy, increased. By joining the Russian state, Ukrainian merchants formally joined the only seaside port in the distant and inhospitable Arkhangelsk, through which Muscovy conducted the most part of its foreign trade. However, nobody expected the new competitors with opened arms here. The road through Pskov and Novgorod to Narva, which was under Swedish rule, did not make things any easier. The division of Ukraine into several parts, mainly on the left bank and the right bank, greatly complicated domestic and foreign trade; merchants were defenceless against the authorities of that countries through which they passed. The local armed conflicts caused problems as well. The international situation in the second half of the seventeenth century caused a number of crisis economic and socio-political phenomena in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ukrainian state, which nevertheless opened favourable prospects for Muscovy in the field of trade. At the same time, the trade interests of Ukrainians were not taken into account by the governments of many foreign countries. Competitive struggle in this area prompted the merchants of the Hetmanate to seek and establish new ways and markets for the sale of their products, in particular in Hungary, Moldaviia, Wallachia, the Baltic States and the East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterfowl parvovirus (WPFs) has multiple effects on the intestinal tract, but the effects of recombinant Muscovy duck parvovirus (rMDPV) have not been elucidated. In this study, 48 one-day-old Muscovy ducklings were divided into an infected group and a control group. Plasma and ileal samples were collected from both groups at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days post-infection (dpi), both six ducklings at a time. Next, we analyzed the genomic sequence of the rMDPV strain. Results showed that the ileal villus structure was destroyed seriously at 4, 6, 8 dpi, and the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 decreased at 4, 6 dpi; 4, 6, 8 dpi; and 2, 6 dpi, respectively. Intestinal cytokines IFN-α, IL-1β and IL-6 increased at 6 dpi; 8 dpi; and 6, 8 dpi, respectively, whereas IL-2 decreased at 6, 8 dpi. The diversity of ileal flora increased significantly at 4 dpi and decreased at 8 dpi. The bacteria Ochrobactrum and Enterococcus increased and decreased at 4, 8 dpi; 2, 4 dpi, respectively. Plasma MDA increased at 2 dpi, SOD, CAT, and T-AOC decreased at 2, 4, 8 dpi; 4, 8 dpi; and 4, 6, 8 dpi, respectively. These results suggest that rMDPV infection led to early intestinal barrier dysfunction, inflammation, ileac microbiota disruption, and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Russo-Ukrainian war has been raging for nearly half a year, and no one can predict with any certitude when it will end, but it is already possible to project the impact it will have on the aggressor, Russia. For Putin, the invasion of Ukraine was a crucial step in the process of returning to what he believes are the "original Russian lands."[2] Ukraine was not merely a "historic part" of Russia; it was the cradle of the country and the civilization it spawned. This time Russia will try to pair with China and/or India instead of Comecon/CMEA, but the outlook is much less hopeful, since for decades, the Soviet Union prioritized its technological progress whereas Russia has been dismantling its knowledge-based industries for years. This is true despite Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, recently having said that Russian territory has become "smaller than that of the Russian Empire, but this will not last forever."[7] Russia has repeatedly claimed that it is not a European country, and this dichotomy between Russia and Europe goes back to at least the nineteenth century. [Extracted from the article]

This article analyses the early eighteenth-century relationship between Ukraine and Muscovy, and the revolt of Hetman Mazepa and the Ukrainian Cossacks against Tsar Peter the Great. It argues that Ukraine enjoyed a rather full autonomy to 1709, but that the stresses of the Great Northern War between Muscovy and Sweden, the threats to Ukraine posed by Peter's scorched earth policies, and plans to abolish Ukrainian autonomy provoked Mazepa's revolt. It corrects the stereotype of Mazepa as a barbarous traitor and points out that just as Peter was true to Muscovite interests, so too Mazepa was true to Cossack Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the efforts of the Kievan nobility to secure castle records in the period when the palatinate's dietines have been held in Włodzimierz, and analyzes the resolves of those dietines in this regard. It also discusses the activities of the commissioners appointed to revise old records, assess the extent of war damage to existing records, and oversee the proper keeping of new ones. The attention is also paid to the postulates put forward in the instructions for the palatinate deputies. The Kievans have sought to recover the records captured by the Muscovy, but this objective has not been attained. Other sources, such as manifestations and requisitions, have also been employed. Activities of the Kievan nobility have led to the revision of the castle records of Żytomierz and Owrucz. Żytomierz records have been kept at Łuck, remaining inaccessible to the Kievans until the record-keeping has been resumed in the 18th century. Old Owrucz records have been lost after the monastery fire, and the new ones have been reestablished in the late 1670s. Keeping of Kiev records has been resumed in 1684 in consequence of the reestablishment of the palatinate courts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the total and progressive motility, as well as sperm morphological characteristics of diluted semen with three different extenders (1:3 v/v) and stored at 4°C for 3, 6, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 78, 96, 120 h. Total (TSM) and progressive mobility (PSM) gradually decrease with prolonging storage time. Up to the 30 h of sperm storage the sperm maintain high TSM - over 80% in semen diluted with IMV Canadyl and AU extenders and over 68% when diluted with HIA-1 extenders. With increasing in vitro sperm storage time, PSM and rapid sperm cells decrease significantly after the 3rd h, while non-progressive motility increases until the 48th h, after which it also begins to decrease. For velocity parameters VCL, VAP, VSL are reported a more rapid trend of decrease between 3 and 30 h of cold storage, after which the decline is smoother (P < 0.05). As storage time is extended, the pathological forms of the sperm cells increase, with those affecting the head of the sperm cells predominating - crooked-neck and swelling forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ukrainian Historical Journal / Ukraïnsʹkij Ìstoričnij Žurnal is the property of Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

European diplomatic sources from the early 17th century provide us with previously unaccounted for data on Russian history. Thanks to a report by Georg Tectander, a member of Emperor Rudolph ii's mission to Russia, we can now establish the exact date of birth for Boris Godunov. An unpublished manuscript by Tectander's contemporary and compatriot, Baron Heinrich von Logau, who visited the Tsardom of Russia at the same time, allows us to verify this date as well as to broaden our perspective on everyday life and ceremonial of the royal court, on the Tsar's personal piety and on the status of the ancient tradition of celebrating birthdays and name days. Moreover, analyzing various calendars used by the diplomats of that era allows us to ascertain that one's preference for the Gregorian or Julian calendar was not defined by national strategies only but remained a matter of personal choice that was subject to change during one's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) on immunity in Muscovy duck reovirus (MDRV)-infected ducklings and explore its mechanism of action, an MDRV contact-infection model was established. Then, we investigated the influence of HEP on morphology of main immune organs in MDRV-infected ducklings by HE staining, while antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, MDA), serum protein levels (TP, ALB, GLO), complement levels (C 3 , C 4) and antibody levels (IgA, IgM, IgG) were detected. Apoptotic indexes (apoptosisi rate and FAS-L) were also quantified by TUNEL method and immunohistochemical staining. Meanwhile, FADD and CytC (apoptosis-related genes), were tested by quantitative RT-PCR. Results showed that HEP could reduce the injuries of immune organs caused by MDRV. Additionally, HEP markedly diminished MDA (p < 0.01), while significantly increased T-AOC, TP, ALB, GLO, C 3 , C 4 , IgA, IgM and IgG (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Then, HEP shifted apoptosis time to an early MDRV-infected stage and reduced apoptosis at later MDRV-infected stage. This was associated with changes of FADD and CytC. Collectively, our data suggested that HEP could reduce the immunesuppression by many ways, such as decreasing organs' injuries, improving antioxidant capacity, serum proteins levels, antibody levels and complement levels, while diminish the apoptosis by lowering the FADD and CytC. Unlabelled Image • Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) can regulate immunity of Muscovy duckling. • HEP induced apoptosis in early infected-stage, then reduced apoptosis. • HEP promoted apoptosis by activating Cytochrome c. • HEP inhibited apoptosis by inhibiting Fas-associated death domain and Cytochrome c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hipogrifo: revista de literatura y cultura del siglo de oro is the property of Hipogrifo: revista de literatura y cultura del siglo de oro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Males of Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) are mainly used for mule duck production via artificial insemination of females originated from wild mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos); therefore, the quantity and quality of drake semen play a crucial role. The assessment results of male reaction to sexual stimulation by dummy female and basic semen characteristic (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and morphology) of 12 individually kept Muscovy drakes carried out during the entire reproductive season are described. The male and period of the reproductive season effect on scored semen traits are documented. In total, 792 individual semen collections and evaluations were performed. The average of positive reaction in the entire reproductive season varied from 90.6% in December and April to 50.0% in July, while for individual males, it varied between 97.1% and 29.0%. Throughout the season, the ejaculate volumes ranged from 0.05 to 2.45 ml, sperm concentration from 0.15 × 109 ml−1 to 4.44 × 109 ml−1, total number of live spermatozoa from 68.0% to 100% and live normal (properly formed, with any deformations) from 51.0% to 99.0%. Our study indicates the necessity of male breeders pre‐selection before the onset of the reproductive season, and the need to leave an appropriate number of males to ensure adequate amount of semen for female insemination, especially when using Muscovy drakes (Cairina moschata) for interspecies crossing with Anas platyrhynchos ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newcastle disease (ND) is an acute highly contagious viral disease, spreading rapidly within flocks and affecting birds of all ages. Muscovy ducks, geese and other anseriforms have been tested against different strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and are found to be potential reservoirs showing mild or no clinical signs when infected experimentally with strains that are virulent to chickens. The aim of this work was to compare the clinical and gross pathological changes in Nigerian local chickens and Muscovy ducks experimentally infected with XlVb strain of Newcastle disease virus. Forty birds consisting of 20 chicks and 20 ducklings were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups of 10 birds each. The Groups were designated as group 1 (infected chicks, IC), group 2 (control chicks, CC), group 3 (infected ducklings, ID), group 4 (control ducklings, CD). Groups 1 and 3 were inoculated orally with 107.8/0.1ml/bird as the embryo lethal dose (ELD50/ml) of the NDV (XIVb) strain. Clinical signs observed were inappetance, sitting on hock, diarrhoea, depression and death which were severe in infected chicks but mild in infected ducklings. Gross pathological findings were severe congestions and haemorrhages in most of the lymphoid and other visceral organs of the IC compared to the ID. Muscovy ducks could serve as a source of the ND caused by strain XIVb to the local chickens while suffering mild form of the disease. It is recommended that mixing of Muscovy ducks and domestic chickens in the villages by poultry farmers should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To compare the pharmacokinetics of cefquinome sulfate in ducklings and goslings after IV or 1M administration of a single dose. ANIMALS 216 healthy Muscovy ducklings (Coirina moschata) and 216 healthy Sichuan white goslings (Anser cygnoides). PROCEDURES Ducklings and goslings were each randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 72/ group) that received a single dose (2 mg/kg) of injectable cefquinome sulfate administered IV or IM or of injectable cefquinome sulfate suspension administered IM. Blood samples were collected at various points after drug administration (n = 6 birds/time point). Plasma cefquinome concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with a 2-com- partment model method. RESULTS After IV injection, mean distribution half-life of cefquinome was longer in goslings (0.446 hours) than in ducklings (0.019 hours), whereas volume of distribution at steady state was greater (0.432 vs 0.042 L/kg) and elimination half-life was slower (1.737 vs 0.972 hours). After IM administration of injectable cefquinome sulfate, bioavailability of the drug was higher in goslings (113.9%) than in ducklings (67.5%). After IM administration of injectable cefquinome sulfate suspension, bioavailability was also higher in goslings (123.1%) than in ducklings (96.8%), whereas elimination half-life was slower (6.917 vs 1.895 hours, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In goslings, IV administration of cefquinome resulted in slower distribution and metabolism of the drug than in ducklings and IM administration resulted in higher bioavailability. The delayed-release effect of the injectable cefquinome sulfate suspension when administered IM was observed only in goslings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Common Pekin and Muscovy ducks and their intergeneric hinny and mule hybrids have different abilities for fatty liver production. RNA-Seq analyses from the liver of these different genetic types fed ad libitum or overfed would help to identify genes with different response to overfeeding between them. However RNA-seq analyses from different species and comparison is challenging. The goal of this study was develop a relevant strategy for transcriptome analysis and comparison between different species. Results: Transcriptomes were first assembled with a reference-based approach. Important mapping biases were observed when heterologous mapping were conducted on common duck reference genome, suggesting that this reference-based strategy was not suited to compare the four different genetic types. De novo transcriptome assemblies were then performed using Trinity and Oases. Assemblies of transcriptomes were not relevant when more than a single genetic type was considered. Finally, single genetic type transcriptomes were assembled with DRAP in a mega-transcriptome. No bias was observed when reads from the different genetic types were mapped on this mega-transcriptome and differences in gene expression between the four genetic types could be identified. Conclusions: Analyses using both reference-based and de novo transcriptome assemblies point out a good performance of the de novo approach for the analysis of gene expression in different species. It also allowed the identification of differences in responses to overfeeding between Pekin and Muscovy ducks and hinny and mule hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using 815 eggs randomly collected from 29 breeds of chickens, mallard, Muscovy, quails, guinea fowl, turkey, and ostrich, this study compared internal and external egg quality traits between poultry species and between breeds within species. Among poultry species used for commercial egg production, the mallard ducks had significantly (P<0.05) the highest weight of egg, yolk, albumen, and shell, shell thickness, short, and long circumference which is followed by chickens and quails. Both quail and mallard eggs have higher yolk-albumen ratio than chicken eggs. Chicken egg yolks are more deeply hued than quail and mallard. Both mallard and chicken eggs were more elongated (less round) than quail eggs. Philippine native chickens (Banabang Kalabaw, Joloano, Paraoakan, and Palawan-lasak) have significantly (P<0.05) lower egg weight, albumen weight, short, and long circumference than commercial egg-type and dual-purpose breeds. Percent yolk, percent albumen, yolk-albumen ratio, yolk color, albumen height, Haugh unit, and external egg quality traits were significantly different (P<0.05) among the native breeds. Itik-Pinas (IP) mallard breeds (IP-Itim, IP-Khaki, and Kayumanggi-IP) were significantly different (P<0.05) for yolk weight, percent yolk, percent albumen, yolk-albumen ratio, yolk color, albumen height, Haugh unit, shell weight, percent shell, shell thickness, and short circumference. Quail and turkey eggs showed significant breed differences (P<0.05) for percent yolk, percent albumen and yolk-albumen ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Treaty of Altranstadt forced Augustus II to renoilllce the crown of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as well as any cooperation with the Tsardom of Muscovy in the context of the Great Northern War. Now Tsar Peter I was isolated facing the military superiority of Sweden. Looking for diplomatic solutions, Peter I pursued multiple strategies, building a political coilllterweight to Sweden in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth being one of particular importance. The election of a pretender to the Polish crown by the Sandomierz Confederation illlder the patronage of Peter I developed into a crucial part of Russian diplomacy. Johann Christoph von Urbich was accredited as a Russian envoy in Vienna at a time when the efforts of the Tsar to enthrone an anti-king to Stanislaw Leszczyiiski stalled. Based on the resources of this experienced diplomat, changes of strategy were discussed. The discrepancy between the Tsar's high expectations and the limits set by pragmatic politics put the new envoy into a situation in which he had to develop networks for initiatives of his own. His correspondence with the Saxon court and with Jan Szembek, the Polish Vice-Chancellor of Augustus II, show that the diplomat entered into special relations with them. These multiple loyalties only existed for a limited time, but were concurrent with his commitment to Peter I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Early Lithuanian Literature / Senoji Lietuvos literatūra is the property of Institute of Lithuanian Literature & Folklore and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article offers information on conflicts around fasting and food choice in Muscovy. Topics discussed include information on food as a total social phenomenon, which expresses all aspects of social life; fasting as a way to create community and a shared identity and to generate resources for charitable purposes; and opportunity for social mobility from religious fasting.

Four hundred and fifty Muscovy ducklings (7 days) were distributed into fifteen groups; 4 basal diets contained 0, 10, 20 or 40% of barely grains; or supplemented with 1g commercial enzyme /kg diet; or 4 pelted barely diets; finally, three sprouted percent of barley grains 10, 20 and 40% were used in three experimental diets comparing with the basal control diet. Results showed that increasing barley grains levels in duckling diets reflect significant increase in the non -starch polysaccharides (NSP) and duodenum viscosity ;gradual decrease in digestibility coefficient and nutritive values; ducklings fed diet contained 40% barley grain had lower significant gain compared with control; gradual decrease in feed intake with increase in feed conversion; decrease in carcass % . Adding enzyme or pelleting the experimental diets improved digestibility coefficients and nutritive values. Sprouting technique had recorded the highest desirable results which reflect that group fed 40% barley grains had the best feed conversion compared with other treatments and lowest weights was recorded by group fed basal diet; the highest relative economic efficiency were for groups fed sprouted barley 20% or 40% being 105%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]