In this paper we present S-pot, a benchmark setting for evaluating the performance of automatic spotting of signs in continuous sign language videos. The benchmark includes 5539 video files of Finnish Sign Language, ground truth sign spotting results, a tool for assessing the spottings against the ground truth, and a repository for storing information on the results. In addition we will make ou...

A study was conducted in two southern coastal districts of Bangladesh (Noakhali and Lakshmipur) to assess the potentiality of the existing duck rearing system of the regions in summer and rainy season. One upazila from each district and three villages from each upazila were selected randomly. Fifty farmers were selected from each village having at least 5 ducks throughout the year. Thus, a tota...

Mottled ducks Anas fulvigula are nonmigratory and primarily depend on habitats associated with coastal marshes of the Gulf Coast for their entire life cycle. Much of remaining available coastal marsh habitats of the Texas Gulf Coast are managed by state and federal agencies. The Texas Gulf Coast breeding population of mottled ducks has recently declined dramatically. To aid in development of ma...

What role does the wild duck play in Ibsen’s famous drama? I argue that, besides mirroring the fate of the human cast members, the duck is acting as animal subject in a quasi-experiment, conducted in a private setting. Analysed from this perspective, the play allows us to discern the epistemological and ethical dimensions of the new scientific animal practice (systematic observation of animal b...

The goal of academic undergraduate programs is to disseminate disciplinary ‘know-how’ and teach students to engage in professional practice once they have completed their studies. However, technological and scientific progress contribute continuously to a significant increase of knowledge. In consequence, theoretical information keeps augmenting, while time for assimilation and application exer...

The purpose of this paper is to seek the Committee’s advice on whether the risk to consumers (including vulnerable groups) from consuming lightly cooked or raw shell eggs and their products has changed since the Committee last reviewed the subject of Salmonella in eggs in detail between 1998 and 2001. The paper provides background on this issue in light of developments. While hen’s eggs are the...

The aims of this study were to obtain information on the mechanism of molting and the prolactin hormone levels affecting egg production. The study utilized AP (crossbred of Alabio ♂ with Peking ♀) and PA (crossbred of Peking ♂ and Alabio ♀ ducks) with a total of 180 birds. The observed variables were the duration of cessation of egg production before and after molting, the prolactin hormone lev...

Another bird widely kept in domestication is the Muscovy. Although often referred to as a duck, the Muscovy actually is a different species. It is hard to categorize Muscovies—they have a body like a duck; they nest, attack predators, and hiss like a goose; they roost like a chicken; and they have a plump breast like a turkey. The male Muscovy has characteristic fleshy growths around the eyes c...

There is no argument that understanding the geometry around optimal configuration is an important component for efficiency and injury prevention (Wisbey-Roth 2009), and some leading “Bike-Fit” proponents argue the neuromuscular perspective (Steve Hogg 2007). There are also endless references to optimal pedalling technique“spinning the pedals”, “elegant”, “wipe the mud of the shoe”, “like a duck...

This study evaluated the effects of different flours (tapioca, wheat, sago and potato) on the physicochemical properties of duck sausage. The examined physicochemical properties included proximate composition, cooking yield, color (lightness, redness and yellowness), folding, texture profile (hardness, elasticity, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness) and sensory properties. The study found th...