A scale to measure educators’ musical skills in early childhood education

Evaluating skills of students training to become teachers in early childhood education (ECE) is a key measure to improve their training and, subsequently, to bring about improvements in the way they train their pupils. No research literature specifically describing a scale designed to measure educators’ musical skills at the ECE level has been previously published. In view of this lack, we carried out the customary procedures for designing and validating a psychological measurement scale: on the basis of a sample of university students (n = 209), we created a valid, reliable tool that allows researchers to evaluate and quantify how teacher trainees perceive their own musical skills. By applying EFA, Parallel Analysis, and CFA, we observed the emergence of four differentiated categories distributed along 25 items in the questionnaire''s final version. To improve and refine this tool, further research and study replication in a series of different educational contexts would be required. © 2021 The Author(s

Prevalence of antibodies against some abortifacient infections of dairy cattle in Uruguay

Se analizaron anticuerpos contra el virus de la diarrea viral bovina y de la rinotraqueitis infecciosa bovina, Neospora caninum y Chlamydophila abortus, en vacunos de 9 tambos del Departamento de San José, Uruguay, mediante equipos comerciales de ELISA. La prevalencia de anticuerpos específicos fue de 76 y 65,3 % para 1080 sueros examinados para las infecciones virales respectivamente, 29,3% para neosporosis, y 10,22 % para 420 sueros examinados para clamidiosis. La comparación de las prevalencias de la infección a N. caninum entre las terneras y las vacas, permitió asumir que la principal vía de infección en este caso, fue la vertical.Sera from milking cows from 9 dairy farms from the county of San José, Uruguay, were tested with a commercial ELISA test for determination of antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea, bovine rhinotracheitis, neosporosis and chlamydiosis. The prevalence of specific antibodies was 76 and 65,3 % for 1080 sera examined for the viral infections respectively, 29.3% for neosporosis and 10.23% for 420 sera examined for chlamydiosis. Comparison of the prevalence of Neospora infection between heifers and cows, allowed to assume that the main route of transmission was vertical.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Survey of diseases affecting reproduction in freeze bovine semen using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Las enfermedades reproductivas son una de las principales causas de los bajos índices de procreo en Uruguay. El diagnóstico de estas enfermedades se lleva a cabo por diversas técnicas de laboratorio; la mayoría de las cuales no permiten la diferenciación de las distintas subespecies de cada microorganismo, hecho que si se puede determinar por medio de la técnica de PCR. En este estudio se intentó determinar la presencia de genomas de: Diarrea Viral Bovina, Herpesvirus bovino tipos 1 y 5, Campylobacter fetus fetus y fetus veneralis y Tritrichomonas foetus foetus. Para ello, 100 pajuelas de semen de bovinos de distintas razas fueron procesadas mediante PCR utilizando “primers” específicos para cada una de las enfermedades en estudio. Todas las muestras analizadas resultaron negativas a la detección de genomas de los agentes mencionados. Esta investigación permitió comprobar el buen nivel de los centros de reproducción evaluados, repercutiendo favorablemente en la sanidad del rodeo nacional. Así mismo, el chequeo de pajuelas de semen por medio de la técnica de PCR demostró ser una herramienta necesaria que debería ser utilizada de rutina ya que permite un rápido y eficiente diagnóstico.Reproductive diseases are a major cause of low calving rates nationwide. The diagnosis of these diseases is performed by various laboratory techniques, most of them do not allow differentiation in different subspecies of each organism, a fact that it can be determined by PCR. This study attempted to determine the presence of genome of bovine viral diarrhea, bovine herpesvirus types 1 and 5, Campylobacter fetus fetus and fetus veneralis and Tritrichomonas foetus foetus. One hundred bovine semen straws were collected and PCR technique using specific primers for each of the diseases studied were applied. All samples were negative for the detection of genomes of the pathogens mentioned. This investigation allowed to check the proper level of insemmination centers evaluated, impacting positively on the health of the national herd. Likewise, the screening of bovine semen straws by PCR proved to be a necessary tool that would be used routinously for quick and efficient diagnosis.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Prevalence of antibodies against some abortifacient infections of dairy cattle in Uruguay

Se analizaron anticuerpos contra el virus de la diarrea viral bovina y de la rinotraqueitis infecciosa bovina, Neospora caninum y Chlamydophila abortus, en vacunos de 9 tambos del Departamento de San José, Uruguay, mediante equipos comerciales de ELISA. La prevalencia de anticuerpos específicos fue de 76 y 65,3 % para 1080 sueros examinados para las infecciones virales respectivamente, 29,3% para neosporosis, y 10,22 % para 420 sueros examinados para clamidiosis. La comparación de las prevalencias de la infección a N. caninum entre las terneras y las vacas, permitió asumir que la principal vía de infección en este caso, fue la vertical.Sera from milking cows from 9 dairy farms from the county of San José, Uruguay, were tested with a commercial ELISA test for determination of antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea, bovine rhinotracheitis, neosporosis and chlamydiosis. The prevalence of specific antibodies was 76 and 65,3 % for 1080 sera examined for the viral infections respectively, 29.3% for neosporosis and 10.23% for 420 sera examined for chlamydiosis. Comparison of the prevalence of Neospora infection between heifers and cows, allowed to assume that the main route of transmission was vertical.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Prevalence of antibodies against some abortifacient infections of dairy cattle in Uruguay

Se analizaron anticuerpos contra el virus de la diarrea viral bovina y de la rinotraqueitis infecciosa bovina, Neospora caninum y Chlamydophila abortus, en vacunos de 9 tambos del Departamento de San José, Uruguay, mediante equipos comerciales de ELISA. La prevalencia de anticuerpos específicos fue de 76 y 65,3 % para 1080 sueros examinados para las infecciones virales respectivamente, 29,3% para neosporosis, y 10,22 % para 420 sueros examinados para clamidiosis. La comparación de las prevalencias de la infección a N. caninum entre las terneras y las vacas, permitió asumir que la principal vía de infección en este caso, fue la vertical.Sera from milking cows from 9 dairy farms from the county of San José, Uruguay, were tested with a commercial ELISA test for determination of antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea, bovine rhinotracheitis, neosporosis and chlamydiosis. The prevalence of specific antibodies was 76 and 65,3 % for 1080 sera examined for the viral infections respectively, 29.3% for neosporosis and 10.23% for 420 sera examined for chlamydiosis. Comparison of the prevalence of Neospora infection between heifers and cows, allowed to assume that the main route of transmission was vertical.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Survey of diseases affecting reproduction in freeze bovine semen using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Las enfermedades reproductivas son una de las principales causas de los bajos índices de procreo en Uruguay. El diagnóstico de estas enfermedades se lleva a cabo por diversas técnicas de laboratorio; la mayoría de las cuales no permiten la diferenciación de las distintas subespecies de cada microorganismo, hecho que si se puede determinar por medio de la técnica de PCR. En este estudio se intentó determinar la presencia de genomas de: Diarrea Viral Bovina, Herpesvirus bovino tipos 1 y 5, Campylobacter fetus fetus y fetus veneralis y Tritrichomonas foetus foetus. Para ello, 100 pajuelas de semen de bovinos de distintas razas fueron procesadas mediante PCR utilizando “primers” específicos para cada una de las enfermedades en estudio. Todas las muestras analizadas resultaron negativas a la detección de genomas de los agentes mencionados. Esta investigación permitió comprobar el buen nivel de los centros de reproducción evaluados, repercutiendo favorablemente en la sanidad del rodeo nacional. Así mismo, el chequeo de pajuelas de semen por medio de la técnica de PCR demostró ser una herramienta necesaria que debería ser utilizada de rutina ya que permite un rápido y eficiente diagnóstico.Reproductive diseases are a major cause of low calving rates nationwide. The diagnosis of these diseases is performed by various laboratory techniques, most of them do not allow differentiation in different subspecies of each organism, a fact that it can be determined by PCR. This study attempted to determine the presence of genome of bovine viral diarrhea, bovine herpesvirus types 1 and 5, Campylobacter fetus fetus and fetus veneralis and Tritrichomonas foetus foetus. One hundred bovine semen straws were collected and PCR technique using specific primers for each of the diseases studied were applied. All samples were negative for the detection of genomes of the pathogens mentioned. This investigation allowed to check the proper level of insemmination centers evaluated, impacting positively on the health of the national herd. Likewise, the screening of bovine semen straws by PCR proved to be a necessary tool that would be used routinously for quick and efficient diagnosis.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

A stochastic evaluation of the validity of an animal-health survey in Uruguay

This paper introduces spreadsheet simulation models to evaluate the validity of national or regional disease surveys aimed at identifying infection in populations of farm animals. The process of evaluation includes specification or calculation of cluster-level diagnostic test sensitivity (the proportion of animals with the disease which test positive) and specificity (the proportion of animals without the disease which test negative), which are obtained from two probability distributions of the number of positive tests at individual-level expected from infected and non-infected clusters, respectively. Probability distributions for the number of positive clusters expected in a situation of the herd prevalence are specified and used to define survey properties (the survey being considered a diagnostic system), and receiver operating characteristic curves (consisting of a plot of sensitivity and specificity pairs for different cut-off values) are drawn. The result of a survey implemented to determine the prevalence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in dairy cattle in Uruguay, South America was used to illustrate this approach. The models can be adapted to a wide range of survey designs in animal health and production.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Unravelling the evolution of the Allatostatin-Type A, KISS and Galanin Peptide-Receptor gene families in Bilaterians: insights from Anopheles Mosquitoes

Allatostatin type A receptors (AST-ARs) are a group of G-protein coupled receptors activated by members of the FGL-amide (AST-A) peptide family that inhibit food intake and development in arthropods. Despite their physiological importance the evolution of the AST-A system is poorly described and relatively few receptors have been isolated and functionally characterised in insects. The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the origin and comparative evolution of the AST-A system. To determine how evolution and feeding modified the function of AST-AR the duplicate receptors in Anopheles mosquitoes, were characterised. Phylogeny and gene synteny suggested that invertebrate AST-A receptors and peptide genes shared a common evolutionary origin with KISS/GAL receptors and ligands. AST-ARs and KISSR emerged from a common gene ancestor after the divergence of GALRs in the bilaterian genome. In arthropods, the AST-A system evolved through lineage-specific events and the maintenance of two receptors in the flies and mosquitoes (Diptera) was the result of a gene duplication event. Speciation of Anophelesmosquitoes affected receptor gene organisation and characterisation of AST-AR duplicates (GPRALS1 and 2) revealed that in common with other insects, the mosquito receptors were activated by insect AST-A peptides and the iCa(2+)-signalling pathway was stimulated. GPRALS1 and 2 were expressed mainly in mosquito midgut and ovaries and transcript abundance of both receptors was modified by feeding. A blood meal strongly up-regulated expression of both GPRALS in the midgut (p < 0.05) compared to glucose fed females. Based on the results we hypothesise that the AST-A system in insects shared a common origin with the vertebrate KISS system and may also share a common function as an integrator of metabolism and reproduction. Highlights: AST-A and KISS/GAL receptors and ligands shared common ancestry prior to the protostome-deuterostome divergence. Phylogeny and gene synteny revealed that AST-AR and KISSR emerged after GALR gene divergence. AST-AR genes were present in the hemichordates but were lost from the chordates. In protostomes, AST-ARs persisted and evolved through lineage-specific events and duplicated in the arthropod radiation. Diptera acquired and maintained functionally divergent duplicate AST-AR genes.Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT) [PTDC/BIA-BCM/114395/2009]; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme; Portuguese funds through FCT Foundation for Science and Technology [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013, PEst-OE/SAU/LA0018/2013]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/89811/2012, SFRH/BPD/80447/2011, SFRH/BPD/66742/2009]; auxiliary research contract FCT Pluriannual funds [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42\ub74% vs 44\ub72%; absolute difference \u20131\ub769 [\u20139\ub758 to 6\ub711] p=0\ub767; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5\u20138] vs 6 [5\u20138] cm H2O; p=0\ub70011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30\ub75% vs 19\ub79%; p=0\ub70004; adjusted effect 16\ub741% [95% CI 9\ub752\u201323\ub752]; p&lt;0\ub70001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0\ub780 [95% CI 0\ub775\u20130\ub786]; p&lt;0\ub70001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status. Funding: No funding