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In this study, an improved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detection of DNA of latent EHV-1 strains from several sources. Three pairs of oligonucleotide primers spanning fragments of 333 bp, 226 bp and 268 bp of the thymidine kinase (tk) gene, and one primer pair spanning 225 bp of the glycoprotein C (gC) gene were used in specific amplifications. Primers for EHV-4 PCR were also designed. Restriction digests with TaqI confirmed the identity of tk PCR fragments from EHV-1. The sensitivity to detect PCR products was further improved by visualisation in silver-stained acrylamide gels. PCR assays were applied to 267 samples including pools of tissue, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and nasal swabs of archived, farms and abattoir specimens from a total of 116 animals. The EHV-1 DNA was found in 88% of the analysed samples. The prevalence of the EHV-1 latent or persistent form in adult horses was similar to others reports but found higher than previously described in foetuses and young foals. EHV-4 latency was not detected in the Brazilian studied specimens.

. Epsilon toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens types B and D causes enterotoxemia in sheep, goats and calves. Enterotoxemia can cause acute or superacute disease, with sudden death of the affected animal. It provokes huge economic losses when large numbers of livestock are affected. Therapeutic intervention is challenging, because the disease progresses very rapidly. However, it can be prevented by immunization with specific immunogenic vaccines. We cloned the etx gene, encoding epsilon toxin, into vector pET-11a; recombinant epsilon toxin (rec-ε) was expressed in inclusion bodies and was used for animal immunization. Serum protection was evaluated and cross-serum neutralization tests were used to characterize the recombinant toxin. To analyze the potency of the 267 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 9 (1): 266-276 (2010) Immunization using recombinant epsilon toxin from C. perfringens toxin (as an antigen), rabbits were immunized with 50, 100 or 200 µg recombinant toxin, using aluminum hydroxide gel as an adjuvant. Titers of 10, 30 and 40 IU/mL were obtained, respectively. These titers were higher than the minimum level required by the European Pharmacopoeia (5 IU/mL) and by the USA Code of Federal Regulation (2 IU/mL). This rec-ε is a good candidate for vaccine production against enterotoxemia caused by epsilon toxin of C. perfringens type D.

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ABSTRACT Purpose: To perform the construct validation of enunciative signs of language acquisition for children aged 3 to 12 months. Method: The study sample consisted of 94 mother-infant dyads for the analysis of Phase 1 (3-6 months) signs and 61 dyads for the analysis of Phase 2 (7-12 months) signs. Data collection was performed through analysis of the interaction between mothers and infants in play situation recorded in 15-min videos in the predicted phases, with attribution of value types of present or absent to each sign analyzed. The collected data were organized on a spreadsheet and then converted to computer applications for factor analysis. Results: Factor analysis indicated the existence of two factors named “mother” and “infant” both for Phase 1 signs (explaining 71.9% of the variation) - with three signs relevant for the “infant” factor and one sign relevant for the “mother” factor, and for Phase 2 signs (explaining 74.4% of the variation) - with one sign relevant for the “infant” factor and one sign relevant for the “mother” factor. Conclusion: Construct validation showed that one “mother” factor and one “infant” factor were able to distinguish between at-risk and not-at-risk groups in both phases analyzed, which suggests that the absence of these signs may pose risks to language acquisition.

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a validade de conteúdo e de construto de sinais enunciativos de aquisição da linguagem para crianças de 13 a 24 meses. Método Os sinais criados foram submetidos à avaliação de clareza e pertinência por seis juízes experts em aquisição da linguagem na perspectiva enunciativa. A partir do seu julgamento foi produzida uma versão experimental que foi aplicada na análise de vídeos de interações mãe-bebê/examinador, com duração de 15 minutos, de 77 díades mãe-bebê na faixa etária de 13 a 18 meses e 89 díades na faixa etária de 19 a 24 meses. A validação de fidedignidade e consistência interna foi realizada pela análise de 10% da mostra por dois juízes fonoaudiólogos. A validação do construto foi realiza pela análise fatorial efetivada sobre a amostra total. Os dados foram analisados no Statistica 9.1 e PASW 17.0. Resultados Todos os sinais foram considerados claros e pertinentes pelos juízes experts. A análise de fidedignidade apontou a concordância quase perfeita (0,8 ≤ Kappa ≥ 1,0) para a maior parte dos sinais. A consistência interna para a Fase 3 apresentou alpha=0,771 considerada alta e Fase 4 apresentou alpha=0,917 limítrofe a muita alta. A análise fatorial da fase 3 revelou 2 fatores, explicando 59,1% da variância total e a fase 4 revelou 1 fator, explicando 75,7%. Conclusão Observou-se validade de conteúdo e de construto para cinco dos doze sinais na Fase 3 e para todos sinais na fase 4.

ResumoO presente artigo aborda a qualidade na prestação de serviços fisioterápicos, através da comparação entre expectativas e percepções de clientes de uma clínica de Fisioterapia da cidade de Santa Maria, RS. Para avaliação da qualidade, utilizou-se a Escala SERVQUAL, composta por vinte e duas questões, sendo que, em doze delas, a percepção de qualidade foi superior às expectativas. Três questões apresentaram médias semelhantes entre expectativas e percepções e, em sete questões, as expectativas foram superiores às percepções. Os dados também foram submetidos à Análise Estatística Multivariada, a fim de verificar a presença ou não de questões redundantes na Escala SERVQUAL adaptada à Fisioterapia. Mediante critérios de exclusão, nove questões foram eliminadas do questionário sem perda significativa em sua abrangência e confiabilidade. Este estudo possibilitou detectar pontos de melhoria nos serviços prestados pela clínica constituinte do caso, além de sugerir uma versão mais enxuta para a Escala SERVQUAL. Palavras-chaveQualidade, Escala SERVQUAL, Fisioterapia, Análise Multivariada e Análise de Conglomerados. Abstract The present study approaches quality in the physiotherapy services rendered through the comparison between expectations and customers' perceptions. The study was developed in a Physiotherapy

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