Syndrome dimensions and the Child Behavior Checklist and the Teacher Report Form: A critical empirical evaluation

The construct representation of the cross-informant model of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Samples were collected in seven different countries. The results are based on 13,226 parent ratings and 8893 teacher ratings. The adequacy of fit for the cross-informant model was established on the basis of three approaches: conventional rules of fit, simulation, and comparison with other models. The results indicated that the cross-informant model fits these data poorly. These results were consistent across countries, informants, and both clinical and population samples. Since inadequate empirical support for the cross-informant syndromes and their differentiation was found, the construct validity of these syndrome dimensions is questioned

Análise de imagens digitais para a avaliação do comportamento de pintainhos de corte

Na busca por respostas quanto às condições de bem-estar animal, visou-se a avaliar neste trabalho o comportamento de pintainhos nas duas primeiras semanas de vida, por meio de processamento de imagens digitais. O experimento foi realizado em dois galpões comerciais, utilizados para criação de 15.200 aves de corte por galpão, durante um ciclo produtivo, dotados com fornalha a lenha de aquecimento indireto do ar. Foram instaladas duas câmeras de vídeo por galpão para aquisição de imagens digitais. Uma das câmeras possuía inclinação angular de 45º, e a outra, inclinação angular de 90º em relação ao solo. As imagens foram analisadas para cada condição climática diária e binarizadas, sendo depois processadas por meio de descritor de agrupamento/dispersão e correlacionadas com os valores de temperatura do ar. Observou-se correlação entre o descritor e os valores de temperatura do ar, sendo que as imagens obtidas pela câmera posicionada a 45º e divididas em 25 blocos, obtiveram maior correlação. Pelos dados obtidos, pode-se observar que o comportamento de agrupamento e dispersão dos pintainhos pode ser usado como indicador dos estados de conforto térmico e que o descritor se mostrou eficiente para esta quantificação.The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of young chickens in the first two weeks of life through digital images processing, for the determination of the best condition of animal welfare. The experiment was accomplished at two buildings with furnace with indirect air heating, used for creation of 15,200 broiler chickens by building, during one single productive cycle. For the production of digital images, two video cameras were installed by building. One of the cameras had an inclination of 45º and the other a 90º in relation to the ground. The images were analyzed for each daily climatic condition. Then, they were binarized and processed through grouping/dispersion descriptor and correlated with the values of temperature of the air. Correlation was observed between the descriptor and the values of temperature of the air. Images obtained by the camera positioned at 45º had the highest correlation. From the data obtained can be observed that the grouping/dispersion and the behavior of the young chickens can be used as indicator of the states of thermal comfort and that the descriptor was efficient for the quantification