Abstract Firefighters have high exposure to traumatic events and have an increased risk of developing symptoms related to trauma. The current study assessed the psychological morbidity, empathy and alexithymia of volunteer firefighters compared to career firefighters and to non-firefighter comparators from the general population. Group differences were assessed using multivariate comparisons and univariate tests and discriminant analysis for individual measures. A total of 1062 individuals completed the protocol. Considering firefighters as the focus of analysis, data suggested that both career and volunteer firefighters presented higher trauma than the comparison group. In subscales of empathy, compared to the comparison group, career firefighters scored higher on the perspective-taking scale, while firefighters showed less personal discomfort and less fantasy. Firefighters showed less alexithymia, in the outward-oriented style of thinking than the comparison group. The findings suggest the need for more prevention and treatment efforts for firefighters, with the introduction of educational and therapeutic interventions.

Abstract This study aimed to adapt the Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale to Portugal and examine the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the scale (Pt-CF-Short Scale) among Portuguese firefighters. The factor structure of the Pt-CF-Short Scale was compared to the one-factor model fit and a two-factor model and second-order factor model in a sample of 512 firefighters. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures confirmed the good fit of a second-order factor model with two first-order factors (secondary trauma and job burnout). The Pt-CF-Short Scale showed good internal consistency evidence. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and WHOQOOL-Bref were used as convergent measures to assess psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity and quality of life, respectively. The measure presented a strong correlation with psychological distress and weak and negative association with quality of life. The Pt-CF-Short Scale contributes to understanding compassion fatigue and its correlates within the context of emergency workers. Results indicate that this scale is a valid and reliable assessment tool in evaluating compassion fatigue.

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo adaptar a Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale para Portugal e examinar a fiabilidade e validade da versão portuguesa da escala (Pt-CFShort Scale) entre bombeiros portugueses. A estrutura fatorial da CF-Short Scale foi comparada com o ajuste do modelo de um fator e um modelo de dois fatores e um modelo de fator de segunda ordem em uma amostra de 512 bombeiros. Os procedimentos de análise fatorial confirmatória confirmaram o bom ajuste de um modelo fatorial de segunda ordem com dois fatores de primeira ordem (trauma secundário e esgotamento profissional). As evidências de consistência interna mostraram bons coeficientes e boa validade convergente foi encontrada ao correlacionar essa escala com sofrimento psíquico, ansiedade, depressão e sensibilidade interpessoal. No entanto, essa medida apresentou associação fraca e negativa com as dimensões do WHOQOL-Bref. A validade discriminante foi confirmada. A escala Pt-CF-short contribui para a compreensão da trajetória da fadiga por compaixão e seus correlatos no contexto dos socorristas. Os resultados indicam que esta escala é uma ferramenta de avaliação válida e confiável na avaliação da fadiga por compaixão.

Com o objetivo de estabelecer as propriedades psicométricas do Inventário do Comportamento de Rutter na sua forma completa para professores e, determinar os problemas comportamentais e emocionais em crianças, tal como eles ocorrem na sala de aula, foi pedido a 45 professores do 1º CEB do Norte de Portugal para classificarem os comportamentos de 970 alunos (530 meninas e 440 meninos), com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 11 anos (M =8,47; DP=0,771). Foi encontrada uma estrutura fatorial de dois fatores, que exibiu uma fidelidade e valores de teste-reteste aceitáveis ao longo de um período de 3 meses. Verificou-se que 16,1% dos alunos apresentavam algum problema ao nível do comportamento, e foram descritos pelos professores como os sintomas mais prevalentes: ansiedade (3,1%), preocupação (5,1%) e dificuldades de concentração (1,.1%). Os resultados mostram que o instrumento traduzido pode ser útil e simples tanto em contexto clínico como de investigação.

To establish the psychometric properties of the RCBQ for completion by teachers and to determine behavioural and emotional problems in young children, as they occur in the classroom, we asked 45 elementary school teachers of the north of Portugal to rate classroom behaviour of their pupils based on Rutter Children's Behaviour Questionnaire for teachers. A total of 970 Portuguese mid class children (530 girls and 440 boys) aged between 8 to 11 years (M=8.47; SD=.771) were evaluated. A two factor structure was found to be suitable, exhibiting an acceptable reliability and test-retest values along a 3-month period. An average of 16.1% of the pupils exhibited some behavioural problems, where teachers described anxiety (3.1%), worry (5.1%) and unconcentration (14.1%) as the most prevalent symptoms. The findings suggest that the translated scale could serve as a rapid and useful screening instrument in clinical and in research settings.

Abstract Current channels are one of the recognized intertidal rocky habitats of the Mexican tropical Pacific. A study on the distributional pattern of macroalgae was made in a current channel in Playa Las Cuatas, Guerrero, Mexico. Twenty eight species were determined: 3 Chlorophyta, 9 Phaeophyta and 16 Rhodophyta. The communitary structure is characterized by an apparent banded distribution defined by the dominant species. A pinkish belt of the crustous coralline Lithophyllum decipiens is extended from the upper subtidal to the middle intertidal. The folióse phaeophyta Sargassum liebmannii forms more or less continuous patches in the low at middle intertidal. The horizontal extension of this species is variable. Levels over L. decipiens are covered by an extense band of crustous phaeophytes. Part of the high, middle, low intertidal and up to the upper subtidal are occupied by Ralfsia hancockii. Mixed with this species in their superior limit and extending all over the supratidal is found R. confusa. Many other species are found with a variable distribution intermingling in different bands. This pattern of species distribution is analyzed in the light of several zonation proposals.

Resumen Los canales de corrientes son uno de los ambientes rocosos intermareales reconocidos en el Pacífico Tropical Mexicano. Se realizó un estudio sobre el patrón de distribución de macroalgas en un canal de corrientes en Playa Las Cuatas, Guerrero, México. Se determinaron 28 especies: 3 Chlorophyta, 9 Phaeophyta y 16 Rhodophyta. La estructura comunitaria está caracterizada por una aparente distribución en bandas definida por las especies dominantes. Una franja rosada de la coralina costrosa Lithophyllum decipiens se extiende del submareal superior hasta el intermareal medio. La feofita foliosa Sargassum liebmannii forma parches más o menos continuos en el intermareal inferior y medio. La extensión horizontal de esta especie es variable. Los niveles por arriba de L. decipiens están cubiertos por una banda extensa de feofitas costrosas. Parte del intermareal superior, medio e inferior lo ocupa Ralfsia hancockii. Mezclada con esta especie en su límite superior y extendiéndose por la zona supramareal se encuentra R. confusa. Otras especies tienen una distribución variable entremezclándose en diferentes bandas. Este patrón de distribución de especies se analiza a la luz de varias propuestas de zonación.

Abstract The cartography of coral reefs has been constituted in a valuable tool to know diverse biological phenomena and processes that happen in these communities, related with its space dimension. Maps have been used to represent topographical conformation of the reefs, distributional patterns of corals and other species, as referential for succession studies and for applied purposes related with conservation programs and sustainable development. In this study a methodological proposal of underwater mapping is presented, applied to the reef community of San Agustin Bay, Huatulco, Oaxaca, that can be used in other places of the Mexican Tropical Pacific. The mapping protocol consists of four general phases: 1) planning and organization; 2) topographical survey; 3) data processing; and, 4) cartography. Two bathymétrie maps were obtained, one two-dimensional representation (2D) and other three-dimensional (3D), showing complementary relief'features.

Resumen La cartografía de arrecifes coralinos se ha constituido en una valiosa herramienta para conocer diversos fenómenos y procesos biológicos que ocurren en estas comunidades, relacionados con su dimensión espacial. Los mapas se han empleado para representar la conformación topográfica de la formación arrecifal, los patrones de distribución de los corales y otras especies, como referentes para estudios de sucesión y para propósitos aplicados relacionados con programas de conservación y desarrollo sustentable. En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta metodológica de mapeo subacuático, aplicada a la comunidad arrecifal de Bahía San Agustín, Huatulco, Oaxaca, que puede ser utilizada en otros sitios del Pacífico Tropical Mexicano. El protocolo de mapeo consiste en cuatro fases generales: 1) planeación y organización; 2) levantamiento topográfico; 3) procesamiento de la información; y, 4) cartografía. Se obtuvieron dos mapas batimétricos, uno de representación bidimensional (2D) y otro tridimensional (3D), que muestran características del relieve complementarias.