The acoustic behavior of the Brazilian caatinga big rodent is incongruent to its actual position in Hydrochoerinae.

Our knowledge about the acoustic behavior of Caviinae species drove us to investigate Kerodon rupestris's (Caviidae: Hydrochoerinae) repertoire. This species is endemic to Caatinga and states as vulnerable in the Brazilian list of endangered species. We recorded sounds uttered by individuals from Santa Luzia, State of Paraíba, Brazil. We promoted interactions among 13 animals during intra and intersexual pairing sessions, under undisturbed interactions in captivity, and in free-living conditions. We found a repertoire of 13 call types, most of them (all except three) shared with Cavia and only five possibly shared also with Hydrochoerus: (1) Close contact and cohesion: tonal and noisy contact calls, tweet, slow-whistle; (2) Social regulation (incitement, subordination or auto-defense): whine, peepy-squeak, yelp; (3) Offensive aggression and status display: roar, snort, and teeth-chattering (4) Warning or intimidation: alarm-whistle, drrr, and drumming; (5) Courtship: purr and slow-whistle. The similarity of Kerodon signals to Hydrochoerinae species, despite the ecological differences, needs to be understood in comparative phylogenetic studies tracing back the origin of the courtship display in Caviidae. Thus, future research should focus on playback studies to test signals' biological function hypothesis.

Small mammals, ticks and rickettsiae in natural and human-modified landscapes: Diversity and occurrence of Brazilian spotted fever in Brazil.

We studied communities of small mammals and their ticks in endemic (E) and non-endemic (NE) areas for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), aiming to infer if diversity parameters of parasites and hosts could be related to occurrence and prevalence of rickettsial infection, especially Rickettsia rickettsii. We compared E and NE areas in human-modified landscapes (HMLs) and natural areas (BIO) with no report of BSF cases. Composition and equitability were important components of diversity explaining differences among areas. The marsupial Didelphis albiventris was dominant in HMLs, but not in natural areas, and this opossum was the main host for the tick Amblyomma sculptum, principal vector of R. rickettsii, especially in E areas. Communities of ticks were dominated by A. sculptum, followed by Amblyomma dubitatum in E areas. In NE areas, this dominance was inverted, with more A. dubitatum than A. sculptum infesting small mammals, but the numbers of ticks were much lower than in E areas. Composition and abundance of ticks in natural areas were very dissimilar from HMLs, with the lowest tick burdens. Didelphis albiventris in E areas presented higher seroprevalence and endpoint titres against R. rickettsii than in other areas. At least three Rickettsia species, non-pathogenic to humans, were detected in natural areas (Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia amblyommatis and 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae'), and only one non-pathogenic species in HMLs (R. bellii). Our results suggest that higher diversity of ticks, hosts and rickettsiae could be relevant factors in buffering the effect in BSF occurrence. Particularly for D. albiventris, its importance has to be quantified in further studies considering the epidemiological scenario of BSF.

Academic achievement and the effects of the student's learning context: a study on PISA data / Desempenho escolar e efeitos do contexto de aprendizagem do estudante: um estudo sobre os dados do PISA / Rendimiento escolar y efectos del contexto de aprendizaje del estudiante: un estudio sobre los datos del PISA

School achievement is under a multiple factorial context related to student, school and family (SSF). Based on 23.141 Brazilians self-reports, obtained from PISA 2015, representative SSF measures were selected, and their impacts measured on school performance scores in mathematics, reading and science. The feeling of belonging to the school (BELONG) and parents' emotional support (EMOSUPS) were strongly correlated with the three investigated performances. EMOSUPS affected how the student feels at school and when being assessed. And the educational and cultural resources of the home affected EEC three dimensions, increasing EMOSUPS, BELONG and school performance, and decreasing anxiety during assessments. Thus, the importance of the school and family environments on students' performance is reiterated and calls for public policies in education that considers the three dimensions. (AU)

O desempenho escolar está sujeito a um contexto de múltiplos fatores, relacionados ao estudante, escola e família (EEF). A partir de autorrelatos de 23.141 brasileiros, obtidos do PISA 2015, foram selecionadas medidas representativas de EEF e medidos seus impactos sobre escores de desempenho escolar em matemática, leitura e ciências. Registrou-se forte correlação entre a sensação de pertencimento à escola (BELONG) e suporte emocional da família (EMOSUPS) com os três desempenhos investigados; o EMOSUPS teve efeito sobre como o estudante se sente na escola e quando é avaliado; os recursos educacionais e culturais do lar afetaram as três dimensões de EEC, no sentido de aumentar o EMOSUPS, BELONG, e os desempenhos escolares e diminuição da ansiedade durante avaliações. Reitera-se assim a importância do ambiente escolar e da família sobre o desempenho dos estudantes, e a necessidade de essas dimensões serem alvo de políticas públicas na área da educação. (AU)

El rendimiento escolar se comprende bajo un contexto factorial múltiple, relacionado con el estudiante, la escuela y la familia (EEF). Con base en 23.141 autoinformes de brasileños, obtenidos del examen PISA 2015, se seleccionaron medidas de EEF representativas y se midieron sus impactos en los puntajes de rendimiento escolar en matemáticas, lectura y ciencias. El sentimiento de pertenencia a la escuela (BELONG) y el apoyo emocional de los padres (EMOSUPS) se correlacionaron estrechamente con los tres desempeños investigados. El EMOSUPS influyó en cómo se siente el estudiante, tanto en la escuela como cuando está siendo evaluado. Los recursos educativos y culturales del hogar afectaron a las tres dimensiones del EEC, aumentando el EMOSUPS, BELONG y el rendimiento escolar, y disminuyendo la ansiedad durante las evaluaciones. Ante estos resultados, se reitera la importancia del entorno escolar y familiar en el rendimiento de los estudiantes y la necesidad de que las políticas públicas en educación consideren estas tres dimensiones. (AU)

Desenvolvimento e evidências de validade da Escala de Percepção das Práticas Docentes / Development and validity evidence of the Teaching Practice Perception Scale / Desarrollo y evidencias de validez de la Escala de Percepción de la Práctica Docente

Práticas docentes personalizadas podem melhorar o desempenho escolar de estudantes. No entanto, não encontramos instrumentos específicos para avaliar estas práticas no contexto brasileiro. O objetivo deste estudo foi construir e apresentar evidências de validade da Escala de Percepção das Práticas Docentes (EPPD). Foram elaborados 25 itens avaliados por 11 juízes. A escala resultante com 17 itens foi aplicada a 477 professores, via formulário online. As análises fatoriais identificaram duas dimensões: Grupo (α = 0,79) reflete as práticas docentes dirigidas à turma; Personalização (α = 0,88) refere-se as práticas docentes dirigidas ao estudante individualmente, que explicaram 48,6% da variância. Os docentes apresentaram mais práticas para o grupo do que personalizadas. A EPPD apresentou evidências de validade e confiabilidade de conteúdo, face e construto e é uma ferramenta potencialmente útil para avaliar as práticas docentes voltadas para o grupo e para estudantes individualmente.

Personalized teaching practices can improve students' school performance. However, specific instruments to evaluate these practices in the Brazilian context couldn't be found. The main goal of this study was to construct and present validity evidence for the Teaching Practice Perception Scale (TPPS). Twenty-five items were crated and evaluated by 11 judges. The resulting 17-item scale was applied to 477 teachers via online form. Factorial analyzes identified two dimensions: 'Group' (α = .0,79) reflects group-oriented teaching practices; 'Personalization' (α = 0,88) refers to individual-oriented teaching practices, which explained 48,6% of the total variance. Teachers presented more group than individual-oriented practices. The TPPS presented evidences of content, face and construct validity and reliability, and is a potentially useful tool for assessing group and individual-oriented teaching practices.

Prácticas docentes personalizadas pueden mejorar el rendimiento escolar estudiantil. Sin embargo, no existen instrumentos específicos para evaluar estas prácticas en el contexto brasileño. El objetivo en este estudio fue desarrollar la Escala de Percepción de la Práctica Docente (EPPD) y mostrar datos sobre su validez. Fueron construidos 25 ítems que después fueron evaluados por 11 jueces. La escala resultante de 17 ítems fue aplicada a 477 maestros a través de un formulario digital. El Análisis Factorial indicó dos dimensiones: 'Grupo' (α = .79) refleja las prácticas de enseñanza dirigidas a toda la clase; 'personalización' (α = .88) se refiere a las prácticas de enseñanza dirigidas al alumno individual, que explican el 48,6% de la varianza total. Los maestros mostraron más prácticas orientadas al grupo que al estudiante individual. La EPPD tiene confiabilidad y validez de contenido, aparente y de constructo, y es una herramienta potencialmente útil para evaluar las prácticas de enseñanza para grupos de estudiantes e individual.

Efeito do sistema de economias de fichas sobre o comportamento cooperativo em crianças / Effect of the token economy system in children cooperative behavior / Efecto del sistema de economía de fichas sobre el comportamiento cooperativo en los niños

O sistema de economia de fichas (SEF) foi usado em um jogo para avaliar seu efeito sobre a cooperação. Crianças de uma escola pública receberam fichas e optaram entre guardá-las ou doá-las anonimamente em uma urna; o número de fichas era triplicado e distribuído igualmente às crianças, que escolhiam, então, entre "comprar" itens ou economizar. O SEF teve efeito na cooperação: 60% das crianças adotaram mais a estratégia cooperativa do que a egoísta, ainda que os perfis individuais mostrem uma aparente exploração de estratégias diversas. O SEF mostrou-se uma alternativa viável e aponta caminhos para aplicação em contextos escolares.

The token economy system was used in a cooperative game to evaluate its effect on cooperation. Public school's children received tokens and chose to keep or donate them anonymously in an urn. The contents of the collective urn were tripled and distributed equally at the end of the session. Children could choose to "buy" items or save tokens. This system affected cooperative behavior: 60% of participants have adopted a more cooperative strategy than the free-rider, even though individual profiles show an apparent exploration of different strategies. These results indicate ways for application in scholar contexts.

El sistema de economía de fichas se utilizó como juego cooperativo para investigar la cooperación entre los niños. Los niños de una escuela pública recibieron fichas y optaron por guardarlas o donarlas de forma anónima en una urna. El contenido de la urna se triplicó y se distribuyó igualmente. Con la ficha que tenían, podían "comprar" artículos o ahorrar las fichas. La aplicación de este sistema parece haber afectado el comportamiento cooperativo, manteniéndolo prevalente entre los participantes (60% de los participantes), mismo que individualmente parecen haber explorado diferentes estrategias. Estos resultados indican formas de aplicación en contextos escolares.

Epidemiology of capybara-associated Brazilian spotted fever.

BACKGROUND: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, has been associated with the transmission by the tick Amblyomma sculptum, and one of its main hosts, the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). METHODS: During 2015-2019, we captured capybaras and ticks in seven highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state (three endemic and four nonendemic for BSF) and in two natural areas of the Pantanal biome, all with established populations of capybaras. RESULTS: The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by much higher tick burdens on both capybaras and in the environment, when compared to the BSF-nonendemic areas. Only two tick species (A. sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum) were found in the anthropic areas; however, with a great predominance of A. sculptum (≈90% of all ticks) in the endemic areas, in contrast to a slight predominance of A. dubitatum (≈60%) in the nonendemic areas. Tick species richness was higher in the natural areas, where six species were found, albeit with a predominance of A. sculptum (≈95% of all ticks) and environmental tick burdens much lower than in the anthropic areas. The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by overgrowth populations of A. sculptum that were sustained chiefly by capybaras, and decreased populations of A. dubitatum. In contrast, the BSF-nonendemic areas with landscape similar to the endemic areas differed by having lower tick burdens and a slight predominance of A. dubitatum over A.sculptum, both sustained chiefly by capybaras. While multiple medium- to large-sized mammals have been incriminated as important hosts for A. sculptum in the natural areas, the capybara was the only important host for this tick in the anthropic areas. CONCLUSIONS: The uneven distribution of R. rickettsii infection among A. sculptum populations in highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state could be related to the tick population size and its proportion to sympatric A. dubitatum populations.

Evidence of individual discrimination in the maned wolf long-distance extended-bark.

The acoustic channel is an efficient long-distance signalling system that may be especially effective for animals moving in the dark in a vast home range. The maned wolf's extended-bark is a long-range vocalization that functions as a mechanism to increase spatial distance among conspecifics as well as to enable pair-mate reunion. Individual variations in this vocalization have been reported, but the possibility that they can be perceived and used by the species has never been tested. In our study, we used ABAB playback experiments to test if captive maned wolves could perceive individual variations. We ran 19 playback sessions with ten different subjects from six different zoos. After discarding nine sessions that did not fulfil minimal experimental conditions, in all except two of the ten valid trials, the subjects responded with displaying Oriented Attention. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the maned wolf is capable of discriminating among extended-barks of different individuals.

Os assobios do porquinho-da-índia: uma proposta ontogenetico-evolutiva / The whistles of the guinea pig: an evo-devo proposal

When separated from their mother, wild and domestic cavy pups emit high-pitched whistles. Whistles are also emitted only by the domestic species in response to food-associated stimuli. We compared isolation whistles (IS) emitted by guinea pig pups separated from their mothers to the food-anticipation whistles (FA) emitted by the same adult individuals in response to a feeding routine. Results revealed no significant differences in the structure of the IS and FA whistles, but showed ontogenetic changes along the period. Results are discussed both in relation to the physiological mechanisms controlling whistle vocalizations and their evolutionary origin in the cavies repertoire.

Quando separados de suas mães, filhotes de preás selvagens e domésticos emitem assobios agudos. Assobios também são emitidos apenas pela espécie doméstica em resposta a estímulos associados à presença de alimentos. Nós comparamos o assobio de isolamento (IS) emitido por filhotes separados de suas mães aos assobios para o tratador (TR) emitidos pelos mesmos indivíduos adultos em resposta a uma rotina de alimentação. Os resultados não revelaram diferenças na estrutura dos assobios IS e TR, mas mostraram mudança ontogenética ao longo do período. Os resultados são discutidos em relação aos mecanismos fisiológicos que controlam a emissão dos assobios e a origem evolutiva desta vocalização no repertório dos preás.