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The payload environment of a rocket is random and dynamic during liftoff and flight, with acoustic noise, vibration, and acceleration falling under its definition. Characterization of this environment is important to finalize payload design requirements and insure mission completion. This report will focus on the study and measurement of acoustic noise using a low-cost microphone. Various spectral analysis techniques were utilized to characterize acoustic intensities and frequency content. Effects of vibration and acceleration, ground reflection, atmospheric absorption, and nonlinear propagation were investigated. Noise data were obtained from a rocket launch and several vertical, staticired hybrid motors. The propulsion system acoustic loads were compared to prediction methods from NASA SP-8072.

Globally urbanisation impacts on 88% of amphibian species and is recognised as a major cause for the observed amphibian declines. This is as result of habitat fragmentation, alteration in habitat morphology and degradation of habitat quality. The interference of anthropogenic noise on anuran communication and the impacts thereof on their breeding success has become a major research focus in recent conservation studies. . However, within the African continent very little research has been conducted on the effects of urbanisation on anuran habitat and the acoustic environment, which is the main focus of this study. The thesis is structured as follows: CHAPTER ONE provides an introduction to the field of urban ecology and relates it to amphibian conservation. The chapter reviews the far reaching and diverse effects of urbanisation on frog populations reported in literature across the world and also supply a broad introduction to the succeeding chapters. It also briefly summarises evidence from literature on the positive contributions brought about by the developed world. Following the vast negative impacts of urbanisation, the importance of amphibians is briefly discussed to motivate their conservation in urban environments, before concluding with a motivation for the need for urban ecological research on amphibians in South Africa. CHAPTER TWO addresses the distribution of amphibian communities across an urban-rural gradient in the city of Potchefstroom and assesses the habitat determinants explaining distribution at both local (pond) and landscape scales. Four surveys conducted spanned the breeding seasons of all species occurring in this region and included three different sampling techniques to detect fish and anuran larvae species. Seven micro-habitat and seven landscape variables were included to evaluate determinants of habitat use among local species and species richness. Using Bayesian modelling, aquatic vegetation, predatory fish and pond size was found to be major determinants shaping species richness on a local scale, whereas surface area of urban central business district had only a slightly negative correlation with species richness on a landscape scale. This is a pioneer study for documenting effects of urbanisation on amphibian communities along an urban-rural gradient in Africa. CHAPTER THREE evaluates the extent of the influence of aircraft acoustic noise on the calling behaviour of the critically endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, Hyperolius pickersgilli. Literature documenting the effects of airplane noise on anuran calling activity is very limited and this study aimed not only to contribute to existing knowledge, but also to provide the first study of its kind within South Africa. Effects on five call properties of H. pickersgilli were determined using passive and directional recording equipment at two sites, reflecting presence and absence of aircraft flybys. Results showed an increase in calling rate of H. pickersgilli during aircraft flybys. Hyperolius pickersgilli was found to call throughout the night until just before sunrise. The calling behaviour, frequency structure and call sound pressure level of H. pickersgilli suggest that this species is prone to be effected by continuous anthropogenic noise. However, the lack of flights between midnight and sunrise provides a period of no disturbance for the frogs. Future studies on the effects of change in calling behaviour should be supported by playback studies at quiet sites and connected to breeding success to determine if these effects are detrimental to the survival of this critically endangered species. CHAPTER FOUR focussed on the Western Leopard Toad, Amietophrynus pantherinus and was divided into two major parts. One component focussed on the migration of this species across roads and aimed to firstly quantify the number of individuals migrating over a 500 m stretch of road using a drift fence system operated by public volunteers. The drift fence proved very successful, with no roadkill observed during the time it was in place. This study also stressed that large numbers of toads (average of 20.47% of 2 384 toads over six breeding seasons) are still being killed on the urban and suburban roads. Road patrol statistics collected by volunteers are biased in the sense that it is prone to human error, but when a drift fence is constructed, bias is excluded and space for human error limited. The study also provided road sensitivity areas analysed using geographic information systems to create digital buffer zones of 250 m, 500 m and 1 000 m around selected breeding sites. Secondly the study aimed to evaluate the use of data collected by these citizens occupying a volunteering role in the toad’s conservation. The second part of this study was directed towards the acoustic analysis of the call of A. pantherinus. The two main objectives of this component were to 1) evaluate the extent of variation of the call properties in order to 2) assess whether the ambient anthropogenic noise have an effect on these properties. Seven call properties for advertisement calls and four for release calls were analysed. Call properties were found to vary significantly between populations (P<0.05). Although sound pressure level was found to have an effect on variation by using canonical redundancy analysis, variation can also be explained by the geographical isolation of the populations. CHAPTER FIVE provided novel data on the extensive repertoire of Amietia quecketti in terms of its unique calling behaviour. Directional recordings were used to examine the extent of the variation in the two-part call (click-note followed by a whine-note). The whine-note was re-described and four different notes were designated, including the tonal-note, creak-note, pulsatile- / rip-note, and whine-note. Furthermore, the newly assigned whine-note was divided into nine phases that differed in frequency structure. Also, evidence is provided that A. quecketti males call at high frequencies. The success of A. quecketti in urban environments as observed in Chapter 2 is described in terms of this species’ extensive repertoire and unusual frequency structure. CHAPTER SIX provides insight into the effects of atmospheric conditions on the calling behaviour of Amietia quecketti, giving the proximate impact urbanisation has on weather conditions as well as the potential impact human activities can have on climate change on the long term. Calling activity was monitored over a nine-week period together with data from a mobile weather station which logged atmospheric variables every five minutes. Amietia quecketti was found to call most intensely between 00h00 and 03h00 in the morning and was most active in May, June and August. Humidity, temperature and wind velocity were found to have significant effects (P<0.05) on the calling activity of A. quecketti. CHAPTER SEVEN is concerned with the attitudes of people towards frogs in South Africa. The first part of this study assessed the attitudes of people towards frogs in Potchefstroom. Surveys were distributed via the internet as well as manually to reach people with no internet access as well. Attitudes of people of Potchefstroom were mostly positive with more than half of the sampled population of 295 respondents indicating a strong liking in frogs. This study provides evidence that the presence of myths and knowledge can highly affects people’s attitudes towards frogs. The second part of this study focussed on the motivations of volunteers saving Western Leopard Toads from roadkill in Cape Town, South Africa. Volunteers were motivated by a strong value-driven approach to saving toads. CHAPTER EIGHT provides a general discussion and outline on the contributions this study presented and also the new areas where more research is needed within the extent of the field of urban ecology from a South African perspective. / hD (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Globally urbanisation impacts on 88% of amphibian species and is recognised as a major cause for the observed amphibian declines. This is as result of habitat fragmentation, alteration in habitat morphology and degradation of habitat quality. The interference of anthropogenic noise on anuran communication and the impacts thereof on their breeding success has become a major research focus in recent conservation studies. . However, within the African continent very little research has been conducted on the effects of urbanisation on anuran habitat and the acoustic environment, which is the main focus of this study. The thesis is structured as follows: CHAPTER ONE provides an introduction to the field of urban ecology and relates it to amphibian conservation. The chapter reviews the far reaching and diverse effects of urbanisation on frog populations reported in literature across the world and also supply a broad introduction to the succeeding chapters. It also briefly summarises evidence from literature on the positive contributions brought about by the developed world. Following the vast negative impacts of urbanisation, the importance of amphibians is briefly discussed to motivate their conservation in urban environments, before concluding with a motivation for the need for urban ecological research on amphibians in South Africa. CHAPTER TWO addresses the distribution of amphibian communities across an urban-rural gradient in the city of Potchefstroom and assesses the habitat determinants explaining distribution at both local (pond) and landscape scales. Four surveys conducted spanned the breeding seasons of all species occurring in this region and included three different sampling techniques to detect fish and anuran larvae species. Seven micro-habitat and seven landscape variables were included to evaluate determinants of habitat use among local species and species richness. Using Bayesian modelling, aquatic vegetation, predatory fish and pond size was found to be major determinants shaping species richness on a local scale, whereas surface area of urban central business district had only a slightly negative correlation with species richness on a landscape scale. This is a pioneer study for documenting effects of urbanisation on amphibian communities along an urban-rural gradient in Africa. CHAPTER THREE evaluates the extent of the influence of aircraft acoustic noise on the calling behaviour of the critically endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, Hyperolius pickersgilli. Literature documenting the effects of airplane noise on anuran calling activity is very limited and this study aimed not only to contribute to existing knowledge, but also to provide the first study of its kind within South Africa. Effects on five call properties of H. pickersgilli were determined using passive and directional recording equipment at two sites, reflecting presence and absence of aircraft flybys. Results showed an increase in calling rate of H. pickersgilli during aircraft flybys. Hyperolius pickersgilli was found to call throughout the night until just before sunrise. The calling behaviour, frequency structure and call sound pressure level of H. pickersgilli suggest that this species is prone to be effected by continuous anthropogenic noise. However, the lack of flights between midnight and sunrise provides a period of no disturbance for the frogs. Future studies on the effects of change in calling behaviour should be supported by playback studies at quiet sites and connected to breeding success to determine if these effects are detrimental to the survival of this critically endangered species. CHAPTER FOUR focussed on the Western Leopard Toad, Amietophrynus pantherinus and was divided into two major parts. One component focussed on the migration of this species across roads and aimed to firstly quantify the number of individuals migrating over a 500 m stretch of road using a drift fence system operated by public volunteers. The drift fence proved very successful, with no roadkill observed during the time it was in place. This study also stressed that large numbers of toads (average of 20.47% of 2 384 toads over six breeding seasons) are still being killed on the urban and suburban roads. Road patrol statistics collected by volunteers are biased in the sense that it is prone to human error, but when a drift fence is constructed, bias is excluded and space for human error limited. The study also provided road sensitivity areas analysed using geographic information systems to create digital buffer zones of 250 m, 500 m and 1 000 m around selected breeding sites. Secondly the study aimed to evaluate the use of data collected by these citizens occupying a volunteering role in the toad’s conservation. The second part of this study was directed towards the acoustic analysis of the call of A. pantherinus. The two main objectives of this component were to 1) evaluate the extent of variation of the call properties in order to 2) assess whether the ambient anthropogenic noise have an effect on these properties. Seven call properties for advertisement calls and four for release calls were analysed. Call properties were found to vary significantly between populations (P<0.05). Although sound pressure level was found to have an effect on variation by using canonical redundancy analysis, variation can also be explained by the geographical isolation of the populations. CHAPTER FIVE provided novel data on the extensive repertoire of Amietia quecketti in terms of its unique calling behaviour. Directional recordings were used to examine the extent of the variation in the two-part call (click-note followed by a whine-note). The whine-note was re-described and four different notes were designated, including the tonal-note, creak-note, pulsatile- / rip-note, and whine-note. Furthermore, the newly assigned whine-note was divided into nine phases that differed in frequency structure. Also, evidence is provided that A. quecketti males call at high frequencies. The success of A. quecketti in urban environments as observed in Chapter 2 is described in terms of this species’ extensive repertoire and unusual frequency structure. CHAPTER SIX provides insight into the effects of atmospheric conditions on the calling behaviour of Amietia quecketti, giving the proximate impact urbanisation has on weather conditions as well as the potential impact human activities can have on climate change on the long term. Calling activity was monitored over a nine-week period together with data from a mobile weather station which logged atmospheric variables every five minutes. Amietia quecketti was found to call most intensely between 00h00 and 03h00 in the morning and was most active in May, June and August. Humidity, temperature and wind velocity were found to have significant effects (P<0.05) on the calling activity of A. quecketti. CHAPTER SEVEN is concerned with the attitudes of people towards frogs in South Africa. The first part of this study assessed the attitudes of people towards frogs in Potchefstroom. Surveys were distributed via the internet as well as manually to reach people with no internet access as well. Attitudes of people of Potchefstroom were mostly positive with more than half of the sampled population of 295 respondents indicating a strong liking in frogs. This study provides evidence that the presence of myths and knowledge can highly affects people’s attitudes towards frogs. The second part of this study focussed on the motivations of volunteers saving Western Leopard Toads from roadkill in Cape Town, South Africa. Volunteers were motivated by a strong value-driven approach to saving toads. CHAPTER EIGHT provides a general discussion and outline on the contributions this study presented and also the new areas where more research is needed within the extent of the field of urban ecology from a South African perspective. / hD (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Os transformadores são equipamentos fundamentais para o sistema elétrico e o acompanhamento regular de suas condições de operação é muito importante para que se reduzam custos associados ao seu ciclo de vida, bem como para que se possa garantir a sua confiabilidade e a sua durabilidade. As falhas elétricas ocorrem, muitas vezes, motivadas pela degradação do sistema isolante e consequentemente danificam o equipamento. O óleo é um dos componentes isolantes que se deteriora com facilidade devido ação de falhas ou variação de temperatura e umidade. O acompanhamento e a manutenção da qualidade do óleo isolante são etapas essenciais para proporcionar uma operação confiável dos equipamentos elétricos garantindo a confiabilidade do fornecimento de energia. Um dos parâmetros que pode ser monitorado no óleo é a água, pois esta reduz drasticamente a rigidez elétrica do dielétrico. Uma revisão na literatura relata alguns procedimentos de diagnósticos disponíveis para avaliar a condição do óleo de transformadores, tais como as análises físico química e a análise de gases dissolvidos (DGA). Pesquisas recentes revelam um tópico ressaltado que consiste na utilização de sensores acústicos para caracterização de líquidos, uma vez que essa análise possui a vantagem de ser não destrutiva, com possibilidade de aplicações não invasivas e em transformadores em operação. Neste contexto, esta tese propõem uma metodologia acústica para contribuir na detecção de umidade no óleo mineral isolante utilizando sensores piezoelétricos. A metodologia consiste na utilização de sensores para emitir e recepcionar os sinais transmitidos através de amostras de óleos de transformadores. Os experimentos foram realizados na faixa de MHz, utilizando transdutores comerciais e na faixa de kHz, utilizando um transdutor piezoelétrico desenvolvido pelo Grupo de Alta Tensão e materiais da USP de São Carlos. Medidas da amplitude do sinal são correlacionadas com o teor de água contido nas amostras de óleos. Os resultados revelam que é possível diagnosticar se as amostras de óleo estão aptas ou não para uso em transformadores. Em alguns casos é possível distinguir as quatro classes das amostras de óleo mineral isolante testadas: óleo novo (virgem), óleo regenerado, óleo sujo e óleo queimado. A metodologia proposta, além de ser inédita, se mostra promissora para auxiliar no diagnóstico de amostras de óleo mineral isolante em campo. / Transformers are fundamental equipment in electrical power system and constant monitoring their operating conditions is very important to reduce the costs associated with their life cycle, as well as to guarantee their reliability and durability. One of the main cause of electrical failures in power transformers is the degradation of the power transformer insulation system, which can cause permanent damages. A crucial element in their insulation system is oil used to insulate parts, but also to cool the equipment. Therefore monitor and maintain the insulating oil are essential steps to provide a reliable operation of the electrical equipment guaranteeing the reliability of the power supply. A review in the literature reports a wide variety of diagnostic procedures available to assess the condition of transformer oil, such as physical chemical analysis and dissolved gas (DGA) analysis. Recent research reveals a highlighted topic that consists of the use of acoustic sensors for characterizing liquids, since the acoustic analysis presents the characteristic of being non-destructive with possibility of non-invasive and application during transformer operation i.e. in line. In this context, this thesis proposes an acoustic methodology for the analysis of mineral insulating oil using piezoelectric sensors. The methodology consists of the use of sensors to emit and receive signals transmitted through oil transformer samples. The experiments were carried out in the MHz band, using commercial transducers and in the kHz band, using a piezoelectric transducer developed by the High Voltage and Materials Group from USP of São Carlos. Measurements of signal amplitude are correlated with the water content contained in the oil samples. The results show that it is possible to diagnose whether or not the oil samples are suitable for use in transformers. In some cases it is possible to distinguish the four classes of tested mineral oil samples. The proposed methodology is promising for the diagnosis of mineral insulation oil samples in the field.

Orientador: Regina Helena Garcia Martins / Resumo: Objetivo: Verificar as diferenças entre as características vocais clínicas, perceptivo-auditiva, acústica computadorizada e videolaringoscópica de mulheres obesas, antes e após a cirurgia bariátrica. Casuística e métodos: Foram compostos dois grupos: grupo de obesas (GE), com 27 mulheres candidatas à cirurgia bariátrica, de acordo com os critérios: IMC superior a 40 kg/m2 ou IMC superior a 35 kg/m2 associado a comorbidades; e grupo controle (GC), com 27 mulheres, pareadas em faixa etária, com peso ideal para a estatura, estabelecido pelo IMC. Foram realizadas avaliações vocais: clínicas (levantamento de sintomas clínicos e vocais e hábitos vocais), autoavaliação vocal (questionários de índice de desvantagem vocal – IDV e qualidade de vida e voz – QVV), perceptivo-auditiva (escala GRBASI), acústica (software MDVP) e videolaringoscopia. Todos os participantes realizaram as mesmas avaliações, sendo que no GE o protocolo foi repetido em três momentos distintos: M1 (pré-operatório), M2 (pós-operatório – 6 meses) e M3 (pós-operatório − 12 meses). Resultados: No GE, o sintoma clínico mais evidente foi o refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) e os sintomas vocais foram: rouquidão (25,9%), pigarro (18,5%) e cansaço ao falar (18,5%). Autoavaliação vocal: os dados dos questionários não se diferenciaram entre os grupos e também não apresentaram efeito de momento, no GE. Avaliação vocal acústica: os parâmetros vocais que mais se diferiram na voz do GE foram: f0, NHR e SPI. Esses parâmetros diminuí... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Objective: To verify the differences among the clinical vocal characteristics, perceptual-auditory, computerized acoustic and videolaryngoscopy of obese women before and after bariatric surgery. Methods Two groups were included: Obese group (SG), with 27 women candidates for bariatric surgery according to criteria: BMI> 40 kg / m2 or BMI> 35 kg / m2 associated with comorbidities and Control group (CG), with 27 women, matched in age, with ideal weight for height, established by BMI. Vocal assessments (clinical and vocal symptoms survey and vocal habits), vocal selfassessment (questionnaires of the vocal handicap index - quality of life and voice - QLV), perceptual-auditory (GRBASI scale), acoustic (MDVP software) and videolaryngoscopy were performed. All participants performed the same evaluations, and in the SG the protocol was repeated in three different moments: M1 (preoperative), M2 (postoperative - six months) and M3 (postoperative 12 months). Results: The most obvious clinical symptom in the SG was gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and vocal symptoms were: hoarseness (25.9%), phlegm (18.5%) and fatigue (18.5%). Vocal selfassessment: questionnaire data were not differentiated between groups and did not present moment effects in different moments (in the SG). Acoustic vocal evaluation: the vocal parameters that differ most in the voices of the SG were: f0, NHR and SPI. These parameters decreased significantly in M2 and M3. Perceptual-auditory evaluation: There was improvement... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar efeitos imediatos dos exercícios de vibração sonorizada e som basal em vozes saudáveis por meio de ferramentas de avaliação vocal. Participaram do estudo trinta adultos saudáveis de ambos os gêneros (12 homens e 18 mulheres), com idade entre 19 a 45 anos, sem queixa vocal. Foram gravadas as vogais sustentadas /a/ e /E/ em dois momentos. A primeira gravação foi realizada antes de exercícios vocais, a segunda gravação foi realizada após os participantes emitirem de 3 a 5 minutos de vibrações sonorizadas ou um minuto de som basal. As gravações de vogais sustentada /a/ e /E/ foram submetidas às análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. Também foram gravadas videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade entre os momentos pré e pós-exercícios vocais para a avaliação quimográfica destas imagens. Resultados: a análise perceptivo-auditiva da impressão global da voz apresentou diferença estatística para ambos exercícios para a vogal sustentada /a/ (p = 0,016 para vibração sonorizada e p = 0,046 para som basal). Após a técnica de vibração sonorizada, a análise acústica apresentou diminuição significativa aos parâmetros: nivelamento espectral do filtro (SFF) e mobilidade glótica (GM), em vogais sustentadas /a/ de vozes femininas (p = 0,01 para SFF e p = 0,04 para GM); no coeficiente de perturbação do período (Jitter) em ambos os gêneros, para vogais sustentadas /E/ (p = 0,018 para homens e p < 0,01 para mulheres); e na perturbação da amplitude (Shimmer) e SFF para vogais sustentadas /E/ em vozes femininas (p < 0,01 para Shimmer e p = 0,048 para SFF). Após o exercício de som basal houve diminuição nos parâmetros: Jitter (p < 0,01) em vozes femininas e presença de ruído no espectrograma (p = 0,02). A avaliação das quimografias extraídas de videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade após o exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou decréscimo do parâmetro fase fechada (p = 0,046); aumento de fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) e aumento na vibração de amplitude (p < 0,01), em pregas vocais femininas. Após o exercício de som basal foi observado aumento significativo ao parâmetro fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) em pregas vocais masculinas. Conclusão: O exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou efeitos imediatos positivos na qualidade vocal e pregas vocais, principalmente de mulheres. No entanto, são necessárias pesquisas com maior número de amostras masculinas; assim como é necessário pesquisas do tempo adequado do exercício de som basal para melhor investigação e corroboração dos resultados desta pesquisa. / The aim is to detect the immediate effect of vocal exercises in normal voices. Thirty healthy subjects from 19 to 45 year old with no vocal complains participated in the study. The sustained vowels /a/ and /E/ were recorded in two moments: the first, we recorded the habitual voice, before any exercises; and the second, after from 1 to 5 minutes of continuous voiced vibration or vocal fry exercises. Considering the two moments, recordings were submitted to perceptual examination, acoustic and high speed videolaryngoscopy evaluation. We analyzed perceptual, acoustic and spectrographic parameters of sustained vowels /a/ and /E/; as well as, videokymography parameters of high speed laryngeal images. Results: for perceptual analyses there were differences for both exercises (p = 0.016 for vibration and p = 0.046 for vocal fry of sustained vowels /a/). Jitter presented difference after voiced vibration exercises for female and male voices. Shimmer and Spectral Flatness Filter (SFF) showed difference only for female voices. After vocal fry exercises Jitter was lower only for female voices for sustained vowels /E/ (<0.01). Spectrum noise level presented difference after vocal fry exercises for sustained vowels /E/ (p = 0.02). For vibration voiced technique high-speed videolaryngoscopy showed difference for closed phase and closing phase only for female (p = 0.046 and p = 0.026, respectively). After vocal fry exercise we found difference for closing phase only for male (p = 0.026). Vibration amplitude of vocal folds increased only for women after vibration voice exercises (p < 0.01). Vibration voiced technique seems to cause positive immediate effects in voice quality, especially for women voices.

A disfunção da deglutição (disfagia) é muito comum em indivíduos com alterações neurológicas. Muitos estudos examinaram a presença de tosse após a deglutição e/ou desordens na fonação como a rouquidão que tem mostrado que a alteração na voz e desordens laríngeas podem estar relacionadas com penetração/aspiração. Embora a Análise Acústica tenha sido utilizada para avaliar vozes patológicas, este uso pode não estar sendo apropriado para vozes com desordens severas. Nos últimos anos, técnicas de dinâmica não-linear têm se mostrado como um valioso meio para a análise de sinais com segmentos aperiódicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a amostra vocal de pacientes disfágicos, antes e após a deglutição de 3ml e 7ml das consistências pastosa e líquida, utilizando as técnicas de análise perceptivo-auditiva, análise acústica tradicional e do padrão visual da dinâmica vocal (PDVD). Cinco indivíduos sem alteração neurológica e vinte e seis pacientes, com alterações neurológicas de diferentes etiologias, foram submetidos à videofluoroscopia da deglutição, no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (HCFMRP). Cinco gravações de amostras vocais foram realizadas em cada sujeito, sendo uma antes da videofluoroscopia e quatro durante o procedimento. Estas quatro últimas aquisições foram realizadas imediatamente após a primeira deglutição de pastoso (3ml e de 7ml) e para a deglutição de líquido, respectivamente. Os pacientes produziram a vogal /a/ sustentada, sendo caracterizada pela Análise Perceptivo-auditiva, Análise Acústica Tradicional e pelos Padrões Visuais de Dinâmica Vocal. Na análise perceptivo-auditiva, tensão e instabilidade foram mais sensíveis a resíduo e penetração laríngea; e para aspiração a rugosidade. Utilizando a Análise Acústica Tradicional, nenhuma diferença significativa nos valores médios dos parâmetros acústicos foi observada entre os grupos. Para o PVDV, pode-se verificar o comportamento de toda a amostra, através da presença de irregularidades no traçado, alteração no número de loops e também pelo espalhamento das órbitas. O PVDV mostrou-se como uma técnica apropriada para a visualização ponto a ponto do sinal de voz, fornecendo informações mais precisas do comportamento vocal. / Swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) is very common in individuals with neurological impairment. Most studies examining the presence of coughing after swallowing, and/or disorders of phonation such as hoarseness have shown that a variety of voice and laryngeal disorders can be positively related to penetration or aspiration. Although, acoustic analysis has been used to assess pathologic voices, it may be unsuitable for severely disordered voices. Over the last years, nonlinear dynamic techniques have shown to be a valuable way to analyze signals with aperiodic segments. The objective of this study is to characterize dysphagic patient voice samples, before and after swallowing solutions with different consistencies, with traditional acoustic analysis, perceptual analysis and Vocal Dynamic Visual Patterns (VDVP). Five volunteer without neurological disorders and twenty six patients, with neurological disorders of different etiologies, were subjected to a video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), in the Speech Pathology Service at Clinics Hospital of Ribeirão Preto USP (HCFMRP). Five voice samples of each patient were recorded, one sample before the videofluoroscopic, and the other four during the procedure. The last four acquisitions were performed immediately after the first pasty (3ml and 7ml) and liquid solutions swallowing, respectively. Patients were asked to produce a sustained vowel /a/, which were characterized using traditional acoustic analysis, perceptual analysis and Vocal Dynamic Visual Patterns. For perceptual analysis, strained and instability qualities were more susceptible to residue and laryngeal penetration; roughness quality was more susceptible to aspiration. Acoustic Analysis showed none significance differences for mean values of the acoustic parameters among the five groups. For VDVP, all samples presented irregular trajectories, different numbers of loops, and divergent trajectory lines. Results demonstrate that PVDV seems to be a suitable technique for characterizing voice signals with neurological disturbance.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:12:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nadja Barbosa de Sousa.pdf: 2096681 bytes, checksum: 7920323ae541f250a6f87fe70695aa20 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / among singing professionals there are different positions and conflicts over the schools of singing. Some differences are as if techniques have lost identity and have merged with the passage of time. In another view, in the light of modern concepts of teaching, schools no longer exist. In practice and scientific deepening it is evident from techniques of these schools that they are still present in the singer s performance. This study was structured in order to answer some questions on the subject. PURPOSE: to compare the vocal emission sung by sopranos in Italian, German and French schools of singing, by means of perceptive-auditory and acoustic assessments. METHOD: the data were collected in Europe, because of the representativeness of the schools and languages. The sample was composed of nine sopranos, three of each nationality, Italian, French and German. There were recorded excerpts of three Arias from Opera in their respective languages. The thesis consists of two studies. Study 1 is the perceptive-auditory assessment of voices by Speech-Language Pathologists and singing teachers. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. Study 2 is the acoustic spectrum analysis of long-term average (ELT), spectral decline curve, fundamental frequency (f0) and formants. RESULTS: study 1 showed statistically significant correlations in the comparison between the sopranos in three schools. In Italy, all Italian sopranos stood out as the regular vibrato and posterior-anterior resonance, according to Speech-Language Pathologists. In the German school, two sopranos stood out in precise articulation, in the opinion of the same judges. In the French school, a smooth vocal attack was retained in the voices of the French sopranos, according to teachers. The timbre parameter next to smooth was evidenced by the German sopranos when they sang the French aria, according to two groups of judges. In study 2, the analysis of the ELT revealed that Italian sopranos presented a similar standard emission to each other, in the Italian aria, with a slight inclination of the curve of decline. The German sopranos showed sharp decline mainly in German aria. The French maintained a stroke approximately flatter curves in the spectrum, in three arias. In the analysis of the frequency values, seven among the nine sopranos performed the tune phenomenon f0-F1, in the German aria. CONCLUSION: according to the findings, the precepts of the singing schools were highlighted in the vocal quality of the sample. The Italian school stood out among the others, because the principle of posterior-anterior resonance predominated in the voice of Italian sopranos in the emission of all the arias. The German school excelled in the parameter of articulation, on the German aria, and French school had the characteristic of smooth vocal attack preserved in emission by the French sopranos / entre profissionais do canto erudito existem diferentes posicionamentos e conflitos sobre as escolas de canto. Algumas divergências se mostram como se as técnicas tivessem perdido identidade e se mesclado com o passar do tempo. Em outra visão, em função das concepções modernas de ensino, as escolas não existem mais. Na prática e no aprofundamento científico fica evidente que as técnicas advindas dessas escolas ainda estão presentes na atuação do cantor. Na perspectiva de responder a alguns questionamentos sobre o tema, a pesquisa foi estruturada. OBJETIVO: comparar a emissão vocal cantada de sopranos nas escolas de canto italiana, alemã e francesa, por meio das avaliações perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. MÉTODO: realizou-se a coleta de dados na Europa, em razão da representatividade das escolas e idiomas. A amostra foi composta por nove sopranos, sendo três de cada nacionalidade, italiana, alemã e francesa. Foram gravados trechos de três árias de ópera nos respectivos idiomas. A tese é composta por dois estudos. O estudo 1 é a avaliação perceptivo-auditiva das vozes por juízes fonoaudiólogos e professores de canto. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise estatística. O estudo 2 é a análise acústica do espectro de médio de longo termo (ELT), curva de declínio espectral, frequência fundamental (f0) e formantes. RESULTADOS: o estudo 1 evidenciou correlações estatisticamente significantes na comparação entre os sopranos nas três escolas. Na italiana, todos os sopranos italianos se destacaram quanto ao vibrato regular e à ressonância póstero-anterior, segundo os fonoaudiólogos. Na escola alemã, dois sopranos se destacaram na articulação precisa, na opinião dos mesmos juízes. Na escola francesa, o princípio de ataque vocal leve foi mantido nas vozes dos sopranos franceses, segundo os professores de canto. O parâmetro de timbre mais propenso a leve foi evidenciado pelos sopranos alemães quando cantaram a ária francesa, segundo os dois grupos de juízes. No estudo 2, a análise do ELT revelou que os sopranos italianos apresentaram um padrão de emissão similar entre si, na ária italiana, com leve inclinação da curva do declínio espectral. Os sopranos alemães apresentaram declínio acentuado principalmente na ária alemã. Os franceses mantiveram um traçado aproximado de curvas mais planas no espectro, nas três árias. Na análise dos valores de frequências, sete dentre os nove sopranos realizaram o fenômeno sintonia f0-F1, na ária alemã. CONCLUSÃO: de acordo com os achados, preceitos das escolas de canto foram evidenciadas na qualidade vocal da amostra. A escola italiana se destacou entre as demais, pois o princípio de ressonância póstero-anterior predominou na voz dos sopranos italianos na emissão de todas as árias. A escola alemã se destacou no parâmetro da articulação, na ária alemã e a escola francesa teve a característica de ataque vocal suave preservada na emissão dos sopranos franceses

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:12:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sonia Cristina Coelho de Oliveira.pdf: 2826076 bytes, checksum: 3a0b9ecb63f882aad46fb8c197a39d8a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Introduction: in Brazil, Roberto Carlos has been studied in many areas of knowledge, among them History and Social Psychology due to his relevance as an interpreter and musical and social phenomenon. The singer is considered a bestselling artist, being able to reach an audience of various social, economical and cultural classes. Objective: to analyse Roberto Carlos s voice by perceptive-hearing evaluation, acoustic analysis and the audience's opinion. Method: a perceptivehearing evaluation of voice was performed of two selected songs from each decade (60 to 90), by six evaluation judges (speech therapists and vocal teachers); the acoustic analysis of pieces of the songs DETALHES and EMOÇÕES, by the researcher, and a questionary with two questions, to have a sample of the population of the city of Sao Paulo (group 1-G1) and another to the fans of the singer (group 2-G2) who belong to the communities on-line on orkut. Results: in relation to the perceptive-hearing analysis of the voice, the parameters most referred in the four decades were: adequate respiratory-speech, medium pitch for the shrill, adequate loudness, precise articulation, soft vocal attack, vocal resonance with nasal compensatory focus, chest modal register, brilliance and projected voice, vibrato predominantly absent, medium tessitura and adjusted vocal quality. The quality of the recording was related as reasonable and the characteristics related to the recording showed variable: jovial and immature voice in the sixties; fluent interpretation, with the emission soothed in the seventies; variation in the vocal parameters in the eighties and showing discrete vibrato with characteristics of tremor, compressed and with alteration in the dynamics, nevertheless mature and introspective in the nineties. The measures of acoustic analysis indicated a bigger variation of the harmonics in the song EMOÇÕES. The contour of the pitch and the amplitude coherent with the melody, f0 without variation and vibrato predominantly absent were found in two pieces of music. F1, F5 reduced; F2, F3, F4 increased; a bigger prolongation and accentuation of the vowels in the song DETALHES were observed and F1, F2 reduced; F3, F4 with little variation and F5 increased in the song EMOÇÕES. The questionary of G1 proved statically that 70,38% of the citizens like the singer, from this total, 76,15% belong to the female and 86,54% are between 51 and 60 years old. In terms of background and superior income made evident that the individual qualified the singer s voice in a negative way. From the 70,38% of the individuals that like the singer, 18,03% like him because of the songs. On the other hand from the 29,62% of the individuals that don t like the singer, 33,77% don t like him because of his songs. The questionary of G2 showed that there wasn t meaningful statistic for these variables, but it was evident that this group presented levels of income and background superior to G1. Conclusion: the results enabled to show that there were few variations in the voice of the singer Roberto Carlos in the elapsing of his artistic trajectory, more evident in the decades of 60 to 70 coherent with the styles adopted and age, keeping similar in the years 80 and 90. Notwithstanding, for the audience (G1 and G2), Roberto Carlos s voice isn t the predominant factor whether to like him or not, but his repertory, that is the content of his songs that is simbolized by the hearer / Introdução: no Brasil, Roberto Carlos tem sido estudado em muitas áreas do saber, dentre elas História e Psicologia Social, dada a sua relevância como intérprete e fenômeno musical e social. O cantor é um dos artistas que mais vende discos, sendo capaz de atingir um público das mais variadas classes sociais, culturais e econômicas. Objetivo: analisar a voz do cantor Roberto Carlos por meio da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva, da análise acústica e da opinião do público. Método: foram realizadas a avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz, de duas músicas selecionadas de cada década (60 a 90), por seis juízes avaliadores (fonoaudiólogos e professores de canto); a análise acústica de trechos das músicas DETALHES e EMOÇÕES, pela pesquisadora, e uma enquete com duas perguntas, para uma amostra da população da cidade de São Paulo (grupo1-G1) e outra para os fãs do cantor (grupo2-G2) pertencentes a comunidades on-line do artista no orkut. Resultados: em relação à análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz, os parâmetros mais referidos nas quatro décadas foram: coordenação pneumofonarticulatória adequada, pitch médio para agudo, loudness adequada, articulação precisa, ataque vocal suave, ressonância laringo-faríngica com foco nasal compensatório, registro modal de peito, voz com brilho e com projeção, vibrato predominantemente ausente, tessitura média e qualidade vocal adaptada. A qualidade de gravação foi relatada como razoável e as características relacionadas à gravação mostraram-se variáveis: voz jovial e imatura na década de 60; interpretação fluida, com emissão suavizada na década de 70; variação nos parâmetros vocais na década de 80 e voz comprimida com alterações na dinâmica, porém madura e introspectiva na década de 90. As medidas da análise acústica indicaram harmônicos com maior variação para a música EMOÇÕES. Contorno de pitch e de amplitude coerentes com a melodia, f0 sem variação e vibrato predominantemente ausente foram encontrados nas duas músicas. O F1, F5 diminuídos; F2, F3, F4 aumentados; maior prolongamento e acentuação das vogais foram observados na música DETALHES. F1, F2 diminuídos; F3, F4 com pouca variação e F5 aumentado em EMOÇÕES. A enquete do G1 comprovou estatisticamente que 70,38% dos sujeitos gostam do cantor, desse total, 76,15% pertencem ao sexo feminino e 86,54% estão na faixa etária dos 51 aos 60 anos. Nos níveis de escolaridade e rendimento superiores evidenciou-se que os sujeitos qualificaram a voz do cantor de forma negativa. Dos 70,38% dos sujeitos que gostam do cantor, 18,03 % gostam pelas suas músicas. Em contrapartida dos 29,62% dos sujeitos que não gostam do cantor, 33,77% não gostam por conta das músicas. A enquete do G2 demonstrou que não houve significância estatística para essas variáveis, porém constatou-se de forma significativa que esse grupo apresentou níveis de rendimento e escolaridade superiores ao G1. Conclusão: os resultados permitiram demonstrar que houve pequenas variações na voz do cantor Roberto Carlos no decorrer de sua trajetória artística, mais evidentes da década de 60 para 70, coerentes com os estilos adotados e com a época, mantendo-se similar nos anos 80 e 90. No entanto, para o público (G1 e G2), a voz de Roberto Carlos não é o fator determinante para gostar ou não do cantor, mas sim o seu repertório, ou seja, o conteúdo das canções que é simbolizado pelo ouvinte