A Experiência Operacional dos Aviadores Militares Portugueses na Grande Guerra e as Implicações para a Aviação Militar Portuguesa do pós Guerra

O presente trabalho, realizado no âmbito do Curso de Promoção a Oficial Superior (CPOS), incide inicialmente em contexto da Primeira Guerra Mundial e mais especificamente, no âmbito do Corpo Expedicionário Português (CEP), sobre a participação dos pilotos portugueses integrados ao serviço da Aviação Militar Aliada no período do conflito (1914-1918). Neste contexto, procurou-se correlacionar a experiência e o conhecimento adquiridos nesta vivência, com a posterior aplicação destas mais-valias no desenvolvimento da Aviação Militar Portuguesa, no período subsequente ao conflito. Utilizada uma estratégia de investigação qualitativa, um desenho de pesquisa histórico e seguido um percurso metodológico proposto por A. Da Silva Rego, realizou-se o levantamento de informação relacionada com a organização da aviação militar francesa, por ser aquela que acolheu nas suas esquadrilhas o maior número de pilotos militares portugueses. Posteriormente, alargado o momento histórico para os anos subsequentes à Grande Guerra, pretende-se demonstrar a influência enquanto aviadores, naquilo que foram os desígnios realizados por estes homens na organização, no desenvolvimento e na formação da Aviação Portuguesa enquanto ramo independente. Abstract: The present work, carried out as part of the Higher Official Promotion Course, has an initial focus on the First World War and more specifically, within the Portuguese Expeditionary Force (CEP), on the participation of Portuguese pilots serving the allied Air Force during the First World War (1914 – 1918). In this context, we tried to correlate the experience and knowledge gained from this experience, with the subsequent implementation of those gains in the development of Portuguese Military Aviation, in the period after the conflict. Using a qualitative research strategy, a historical research design and following a methodological approach proposed by A. Da Silva Rego, we gathered the information relatted with the organization of the French Air Force, as it was the one that received most of the most Portuguese pilots in their squadrons. Further on, broadening the historical period to the subsequent years after the First World War. we intend to demonstrate the influence of Air Force pilots on what was accomplished by these men in the organization, in the establishment and development of the Portuguese Air Force as an independent branch.

The effects of ILFN-exposure on voice acoustic parameters of commercial cabin crewmembers

Background: Long-term exposure to infrasound and low frequency noise (ILFN <500 Hz, including infrasound) can lead to the development of vibroacoustic disease (VAD). VAD is a systemic pathology characterized by the abnormal growth of extracellular matrices in the absence of inflammatory processes, namely of collagen and elastin, both of which are abundant in the basement membrane zone of the vocal folds. ILFN-exposed workers include pilots, cabin crewmembers, restaurant workers, ship machinists and, in previous studies, even though they did not present vocal symptoms, ILFN-exposed workers had significant different voice acoustic patterns (perturbation and temporal measures) when compared with normative population. Study Aims: The present study investigates the effects of age and years of occupational ILFN-exposure on voice acoustic parameters of 37 cabin crewmembers: 12 males and 25 females. Specifically, the goals of this study are to: 1) Verify if acoustic parameters change over the age and years of ILFN-exposure and 2) Determine if there is any interaction between age and years of ILFNexposure on voice acoustic parameters of crewmembers. Materials and Methods: Spoken phonatory tasks were recorded with a C420III PP AKG head-worn microphone and a DA-P1 Tascam DAT. Acoustic analyses were performed using KayPENTAX Computer Speech Lab and Multi-Dimensional Voice Program. Acoustic parameters included speaking fundamental frequency, perturbation measures (jitter, shimmer and harmonicto- noise ratio), temporal measures (maximum phonation time and s/z ratio) and voice tremor frequency. Results: One-way ANOVA analysis revealed that as the number of ILFN-exposure years increased male cabin crewmembers presented significant different shimmer values of /i/ as well as tremor frequency of /u/. Females presented significantly different jitter % of /i, a, O/ (p <0.05). Lastly, Two-way ANOVA analysis revealed that for females, there was a significant interaction between age and occupational ILFN-exposure for voice acoustic parameters, namely for jitter’s mean for /a, O/ and shimmer’s (%) mean for /a, i/ (p <0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: These perturbation measure patterns may be indicative of histological changes within the vocal folds as a result of ILFN-exposure. The results of this study suggest that voice acoustic analysis may be an important tool for confirming ILFN-induced health effects.

Voice acoustic profi le of males exposed to occupational infrasound and low-frequency noise

Background: Vibroacoustic disease (VAD) is a systematic pathology characterized by the abnormal growth of extra-cellular matrices in the absence of infl ammatory processes, namely collagen and elastin, both of which are abundant in the basement membrane zone of the vocal folds. VAD can develop due to long-term exposure to infrasound and low-frequency noise (ILFN, <500 Hz). Mendes et al. (2006, 2008 and 2012) revealed that ILFN-exposed males and females presented an increased fundamental frequency (F0), decreased jitter %, and reduced maximum phonation frequency range, when compared with normative data. Temporal measures of maximum phonation time and S/Z ratio were generally reduced. Study Aims: Herein, the same voice acoustic parameters of 48 males, 36 airline pilots and 12 cabin crewmembers (age range 25-60 years) were studied, and the effects and interaction of age and years of ILFN exposure were investigated within those parameters. ILFN-exposure time (i.e. years of professional activity) ranged from 3.5 to 36 years. Materials and Methods: Spoken and sung phonatory tasks were recorded with a DA-P1 Tascam DAT and a C420III PP AKG head-worn microphone, positioned at 3 cm from the mouth. Acoustic analyses were performed using KayPENTAX Computer Speech Lab and Multi-Dimensional Voice Program. Results: Results revealed that even though pilots and cabin crewmembers were exposed to occupational environments with distinct (ILFN-rich) acoustical frequency distributions and sound pressure levels, differences in the vocal acoustic parameters were not evident. Analyzing data from both professional groups (N = 48) revealed that F0 increased signifi cantly with the number of years of professional activity. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the number of years of professional activity (i.e. total ILFN exposure time) had a signifi cant effect on F0. Furthermore, they may refl ect the histological changes specifi cally observed on the vocal folds of ILFN-exposed professionals.