Acoustic and psychoacoustic analysis of the noise produced by the police force firearms

Police officers are exposed to impact noise coming from firearms, which may cause irreversible injuries to the hearing system.Aim: To evaluate the noise exposure in shooting stands during gunfire exercises, to analyze the acoustic impact of the noise produced by the firearms and to associate it with tonal audiometry results.Study design: Cross-sectional.Materials and methods: To measure noise intensity we used a digital sound level meter, and the acoustic analysis was carried out by means of the oscillations and cochlear response curves provided by the Praat software. 30 police officers were selected (27 males and 3 females).Results: The peak level measured was 113.1 dB(C) from a .40 pistol and 116.8 dB(C) for a .38 revolver. The values obtained for oscillation and Praat was 17.9 +/- 0.3 Barks, corresponding to the rate of 4,120 and 4,580 Hz. Audiometry indicated greater hearing loss at 4,000Hz in 86.7% of the cases.Conclusion: With the acoustic analysis it was possible to show cause and effect between the main areas of energy excitation of the cochlea (Praat cochlear response curve) and the frequencies of low hearing acuity.

A prelude of a 'little army'? São Paulo police force in the early years of the Republic (1890-1895)

This article analyzes the creation and development of the São Paulo police force during the early years of the republican regime. In a period of political change and turbulence, institutional upheaval (uprising of the Navy and federalist revolution), and social pressure, São Paulo's police force played an important role. As the state sought to organize the public sphere, the police force became a tool in the new government's hands. A more martial set of demands mobilized a large portion of the troops on behalf of the federal government against the Custodio de Mello uprising, and sought to defend São Paulo's borders. Despite official discourse that fomented a militarized response, São Paulo's police force found itself unable to dismiss old personnel and practices and dislodge entrenched interests.

Militarism, conflicts and indiscipline in police practices in the State of São Paulo during the First Brazilian Republic

This article examines the challenges involved in the process of police militarization and implementation of police discipline in the State of São Paulo during the First Brazilian Republic (1889 to 1930). The implementation of a militarized police model, initiated by the 1906 French Military Mission, was not fully able to deal with indiscipline issues among policemen. Beyond creating problems of its own, such as fostering a corporatist culture and strengthening rigid hierarchies, military discipline prevented police forces to address new issues that would affect its practices. Documents in the São Paulo State Public Archive provides a window to the daily violence, the personal compromises, the institutional conflicts and the political meddling that was part of police life in the State of São Paulo at the turn of the century.

Mannanoligosaccharide (mos) and β-glucan (β-glu) in dietary supplementation for Nile tilapia juveniles dept in cages

This experiment was conducted at an aquicolous enterprise with the objective of evaluating the use of MOS and β-GLU as dietary supplements in an experimental lot in order to follow the zootechnical performance, establishing a relationship with the hematological parameters, the morphological alterations of the intestine, and the enzymatic activity (protease, lipase and amylase), and the water quality of 3,000 tilapia juveniles kept in cages (Wt = 24 ± 0.26g). Nine cages (6.0 m3) were used, with three treatments and three replications. 1: commercial feed without supplementation (control); 2: 0.1% per ton of MOS; 3: 0.03% per ton of purified β-GLU. The feed contained 36% of crude protein (CP) incorporated into the premix MOS and purified β-GLU (BIORIGIN®). The tilapia that had received the diet supplemented with β-GLU in a period of 90 days showed a favorable condition of the immune system, increase in the absorption surface of the front part of the intestine and consequently, growth in the activity of the digestive enzymes, denoting higher efficiency in the use of the nutrients in juveniles, providing satisfactory zootechnical performance in comparison with the other diets. This product may be used as a dietary supplement for this species when kept in cages.

Evaluation of hearing protection used by police officers in the shooting range

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efficiency of occlusal splints on police officers with TMD

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)