Disentangling the veil line for Brazilian biodiversity: An overview from two long-term research programs reveals huge gaps in ecological data reporting.

The lack of synthesized information regarding biodiversity is a major problem among researchers, leading to a pervasive cycle where ecologists make field campaigns to collect information that already exists and yet has not been made available for a broader audience. This problem leads to long-lasting effects in public policies such as spending money multiple times to conduct similar studies in the same area. We aim to identify this knowledge gap by synthesizing information available regarding two Brazilian long-term biodiversity programs and the metadata generated by them. Using a unique dataset containing 1904 metadata, we identified patterns of metadata distribution and intensity of research conducted in Brazil, as well as where we should concentrate research efforts in the next decades. We found that the majority of metadata were about vertebrates, followed by plants, invertebrates, and fungi. Caatinga was the biome with least metadata, and that there's still a lack of information regarding all biomes in Brazil, with none of them being sufficiently sampled. We hope that these results will have implications for broader conservation and management guiding, as well as to funding allocation programs.

Reef fishes biodiversity and conservation at the largest Brazilian coastal Marine Protected Area (MPA Costa dos Corais)

Abstract Coral reefs harbor one of the largest fish biodiversity on earth; yet information on reef fishes is still absent for many regions. We analyzed reef fish richness, distribution, and conservation on the largest Brazilian multiple use coastal MPA; which cover a large extent of coral reefs at the SWA. A total of 325 fish species have been listed for MPA Costa dos Corais, including Chondrichthyes (28 species) and Actinopterygii (297). Fish species were represented by 81 families and the most representative families were Carangidae (23 species), Labridae (21) and Gobiidae (15). The MPA fish richness represented 44% of all recorded fish species of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA) highlighting the large-scale importance of this MPA. A total of 40 species (12%) are registered at Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR). This study reinforces the importance of MPA Costa dos Corais on reef fish biodiversity and conservation and emphasize the urgent need of conservation strategies.

Resumo Os recifes de coral abrigam uma das maiores biodiversidades de peixes do planeta; no entanto, as informações sobre peixes de recife ainda estão ausentes em muitas regiões. Analisamos a riqueza, distribuição e a conservação de peixes recifais na maior Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) costeira de uso múltiplo do Brasil; área que possui grande extensão de recifes de corais no SWA. Um total de 325 espécies de peixes foram listadas para APA Costa dos Corais, incluindo Chondrichthyes (28 espécies) e Actinopterygii (297). As espécies de peixes foram representadas por 81 famílias e as famílias mais representativas foram Carangidae (23 espécies), Labridae (21) e Gobiidae (15). A riqueza de peixes da APA representou 44% de todas as espécies de peixes registradas no Oceano Atlântico Sudoeste (SWA), destacando a importância em grande escala desta APA. Um total de 40 espécies (12%) estão registradas como Quase Ameaçada (NT), Vulnerável (VU), Em Perigo (EN) ou Criticamente Em Perigo (CR). Este estudo reforça a importância da APA Costa dos Corais na biodiversidade e conservação dos peixes recifais e enfatiza a necessidade urgente de estratégias de conservação.

Neotropical carnivores: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non‐detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non‐governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peerreviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non‐detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio‐temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other largescale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data.

Vocal Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors between Male and Female University Teachers.

Introduction Many recent studies on teachers warn of the adverse effects that voice problems have on work performance. However, only a few of these studies included university teachers. Objective To compare the vocal symptoms and risk factors between male and female university teachers in a private institution within the city of São Paulo. Methods In a cross-sectional survey, a voice self-evaluation form prepared by the Ministry of Labor in Brazil was administered to 846 university teachers at a private institution in the city of São Paulo. Results The percentage of hoarseness, vocal tract discomfort, neck pain and foreign body sensation was significantly higher in female than in male subjects. A significantly higher percentage of males participated in other professional activities in addition to teaching, reported working in a calm environment compared with working in a moderately or severely tense and stressful environment, and rated themselves as calm, slightly stressed and anxious or moderately stressed and anxious rather than very stressed and anxious. A significantly higher percentage of females spent most of their time teaching compared with performing other professional activities, and rated themselves as chatty or impulsive. Conclusion Among university teachers, a significantly higher percentage of females than males reported hoarseness, vocal tract discomfort, neck pain and foreign body sensation. Some risk factors related to work organization, workplace environment, voice care and quality of life variables were related to this higher prevalence in females.

Vocal Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors between Male and Female University Teachers

Abstract Introduction Many recent studies on teachers warn of the adverse effects that voice problems have on work performance. However, only a few of these studies included university teachers. Objective To compare the vocal symptoms and risk factors betweenmale and female university teachers in a private institution within the city of São Paulo. Methods In a cross-sectional survey, a voice self-evaluation form prepared by the Ministry of Labor in Brazil was administered to 846 university teachers at a private institution in the city of São Paulo. Results The percentage of hoarseness, vocal tract discomfort, neck pain and foreign body sensation was significantly higher in female than in male subjects. A significantly higher percentage of males participated in other professional activities in addition to teaching, reported working in a calm environment compared with working in a moderately or severely tense and stressful environment, and rated themselves as calm, slightly stressed and anxious ormoderately stressed and anxious rather than very stressed and anxious. A significantly higher percentage of females spent most of their time teaching compared with performing other professional activities, and rated themselves as chatty or impulsive. Conclusion Among university teachers, a significantly higher percentage of females than males reported hoarseness, vocal tract discomfort, neck pain and foreign body sensation. Some risk factors related to work organization, workplace environment, voice care and quality of life variables were related to this higher prevalence in females.

Mass Extinction and the Disappearance of Unknown Mammal Species: Scenario and Perspectives of a Biodiversity Hotspot's Hotspot.

We aimed to determine the conservation status of medium- and large-sized mammals and evaluate the impact of 500 years of forest fragmentation on this group of animals in the Pernambuco Endemism Center, in the biogeographical zone of the Atlantic forest north of the São Francisco River in northeastern Brazil. Line transect surveys were performed in 21 forest fragments, resulting in a checklist of the mammals of the entire Pernambuco Endemism Center area. We ran a generalized linear model (Factorial ANCOVA) to analyze to what extent the vegetation type, fragment area, isolation, sampling effort (as total kilometers walked), or higher-order interactions predicted (a) richness and (b) sighting rates. To determine if the distribution of the species within the forest fragments exhibited a nested pattern, we used the NODF metric. Subsequently, we performed a Binomial Logistic Regression to predict the probability of encountering each species according to fragment size. Out of 38 medium- and large-sized mammal species formerly occurring in the study area, only 53.8% (n = 21) were sighted. No fragment hosted the entire remaining mammal community, and only four species (19%) occurred in very small fragments (73.3% of the remaining forest fragments, with a mean size of 2.8 ha). The mammalian community was highly simplified, with all large mammals being regionally extinct. Neither the species richness nor sighting rate was controlled by the vegetation type, the area of the forest fragments, isolation or any higher-order interaction. Although a highly significant nested subset pattern was detected, it was not related to the ranking of the area of forest fragments or isolation. The probability of the occurrence of a mammal species in a given forest patch varied unpredictably, and the probability of detecting larger species was even observed to decrease with increasing patch size. In an ongoing process of mass extinction, half of the studied mammals have gone extinct. The remaining medium-sized mammal community is highly simplified and homogenized. The persistence of these species in a forest patch is determined by their ability to adapt to a novel simplified diet, the efficient use of the surrounding matrix without being engulfed by the sink effect, and escaping hunting. Our results suggest that the 21st century medium-sized mammalian fauna of this region will comprise only four species unless strict conservation measures are implemented immediately and every forest fragment is effectively protected.

Vocal Tract Discomfort and Risk Factors in University Teachers.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the presence of and risk factors for throat pain or irritation among male and female university teachers in private institutions within the city of São Paulo. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Voice self-evaluation forms prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor were administered to 846 university teachers in a private institution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: The prevalence of throat pain or irritation was 50.8% and was higher in the women (62.7%) than in the men (43.5%). The prevalence of throat pain or irritation was higher among professionals ≤60 years old and among those who spent most of their time teaching compared with those who spent most of their time performing other professional activities. Other factors, such as noise and sound competition, air pollution, stress and anxiety, personal habits, and lifestyle/quality of life, were related to the presence of throat pain or irritation. CONCLUSIONS: University teachers demonstrated a high prevalence of throat pain or irritation. Factors such as age ≤60 years, female gender, time-consuming professional activities, noise and sound competition in the work environment, stress and anxiety, air pollution, access to water, personal habits, and lifestyle/quality of life were related to the presence of throat pain or irritation.

The Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Voice Rehabilitation Program Compared With the Vocal Function Exercises Method in Behavioral Dysphonia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Voice Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) compared with Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) to treat functional dysphonia. STUDY DESIGN: This is a randomized blinded clinical trial. METHODS: Eighty voice professionals presented with voice complaints for more than 6 months with a functional dysphonia diagnosis. Subjects were randomized into two voice treatment groups: CVRP and VFE. The rehabilitation program consisted of six voice treatment sessions and three assessment sessions performed before, immediately after, and 1 month after treatment. The outcome measures were self-assessment protocols (Voice-Related Quality of Life [V-RQOL] and Voice Handicap Index [VHI]), perceptual evaluation of vocal quality, and a visual examination of the larynx, both blinded. RESULTS: The randomization process produced comparable groups in terms of age, gender, signs, and symptoms. Both groups had positive outcome measures. The CVRP effect size was 1.09 for the V-RQOL, 1.17 for the VHI, 0.79 for vocal perceptual evaluation, and 1.01 for larynx visual examination. The VFE effect size was 0.86 for the V-RQOL, 0.62 for the VHI, 0.48 for the vocal perceptual evaluation, and 0.51 for larynx visual examination. Only 10% of the patients were lost over the study. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment programs were effective. The probability of a patient improving because of the CVRP treatment was similar to that of the VFE treatment.

Hoarseness and Risk Factors in University Teachers.

PURPOSE: To characterize the presence of hoarseness and the risk factors in male and female university teachers in private institutions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Voice self-evaluation forms prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor were administered to 846 university teachers in a private institution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Prevalence of hoarseness in the sample is 39.6%. Percentage of hoarseness is higher in females (51.8%) than in males (32.6%). Comparing hoarseness and time of teaching, it was observed that the percentage of hoarseness is lower in a time shorter or equal to 1 year, and it is higher in a time between 10 and 20 years. Percentage of hoarseness is lower in the maximum workload of one to three class hours per day compared with the other workloads. Percentage of hoarseness is lower when the maximum number of students per classroom is less than 30 than when it is between 101 and 150 students. Other factors like in terms of noise and sound competition, air pollution, and in terms of causing stress and anxiety, besides habits and style/quality of life are related to the presence of hoarseness. CONCLUSION: University teachers show high percentage of hoarseness. Factors, such as time of teaching, females, work organization, workplace, in terms of noise and sound competition, air pollution, and in terms of causing stress and anxiety, besides habits and style/quality of life, are related to the presence of hoarseness in this group.

Histomorfometria testicular do morcego Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) em áreas de Mata Atlântica de Pernambuco / Histomorphometry Testis the bat Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in areas of Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco

Este estudo analisou a condição reprodutiva, por meio da histomorfometria, de P. discolor coletados em fragmentos de Mata Atlântica do litoral sul de Pernambuco, durante as estações seca e chuvosa. Os animais são de coleção e foram classificados de acordo com a posição testicular (descendentes e não descendentes). Para as análises histomorfométricas, foram selecionados aleatoriamente 18 espécimes durante as estações seca e chuvosa, dos quais (n = 11) com testículos descendentes e (n = 7) com testículos não descendentes. Os resultados demonstraram que as maiores médias da área de ocupação dos túbulos seminíferos foram na estação chuvosa, independente dos espécimes apresentarem os testículos descendentes ou não. Isso pode estar relacionado a um maior investimento em produção espermática, já que na estação chuvosa, existe uma maior disponibilidade de alimentos devido às precipitações pluviométricas.(AU)

This study analyzed the reproductive condition, by histomorphometry, of P. discolor collected in forest fragments of the South Coast of Pernambuco during the dry and rainy seasons. The animals are Collection and were classified according to the position testicular (descendants and not descendants). For histomorphometric analysis, 18 were randomly selected specimens during the rainy and dry seasons, being (n = 11) with descendant testicles and (n = 7) with testicles no descendant. The results showed that the highest area average occupancy of the seminiferous tubules were in the rainy season, regardless of the present specimens the testes descendant or not. This may be related to a greater investment in sperm production, since the rainy season, there is a greater availability of food due to rainfall.(AU)

Histomorfometria testicular do morcego Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) em áreas de Mata Atlântica de Pernambuco / Histomorphometry Testis the bat Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in areas of Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco

Este estudo analisou a condição reprodutiva, por meio da histomorfometria, de P. discolor coletados em fragmentos de Mata Atlântica do litoral sul de Pernambuco, durante as estações seca e chuvosa. Os animais são de coleção e foram classificados de acordo com a posição testicular (descendentes e não descendentes). Para as análises histomorfométricas, foram selecionados aleatoriamente 18 espécimes durante as estações seca e chuvosa, dos quais (n = 11) com testículos descendentes e (n = 7) com testículos não descendentes. Os resultados demonstraram que as maiores médias da área de ocupação dos túbulos seminíferos foram na estação chuvosa, independente dos espécimes apresentarem os testículos descendentes ou não. Isso pode estar relacionado a um maior investimento em produção espermática, já que na estação chuvosa, existe uma maior disponibilidade de alimentos devido às precipitações pluviométricas.

This study analyzed the reproductive condition, by histomorphometry, of P. discolor collected in forest fragments of the South Coast of Pernambuco during the dry and rainy seasons. The animals are Collection and were classified according to the position testicular (descendants and not descendants). For histomorphometric analysis, 18 were randomly selected specimens during the rainy and dry seasons, being (n = 11) with descendant testicles and (n = 7) with testicles no descendant. The results showed that the highest area average occupancy of the seminiferous tubules were in the rainy season, regardless of the present specimens the testes descendant or not. This may be related to a greater investment in sperm production, since the rainy season, there is a greater availability of food due to rainfall.

A new species of porcupine, genus Coendou (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) from the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil.

We report the discovery of a new species of Coendou (Rodentia, Erethizontidae), here designated Coendou speratus sp. nov. This small porcupine, locally known as coandumirim, is found in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre in the Atlantic coast of northeastern Brazil north of the São Francisco river, one of the most important known biodiversity hotspots. The geographic range of C. speratus overlaps with that of the larger, widespread C. prehensilis, but not with that of C. insidiosus from the southeastern Atlantic forest, nor with that of C. nycthemera, an eastern Amazonian species. Coendou speratus is a small-bodied, long-tailed species that appears to be completely spiny because it lacks long dorsal fur. The dorsal quills have conspicuously brownish red tips that contrast with the blackish dorsal background color. The new species is overall similar to C. nycthemera, but the dorsal body quills are typically tricolored in the former and bicolored in the latter. The new species is externally very distinct from C. insidiosus, especially because the latter has bicolored dorsal quills that are almost completely hidden beneath longer and homogeneous pale or dark hairs.

Radiotherapy for early glottic cancer and salvage surgery after recurrence.

UNLABELLED: Early glottic cancer can be effectively treated with radiation or surgery, but recurrence is a possibility when using any of the treatment modalities. AIM: To assess the outcome of radiotherapy as initial treatment in the control of squamous cell carcinoma of vocal cord (T1) and the effectiveness of salvage surgery (endoscopic or open) after treatment failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was based on the analysis of medical records from 43 patients with T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis, radiotherapy as initial treatment and follow-up period of five years. RESULTS: The rate of recurrence after radiotherapy was 30.2% of the cases, mean diagnosis interval was 29.5 months. As an option for salvage treatment, patients underwent open partial laryngectomy or endoscopic surgery with control rates of 77.7% and 25% respectively. CONCLUSION: Our cases showed high rates of recurrence after radiotherapy and open partial laryngectomy was more effective for the salvage surgery.

Radiotherapy for early glottic cancer and salvage surgery after recurrence / Radioterapia para câncer glótico inicial e resgate cirúrgico após recorrência

Early glottic cancer can be effectively treated with radiation or surgery, but recurrence is a possibility when using any of the treatment modalities. AIM: To assess the outcome of radiotherapy as initial treatment in the control of squamous cell carcinoma of vocal cord (T1) and the effectiveness of salvage surgery (endoscopic or open) after treatment failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was based on the analysis of medical records from 43 patients with T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis, radiotherapy as initial treatment and follow-up period of five years. RESULTS: The rate of recurrence after radiotherapy was 30.2 percent of the cases, mean diagnosis interval was 29.5 months. As an option for salvage treatment, patients underwent open partial laryngectomy or endoscopic surgery with control rates of 77.7 percent and 25 percent respectively. CONCLUSION: Our cases showed high rates of recurrence after radiotherapy and open partial laryngectomy was more effective for the salvage surgery.

O câncer glótico inicial pode ser efetivamente tratado com radioterapia ou com cirurgia, contudo a recidiva é uma possibilidade quando utilizada qualquer uma das formas terapêuticas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o resultado da radioterapia como tratamento inicial no controle do carcinoma epidermoide de prega vocal (T1) e a eficácia do resgate cirúrgico (endoscópico ou externo) após a falha deste tratamento. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo a partir da análise de prontuários de 43 pacientes portadores de carcinoma epidermoide da glote com estadiamento T1, submetidos à radioterapia como tratamento inicial e com seguimento mínimo de cinco anos. RESULTADOS: A taxa de recidiva após radioterapia foi de 30,2 por cento dos casos, com intervalo médio de diagnóstico de 29,5 meses. Como opção para tratamento de resgate, os pacientes foram submetidos à laringectomia parcial externa ou endoscópica com taxa de controle de 77,7 por cento e 25 por cento, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos casos apresentaram altas taxas de recidiva após radioterapia e a laringectomia parcial externa mostrou-se mais eficaz para o resgate cirúrgico.

Ecoescleroterapia com espuma no tratamento da insuficiência venosa crônica / Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency

OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados da ecoescleroterapia com espuma no tratamento de insuficiência venosa crônica. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Série de casos longitudinal. Entre janeiro de 2007 e novembro de 2009, 18 pacientes com insuficiência venosa crônica foram tratados com ecoescleroterapia com espuma em uma clínica particular. O método de Tessari foi utilizado para produção da espuma e o seguimento dos pacientes variou de 4 a 44 meses. Os desfechos primários foram: oclusão total da veia tratada e reepitelização total das úlceras. Os desfechos secundários foram: recanalização parcial com redução do calibre da veia, melhora estética e satisfação do paciente. RESULTADOS: A taxa de oclusão total ou recanalização parcial foi de 83,4 por cento na primeira revisão (55,6 por cento de oclusão total e 27,8 por cento de recanalização parcial) e de 66 por cento (44,4 por cento de oclusão total e 22,2 por cento de recanalização parcial) entre os pacientes que tiveram uma segunda revisão. A taxa de remissão de varizes foi de 80 por cento e a taxa de cura das úlceras foi de 70 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: A ecoescleroterapia mostrou-se um procedimento seguro e eficaz para o tratamento de insuficiência venosa crônica nesse grupo de pacientes. As complicações observadas foram mínimas e a maioria dos pacientes referiu satisfação com os resultados do tratamento.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal study of cases developed in the period between January of 2007 and November of 2009, with 18 patients with venous insufficiency treated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy in a private clinic. The Tessari's method was utilized to produce the foam and the length of the patients' follow-up varied from 4 to 44 months. Total occlusion of the treated vein and complete ulcer reepithelialization were the primary outcomes, and the secondary ones were vein caliber reduction, aesthetic improvement and patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: The rate of total or partial occlusion achieved 83.4 percent in the first review (55.6 percent total and 27.8 percent partial) and 66 percent (44.4 percent total and 22.2 percent partial) among the patients who underwent a second review. The rate of varicose veins occlusion achieved 80 percent and the rate of ulcer healing achieved 70 percent. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy has demonstrated to be a safe and effective procedure for the management of chronic venous insufficiency in this group of patients. The incidence of complications was minimal and most of the patients reported satisfaction with the results of the treatment.

Transfer function of Brazilian Portuguese oral vowels: a comparative acoustic analysis.

UNLABELLED: The vocal tract transfers its characteristics onto the sounds produced at the glottis, depending on its tridimensional configuration. AIM: this study aims to determine which of the seven oral vowels in Brazilian Portuguese is acoustically less impacted by changes to the vocal tract. MATERIALS AND METHOD: this is a cross-sectional prospective study. Twenty-three males and 23 females with ages ranging between 20 and 45 years (mean values of 28.95 and 29.79 years respectively) were enrolled in the study; none had voice complaints and their voices were normal under perceptive-auditory evaluation. Three-hundred and twenty-two sustained vocal emissions were digitized and acoustically analyzed by three computer programs combined. Results were compared against the distribution of resonance frequencies in a straight tube with one end sealed. RESULTS: statistical analysis showed that vowel /epsilon/ was significantly different when compared to the other vowels, with higher mean harmonic values and lower standard deviation for both genders. CONCLUSION: in Brazilian Portuguese, vowel /epsilon/ is less impacted by changes to the vocal tract and is significantly less attenuated in both genders. The inclusion of this vowel in voice assessment standard protocols may contribute to improve the quality of the information obtained as a result of quantitative spectrographic and acoustic tests.

Transfer function of Brazilian Portuguese oral vowels: a comparative acoustic analysis / Função de transferência das vogais orais do Português brasileiro: análise acústica comparativa

The vocal tract transfers its characteristics onto the sounds produced at the glottis, depending on its tridimensional configuration. AIM: this study aims to determine which of the seven oral vowels in Brazilian Portuguese is acoustically less impacted by changes to the vocal tract. MATERIALS AND METHOD: this is a cross-sectional prospective study. Twenty-three males and 23 females with ages ranging between 20 and 45 years (mean values of 28.95 and 29.79 years respectively) were enrolled in the study; none had voice complaints and their voices were normal under perceptive-auditory evaluation. Three-hundred and twenty-two sustained vocal emissions were digitized and acoustically analyzed by three computer programs combined. Results were compared against the distribution of resonance frequencies in a straight tube with one end sealed. RESULTS: statistical analysis showed that vowel /ε/ was significantly different when compared to the other vowels, with higher mean harmonic values and lower standard deviation for both genders. CONCLUSION: in Brazilian Portuguese, vowel /ε/ is less impacted by changes to the vocal tract and is significantly less attenuated in both genders. The inclusion of this vowel in voice assessment standard protocols may contribute to improve the quality of the information obtained as a result of quantitative spectrographic and acoustic tests.

O trato vocal transfere suas características ao som produzido na glote, de acordo com sua configuração tridimensional. OBJETIVO: Determinar qual das sete vogais orais do Português brasileiro sofre a menor interferência acústica das modificações do trato vocal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo transversal prospectivo. Os indivíduos foram 23 homens e 23 mulheres, na faixa etária entre 20 e 45 anos (médias de 28,95 e 29,79 respectivamente), sem queixas vocais e com qualidade vocal normal na avaliação perceptivo-auditiva. 322 emissões vocais sustentadas foram digitalizadas e analisadas acusticamente utilizando-se a combinação de três programas computadorizados. Os resultados foram comparados à distribuição das frequências de ressonância de um tubo reto fechado em uma das extremidades. RESULTADOS: A análise estatística mostrou que a vogal /ε/ apresentou diferença significativa em comparação com as demais vogais, com valores harmônicos médios mais altos e menores desvios-padrão para ambos os sexos. CONCLUSÃO: Para o Português brasileiro, a vogal /ε/ sofre menor influência das modificações do trato vocal e apresenta atenuação significativamente menor para ambos os sexos. A inclusão dessa vogal nos protocolos padronizados de avaliação vocal pode contribuir para a qualidade da informação obtida por meio das análises espectrográficas e acústica quantitativa.

The small mammals of the highly impacted North-eastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Pernambuco Endemism Center / Os pequenos mamíferos da altamente impactada Floresta Atlântica do Nordeste do Brasil, Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco

The Atlantic forest of Brazil is nowadays reduced to less than 8% of its total original area and yet many species remain to be described. The Atlantic Forest north to the São Francisco river - The Pernambuco Endemism Center (CEPE) - has less than 2% of its original forest cover and yet the knowledge on small mammals is scarce. Aiming to assess the small mammal community of this region surveys were carried out in 12 forest fragments of different sizes in distinct geographic areas of the CEPE. The capture-mark-recapture technique was used with live-traps set along linear transects. We recorded 15 species, two of which are in the IUCN Red List, but not in the Brazilian List of Threatened Species. The highest richness and abundance indices were recorded in medium-sized fragments and in the rainy season. More marsupial species were recorded compared to rodents. Our results suggest that fragmentation caused the extinction of those most specialized species, currently remaining only those most tolerant to fragmentation and urbanization. It is recommended that urgent measures should be taken to reconnect and restore these fragments to allow recolonization and reestablishment of the gene flow among the populations.

A Floresta Atlântica do Brasil encontra-se hoje reduzida a menos de 8% da sua área original e contém várias espécies ainda desconhecidas. Sua porção ao norte do Rio São Francisco, o Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco (CEPE), possui atualmente menos de 2% de sua área original e o conhecimento sobre pequenos mamíferos é escasso. Com o objetivo de conhecer melhor a comunidade de pequenos mamíferos desta região foram realizados levantamentos em 12 fragmentos de diferentes tamanhos em áreas geográficas distintas do CEPE. A técnica de captura-marcação-recaptura foi utilizada, com armadilhas de captura viva dispostas em transectos ao longo dos fragmentos. Foram registradas 15 espécies, das quais duas estão inclusas na lista vermelha da IUCN, embora não na lista de espécies ameaçadas do IBAMA. Os maiores índices de riqueza e abundância foram encontrados nos fragmentos de tamanho médio, e durante a estação chuvosa. Foram registradas mais espécies de marsupiais do que de roedores. Os resultados sugerem que a fragmentação causou a extinção daquelas espécies mais especializadas, persistindo atualmente apenas aquelas mais tolerantes à fragmentação e urbanização. Recomendamos que medidas urgentes sejam tomadas para re-conectar e restaurar estes fragmentos, tornando possível sua re-colonização pelas espécies e o aumento do fluxo gênico entre as populações.