First operation in SPIDER and the path to complete MITICA.

The requirements of ITER neutral beam injectors (1 MeV, 40 A negative deuterium ion current for 1 h) have never been simultaneously attained; therefore, a dedicated Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF) was set up at Consorzio RFX (Padova, Italy). The NBTF includes two experiments: SPIDER (Source for the Production of Ions of Deuterium Extracted from Rf plasma), the full-scale prototype of the source of ITER injectors, with a 100 keV accelerator, to investigate and optimize the properties of the ion source; and MITICA, the full-scale prototype of the entire injector, devoted to the issues related to the accelerator, including voltage holding at low gas pressure. The present paper gives an account of the status of the procurements, of the timeline, and of the voltage holding tests and experiments for MITICA. As for SPIDER, the first year of operation is described, regarding the solution of some issues connected with the radiofrequency power, the source operation, and the characterization of the first negative ion beam.

Daytime sleepiness and attention in city bus drivers of two capitals of Brazil.

Brazil is one of the world leaders on traffic accidents. The present article studied the excessive daytime sleepiness of public transport drivers in two Brazilian's capitals and their level of attention. It was conducted here a descriptive transversal study of a convenient sample. For the evaluation were used: anthropometric variables, a Sleep Questionnaire, Epworth Scale of Sonolency (ESS), Diffused Attention Test (TADIM), and Concentrated Attention Test (TACOM-A). There were evaluated 300 drivers from Brasilia and 104 from Florianopolis. The majority of the individuals were overweight and presented somnolence. The neck circumference was smaller in Brasília, where the drivers were also more sleepiness and presented worst attention on TACOM-A. The analysis of correlation was significant between attention tests and age and between BMI and ESS. Factors as differences in work journeys as well differences between the traffic in these two cities may be associated to our findings. We concluded that sleepiness is a common factor of risk between professional bus drivers and that was correlated with BMI, as well as the attention was correlated with age.

[Infected parotid cyst as a cause of facial palsy]. / Infizierte Parotiszyste als Ursache einer Fazialisparese.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory processes are a rare cause of peripheral facial palsy. In most cases even massive infection does not lead to a loss of facial nerve function. In the literature, only 8 cases of facial paralysis associated with parotid cyst have been described. PATIENT AND RESULTS: We present a case of facial palsy caused by an inflamed cyst of the parotid gland. The patient was operated on with the diagnosis malignant parotid tumor. The pathological report showed a squamous epithelial cyst, massive lymphocytic infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: As a rule the combination parotid gland lesion and facial palsy is a sign of malignancy, clinicians should be aware that, on rare occasions, facial nerve dysfunction may result from benign parotid gland disease.

Facial nerve paralysis secondary to acute otitis media in infants and children.

Nowadays, facial paralysis is an uncommon complication of acute inflammation of the middle ear, with an estimated incidence of 0.005%; it was not so rare in the pre-antibiotic era, occurring in 0.5-0.7% of middle ear inflammatory processes. We would like to highlight this complication of acute otitis media, a common paediatric complaint. We present three new cases of facial palsy in children with acute otitis media and discuss the etiological mechanisms and different approaches to the treatment; a flow chart for facial paralysis in acute otitis media is also presented. Our three patients recovered completely after mastoidectomy (first two cases) and myringotomy with antibiotic therapy (third case). Facial paralysis is an uncommon complication of otitis media which requires appropriate care. Following our experience and revision of literature on the subject, antibiotic therapy and myringotomy are the first-line procedures. Surgery should be employed in case of acute or coalescent mastoiditis, suppurative complications and lack of clinical regression.