Is there a link between dizziness and vision? A systematic review

YesPurpose: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to investigate the link (if any) between vision and dizziness. Methods: Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched with keywords chosen to find articles which investigated the causes of dizziness and considered vision as a possible trigger. Citation chaining of all included papers was performed in addition to the hand searching of all reference lists. Unpublished literature was identified using www.opengrey.eu. The review considered studies involving adults which link, measure or attempt to improve any aspect of vision in relation to dizziness. Results: Nine thousand six hundred and eighty one possible references were found, and the abstracts were screened independently by two reviewers to determine if they should be included in the study. Thirteen papers were found which investigated whether dizziness was linked to an assessment of vision. Visual impairment measures were crude and typically self-report, or Snellen visual acuity with little or no measurement details. Five studies found an independent link between dizziness and vision, five found a weak association (typically finding a link when univariate analyses were used, but not when multivariate analyses were used), and three found no association. Studies finding a strong link were usually cross-sectional with a large study population whereas those finding a weak association had relatively small numbers of participants. Studies which did not find an association used a broad definition of dizziness that included the term light-headedness, an unreliable Rosenbaum near visual acuity chart or an unusual categorisation of visual acuity. Conclusions: This review suggests that dizziness (although likely not ‘light-headedness’) is linked with poor vision although further studies using more appropriate measures of vision are recommended.Deborah Armstrong was funded by a College of Optometrists Research Scholarship and Emily Charlesworth by a College of Optometrists summer studentship

A practical bistatic passive radar system for use with DAB and DRM illuminators

Digital broadcasts provide powerful illuminators of opportunity with waveforms that produce excellent radar ambiguity functions. An experimental program to investigate the possibility of such broadcasts for target tracking radar is described. In addition, the atmospheric monitoring possibilities for such broadcasts are discussed.C.J.Coleman, R.A.Watson, and H.Yardle

Could Fire and Rescue Services identify older people at risk of falls?

Protecting or improving the efficiency and effectiveness of services while reducing costs in response to public sector funding reductions is a significant challenge for all public service organisations. Preventing falls in older people is a major public health objective. We propose here an innovative model of community partnership with Fire and Rescue Services assisting falls prevention services to enhance the safety and well-being of older people in local communities through early identification of those who are at risk of injury from a fall or accidental domestic fire

Social Networking: An astronomer's field guide

We present a brief introduction to the phenomenon of "social networking" and its potentially powerful use as an astronomy outreach and educational tool. We briefly discuss the development of applications for websites and facebook and the use of web trackers e.g. Google Analytics to analyze your audience. Finally we discuss how social bookmarking can be used to promote your work to unexpected audiences.Comment: 10 pages, conferenc

Widespread Occurrence of High-Velocity Upflows in Solar Active Regions

We performed a systematic study of 12 active regions (ARs) with a broad range of areas, magnetic flux and associated solar activity in order to determine whether there are upflows present at the AR boundaries and if these upflows exist, whether there is a high speed asymmetric blue wing component present in the upflows. To identify the presence and locations of the AR upflows we derive relative Doppler velocity maps by fitting a Gaussian function to {\it Hinode}/EIS Fe XII 192.394\,\AA\ line profiles. To determine whether there is a high speed asymmetric component present in the AR upflows we fit a double Gaussian function to the Fe XII 192.394\,\AA\ mean spectrum that is computed in a region of interest situated in the AR upflows. Upflows are observed at both the east and west boundaries of all ARs in our sample with average upflow velocities ranging between -5 to -26~km s$^{-1}$. A blue wing asymmetry is present in every line profile. The intensity ratio between the minor high speed asymmetric Gaussian component compared to the main component is relatively small for the majority of regions however, in a minority of cases (8/30) the ratios are large and range between 20 to 56~\%. These results suggest that upflows and the high speed asymmetric blue wing component are a common feature of all ARs.Comment: Accepted in A&A, 5 pages, 3 figure

FIP Bias Evolution in a Decaying Active Region

Solar coronal plasma composition is typically characterized by first ionization potential (FIP) bias. Using spectra obtained by Hinode's EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) instrument, we present a series of large-scale, spatially resolved composition maps of active region (AR) 11389. The composition maps show how FIP bias evolves within the decaying AR from 2012 January 4-6. Globally, FIP bias decreases throughout the AR. We analyzed areas of significant plasma composition changes within the decaying AR and found that small-scale evolution in the photospheric magnetic field is closely linked to the FIP bias evolution observed in the corona. During the AR's decay phase, small bipoles emerging within supergranular cells reconnect with the pre-existing AR field, creating a pathway along which photospheric and coronal plasmas can mix. The mixing time scales are shorter than those of plasma enrichment processes. Eruptive activity also results in shifting the FIP bias closer to photospheric in the affected areas. Finally, the FIP bias still remains dominantly coronal only in a part of the AR's high-flux density core. We conclude that in the decay phase of an AR's lifetime, the FIP bias is becoming increasingly modulated by episodes of small-scale flux emergence, i.e. decreasing the AR's overall FIP bias. Our results show that magnetic field evolution plays an important role in compositional changes during AR development, revealing a more complex relationship than expected from previous well-known Skylab results showing that FIP bias increases almost linearly with age in young ARs (Widing $\&$ Feldman, 2001, ApJ, 555, 426)

Patient engagement with antibiotic messaging in secondary care: a qualitative feasibility study of the ‘review & revise’ experience

Background: We aimed to investigate and optimise the acceptability and usefulness of a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing decisions made during hospitalisation, and to explore individual patient experiences and preferences regarding the process of antibiotic prescription ‘review & revise’ which is a key strategy to minimise antibiotic overuse in hospitals. Methods: In this qualitative study, run within the feasibility study of a large, cluster-randomised stepped wedge trial of 36 hospital organisations, a series of semi-structured, think-aloud telephone interviews were conducted and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Fifteen adult patients who had experienced a recent acute medical hospital admission during which they had been prescribed antimicrobials and offered a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing were recruited to the study. Results: Participants reacted positively to the leaflet, reporting that it was both an accessible and important source of information which struck the appropriate balance between informing and reassuring. Participants all valued open communication with clinicians, and were keen to be involved in antibiotic prescribing decisions, with individuals reporting positive experiences regarding antibiotic prescription changes or stopping. Many participants had prior experience or knowledge of antibiotics and resistance, and generally welcomed efforts to reduce antibiotic usage. Overall, there was a feeling that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are trusted experts providing the most appropriate treatment for individual patient conditions. Conclusions: This study offers novel insights into how patients within secondary care are likely to respond to messages advocating a reduction in the use of antibiotics through the ‘review & revise’ approach. Due to the level of trust that patients place in their care provider, encouraging HCPs within secondary care to engage patients with greater communication and information provision could provide great advantages in the drive to reduce antibiotic use. It may also be beneficial for HCPs to view patient experiences as cumulative events that have the potential to impact future behaviour around antibiotic use. Finally, pre-testing messages about antibiotic prescribing and resistance is vital to dispelling any misconceptions either around effectiveness of treatment for patients, or perceptions of how messages may be received

Open Primary Button Versus Laparoscopic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: Results From a Case-control Study.

OBJECTIVES: Open primary balloon gastrostomy (PBG) presents a potential alternative to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in children as it obviates the need for change under general anaesthetic; however, the complication profile of PBG compared to PEG is not well defined. Previous series comparing the two have been hampered by the groups not being equivalent. Our paediatric surgical centre has offered PBG as an alternative PEG since 2014. We used a matched case-control study to compare outcomes for PBG and PEG. METHODS: Patients undergoing PBG were used as "cases" and matched 1:3 by age and diagnosis to patients undergoing PEG, demographics, and clinical data as "controls." Primary outcome was rate of complications classified according to Clavien-Dindo (I-V). Secondary outcomes included time to feed and length of stay. Non-parametric, categorical and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Data here presented as median with interquartile range (IQR). RESULTS: We included 140 patients (35 PBG:105 PEG). The 2 groups were comparable for sex, weight at surgery, and follow-up duration. Median operative time was longer for PBG (43 min [IQR 36.5-61.5] vs 27.5 min [18.25-47.75], P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a statistically significant, higher incidence of symptomatic granulation tissue in PBG (10 [29%] vs 6 [6%], P = 0.0008), this remained significant on multivariate analysis (OR 7.56 [2.33-23.5], P = 0.001), no other complication remained significant. The overall complication rate was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: PBG and PEG have similar overall complication rates; however, PBG appears to have a higher incidence of granulation tissue. This observation must be weighed against the need for further general anaesthetic which is not insignificant in medically complex children

Experimental investigation of longitudinal and transverse welds during sideways extrusion

Differential velocity sideways extrusion (DVSE) is a novel process for fabricating curved profiles; welding quality during extrusion is an important issue for its industrial application. In this study, solid bars of aluminium alloy AA1070 were extruded from multiple billets at 500 °C using the novel process and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the extrudate were investigated. The weld formed between the billets includes longitudinal and transverse solid-state weld regions formed as the metal was extruded. The longitudinal welds have better mechanical properties than the transverse welds. Dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) occurred in areas with high dislocation density during the extrusion process and as a result, grains across the bonding interfaces of longitudinal welds have been formed, which improves the weld quality. In the areas with the transverse welds, macro weld defects can be observed at the weld front. With further progress of sideways extrusion, the defect density reduced and new grains formed at the bonding surface