Time variation of the fine structure constant in decrumpling or TVSD model

Within the framework of a model universe with time variable space dimension (TVSD), known as decrumpling or TVSD model, we study the time variation of the fine structure constant. Using observational bounds on the present time variation of the fine structure constant, we are able to obtain the present time variation of spatial dimensions.Comment: 10 pages, accepted for publication in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

Schwarzschild Black Hole in Noncommutative Spaces

We study the effects of noncommutative spaces on the horizon, the area spectrum and Hawking temperature of a Schwarzschild black hole. The results show deviations from the usual horizon, area spectrum and the Hawking temperature. The deviations depend on the parameter of space-space noncommutativity.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Gen.Rel.Gra

Dynamics of inflationary cosmology in TVSD model

Within the framework of a model Universe with time variable space dimensions (TVSD), known as decrumpling or TVSD model, we study TVSD chaotic inflation and obtain dynamics of the inflaton, scale factor and spatial dimension. We also study the quantum fluctuations of the inflaton field and obtain the spectral index and its running in this model. Two classes of examples have been studied and comparisons made with the standard slow-roll formulae. We compare our results with the recent Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Noncommutative Decrumpling Inflation and Running of the Spectral Index

We present a new inflation model, known as noncommutative decrumpling inflation, in which space has noncommutative geometry with time variability of the number of spatial dimensions. Within the framework of noncommutative decrumpling inflation, we compute both the spectral index and its running. Our results show that the effects of both time variability of the number of spatial dimensions and noncommutative geometry on the spectral index and its running. Two classes of examples have been studied and comparisons made with the standard slow-roll formulae. We conclude that the effects of noncommutative geometry on the spectral index and its running are much smaller than the effects of time variability of spatial dimensions.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

Exogenously added GPI-anchored tissue inhibitor of matrix metal loproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) displays enhanced and novel biological activities

The family of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) exhibits diverse physiological/biological functions including the inhibition of active matrix metalloproteinases, regulation of proMMP activation, cell growth, and the modulation of angiogenesis. TIMP-1 is a secreted protein that can be detected on the cell surface through its interaction with surface proteins. The diverse biological functions of TIMP-1 are thought to lie, in part, in the kinetics of TIMP-1/MMP/surface protein interactions. Proteins anchored by glycoinositol phospholipids (GPIs), when purified and added to cells in vitro, are incorporated into their surface membranes. A GPI anchor was fused to TIMP-1 to generate a reagent that could be added directly to cell membranes and thus focus defined concentrations of TIMP-1 protein on any cell surface independent of protein-protein interaction. Unlike native TIMP-1, exogenously added GPI-anchored TIMP-1 protein effectively blocked release of MMP-2 and MMP-9 from osteosarcoma cells. TIMP-1-GP1 was a more effective modulator of migration and proliferation than TIMP-1. While control hTIMP-1 protein did not significantly affect migration of primary microvascular endothelial cells at the concentrations tested, the GPI-anchored TIMP-1 protein showed a pronounced suppression of endothelial cell migration in response to bFGF. In addition, TIMP-1-GPI was more effective at inducing microvascular endothelial proliferation. In contrast, fibroblast proliferation was suppressed by the agent. Reagents based on this method should assist in the dissection of the protease cascades and activities involved in TIMP biology. Membrane-fixed TIMP-1 may represent a more effective version of the protein for use in therapeutic expression

Limits on the Time Evolution of Space Dimensions from Newton's Constant

Limits are imposed upon the possible rate of change of extra spatial dimensions in a decrumpling model Universe with time variable spatial dimensions (TVSD) by considering the time variation of (1+3)-dimensional Newton's constant. Previous studies on the time variation of (1+3)-dimensional Newton's constant in TVSD theory had not been included the effects of the volume of the extra dimensions and the effects of the surface area of the unit sphere in D-space dimensions. Our main result is that the absolute value of the present rate of change of spatial dimensions to be less than about 10^{-14}yr^{-1}. Our results would appear to provide a prima facie case for ruling the TVSD model out. We show that based on observational bounds on the present-day variation of Newton's constant, one would have to conclude that the spatial dimension of the Universe when the Universe was at the Planck scale to be less than or equal to 3.09. If the dimension of space when the Universe was at the Planck scale is constrained to be fractional and very close to 3, then the whole edifice of TVSD model loses credibility.Comment: 22 pages, accepted for publication in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

Psychometric properties of the birth satisfaction scale-revised (BSS-R) in a sample of postpartum Iranian women

Childbirth satisfaction may positively affect maternal intention to have a future pregnancy and preference to have a cesarean. We translate the UK-Birth-Satisfaction-Scale-Revised (UK-BSS-R) into Persian and validate an Iranian-BSS-R for future use in this population. In total, 784 mothers who were hospitalized in postpartum wards completed the Persian version of the BSS-R. The confirmatory factor analysis on 10-items scale confirmed the conventional three-factor structure. The Cronbach’s alpha of the Iranian-BSS-R subscales and the total score were within the range of 0.53-0.76. Our findings provide further evidence that the BSS-R is an internationally reliable and valid instrument to measure birth satisfaction

Nurse experiences of medication administration to people with swallowing difficulties living in aged care facilities: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

To identify nurses' experiences of administering oral medications to residents of aged care facilities (ACFs) with swallowing difficulties.Administering medicines to older people with swallowing difficulties is a challenging task. Nurses frequently modify oral medications e.g. by crushing/splitting tablets or opening capsules, to facilitate the administration process. These practices are associated with an increased risk of medication administration errors. However, the reasons for these practices from the nurse's perspective are not well understood.The review investigated studies on the experiences of nurses of any level with the responsibility of medication administration in ACFs in terms of problems and challenges they encountered when administering oral medicines to aged care residents with swallowing difficulties. Aged care facilities providing all levels of care were considered for inclusion. Qualitative studies including, but not limited to, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and action research designs as well as mixed methods studies and text and opinion papers were considered.A comprehensive database search of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus was conducted between October and December 2016. MedNar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were used to search for gray literature. No date limitation was applied. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument critical appraisal tool (JBI-QARI) was used to assess the quality of the papers. The JBI-QARI data extraction instrument was used to extract qualitative findings. Data synthesis was not applicable in the final analysis due to the inclusion of only one article.The initial search resulted in 1681 unique titles for screening. A total of 202 abstracts were screened, after which a full-text review conducted for 19 articles. After the full-text review, only one article was eligible to be included in the final report. The included study scored highly in terms of methodological quality. The findings highlighted issues around time constraints, complexity of medication administration process to residents of ACFs with swallowing difficulties, cost and resources for alternative strategies, inefficient information flow and communication among healthcare professionals, and nurses' knowledge and training needs.The limited findings of this systematic review indicate that further research is necessary to provide evidence of nurses' experiences with regards to administering oral medications to older people with swallowing difficulties living in ACFs. A comprehensive understanding of these experiences may lead to organizational system changes to support nurses and older people with swallowing difficulties in ACFs

Pore-scale observations of hydrogen trapping and migration in porous rock: demonstrating the effect of Ostwald ripening

We use high-resolution three-dimensional X-ray imaging to study hydrogen injection and withdrawal in the pore space of Bentheimer sandstone. The results are compared with a replicate experiment using nitrogen. We observe less trapping with hydrogen because the initial saturation after drainage is lower due to channeling. Remarkably we observe that after imbibition, if the sample is imaged again after 12 hr, there is a significant rearrangement of the trapped hydrogen. Many smaller ganglia disappear while the larger ganglia swell, with no detectable change in overall gas volume. For nitrogen, the fluid configuration is largely unchanged. This rearrangement is facilitated by concentration gradients of dissolved gas in the aqueous phase—Ostwald ripening, We estimate the time-scales for this effect to be significant, consistent with the experimental observations. The swelling of larger ganglia potentially increases the gas connectivity, leading to less hysteresis and more efficient withdrawal

Conservation needs to evolve to survive in the post‐pandemic world

The conservation of biodiversity—and the vital ecosystem services it generates—is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, yet the field faces drastic funding cuts as society realigns its priorities in the face of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Here, we argue that diverting attention from conservation would, however, increase the risk of further global health crises because the emergence of novel infectious diseases is partially driven by global environmental change. As the discrepancy between conservation needs and society's willingness to pay for them grows, conservation will have to evolve to stay relevant in the age global change‐induced human infectious disease