On classical anisotropies in models of Open Inflation

In the simplest model of open inflation there are two inflaton fields decoupled from each other. One of them, the tunneling field, produces a first stage of inflation which prepares the ground for the nucleation of a highly symmetric bubble. The other, a free field, drives a second period of slow roll inflation inside the bubble. However, the second field also evolves during the first stage of inflation, which to some extent breaks the needed symmetry. We show that this generates large supercurvature anisotropies which, together with the results of Tanaka and Sasaki, rule out this class of simple models (unless, of course, $\Omega_0$ is sufficiently close to one.) The problem does not arise in modified models where the second field does not evolve in the first stage of inflation.Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures. Factor 3/5 in figure labels. References adde

Lipoteichoic acid-antilipoteichoic acid complexes induce superoxide generation by human neutrophils

Human neutrophils (PMNs) which have been incubated with lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from group A streptococci generated large amounts of Superoxide (O 2 − chemiluminescence and hydrogen peroxide when challenged with anti-LTA antibodies. Cytochalasin B further enhanced O 2 * generation. The onset of Of generation by the LTA-anti-LTA complexes was much faster than that induced by BSA-anti-BSA complexes. LTA-treated PMNs generated much less O 2 * when challenged with BSA complexes, suggesting that LTA might have blocked, nonspecifically, some of the Fc receptors on PMNs. PMNs treated with LTA-anti-LTA complexes further interacted with bystander nonsensitized PMNs resulting in enhanced Of generation, suggesting that small numbers of LTA-sensitized PMNs might recruit additional PMNs to participate in the generation of toxic oxygen species. Protelolytic enzyme treatment of PMNs further enhanced the generation of O 2 − by PMNs treated with LTA-anti-LTA. Superoxide generation could also be induced when PMNs and anti-LTA antibodies interacted with target cells (fibroblasts, epithelial cells) pretreated with LTA. This effect was also further enhanced by pretreatment of the target cells with proteases. PMNs incubated with LTA released lysosomal enzymes following treatment with anti-LTA antibodies. The amounts of phosphatase, Β -glucoronidase, N -acetylglucosaminidase, mannosidase, and lysozyme release by LTA-anti-LTA complexes were much smaller than those released by antibody or histone-opsonized streptococci, suggesting that opsonized particles are more efficient lysosomal enzyme releasers. However, since the amounts of O 2 − generated by the LTA complexes equaled those generated by the opsonized particles, it is assumed that the signals for triggering a respiratory burst and lysosomal enzyme secretion might be different.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44498/1/10753_2004_Article_BF00914316.pd