Cosmological Consequences of String-forming Open Inflation Models

We present a study of open inflation cosmological scenarios in which cosmic strings form betwen the two inflationary epochs. It is shown that in these models strings are stretched outside the horizon due to the inflationary expansion but must necessarily re-enter the horizon before the epoch of equal matter and radiation densities. We determine the power spectrum of cold dark matter perturbations in these hybrid models, finding good agreement with observations for values of $\Gamma=\Omega_0h\sim0.3$ and comparable contributions from the active and passive sources to the CMB. Finally, we briefly discuss other cosmological consequences of these models.Comment: 11 LaTeX pages with 3 eps figure

Automatic structures for semigroup constructions

We survey results concerning automatic structures for semigroup constructions, providing references and describing the corresponding automatic structures. The constructions we consider are: free products, direct products, Rees matrix semigroups, Bruck-Reilly extensions and wreath products.Comment: 22 page

Cosmic Numbers: A Physical Classification for Cosmological Models

We introduce the notion of the cosmic numbers of a cosmological model, and discuss how they can be used to naturally classify models according to their ability to solve some of the problems of the standard cosmological model.Comment: 3 pages, no figures. v2: Two references added, cosmetic changes. Version to appear in Phys. Rev. D (Brief reports

String Imprints from a Pre-inflationary Era

We derive the equations governing the dynamics of cosmic strings in a flat anisotropic universe of Bianchi type I and study the evolution of simple cosmic string loop solutions. We show that the anisotropy of the background can have a characteristic effect in the loop motion. We discuss some cosmological consequences of these findings and, by extrapolating our results to cosmic string networks, we comment on their ability to survive an inflationary epoch, and hence be a possible fossil remnant (still visible today) of an anisotropic phase in the very early universe.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Aneurismas Toracoabdominais Rotos [ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms]

Objective: To evaluate the pre-, intra- and postoperative data of ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysms operated at Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Methods: A retrospective study of five patients submitted to repair of ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm at Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas from September 2000 to April 2004. All patients presented a ruptured type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm, and four of them were hemodynamically stable. Three patients were operated by the simple supraceliac aortic clamping and saline solution infusion at 4°C in the renal arteries; one patient died during the surgery before the aneurysm was opened; and one patient was operated by perfusion of oxygenated blood in the visceral arteries. Results: Of the five patients operated, two died (40%). One of them presented hemodynamic instability and died during the surgery; the other patient died on the 26 th postoperative day due to multiple organ failure. All three surviving patients progressed well, with no sequelae. Among patients who were taken to the operating room hemodynamically stable, the mortality rate was 25%. Conclusions: Patients with ruptured type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm, hemodynamically stable, achieved satisfactory surgical results, similar to infrarenal ruptured aneurysms. Copyright © 2006 by Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia Vascular.513741Bradbury, A.W., Bulstrode, N.W., Gilling-Smith, G., Stansby, G., Mansfield, A.O., Wolfe, J.H., Repair of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is worthwhile in selected cases (1999) Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg, 17, pp. 160-165Lewis, M.E., Ranasinghe, A.M., Revell, M.P., Bonser, R.S., Surgical repair of ruptured thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (2002) Br J Surg, 89, pp. 442-445Cowan Jr., J.A., Dimick, J.B., Wainess, R.M., Henke, P.K., Stanley, J.C., Upchurch Jr., G.R., Ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm treatment in the United States: 1988 to 1998 (2003) J Vasc Surg, 38, pp. 319-322LeMaire, S.A., Rice, D.C., Schmittling, Z.C., Coselli, J.S., Emergency surgery for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with acute presentation (2002) J Vasc Surg, 35, pp. 1171-1178Rocha, E.F., Luccas, G.C., Baldini Neto, L., Aneurisma tóracoabdominal inflamatório (2005) J Vasc Br, 4, pp. 301-306Rocha, E.F., Guillaumon, A.T., Antunes, N., Vieira, R.W., Aneurisma toracoabdominal roto: Modificação do circuito de perfusão visceral (2004) Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc, 19, pp. 413-416Mastroroberto, P., Chello, M., Emergency thoracoabdominal aortic repair: Clinical outcome (1999) J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 118, pp. 477-481Cota, A.M., Omer, A.A., Jaipersad, A.S., Wilson, N.V., Elective versus ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: A 1-year cost-effectiveness analysis (2005) Ann Vasc Surg, 19, pp. 858-861Girardi, L.N., Krieger, K.H., Altorki, N.K., Mack, C.A., Lee, L.Y., Isom, O.W., Ruptured descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (2002) Ann Thorac Surg, 74, pp. 1066-1070Schepens, M.A., Defauw, J.J., Hamerlijnck, R.P., De Geest, R., Vermeulen, F.E., Surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms by simple crossclamping. Risk factors and late results (1994) J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 107, pp. 134-142Cambria, R.P., Davison, J.K., Zannetti, S., L'Italien, G., Atamian, S., Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: Perspectives over a decade with the clamp-and-sew technique (1997) Ann Surg, 226, pp. 294-303Anacleto, A., Anacleto, J.C., Aneurismas da aorta torácica e toracoabdominal (2002) Cirurgia Vascular: Cirurgia Endovascular, Angiologia, pp. 439-459. , Brito CJ. Rio de Janeiro: RevinterSantos, V.P., Ignácio, M.R., Da Silveira, D.R., Caffaro, R.A., Aneurisma toracoabdominal roto: Relato de um caso com o uso de anel rígido sulcado de Delrin intraluminal na anastomose proximal (2004) J Vasc Br, 3, pp. 383-38

Site-Dilution-Induced Antiferromagnetic Long-Range Order in Two-Dimensional Spin-Gapped Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

Effects of the site dilution on spin-gapped Heisenberg antiferromagnets with $S=1/2$ and S=1 on a square lattice are investigated by means of the quantum Monte Carlo method. It is found that effective magnetic moments induced around the diluted sites exhibit the antiferromagnetic long-range order in the medium of spin-singlet pairs. Their microscopic structure is examined in detail and important roles of the higher dimensionality than one on the phenomenon are discussed.Comment: RevTeX, 4 pages, 6 figure

Effects of competitive standard, team formation and playing position on match running performance of Brazilian professional soccer players

This study examined the effects of competitive standard, team formation and playing position on match running performance in a Brazilian professional soccer team. Performance was investigated in 36 players in 48 matches at three competitive standards: 1st São Paulo State Championship; 3rd and 4th Brazilian leagues. Global Positioning System technology was used to determine total distance covered (TD), maximal running speed (MRS), mean speed (SMEAN) and frequency of high-intensity activities (HIA). Data were compared across competitive standards, team formations and playing positions. Magnitude-based inferences showed greater values for TD, SMEAN and HIA (likely to almost certain) in the lower national (3rd, 4th Brazilian) versus the top state division (1st São Paulo). Higher values for all variables were reported for the 1–4–3–3 versus the 1–4–4–2 formation (likely to almost certain). External defenders/midfielders and forwards reported greater values (likely to almost certain) versus central defenders/midfielders, especially in HIA. Linear regression analyses showed that playing position demonstrated a higher relative contribution to the variance in MRS (24%) and HIA (29%) compared to team formation (16% and 25%, respectively). In a Brazilian professional soccer team, match running performance was dependent upon competitive standard, playing formation and playing position

Effect of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) oil administered by gavage on the fatty acid composition and oxidative stress of mouse liver

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of daily intragastric administration of bullfrog oil (oleic, linoleic and palmitoleic acid-rich oil), corresponding to 0.4% of body weight for four weeks, on fatty acid composition and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and catalase activity) in mouse liver. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), biomarkers of tissue injury, were determined in liver homogenates and serum. The proportions of 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 (polyunsaturated fatty acids, from 37 to 60%) in the total fatty acid content were increased in the liver of the bullfrog oil-treated group (P < 0.05) compared to control. At the same time, a significant decrease in the relative abundance of 14:0, 16:0, and 18:0 (saturated fatty acids, from 49 to 25%) was observed. The hepatic content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was increased from 2.3 ± 0.2 to 12.3 ± 0.3 nmol TBA-MDA/mg protein and catalase activity was increased from 840 ± 32 to 1110 ± 45 µmol reduced H2O2 min-1 mg protein-1 in the treated group. Bullfrog oil administration increased AST and ALP activities in the liver (from 234.10 ± 0.12 to 342.84 ± 0.13 and 9.38 ± 0.60 to 20.06 ± 0.27 U/g, respectively) and in serum (from 95.41 ± 6.13 to 120.32 ± 3.15 and 234.75 ± 11.5 to 254.41 ± 2.73 U/l, respectively), suggesting that this treatment induced tissue damage. ALT activity was increased from 287.28 ± 0.29 to 315.98 ± 0.34 U/g in the liver but remained unchanged in serum, whereas the GGT activity was not affected by bullfrog oil treatment. Therefore, despite the interesting modulation of fatty acids by bullfrog oil, a possible therapeutic use requires care since some adverse effects were observed in liver.1491149

Effect of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) oil administered by gavage on the fatty acid composition and oxidative stress of mouse liver

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of daily intragastric administration of bullfrog oil (oleic, linoleic and palmitoleic acid-rich oil), corresponding to 0.4% of body weight for four weeks, on fatty acid composition and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and catalase activity) in mouse liver. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), biomarkers of tissue injury, were determined in liver homogenates and serum. The proportions of 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 (polyunsaturated fatty acids, from 37 to 60%) in the total fatty acid content were increased in the liver of the bullfrog oil-treated group (P < 0.05) compared to control. At the same time, a significant decrease in the relative abundance of 14:0, 16:0, and 18:0 (saturated fatty acids, from 49 to 25%) was observed. The hepatic content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was increased from 2.3 ± 0.2 to 12.3 ± 0.3 nmol TBA-MDA/mg protein and catalase activity was increased from 840 ± 32 to 1110 ± 45 µmol reduced H2O2 min-1 mg protein-1 in the treated group. Bullfrog oil administration increased AST and ALP activities in the liver (from 234.10 ± 0.12 to 342.84 ± 0.13 and 9.38 ± 0.60 to 20.06 ± 0.27 U/g, respectively) and in serum (from 95.41 ± 6.13 to 120.32 ± 3.15 and 234.75 ± 11.5 to 254.41 ± 2.73 U/l, respectively), suggesting that this treatment induced tissue damage. ALT activity was increased from 287.28 ± 0.29 to 315.98 ± 0.34 U/g in the liver but remained unchanged in serum, whereas the GGT activity was not affected by bullfrog oil treatment. Therefore, despite the interesting modulation of fatty acids by bullfrog oil, a possible therapeutic use requires care since some adverse effects were observed in liver