275 research outputs found

    Open Inflationary Universes in the Induced Gravity Theory

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    The induced gravity theory is a variant of Jordan--Brans--Dicke theory where the `dilaton' field possesses a potential. It has the unusual feature that in the presence of a false vacuum there is a {\em stable} static solution with the dilaton field displaced from the minimum of its potential, giving perfect de Sitter expansion. We demonstrate how this solution can be used to implement the open inflationary universe scenario. The necessary second phase of inflation after false vacuum decay by bubble nucleation is driven by the dilaton rolling from the static point to the minimum of its potential. Because the static solution is stable whilst the false vacuum persists, the required evolution occurs for a wide range of initial conditions. As the exterior of the bubble is perfect de Sitter space, there is no problem with fields rolling outside the bubble, as in one of the related models considered by Linde and Mezhlumian, and the expansion rates before and after tunnelling may be similar which prevents problematic high-amplitude super-curvature modes from being generated. Once normalized to the microwave background anisotropies seen by the COBE satellite, the viable models form a one-parameter family for each possible Ω0\Omega_0.Comment: 7 pages RevTeX file with three figures incorporated (uses RevTeX and epsf). Also available by e-mailing ARL, or by WWW at http://star-www.maps.susx.ac.uk/papers/early_papers.htm

    Galactic periodicity and the oscillating G model

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    We consider the model involving the oscillation of the effective gravitational constant that has been put forward in an attempt to reconcile the observed periodicity in the galaxy number distribution with the standard cosmological models. This model involves a highly nonlinear dynamics which we analyze numerically. We carry out a detailed study of the bound that nucleosynthesis imposes on this model. The analysis shows that for any assumed value for Ω\Omega (the total energy density) one can fix the value of Ωbar\Omega_{\rm bar} (the baryonic energy density) in such a way as to accommodate the observational constraints coming from the 4He^4{\rm He} primordial abundance. In particular, if we impose the inflationary value Ω=1\Omega=1 the resulting baryonic energy density turns out to be Ωbar∼0.021\Omega_{\rm bar}\sim 0.021. This result lies in the very narrow range 0.016≤Ωbar≤0.0260.016 \leq \Omega_{\rm bar} \leq 0.026 allowed by the observed values of the primordial abundances of the other light elements. The remaining fraction of Ω\Omega corresponds to dark matter represented by a scalar field.Comment: Latex file 29 pages with no figures. Please contact M.Salgado for figures. A more careful study of the model appears in gr-qc/960603

    Indoor exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and dampness: respiratory symptoms in Sardinian children- DRIAS study

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    Indoorexposuresathome,environmentaltobaccosmoke(ETS)andmould/dampnessadverselyaffect respiratoryhealthofchildren.DisturbiRespiratorinell’InfanziaeAmbienteinSardegna(DRIAS) (RespiratorySymptomsinchildrenandtheEnvironmentinSardegna,Italy)aimsatrelatingthe prevalenceofrespiratoryandallergicsymptomstoindoorexposuresinSardinianchildren. DRIAS,across-sectionalinvestigationofrespiratorysymptoms/diseases,usedamodifiedversionof ISAACquestionnaire,included4122childrenattending29primaryschoolsintheschoolyear 2004–2005. If bothparentssmoketheprevalenceforcurrentwheezeandcurrentasthmaisalmostdoubledin comparisonwithneversmokers,forpersistentcoughandphlegmaroleissuggestedwhenonlymother smokes.Amongmotherssmokinginpregnancy,theprevalenceofcurrentwheezeandcurrentasthmais increased. ExposuretoETSandfamilyatopyhaveajointeffectresultinginanalmosttriplingof prevalenceforcurrentwheezeandmorethanfourtimesforcurrentasthma.Exposureto‘‘dampness’’ (mouldordampness)bothduringthefirstyearoflifeandcurrentlyisassociatedwithincreased prevalenceofcurrentwheeze,persistentcoughorphlegmandcurrentrhino-conjunctivitis;ifexposure is onlyduringthefirstyearoflifeadoublingormoreofprevalenceisobservedforcurrentwheeze, current asthma,andpersistentcoughorphlegm. DRIASresultsaddevidencetothecausalroleofchildhoodexposuretoETSinthedevelopmentof respiratorysymptoms(cough,phlegm,andwheezing)andasthma.ThejointeffectofETSandfamily atopyiscorroborated.Theresultsstrengthentheevidenceforacausalassociationbetween‘‘dampness’’ and respiratoryhealth,pointingtoitspossibleindependentroleincausingasthma,along-lasting exposureentailsadoubledprevalenceforbothasthmaticandbronchitissymptoms

    Monteggia fracture associated with ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture with posterior interosseous nerve palsy: case report, medico-legal implications, and methodological assessment analysis

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    BACKGROUND: The Monteggia fracture, defined as a fracture of the proximal third of the ulnar shaft associated with an anterior or posterior dislocation of the proximal radial epiphysis, is a serious injury accounting for 0.7% of all elbow fractures and dislocations in adults. For adult patients, good results can only be obtained through early diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment. Monteggia fracture-dislocations associated with distal humeral fracture are extremely rare injuries in adults and there are few cases described in the literature. Medico-legal implications arising from such conditions have a host of complexities that cannot be discounted.CASE REPORT: This case report revolves around a patient affected by a type I Monteggia fracture-dislocation, according to the Bado classification, associated with an ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture. To our knowledge, this combination of lesions has never been reported before in adult patients. A positive result was obtained due to early diagnosis, achievement of anatomical reduction, and optimal stabilization with internal fixation which made it possible to achieve early functional recovery.CONCLUSIONS: Monteggia fracture -dislocations associated with ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture are extremely rare in adults. In the case herein reported, a favorable outcome was obtained due to early diagnosis, achievement of anatomical reduction and management with internal fixation with plate and screws, as well as early functional training. Misdiagnosis makes such lesions risky in terms of potentially delayed treatment, increasing the need for surgical interventions and the possibility of high-risk complications and disabling sequelae, with possible medico -legal implications. In the case of unrecognized injuries under urgent circumstances, the injuries may become chronic, making the treatment more complex. The ultimate outcomes of a misdiagnosed Monteggia lesion can lead to very serious functional and aesthetic damage

    Dynamic vacuum variable and equilibrium approach in cosmology

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    A modified-gravity theory is considered with a four-form field strength F, a variable gravitational coupling parameter G(F), and a standard matter action. This theory provides a concrete realization of the general vacuum variable q as the four-form amplitude F and allows for a study of its dynamics. The theory gives a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe with rapid oscillations of the effective vacuum energy density (cosmological "constant"), whose amplitude drops to zero asymptotically. Extrapolating to the present age of the Universe, the order of magnitude of the average vacuum energy density agrees with the observed near-critical vacuum energy density of the present universe. It may even be that this type of oscillating vacuum energy density constitutes a significant part of the so-called cold dark matter in the standard Friedmann-Robertson-Walker framework.Comment: 24 (not 25) pages, v7(=v6 with latex problem corrected): published version in preprint styl

    Conditions for Successful Extended Inflation

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    We investigate, in a model-independent way, the conditions required to obtain a satisfactory model of extended inflation in which inflation is brought to an end by a first-order phase transition. The constraints are that the correct present strength of the gravitational coupling is obtained, that the present theory of gravity is satisfactorily close to general relativity, that the perturbation spectra from inflation are compatible with large scale structure observations and that the bubble spectrum produced at the phase transition doesn't conflict with the observed level of microwave background anisotropies. We demonstrate that these constraints can be summarized in terms of the behaviour in the conformally related Einstein frame, and can be compactly illustrated graphically. We confirm the failure of existing models including the original extended inflation model, and construct models, albeit rather contrived ones, which satisfy all existing constraints.Comment: 8 pages RevTeX file with one figure incorporated (uses RevTeX and epsf). Also available by e-mailing ARL, or by WWW at http://star-www.maps.susx.ac.uk/papers/infcos_papers.html; Revised to include extra references, results unchanged, to appear Phys Rev

    Open Inflation With Scalar-tensor Gravity

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    The open inflation model recently proposed by Hawking and Turok is investigated in scalar-tensor gravity context. If the dilaton-like field has no potential, the instanton of our model is singular but has a finite action. The Gibbons-Hawking surface term vanishes and hence, can not be used to make Ω0\Omega_0 nonzero. To obtain a successful open inflation one should introduce other matter fields or a potential for the dilaton-like fields.Comment: 10 pages.1 figure. Some comments and references are improved. to be published in PR
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