Closed Spaces in Cosmology

This paper deals with two aspects of relativistic cosmologies with closed (compact and boundless) spatial sections. These spacetimes are based on the theory of General Relativity, and admit a foliation into space sections S(t), which are spacelike hypersurfaces satisfying the postulate of the closure of space: each S(t) is a 3-dimensional, closed Riemannian manifold. The discussed topics are: (1) A comparison, previously obtained, between Thurston's geometries and Bianchi-Kantowski-Sachs metrics for such 3-manifolds is here clarified and developed. (2) Some implications of global inhomogeneity for locally homogeneous 3-spaces of constant curvature are analyzed from an observational viewpoint.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, revised version of published paper. In version 2: several misprints corrected, 'redshifting' in figures improved. Version 3: a few style corrections; couple of paragraphs in subsection 2.4 rewritten. Version 4: figures 5 and 6 corrrecte

Scanning Capacitance Spectroscopy on n\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e-p Asymmetrical Junctions in Multicrystalline Si Solar Cells

We report on a scanning capacitance spectroscopy (SCS) study on the n+-p junction of multicrystalline silicon solar cells. We found that the spectra taken at space intervals of ∼10 nm exhibit characteristic features that depend strongly on the location relative to the junction. The capacitance-voltage spectra exhibit a local minimum capacitance value at the electrical junction, which allows the junction to be identified with ∼10-nm resolution. The spectra also show complicated transitions from the junction to the n-region with two local capacitance minima on the capacitance-voltage curves; similar spectra to that have not been previously reported in the literature. These distinctive spectra are due to uneven carrier-flow from both the n- and p-sides. Our results contribute significantly to the SCS study on asymmetrical junctions

A Two Micron All-Sky Survey View of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy: II. Swope Telescope Spectroscopy of M Giant Stars in the Dynamically Cold Sagittarius Tidal Stream

We present moderate resolution (~6 km/s) spectroscopy of 284 M giant candidates selected from the Two Micron All Sky Survey photometry. Radial velocities (RVs) are presented for stars mainly in the south, with a number having positions consistent with association to the trailing tidal tail of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf galaxy. The latter show a clear RV trend with orbital longitude, as expected from models of the orbit and destruction of Sgr. A minimum 8 kpc width of the trailing stream about the Sgr orbital midplane is implied by verified RV members. The coldness of this stream (dispersion ~10 km/s) provides upper limits on the combined contributions of stream heating by a lumpy Galactic halo and the intrinsic dispersion of released stars, which is a function of the Sgr core mass. The Sgr trailing arm is consistent with a Galactic halo containing one dominant, LMC-like lump, however some lumpier halos are not ruled out. An upper limit to the total M/L of the Sgr core is 21 in solar units. A second structure that roughly mimics expectations for wrapped, leading Sgr arm debris crosses the trailing arm in the Southern Hemisphere; however, this may also be an unrelated tidal feature. Among the <13 kpc M giants toward the South Galactic Pole are some with large RVs that identify them as halo stars, perhaps part of the Sgr leading arm near the Sun. The positions and RVs of Southern Hemisphere M giants are compared with those of southern globular clusters potentially stripped from the Sgr system and support for association of Pal 2 and Pal 12 with Sgr debris is found. Our discussion includes description of a masked-filtered cross-correlation methodology that achieves better than 1/20 of a resolution element RVs in moderate resolution spectra.Comment: 41 pages, 6 figures, Astronomical Journal, in press (submitted Nov. 24, 2003; tentatively scheduled for July 2004 issue

Quantitative methods and studies of psychic disorders and job satisfaction of teachers of the prison system in the Amazon, Brazil

Objective: To analyze the level of mental suffering and the level of job satisfaction in 85% of the teachers of the state education network who work in the prison units in the city of Porto Velho, Rondonia, Amazonia, Brazil. Method: This is a cross-sectional study; and for the data collection, three structured instruments were used: the sociodemographic questionnaire; the Self-Report-Questionnaire Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and the OSI-Occupational Stress Indicator Scale, Measured by Likert Scale. Results: The results showed that 12.5% of the teachers presented minor psychic disorders, considered as indicators of evidence of mental distress. Satisfaction in the work had indexes similar to those found in the literature, presenting the highest proportion in the intermediate variables, that is, their highest frequencies are in the range of some dissatisfaction, with 32.28%; and 32.04% with some satisfaction. The highest index of dissatisfaction is in the variable that refers to salary, with 29.4%. Conclusions: From the results, it is possible to indicate a possible association between job satisfaction and mental suffering. This study will provide great reflections on the teaching practice in prison units and will contribute to the occupational health of teachers working in prison units, allowing a rethinking of public policies in education and health in the context of the prison system

Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Associated with Physical Exercise Program in Morphological-Functional Blood Pressure Parameters

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Manual Massage Lymphatic Drainage (MMLD) performed in association with an Aerobic Physical Exercise Program (APEP), in the arterial blood pressure (PSA) values of hypertensive subjects submitted to pharmacological treatment. The population of this study was composed of hypertensive subjects of both sexes and patients from SESI Clinic of the Municipality of Cacoal in Rondônia / RO, with the sample consisting of 28 subjects in the age group from 45 to 60 years and under pharmacological treatment to control hypertension arterial hypertension (SAH). Experimental Group 1 (GE1), composed of 14 individuals of both sexes (Age: 53.57 ± 7.20, Body Weight: 74, 15 ± 15.85, height: 166.1 ± 61), which during 8 weeks were submitted weekly on alternate days, to three MMLD sessions in parallel to a APEP with intensity controlled by the subjective sensation of effort; and b) An Experimental Group 2 (GE2), also composed of 14 subjects of both sexes (Age: 53.57 ± 7.20; Body Weight: 74.15 ± 15.85; Height: 166.1 ± 61); which during 8 weeks were also submitted to three weekly sessions of the same MMLD maneuvers applied in GE1, but were not submitted to PEFA. At the end of the procedures the statistical analysis allowed to observe that the PASS scores presented by GE1 and GE2, both indicated the same statistical significance (p = 0,000), with mean values being reduced by 8.1 mmHg for GE1 and 6,5 mmHg for GE2, representing a functional improvement of 6.3% and 4.9%, respectively. A similar behavior was found when analyzing the values of PASD, which at the end of the experimental procedure presented similar results for both study groups, statistical significance at the level of p< 0,05. Mean values were reduced by 5.5 mmHg for GE1, and 3.8 mmHg for GE2, representing a functional improvement of 6.3% and 4.3%, respectively. It is also observed that the results of the GE1 are higher than those of the GE2, and this can be attributed to the realization of the MMLD in parallel to the APEP, which seems to have potentiated the effects presented by the GE1. The results found in this research suggest that Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage may be a valuable nonpharmacological auxiliary therapy in the control of arterial hypertension, also indicating that when performed in association with a regular program of aerobic physical exercises, it significantly increases the reduction of values blood pressure of hypertensive subjects

Job Satisfaction and Mental Suffering of Penitentiary Agents of the Female Prison of Porto Velho, Rondônia (Brazil)

The study with the penitentiary agents that work in the female prison system of Porto Velho aimed to analyze the level of job satisfaction and the level of mental suffering of these workers. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. This study was performed with 34% of the penitentiary agents who carry out their activities at the Porto Velho Women's Penitentiary, Rondônia. For the data collection, three structured instruments were used: The Sociodemographic Questionnaire; the Self-Report-Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI), measured using a Likert scale. Satisfaction in the work had similar indexes to those found in the literature, presenting the highest proportion in the intermediate variables, that is, their higher frequencies are in the range of some dissatisfations, with 40%; and 35% with some satisfactions. The highest level of dissatisfaction is in the variable to the form by which changes and innovations are implemented, with 55%. The results showed that the prison staff had lower psychiatric disturbances (19.59%), in the following order of determination: decreased energy (23.33), depressed mood (23.33%), somatic symptom (21.25%), other symptoms of SRQ-20 20%) and depressive thoughts (10%), considered as indicators of evidence of mental suffering. From the data collected in this study, it is possible to indicate a possible association between work dissatisfaction and mental suffering

Enterococcus faecalis resistant to vancomycin and teicoplanin (VanA phenotype) isolated from a bone marrow transplanted patient in Brazil

We report for the first time in Brazil, a patient from whom an Enterococcus faecalis VanA phenotype was isolated. Glycopeptide resistance is not commonly observed in Enterococcus faecalis, so this finding is of great concern since this species is responsible for 90% of enterococcal infections in Brazil. The isolate was recovered from a surveillance rectal swab culture from a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Identification to the species level was performed by conventional biochemical tests and Vitek GPI cards. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was evaluated by use of broth microdilution and Etest (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) methods. The isolate was identified as E. faecalis and was considered resistant to both vancomycin (MIC, > 256 mug/mL) and teicoplanin (MIC, 256 mug/mL). The isolate also showed high level resistance to gentamicin and streptomycin (MICs, > 1024 mug/mL), but was considered susceptible to ampicillin (MIC, 4 mug/mL). Although the frequency of enterococcal infections is very low in most Latin America countries, the finding of glycopeptide (VanA) resistance in E. faecalis increases concern about apreading antimicrobial resistance in this region.Federal University of São Paulo Infectious Disease Division Special Clinical Microbiology LaboratoryFederal University of São Paulo Infectious Disease Division Nosocomial Infection Control CommitteeUniversity of Iowa College of Medicine Department of PathologySão Paulo Hospital Central LaboratoryUNIFESP, Infectious Disease Division Special Clinical Microbiology LaboratoryUNIFESP, Infectious Disease Division Nosocomial Infection Control CommitteeSciEL

Quantum Cosmology of the Universe with S1℗Tg Spatial Sections

Consideremos la creación cuántica de un universo con una topología espacial S1℗Tg. Usando la integral funcional euclidiana y la aproximación por un tunelamiento como prescripciones aplicadas a la cosmología cuántica, calculamos la función de onda de un universo con una constante cosmológica negativa y sin materia. La integral de camino de un minisuperespacio anisotrópico es calculado en la aproximación semiclásica y muestra que la función de onda es proporcional al genus de la variedad Tg hiperbólica compacta bidimensional y al valor absoluto de la constante cosmológica negativa. De esta forma obtenemos la probabilidad de la creación cuántica de un universo de alto genus y aparece en la aproximación de Hartle-Hawking que este se incrementa con el genus g, mientras que en la aproximación por tunelamiento este decrece con g.Quantum creation of a universe with an S1℗Tg spatial topology is considered. Using both the Euclidean functional integral and the tunneling approach as prescriptions applied to quantum cosmology, we calculate the wave function of such a universe with a negative cosmological constant and without matter. The anisotropic minisuperspace path integral is calculated in the semiclassical approximation, and it is shown that the wave function is proportional to the genus of the two-dimensional compact the probability of quantum creation of a higher-genus universe, and it appears that in Hartle-Hawking approach the probability of creation increases with the genus g, while in the tunneling approach it decreases with g

Superstructure based on β-CD self-assembly induced by a small guest molecule

The size, shape and surface chemistry of nanoparticles play an important role in cellular interaction. Thus, the main objective of the present study was the determination of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) self-assembly thermodynamic parameters and its structure, aiming to use these assemblies as a possible controlled drug release system. Light scattering measurements led us to obtain the β-CD's critical aggregation concentration (cac) values, and consequently the thermodynamic parameters of the β-CD spontaneous self-assembly in aqueous solution: Δ[subscript agg]G[superscript o] = −16.31 kJ mol[superscript −1], Δ[subscript agg]H[superscript o] = −26.48 kJ mol[superscript −1] and TΔ[subscript agg]S[superscript o] = −10.53 kJ mol[superscript −1] at 298.15 K. Size distribution of the self-assembled nanoparticles below and above cac was 1.5 nm and 60–120 nm, respectively. The number of β-CD molecules per cluster and the second virial coefficient were identified through Debye's plot and molecular dynamic simulations proposed the three-fold assembly for this system below cac. Ampicillin (AMP) was used as a drug model in order to investigate the key role of the guest molecule in the self-assembly process and the β-CD:AMP supramolecular system was studied in solution, aiming to determine the structure of the supramolecular aggregate. Results obtained in solution indicated that the β-CD's cac was not affected by adding AMP. Moreover, different complex stoichiometries were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments.Brazil. National Institute in Science and Technology in Nanobiopharmaceutics (NanoBiofar) (CNPq/MCT/FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant 1-R01-DE016516-03)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Process 4597-08-7)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (CEX APQ-00498/08