Simplicial minisuperspace models in the presence of a massive scalar field with arbitrary scalar coupling

We extend previous simplicial minisuperspace models to account for arbitrary scalar coupling \eta R\phi^2.Comment: 24 pages and 9 figures. Accepted for publication by Classical and Quantum Gravit

Anisotropic simplicial minisuperspace model

The computation of the simplicial minisuperspace wavefunction in the case of anisotropic universes with a scalar matter field predicts the existence of a large classical Lorentzian universe like our own at late timesComment: 19 pages, Latex, 6 figure

SZ scaling relations in Galaxy Clusters: results from hydrodynamical N-body simulations

Observations with the SZ effect constitute a powerful new tool for investigating clusters and constraining cosmological parameters. Of particular interest is to investigate how the SZ signal correlates with other cluster properties, such as the mass, temperature and X-ray luminosities. In this presentation we quantify these relations for clusters found in hydrodynamical simulations of large scale structure and investigate their dependence on the effects of radiative cooling and pre-heating.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX. To appear in proceedings of the JENAM 2002 conference. For a more detailed analysis see astro-ph/0308074, whose simulations supersede those presented at this conferenc