The generalized second law and the emergent universe
  We explore whether the generalized second law of thermodynamics is fulfilled in the transition from a generic initial Einstein static phase to the inflationary phase, with constant Hubble rate, and from the end of the latter to the conventional thermal radiation dominated era of expansion. As it turns out, the said law is satisfied provided the radiation component does not contribute largely to the total energy of the static phase. 
Diego Pav\'on, Sergio del Campo, and Ram\'on Herrera
gr-qc