Winding String Condensation and Noncommutative Deformation of Spacelike Singularity

In a previous paper (hep-th/0509067) using matrix model, we showed that closed string tachyons can resolve spacelike singularity in one particular class of Misner space (with anti-periodic boundary conditions for fermions around the spatial circle). In this note, we show that for Misner space without closed string tachyons, there also exists a mechanism to resolve the singularity in the context of the matrix model, namely cosmological winding string production. We show that here space and time also become noncommutative due to these winding strings. Employing optical theorem, we study the bulk boundary coupling by calculating the four-open-string cylinder amplitudes.Comment: 16 pages, no figures, harvmac; references added; added a section of discussion on disk and cylinder amplitude

Matrix String Description of Cosmic Singularities in a Class of Time-dependent Solutions

A large class of time-dependent solutions with 1/2 supersymmetry were found previously. These solutions involve cosmic singularities at early time. In this paper, we study if matrix string description of the singularities in these solutions with backgrounds is possible and present several examples where the solutions can be described well in the perturbative picture.Comment: 12 pages, v2: typos corrected, a ref. adde

Comparison of Nasal Nitric Oxide Levels between the Inferior Turbinate Surface the Middle Meatus in Patients with Symptomatic Allergic Rhinitis

ABSTRACTBackground: Because of the anatomical complexity and the high output of the human nose, it has been unclear whether nasal nitric oxide (NO) serves as a reliable marker of allergic rhinitis (AR). We examined whether nasal NO levels in the inferior turbinate (IT) surface and the middle meatus (MM) differ in symptomatic AR patients.Methods: We measured fractional exhaled NO (FeNO) and nasal NO in normal subjects (n = 50) and AR patients with mild symptoms (n = 16) or moderate or severe symptoms (n = 27). Nasal NO measurements were obtained using an electrochemical analyzer connected to a catheter and an air-suction pump (flow rate 50 mL/ sec).Results: Compared to the normal subjects, the AR patients showed significantly higher nasal FeNO and nasal NO levels in the IT area. No significant difference in the MM area was observed among the three groups. The MM area showed higher NO levels than the IT area in all three groups. The ratio of nasal NO levels of the MM area to the IT area (MM/IT ratio) was significantly lower in the AR groups. The moderate/severe AR patients showed significantly higher nasal NO in the IT area (104.4 vs. 66.2 ppb) and lower MM/IT ratios than those in the mild AR patients. The analysis of nasal brushing cells revealed significantly higher eosinophil cationic protein and nitrotyrosine levels in the AR groups.Conclusions: Nasal NO assessment in the IT area directly reflects persistent eosinophilic inflammation and may be a valid marker to estimate the severity of AR

Time-dependent Solutions with Null Killing Spinor in M-theory and Superstrings

Imposing the condition that there should be a null Killing spinor with all the metrics and background field strengths being functions of the light-cone coordinates, we find general 1/2 BPS solutions in D=11 supergravity, and discuss several examples. In particular we show that the linear dilaton background is the most general supersymmetric solution without background under the additional requirement of flatness in the string frame. We also give the most general solutions for flat spacetime in the string frame with RR or NS-NS backgrounds, and they are characterized by a single function.Comment: 12 pages; v2: typos corrected, refs. added; v3: typos corrected, to appear in PL

Baseline Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Glasgow Prognostic Score are Associated with Clinical Outcome in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Nivolumab

Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/MHNSCC) has a poor prognosis. Although nivolumab is approved in Japan for treating R/MHNSCC, the response rate is low. Therefore, identifying pretreatment prognostic factors is necessary. This study assessed the utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) as biomarkers of response to nivolumab. We retrospectively collected the data of 56 R/MHNSCC patients treated with nivolumab between May 2017 and December 2019. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and multivariate Cox hazard regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of survival. Patients with a low pretreatment NLR had prolonged OS, and patients with a low pretreatment GPS had increased OS and PFS. A performance score (PS) of 0-1, development of immune-related adverse events, and GPS of 0-1 were significantly associated with OS in multivariate analysis. In summary, baseline pretreatment NLR and GPS are independently associated with OS in R/MHNSCC patients treated with nivolumab. Administration of nivolumab while maintaining the PS reflects a immune status of the host and leads to a good OS

A Case of Primary Osteosarcoma of the Mandible That Responded to Preoperative Chemotherapy: p16 as a Potential Prognostic Factor

We report a case of mandibular osteosarcoma in a Japanese woman in her 70s who was p16-positive. Despite the rapid growth of the tumor, the patient responded well to chemotherapy and was then able to undergo surgery. Head and neck osteosarcoma (HNOS) is a very rare cancer, and although the importance of surgery has been pointed out, the effectiveness of chemotherapy is unclear. Resection margin negativity and response to chemotherapy have been reported as prognostic factors; another report assessed the effectiveness of the immunohistochemical expression of p16 protein as a predictor of response to chemotherapy

Evaluation of Role of Prophylactic Swallowing Rehabilitation in Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Using Novel Software Analysis of Videofluorography Images

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with substantial side effects, most notably those related to swallowing function. Recently, early implementation of protective exercises has been recommended as an important intervention in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. Several studies, including randomized controlled trials, have evaluated prophylactic swallowing exercises and swallowing outcomes. Although several clinical outcome measures to assess the severity of swallowing dysfunction are available, they are indirect measures. Videofluorography is the most popular and efficient examination that visually demonstrates the dynamic state of swallowing. This study aimed to determine whether prophylactic swallowing rehabilitation provided to HNC patients receiving CRT would result in better swallowing outcomes. Thirty patients were enrolled in this study. Fifteen patients (the control group) received swallowing rehabilitation after CRT on demand, and the other 15 (the rehabilitation group) received prophylactic swallowing rehabilitation from the beginning. Swallowing motion was evaluated with motion analysis software. There were statistically significant differences in hyoid bone displacement, duration of swallowing onset, larynx elevation time, and total swallowing time between the control and rehabilitation groups. Based on the results of this study, prophylactic swallowing rehabilitation seems to reduce the extent and severity of the functional problems that occur after CRT.This study was supported in part by Tsuchiya Medical Foundation Grant (no. 3010281)