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The newly established Seiberg-Witten (SW)/Quasinormal Modes (QNM) correspondence offers an efficient analytical approach to calculate the QNM frequencies, which was only available numerically before. This is based on the fact that both sides are characterized by Heun-type equations. We find that a similar duality exists between Seiberg-Witten theory and black hole superradiance, since the latter can also be linked to confluent Heun equation after proper transformation. Then a dictionary is constructed, with the superradiance frequencies written in terms of gauge parameters. Further by instanton counting, and taking care of the boundary conditions through connection formula, the relating frequencies are obtained analytically, which show consistency with known numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate spatially inhomogeneous solutions in a top-down holographic model: the D3/D7 model which provides a holographic description of the chiral phase transition for a finite external magnetic field, chemical potential, and temperature. We numerically find a domain wall (or kink) solution in the three dimensional space, which incorporates between the chiral symmetry broken phase at the spatial infinity, under the homogeneous sources. Along with the inhomogeneity of the chiral condensate, the charge density is also spatially modulated. The modulated charge density and finite magnetic field lead to the chiral edge current close to the domain wall. We explore the dependences of those profiles on the chemical potential and temperature near the first and second order phase transition points. Our results indicate that the inhomogeneous solutions we found are in good agreement with those obtained by the Ginzburg-Landau theory in the vicinity of the transition points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although reports suggest that the pancreatic volume decreases after gastrectomy for gastric cancer, the relationship between the pancreatic volume and secretory function after gastrectomy remains unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between the pancreatic volume and exocrine and endocrine functions after total gastrectomy. Methods: The pancreatic volumes of 18 distal gastrectomy and 15 total gastrectomy patients were retrospectively measured using computed tomography volumetry up to 5 years postoperatively. Ten low anterior resection patients were selected as controls. In addition, the pancreatic volume and exocrine function evaluated by fecal elastase and the insulin secretory function evaluated by glucagon tolerance testing were prospectively examined before and one year after surgery in nine cases of total gastrectomy. Results: After low anterior resection, the pancreatic volume did not change, but after distal and total gastrectomy, the pancreatic volume decreased continuously until the fifth year. After total gastrectomy, fecal elastase decreased significantly from 865.8 μg/g to 603.2 μg/g in the first year (p = 0.0316), and the insulin secretion capacity also decreased significantly from 3.83 ng/mL to 2.26 ng/mL (p = 0.0019). Conclusions: The pancreatic volume decreases continuously after gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and the pancreatic exocrine and endocrine functions decrease along with pancreatic atrophy after total gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the meson spectrum of the N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with N = 2 fundamental hypermultiplets for a finite electric field by using the D3/D7 model. The spectrum for scalar and vector mesons is computed by analyzing the (quasi-)normal modes for the fluctuations of the D7-brane embedding and gauge fields. In the presence of an electric field, two different phases in the background are realized: the meson and dissociation phases. In this paper, we analyze the meson spectrum of scalar and vector mesons for all ranges of the electric field and explore the effect of the electric field on the meson spectrum, that is, the Stark effect. In the meson spectrum, we observe the avoided crossing between different levels due to the coupling of fluctuations via the electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complex hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognostic biomarkers have been reported in various studies. We aimed to establish biomarkers that could predict prognosis, and formulate a simple classification using non-invasive preoperative blood test data. Methods: We retrospectively identified 305 patients for a discovery cohort who had undergone HCC-related hepatectomy at four Japanese university hospitals between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013. Preoperative blood test parameter optimal cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Cox uni- and multivariate analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors. Risk classifications were established using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Validation was performed with 267 patients from three other hospitals. Results: In multivariate analysis, α-fetoprotein (AFP, p < 0.001), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II, p = 0.006), and C-reactive protein (CRP, p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). AFP (p = 0.007), total bilirubin (p = 0.001), and CRP (p = 0.003) were independent recurrent risk factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS). CART analysis results formed OS (CRP, AFP, and albumin) and RFS (PIVKA-II, CRP, and total bilirubin) decision trees, based on machine learning using preoperative serum markers, with three risk classifications. Five-year OS (low risk, 80.0%; moderate risk, 56.3%; high risk, 25.2%; p < 0.001) and RFS (low risk, 43.4%; moderate risk, 30.8%; high risk, 16.6%; p < 0.001) risks differed significantly. These classifications also stratified OS and RFS risk in the validation cohort. Conclusion: Three simple risk classifications using preoperative non-invasive prognostic factors could predict prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study phase transitions and critical phenomena in nonequilibrium steady states controlled by an electric field. We employ the D3/D7 model in the presence of a charge density and electric field at finite temperatures. The system undergoes the first-order and the second-order phase transitions under the variation of the electric field in the presence of dissipation. We numerically find that the critical exponents which we define for the nonequilibrium phase transition in this model take the mean-field values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study critical phenomena at a tricritical point associated with a chiral phase transition which emerges in the D3/D7 model in the presence of a finite baryon number density and an external magnetic field. We numerically determine critical exponents related to the thermodynamic quantities and correlation functions. We find that the values of the critical exponents agree with the mean-field values. The scaling relations between the critical exponents are satisfied, implying that the scaling hypothesis for the free energy and the correlation functions hold. Our results indicate that the critical phenomena at the tricritical point in the D3/D7 model are well described by the conventional Landau theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the most clinically relevant complication of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP). The present study evaluated the efficacy of the "slow firing method" using a reinforced triple-row stapler (Covidien, Tokyo, Japan) during LDP. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 73 consecutive patients who underwent LDP using the slow firing method. A black cartridge was used in all patients. The primary endpoint was the rate of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) after LDP. Secondary endpoints included perioperative outcomes and factors associated with CR-POPF as well as the correlation between the transection time and thickness of the pancreas. Results: Four patients (5.5%) developed CR-POPF (grade B). Overall morbidity rates, defined as grade ≥ II and ≥ III according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, were 21 and 11%, respectively. The median postoperative hospital stay was 10 days. Preoperative diabetes (13.6 vs. 0.2%, P = 0.044) and thickness of the pancreas ≥ 15 mm (13.8% vs. 0%, P = 0.006) were identified as independent risk factors for CR-POPF. The median transection time was 16 (8–29) min. Conclusion: The slow firing method using a reinforced triple-row stapler for pancreatic transection is simple, safe, and effective for preventing CR-POPF after LDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]