Triple-ionised carbon associated with the low-density neutral hydrogen gas at 1.7 < z < 3.3: the integrated N(HI)-N(CIV) relation

From the Voigt profile fitting analysis of 183 intervening CIV systems at 1.7 < z < 3.3 in 23 high-quality UVES/VLT and HIRES/Keck QSO spectra, we find that a majority of CIV systems (~75%) display a well-characterised scaling relation between integrated column densities of HI and CIV with a negligible redshift evolution, when column densities of all the HI and CIV components are integrated within a given (-150, +150) km/sec range centred at the CIV flux minimum. The integrated CIV column density N(CIV, sys) increases with N(HI, sys) at log N(HI, sys) = 14.0--15.5 and log N(CIV, sys) = 11.8--14.0, then becomes almost independent of N(HI, sys) at log N(HI, sys) > 16, with a large scatter: at log N(HI, sys) = 14--22, log N(CIV, sys) = C1 / (log(NHI, sys) + C2) + C3, with C1 = -1.90+0.55, C2 = -14.11+0.19 and C3 = 14.76+0.17, respectively. The steep (flat) part is dominated by SiIV-free (SiIV-enriched) CIV systems. Extrapolating the N(HI, sys)-N(CIV, sys) relation implies that most absorbers with log N(HI) < 14 are virtually CIV-free. The N(HI, sys)-N(CIV, sys) relation does not hold for individual components, clumps or the integration velocity range less than +-100 km/sec. It is expected if the line-of-sight extent of CIV is smaller than HI and N(CIV, sys) decreases more rapidly than N(HI, sys) at the larger impact parameter, regardless of the location of the HI+CIV gas in the IGM filaments or in the intervening galactic halos.Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRAS, 26 pages, 20 figures, 4 tables. On-line materials are found in the submitted civ.tar.gz file: complete Table 2, complete Table 3, complete Table 4, velocity plots civ1.pdf, civ2.pdf, civ3.pdf, civ4.pdf and civ5.pd

Enabling parallel computing in CRASH

We present the new parallel version (pCRASH2) of the cosmological radiative transfer code CRASH2 for distributed memory supercomputing facilities. The code is based on a static domain decomposition strategy inspired by geometric dilution of photons in the optical thin case that ensures a favourable performance speed-up with increasing number of computational cores. Linear speed-up is ensured as long as the number of radiation sources is equal to the number of computational cores or larger. The propagation of rays is segmented and rays are only propagated through one sub-domain per time step to guarantee an optimal balance between communication and computation. We have extensively checked pCRASH2 with a standardised set of test cases to validate the parallelisation scheme. The parallel version of CRASH2 can easily handle the propagation of radiation from a large number of sources and is ready for the extension of the ionisation network to species other than hydrogen and helium.Comment: Accepted by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 18 pages, 20 figure

Mechanical properties of porous asphalt, recommendations for standardization

Porous Asphalt (PA) is used worldwide for its favorable splash and spray properties and its reduction of aquaplaning under rainy conditions as well as its noise reduction properties. Switzerland started using PA in 1979 with mixed results. According to a survey taken in 2004, nine of the 26 cantons use PA. In particular, canton Vaud in western Switzerland is known as one of the leaders in promoting and using PA. Currently, 1/3 of the Vaud motorways are covered with porous asphalt and the use of PA is planned to be extended to most of the motorway surfaces in the canton Vaud up to an altitude of 600m. In addition, there are several bridge trial sections with PA. After the initial survey of the literature appropriate mechanical tests for porous asphalt were chosen (Table 8. 1). At the same time a survey of current experience with porous asphalt in Switzerland was conducted (Appendix 2). Tests were performed on laboratory prepared specimens (AG1, AG4, AG5, VD7, VD8, VD9) and cores (VD2, VD3, VD4, VD5, VS6, AG2, AG3, VD10) taken from selected pavements chosen based on the feedback from various cantons. The behavior of the selected materials was also assessed using an analytical model. Laboratory tests allowed the comparison of core performance with that of laboratory prepared specimen as well as comparison with field performance. Based on the results two mixes were optimized (VD9, AG5) and recommendations for mechanical tests appropriate for porous asphalt were made

Decrease in treatment intensity predicts worse outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radiochemotherapy

PURPOSE: Radiochemotherapy (RCT) is an effective standard therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Nonetheless, toxicity is common, with patients often requiring dose modifications. METHODS: To investigate associations of RCT toxicities according to CTCAE version 5.0 and subsequent therapy modifications with short- and long-term treatment outcomes, we studied all 193 patients with HNSCC who received RCT (70 Gy + platinum agent) at an academic center between 03/2010 and 04/2018. RESULTS: During RCT, 77 (41%, 95% CI 34-49) patients developed at least one ≥ grade 3 toxicity, including seven grade 4 and 3 fatal grade 5 toxicities. The most frequent any-grade toxicities were xerostomia (n = 187), stomatitis (n = 181), dermatitis (n = 174), and leucopenia (n = 98). Eleven patients (6%) had their radiotherapy schedule modified (mean radiotherapy dose reduction = 12 Gy), and 120 patients (64%) had chemotherapy modifications (permanent discontinuation: n = 67, pause: n = 34, dose reduction: n = 7, change to other chemotherapy: n = 10). Objective response rates to RCT were 55% and 88% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = 0.003), and 84% and 88% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.468), respectively. Five-year progression-free survival estimates were 20% and 50% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = < 0.001), and 53% and 40% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.88), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of radiotherapy dose were associated with impaired long-term outcomes, whereas reductions in chemotherapy intensity were not. This suggests that toxicities during RCT should be primarily managed by modifying chemotherapy rather than radiotherapy

The melanoma-specific graded prognostic assessment does not adequately discriminate prognosis in a modern population with brain metastases from malignant melanoma

The melanoma-specific graded prognostic assessment (msGPA) assigns patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma to 1 of 4 prognostic groups. It was largely derived using clinical data from patients treated in the era that preceded the development of newer therapies such as BRAF, MEK and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, its current relevance to patients diagnosed with brain metastases from malignant melanoma is unclear. This study is an external validation of the msGPA in two temporally distinct British populations.Performance of the msGPA was assessed in Cohort I (1997-2008, n=231) and Cohort II (2008-2013, n=162) using Kaplan-Meier methods and Harrell's c-index of concordance. Cox regression was used to explore additional factors that may have prognostic relevance.The msGPA does not perform well as a prognostic score outside of the derivation cohort, with suboptimal statistical calibration and discrimination, particularly in those patients with an intermediate prognosis. Extra-cerebral metastases, leptomeningeal disease, age and potential use of novel targeted agents after brain metastases are diagnosed, should be incorporated into future prognostic models.An improved prognostic score is required to underpin high-quality randomised controlled trials in an area with a wide disparity in clinical care

Patterns of Disease Progression and Outcome of Patients With Testicular Seminoma Who Relapse After Adjuvant or Curative Radiation Therapy

\ua9 2022 The Authors. Purpose: Radiation therapy is a possible treatment strategy for patients with testicular seminoma after orchiectomy in clinical stage I or II disease. Little is known about the outcome of patients who experience a relapse after radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: Data from 61 patients who relapsed after adjuvant or curative radiation therapy from 17 centers in 11 countries were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were disease-free and overall survival. Secondary outcomes were time to relapse, stage at relapse, treatment for relapse, and rate of febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy for relapse. Results: With a median follow-up of 9.9 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.5-10.9), we found a 5-year disease-free survival of 90% (95% CI, 79-95) and a 5-year overall survival of 98% (95% CI, 89-100). Sixty-six percent of patients had stage III disease at time of relapse and 93% of patients fell into the good prognosis group per the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification. The median time to relapse after radiation therapy was 15.6 months (95% CI, 12-23). Twenty-two (36%) patients relapsed more than 2 years after radiation therapy and 7 (11.5%) patients relapsed more than 5 years after radiation therapy. One-third of relapses was detected owing to patients’ symptoms, whereas two-thirds of relapses were detected during routine follow-up. The majority (93%) of cases were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The rate of febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy was 35%. Five patients experienced a second relapse. At last follow-up, 55 patients (90%) were alive without disease. Only 1 patient died owing to disease progression. Conclusions: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy for patients with seminoma who have relapsed after treatment with radiation therapy alone leads to excellent outcomes. Patients and physicians should be aware of possible late relapses after radiation therapy

Habitat use at fine spatial scale: how does patch clustering criteria explain the use of meadows by red deer ?

Large mammalian herbivores are keystone species in different ecosystems. To mediate the effects of large mammalian herbivores on ecosystems, it is crucial to understand their habitat selection pattern. At finer scales, herbivore patch selection depends strongly on plant community traits and therefore its understanding is constrained by patch definition criteria. Our aim was to assess which criteria for patch definition best explained use of meadows by wild, free-ranging, red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a study area in Northeast Portugal. We used two clustering criteria types based on floristic composition and gross forage classes, respectively. For the floristic criteria, phytosociological approach was used to classify plant communities, and its objectivity evaluated with a mathematical clustering of the floristic relevés. Cover of dominant plant species was tested as a proxy for the phytosociological method. For the gross forage classes, the graminoids/forbs ratio and the percentage cover of legumes were used. For assessing deer relative use of meadows we used faecal accumulation rates. Patches clustered according to floristic classification better explained selection of patches by deer. Plant community classifications based on phytosociology, or proxies of this, used for characterizing meadow patches resulted useful to understand herbivore selection pattern at fine scales and thus potentially suitable to assist wildlife management decisions