Possibilities for the use of hydroxychloroquine for pre- and postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection among exposed contacts and healthcare personnel

There currently exists no published robust data which would confirm effectiveness and safety of hydroxychloroquine in pre- and postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taking into account in vitro data, which indicates inhibitory activity of hydroxychloroquine against SARS-CoV-2, and interim guidelines by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, hydroxychloroquine can be considered as postexposure prophylaxis among healthcare personnel who have been in contact with patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2, provided no contraindications and significant drug interactions are present. Safety monitoring should be performed before prescribing and during the course of treatment (ECG, total blood count and blood biochemistry, ophthalmologist evaluation before long-term treatment)

Anticoagulant deprescribing algorithm in patients with COVID-19 after hospital discharge

We present anticoagulant outpatient deprescribing algorithm in patients with COVID-19 discharged from the hospital. It is reasonable to continue the treatment should the patient have indications for therapeutic anticoagulation. Enhanced prophylaxis of venous thromboembolic complications should be considered in patients with high thromboembolic risk and low risk of bleeding

Current and future use of umifenovir in patients with COVID-19

At the time of print, the evidence for using umifenovir in COVID-19 is mainly theoretical. The published clinical trials have contradicting results. The decision to use umifenovir in COVID-19 should be individualized, considering the “experimental” nature of this treatment

Optimization of electromagnetic and hadronic extensive air shower identification using the muon detectors of the TAIGA experiment

The TAIGA experiment in the Tunka valley near Lake Baikal is planning an extension with new TAIGA-Muon scintillation detector stations. The main purpose of TAIGA is gamma-ray astronomy in the TeV to PeV energy range and cosmic ray physics. The purpose of the Taiga-Muon detectors is to measure the muon component of air showers for improving cosmic ray composition measurements as well as gamma–hadron separation above 100 TeV. Monte Carlo simulations of the experiment are done with the software packages CORSIKA and GEANT4. Extensive air showers of primary particles in the energy range 100–3000 TeV are created with CORSIKA. The trigger efficiency is calculated and used for optimization. The suppression factor of hadronic showers versus electromagnetic showers is studied, leading to an optimum depth of soil absorber (2 m), at the lowest energy range. Data on the identification efficiency for primary gamma-quanta and proton events are presented as well as the suppression factor

Design features and data acquisition system of the TAIGA-Muon scintillation array

The TAIGA-Muon scintillation array is located in the Tunka Valley. It is a part of the single TAIGA experimental complex. Its construction has started in the summer of 2019. By the autumn of 2019, the first three clusters were installed. We describe the design of the TAIGA-Muon array, the data acquisition (DAQ) sistem, reading and control systems

An approach for identification of ultrahigh energy extensive air showers with scintillation detectors at TAIGA experiment

The TAIGA astroparticle observatory is under development at Tunka valley close to the Baikal Lake. This simulation study is concentrated on the ultrahigh energy extensive air showers (EAS) induced by gamma-quanta or proton in the range from 1 PeV to 10 PeV and zenith angle ranging 0°–45°. For this work, a set of air showers was created by CORSIKA software package. The list of useful secondary particles at the ground level is produced using the COAST library package. The interaction of secondary particles with the soil and detectors was simulated with GEANT4 package. The method based on neural network has been developed for the separation of EAS induced by gamma-quanta or proton. The air showers having energy ranging 1–10 PeV show more than 90% of identification efficiency of protons while keeping identification efficiency of gamma around 50% or more

SiPM-based camera for gamma-ray imaging air Cherenkov telescope

The current status of the equipment development for the new wide-angle gamma-ray imaging air Cherenkov telescope for TAIGA hybrid installation is presented. A front-end electronic and data acquisition system board based on the Zynq family Xilinx FPGA chips specially designed for this project have been produced and are being tested. A detailed description if presented for internal structure of the four main subsystems: four 8-channel 100 MHz ADCs, board’s control system, internal clock and synchronization system and the power supply system. Additionally, the current status of a small scale prototype telescope SIT consisting of 49 SiPM is presented. The telescope includes a digital camera for observing the stars and weather condition. The SIT-HiSCORE synchronization systems and the telemetry information collection had been tested

Development of a novel wide-angle gamma-ray imaging air Cherenkov telescope with SiPM-based camera for the TAIGA hybrid installation

The TAIGA complex-detector is designed to study gamma and cosmic rays in the energy range above 30 TeV. We are developing a novel wide-angle imaging air Cherenkov telescope with a SiPM based camera with a field of view of 15–20ˆ and an aperture of around 1 m2. In this report we present the design of the telescope imaging camera (optical and data acquisition systems), based on 1000–1200 SiPMs. The prototype of such camera, based on 49 SiPMs, is operating at the TAIGA's site in the Tunka valley since September 2019. The design of the prototype and the preliminary results of data analysis is presented