Computational Methods for High Energy Physics

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Geant4 Simulation Study of Deep Underground Muons: Vertical Intensity and Angular Distribution

Underground muon intensities up to 10000 m.w.e. and angular distribution up to 6500 m.w.e. in standard rock have been investigated using Geant4 simulation package. Muons with energies above 100 GeV were distributed from the ground level taking into account the muon charge ratio of ~1.3 at sea level. The simulated differential muon intensities are in good agreement with the intensities given in the literature. Furthermore, the simulation results for the integrated intensities are consistent with the experimental data, particularly at depths above 4000 m.w.e., where the simulation gives slightly smaller intensities than the experimental ones. In addition, the simulated exponent n at different underground depths agrees well with the experimental points, especially above ~2000 m.w.e

Geant4 Simulation Study of Deep Underground Muons: Vertical Intensity and Angular Distribution

Underground muon intensities up to 10000 m.w.e. and angular distribution up to 6500 m.w.e. in standard rock have been investigated using Geant4 simulation package. Muons with energies above 100 GeV were distributed from the ground level taking into account the muon charge ratio of ∼1.3 at sea level. The simulated differential muon intensities are in good agreement with the intensities given in the literature. Furthermore, the simulation results for the integrated intensities are consistent with the experimental data, particularly at depths above 4000 m.w.e., where the simulation gives slightly smaller intensities than the experimental ones. In addition, the simulated exponent n at different underground depths agrees well with the experimental points, especially above ∼2000 m.w.e

Does electrocardiography at admission predict outcome in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Background & objectives: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever withconsiderable mortality. Despite increasing knowledge about hemorrhagic fever viruses, the pathogenesis ofCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and causes of death were not well described. We aimed to evaluate whetherthere were electrocardiographic parameters designating mortality among these patients.Study design: This retrospective study was performed among confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fevercases in Turkey. Electrocardiography was available in 49 patients within 24 h of hospitalization. Allelectrocardiograms were evaluated by two expert cardiologists according to Minnesota coding system.Results: Among patients with available electrocardiograms, there were 31 patients who survived, and 18patients who died of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Both groups were similar in terms of age, sex, bodytemperature, heart rate, and blood parameters. T-wave changes and bundle branch block were more frequentlyencountered among those who died. Presence of T-wave negativity or bundle branch block in this cohort ofpatients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever predicted death with a sensitivity of 72.7%, specificity of92.6%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, negative predictive value of 80.6%.Conclusions: We think within the light of our findings that simple electrocardiography at admission may helprisk stratification among Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases

Simulations of Muon Flux in Slanic Salt Mine

Geant4 simulation package was used to simulate muon fluxes at different locations, the floor of UNIREA mine and two levels of CANTACUZINO mine, of Slanic Prahova site in Romania. This site is specially important since it is one of the seven sites in Europe that are under consideration of housing large detector components of Large Apparatus studying Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics (LAGUNA) project. Simulations were performed for vertical muons and for muons with a zenith angle θ≤60°. Primary muon flux and energies at ground level were obtained from previous measurements. Results of the simulations are in general agreement with previous simulations made using MUSIC simulation program and with the measurements made using a mobile detector

Does electrocardiography at admission predict outcome in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever?

Background & objectives: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever with considerable mortality. Despite increasing knowledge about hemorrhagic fever viruses, the pathogenesis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and causes of death were not well described. We aimed to evaluate whether there were electrocardiographic parameters designating mortality among these patients

Increased d-dimer levels predict cardiovascular mortality in patients with systolic heart failure

D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product, and is implicated in pathologies of cardiovascular system. Thrombosis within the vascular system in relation with inflammation and stasis might be associated with poor prognosis in patients with systolic heart failure (HF). In this study we aimed to investigate for relationship between d-dimer levels and cardiovascular mortality in patients with systolic HF. A total of 174 consecutive patients with hospitalized systolic HF were evaluated. All hospitalized patients were obtained d-dimer levels within the first 24 h following admission after obtaining informed consent. Patients were followed up for cardiovascular mortality and 40 (23%) patients died. d-dimer levels were higher among those who died compared to those who survived (2727 +/- A 2569 (710-4438) versus. 1029 +/- A 1319 (303-1061) ng/ml, P 1435 ng/ml. D-dimer levels were negatively correlated with ejection fraction, positively correlated with left atrium size and left ventricular diastolic diameter. D-dimer > 1435 ng/ml, age, diabetes mellitus, presence of atrial fibrillation, and creatinine level were found to have prognostic significance in univariate analyses. In multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model, d-dimer > 1435 ng/ml (HR = 3.250, 95% CI 1.647-6.414, P = 0.001), creatinine level (HR = 1.269, 95% CI 1.008-1.599, P = 0.043), and presence of atrial fibrillation (HR = 2.159, 95% CI 1.047-4.452, P = 0.037) remained associated with an increased risk of death after adjustment for variables found to be statistically significant in univariate analysis and correlated with d-dimer level. In conclusion, d-dimer measurement could help risk stratification in patients with systolic HF

Sleep quality among relatively younger patients with initial diagnosis of hypertension: Dippers versus non-dippers

Background. Sleep is a basic physiological process. Normal sleep yields decrease in sympathetic activity, blood pressure ( BP) and heart rate. Those, who do not have expected decrease in their BP are considered "non-dippers''. We aimed to determine if there was any association between the non-dipping status and sleep quality, designed a cross-sectional study, and enrolled and evaluated the sleep quality of relatively young patients with an initial diagnosis of hypertension. Methods. Seventy-five consecutive patients, diagnosed to have stage 1 hypertension by their primary physicians, were referred to our study. Patients had newly diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension. Patients with a prior use of any anti-hypertensive medication were not included. Eligible patients underwent the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which has an established role in evaluating sleep disturbances. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring. Results. There were 42 non-dipper patients (mean age = 47.5 +/- 11.9 years, 24 male/18 female), as a definition, 31 dipper hypertensive patients (mean age = 48.5 +/- 12.8 years, 21 male/10 female) and two with white coat hypertension. Daytime systolic and diastolic mean BPs were not significantly different between the two groups. Night-time mean systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly higher in non-dippers compared with dippers. PSQI scores, globally, were significantly higher in non-dippers compared with dippers. Total PSQI score was not correlated with body mass index. It was noticed that, individually, sleep quality, sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance scores were significantly higher in non-dippers. Being a poor sleeper in terms of high PSQI score (total score > 5) was associated with 2.955-fold increased risk of being a non-dipper (95% confidence interval 1.127-7.747). Conclusion. We showed that the risk of having non-dipping hypertension, a risk factor for poor cardiovascular outcomes among hypertensive individuals, was tripled (odds ratios) among poor sleepers. We think that evaluating sleeping status and sleep quality among the hypertensive population may help unmask non-dipper hypertension, enabling physicians to treat appropriately