Non-local spectroscopy of Andreev bound states

We experimentally investigate Andreev bound states (ABSs) in a carbon nanotube quantum dot (QD) connected to a superconducting Nb lead (S). A weakly coupled normal metal contact acts as a tunnel probe that measures the energy dispersion of the ABSs. Moreover we study the response of the ABS to non-local transport processes, namely Cooper pair splitting and elastic co-tunnelling, that are enabled by a second QD fabricated on the same nanotube on the opposite side of S. We find an appreciable non-local conductance with a rich structure, including a sign reversal at the ground state transition from the ABS singlet to a degenerate magnetic doublet. We describe our device by a simple rate equation model that captures the key features of our observations and demonstrates that the sign of the non-local conductance is a measure for the charge distribution of the ABS, given by the respective Bogoliubov-de Gennes amplitudes $u$ and $v$

On boundaries of multiply connected wandering domains

Wir untersuchen die Ränder von mehrfach zusammenhängenden wandernden Gebieten ganzer transzendenter Funktionen. Unter anderem zeigen wir, dass mehrfach zusammenhängende wandernde Gebiete ganzer transzendenter Funktionen unter gewissen Voraussetzungen von Jordankurven berandet sind. Für eine ganze oder rationale Funktion $f$ ist die \emph{Fatoumenge \F(f)} die Menge all der Punkte, in denen die Folge $f^n$ der Iterierten von $f$ eine normale Familie bildet, und die \emph{Juliamenge \J(f)} ist ihr Komplement. Eine Komponente $U$ der Fatoumenge nennen wir \emph{wandernd}, wenn $f^n(U)\neq f^m(U)$ für alle $n\neq m$ gilt. Sei $U=U_0$ ein mehrfach zusammenhängendes wanderndes Gebiet einer ganzen transzendenten Funktion $f$ und $U_n:=f^n(U)$. Dann ist $U_n$ beschränkt. Mit \p_{\infty} U_{n} bezeichnen wir die Randkomponente von $U_n$, die $U_n$ von $\infty$ trennt und mit \p_0 U_n die Randkomponente, die $U_n$ von $0$ trennt, wenn eine solche existiert. Wir zeigen, dass unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen \p_{\infty} U_{n-1}=\p_0 U_n für alle $n\in\N$ gilt. Weiter zeigen wir, dass diese Ränder Jordankurven sind, und nutzen dies, um zu zeigen, dass viele andere Randkomponenten der $U_n$ Kurven sind. Unter diesen Voraussetzungen ist jede Randkomponente der $U_n$ eine Kurve, wenn zusätzlich \p_0 U_n isoliert ist, das heißt, wenn sich keine weiteren Randkomponenten von $U_n$ bei \p_0 U_n häufen. Diese Resultate schließen viele komplizierte topologische Strukturen für die Ränder der wandernden Gebiete aus und zeigen demnach, dass wandernde Gebiete vergleichsweise einfache Formen haben können. Schließlich zeigen wir, dass die Randkurven unter zusätzlichen Voraussetzungen sogar rektifizierbar sind. Außerdem geben wir Beispiele an, die unsere Resultate veranschaulichen. Wir betrachten mehrere Klassen von Funktionen mit wandernden Gebieten, die auf Beispiele von Baker zurückgehen, und zeigen, dass diese in viele Fällen von Kurven berandet sind. Unter anderem zeigen wir, dass für das erste Beispiel eines wandernden Gebietes von Baker aus dem Jahr 1976 und für das erste Beispiel eines unendlich-fach zusammenhängenden wandernden Gebietes aus dem Jahr 1985 die Ränder aus abzählbar vielen Jordankurven bestehen.We investigate the boundaries of multiply connected wandering domains of entire transcendental functions. Among other things we show that under certain conditions the boundary components of multiply connected wandering domains of entire transcendental functions are Jordancurves. For an entire or rational function $f$ the \emph{Fatou set \F(f)} is the set of all points such that the sequence $f^n$ of iterates of $f$ form a normal family and the \emph{Julia set \J(f)} is its complement. A component $U$ of the Fatou set is called \emph{wandering} if $f^n(U)\neq f^m(U)$ holds for all $n\neq m$. Let $U=U_0$ be a multiply connected wandering domain of an entire transcendental function $f$ and $U_n:=f^n(U)$. Then $U_n$ is bounded. By \p_{\infty} U_{n} we denote the boundary component of $U_n$ which separates $U_n$ from $\infty$ and by \p_0 U_n we denote the boundary component which separates $U_n$ from $0$ if such a component exists. We show that under certain conditions \p_{\infty} U_{n-1}=\p_0 U_n holds for all $n\in\N$. Moreover we show that these boundaries are Jordan curves and we use this to show that many boundary components of the $U_n$ are curves. Under these conditions all boundary components of $U_n$ are curves if we have in addition that \p_0 U_n is isolated, which means that there are no other boundary components of $U_n$ which accumulate at \p_0 U_n. These results rule out many complicated topological structures for the boundaries and thus show that wandering domains can have comparatively simple forms. Finally we show that under additional conditions the boundary curves are in fact rectifiable. Furthermore, we give examples which illustrate our results. We consider several classes of functions with wandering domains which go back to Baker and show that these are in many cases bounded by curves. Among others we show that for the first example of a wandering domain by Baker from 1976 and for the first example of an infinitely connected wandering domain from 1985 the boundaries consist of countably many Jordan curves

Insights into the decontamination of cocaine-positive hair samples

A highly discussed step in hair sample preparation for forensic analytics is the applied decontamination. The here presented investigations aim to gain insight and give recommendations on how to conduct this decontamination for the analysis of cocaine consumption in hair. Key insights were gained from the investigation of cocaine consumer hair, which was artificially contaminated in a humid atmosphere with 13C6 labelled cocaine and from cocaine powder contaminated hair. Several decontamination protocols were investigated, whereby the usage of a decontamination protocol consisting of multiple short repetitive washes allowed to visualize the wash-out of (13C6-) cocaine. Multiple methanol washes proved to be an efficient and simple decontamination approach. Our findings showed that decontamination protocols can successfully wash-out recent cocaine contaminations. They were observed to be rather quickly washed-out, whereas cocaine from consumption or “older” cocaine contaminations were shown to eliminate both at a constant rate (from inner hair compartments). Thus, the usage of decontamination protocols to differentiate between consumption and contamination was shown to be limited. As contamination can happen any time at any level, only the application of elaborated decision trees, based on cocaine metabolite ratios and thresholds, can provide the distinction between consumption and contamination. Thus, the authors highly recommend the usage of such tools on all hair samples analyzed for cocaine consumption

Single sample preparation for the simultaneous extraction of drugs, pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids and endogenous steroids in hair

A combined sample preparation for the simultaneous extraction of drugs, pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids and endogenous steroids was developed based on three independent fully validated analytical methods. Recently, we published a multi-analyte method for the simultaneous analysis of 116 drugs and pharmaceuticals including different substance groups like opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, z-drugs, antidepressants and neuroleptics based on a single sample workup followed by a single analytical measurement with LC-MS/MS. However, in some cases, additional analysis of further substance groups, such as cannabinoids and endogenous steroids, is required, which are analyzed in our laboratory using separate sample preparation and separate analytical methods. The goal of this study was to use the knowledge from the different sample preparations and combine them into a single sample preparation and extraction workflow for the simultaneous extraction of drugs, pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, and endogenous steroids to be analyzed with the appropriate analytical methods. A partial validation of selected parameters such as selectivity, linearity, limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, precision and robustness for the different analytical methods was carried out and revalidated. In addition, comparative measurements of quality controls and authentic pools were performed and statistically evaluated using the unpaired t-test or the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The results using the newly established sample preparation and extraction were in good agreement with the original data. In conclusion, the newly established sample preparation is suitable for the combined extraction of drugs, pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids and endogenous steroids, and gives reliable results for quantification of various substances

LC-MS/MS analysis of Δ9-THC, CBN and CBD in hair: investigation of artefacts

In forensic toxicology, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is increasingly used for the fast and sensitive measurement of a wide range of drugs. For our routine casework, a liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method for the quantification of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD) in hair was established and fully validated. Separation was achieved using a Kinetex® C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 100 Å, 1.7 μm, Phenomenex) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Measurements were performed on a QTrap 5,500 mass spectrometer (Sciex, Darmstadt, Germany). Unexpected signals were observed in authentic THC-positive hair samples. First, a signal with a slightly shifted retention time of THC whose origin could be assigned to the isomer Δ8-THC. Second, additional peaks exhibiting the same fragments as CBN and Δ9-THC but eluting at different retention times were detected. Spiking experiments and enhanced product ion scans (EPI) pointed to the origin of these additional signals as result of in-source decarboxylation of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCA-A) into Δ9-THC and further partial oxidation of Δ9-THC into CBN, respectively. Positive findings of Δ9-THCA-A in hair have been shown to derive from external contamination, therefore, the herein described artefacts may be used as indirect markers for external contamination

Movable Thin Glass Elements in Façades

Façades play an important role in the control of energy flow and energy consumption in buildings as they represent the interface between the outdoor environment and the indoor occupied space. The option of regulating internal and external conditions acquires great relevance in new approaches to sustainable building solutions. Studies on climate adaptive façades show a very high potential for improved indoor environmental quality conditions and energy savings by moveable façades. A number of movable façades were realized in the past, but the use of thin glass with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 3 mm opens a brand-new field, that allows for playing with the geometry of the outer skin and the opportunity to make it adaptive by movement. Thin glass requires for curved surfaces in order to gain structural stiffness in static use. In kinetic façades the high flexibility of thin glass allows for new options for changes in size and position by bending of elements rather than implementing hinges in a system of foldable rigid panels. The geometry is based on the known theory of developable surfaces for keeping a low stress-level during movement. This allows for façades created from cold bent thin glass or curved laminated safety glasses produced by laminating of thin glass plies which provide better sealing, greater simplicity in construction and robustness and durability of moveable components which may be actuated autonomously. Some concepts based on the before mentioned theories were created to explain some principles and discuss their principles and applicability

Beifütterung von Ferkeln in freien Haltungssystemen

The digestive capacity of a piglet and the enzyme activity in the first weeks are aimed corresponding to the piglets requirements. Early provision of creep feed is necessary. The aim of the project was to study the feeding behaviour of piglets and sows during lactation in three different housing systems. In total data of 93 litters and 917 piglets were evaluated. The sows farrowed in either the Welser pen or the WelCon pen. They either remained in these systems until the end of lactation, or changed after 14 days to a multi-suckling system. The sows were fed ad libitum. Feed consumption was recorded weekly. The creep feeding started when piglet´s age reached 17 days on average. The feed supply for the piglets was dry and on the ground. Weight gain and feed consumption of piglets and sows were examined. In order to determine the length of stay of piglets and sows at the feeding place, video observation were performed. Only in the last suckling week the feed consumption of the piglets increased. Significant differences between the Welser pen, WelCon pen and multi-suckling system were found

The meaning of ‘reasonable’: Evidence from a corpus-linguistic study

The reasonable person standard is key to both Criminal Law and Torts. What does and does not count as reasonable behavior and decision-making is frequently deter- mined by lay jurors. Hence, laypeople’s understanding of the term must be considered, especially whether they use it predominately in an evaluative fashion. In this corpus study based on supervised machine learning models, we investigate whether laypeople use the expression ‘reasonable’ mainly as a descriptive, an evaluative, or merely a value-associated term. We find that ‘reasonable’ is predicted to be an evaluative term in the majority of cases. This supports prescriptive accounts, and challenges descriptive and hybrid accounts of the term—at least given the way we operationalize the latter. Interestingly, other expressions often used interchangeably in jury instructions (e.g. ‘careful,’ ‘ordinary,’ ‘prudent,’ etc), however, are predicted to be descriptive. This indicates a discrepancy between the intended use of the term ‘reasonable’ and the understanding lay jurors might bring into the court room