Two-stage data segmentation permitting multiscale change points,heavy tails and dependence

Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics - The segmentation of a time series into piecewise stationary segments is an important problem both in time series analysis and signal processing....     

First observation of trapped high-field seeking ultracold neutron spin states

Ultracold neutrons were stored in a volume, using a magnetic dipole field shutter. Radial confinement was provided by material walls. Low-field seeking neutrons were axially confined above the magnetic field. High-field seeking neutrons are trapped inside the magnetic field. They can systematically shift the measured neutron lifetime to lower values in experiments with magnetic confinement.     

Simultaneous determination of three anticon‐vulsants using hydrophilic interaction LC‐MS

A specific and automated method was developed to quantify the anticonvulsants gabapentin, pregabalin and vigabatrin simultaneously in human serum. Samples were prepared with a protein precipitation. The hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) with a mobile phase gradient was used to divide off ions of the matrix and for separation of the analytes. Four different HILIC‐columns and two different column temperatures were tested. The Tosoh‐Amid column gave the best results: single small peaks. The anticonvulsants were detected in the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) with ESI‐MS‐MS. Using a volume of 100 μL biological sample the lowest point of the standard curve, i.e. the lower LOQs were 312 ng/mL. The described HILIC‐MS‐MS method is suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring and for clinical and pharmcokinetical investigations of the anticonvulsives.     

Experimental study of 199Hg spin anti-relaxation coatings

We report on a comparison of spin relaxation rates in a ¹⁹⁹Hg magnetometer using different wall coatings. A compact mercury magnetometer was built for this purpose. Glass cells coated with fluorinated materials show longer spin coherence times than if coated with their hydrogenated homologues. The longest spin relaxation time of the mercury vapor was measured with a fluorinated paraffin wall coating.     

Inclusive Science Education: Classroom Teacher and Science Educator Experiences in CLASS Workshops

Inclusion is the meaningful participation of students with disabilities in general education classrooms. The CLASS project (Creating Laboratory Access for Science Students) is a unique initiative offering training and resources to help educators provide students with a variety of physical, sensory and learning disabilities equal access in the science laboratory or field. To determine whether participants believed a 2‐week residential workshop sponsored by CLASS raised disability awareness and provided teacher training in inclusive science teaching practice, a multipoint Likert scale survey and questionnaire was completed by all participants (N= 20) in four workshops. Participants reported large gains in their preparedness to teach science to students with disabilities. Participants also reported gains in their familiarity with instructional strategies, curricula, and resources and their ability to design, select, and modify activities for students with disabilities. Finally, shifts in attitudes about teaching science to students with disabilities were noted.     

Distribution of metoprolol, tramadol, and midazolam in human autopsy material

In this study it was possible to measure the distribution of metoprolol, tramadol, and midazolam in human directly in several compartments. In the legal medicine autopsy material is normally investigated to find out the cause of death. But the results of corresponding toxicology measurements often involve more information. With screening methods drugs were detected without connection to the cause of death. The deceased had either a continual therapeutic treatment, a treatment during an operation, or an unsuccessful urgent therapy. A liquid/liquid extraction and a LC/MS/MS method were developed for the determination of the drug concentrations. Different autopsy materials of about 120 cases were investigated. Most frequently the drugs metoprolol, tramadol, and midazolam could be proved and determined simultaneously. Metoprolol was found in seven cases, tramadol in seven cases and midazolam in thirteen cases. The dosage of the drugs was unknown. Therefore and because of the low number of cases statistic calculations were not meaningful and an individual case study was necessary. In all cases with oral metoprolol application the patients probably took a normal customary continuous dosage. The concentrations of tramadol in blood were in the toxic range in three cases. The distribution of tramadol in the compartments was independent of the dosage. The time between oral intake of metoprolol or tramadol and death was unknown. With the distribution pattern of metoprolol in the compartments it was possible to estimate the duration between drug intake and death. In most cases midazolam was given intravenously during an operation or an unsuccessful urgent therapy. Sometimes the time between dosage and death was documented. The duration between application of the drug and death played the crucial role for the distribution of midazolam in the compartments. Measurements of drug concentrations in human autopsy material deepen the knowledge of the respective drugs' pharmacokinetics.