Transition to turbulence in particulate pipe flow

We investigate experimentally the influence of suspended particles on the transition to turbulence. The particles are monodisperse and neutrally-buoyant with the liquid. The role of the particles on the transition depends both upon the pipe to particle diameter ratios and the concentration. For large pipe-to-particle diameter ratios the transition is delayed while it is lowered for small ratios. A scaling is proposed to collapse the departure from the critical Reynolds number for pure fluid as a function of concentration into a single master curve.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Content-Based Video Retrieval in Historical Collections of the German Broadcasting Archive

The German Broadcasting Archive (DRA) maintains the cultural heritage of radio and television broadcasts of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The uniqueness and importance of the video material stimulates a large scientific interest in the video content. In this paper, we present an automatic video analysis and retrieval system for searching in historical collections of GDR television recordings. It consists of video analysis algorithms for shot boundary detection, concept classification, person recognition, text recognition and similarity search. The performance of the system is evaluated from a technical and an archival perspective on 2,500 hours of GDR television recordings.Comment: TPDL 2016, Hannover, Germany. Final version is available at Springer via DO

Diffractive deeply inelastic scattering in future electron-ion colliders

The impact of nonlinear effects in the diffractive observables that will be measured in future electron-ion collisions is investigated. We present, for the first time, the predictions for the diffractive structure function and reduced cross sections derived using the solution to the Balitsky--Kovchegov equation with the collinearly-improved kernel and including the impact-parameter dependence. We demonstrate that the contribution of the diffractive events is enhanced in nuclear collisions and that the study of the ratio between the nuclear and proton predictions will be useful to discriminate among different models of the dipole-target scattering amplitude and, consequently, will allow us to constrain the description of QCD dynamics in parton densities.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis and Cognitive Improvement using Transcervical Stenting with Protective Flow Reversal Technique

ObjectivesThe relationship between carotid artery stenosis and cognitive function in individuals without a history of stroke is not clear. The possible pathomechanisms of cognitive impairment include silent embolization and hypoperfusion. In this study the aim was to assess cognitive changes after transcervical carotid artery stenting with proximal cerebral protection by flow reversal in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, a novel technique that has been proved to decrease the number intraoperative emboli.Methods25 consecutive patients were assessed, of which 22 were men (88%) mean age of 74 years with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent revascularization by carotid artery stenting (CAS) with flow reversal. Patients were evaluated 1 day before and 6 months after the procedure using a standardized neuropsychological battery. Test scores were adjusted according to age, sex, education level and were standardized (0–100). The mean of all the cognitive function scores yielded the global cognitive score (GCS).ResultsThere were no neurological complications during the procedure or during hospitalization in any patient. No deaths or cardiac complications occurred in any patient. The pre-procedure neuropsychological study showed cognitive impairment in: information processing speed in 15 patients (62.5%), visuospatial function in 14 (56.0%), memory in 18 (72.0%), executive functions in 14 (56.0%), language in three (12.0%), attention in 10 (40.0%), and global cognitive performance in eight (32.0%). Comparison of these scores with those obtained 6-month post-procedure showed significant improvement in GCS in all patients (p = .002), with a particularly marked gain in information processing speed (p = .018). Although significant improvement was not found for the remaining cognitive functions assessed, some gain was documented, and there was no deterioration.ConclusionsRevascularization by transcervical CAS with flow reversal for cerebral protection results in improved neurocognitive performance in asymptomatic elderly patients with severe carotid artery stenosis

Health‐Related Quality of Life in Kidney Donors From the Last Five Decades: Results From the RELIVE Study

Live donation benefits recipients, but the long‐term consequences for donors remain uncertain. Renal and Lung Living Donors Evaluation Study surveyed kidney donors (N = 2455; 61% women; mean age 58, aged 24–94; mean time from donation 17 years, range 5–48 years) using the Short Form‐36 Health Survey (SF‐36). The 95% confidence intervals for White and African‐American donors included or exceeded SF‐36 norms. Over 80% of donors reported average or above average health for their age and sex (p 1 SD below norm). Obesity, history of psychiatric difficulties and non‐White race were risk factors for impaired physical health; history of psychiatric difficulties was a risk factor for impaired mental health. Education, older donation age and a first‐degree relation to the recipient were protective factors. One percent reported that donation affected their health very negatively. Enhanced predonation evaluation and counseling may be warranted, along with ongoing monitoring for overweight donors. Questionnaires completed by 2544 living donors 5 to 48 years postnephrectomy show that 80% have average or better health‐related quality of life for their age and sex based on SF‐36 norms and that obesity, history of psychiatric difficulties and nonwhite race are risk factors for poor health‐related quality of life outcomes, whereas being older, having more education and/or being a first‐degree relation to the recipient predict better outcomes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100300/1/ajt12434.pd

Emotional Well‐Being of Living Kidney Donors: Findings From the RELIVE Study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109345/1/ajt12906.pd