This study aimed to investigate the effect of patient engagement in self-monitoring with a telemonitoring device on glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes. We conducted a subanalysis of the telemonitoring device study in Kaiser Permanente Northern California members. We divided the telemonitoring group into 53 frequent and 54 infrequent users based on self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) frequency of the first 6 weeks. The frequency of SMBG transmitted from the telemonitoring device was examined over 24 weeks. Clinic and laboratory tests were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months. There was no significant difference in baseline HbA1c level between the two groups. After 6 months, change in HbA1c was −2.4 ± 1.6% among frequent users and −1.5 ± 1.5% among infrequent users (p = 0.003). The proportion of patients achieving target HbA1C level at 6 months was significantly higher among frequent users than among infrequent users. An increased frequency of SMBG was significantly correlated with a reduction in HbA1c at 6 months. In conclusion, initial active engagement in self-monitoring with a telemonitoring device could provide incremental improvement of glycemic control over 6 months.

No abstract

Laser shock peening creates compressive residual stress on the surface of the material, reducing stress corrosion cracking and increasing fatigue life. FE simulation of laser shock peening is an effective way to determine the mechanical effects on the material. In conventional FE simulations of laser shock peening, explicit analysis is used while pressure loads are applied and switched into implicit analysis to dissipate kinetic energy. In this study, static damping was adopted to dissipate kinetic energy without conversion into implicit analysis. Simulation of a single laser shock and multiple shocks was performed, and deformation and minimum principal stress were compared to evaluate the static damping effect. The history of the internal and kinetic energy were analyzed to compare the stabilization time depending on the damping value. Laser shock peening experiments were also performed on stainless steel 304 material. The residual stress of the specimen was measured by the hole drilling method and it was compared to the FE simulation result. The residual stress from the experiment and the simulation results showed similar distributions in the depth direction. Anisotropic residual stress distribution due to the laser path was observed in both results.

This study applied laser surface melting process using CW(Continuous wave) Yb:YAG laser and cold-work die steel SM45C and investigated microstructure and hardness. Laser beam speed, power and beam interval are fixed at 70 mm/sec, 2.8 kW and 800 ㎛ respectively. Depth of Hardening layer(Melting zone) was a minimum of 0.8 mm and a maximum of 1.0 mm that exceeds the limit of minimum depth 0.5 mm applying trimming die. In all weld zone, macrostructure was dendrite structure. At the dendrite boundary, Mn, Al, S and O was segregated and MnS and Al oxide existed. However, this inclusion didn't observe in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). As a result of interpreting phase transformation of binary diagram, MnS crystallizes from liquid. Also, it estimated that Al oxide forms by reacting with oxygen in the atmosphere. The hardness of the melting zone was from 650 Hv to 660 Hv regardless of the location that higher 60 Hv than the hardness of the HAZ that had maximum 600 Hv. In comparison with the size of microstructure using electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD), the size of microstructure in the melting zone was smaller than HAZ. Because it estimated that cooling rate of laser surface melting process is faster than water quenching.

The International Maritime Organization has recently updated the ship emission standards to reduce atmospheric contamination. One technique for reducing emissions involves using liquefied natural gas (LNG). The tanks used for the transport and storage of LNG must have very low thermal expansion and high cryogenic toughness. For excellent cryogenic properties, high-Mn steel with a complete austenitic structure is used to design these tanks. We aim to determine the optimum welding conditions for performing Laser-MIG (Metal Inert Gas) hybrid welding through the MIG leading and laser following processes. A welding speed of 100 cm/min was used for welding a 15 mm thick high-Mn steel plate. The welding performance was evaluated through mechanical property tests (tensile and yield strength, low-temperature impact, hardness) of the welded joints after performing the experiment. As a result, it was confirmed that the tensile strength was slightly less than 818.4 MPa, and the yield strength was 30% higher than base material. The low-temperature impact values were equal to or greater than 58 J at all locations in the weld zone. The hardness test confirmed that the hardness did not exceed 292 HV. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to use laser-MIG hybrid welding on thick high-Mn steel plates.