Conceptual Design and Analysis of No-Insulation High-Temperature Superconductor Tubular Wave Energy Converter

So far, a number of wave energy converters (WEC) have been proposed to increase efficiency and economic feasibility. Particularly, tubular WEC with permanent magnets and coil winding packs is mostly used to convert the wave energy. Due to the demand for high magnetic flux density in WEC, research has been conducted on high-temperature superconductors (HTS) WEC. In this paper, the conceptual design of no-insulation (NI) HTS tubular WEC and its optimization process are proposed. Using NI technology, it has become possible to design WEC with high volumetric efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the design is analyzed in the aspect of electromagnetism, mechanical force, and cryogen. The performance of the proposed WEC is evaluated as a response to various waveforms and their amplitudes. A rectifying circuit of WEC connected in parallel with load resistance is used for the output power study

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Three-dimensional analysis of changes in airway space after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback and their association with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Background Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback is often accompanied by changes in airway space. We analyzed the changes in airway space before and after surgery and assessed their association with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods This study is based on the cohort of 13 adult patients (9 males, 4 females, average age 23.85 years) who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback. We performed computed tomography and portable polysomnography before and after the surgery to assess changes in airway space and Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) values (total, supine, non-supine). Results The oropharyngeal airway volume decreased by 29% after the surgery, which was statistically significant (p < .05). The upper airway volume and hypopharyngeal airway volume were decreased, but not significantly (4 and 19%, respectively). The changes in airway surface area were statistically significant at all levels examined (p < .05). Changes in the maximum anteroposterior width of the airway were also significant at all levels (p < .05). However, the changes in maximum lateral width were only statistically significant at C2 level (p < .05). AHI values were increased after the surgery but not significantly at any position. Conclusions Although bimaxillary surgery with maxillomandibular setback significantly reduces the airway space, it does not affect AHI values or induce obstructive sleep apnea

Temporal and spatial mapping of neuronal signals in brain slice using image-guided recording system

Micro-electrode array is an electrophysiological tool which achieves the spatio-temporal connectivity in multiple neurons. However, it has rarely used in upright microscopy configuration because it has restrictions to observe position of electrodes beneath brain tissue. Thus, spatial mapping of neuronal activities on brain slice is inherently limited. Here, we present image-guided recording system which provides neuronal connectivity in time and space incorporating any microscope. It consists of extracellular recording system and OCT to achieve temporal recording of neuronal activities and spatial mapping on OCT image. Through our research, our system could be useful tool to study connectivity of neuronal network