This paper investigates the performance evaluation of two state feedback controllers, Pole Placement (PP) and Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR). The two controllers are designed for a Mass-Spring-Damper (MSD) system found in numerous applications to stabilize the MSD system performance and minimize the position tracking error of the system output. The state space model of the MSD system is first developed. Then, two meta-heuristic optimizations, Simulated Annealing (SA) optimization and Ant Colony (AC) optimization are utilized to optimize feedback gains matrix K of the PP and the weighting matrices Q and R of the LQR to make the MSD system reach stabilization and reduce the oscillation of the response. The Matlab softwar

Background: Eucalyptus extracts and derivatives are natural substances with potent antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the in- vitro effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on the antifungal activity of alcoholic and aqueous Eucalyptus extracts against Candida albicans, a common oral pathogen. Materials and Method: Ten isolates of Candida albicans were isolated from dental students’ salivary samples. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh Eucalyptus leaves using maceration. The sensitivity of Candida albicans isolates to various concentrations of Eucalyptus extracts ranging from 50 to 250 (mg/mL) was evaluated via agar well diffusion method, while the agar streaking method  was used to assess the minimum

Summary Kidney transplantation is widely performed nowadays as an optimal treatment of end stage kidney diseases. Complications such as stenosis in graft renal arteries anastomosis may occur. Different suturing techniques are available for renal artery anastomosis. We aimed to compare the incidence of renal artery stenosis of the transplanted kidney when two suture techniques (continuous or interrupted) used for renal artery anastomosis. Therefore, a retrospectively comparative study was conducted on 44 patients managed with kidney transplantation during the years 2009-2011. Patients assigned into two groups; first group included 20 patients namely, continuous suture group, and the second group included 24 patients in whom the allograft art

The newly synthesized Schiff base ligand (E)-2-((2-phenylhydrazono)methyl)naphthalen-1-ol (phenyl hydrazine derivative), is allowed to react with each of the next mineral ion: Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+andCd2+successfully resulting to obtain new metal complexes with different geometric shape. The formation of Schiff base complexes and also the origin Schiff base is indicated using LC-Mass that manifest the obtained molar mass, FT-IR proved the occurrence of coordination through N of azobenzene and O of OH by observing the shifting in azomethines band and appearing of M-N and N-O bands. Moreover, we can also detect by such apparatus, the presence of aquatic water molecule inside the coordination sphere. UV-Vis spectra of all resultants reveale

Abstract: New copper(II) complexes with mixed ligand benziloxime (BOxH) and furfural-dehydeazine (FA) using classical (with and without solvent) and microwave heating methods have been prepared. The resulting complexes have been characterized using physico-chemical techniques. The study suggested that the ligands formed neutral complexes had general formulas [Cu(FA)(BOXH)(Ac)2] and [Cu(FA)(BOX)(OH)] in neutral (or acidic) and basic medium, respectively. Accordingly, hexa-coordinated mono-nuclear complexes have been investigated by this study and having distorted octahedral geometry. The effect of laser have been studied on solid ligands and solid complexes, no effect have been observed on most compounds through the results of melting poin

The dynamic thermomechanical properties, sealing ability, and voids formation of an experimental obturation hydroxyapatite-reinforced polyethylene (HA/PE) composite/carrier system were investigated and compared with those of a commercial system [GuttaCore (GC)]. The HA/PE system was specifically designed using a melt-extrusion process. The viscoelastic properties of HA/PE were determined using a dynamic thermomechanical analyser. Human single-rooted teeth were endodontically instrumented and obturated using HA/PE or GC systems, and then sealing ability was assessed using a fluid filtration system. In addition, micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used to quantify apparent voids within the root-canal space. The data were statistically analys

It is found that hypersensitive teeth have a larger number and wider patent tubules than those of non-sensitive teeth. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare between the effects of diode laser at different power densities, with and without sodium fluoride on the sealing of exposed dentinal tubules and dentin permeability. Materials and methods: 118 teeth were used. Samples were divided into three major groups. The first consisted of 100 teeth used for permeability test. The second consisted of 16 teeth for measuring external surface temperature elevation while irradiation. The third, in turn, consisted of one pair of teeth observed under SEM for dentine surface morphology analysis. Results: For dentin permeability measurement, th

Background: Refractory/relapsed acute leukemia has always been a challenging problem for hematologist. Over the past decade emphasis has been made in the development of regimens containing fludarabine, combined with cytosine arabinoside for the treatment of refractory/relapsed acute leukemias. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of fludarabine, high dose cytarabine, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor in refractory relapsed cases of acute leukaemia,
Methods: a prospective study is being conducted at the national center of hematology and hematology unit /Baghdad teaching hospital from July 2008 to July 2010.Twenty Patients with refractory/relapsed acute leukemia were treated with flud

Objectives: Successful endodontic treatment outcome requires effective shaping and cleaning of root canals. This study aims to evaluate the smear layer removal after continuous chelation (CC) ) NaOCL\HEDP( and sequential chelation (SC) )NaOCL\EDTA( and their influence on the push-out bond strength (POBS) of Bio-C sealer. Materials and Methods: Palatal roots of the maxillary first molar (n=72) were divided into four groups (n=18) as follows: 3% NaOCL, SC: 3% NaOCL followed by 17% EDTA, CC: 3% NaOCL \9% HEDP and Distilled water. Thirty-two roots (n=8/group) were split longitudinally for smear layer evaluation using SEM. Forty roots were obturated with Guttapercha and Bio-C sealer using a single cone technique. Thre

Nisoldipine (NSD) is a dihydropyridine class of calcium channel blockers used for hypertension treatment, it belongs to class II BCS (low solubility with high permeability), its absolute bioavailability is only 5% due to presystemic metabolism in the gut wall. It is also a substrate for a CYP3A and P-gp. Bilosomes are lipid bilayer vesicles incorporating bile salts in their walls to prevent degredation by GIT bile salts. The aim of this study is to prepare nisoldipine bilosomes as vesicular carrier and assess the effect of different formulation variables such as type of surfactant, amount of cholesterol, surfactant and sonication time on particle size, entrapment efficiency and poly dispersity index of the prepared bilos