The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of NiTi flex K-file instruments and rotary FlexMaster and Race instruments (short for reamers with Alternating Cutting Edges) in root canal preparation. A total of 75 single rooted teeth with minimum curvature (< 5 degrees ) were selected and divided into three groups, each containing 25 teeth. Canals were prepared with NiTi flex K-file, FlexMas...

Flexibility in energy supply and demand becomes more and more important with increasing Renewable Energy Sources (RES) production and the emergence of the Smart Grid. Socalled prosumers, i.e., entities that produce and/or consume energy, can offer their inherent flexibilities through so-called demand response and thus help stabilize the energy markets. Thus, prosumer flexibility becomes valuabl...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Using human cadavers, we investigated the feasibility of using a new robotic platform, the Medrobotics Flex System, for laryngeal access and flexible tool delivery to facilitate the performance of pharyngolaryngeal procedures without laryngeal suspension. Our initial trials specifically assess the utility of this experimental robotic system for epiglottectomy and base of t...

Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been used to evolve optimal/sub-optimal solutions of many problems. When using GAs for evolving solutions, often fitness evaluation is the most computationally expensive, and this discourages researchers from applying challenging This paper presents an approach generating offspring based on a local landscape exploration increase speed search better solutions. The p...

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). However, CPAP is not tolerated by all patients with OSAS and alternative modes of pressure delivery have been developed to overcome pressure intolerance, thereby improving patient comfort and adherence. Auto-adjustable positive airway pressure (APAP) devices may be utilised for th...

OBJECTIVES To compare three positions for defecation by measuring abdominal pressure and the anorectal angle simultaneously. METHODS We recruited six healthy volunteers. The videomanometric measures included simultaneous fluoroscopic images, abdominal pressures, subtracted rectal pressures and anal sphincter pressures. Three positions were used: sitting, sitting with the hip flexing at 60 ° w...

Resistive flex sensors have been increasingly used in different areas for their interesting property to change their resistance when bent. They can be employed in those systems where a joint rotation has to be measured, in particular biomedical systems, to measure human joint static and dynamic postures. In spite of their interesting properties, such as robustness, low price and long life, to d...

In this paper, we present a novel algorithm to segment a Chinese Gong-che Notation (GCN) musical score image and extract notes from the image. First, a self-adaptive smoothing algorithm was used to segment the image with an X-axis function that shows the number of object pixels in each pixel column of the image. The X-axis function uses X-projection to compute the number of flex points. Next, t...

Purpose We investigate acute retinal alterations identified on intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) immediately following surgical intervention with the Finesse Flex Loop for vitreoretinal interface disorders. Methods The Determination of feasibility of Intraoperative Spectral domain microscope Combined/integrated OCT Visualization during En face Retinal and ophthalmic surgery (...