Occupant Protection Systems (OPS) have become a very important part of today’s automotive systems. The extensive government regulations and consumer information programs make the design and optimization of the OPS a complex and challenging task. A Systems Engineering (SE) approach is implemented throughout the OPS design and optimization process. The SE process includes customer requirements an...

This paper investigates the performance of an energy-harvesting (EH) relay network, where multiple sources communicate with a destination via EH decode-and-forward (DF) relays. The relays all equip power splitter to divide received signal into two parts, which are used for processing and information forwarding, respectively. splitting ratio depicts trade-off between relaying energy decoding ene...

We performed culture-based and PCR-based tests for pneumococcal identification and serotyping from carriage specimens collected in rural and urban Kenya. Nasopharyngeal specimens from 237 healthy children <5 years old (C-NPs) and combined nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal specimens from 158 adults (A-NP/OPs, 118 HIV-positive) were assessed using pneumococcal isolation (following broth culture enrich...

The in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and morphological changes in buffalo cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) cryopreserved by ultra rapid freezing using conventional (CON) and open-pulled straw (OPS) methods were tested. COCs were cryopreserved using a vitrification solution comprising of DPBS + 0.5M sucrose + 0.4% BSA and two concentrations (4.5 or 5.5M) of each cryoprotectant ethyl...

introduction: this study was designed to compare the effects of three vitrification procedures [conventional (c), open pulled straw (ops) and closed pulled straw (cps)] on morphological survival of two-cell mouse embryos and their subsequent development to hatched blastocysts. material and methods: two-cell mouse embryos were divided into four groups, control (194), ops (150), cps (155) and c (...

Abstract The utilization of oil palm shell (OPS) in concrete dates back since four decades ago. While most research has only been done on the Dura-OPS as coarse aggregate concrete, few Tenera-OPS. Tenera-OPS is obtained by a hybrid crossbreeding between Dura and Pisifera type fruits to obtain thinner fruit produce 30% more oil. different physical properties compared Dura-OPS, which could alter ...

PURPOSE To introduce the concept and use of an occlusal-based "orthognathic positioning system" (OPS) to be used during orthognathic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS The OPS consists of intraoperative occlusal-based devices that transfer virtual surgical planning to the operating field for repositioning of the osteotomized dentoskeletal segments. The system uses detachable guides connected to a...

BACKGROUND This study considers the factors that affect service provision for individuals who present to out-of-hours (OOH) primary care services in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The organisations under consideration are known as OOH co-ops. Specifically, an individual can potentially receive one of four services: nurse advice, doctor advice, a treatment centre consultation or a...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different species of oil palm shell (OPS) coarse aggregates on the properties of high strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC). Original and crushed OPS coarse aggregates of different species and age categories were investigated in this study. The research focused on two OPS species (dura and tenera), in which the coarse aggregates were...

Previous research indicates that work modifications can effectively enhance return to work (RTW) at an early stage of work disability. We aimed to examine how occupational physicians (OPs) reason about recommending early return to work (RTW) with work modifications. Pre-defined propositions regarding the use of work modifications in promoting early RTW were discussed in four focus groups with a...