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The aim of this paper is to develop a probabilistic model for a cold standby system that consists of an imperfect switching device and a servicing facility. The model aims to address the issue of unexpected random failures of the switch by implementing preventive maintenance measures. The system has two identical units. It starts with one unit in active operation and another unit in cold standby mode. In standby mode the unit remains in perfect state. No failure is allowed in standby mode. As the operating unit fails, the standby unit needs to be switched into operation, to keep the system working. A servicing facility is present in the system to perform necessary servicing related tasks. The servicing facility referred to as the server, also takes care of all necessary remedial activities like preventive maintenance and repairs. The switch used as switching mechanism to place the standby unit into operation may found imperfect when needed. Similarly, the server too can fail while doing job. A preventive maintenance scheme is used for the switch whereas treatment is given to server. The method of semi-Markov process and regenerative point technique is used for model developing and solving, respectively. The expressions are derived to determine different system performance measures such as mean time to system failure, availability, busy period, expected number of preventive maintenances and the profit. The distributions of random time elapsed in repairs, replacements, preventive maintenances and treatments are general. This study highlights the usefulness of switch's preventive maintenance in long run. To study the asymptotic behavior of the system model, all the expressions for system performance measures are obtained in steady state. A simulation study is conducted using a presumed data set and assuming a Weibull probability distribution. The numerical results are shown in tabular form. The simulation results serve to highlight the significance of preventive maintenance for the switch. The findings of the paper can provide guidelines to the people engaged in designing, framing and implementing standby switching systems in real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of engineering systems makes it challenging to keep them functional without failures for longer interval of time. This task is achieved by adopting effective maintenance strategies and appropriate structure design. So in such cases the functioning of service mechanism and chat of the server becomes essential. The server failure during any maintenance activity may lead to declined availability and hence the profit. In this paper we develop a probabilistic model for a standby system consisting of two identical units and a server subject to failure and treatment. The inspection of failed server reveals feasibility for treatment or replacement. The replacement time of server and switching time of standby is negligible. The failure, repair, inspection and treatment times are assumed as arbitrary. The model is developed using semi-Markov process and the steady state results of interests are derived using regeneration point technique of renewal theory and Laplace transfornations. The practical importance of the study is highlighted through numerical simulation, for a particular case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of subclinical and clinical mastitis on haematological, biochemical and mineral profile of crossbred cattle an investigation was carried. Haematology of animals revealed significantly (P< 0.05) higher average values of TLC in sub-clinically (9.20× 103/μl) and clinically (9.31× 103/μl) infected animals than healthy animals (6.87× 103/μl). Differential leucocytic count revealed neutrophilia and lymphopenia in clinical as well as sub-clinical mastitis (SCM). Biochemical estimations of plasma samples from sub-clinically and clinically infected animals revealed higher average values of TPP (8.44 g/dl and 823 g/dl), albumin (2.447 g/dl and 2.31 g/dl), globulin (5.82 g/dl and 5.93 g/dl) and fibrinogen (0.74 g/dl and 1.21 g/dl) compared with control group (7.44 g/dl, 2.94 g/dl and 4.41 g/dl and 0.60 g/dl, respectively). Mineral estimation revealed significant (P< 0.05) increase in calcium level in sub-clinical (13.45mg/dl) and clinical mastitis (13.149mg/dl) as compared to healthy control (9.44 mg/dl), however, no significant (P> 0.05) change was observed in inorganic phosphorus, Mg, Na and K levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the prevalence of hypophosphatemia in buffaloes Bubalus bubalis from hilly areas in the northwest outer Himalayas of Jammu division covering Shivalik hills and the sub-Himalayan mountains. The researchers analyzed hematological parameters to estimate biochemical and mineral contents including copper, iron, zinc, manganese and cobalt. They measured plasma concentrations of total proteins, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, urea nitrogen and phosphorus.

The article presents a study which assess the haematobiochemical profiles of cows shedding acid-fast bacilli. The cows were tested positive for Johne's disease (JD) in Johnin test and acid-fast bacilli in rectal pinch. The study suggests the prevalence of anemia, in normocytic-normochromic type, in clinically JD cows. It also indicates that biochemical parameters, plasma urea nitrogen, and total cholesterol were low in JD cows.

The aqueous petal-extracts of 20 plants were screened by agar diffusion methods for their antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, a causal organism of black rot of cabbage and cauliflower. X. campestris pv. campestris was found most sensitive to the petal extracts of Tagetes erecta and Chrysanthemum coronarium. Some of the other plants such as Acacia fernesiana, Anthocephalus cadamba, Bombax malabaricum, Lathyrus odoratus, Rosa damascena and Thevetia nerifolia also showed the inhibitory effect against the test bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study assessing the haematobiochemical alterations in crossbed cows which tested positive for Johne's Disease (JD) using the Johnin test, and for acid-fast bacilli using the rectal pinch. The haemotological parameters that were studied from collected blood samples of 45 infected cows included hemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV) and total erythrocyte count (TEC). Results of the study are presented in a table which compare the parameter values exhibited by acid-fast bacilli (AFB) shedding cows against those of normal cows.

The article presents a study on the prevalence of iron deficiency in crossbred cow calves reared on pucca floor in India. For the study, researchers initiated a survey to note the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in 115 crossbred cow calves in the age group of 1-3 months reared on pucca floor. They found 45.2 percent of the calves had iron deficiency, in which 27.8 percent of them had iron deficiency anaemia and 17.4 percent of them had latent iron deficiency.

The article discusses clinical research which aims to examine the presence of gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in the faeces of crossbred cows with anemia. Clinical symptoms such as weight loss and urine discoloration were recorded and blood samples were collected. Anemia was classified on the basis of hemoglobin and packed cell volume. The study concluded that the major etiology of anemia evolved as anemia of chronic inflammatory diseases.

The article presents a study which examined the effect of seasonal dietary changes on hemogram and iron biochemistry of crossbred cattle in Punjab, India. Blood samples were collected from each group of crossbred cows to estimate red cell parameters and iron metabolism analytes to represent six-periods. The prevalence rate of seasonal anaemia was 40 percent during July to August, 34.2 percent during September to October and 8.82 percent during November to December period. Results revealed that plasma iron concentrations were highest during September to October and November to December and lowest during May to June in all groups. However, the values of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were highest during May to June and lowest during September to October and November to December periods.

The article presents a study on the socio-economic and the cultural factors responsible for indebtedness among the scheduled castes in Haryana, India. It notes that the respondents' purpose of availing a loan is for productive purposes and the main sources for loan are the landowners or the moneylenders. It states that the low level of income and the high level of investment for productive and consumption are the main causes of indebtedness for any indebted person.

The article discusses the case of a five-year-old male Labrador who was diagnosed with gastric outflow obstruction due to acquired pyloric stenosis. It offered facts about pyloric stenosis. Topics covered include surgical techniques available to treat partial or complete gastric outflow obstruction, details of clinical and laboratory examinations conducted on the dog, and some pre-operative medications administered.