Exact transient analysis of a circulant queuing network

AbstractCirculant matrices possess unusual and interesting properties. These properties have been exploited to obtain the transient solution in closed form for a circulant queuing network that models a distributed query processing system. The sojourn time of a customer in the circulant queuing network is determined. A semi-Markov generalisation of this network is also studied

Identification and characterization of popular rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties through chemical tests

Identification and characterization of crop varieties are crucial for ensuring the genetic purity of seeds. The present investigation was carried out to identify suitable chemical methods that are fast, reliable and easy for seed analysts, breeders and seed producers for identification of a variety. Twenty-five popular rice varieties in the seed supply chain of Tamil Nadu were subjected to phenol, modified phenol, NaOH, aroma, gelatinization temperature (alkali spreading value), GA3 and 2,4-D tests. The results of the experiment revealed that phenol and modified phenol tests changed the colour of TKM 9 and TRY 1 variety to brown but no colour change was observed in the variety I.W. Ponni variety. The NaOH test is useful for the identification of TKM 9 variety as it changed the colourless solution to red. GA3 and 2,4-D tests characterized the varieties based on the shoot growth into two and three groups respectively. However, all the variety lacked aroma and exhibited a high gelatinization temperature

Empirical and Numerical Analysis of Aerodynamic Drag on a Typical SUV Car Model at Different Locations of Vortex Generator

The aerodynamic characteristics are concerned with the fuel consumption rate and the stability of a high speed vehicle. The current research aims at studying the aerodynamic behavior of a typical SUV vehicle model mounted with the vortex generator (VG) at various linear positions with reference to its rear roof edge. The flow field around the vehicle model was observed at different wind speed conditions. It had been determined that at the instance of lower wind speed, the VG had minimal effects of aerodynamic drag on the vehicle body. However, at the instance of higher wind speed conditions the magnitude of the drag force decreased significantly. Vehicles move at higher speeds in the highways, location of the VG varied towards the upstream of the vehicle due to early flow separation. Therefore test were conducted at different wind speeds and locations of VG. The numerical simulation conduced in this study provides flow characteristics around the vehicle model for different wind speeds. The realizable k−ε model was used to simulate and validate the empirical results in an effective manner. By using experimental data, the drag was reduced by 9.04 % at the optimized VG location. The results revealed that the induced aerodynamic drag would determine the best car shape. This paper provides a better understanding of VG positioning for enhanced flow separation control

Effect Of Pre-freeze Addition Of Cysteine Hydrochloride And Reduced Glutathione On Post-thaw Sperm Parameters And Field Fertility In Jersey Crossbred Bull Semen

The present study was aimed to assess the effect of pre-freeze addition of cysteine hydrochloride and glutathione (GSH) on post-thaw sperm functional parameters and field fertility. The experimental bulls aged 4 to 6 years were used for the present study. A total of 36 ejaculates, 6 ejaculates from each bull (n=6) were collected and divided in to three groups, group I (control), group II (5mM cysteine hydrochloride) and group III (5mM GSH). The extended semen samples were added with @5mM additives, filled in mini straw using automatic filling and sealing machine (IMV, France) and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Post-freeze seminal traits were also recorded after thawing at 37oC for 30 seconds. Post thaw livability was significantly (p< 0.01) higher in GSH group as compared to cysteine and control groups. The loss of acrosomal integrity was significantly (p< 0.01) lower in GSH group than cysteine and control groups. Analysis of variance for post thaw motility parameters (Forward progressive and Total motility) has revealed that significant difference (p< 0.05) between the good and poor freezer in the group II and there was no difference in the group I and III under study at 0 and 1 hr incubation period and at 2 hrs the group III and at 4 hrs group I has revealed significance difference (p< 0.05).The curvilinear velocity (VCL) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in GSH than the cysteine and control groups. The Mitochondrial membrane potential (per cent) had no significance difference between the treatment groups. The present study indicates that the addition of cysteine and GSH suggestive of reducing lipid peroxide levels. The conception rate (%) in glutathione (68) added semen was significantly (p>0.05) higher than cysteine (58) and control (49) groups. The post-thaw sperm progressive forward motility (r=0.4) had moderate but, no significant correlation with conception rate. However post-thaw VSL (r=0.7), loss of acrosomal integrity (r=-0.8) and mitochondrial membrane potential (r=0.9) had significant (p< 0.05) correlation with field fertility. The present study indicates that the use of glutathione as semen additives may be recommended for improving semen quality and overall augmentation of pregnancy in cows. The present study suggests that pre-freeze addition of glutathione was found to be better than cysteine in improving sperm fertility

Commuting Accidents among Health Care Workers Working in Malaysia Government Hospitals

Commuting accidents are accidents occurring while travelling to and from work, and in the course of work. Studies have demonstrated that long working hours are associated with deprived sleeping time. Acute sleep deprivation may result in significant changes in cognitive functioning, alteration of mental status resembling depression or anxiety and difficulty with short-term memory. Some other studies have found that sleep deprivation significantly affects physician performance, alertness and patient safety. However, individual factors concerning workers’ behavior, family-related factors (parenting responsibility), work burden, workplace support as well as environmental factors such as bad weather and bad road conditions are also significant contributors of commuting accidents. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of long working hours or odd working hours and the risk exposure of the drivers during their work-commuting trips. The study was based on data collected from official notification forms. Sample size for this research was 554 based on 2014 to 2017 reported cases. Review of the statistics showed that most of the commuting accident causalitiesoccurred during travel to work (30.1%), compared to back from work after normal office hours (28.7%) and during odd hours (night shift and post-call) (12.5%). Nurses contributed significantly to these causalities (53%), followed by hospital attendants (17%), medical officer and assistant medical officer, respectively, 6 percent. Theincreasing number of commuting accidents among healthcare workers is alarming. As such, it is timely that proactive actions be taken by employers to educate their employees, their most valuable assets, on safe commuting management. Keywords: commuting accident, healthcare workers, road crashe

Prevalence of Sickness Absence and Its Sociodemographic and Occupational Factors in a Public Service Organization

Sickness absence in any particular organization has negative impacts mainly toward economic, morale and productivity. The purpose of this survey is to determine the prevalence of sickness absence among employees in a government office in a central region of Malaysia to get profiling of the employees taking medical leaves, tocompare the frequency of sickness absence among the employees based on gender, age group and designation and to determine the perception of sickness absence among the employees in relation to their occupation. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 587 workers in the first half of 2017. Data was collected based on Sickness Absence Surveillance form, which was filled by any employee who took medical leave. Other variables such as demographic data, work characteristics and personal health were also included. Subsequently, data entry and analysis were done using SPSS Version 22.0. The overall prevalence rate was 63.0 percent (female = 42.6%, male 20.3%) that includes repeated medical certificate (MC)-taker. Reasons for sickness absence are varied like fever, URTI, pregnancy related, injury, diarrhea, clinic follow-up and many more. Results also showed that sickness absenteeism was higher among female, mainly middle managerial level, presently or previously married, aged from 30 to 39, employed in the organization for over 10 years with no background of chronic medical illness. Therefore, the prevalence of sickness absence among employees in a government office in a central region of Malaysia and factors associated with it are determined. It is recommended for continuation of surveillance simultaneously to have an intervention program in order to find the root cause of sickness absence and thus reducing sickness absence rate. Keywords: sickness absenteeism, surveillance, sociodemographic factors, occupational factor

EFFICACY OF EGG YOLK IMMUNOGLOBULINS (IGY) AGAINST ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN POULTRY*

ABSTRAC