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Background The normal ability to distinguish two points from one is known as the two-point discriminative (2PD) sense. This forms an extremely important assessment in patient with injuries to the nerves distributed to the upper extremity. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the normal reference values of static 2PD in healthy adults and children. Materials and Methods A total of 624 normal adults comprising 380 men and 244 women were recruited randomly for the study at three different centers. Additionally, 172 healthy children, comprising 110 boys and 62 girls, were studied. Eight sensory areas in the palmar surface of the hand were delineated. The ability to distinguish the static 2PD was estimated in millimeters by using disk discriminator. The results were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results The mean static 2PD in the adult population ranged from 2.78 to 3.5 mm in the fingertips and 5.39 to 7.13 mm in the mid-palm. There was a statistically significant difference between men and women in zones 6, 7, and 8. In children, the observed 2PD values were 2.15 to 3.63 mm in the fingertips and 4.10 to 5.77 mm in the palm. Children have a significantly better 2PD sense when compared with adults. Conclusion The normal value of static 2PD in the palmar surface of the hand among the Indian pediatric and adult populations was established in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi institutional initiative is underway towards the development of 42 GHz, 200 kW gyrotron system in India under the frame work of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Indigenous realization comprising of design, fabrication, prototypes and functional validations of an appropriate Magnet System is one of the primary technological objective of these initiatives. The 42 GHz gyrotron magnet system comprises of a warm gun magnet, a NbTi/Cu based high homogenous superconducting cavity magnet and three warm collector magnets. The superconducting cavity magnet has been housed inside a low loss cryostat. The magnet system has been designed in accordance with gyrotron physics and engineering considerations respecting highly homogenous spatial field profile as well as maintaining steep gradient as per the compression and velocity ratios between the emission and resonator regions. The designed magnet system further ensures the co-linearity of the magnetic axis with that of the beam axis with custom winding techniques apart from a smooth collection of beam with the collector magnet profiles. The designed magnets have been wound after several R & D validations. The superconducting magnet has been housed inside a low loss designed cryostat with in-built radial and axial alignment flexibilities to certain extent. The cryostat further houses liquid helium port, liquid nitrogen ports, current communication ports, ports for monitoring helium level and other instrumentations apart from over-pressure safety intensive burst disks etc. The entire magnet system comprising of warm and superconducting magnets has been installed and integrated in the Gyrotron test set-up. The magnet system has been aligned in both warm and when the superconducting cavity magnet is cold. The integrated geometric axes have been experimentally ensured as well as the field profiles have been measured with the magnets being charged. Under experimental conditions, all magnets including the superconducting magnet have been charged to their nominal values with appropriate protection measures against the quench. This is the first time in India that a gyrotron specific magnet system with superconducting magnet has been realized.

The nesting ecology, interspecific interaction and nesting association of the Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) were studied during the 2003-2006 breeding season in 400 km2 area in and around Churu city of Rajasthan, India. Total 28 nest sites of the Black ibis were located within the study area. Majority of the nest sites were located in the heart of rural and urban area and nearby feeding sites but in rainy season the Black ibis prefers to nest in outskirt of rural and urban area. Among 28 nest sites 14 (50%) nest sites were permanent in nature while 14 (50%) were temporary in nature. Among permanent 14 nest sites, 7 (50%) were found in rural area and 7 (50%) in urban area. The similar ratio was found for temporary nesting sites. The Black ibis more frequently preferred nest on tallest available tree with highest relative density, canopy cover and DBH at nest site. The average nest tree height was 8.19±SD1.39 m above ground. The nesting tree height was found to vary from 4.81 to 13.00 m. The nest position from the ground was at an average of 6.88±SD1.19 m. The nest height varied in the range of 3.84 to 11.02 m. The average canopy cover was 5.67±SD1.11 m. The canopy cover was in the range of 3.09 to 9.73 m. Average data on DBH was also observed with an average of 0.63±SD0.18 m. The DBH noted to vary in the range of 0.43 to 1.16 m. Trees selected to nest showed significant correlation between the height and canopy cover (0.872243, p=5%), and total heights of the trees and the nest heights (0.932416, p=1%). Characteristics such as tree height, canopy cover, and nest height of the trees used for nesting once or many times were observed. All observed nests of the ibis were found to locate on the third subbranch of the trees. Nest placement on the sub-branch of the tree was found with an average of 2.85±SD 0.32 m from the end of the trunk. The numbers of flight pathways at each nest site were also counted and it was found with an average of 2.71±SD 0.7 and it varied in the range of 1 to 4. The Black Ibis nests singly, usually high in a tree such as a peepal or neem, nearly always occupying an old nest of a bird of prey, a vulture or a crow or a kite. Often the tree is very close to human habitation. Nests are often used annually in spite of nest failures due to harassment by House and Jungle Crows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Highly anisotropic SmCo5 nanocrystalline powders with grain size in the range 5–20nm were processed through surfactant and magnetic field-assisted milling. The SmCo5 nanocrystalline powders so obtained by this method possess unusual characteristics such as reduction in particle size, platelet-structure and high remanence values. A possible mechanism for achieving remanence enhancement with the surfactant-coated SmCo5 powders has been discussed. Besides, the resin-bonded magnets processed with the surfactant-coated SmCo5 powders showed relatively higher density, induction remanence and energy product with strong anisotropic behavior than those of the magnets processed with the conventionally milled SmCo5 powders. Maximum values of H ci (16kOe), B r (4.66kG) and (BH)max (5.5MGOe) were achieved for the resin-bonded magnets processed with the surfactant-coated powders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]