Rapid room temperature crystallization of TiO2 nanotubes

The paper reports a very efficient and reproducible technique for room temperature crystallization of titanium dioxide in a record time of 5 minutes, by application of alternating voltage square pulses. The well aligned tubular formation of crystalline nanotubes is confirmed through various characterizations and the mechanism of crystallization is explained based on the pulse induced electrophilic-nucleophilic reaction. This ultrafast pulsed crystallization method provides a viable alternative for the widely used post fabrication thermal annealing and is highly applicable in device fabrication.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The Economics of Advanced In-Space Propulsion

The cost of access to space is the single biggest driver is commercial space sector. NASA continues to invest in both launch technology and in-space propulsion. Low-cost launch systems combined with advanced in-space propulsion offer the greatest potential market capture. Launch market capture is critical to national security and has a significant impact on domestic space sector revenue. NASA typically focuses on pushing the limits on performance. However, the commercial market is driven by maximum net revenue (profits). In order to maximum the infusion of NASA investments, the impact on net revenue must be known. As demonstrated by Boeing's dual launch, the Falcon 9 combined with all Electric Propulsion (EP) can dramatically shift the launch market from foreign to domestic providers

Role of a Conserved Glutamate Residue in the \u3cem\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/em\u3e SecA ATPase Mechanism

Escherichia coli SecA uses ATP to drive the transport of proteins across cell membranes. Glutamate 210 in the “DEVD” Walker B motif of the SecA ATP-binding site has been proposed as the catalytic base for ATP hydrolysis (Hunt, J. F., Weinkauf, S., Henry, L., Fak, J. J., McNicholas, P., Oliver, D. B., and Deisenhofer, J. (2002) Science 297, 2018–2026). Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that mutation of glutamate 210 to aspartate results in a 90-fold reduction of the ATP hydrolysis rate compared with wild type SecA, 0.3 s–1versus 27 s–1, respectively. SecA-E210D also releases ADP at a slower rate compared with wild type SecA, suggesting that in addition to serving as the catalytic base, glutamate 210 might aid turnover as well. Our results contradict an earlier report that proposed aspartate 133 as the catalytic base (Sato, K., Mori, H., Yoshida, M., and Mizushima, S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 17439–17444). Re-evaluation of the SecA-D133N mutant used in that study confirms its loss of ATPase and membrane translocation activities, but surprisingly, the analogous SecA-D133A mutant retains full activity, revealing that this residue does not play a key role in catalysis

Unusual Case of Acute Intestinal Obstruction

Chronic NSAID use can cause diaphragm like strictures within the bowel leading to intestinal obstruction. This rare entity is called diaphragm disease. Preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. NSAID related injury should be considered in patient with intestinal obstruction of unclear etiology. We hereby present an interesting case of a 46 years old lady with significant history of long term naproxen use, who presented with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acute intestinal obstruction. She received a trial of conservative management which was unsuccessful. Exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection of ileum was done subsequently. Histopathology showed mucosal ulceration, inflammation and focal sub mucosal fibrosis consistent with diaphragm disease. Patient recovered well in the post operative period

An unusual presentation of cirrhotic pleural effusion in a patient with no ascites: a case report

Pleural effusion that develops in a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease, is termed hepatic hydrothorax. Hepatic hydrothorax very rarely presents in the absence of ascites. Although the exact mechanism is somewhat controversial, pleural effusion occurs when ascitic fluid moves through diaphragmatic defects which are opened up by increased intra-abdominal pressure. We report a case report of cirrhotic pleural effusion in a patient with no clinical or radiographic evidence of ascites and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of this condition

Association of Urinary Phthalates with Self-Reported Eye Affliction/Retinopathy in Individuals with Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2010

Background. An epidemiological association between exposure to phthalates and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known. However, the potential role of environmental phthalates in the complications of T2D is unknown. Methods. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2010, we studied the association of 12 urinary phthalate metabolites with self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in 1,004 participants with diabetes. Data from retinal imaging was used to validate this outcome. Independence of the phthalates→T2D association was studied by adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, poverty income ratio, physical activity, glycated hemoglobin levels, total serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, total calorie intake, and obesity. Results. Self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy had 82% accuracy with Cohen\u27s kappa of 0.31 (p \u3c 0.001). Urinary mono-n-octyl phthalate (MOP) was independently associated with the likelihood of self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in subjects with T2D after accounting for all the confounders. This significance of this association was robust to the potential misclassification in cases and controls of retinopathy. Further, a significant dose-response relationship between MOP and self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy was demonstrable. Conclusions. We show a novel epidemiological link between the environment and diabetic complications in NHANES 2001-2010 participants

Association of Urinary Phthalates with Self-Reported Eye Affliction/Retinopathy in Individuals with Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2010

Background. An epidemiological association between exposure to phthalates and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known. However, the potential role of environmental phthalates in the complications of T2D is unknown. Methods. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2010, we studied the association of 12 urinary phthalate metabolites with self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in 1,004 participants with diabetes. Data from retinal imaging was used to validate this outcome. Independence of the phthalates→T2D association was studied by adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, poverty income ratio, physical activity, glycated hemoglobin levels, total serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, total calorie intake, and obesity. Results. Self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy had 82% accuracy with Cohen\u27s kappa of 0.31 (p \u3c 0.001). Urinary mono-n-octyl phthalate (MOP) was independently associated with the likelihood of self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in subjects with T2D after accounting for all the confounders. This significance of this association was robust to the potential misclassification in cases and controls of retinopathy. Further, a significant dose-response relationship between MOP and self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy was demonstrable. Conclusions. We show a novel epidemiological link between the environment and diabetic complications in NHANES 2001-2010 participants

A quantum sensor: simultaneous precision gravimetry and magnetic gradiometry with a Bose-Einstein condensate

A Bose-Einstein condensate is used as an atomic source for a high precision sensor. A $5\times 10^6$ atom F=1 spinor condensate of $^{87}$Rb is released into free fall for up to $750$ms and probed with a Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer based on Bragg transitions. The Bragg interferometer simultaneously addresses the three magnetic states, $\left| m_f=1,0,-1 \right\rangle$, facilitating a simultaneous measurement of the acceleration due to gravity with an asymptotic precision of $2.1\times 10^{-9}$$\Delta$g/g and the magnetic field gradient to a precision $8$pT/m