Phonon thermophoresis of crystalline nanoparticles in liquids.

Our nonequilibrium thermodynamic model of thermodiffusion in molecular liquid systems is used to examine the role of thermal phonons in the thermophoresis of liquid suspensions of crystalline nanoparticles, which tend to have high thermal conductivity. The Soret coefficient used to characterize stationary thermodiffusion is related to differences in entropy between a particle and the body of liquid that it displaces. Calculated phonon Soret coefficients for graphite and diamond nanoparticles in three polar solvents are used to establish parameters where the phonon mechanism is expected to dominate particle thermophoresis compared to slip-flow caused by forces induced in the surface layer by the temperature gradient.

Nonequilibrium thermodynamic model of thermoelectricity and thermodiffusion in semiconductors.

We present a self-consistent model rooted in nonequilibrium thermodynamics for defining concentration gradients in the electron/hole pairs and electric-field gradients in an intrinsic semiconductor created upon exposure to a temperature gradient. The model relies on the equation for entropy production expressed through phenomenological equations for the electron/hole flux, with the imposed condition that the resulting concentration profiles of the electrons and holes are identical. The chemical potentials of electrons, holes, and parent atoms of the lattice, which are contained in the flux equations, are calculated on the basis of the temperature-dependent equilibrium dissociation reaction: lattice atom ↔ electron + hole.

Nonequilibrium thermodynamic material transport equations for thermodiffusion of isotopes and isomers in multicomponent systems.

We extend our nonequilibrium thermodynamic model of thermodiffusion in binary systems to multi-component mixtures. The fundamental parameter is the difference in molecular entropy of the components, which can be obtained in one of three ways; (i) derived as temperature derivatives of the respective equilibrium chemical potentials at constant pressure using equilibrium statistical mechanics; (ii) obtained in the literature from computer simulations; or (iii) obtained as empirical values in the literature. The model is used to relate thermodiffusion in multicomponent mixtures of related isomers or isotopes to isomer/isotope effects in binary mixtures that are commonly enumerated in one of two ways: (i) as a difference in the Soret coefficients measured on two binary mixtures, each containing one of two related isomers/isotope in a common solvent; or (ii) as this difference from two binary mixtures, each consisting of a common solute dissolved in one of the two related isomers/isotopes as the solvent.

Statistical Mechanic and Phenomenological Approaches to Isomeric Effects in Thermodiffusion.

We present a model that explains variance in the thermodiffusion of hydrocarbon isomers in binary liquid mixtures. The model relies on material transport equations for binary nonisothermal liquid systems that were derived through a nonequilibrium thermodynamic approach in a previous work, coupled with one of two methods: (i) use of equilibrium chemical potentials for each component under conditions of constant pressure, derived using statistical mechanics or (ii) use of the temperature derivative of chemical potential expressed phenomenologically as molecular entropy. The model is evaluated using Soret coefficients () measured in binary solutions of heptane isomers in benzene.

Fluids affecting bladder urgency and lower urinary symptoms: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Caffeinated, alcoholic, artificially sweetened, carbonated, and acidic beverages are pervasive and consumed in large quantities. Reputedly, these beverages are "irritating to the bladder" and result in heightened void frequency, but prior studies lack control for intake volume. We tested the null hypothesis that women recruited from the community who demonstrate overactive bladder symptoms will show no difference by groups in void frequency when one group is instructed to replace listed beverages by substituting non-irritants (emphasis on water or milk) and the other group is instructed in healthy eating.

Internal Degrees of Freedom as a Basis for Isotopic Effects in Thermodiffusion.

We present a model that relates isotope effects in thermodiffusion to changes in internal degrees of freedom associated with rotational and vibrational motion. The model uses general material transport equations for binary non-isothermal liquid systems, derived using non-equilibrium thermodynamics in our previous work. The equilibrium chemical potentials of the components at constant pressure are derived using statistical mechanics.

Toxicity From Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) After Ingestion or Inhalation: A Case Series.

Plant extracts and other novel psychoactives can be ingested, vaped, injected, or insufflated. This includes products such as extracts from the blue lotus flower (Nypmhaea caerulea), which is known to produce euphoria and hallucinations at high doses. Blue lotus is sold in several forms, including dried plant material, teas, and extracts for use in electronic cigarettes.

Thermophoretic Random Walks and Enhancement of Diffusion.

The contribution of the stochastic thermodiffusion to the diffusion enhancement is studied. The thermodiffusion of particles suspended in a liquid may hold place when the spontaneous endo- or exothermal nanoscale events similar to elementary acts of enzymatic reactions occur as the random series in the space and time. In these events, the energy can be emitted or absorbed at nanoscale during few to hundreds of picoseconds.

Synthesis of monophosphines directly from white phosphorus.

Monophosphorus compounds are of enormous industrial importance due to the crucial roles they play in applications such as pharmaceuticals, photoinitiators and ligands for catalysis, among many others. White phosphorus (P) is the key starting material for the preparation of all such chemicals. However, current production depends on indirect and inefficient, multi-step procedures.

Stigma Associated With Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Objectives: Although the impact of stigma is known for women with urinary incontinence, it has not been well studied among the full spectrum of pelvic floor disorders. This study quantifies the level of stigma among women presenting for urogynecologic care and tests the hypothesis that stigma related to pelvic floor disorders results in a delay in care seeking for these problems.

Methods: Women presenting for new patient visits (N = 523) in university medical center-based urogynecology clinics completed 2 anonymous questionnaires (Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses 8-item version and Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire) before their visit.

Coupled Heat and Mass Transport in Liquid Films that Contain Thermophoretically Active Particles.

We consider the spontaneous redistribution of thermophoretically active particles suspended in a thin film of liquid, made to absorb energy and transmit it in the form of heat to the surrounding medium. When the opposing boundaries to the thin dimension are maintained at a constant temperature, a nonuniform temperature profile is formed across the film because of differential heat dissipation, which is maximized at the boundaries. Thermophobic particles move and concentrate at the opposing (cooler) boundaries, whereas thermophilic particles concentrate within a layer midway between the boundaries.

Fluids affecting bladder urgency and lower urinary symptoms (FABULUS): methods and protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We present the design of a randomized controlled trial, Fluids Affecting Bladder Urgency and Lower Urinary Symptoms (FABULUS), with the purpose of testing the common clinical advice of treating overactive bladder by eliminating potentially irritating beverages (PIBs) that are caffeinated, artificially sweetened, citric, or alcoholic. The primary hypothesis is that women taught to reduce PIBs will show less void frequency compared with a control group instructed in diet/exercise recommendations. Secondary outcomes include change in urgency symptoms and volume per void.

American Urogynecologic Society Systematic Review: The Impact of Weight Loss Intervention on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Urinary Incontinence in Overweight and Obese Women.

Objective: Obesity can contribute to urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency, and incontinence. In addition to classic treatments, weight loss interventions offer a unique clinical opportunity to improve these symptoms.

Study Design: The American Urogynecologic Society Systematic Review Group conducted a review of articles on the impact of surgical and behavioral weight loss (BWL) interventions on urinary symptoms in overweight and obese women.

Glyphosate-based herbicide induces hyperplastic ducts in the mammary gland of aging Wistar rats.

Glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) exposure is known to have adverse effects on endocrine-related tissues. Here, we aimed to determine whether early postnatal exposure to a GBH induces long-term effects on the rat mammary gland. Thus, female Wistar pups were injected with saline solution (Control) or GBH (2 mg glyphosate/kg/day) on postnatal days (PND) 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Thermoosomosis in microfluidic devices containing a temperature gradient normal to the channel walls.

We analyze a microfluidic pump from the literature that utilizes a flat channel with boundary walls at different temperatures and tilted elongated pillars within in order to construct an adequate theory for designing devices in which the temperature gradient between channel walls is transformed into a longitudinal temperature gradient along the channel length. The action of the device is based on thermoosmosis in the secondary longitudinal temperature gradient associated with the specific geometry of the device, which can be described using physicochemical hydrodynamics without invoking the concept of thermophoretic force. We also describe a rotating drive device based on the same principle and design.

Surgical interventions for posterior compartment prolapse and obstructed defecation symptoms: a systematic review with clinical practice recommendations.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Several posterior compartment surgical approaches are used to address posterior vaginal wall prolapse and obstructed defecation. We aimed to compare outcomes for both conditions among different surgical approaches.

Methods: A systematic review was performed comparing the impact of surgical interventions in the posterior compartment on prolapse and defecatory symptoms.

Microscopic Hematuria as a Screening Tool for Urologic Malignancies in Women.

Introduction: Most causes of microscopic hematuria (MH) are benign but may indicate an underlying malignancy. Current MH evaluation guidelines are reflective of male urologic malignancy risks. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate whether the finding of MH predicts subsequent urologic malignancy in women.

Comparison of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Relation to Bowel and Bladder Symptoms in Women with Vulvar Diseases.

We sought to investigate associations between vitamin D levels and bowel and bladder disorders in women with vulvar diseases. This is a planned sub-analysis of a cross-sectional study comparing the prevalence of bowel and bladder symptoms in women with biopsy-proven vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) to a control group of women with non-lichenoid vulvar diseases. All subjects were recruited from a tertiary referral vulvar care clinic in a university-based practice.