Fractional CO2 Research Articles

Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment Is Safe and Effective for the Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Korean Women.

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 lasers for treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in Korean women. The patients received three laser applications at an interval of 4 weeks each. The severity of GSM symptoms was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and at every visit. The objective scale was measured using the vaginal health index score (VHIS) and Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI) after completion of the laser procedure. During each procedure, the patients' pain in the VAS score was recorded. In the last visit, patients evaluated their satisfaction with the laser therapy using a 5-point Likert scale. Thirty women completed all the study protocols. After two sessions of laser therapy, some GSM symptoms (vaginal dryness and urgency) and VHIS improved significantly. After completion of the treatment, all GSM symptoms improved (p < 0.05), and the VHIS further increased significantly (VHIS at baseline, 8.86 ± 3.2 vs. V3, 16.83 ± 3.15, p < 0.001). The average satisfaction was 4.3. This study shows that fractional CO2 laser treatment is effective and safe for Korean women with GSM. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and assess the long-term effects of laser therapy.

Oxidation Characteristics and Corresponding Reaction Mechanism of Coal During the Spontaneous Combustion Latency

ABSTRACT The study of the formation of CO and CO2 is an important means of investigating the mechanism of low-temperature coal oxidation. However, the small changes in the gas produced by oxidation during the spontaneous combustion latency cannot be accurately measured by traditional flow reactors. A set of coal low-temperature closed oxidation multi-component gas online monitoring system was designed. Small changes in the volume fractions of O2, CO and CO2 can be automatically monitored in real time. Experiments on the isothermal oxidation of coal were conducted during the spontaneous combustion latency under different conditions (different temperatures, different initial oxygen volume fractions and different oxidation times). The oxidation experiment results were corrected by Henry model. According to the retardation time of gas production and the changes in Graham’s ratio, CO and CO2 are produced from different reaction sequences during the spontaneous combustion latency. The active substances in coal react with O2 to produce unstable carbon-oxygen complexes, and CO2 is mainly derived from the decomposition of the intermediates. CO is derived from the H-capture reaction of stable solid oxygenated complexes. The research results will help to further understand the mechanism of spontaneous combustion of coal.

Flux and stable isotope fractionation of CO2 in a mesic prairie headwater stream

Abstract The carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes from headwater streams are not well quantified and could be a source of significant carbon, particularly in systems underlain by carbonate lithology. Also, the sensitivity of carbonate systems to changes in temperature will make these fluxes even more significant as climate changes. This study quantifies small-scale CO2 efflux and estimates annual CO2 emission from a headwater stream at the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research Site and Biological Station (Konza), in a complex terrain of horizontal, alternating limestones and shales with small-scale karst features. CO2 effluxes ranged from 2.2 to 214 g CO2 m−2 day−1 (mean: 20.9 CO2 m−2 day−1). Downstream of point groundwater discharge sources, CO2 efflux decreased, over 2 m, to 3–40% of the point-source flux, while δ13C-CO2 increased, ranging from −9.8 ‰ to −23.2 ‰ V-PDB. The δ13C-CO2 increase was not strictly proportional to the CO2 flux but related to the origin of vadose zone CO2. The high spatial and temporal variability of CO2 efflux from this headwater stream informs those doing similar measurements and those working on upscaling stream data, that local variability should be assessed to estimate the impact of headwater stream CO2 efflux on the global carbon cycle.

Use of ablative fractional CO2 laser in facial rejuvenation: a prospective observational cohort study

Introduction: Over the years, techniques for treating facial aging have evolved, with oral, antioxidant, and nutritional treatments, topical cosmeceuticals, peelings, and technologies such as radiofrequency, infrared, intense pulsed light, and lasers. Currently, among the lasers used for rejuvenation, there are ablative and non-ablative ones. Objective: To show the effectiveness of ablative fractional CO2 laser in facial rejuvenation. Methods: The presented article is a study that shows the superiority in results when compared with other lasers and treatments, evaluating its side effects and recovery time. Results: the author presented the result through images that are in the work. Conclusion: The ablative fractional CO2 laser proved to be an important option for the treatment of facial rejuvenation, even with a technology that has more intense side effects and longer recovery periods compared to other fractional ablative lasers.

557 Adverse Events Associated with Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy for Hypertrophic Burn Scars

Abstract Introduction Laser therapy is a growing intervention in hypertrophic scar treatment. This therapy is associated with minimal risks, however these are poorly studied in the burn population. Anecdotal reports of adverse effects such as pain and dyspigmentation exist. As patients, stakeholders, and insurance companies decide on reimbursement for this therapy, a better studied safety profile is necessary. This study is a retrospective review of all laser therapies for adverse events. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent laser therapy at two centers between May 2019 and June 2022. Patient demographics, details of laser treatments, adverse events, and scar characteristics before and after laser therapy were collected. Results A total of 167 patients underwent 533 laser treatments. There were 75 (44.9%) males and 92 (55.1%) females, with an average age of 26 (SD: 20.6) years. In total, 94 patients (56.3%) were Hispanic or Latino, 24 (14.4%) Caucasian, and 49 (29.3%) identified as "Other". All patients were treated for hypertrophic scars after burn injuries. For all patients, average number of laser treatments was 3 (SD: 2.2), with a range of 1 to 17 sessions. There were 9 (1.68%) instances of adverse events out of the total laser encounters. There were 5 (0.93%) reports of increased pain, 1 (0.18%) of an open wound, 2 (0.37%) of increased scar discoloration, and 1 (0.18%) of decreased scar pliability. Of the 5 (2.98%) total patients who encountered adverse events, 3 continued with laser therapy. There was no correlation between number of laser treatments and adverse events. Conclusions Patients undergoing laser treatment for burn scar management rarely face adverse events, of which the most common were increased scar pain and dyspigmentation. Even so, most patients experiencing adverse events chose to continue treatments. Laser therapy remains effective in burn scar treatment with minimal risks regarding safety profile. Applicability of Research to Practice This review will assist patients in making more informed decisions when considering laser therapy for burn scar management.

Vaginal epithelial histology before and after fractional CO2 laser in postmenopausal women: a double-blind, sham-controlled randomized trial

Postmenopausal vaginal symptoms affect over 60% of women and may substantially impact a woman's quality of life. Since 2012, fractional CO2 laser has been suggested as a treatment for this indication. Structural assessment of vaginal epithelium using microscopic biopsy examination has been used as a primary outcome measure and surrogate determinant of success of vaginal laser in previous clinical studies. This study aimed to report the effects of laser compared with sham treatment on human vaginal epithelium from postmenopausal women using microscopic examination of tissue biopsies. This single-center double-blind, sham-controlled randomized controlled trial was performed in a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. A total of 49 postmenopausal women who were symptomatic of at least 1 vaginal symptom (vaginal dryness, burning, itching; dyspareunia; or dryness) were randomized to either laser or sham treatment. For this nested histologic study, participants had a pre- and post-treatment vaginal wall biopsy collected. Biopsy samples were analyzed by 3 independent specialist gynecologic pathologists and categorized as Type 1 (well-estrogenized), 2 (poorly estrogenized), or 3 (combination) mucosae. Other outcomes assessed included symptom severity (visual analog scale for symptoms including most bothersome symptom, and Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire) and Vaginal Health Index. Prespecified secondary analyses of data were performed. Categorical data were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test (or Fisher exact test if <5 in any category) or related-samples McNemar test for paired nonparametric data. Nonparametric, continuous variables were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test or Mann-Whitney U test, and parametric variables with t test or 1-way analysis of variance as appropriate. All analyses were performed using SPSS software version 26.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). There was no significant difference in microscopic features of vaginal epithelium following laser or sham treatment (P=.20). Further subgroup analyses of age, menopause type, duration of reproductive life, time since menopause and BMI, still demonstrated no significant difference between laser and sham groups in histological category of vaginal epithelium. Microscopic features at pre-treatment vaginal biopsy were Type 1 in 27% (13/49). There was no significant difference in VAS score for overall vaginal symptom between those classified as Type 1 vs. Type 2/3 (VAS score overall: Type 1 vs. Type 2/3, (48.1 [95% CI 27.0, 69.2] vs. 61.5 [95% CI 49.8, 73.3]; P=.166). Data from this double-blind, sham-controlled randomized controlled trial demonstrate that fractional CO2 laser and sham treatment have a comparable histologic effect on vaginal tissue that is not significantly different. Fractional CO2 laser is not significantly different from sham treatment and should not be recommended for clinical use for postmenopausal vaginal symptoms.

Numerical Simulation of CO2 Extraction from the Cement Pre-Calciner Kiln System

The cement industry is one of the primary sources producing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The significant increase in the demand for cement in years has significantly contributed to the increase in carbon emissions. Among numerous CO2 treatment technologies, calcium looping (CaL) is a practical approach to mitigating CO2 emissions. This paper used calcium looping (CaL) to capture CO2 from flue gas in a cement pre-calciner kiln system. The raw material exiting the lowest stage of the preheater is used as a calcium-based adsorbent, and the carbonation reactor is built between the tertiary and secondary preheaters, using the high-temperature flue gas exiting the tertiary preheater to provide heat for the reaction. The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation technology was used to evaluate the rationality of the carbonation reactor and the key factors affecting the carbon removal efficiency of the carbonation reactor. The results indicate that the velocity and pressure fields of the carbonation reactor conform to the general operating rules and are reasonable. The optimal operating speed of particles in the carbonation reactor is 15 m/s, with a separation efficiency of particles of 92.5%, ensuring the smooth discharge of reaction products. The factor analysis of the carbonation reactor shows that when the temperature is 911 K, the mass flow rate of CaO is 2.07 kg/s, and the volume fraction of CO2 is 0.28, the carbonation reaction reaches a chemical equilibrium state, and the carbon removal efficiency is 90%. It should be noted that this carbon removal efficiency is the optimal carbon removal efficiency based on a combination of economic factors. In addition, the influencing factors show a precise sequence: CO2 volume fraction &gt; CaO addition amount &gt; temperature. Finally, we investigated the impact of the addition of the carbonation reactor on the preheater system. The results show that adding the carbonation reactor causes an increase in the flue gas velocity at the outlet of the preheater and a decrease in pressure, reducing the separation efficiency. Although the separation efficiency decreases slightly, the impact on the pre-calciner system is minimal.

Enhancement of formic acid production from carbon dioxide hydrogenation using metal-organic frameworks: Monte Carlo simulation study

Formic acid production from CO2 allows the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions while synthesizing a product with a wide range of applications. CO2 hydrogenation is challenging due to the cost of transition metal catalysts and the toxicity of the transition elements. In this work, the thermodynamic confinement effects of the metal–organic framework UiO-66 on the CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid were studied by force field-based molecular simulations. The confinement effects of UiO-66 and the metal–organic frameworks Cu-BTC, and IRMOF-1 were compared, to assess the impact of different pore size and metal centers on the production of HCOOH. Monte Carlo simulations in the grand-canonical ensemble were performed in the frameworks, using gas phase mole fractions of CO2, H2, and HCOOH at chemical equilibrium, obtained from Continuous Fractional Component Monte Carlo simulations in the Reaction Ensemble. The adsorption isobars of the components in metal–organic frameworks were computed at 298.15 – 800 K, 1 – 60 bar. The enhancement of HCOOH production due to preferential adsorption of HCOOH in metal–organic frameworks was calculated for all studied conditions. UiO-66, Cu-BTC, and IRMOF-1 affect CO2 hydrogenation reaction, shifting the thermodynamical equilibrium toward HCOOH formation. The prevailing factor is the type of metal center in the metal–organic framework. The confinement effect of Cu-BTC turns out to exceed the enhancement caused by UiO-66, and IRMOF-1. The resulting mole fraction of HCOOH increased by ca. 2000 times compared to the gas phase at 298.15 K, 60 bar. Cu-BTC can be considered as an alternative to improve the production of HCOOH due to elimination of the high-cost temperature elevation, cost reduction of downstream processing methods, and comparable final concentration of HCOOH to the reported concentrations of formate obtained using transition metal catalysts.

A bibliometric and visualized research on global trends of scar, 2011–2021

ObjectivePathological scars are the results of abnormal wound healing, which not only affect the appearance, but may also be accompanied by significant psychosocial burdens. In this study, we aimed to conduct a bibliometric and visualized analysis on pathological scars and provide directions for future research. MethodsThe articles on scar research from 2011 to 2021 in the Web of Science Core Collection database were collected. The bibliometrics records were retrieved and analyzed with Excel, CiteSpace V and VOSviewer. ResultsA total of 944 scar research records published between 2011 and 2021 were collected. Publication output has shown an upward trend as a whole. China ranked first in terms of country contributions (418 publications, 5176 citations), while Germany, with only 22 studies published, had the highest average citation rate (57.18). Shanghai Jiaotong University was the institution with the largest number of related articles published, followed by the fourth military medical university, the University of Alberta and the Second military medical university. Wound repair and regeneration, Burns, Journal of Burn Care & Research, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published the most research in this field. Dahai Hu was the most prolific author, while Rei Ogawa was the most cited. The cluster analysis of the reference contributions and keywords indicated that current research hotspots mainly include pathogenesis, treatment strategies, and the safety evaluation of new scar treatment options. ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of the current status and research trends of pathological scars. International research interest in pathological scars is on the rise, and high-quality studies related to the field have also increased in the last decade. The pathogenesis of pathological scars, treatment strategies, such as fractional ablative CO2 laser and molecular targeted therapy, and the safety evaluation of new treatment options will be the focus of future research.

Effects of exposure to carbon dioxide and human bioeffluents on sleep quality and physiological responses

Twenty-four subjects were exposed to two levels of occupant pollution in a thermally neutral sleeping environment, as indicated with average carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations of 800 ppm and 2000 ppm during the night. Sleep quality was measured by polysomnography and a wrist-type actigraphy sensor simultaneously, and also assessed by a questionnaire. Physiological parameters indicating responses of cardiovascular and pulmonary function were measured repeatedly prior to sleep and after waking up in the morning. The results show that when exposed to the high level of occupant pollution with the average CO2 concentration being 2000 ppm, subjects reported lower satisfaction on sleep and less easiness of awakening, and experienced a shorter duration of total sleep and deep sleep stage, which indicates a worse sleep quality. Furthermore, fractional CO2, end-tidal CO2 and systolic blood pressure measured in the morning were significantly higher. The change of LF/HF ratio of heart rate variability was significantly more at the onset of sleep and less during arousal. This suggests that when sleeping in an occupant-polluted environment, subjects experienced a slower automatic nervous system transition from a sympathetically dominated state to a parasympathetically dominated state at night, and vice versa in the morning.

Valorization of sewage sludge via air/steam gasification using activated carbon and biochar as catalysts

The catalytic gasification of sewage sludge was explored using different catalyst particle sizes, bed temperatures, and gasifying agents. Activated carbon and sawdust biochar were used as catalysts in this study. The effects of the porosity of activated carbon on tar adsorption and cracking, and biochar containing alkali and alkaline earth metallic species (AAEMs), which can enhance gasification reactions, were investigated under different conditions. A catalyst bed temperature of 800 °C and particle size of 0.5–1.7 mm showed optimum conditions for increasing H2 and CO content and decrease CO2 fraction; however, a higher solid residue (∼38 wt%) was also observed due to the high ash content in sewage sludge. Furthermore, the introduction of steam had a positive effect on the H2 increment, owing to the presence of inherent AAEMs in the biochar, promoting water gas shift and hydrocarbon steam reforming reactions. The results of this study provide effective measures for using activated carbon and affordable biochar to enhance H2 production with a parametric effect on the catalyst bed.

Post-processing of a lavender flowers solvent extract using supercritical CO2 fractionation

BackgroundSupercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) was performed using an unconventional material, the solid extract of lavender flowers obtained by liquid solvent extraction and subsequent solvent elimination. MethodsSystematic extraction experiments were carried out at 8 MPa and 40 °C, and the extract was fractionated in semi-continuous mode in the SFE plant. To understand mass transfer phenomena driving the process, CO2 mass flow rates ranging between 0.60 and 1.50 kg/h were used, and yield vs. time curves were obtained. Significant findingsFractionation produced a cuticular waxes selective precipitation in the first separator and the floral fragrance in the second separator. The most abundant species in the extract were τ-cadinol (13%), lavandulol (10.5%), β-caryophyllene (10%), viridiflorene (8.5%), isocaryophyllene (6%), cedrenalol (4.5%), linalool (4%) and 1,8-cineol (4%). The fragrance contained no waxes, indicating that the fractionation was successful. At higher mass flow rates (from 0.90 to 1.50 kg/h), an asymptotic extraction yield of 5.2% w/w was obtained; whereas, at lower mass flow rates, the extraction yield was lower (2.3% w/w) since the vegetable bed was not completely wetted by the extraction fluid. The overall results indicated that an external mass transfer resistance controlled the process.

Ramped pyrolysis radiocarbon dating of lime lumps: Establishing the earliest mortar-based construction phase of Turku cathedral, Finland

Ramped pyrolysis radiocarbon dating was carried out on lime lumps from what was believed to be the oldest remains of Turku Cathedral, Finland, the first sacristy. Lumps extracted from bulk mortar from five sampling locations were analysed. For each sample, 5–6 fractions of CO2 from different temperature fractions were radiocarbon dated. One of the five samples exhibited significant contamination for its lowest temperature fractions. For the remaining samples, the age-temperature profiles were well-behaved, exhibiting a plateau of dates that were in statistical agreement and indicative of samples where only a single carbonate source (lime binder from the construction phase) is contributing to the radiocarbon dates. For each of the five samples, the combined radiocarbon age resulted in a calibrated age with a large probability distribution mode (typically > 85% probability) in the late 13th century AD. Combining the radiocarbon dates from all five samples (21 fractions in statistical agreement, χ2-test: df = 20, T = 7.1, 5% = 31.4) provided an age of 709 ± 11 yr BP and a calibrated age of 1276–1296 cal. AD (95.4%). This result finds excellent agreement with historical sources, previous mortar dating work, and a single radiocarbon date on organic material also embedded in some of the bulk mortar. The results demonstrate that ramped pyrolysis, applied to well-selected lime lumps, is (A) a useful diagnostic tool for establishing how reliable a sample is and (B) an accurate, precise, and repeatable technique for radiocarbon dating mortar. The results further confirm that Turku Cathedral's first sacristy was constructed from stone and mortar in the late 13th century AD. Additionally, using Turku Cathedral sacristy as a case study, two Bayesian models were presented to illustrate how, in general, mortar dating and Bayesian statistics might, in future, be applied to examine building construction dynamics for the case of (chronologically) ordered or unordered mortar derived radiocarbon dates.

The efficacy and feasibility of fractional CO2 laser therapy for the treatment of urinary incontinence: a multicentric case-control study.

Female urinary incontinence is a significant public health problem. Conservative treatments require high patient compliance, while surgery often leads to more complications and recovery time. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of microablative fractional CO<inf>2</inf> laser (CO<inf>2</inf>-laser) therapy in women with urinary incontinence (UI). This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) with predominant SUI subjected to four sessions of CO<inf>2</inf>-laser therapy performed once a month, between February 2017 and October 2017, with a 12-month follow-up. The subjective Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0-10 was used to score and variables were evaluated at baseline and at one, six and 12 months after initiation of therapy. Finally, results were compared to a control group. The cohort consisted of 42 women. The proportion of patients with vaginal atrophy among those younger than 55 years was substantially lower (3/23; 13%) than among those older than 55 years (15/19; 78.9%). CO<inf>2</inf> laser treatment was associated with a significant improvement in VAS scores recorded one-month, six-months, and one-year, after conclusion of therapy (P<0.001). VAS scores improved significantly in patients with either SUI (26/42; 61.9%) or mixed UI (16/42; 38.1%). No major post treatment complications were registered. Women with vaginal atrophy demonstrated significantly better results (P<0.001). Results confirm the efficacy and a good safety profile, for CO<inf>2</inf> laser treatment in SUI, mostly in women with postmenopausal vaginal atrophy and should be considered as a treatment option for female patients with concomitant SUI and vaginal atrophy.

Emission characteristics of turbulent premixed propane/air/carbon dioxide and propane/air/ammonia swirl flames through a rich‐lean combustor

AbstractThis study is dedicated to understanding the combustion characteristics of turbulent premixed C3H8‐Air‐CO2 and C3H8‐Air‐NH3 swirl flames in a rich‐lean combustor at atmospheric pressure. In this study, the emission characteristics of both flames were obtained through two‐dimensional numerical simulations based on the RANS approach with Realizable k‐ϵ turbulence model for turbulence closure, and the P1 radiation model for the flame radiation inside the combustor. The turbulence‐chemistry interaction was modeled using the Finite‐Rate Eddy Dissipation Model (FR/EDM) model with a reduced reaction mechanism (Jones‐Lindstedt). The study was conducted for five volumetric fractions of CO2 or NH3, XCO2/NH3 = 0,4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, two swirl numbers (Sn = 0.6 and 1.05), and four equivalence ratios, ϕ = 0.4 (with dilution), 0.5, 0.8, and 1. The results show that the addition of NH3 to C3H8‐Air flames promotes the production of CO, whereas the minimum NOx emission (0.14 ppm) was obtained for a dilution rate of 16% at ϕ = 0.8 and Sn = 0.6 corresponding to an outlet temperature of Tout = 1652 K.

Validation of non-equilibrium kinetics in CO2–N2 plasmas

This work explores the effect of N2 addition on CO2 dissociation and on the vibrational kinetics of CO2 and CO under various non-equilibrium plasma conditions. A self-consistent kinetic model, previously validated for pure CO2 and CO2–O2 discharges, is further extended by adding the kinetics of N2. The vibrational kinetics considered include levels up to v = 10 for CO, v= 59 for N2 and up to v 1= 2 and v 2= v 3= 5, respectively for the symmetric stretch, bending and asymmetric stretch modes of CO2, and account for electron-impact excitation and de-excitation (e–V), vibration-to-translation (V–T) and vibration-to-vibration energy exchange (V–V) processes. The kinetic scheme is validated by comparing the model predictions with recent experimental data measured in a DC glow discharge operating in pure CO2 and in CO2–N2 mixtures, at pressures in the range 0.6–4 Torr (80.00–533.33 Pa) and a current of 50 mA. The experimental results show a higher vibrational temperature of the different modes of CO2 and CO and an increased dissociation fraction of CO2, that can reach values as high as 70%, when N2 is added to the plasma. On the one hand, the simulations suggest that the former effect is the result of the CO2–N2 and CO–N2 V–V transfers and the reduction of quenching due to the decrease of atomic oxygen concentration; on the other hand, the dilution of CO2 and dissociation products, CO and O2, reduces the importance of back reactions and contributes to the higher CO2 dissociation fraction with increased N2 content in the mixture, while the N2(B3Πg) electronically excited state further enhances the CO2 dissociation.

Fractional ablative laser therapy for the treatment of severe burn scars: A pilot study of the underlying mechanisms.

Ablative fractional resurfacing is clinically an efficient treatment for burn scar management. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the poorly understood mechanisms underlying ablative fractional CO2 laser (AFL-CO2) therapy in relation to biomarkers S100 and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1). S100 stains for Langerhans cells and neuronal cells, potentially representing the pruritus experienced. 11β-HSD1 catalyses the interconversion of cortisol and cortisone in cells, promoting tissue remodelling. Immunohistochemical analysis of S100 and 11β-HSD1 protein expression in the dermis and epidermis of the skin was performed on normal skin, before and after AFL-CO2 therapy. Data assessing outcome parameters was collected concurrently with the skin biopsies. 13 patients were treated with AFL-CO2 therapy. Langerhans cells decreased by 39% after 2nd treatment. Neuronal cells were overexpressed before treatment in the scar tissue by 91% but levels returned to that resembling normal skin. 11β-HSD1 expression in keratinocytes was significantly higher after laser treatment compared to before in scar tissue (p<0.01). No clear correlation was found in dermal fibroblast numbers throughout the treatment course. Whilst the role of the explored mechanisms and their association with clinical outcomes cannot conclusively be stated, this pilot study demonstrates promising trends that encourages investigation into this relationship.

Impacts of pressure, temperature, and CO2 fraction on performance of CO2-circulated geothermal power plants

Impacts of pressure, temperature, and CO2 fraction on performance of CO2-circulated geothermal power plants

Diffusion coefficient and the volume swelling of CO2/light oil systems: Insights from dynamic volume analysis and molecular dynamics simulation

The oil volume expansion and CO2 diffusion are one of the main mechanism of CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR). This paper established a series of experiments, numerical simulations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to describe mass transfer behaviors between oil–gas phases. Expressly, the CO2 diffusion coefficient and light oil swelling factor are signification parameters to quantify and analyze these behaviors. In detail, the CO2 diffusion coefficient and the oil swelling factor were obtained from the traditional pressure decay method and the advanced MD simulation. Synthetically, the pressure decay method and MD simulation results were mutually verified. The results showed that the equilibrium pressure was proportional to the mole fraction of CO2 and inversely proportional to the mole fraction of light oil. The equilibrium time was proportional to the mole fraction of CO2 and light oil. At the temperature of 333.15 K and the initial pressure of 7.5 MPa, the CO2 diffusion coefficient in light oil was positively correlated with the relative molar proportion of CO2, while the light oil swelling factor was vice versa. In addition, the closer to the CO2-light oil interface, the greater the light oil's potential energy and self-diffusion coefficient, and the stronger the transport ability.

Efficacy of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Short-Term Evaluation-Preliminary Study.

The postmenopausal state covers 40% of modern women's lives and 50-70% of postmenopausal women report GSM symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, frequent inflammations, lack of elasticity, or dyspareunia. Consequently, a safe and effective method of treatment is crucial. In a group of 125 patients, a prospective observational study was performed. The aim was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of GSM symptoms using a protocol of three procedures in 6-week intervals. The vaginal pH, VHIS, VMI, FSFI, and treatment satisfaction questionnaire were used. The fractional CO2 laser treatment was effective in improving all the objective forms of evaluation: vaginal pH (from 5.61 ± 0.50 at the baseline up to 4.69 ± 0.21 in the 6-week follow-up after the third procedure); VHIS (12.02 ± 1.89 at the baseline vs. 21.50 ± 1.76); VMI (21.5 ± 5.66 vs. 48.4 ± 4.46). Similar results were obtained for FSFI: 12.79 ± 5.351 vs. 24.39 ± 2.733, where 79.77% of patients were highly satisfied. Fractional CO2 laser therapy increases the quality of life by having a beneficial effect on the sexual function of women with GSM symptoms. This effect is obtained by restoring the correct structure and proportions of the cellular composition of the vaginal epithelium. This positive effect was confirmed by both objective and subjective forms of evaluating GSM symptom severity.