Criteria for inclusion in programs of functional restoration for chronic low back pain: Pragmatic Study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with chronic low back pain (cLBP) may benefit from multimodal functional restoration programs (FRPs). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze characteristics of individuals with cLBP who were referred or not to an FRP. Because cLBP is a bio-psycho-social disorder, medical and social parameters were analysed. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study performed in 2017 in 6 tertiary centres in France. Consecutive individuals with cLBP visiting a rheumatologist or physical medicine and rehabilitation physician were included. Individuals referred or not to an FRP were compared by demographic characteristics, duration of sick leave over the past year, self-reported physical activity>1h/week, pain (numeric rating scale 0-10), anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index) and kinesiophobia (Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, estimating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: We included 147 individuals with cLBP. The mean (SD) age was 49 (12) years and 88 (60%) were women; 58 (38%) were referred to an FRP. On multivariate analysis, referral to an FRP was associated with reduced pain level (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-0.99, for each 1-point increase in pain score), self-reported lack of physical activity (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98) and longer sick leave (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, for 30 more days of sick leave). CONCLUSION: In this multicentric observational study, referral to an FRP was linked to pain, self-reported physical activity and sick leave but not medical characteristics assessed. These findings confirm the bio-psycho-social approach of FRPs for cLBP.

Bubble Solution Description by Non-Extensive Thermodynamics: Pressure Effect.

We showed in this study that nanobubble solutions should not be considered as the simple juxtaposition of autonomous phases (a solution and bubbles) but as particular entities, that is, "supersaturated solutions" where gas is simultaneously in two forms in permanent exchange. Gibbs' extensive thermodynamics cannot claim to describe legitimately their behavior. In this work, we showed how the use of the non-extensive thermodynamics allows describing the physicochemical properties of such media, some of which are counter-intuitive. Thus, an increase in pressure can result in an increase in the bubble size, contrary to what is provided by Boyle-Mariotte's law. The theoretical relationships proposed in this work constitute another approach to bubble solutions, which considers the non-autonomous nature of the components of supersaturated gas solutions and their "non-extensive" nature.

Non-applicability of the Gibbs-Duhem relation in nonextensive thermodynamics. Case of micellar solutions.

This work is a discussion on the applicability of the Gibbs-Duhem relationship. We show that it does not exist in the nonextensive thermodynamic approaches. To illustrate this, we have chosen to present the properties of three surfactants (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium decanoate (NaDec) in aqueous solutions at 298 K) whose behavior after the micellization threshold can be described by the rules of the nonextensive thermodynamics. We show that the Gibbs-Duhem relationship does not apply to these systems and we propose to formalize the deviation from this law. The consequences of this study are discussed for the different approaches that involve the use of Gibbs-Duhem relation in the case of micellized solutions. In particular, the applicability of the Gibbs relation which links surface tension and the chemical potentials of solutes is considered. More generally, this study warns against the blind application of the Gibbs-Duhem (or Gibbs) relation, to any system.

Solubility of gas in confined systems. Nonextensive thermodynamics approach.

The use of the concepts of the nonextensive thermodynamics allows reconsidering the equilibrium of bubble solubilization and more commonly of gaseous aggregates in supersaturated solutions of gas. The introduced relations are general and include as particular cases the equations usually used to describe these phenomena. These equations are discussed. Especially, we specified the domain of application of Kelvin's relation which was illustrated by the solubility of gases in fogs and clouds. Various possibilities of thoughts on the behavior of the gaseous aggregates and nano-systems are proposed. Thus, the introduced relations permit to consider the presence of gaseous aggregates in equilibrium with the solution even for under-saturated solution. Nonextensive thermodynamics admits the notion of negative pressure at the inner of confined phases (solid or liquid).

Thoughts on the ideal behavior of mixed micelles and the appropriate application of regular solution theory (RST).

Solutions of mixed surfactants are often considered as solvent mixtures. Usually, mixed micellar aggregates are considered as a homogeneous mixture of solvents dispersed in a solution. But the transposition of the usual thermodynamic models of solvent mixtures to mixed micelles is not always so obvious. We discussed this point in this paper by considering several cases of surfactant mixtures. A major problem is to define the molar fraction of each surfactant in the aggregate especially when a charged surfactant is employed in the mixture, because possible dissociation of the components of the mixture must be considered in the bulk as well in the micelle. This definition is crucial especially for the characterization of the ideal behavior which is usually described by the Clint relation, as well as for the application of regular solution theory (RST) which is the most frequently applied model for interpreting the behavior of surfactant mixtures. We show in this paper how the definition of the molar fraction can change the equations and the interpretations.

Mixing behaviour of charged and non-charged surfactants described by BET isotherms.

We analysed various sets of published results concerning the mixing behaviour of charged and non-charged surfactants, beyond their aggregation threshold, by means of the BET model modified by Stokes and Robinson. This approach, which is mainly used to account for properties of concentrated aqueous salt solutions, provides a good description of the properties of mixed micelles across the complete scale of compositions between the two pure surfactants. We use analyses of the behaviour of several systems reported in the literature for illustration. We consider the significance of the parameters C and r introduced in the BET model. For mixed micelle solutions in the presence of a support electrolyte, the value of the solvation enthalpy of the charged amphiphile by the non-ionic surfactant is small (C close to one). This model is compared to the regular solution theory (RST).

Synthesis and micellar properties of 1-decyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide surfactant in water and water-ethanolamine mixtures at 298.15 K.

1-Decyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide (ddmimBr) has been synthesized by the reaction of 1,2-dimethylimidazole and 1-bromodecane. Micellization of ddmimBr surfactant in water (W) and water-ethanolamine (W-EA) with the weight percent of EA changing within the range 0-39.79%, has been investigated at 298.15 K. Information about the influence of the added EA on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) was obtained through density and surface tension measurements. This last provides information about the dependence of the surface excess concentration, the minimum area per surfactant molecule and the surface pressure at the CMC on the added weight percentage of organic solvent. The effect of binary aqueous mixtures of W-EA on the apparent molar volume (phi V) of the ddmimBr has been investigated. The apparent molar volume upon aggregation (Delta phi V) shows a maximum at about 15 wt% of EA, this behavior is discussed in terms of the changes of the solvent structure. Partial specific volume data, obtained by density measurements, indicate that the fraction of solvent molecules interact with the surfactant remained roughly constant.

Thermodynamics of mixed micelles: Determination of the aggregate composition.

In most studies concerning surfactant mixtures, the determination of the composition of mixed micelles is often tricky. This composition can be obtained by different ways. One of them, undoubtedly the most used, supposes, a priori, that the surfactant in the micelle follows the regular solution model. This poses a problem on the thermodynamic point of view because in these studies, a model of behavior is first admitted for deducing a composition. In a correct thermodynamic approach, a composition should first be determined and then, a model of behavior which accounts for the observed physicochemical properties can be found. This approach is all the more questionable since the application of the Gibbs-Duhem relationship to the pseudo-phase allows aggregate composition to be determined simply, without using a solution model, because the composition of the bulk at the threshold of aggregation is known. In this article, we describe and validate a simple procedure, which supplements that proposed by Rodenas et al. [E. Rodenas, M. Valiente, M.D. Villafruela, J. Phys. Chem. B 103 (1999) 4549], and which allows determination of the activities of the components of the micellar aggregate and its composition. The results are compared to those obtained with other approaches such as molecular-thermodynamic model.

Micellar aggregation for ionic surfactant in pure solvent and electrolyte solution: nonextensive thermodynamics approach.

We show in this study that the concepts of nonextensive thermodynamics introduced and applied in a series of previous studies can be used to describe the behaviour of ionic surfactant solutions at concentrations higher than the critical micelle concentration (cmc) in pure solvents and in the presence of electrolytes. We supposed that the aggregated amphiphiles and their counter ions form two interpenetrated nonextensive phases of the same thermodynamic dimension, m, characterised by two parameters A(am) and A(CI) related to the aggregated amphiphile and the counter ion, respectively. Our experimental results and those published in the literature indicate that logarithms of the activities of the amphiphile and of its counterion vary with the quantity of aggregated monomer according to a power law. Thus, we demonstrate a linear relation between the logarithms of the activities of the two ions beyond the cmc in pure solvents ("micellization product"). An original relation, different from the Corrin-Harkins relation, can thus be established to describe the effects of salt on the cmc of ionic surfactants. According to this relation the cmc of charged surfactant in some systems can increase in the presence of an electrolyte with a common ion.

Drop size effect on contact angle explained by nonextensive thermodynamics. Young's equation revisited.

We applied the concepts of nonextensive thermodynamics [Turmine et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 108 (2004) 18980], to describe the equilibrium of a liquid drop placed on a solid substrate. This approach provides a consistent formal framework for analyzing the contact angle according to the nature and structure of the substrate, and also the size of the drops. The introduction, for the solid/liquid interface, of the concept of "fuzzy interface" characterized by a thermodynamic dimension, different from 2/3 (surface) allowed description of the case of substrates with ill-defined geometry (such as porous, structured systems, fractal structure systems, etc.) and straightforward explanation of the phenomenon of super hydrophobicity without using a layer of trapped air in possible anfractuosities. The application of the nonextensive thermodynamics relationships, allowed explanation of all the usual behaviors described in the literature (Young, modified Young, Wenzel, Cassie-Baxter) including the case of the composite interfaces made of materials with different natures and spatial structures (smooth, rough, homogeneous and heterogeneous surfaces). We show that the contact angle can vary with the drop volume according to a power law, and this was validated against values published in the literature. This study also has consequences for the relations between "thermodynamic dimension" and "fractal dimension."

Modification of the wettability of a polymeric substrate by pH effect. Determination of the surface acid dissociation constant by contact angle measurements.

The wetting properties of a substrate can be changed by chemical reaction. Here, we studied simple materials with acid-base properties, by preparing poly(vinyl chloride) films containing lauric acid. These substrates constitute simple polymeric surfaces the wettability of which can be easily controlled by the acid-base equilibrium. The roughness of the material was then varied by adding Aerosil (hydrophobic fumed silica). We then studied the wettability of these materials toward aqueous buffer solutions between pH 2 and 12 from contact angle measurements. The variation of the contact angle of a droplet of buffer solution with the pH of the solution was described by a simple thermodynamic model requiring only two parameters. Thus, we could characterize the acid polymer by an effective surface acid dissociation constant the value of which was consistent with those obtained with a similar surface. We showed that the behavior of any substrate could be described even if the surface geometry was not well-known.

Evidence of a phase transition in water-1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and water-1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate mixtures at 298 K: determination of the surface thermal coefficient, bT,P.

We studied the aggregation behavior of two short-chain room-temperature ionic liquids. Previous surface tension studies have shown that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF(4)) aggregates in water. We observed the same behavior for another ionic liquid, 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bdmimBF(4)). We carried out a thermodynamic study of the mixtures between water and the two butylimidazolium salts to investigate this unusual behavior for cations with short chains by determining the surface thermal coefficient, b(T,P). Plotting b(T,P) as a function of the molar fraction (X) of the two salts showed a clear discontinuity at X = 0.016 for bmimBF(4) and X = 0.004 for bdmimBF(4). This discontinuity could be attributed to a transition such as an aggregation.

Thermodynamic study of the protonation of dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide micelles in aqueous solution at 298 K. Establishment of a theoretical relationship linking critical micelle concentrations and pH.

Dodecyldimethylamine N-oxide (DDAO) is a zwitterionic surfactant with acid-base properties. The proton dissociation constant of this surfactant was determined by a novel potentiometric method at "controlled chemical potential" of the proton using a classical pH-glass electrode. When the DDAO was in its monomeric form, the pKa was about 5, consistent with the value commonly reported in the literature. However, a unique proton dissociation constant specific to the micellar form of this surfactant could not be obtained. We found that the acid-base behavior of the DDAO micelles depended on their environment. Indeed, we were able to establish thermodynamic relations linking the critical micellar concentration to the degree of protonation of the micelles. The experimental values were in good accordance with this model.

Critical aggregation concentration in mixed solutions of anionic polyelectrolytes and cationic surfactants.

We have examined the polymer/surfactant interaction in mixed aqueous solutions of cationic surfactants and anionic polyelectrolytes combining various techniques: tensiometry, potentiometry with surfactant-selective electrodes, and viscosimetry. We have investigated the role of varying polymer charge density, polymer concentration, surfactant chain length, polymer backbone rigidity, and molecular weight on the critical aggregation concentration (Cac) of mixed polymer/surfactant systems. The Cac of these systems, estimated from tensiometry and potentiometry, is found to be in close agreement. Different Cac variations with polymer charge density and surfactant chain length were observed with polymers having persistence lengths either smaller or larger than surfactant micelle size, which might reflect a different type of molecular organization in the polymer/surfactant complexes. The surfactant concentration at which the viscosity starts to decrease sharply is different from the Cac and probably reflects the polymer chain shrinkage due to surfactant binding.

Behaviour of a binary solvent mixture constituted by an amphiphilic ionic liquid, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and water Potentiometric and conductimetric studies.

We investigated the properties of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (DMImBr), a molten salt at room temperature, and its mixtures with water in the whole proportions. At low concentrations, this salt behaved like a classical cationic amphiphile. Its critical micellar concentration (cmc) was determined by conductimetry and by measuring electromotive forces (EMF) with bromide or cationic surfactant-selective electrodes. Moreover, the association rate of the counter ion to micelle has been determined on a wide range of concentrations, allowing characterising the micellisation equilibrium by a solubility product. The conductivity of this liquid electrolyte in mixtures with water was maximal at high concentrations. We modelled this behaviour, taking into account the molar volume fraction of both phases. Our results show that these solutions, which are composed of dispersed aggregates, behave like mixtures of two phases that interpenetrate themselves.

Membrane electrodes sensitive to doubly charged surfactants. Application to a cationic gemini surfactant.

The response of a membrane electrode is not always identical to that of a redox electrode. Indeed, in the case of membrane electrode the response is not due to a redox equilibrium but to a cross-membrane potential. So, the membrane electrode's response depends mainly on the carrier system and the nature of the membrane. The properties of the membrane can favour several reactions giving rise to different ionic species diffusing in the membrane. The expression of the cross-membrane potential thus depends on the number and quantities of these ionic species. To illustrate this, we established the equations for the case of a two-charge cation detected by a univalent charged carrier. We show that the Nernstian response is not applicable to membrane electrodes. This approach allowed us to interpret results obtained with a cationic gemini surfactant-selective electrode prepared in the laboratory. To prove the well working of this electrode, we determined the critical micelle concentration in water and several NaBr solutions (0.004, 0.006, 0.01 and 0.02 M) from which the counterion binding has been determined.