Stress Changes Research Articles

Coseismic deformation and fault slip distribution of the 2023 MW7.8 and MW7.6 earthquakes in Türkiye

On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake with a moment magnitude of MW7.8 struck the town of Pazarcik in south-central Türkiye, followed by another powerful earthquake with a moment magnitude of MW7.6 that struck the nearby city of Elbistan 9 h later. To study the characteristics of surface deformation caused by this event and the influence of fault rupture, this study calculated the static coseismic deformation of 56 stations and dynamic displacement waveforms of 15 stations using data from the Turkish national fixed global navigation satellite system (GNSS) network. A maximum static coseismic displacement of 0.38 m for the MW7.8 Kahramanmaras earthquake was observed at station ANTE, 36 km from the epicenter, and a maximum dynamic coseismic displacement of 4.4 m for the MW7.6 Elbistan earthquake was observed at station EKZ1, 5 km from the epicenter. The rupture-slip distributions of the two earthquakes were inverted using GNSS coseismic deformation as a constraint. The results showed that the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture segment was distinct and exposed on the ground, resulting in significant rupture slip along the Amanos and Pazarcik fault segments of the East Anatolian Fault. The maximum slip in the Pazarcik fault segment was 10.7 m, and rupture occurred at depths of 0–15 km. In the Cardak fault region, the Elbistan earthquake caused significant ruptures at depths of 0–12 km, with the largest amount of slip reaching 11.6 m. The Coulomb stress change caused by the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture along the Cardak fault segment was approximately 2 bars, and the area of increased Coulomb stress corresponded to the subsequent rupture region of the MW7.6 earthquake. Thus, it is likely that the MW7.8 earthquake triggered or promoted the MW7.6 earthquake. Based on the cumulative stress impact of the MW7.8 and MW7.6 events, the southwestern segment of the East Anatolian Fault, specifically the Amanos fault segment, experienced a Coulomb rupture stress change exceeding 2 bars, warranting further attention to assess its future seismic hazard risk.

Involvement of oxidative stress-AMPK-Cx43-NLRP3 pathway in extracellular matrix remodeling of gastric smooth muscle cells in rats with diabetic gastroparesis.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in oxidative stress, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), connexin43 (Cx43), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression, and extracellular matrix (ECM) in the gastric smooth muscle tissues of rats with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) and high glucose-cultured gastric smooth muscle cells, determine the existence of oxidative stress-AMPK-Cx43-NLRP3 pathway under high glucose condition, and the involvement of this pathway in ECM remodeling in DGP rats. The results showed that with increasing duration of diabetes, oxidation stress levels gradually increased, the AMPK activity decreased first and then increased, NLRP3, CX43 expression, and membrane/cytoplasmratio of Cx43 expression were increased in the gastric smooth muscle tissues of diabetic rats. Changes in ECM of gastric smooth muscle cells wereobserved in DGP rats. The DGP group showed higher collagen type I content, increased expression of Caspase-1, transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression, and higher interleukin-1betacontent when compared with the control group. For gastric smooth muscle cells cultured under higher glucose, the MMP-2 and TGF-β3 expression wasdecreased, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1 expression was increased, the interleukin-1betacontent was decreased in cells after inhibition of NLRP3 expression; the NLRP3 and Caspase-1expression was decreased, and adenosine triphosphate content was lower after inhibition of Cx43; the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, P2X7, and the membrane/cytoplasm ratio of CX43 expression was decreased in cells after inhibition of AMPK and oxidative stress, the phospho-AMPK expression was also decreased after suppressing oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that high glucose induced the activation of the AMPK-Cx43-NLRP3 pathway through oxidative stress, and this pathway was involved in the ECM remodeling of gastric smooth muscles in DGP rats by regulating the biological functions of TGF-β3, TGF-β1, MMP-2, and TIMP-1.

The role of phase fraction on the deformation behavior and tensile properties of dual-phase polycrystalline Fe–Ni alloy: A molecular dynamics simulation study

An alloy containing two or more phases with significantly distinct properties may produce a unique combination of high strength and ductility. Fe–Ni alloys processed through the powder metallurgy route form dual-phase structures containing both body- and face-centered cubic phases. The detailed atomic scale microstructural evolution and deformation mechanism of such alloys have not been performed as dual-phase structure materials generate more complex deformation mechanisms than single-phase structure materials. The present study utilizes molecular dynamics simulation to compute the mechanical properties and investigate the deformation mechanism in a dual-phase Fe–Ni alloy with a variable phase fraction of body-centered cubic during a uniaxial tensile test. The results show that phase fraction affects the mechanical properties as well as the deformation behavior. Shear strain distribution and dislocation density provided an explanation for the change in the average flow stress and strengthening mechanism of the dual-phase Fe–Ni alloys. Additionally, the influence of temperature on deformation behavior is investigated. The deformation mechanism at higher temperatures is found to be dislocation slip and grain boundary sliding.

Myocardial Bridge and Atherosclerosis, an Intimal Relationship.

This review investigates the relationship between myocardial bridges (MBs), intimal thickening in coronary arteries, and Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It focuses on the role of mechanical forces, such as circumferential strain, in arterial wall remodeling and aims to clarify how MBs affect coronary artery pathology. MBs have been identified as influential in modulating coronary artery intimal thickness, demonstrating a protective effect against thickening within the MB segment and an increase in thickness proximal to the MB. This is attributed to changes in mechanical stress and hemodynamics. Research involving arterial hypertension models and vein graft disease has underscored the importance of circumferential strain in vascular remodeling and intimal hyperplasia. Understanding the complex dynamics between MBs, mechanical strain, and vascular remodeling is crucial for advancing our knowledge of coronary artery disease mechanisms. This could lead to improved management strategies for cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the need for further research into MB-related vascular changes.

Right Ventricular Function and Oxidative Stress Improve with the Administration of Thyroid Hormones and Grape Juice in a Pulmonary Hypertension Model.

Adverse remodeling of lung vessels elevates pulmonary pressure and provokes pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH results in increased right ventricle (RV) afterload, causing ventricular hypertrophy and the onset of heart failure. There is no specific treatment for maladaptive RV remodeling secondary to PAH. This study aims to explore two therapeutic approaches, grape juice (GJ) and thyroid hormones (TH), on PAH-induced oxidative stress and cardiac functional changes. Parameters of echocardiography related to lung vessel resistance (AT/ET ratio), RV contractility (TAPSE), and RV diastolic function (E/A peaks ratio) were evaluated. Also, total ROS, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, calcium handling proteins, pro-oxidant and antioxidant protein expression were measured. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Both GJ and TH treatments demonstrated reductions in pulmonary resistance (~22%) and improvements in TAPSE (inotropism ~11%) and AT/ET ratio (~26%) (p<0.05). There were no changes amongst groups regarding the E/A peak ratio. Although ROS and TBARS were not statistically significant, GJ and TH treatments decreased xanthine oxidase (~49%) levels and normalized HSP70 and calcium handling protein expression (p<0.05). However, only TH treatment ameliorated diastolic function (~50%) and augmented NRF2 immunocontent (~48%) (p<0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this study stands as a pioneer in showing that TH administered together with GJ promoted functional and biochemical improvements in a PAH model. Moreover, our data suggest that GJ and TH treatments were cardioprotective, combined or not, and exhibited their beneficial effects by modulating oxidative stress and calcium-handling proteins.

Naringenin Mitigates Nanoparticulate-Aluminium Induced Neuronal Degeneration in Brain Cortex and Hippocampus through Downregulation of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation

Alumunium usage and toxicity has been a global concern especially an increased use of nanoparticulated aluminum (Al-NPs) products from the environment and the workplace. Al degrades in to nanoparticulate form in the environment due to the routine process of bioremediation in human body. Al-NPs toxicity plays key role in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration which is characterised by the development of neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques which correlates to the Alzheimer’s disease. This study evaluated the Al-NPs induced neurodegeneration and causative behavioral alterations due to oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, β-amyloid aggregation, and histopathological changes in mice. Furthermore, the preventive effect of naringenin (NAR) as a potent neuroprotective flavonoid against Al-NPs induced neurodegeneration was assessed. Al-NPs were synthesized and examined using FTIR, XRD, TEM, and particle size analyzer. Mice were orally administered with Al-NPs (6 mg/kg b.w.) followed by NAR treatment (10 mg/kg b.w. per day) for 66 days. The spatial working memory was determined by novel object recognition, T-maze, Y-maze, and Morris Water Maze tests. We measured nitric oxide, advanced oxidation of protein products, protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione, oxidised glutathione, and acetylcholine esterase, as well as cytokines analysis, immunohistochemistry, and DNA damage. Al-NPs significantly reduced the learning memory power, increased oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant enzymatic activity, increased DNA damage, altered the levels of cytokines, and increased β-amyloid aggregation in the cortex and hippocampus regions of the mice brain. These neurobehavioral impairments, neuronal oxidative stress, and histopathological alterations were significantly attenuated by NAR supplementation. In conclusion, Al-NPs may be potent neurotoxic upon exposure and that NAR could serve as a potential preventive measure in the treatment and management of neuronal degeneration.

A Study on the Time-Frequency Characteristics of Electromagnetic Radiation Signals during Concrete Cracking

At the moment of rupture, brittle materials such as concrete, coal, and rocks experience a sudden stress change that generates oscillating positive and negative charges on the crack surfaces, resulting in the emission of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) signals. While extensive investigations have focused on the EMR signals produced during the fracturing of coal and rocks, limited attention has been given to the signals arising from concrete cracking. Previous studies have predominantly concentrated on amplitude or frequency domain analysis, lacking a comprehensive exploration of the time-frequency domain characteristics of electromagnetic signals. In this study, various magnetic field sensors capable of collecting frequencies ranging from 50Hz to 50kHz are developed. A laboratory testing platform for concrete cracking is established with the utilization of data acquisition equipment and a rock point load tester. The EMR signals are subjected to time-frequency domain analysis using Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) methods. The study explores the relationship between the time-frequency domain characteristics of EMR signals and concrete dimensions, as well as the instantaneous stress drop at the moment of fracture. Experimental findings reveal that the dominant frequency of EMR signals generated during concrete cracking is in the low-frequency range. As the instantaneous stress drop at the moment of fracture increases, the frequency of the EMR signals shifts towards higher frequencies and the signals around 10kHz has a longer duration. When the frequency of EMR signals is lower than 20kHz, larger concrete dimensions result in greater stress drops at the moment of fracture, leading to higher intensity EMR signals. Utilizing the EMR characteristics of concrete cracking holds promise for monitoring the safety and stability of concrete structures.

An improved linear systems model of hydrothermal isometric tension testing to aid in assessing bone collagen quality: Effects of ribation and type-2 diabetes.

This study sought to further develop and validate a previously proposed physics-based model that maps denaturation kinetics from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to the isometric tension generated during hydrothermal isometric tension (HIT) testing of collagenous tissues. The primary objectives of this study were to verify and validate two physics-based model parameters: α, which indicates the amount of instantaneous isometric tension developed per unit of collagen denaturation, and β, which captures the proportionality between temperature and the generated isometric tension post denaturation initiation. These parameters were used as measures of bone collagen quality, employing data from HIT and DSC testing of human bone collagen from two previous studies. Additionally, given the physical basis of the model, the study aimed to further validate Max.Slope, the rate of change in isometric tensile stress with change in temperature, as an independent measure of collagen network connectivity. Max.Slope has previously been positively correlated with measures of cortical bone fracture resistance. Towards this verification and validation, the hypotheses were a) that α would correlate strongly with HIT denaturation temperature, Td, and the enthalpy of melting (ΔH) from DSC, and b) that β would correlate positively and strongly with Max.Slope.The model was employed in the analysis of HIT-DSC data from the testing of demineralized bone collagen isolated from cadaveric human femurs in two prior studies. In one study, data were collected from HIT-DSC testing of cortical bone collagen from 74 donors. Among them, 38 had a history of type 2 diabetes +/− chronic kidney disease, while the remaining 36 had no history of T2D again with or without CKD. Cortical bone specimens were extracted from the lateral mid-shaft. The second study involved 15 donor femora, with four cortical bone specimens extracted from each. Of these four, two specimens underwent a 4-week incubation in 0.1 M ribose at 37 °C to induce non-enzymatic ribation and advanced glycation endproducts, while the other two served as non-ribated controls.The examination involved investigating correlations between the model parameters α and β and various measures, such as Max.Slope, Td, ΔH, age, and duration of type 2 diabetes. The results revealed positive correlations between the model parameter β and Max.Slope (r = 0.55–0.58). The parameter α was found to be associated with Td, but also sensitive to the shape of the HIT curve around Td resulting in difficulties with variability and interpretation. As a result, while both hypotheses are confirmed, Max.Slope and β are better indicators of bone collagen quality because they are measures of the connectivity or, more generally, the integrity of the bone collagen network.

Effect of Resveratrol and Curcumin on Changes in Fatty Acid Composition and Oxidative Stress in Liver and Kidney Tissues of Rats Exposed to 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)

Effect of Resveratrol and Curcumin on Changes in Fatty Acid Composition and Oxidative Stress in Liver and Kidney Tissues of Rats Exposed to 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)

Experimental study on the effect of flexible joints of a deep-buried tunnel across an active fault under high in-situ stress conditions

During dislocation, a tunnel crossing the active fault will be damaged to varying degrees due to its permanent stratum displacement. Most previous studies did not consider the influence of the tunnel’s deep burial and the high in-situ stress, so the results were not entirely practical. In this paper, the necessity of solving the anti-dislocation problem of deep-buried tunnels is systemically discussed. Through the model test of tunnels across active faults, the differences in failures between deep-buried tunnels and shallow-buried tunnels were compared, and the dislocation test of deep-buried segmental tunnels was carried out to analyze the external stress change, lining strain, and failure mode of tunnels. The results are as follows: (1) The overall deformation of deep-buried and shallow-buried tunnels is both S-shaped. The failure mode of deep-buried tunnels is primarily characterized by shear and tensile failure, resulting in significant compressive deformation and a larger damaged area. In contrast, shallow-buried tunnels mainly experience shear failure, with the tunnel being sheared apart at the fault crossing, leading to more severe damage. (2) After the segmental structure design of the deep-buried tunnel, the “S” deformation pattern is transformed into a “ladder” pattern, and the strain of the tunnel and the peak stress of the external rock mass are reduced; therefore, damages are significantly mitigated. (3) Through the analysis of the distribution of cracks in the tunnel lining, it is found that the tunnel without a segmental structure design has suffered from penetrating failure and that cracks affect the entire lining. The cracks in a flexible segmental tunnel affect about 66.6% of the entire length of the tunnel, and cracks in a tunnel with a short segmental tunnel only affect about 33.3% of the entire length of the tunnel. Therefore, a deep-buried tunnel with a short segmental tunnel can yield a better anti-dislocation effect. (4) By comparing the shallow-buried segmental tunnel in previous studies, it is concluded that the shallow-buried segmental tunnel will also suffer from deformation outside the fault zone, while the damages to the deep-buried segmental tunnel are concentrated in the fault zone, so the anti-dislocation protection measures of the deep-buried tunnel shall be provided mainly in the fault zone. The results of the above study can provide theoretical reference and technical support for the design and reinforcement measures of the tunnel crossing active fault under high in-situ stress conditions.

Event-specific ground motion anomalies highlight the preparatory phase of earthquakes during the 2016–2017 Italian seismicity

Although physical models are improving our understanding of the crustal processes that lead to large earthquakes, observing their preparatory phases is still challenging. We show that the spatio-temporal evolution of the ground motion of small magnitude earthquakes can shed light on the preparatory phase of three main earthquakes that occurred in central Italy between 2016 and 2017. We analyze systematic deviations of peak ground accelerations generated by each earthquake from the values predicted by a reference ground motion model calibrated for background seismicity and refer to such deviations as event-specific ground motion anomalies (eGMAs). The eGMA temporal behavior indicates that during the activation phase of the main earthquakes, the ground shaking level deviates, positively or negatively, from the values expected for the background seismicity. eGMA can be exploited as beacons of stress change and help to monitor the mechanical state of the crust and the nucleation of large earthquakes.

Effectiveness of a Mental Health Chatbot for People With Chronic Diseases: Randomized Controlled Trial.

People with chronic diseases tend to experience more mental health issues than their peers without these health conditions. Mental health chatbots offer a potential source of mental health support for people with chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether a mental health chatbot can improve mental health in people with chronic diseases. We focused on 2 chronic diseases in particular: arthritis and diabetes. Individuals with arthritis or diabetes were recruited using various web-based methods. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Those in the treatment group used a mental health chatbot app (Wysa [Wysa Inc]) over a period of 4 weeks. Those in the control group received no intervention. Participants completed measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) at baseline, with follow-up testing 2 and 4 weeks later. Participants in the treatment group completed feedback questions on their experiences with the app at the final assessment point. A total of 68 participants (n=47, 69% women; mean age 42.87, SD 11.27 years) were included in the analysis. Participants were divided evenly between the treatment and control groups. Those in the treatment group reported decreases in depression (P<.001) and anxiety (P<.001) severity over the study period. No such changes were found among participants in the control group. No changes in stress were reported by participants in either group. Participants with arthritis reported higher levels of depression (P=.004) and anxiety (P=.004) severity than participants with diabetes over the course of the study, as well as higher levels of stress (P=.01); otherwise, patterns of results were similar across these health conditions. In response to the feedback questions, participants in the treatment group said that they liked many of the functions and features of the app, the general design of the app, and the user experience. They also disliked some aspects of the app, with most of these reports focusing on the chatbot's conversational abilities. The results of this study suggest that mental health chatbots can be an effective source of mental health support for people with chronic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes. Although cost-effective and accessible, these programs have limitations and may not be well suited for all individuals. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04620668; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04620668.

Digital Twins of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Patients Suggest a Mechanistic Basis for Success and Failure of Noninvasive Ventilation

Objectives: To clarify the mechanistic basis for the success or failure of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Design: We created digital twins based on mechanistic computational models of individual patients with AHRF. Setting: Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Systems Medicine Research Network. Subjects: We used individual patient data from 30 moderate-to-severe AHRF patients who had failed high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy and subsequently underwent a trial of NIV. Interventions: Using the digital twins, we evaluated lung mechanics, quantified the separate contributions of external support and patient respiratory effort to lung injury indices, and investigated their relative impact on NIV success or failure. Measurements and Main Results: In digital twins of patients who successfully completed/failed NIV, after 2 hours of the trial the mean (sd) of the change in total lung stress was –10.9 (6.2)/–0.35 (3.38) cm H2O, mechanical power –13.4 (12.2)/–1.0 (5.4) J/min, and total lung strain 0.02 (0.24)/0.16 (0.30). In the digital twins, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) produced by HFNC was similar to that set during NIV. In digital twins of patients who failed NIV vs. those who succeeded, intrinsic PEEP was 3.5 (0.6) vs. 2.3 (0.8) cm H2O, inspiratory pressure support was 8.3 (5.9) vs. 22.3 (7.2) cm H2O, and tidal volume was 10.9 (1.2) vs. 9.4 (1.8) mL/kg. In digital twins, successful NIV increased respiratory system compliance +25.0 (16.4) mL/cm H2O, lowered inspiratory muscle pressure –9.7 (9.6) cm H2O, and reduced the contribution of patient spontaneous breathing to total driving pressure by 57.0%. Conclusions: In digital twins of AHRF patients, successful NIV improved lung mechanics, lowering respiratory effort and indices associated with lung injury. NIV failed in patients for whom only low levels of positive inspiratory pressure support could be applied without risking patient self-inflicted lung injury due to excessive tidal volumes.

Analysis of non-physiological shear stress-induced red blood cell trauma across different clinical support conditions of the blood pump.

Systematic research into device-induced red blood cell (RBC) damage beyond hemolysis, including correlations between hemolysis and RBC-derived extracellular vesicles, remains limited. This study investigated non-physiological shear stress-induced RBC damage and changes in related biochemical indicators under two blood pump clinical support conditions. Pressure heads of 100 and 350mmHg, numerical simulation methods, and two in vitro loops were utilized to analyze the shear stress and changes in RBC morphology, hemolysis, biochemistry, metabolism, and oxidative stress. The blood pump created higher shear stress in the 350-mmHg condition than in the 100-mmHg condition. With prolonged blood pump operation, plasma-free hemoglobin and cholesterol increased, whereas plasma glucose and nitric oxide decreased in both loops. Notably, plasma iron and triglyceride concentrations increased only in the 350-mmHg condition. The RBC count and morphology, plasma lactic dehydrogenase, and oxidative stress across loops did not differ significantly. Plasma extracellular vesicles, including RBC-derived microparticles, increased significantly at 600min in both loops. Hemolysis correlated with plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose, and nitric oxide levels. Shear stress, but not oxidative stress, was the main cause of RBC damage. Hemolysis alone inadequately reflects overall blood pump-induced RBC damage, suggesting the need for additional biomarkers for comprehensive assessments.

Associations between Stress Mindset and Changes in Positive Affect during a Speech Task: A Preliminary Study

A stress mindset is an individual’s belief that stress has either enhancing (stress-is-enhancing mindset: SEM) or debilitating (stress-is-debilitating mindset: SDM) consequences. This study examined the associations between SEM and changes in positive affect during a speech task using a sample of 32 Japanese college students as participants. It was hypothesized that participants with SEM would show a greater increase in positive affect over time than those with SDM. The participants rested for three minutes, prepared for three minutes, delivered a speech about themselves in front of an evaluator and video camera (task period), and again rested for three minutes. Positive affect was measured immediately after the two resting periods and during the speech. The participants were divided into groups of 17 and 15 in the SEM and SDM groups, respectively, based on their stress mindset scores. Both groups were fairly matched concerning age and male/female ratio. Change patterns of positive affect did not differ between the two groups, which did not support the hypothesis. However, positive affect was significantly higher in the SEM group compared with the SDM group. The present results differed from previous findings reported in North America. Inconsistent results are discussed related to differences in the speech task and cross-cultural variations of happiness and coping with stressors between North America and Japan.

High Ammonia Nitrogen-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Mature Ovary

Ammonia nitrogen is one of the major pollutants in aquaculture. However, the mechanism of ammonia stress on ovarian development and follicular atresia is unknown. In this study, goldfish (Carassius auratus) were exposed to different ammonia concentrations, including 0 (control, C) and 50 mg/L (high, H) for 48 hr at 21 ± 0.5°C. Histology of the ovarian tissue sections revealed that the high ammonia concentrations inhibited the maturation of oocytes, and induced broken and wrinkled radiation bands, follicular membranes, and the accumulation of rod-shaped yolk particles. From the transcriptome data, a total of 1,405 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between H and C groups. Most DEGs were highly enriched in low-density lipoprotein particle-mediated signaling, oxidative stress-induced premature senescence, and ovarian steroidogenesis pathway. Furthermore, a total of 19 genes were selected and determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The changes in oxidative stress and antioxidant activity indicated the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovarian tissue. The ovarian apoptosis was induced in the H group. The downregulation of genes involved in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway indicated that ammonia nitrogen stress prevented the synthesis of sexual hormones. These results suggest that high-concentration ammonia stress induces ovarian damage in goldfish, affecting its antioxidant function, leading to excessive ROS accumulation, ovarian apoptosis, and hindered steroid synthesis, adversely affecting reproductive performance.

Inflammaging and prognostic markers of endometriosis

Inflammaging, an age-associated inflammation, is a cellular stress response caused by DNA damage, activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressors, oxidative stress, chemotherapy, mitochondrial dysfunction, or epigenetic changes. Damage to macromolecules leads to the cessation of proliferation due to the activation of pathways such as p53/p21CIP1 and p16INK4a/RB. These form the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the molecular/cellular manifestations of which in endometrial cells have features similar to those observed in endometriosis. Presently, there are no uniform diagnostic criteria or established molecular markers that can predict the development and course of endometriosis. In this regard, it is relevant to develop new minimally invasive examination methods, statistically based criteria and molecular markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of endometriosis. This review article is devoted to identifying molecular markers that characterize the pathogenesis of endometriosis during inflaming. The aim of the study was to consider modern ideas about the mechanisms of inflaming and its role in the development of endometriosis to determine possible molecular markers for predicting the course of the pathology. We used the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases to analyze and systematize the literature over the past ten years. Our review reflects the main molecular mechanisms and prognostic criteria that characterize the development of endometriosis during inflaming.

A phase-field model for study of ferroelastic deformation behavior in yttria stabilized zirconia

A modified phase-field model coupled with linear elasticity is formulated to study the effect of ferroelastic domain switching on the deformation behavior of tetragonal-prime yttria-stabilized zirconia. Simulations are performed under uniaxial tension and compression using realistic domain microstructures. This work provides new insights into the mechanism of ferroelastic deformation by studying the evolution of domains under different loading directions and strain rates. The model predicts realistic stress-strain curves consisting of stress-plateaus with accurate domain switching behavior without setting a switching criterion based on a critical stress for nucleation of new domains. The results reveal that the origin of coercive stress lies in the balance between the energy absorbed by the domain switching process and the externally applied energy. Loading in different directions but parallel to the spontaneous strain results in different levels of coercive stress as domain switching absorbs different amounts of energy. For the same reason when the strain-rate increases, the coercive stress also increases. This work establishes the relation between the coercive stress and microstructural changes during ferroelastic domain switching.

InSAR- and PCA-Based Inversion Reveals the Surface Deformation and Earthquake Sequence in the Weiyuan-Rongxian Shale Gas Field

In recent years, the rapid expansion and development of the shale gas industry in the Sichuan Basin has coincided with a series of unexpected moderate-sized earthquakes. Given that the Sichuan Basin is situated within a stable interior block, the focal mechanism of the 2019 earthquake sequence (ML4.7, ML5.4, and ML5.2) in the Weiyuan-Rongxian area remains a subject of debate. In this study, we propose a joint InSAR- and PCA- based inversion method utilizing the distributed Mogi model to investigate the spatial-temporal characteristics of a gas reservoir and evaluate the induced Coulomb stress change. The surface deformation derived from Sentinel-1 data between 2015 and 2021 was consistent with the spatial distribution of production wells, and it correlated with the temporal changes in reservoir volume associated with the shale gas operating process. The Coulomb stress loading on the regional faults suggests that human activities associated with shale gas operation likely triggered the three moderate earthquakes. Furthermore, our results indicate Coulomb stress loadings of 10 kPa, 15 kPa, 5 kPa, 3 kPa, and 87 kPa on the Dongxingchang fault, Gaoqiao fault, Dayaokou fault, Niujingao fault, and Lijiachang fold, respectively. Consequently, fluid injection and extraction during shale gas development could be contributing to the elevated seismic activity in the Weiyuan-Rongxian area.

Pore characteristics and microscopic damage mechanism of disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone exposed to dry-wet cycles

Disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone (DCM), derived from pre-disintegration treatments of waste carbonaceous mudstone, is utilized as filler for highway embankments with the aim of conserving resources. However, the mechanical behavior of DCM is greatly influenced by its microstructure, particularly pore characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the pore characteristics and microscopic damage mechanisms of DCM subjected to dry-wet cycles. Triaxial tests, along with microscopic observations using scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry, were performed. Three-dimensional pore models were reconstructed from the microscopic test results via the Markov chain-Monte Carlo method. Subsequently, a finite element method that accounts for the anisotropy of porosity was proposed based on these pore models. Finally, numerical triaxial tests were performed to analyze stress changes in DCM under triaxial loading using the proposed method. The results show that the shear strength and cohesion of the DCM decrease with an increase in dry-wet cycles, stabilizing notably after four cycles. Meanwhile, the porosity and the number of slender pores in the specimen increase, leading to intricate alterations in pore shape and distribution. A comparison between numerical and laboratory triaxial tests demonstrates closely aligned results, with distinct stress concentration behavior related to porosity anisotropy. It is revealed that dry-wet cycles cause an increase in porosity and the occurrence of more irregular-shaped pores, subsequently leading to a decrease in the cohesion. This microscopic mechanism is responsible for the shear strength damage of DCM.