Effects Of Stress Research Articles

Assessment of the adaptive ability of regenerant and original oat genotypes to soil stressors

The aim of the research is a comparative analysis of the response to soil stressors according to the biochemical and productive characteristics of the initial genotypes of oats (line 2h15) and regenerative forms (RA, RAAl, RAMn, RACd) in the framework of evaluating the effectiveness of applied cell selection schemes. In the vegetation experiment, the effect of soil stressors on plants was studied – increased acidity (pH = 4.3), toxicity of manganese ions (65.2 mg/kg, pH = 5.2) and cadmium (2.87 mg/kg, pH = 5.2). The Arkhan variety was used as a standard. The control was soil with a neutral pH (7.2). Regenerants were previously obtained in vitro on artificial media without stress (RA) and with selective agents: alumina acid (RAAl), increased Mn2+ (RAMn) and Cd2+ (RACd). On soil with stressors, the pigment content in regenerant leaves exceeded the baseline values by 1.4…1.6 times. In control, the differences between RA and the baseline are unreliable. All regenerative lines, regardless of growing conditions, were characterized by significantly lower levels of polyphenols in grain (11.2…12.4 mg/g dry weight), compared with the baseline and the standard by 1.2…1.3 times. On backgrounds with artificial addition of metals, an excess of the manganese level in the grain was noted: 1.7 times in RAMn (256.1 mg/kg), compared with the baseline, and there were no differences between them in the cadmium content in RACd (1.82…1.67 mg/kg). On the control background, RA and the baseline significantly lagged behind the standard in terms of grain weight from the plant: in regenerants – 1.29 g; baseline – 1.38 g; standard – 1.65 g. With increased acidity and cadmium, all genotypes decreased productivity relative to the control, but to a lesser extent regenerants (1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively), the baseline – 2.8 and 2 times, the standard – 2.4 and 1.9 times.

Modeling Occupational Stress on Employee Performance with Mediating and Moderating Roles of Social Support: Structural Equation Modeling and Multivariate Analysis

Purpose: This empirical study investigated the relationship between occupational stress and employee performance and the mediating and moderating effects of social support on the relationship between occupational stress and the performance of IT sector employees in Bangalore city. Methodology: A quantitative methodology was used. The data were collected via a questionnaire to measure the three reflective constructs of the study: occupational stress, employee performance, and social support. Factor loadings > 0.5 for the items of all three constructs were considered for analysis. The questionnaire's internal consistency was measured by assessing Cronbach's alpha and the split-half correlation coefficient. SEM analysis was carried out on the valid responses of 500 responses via AMOS version 28. Findings: The results of the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality indicated normally distributed data. Excellent model fit was observed, as indicated by the model fit statistics. A statistically significant direct effect between occupational stress and employee performance and social support was observed, with both the variable performance of occupational stress and social support explaining 28% of the variance in the dependent variable. performance This study also examined the moderating role of social factors in the relationship between occupational stress and employee performance. Social support also moderated the performance of the IT sector employees. Positive and statistically significant moderating effects of social support on the relationship between occupational stress and employee performance were observed. The slope analysis revealed that social support strengthens the relationship between occupational stress and employee performance. The authors suggest that organizations adopt social support strategies, such as breaks, meditation, and yoga, to relieve stress and increase social support among employees. Originality: This study assessed the effects of modeling occupational stress on employee performance with mediating and moderating roles of social support via structural equation modeling analysis and multivariate analysis.

Enhancing sports mouthguards with PLA + and PC: stress reduction, energy absorption, and topology optimization.

The objective of this paper was to compare the effectiveness of different materials for mouthguards in preventing oral and maxillofacial injuries during sports activities. The present study compares the stress-reduction and energy absorption capabilities of two other fused filament materials - poly(lactic-acid plus) (PLA+) and polycarbonate (PC), with Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which is the most commonly used material for mouthguard fabrication. Two human skulls were modelled, and a boxing glove simulated punches along the x, y, and z-axes with 5mm displacement with 1 kN force. Firstly, the maximum principal stress curve in the skull was compared for forces along the three perpendicular directions. Furthermore, the present study examines materials energy absorption properties, including their specific energy absorption characteristics and initial peak von Mises stresses. Additionally, a topology optimization approach is used to create an alternative design for a mouthguard to improve specific energy absorption. The model without a mouthguard showed the highest stress concentration of 32.298MPa in the teeth, followed by the EVA material, which resulted in a maximum principal stress of 28.525MPa. Fused filament 3D materials, such as PLA + and PC, on the other hand, showed better mechanical effectiveness in both lower jaw dislocation and lower maximum principal stress by 30.82% and 51.25% in the mandibular and maxillary teeth. Though EVA comparatively shows better specific energy absorption capability at 2.24kJ/kg post-optimization than PLA + and PC, the peak principal stress experienced in the mandibular region was comparatively higher. The topology optimization, however, improved the energy-absorbing capabilities of PLA + by 4.5 times, reaching 1.37kJ/kg and PC from 0.165kJ/kg to 0.38kJ/kg. This study demonstrates that PLA + and PC have better stress reduction capabilities than EVA and could be promising materials for the fabrication of mouthguards in sports activities. This study highlights the importance of topology optimization in dental materials science and engineering to develop safer and more effective mouthguard designs.

Transgelin 2 guards T cell lipid metabolism and antitumour function.

Mounting effective immunity against pathogens and tumours relies on the successful metabolic programming of T cells by extracellular fatty acids1-3. Fatty-acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) has a key role in this process by coordinating the efficient import and trafficking of lipids that fuel mitochondrial respiration to sustain the bioenergetic requirements of protective CD8+ T cells4,5. However, the mechanisms that govern this immunometabolic axis remain unexplored. Here we report that the cytoskeletal organizer transgelin 2 (TAGLN2) is necessary for optimal fatty acid uptake, mitochondrial respiration and anticancer function in CD8+ T cells. TAGLN2 interacts with FABP5 to facilitate its cell surface localization and function in activated CD8+ T cells. Analyses of ovarian cancer specimens revealed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses induced by the tumour microenvironment repress TAGLN2 in infiltrating CD8+ T cells, thereby enforcing their dysfunctional state. Restoring TAGLN2 expression in ER-stressed CD8+ T cells increased their lipid uptake, mitochondrial respiration and cytotoxic capacity. Accordingly, chimeric antigen receptor T cells overexpressing TAGLN2 bypassed the detrimental effects of tumour-induced ER stress and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in mice with metastatic ovarian cancer. Our study establishes the role of cytoskeletal TAGLN2 in T cell lipid metabolism and highlights the potential to enhance cellular immunotherapy in solid malignancies by preserving the TAGLN2-FABP5 axis.

Crocin has a greater therapeutic role in the restoration of behavioral impairments caused by maternal social isolation in adolescent than in adult offspring probably through GSK-3beta downregulation

Parental stress drastically impairs cognitive and behavioral functions of the offspring. Social isolation, as one of the most stressful conditions for social animals including rats induces a wide range of destructive effects on behavioral functions. On the other hand, Crocin (active component of Crocus sativa) induces pro-cognitive and neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of prolonged maternal social isolation (pre-gestational) and crocin treatment on cognitive and behavioral functions in both adolescent and adult offspring. Female adult rats (mothers) were socially isolated from PND 30 to PND 80 (50 days). The treatment was performed by intraperitoneal injections of crocin (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg) during PND 39–45 or PND 59–65 (7 consecutive days), in the rat offspring. Behavioral assessments were done when the offspring were on PND 45 (adolescent) or PND 65 (adult). The expression level of Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3beta) in the hippocampus was measured using real-time PCR. The results showed maternal social isolation decreased locomotion and impaired memory in adolescents, and increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and GSK-3beta level, and decreased pain threshold in both adolescents and adults. Crocin (30 and 50 mg/kg) restored or attenuated the effect of maternal social isolation on behavioral functions and GSK-3beta in adolescents and adults, with more effect in adolescents. In conclusion, we showed that crocin treatment can restore the destructive effects of maternal social isolation stress in the offspring, with stronger therapeutic effects in adolescents. Also, GSK-3beta downregulation may underlie the beneficial effects of crocin.

Drought Tolerance in Plants: Physiological and Molecular Responses

Drought, a significant environmental challenge, presents a substantial risk to worldwide agriculture and the security of food supplies. In response, plants can perceive stimuli from their environment and activate defense pathways via various modulating networks to cope with stress. Drought tolerance, a multifaceted attribute, can be dissected into distinct contributing mechanisms and factors. Osmotic stress, dehydration stress, dysfunction of plasma and endosome membranes, loss of cellular turgidity, inhibition of metabolite synthesis, cellular energy depletion, impaired chloroplast function, and oxidative stress are among the most critical consequences of drought on plant cells. Understanding the intricate interplay of these physiological and molecular responses provides insights into the adaptive strategies plants employ to navigate through drought stress. Plant cells express various mechanisms to withstand and reverse the cellular effects of drought stress. These mechanisms include osmotic adjustment to preserve cellular turgor, synthesis of protective proteins like dehydrins, and triggering antioxidant systems to counterbalance oxidative stress. A better understanding of drought tolerance is crucial for devising specific methods to improve crop resilience and promote sustainable agricultural practices in environments with limited water resources. This review explores the physiological and molecular responses employed by plants to address the challenges of drought stress.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-induced changes in the antioxidant system: a review.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a heterogeneous condition characterized by liver steatosis, inflammation, consequent fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Chronic impairment of lipid metabolism is closely related to oxidative stress, leading to cellular lipotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The detrimental effect of oxidative stress is usually accompanied by changes in antioxidant defense mechanisms, with the alterations in antioxidant enzymes expression/activities during MASLD development and progression reported in many clinical and experimental studies. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the present research on MASLD-induced changes in the catalytic activity and expression of the main antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione S-transferases, glutathione reductase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase) and in the level of non-enzymatic antioxidant glutathione. Furthermore, an overview of the therapeutic effects of vitamin E on antioxidant enzymes during the progression of MASLD will be presented. Generally, at the beginning of MASLD development, the expression/activity of antioxidant enzymes usually increases to protect organisms against the increased production of reactive oxygen species. However, in advanced stage of MASLD, the expression/activity of several antioxidants generally decreases due to damage to hepatic and extrahepatic cells, which further exacerbates the damage. Although the results obtained in patients, in various experimental animal or cell models have been inconsistent, taken together the importance of antioxidant enzymes in MASLD development and progression has been clearly shown.

Evaluation of Some Antioxidant Parameters (Vitamin E & C), MDA and Hemoglobin Levels, in Women of Reproductive Age, Based on Mode of Child Delivery, in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Childbirth indicates the positive outcome of pregnancy in humans, in which mode of child delivery, which is either by vaginal delivery (VD) or cesarean-section delivery (CS) is considered critical in maintaining maternal health. Antioxidants delay or inhibit cellular damage, mainly through their free radical-scavenging property. Changes in vitamin E and vitamin C antioxidants, lipid peroxidation (MDA) and hemoglobin (Hb) can lead to complications, forming reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular imbalance, bringing about oxidative stress (OS). These parameters remove the ROS efficiently and protect the body from the adverse effects of oxidative stress. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of mode of child delivery on maternal VE, VC, MDA and Hb status, in women of reproductive age in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. It involved 200 pregnant women, within the reproductive ages of 20 to 39 years, with 100 subjects being those who gave birth through VD and 100 being those who gave birth through CS. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with results expressed as mean ± standard deviation and presented in tables. Independent t-tests and ANOVA were used for comparisons, with p≤0.05 considered significant. The results from this study showed that, women who gave birth through VD had significantly lower VE (p<0.001) and VC (p<0.001) levels compared to those who had CS. Similarly, the levels of MDA were significantly (p<0.001) reduced in women who gave birth through VD compared to those who had CS. The antepartum Hb of VD women was significantly higher than postpartum levels, while the antepartum Hb of CS women was significantly lower compared to the postpartum levels. The results indicate that women who gave birth through VD had significantly reduced VE, VC, MDA and Hb levels, after childbirth, compared to births of CS delivery. It is recommended that antioxidant parameters (Vitamin E & C), MDA and hemoglobin (Hb) levels, be assessed in women during childbirth in order to help in the management of their postpartum conditions.

Integrating observational and modelled data to advance the understanding of heat stress effects on pregnant subsistence farmers in the gambia

Studies on the effect of heat stress on pregnant women are scarce, particularly in highly vulnerable populations. To support the risk assessment of pregnant subsistence farmers in the West Kiang district, The Gambia we conducted a study on the pathophysiological effects of extreme heat stress and assessed the applicability of heat stress indices. From ERA5 climate reanalysis we added location-specific modelled solar radiation to datasets of a previous observational cohort study involving on-site measurements of 92 women working in the heat. Associations between physiological and environmental variables were assessed through Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, mixed effect linear models with random intercepts per participant and confirmatory composite analysis. We found Pearson correlations between r-values of 0 and 0.54, as well as independent effects of environmental variables on skin- and tympanic temperature, but not on heart rate, within a confidence interval of 98%. Pregnant women experienced stronger pathophysiological effects from heat stress in their third rather than in their second trimester. Environmental heat stress significantly altered maternal heat strain, particularly under humid conditions above a 50% relative humidity threshold, demonstrating interactive effects. Based on our results, we recommend including heat stress indices (e.g. UTCI or WBGT) in local heat-health warning systems.

Correlations between Metabolic Parameters, Blood Cytokine Levels, and Behavioral Parameters in Male and Female Rats of Different Age after Intrauterine Stress.

We studied interrelationships between behavioral parameters, metabolic processes, and cytokine content in the blood of male and female rats at different stages of postnatal ontogeny after intrauterine stress (mothers were forced to swim in cold water from the 10th to the 16th day of pregnancy). Correlations between behavioral and metabolic parameters in prenatally stressed rats were revealed at an earlier age (day 21 of life) than in controls. In comparison with intact rats, in males exposed to intrauterine stress no relationships between these parameters were revealed at older age, while in females, their direction and character change on day 60 of life. In prenatally stressed males, correlations of the blood levels of IL-6 were revealed: inverse relationships with behavioral parameters on the days 21 and 30 and direct relationships with metabolic parameters on day 60 of life. In prenatally stressed females on day 30 of life, we observed negative correlations between IL-4 levels and metabolic parameters that were absent under normal conditions. Thus, intrauterine stress leads to reorganization of the relationships between the parameters of metabolic and immune processes, which are essential for the purposeful behavior of mammals. The effects of stress seem to depend on the sex of the offspring and stage of postnatal development.

Precise modulation of the debonding behaviours of ultra-thin wafers by laser-induced hot stamping effect and thermoelastic stress wave for advanced packaging of chips

Abstract Laser debonding technology has been widely used in advanced chip packaging, such as fan-out integration, 2.5D/3D ICs and MEMS devices. Typically, laser debonding of bonded pairs (R/R separation) is typically achieved by completely removing the material from the ablation region within the release material layer at high energy densities. However, this R/R separation method often results in a significant amount of release material and carbonized debris remaining on the surface of the device wafer, severely reducing product yields and cleaning efficiency for ultra-thin device wafers. Here, we propose an interfacial separation strategy based on laser-induced hot stamping effect and thermoelastic stress wave, which enables stress-free separation of wafer bonding pairs at the interface of the release layer and the adhesive layer (R/A separation). By comprehensively analyzing the micro-morphology and material composition of the release material, we elucidate the laser debonding behavior of bonded pairs under different separation modes. Additionally, we have calculated the ablation threshold of the release material in the case of wafer bonding and established the processing window for different separation methods. This work offers a fresh perspective on the development and application of laser debonding technology. The proposed R/A interface separation method is versatile, controllable and highly reliable, and does not leave release materials and carbonized debris on device wafers, demonstrating strong industrial adaptability, which greatly facilitates the application and development of advanced packaging for ultra-thin chips.

Understanding the effect of occupational stress on sleep quality in firefighters: the modulating role of depression and burnout.

Sleep quality of firefighters can be negatively affected by occupational stressors. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted to understand how work-related stress, post-traumatic stress, burnout and depression collectively contribute to sleep quality. Professional firefighters in Northern Iran completed a survey comprised of demographic information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, HSE's Stress Indicator Tool, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Maslach's Burnout Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory during a work rest break. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Mean age of the 2339 firefighters who completed the survey was 32.30 (5.74) years. Most experienced poor sleep quality, scoring above the established cut-off of 5. Levels of work-related stress, post-traumatic stress, burnout and depression were high. Fit indices of the final theoretical model were all adequate: the obtained and adjusted goodness-of-fit indices were 0.925 and 0.917 respectively. Comparative, and incremental fit indices were 0.946 and 0.948 respectively. Root mean squared error of approximation was 0.061. Post-traumatic stress was directly and indirectly related to sleep quality through eight paths, modulated by burnout variables and depression. Work-related stress was negatively related to sleep quality through four paths modulated, by burnout variables and depression. The findings illustrate the complex relationships of work-related stress and post-traumatic stress and sleep quality. High levels of poor sleep quality in this occupation emphasise the need to develop targeted and sustainable interventions to manage occupational stressors, burnout and depression to improve sleep quality in firefighters.

Crack Growth and Fatigue Strength of Deck‐Rib Welded Joints in Orthotropic Steel Decks Integrating Mean Stress Effect

ABSTRACTFatigue tests were conducted to investigate the effects of mean stress, stress range, and deck thickness on crack growth and fatigue failure of the deck‐rib welded joint. According to the experimental results, a fatigue failure criterion and a fatigue evaluation method for deck‐rib welded joints, which consider mean stress effect, was proposed. The results indicated that the stress range remains the dominating factor, but the influence of mean stress cannot be ignored. It was proposed that the crack length reaching approximately 150 mm and the depth reaching around 70% deck thickness can be taken as the fatigue failure criterion, while increase in mean stress would reduce the critical crack length but increase the critical crack depth. Besides, multiple cracks will weaken the fatigue strength. It is recommended to use Walker method and the FAT 71 curve with enhancement factor to evaluate the fatigue strength under symmetrical stress cycle.

Influence of Foliar Application of Nanoparticles on Low Temperature Resistance of Rice Seedlings

Chilling stress, a common abiotic factor, adversely affects the growth and biomass of rice seedlings during the early stages, ultimately reducing the yield. Effective strategies to mitigate these negative impacts are essential for improving rice productivity. The application of nanotechnology in agriculture, particularly nanoparticles (NPs), has shown a promising effect in alleviating chilling stress in plants. This study evaluates the effects of various nanoparticles, ZnO (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L), Fe2O3 (0, 50, 75, and 100 mg/L), TiO2 (0, 50, 75, and 100 mg/L), and CeO2 (0, 50, 75, and 100 mg/L) on the chilling resistance with one control (a water spray) under a normal temperature. Four rice cultivars: LLY-7108 and XZX-6 (Low-temperature-tolerant), and LLY-32 and ZJZ-17 (Low-temperature-susceptible) were tested in this experiment. Rice seedlings were subjected to low temperature conditions (12 h light 14 °C/12 h dark, at 10 °C) for five days, followed by seven days of recovery. The results of this study demonstrate that NPs significantly enhanced seedling height fresh/dry weight and root length compared to untreated controls under chilling stress. NP treatment also reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline content, while enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, thereby mitigating oxidative damage. The four rice varieties exhibited clear signs of rapid growth recovery and positive physiological changes due to NPs’ application. Among the tested cultivars, LLY-7108 showed the most substantial recovery and physiological responses, while ZJZ-17 exhibited the least. The findings of this study indicate that the foliar application of ZnO (100 mg/L), Fe2O3 (50 mg/L), TiO2 (50 mg/L), and CeO2 (75 mg/L) NPs effectively mitigates chilling stress in rice seedlings, likely by enhancing the antioxidant enzymatic activity while reducing the oxidative damage. This study highlights the potential of NPs as effective agents in reducing the adverse effects of chilling stress on rice.

Effects of Glass Bead Size on Dissolution Profiles in Flow-through Dissolution Systems (USP 4).

The effects of glass bead size in the conical space of flow-through cells on the dissolution profiles were investigated in a USP apparatus 4. Dissolution tests of disintegrating and non-disintegrating tablets in flow-through dissolution systems were performed using semi-high precision glass beads with diameters ranging from 0.5mm to 1.5mm. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to evaluate the effect of shear stress from the dissolution media flow. The use of smaller glass beads in a larger cell resulted in a faster dissolution of the model formulations under certain test conditions. The effect on the dissolution was highly dependent on the size of the beads in the top layer, including those in contact with the tablets. The absence of a bead-size effect on the dissolution of an orodispersible tablet in a small cell can be explained by the floating fragments during the test. CFD analysis showed that smaller bead diameters led to greater shear stress on the tablet, which was correlated with the dissolution rate. Hence, fluid flow through the narrow gaps between the small beads generated strong local flows, causing shear stress. The size of the glass beads used in flow-through cells affects the dissolution rate of tablets by altering the shear stress on the tablets in certain cases (e.g., direct deposition of the formulation on glass beads, large cells, and very low flow rates). Thus, glass bead size must be considered for a robust dissolution test in a flow-through cell system.

Analysis of composite wavelength multilayer dielectric film damage based on the field-thermal effect

Taking SiO2/HfO2 multilayer dielectric films as the research object, when the total laser energy is the same, the effects of different laser parameters on film damage under 1064 nm and 355 nm composite wavelength pulse irradiation are analyzed. The results show that different energy ratios lead to exponential differences in the electron number density inside the film, but they are far from reaching the field damage threshold. Comprehensive analysis shows that film damage is mainly affected by thermal melt and stress. The greater the difference between an energy ratio of 1ω and 3ω, the greater the thermal stress in the film, the higher the stress peak, and the more obvious the damage effect of thermal stress on the film. Under the condition of 50%1ω, the thermal effect in the film is minimal, which can ensure that the film is not damaged as much as possible. The model method used in this paper only takes the current film system as an example for specific research and can be extended to all film systems for analysis.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) seed performance enhanced under drought stress by chitosan and minerals coating.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) var. Saccharata is a tropical and semitropical annual cereal with low germination, poor vigor, and weak seedling establishment in the soil. In order to enhance the physical properties of sweet corn and examine the effects of seed coating on the morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of sweet corn seedlings under drought stress conditions, we conducted a factorial experiment in greenhouse conditions. Seed coating was carried out using a mixture of vermiculite (V), kaolin (K), and perlite (P) in a ratio of 3:1.5:2. The main factors of the greenhouse experiment comprised three levels of coating treatment (chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), NaAlg 1% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), and non-coated seeds as a control) along with drought stress at four levels (0, -0.3, -0.6, and -0.9bar). In greenhouse conditions, the growth indexes of sweet corn seedlings were studied under increasing levels of drought stress. The results showed that as drought stress levels increased, certain growth indicators such as seedling emergence and seedling emergence rate, soluble protein, chlorophyll total content, nitrogen, and phosphorus content decreased. On the other hand, mean emergence, proline, potassium, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide were increased. The study found that the highest seedling emergence percentage occurred in the coating treatment of chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) at all levels of drought stress. Overall, seed coating with the Chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) treatment improved the performance of sweet corn seeds and reduced the negative effects of drought stress by increasing seedling emergence and establishment.

A Study On Effects Of Work-Life Balance And Women Employees Job Productivity In It Organizations

This study examined just at work-life balance and women productivity in only few IT sectors in Chennai. The study was stimulated by the IT sectoring industry's high rate of work-life unequal distribution. The study specifically examined the impact of workload pressure, role conflict, family stress, and work flexibility on female productivity. The relevant conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literatures were investigated. This work examined the work life balance and ladies productivity in selected IT sectors in Chennai city. The study was necessitated by high rate of work-life unbalance in the IT sectoring industry. Specifically the study determined the effect of workload pressure, role conflict, family stress and Work flexibility on ladies productivity. Relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literatures were examined. A total of fifteen IT sectors were studied, and the population of study was 2021, with the sample size of total sample size evaluated using the statistical formula SPSS. The research also revealed that family stress has a significant impact on female productivity. The study concluded that work load pressure, role conflict, and family-related stress all have a negative impact on female productivity. According to the study, people should relax in ways that do not interfere with their work; it can be an efficient way to recover from identified work-life balance issues. Management must take note of the volume of work assigned to women in order to deal with work-life balance issues in the workplace. Management must act immediately to rectify the issue; work should be delegated accordingly to ensure that no one is overloaded. Ladies should be given appropriate breaks and vacation time.

SH guided wave excitation in rails for defect and stress monitoring

Monitoring rail defects and thermal stress is imperative in ensuring the safety of railway transportation. Guided-wave-based inspection techniques emerge as a promising solution for concurrently detecting both the defects and thermal stress in rails. However, the substantial multimodal and dispersive nature of guided waves in the rail poses limitations on the application and advancement of this technology. This study systematically investigates the propagation characteristics of the SH0-like wave (the lowest-order shear horizontal-like wave) in the rail and its effectiveness in defect and axial stress monitoring through finite element simulations and experiments. A method based on dual opposite polarization active elements, and the corresponding piezoelectric transducers are proposed to excite SH0-like wave in the rail web and rail foot. Results show that SH0-like wave can travel stably across a broad frequency range in the rail web and rail foot. Additionally, both the simulations and experiments confirm that the SH0-like wave in the rail web is suitable for monitoring axial stress, as its velocity changes linearly with axial stress variations. Furthermore, the ability of the SH0-like wave to detect cracks and hole defects in the rail web is experimentally demonstrated. Given that the SH0-like wave is quasi-nondispersive in a broad frequency range and an SH0-like wave with high SRN can be effectively generated using the proposed method, this research aims to offer a practical technical solution to overcome the challenges of multimodal and dispersive effects in the guided-wave-based rail inspection techniques. It also sets the stage for developing a comprehensive system capable of simultaneously monitoring the defects and thermal stress in rails.

Effects of nickel, lead, and copper stress on the growth and biochemical responses of Aegilops tauschii seedlings

Heavy metal pollution causes severe abiotic stress in cereal crops around the world. This study investigated the effects of different concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg·kg–1) of nickel, lead, and copper stress on the growth and biochemical responses of Aegilops tauschii seedlings, to provide a reference for research on the mechanism of invasion and screening potential sources of wheat tolerance genes. The results showed that nickel, lead, and copper stress caused a significant decrease in the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll (a + b) in A. tauschii, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis to different degrees and hindering seedling growth, which was reflected in significant reductions in plant height and root length, with the most notable effect observed under stress by 300 mg·kg–1 lead. As the concentration of heavy metals increased, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and APX), non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH and AsA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances (proline and soluble proteins) in A. tauschii significantly increased. Additionally, heavy metal stress increased H2O2 and TBARS levels. However, when the nickel, lead, and copper concentrations reached 300 mg·kg–1, no significant differences were found in H2O2 or TBARS levels compared to those in the CK group. To summarize, A. tauschii can mitigate the accumulation of ROS and membrane lipid peroxidation caused by heavy metal stress through self-regulation, thus exhibiting a certain degree of tolerance to stress caused by different concentrations of nickel, lead, and copper. Finally, the evaluation using the membership function method revealed that among the three heavy metals, A. tauschii exhibited the strongest adaptation to Cu, followed by Ni and Pb.