Phase Competition Research Articles

A Descriptive Analysis of the Seasonal Patterns of Bone Stress Injury Incidence in Division I Collegiate Distance Runners.

A bone stress injury (BSI) is a common overuse injury in collegiate athletes, particularly cross-country and track and field runners. Limited work describes the seasonality of BSIs or the differences in rates and anatomic locations of BSIs in collegiate runners. To describe seasonally related trends in anatomic locations of BSIs in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I male and female middle- and long-distance runners. Descriptive epidemiological study. Data from a 7-year prospective study of 2 NCAA Division I cross-country and track and field programs characterized BSIs over the years 2013 to 2020. Femoral neck, pelvic, sacral, lumbar spine, and calcaneal BSIs were considered trabecular-rich. All remaining BSIs were classified as cortical-rich. Total athlete-years of follow-up were calculated by subtracting the number of days an athlete was unable to run from the number of total study participation days. Annual incidence rates were calculated by dividing the number of BSIs by the total athlete-years of follow-up for that year, and monthly incidence rates were calculated by dividing the number of BSIs in a given month by the total athlete-years of follow-up for that month. Participants included 221 collegiate distance runners (114 female, 107 male). There were 154 BSIs across 482 total athlete-years, resulting in an incidence rate of 32 BSIs per 100 athlete-years. The female BSI rate was more than double that of the male BSI rate: 45 versus 20 BSIs per 100 athlete-years, respectively. The highest monthly BSI rates occurred during competitive months, with the lowest monthly BSI rates occurring during noncompetitive months. Tibial and femoral shaft BSI rates peaked during the early competitive phases of each season, whereas metatarsal BSI rates remained relatively constant. Cortical-rich BSI rates varied by sex and seasonal phase, whereas trabecular-rich BSI rates remained relatively consistent. BSIs were common in collegiate distance runners, especially among female athletes, with higher rates during the competitive phases of the running season. Tibial and femoral shaft BSI rates were highest during the competitive phases and lowest during the noncompetitive phases, while metatarsal BSI rates remained consistent throughout the season. Cortical-rich BSI rates varied by seasonal phase and sex, whereas trabecular-rich BSI rates were relatively constant.

The dual impact: physiological and psychological effects of rapid weight loss in wrestling.

Athletes competing in weight-class sports often seek to gain an advantage by competing at lower weights. Athletes competing in weight-class sports often seek to gain an advantage by competing at lower weights. To achieve this, they aim to lose weight during the competition period, leading to various physiological and psychological changes. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical, hormonal, and psychological effects of weight reduction in elite wrestlers during the competition phase. Thirty-seven elite male free style wrestlers (age: 19.02 ± 1.27) participated in the study. Samples were collected 5 days before and on the day of the match. A significant decrease in body weight was observed (p < 0.05). Levels of creatine, BUN, sodium, hematocrit, hemoglobin, LDH, and cortisol increased, while albumin, testosterone, and FSH levels decreased. There were no significant differences in potassium, ALT, AST, TSH levels. State and trait anxiety scores of the wrestlers increased significantly during the RWL period. The study concluded that elite wrestlers experienced significant changes in physiological and psychological parameters during the competition periods. These findings underscore the importance of careful monitoring of RWL strategies by coaches and athletes to mitigate the adverse effects on nutritional status, psychological well-being, and physical performance.

Meta-analyses of the effects of high-intensity interval training in elite athletes-part I: mean effects on various performance measures.

Meta-analysts have found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves physical performance, but limited evidence exists regarding its effects on highly trained athletes, measures beyond maximum oxygen uptake ( O2max), and the moderating effects of different types of HIIT. In this study, we present meta-analyses of the effects of HIIT focusing on these deficits. The effects of 6 types of HIIT and other moderators were derived from 34 studies involving highly trained endurance and elite athletes in percent units via log-transformation from separate meta-regression mixed models for sprint, time-trial, aerobic/anaerobic threshold, peak speed/power, repeated-sprint ability, O2max, and exercise economy. The level of evidence for effect magnitudes was evaluated based on the effect uncertainty and the smallest important change of 1%. Compared with control training, HIIT showed good to excellent evidence for the substantial enhancement of most measures for some athlete subgroups in practically important study settings defined by effect moderators (maximum of 12.6%, for endurance female athletes after 6 weeks of aerobic traditional long intervals). The assessment of the moderators indicated good evidence of greater effects as follows: with more aerobic types of HIIT for O2max (+2.6%); with HIIT added to conventional training for most measures (+1.1-2.3%); during the competition phase for O2max (+4.3%); and with tests of longer duration for sprint (+5.5%) and time trial (+4.9%). The effects of sex and type of athlete were unclear moderators. The heterogeneity of HIIT effects within a given type of setting varied from small to moderate (standard deviations of 1.1%-2.3%) and reduced the evidence of benefit in some settings. Although athletes in some settings can be confident of the beneficial effects of HIIT on some measures related to competition performance, further research is needed. There is uncertainty regarding the mean effects on exercise economy and the modifying effects of sex, duration of intervention, phase of training, and type of HIIT for most measures. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=236384.

ОЦЕНКА ВЛИЯНИЯ ДЛИТЕЛЬНЫХ БЕГОВЫХ НАГРУЗОК НА ВЕРОЯТНОСТЬ ВОЗНИКНОВЕНИЯ КАРИЕСА ЗУБОВ

Recently, there has been a popularization of participation in marathons and ultramarathons: the number of amateur athletes engaged in running is increasing, and therefore the number of starts is increasing, both in the official sports segment and in the commercial sector. The development of aerobic capabilities at long and ultra-long distances requires significant physiological resources from the human body. Increased physical activity, as well as emotional stress associated with competition, are an integral part of competitions such as marathons and ultramarathons. High-intensity exercises associated with running long and ultra-long distances suppress temporary immunity, both local and general. The compensatory response to this stress is an immunosuppressive response, which has a certain reaction in all organs and systems, including the oral cavity. Poor dental health in athletes can negatively impact training, performance and well-being both in everyday life and during the training and competition phases. In this regard, dental diseases can have a negative impact on the performance of track and field athletes, as has been shown in regional studies in different countries. This study is devoted to the study of the effect of prolonged running loads on the change in the dental status of participants in marathons and ultramarathons.

Phase Switch Driven by the Hidden Half-Ice, Half-Fire State in a Ferrimagnet.

The notion of "half fire, half ice" was recently introduced to describe an exotic macroscopic ground-state degeneracy emerging in a ferrimagnet under the critical magnetic field, in which the "hot" spins are fully disordered on the sublattice with smaller magnetic moments and the "cold" spins are fully ordered on the sublattice with larger magnetic moments. Here, we further point out that this state has a twin named "half ice, half fire" in which the hot and cold spins switch positions. The new state is an excited state-thus hidden in the ground-state phase diagram-and is robust with respect to the interactions that destroy the half-fire, half-ice state. We demonstrate with exact results how this hidden state can drive phase switching at desirable finite temperature, even for the one-dimensional Ising model where phase transition at finite temperature is forbidden. We suggest that our findings may open a new door to the understanding and controlling of phase competition and transition in unconventional frustrated systems.

A multi-stage balancing scheduling method for flexible loads of large-scale electric vehicles

To address the degradation of grid quality and charging efficiency associated with the large-scale integration of electric vehicles (EVs), a multi-stage balanced flexible load scheduling method is proposed. This approach is designed to facilitate peak shaving and valley filling, balance intermittent energy fluctuations, and provide auxiliary services, thereby significantly altering system load characteristics, smoothing energy fluctuations, reducing operational costs, and enhancing the regulatory capabilities of power grid dispatching operations. A multi-objective optimization mathematical model is developed, focusing on key indicators that impact the scheduling process, including network loss, operational cost, and user satisfaction. A multi-stage flexible load scheduling framework is introduced within the competitive swarm optimization (CSO) algorithm, resulting in the design of an advanced CSO algorithm. This algorithm is distinguished from traditional methods by the implementation of advanced learning based on grouping after a random competitive learning phase, which enhances the efficiency of particle swarm learning while ensuring stable population convergence throughout the optimization process. Furthermore, the CSO framework is maintained to ensure effective population diversity, greatly improving the optimization performance. Simulation results indicate that the voltage fluctuation index of the proposed algorithm is 1.8% lower than that of the standard CSO algorithm, while network loss and operational costs are reduced by 2.83 and 5.81%, respectively, thereby validating the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.

Strategic Analysis of Net Exchanges in Professional Padel: Insights From Different Competition Phases of the World Padel Tour Finland Padel Open Tournament.

This study analyzed the effectiveness of net exchanges (ie,number of times the pairs exchange their zone on the court from the net zone to the back zone or vice versa) in men's and women's professional padel depending on the competition phase. Data were collected from 41 matches, comprising a total of 4829 points, from both the qualifying and the main draws of the World Padel Tour Finland Padel Open tournament. Descriptive analysis (frequency and percentage) and inferential tests (Pearson chi-square [χ2], Cramer V coefficient [Vc], corrected standardized residuals, and chi-squared automatic interaction detection) were carried out. There were significant differences (P < .05) in net exchanges between the main and qualifying draws, both in men's (79.6% vs 72.1% for no exchanges) and women's (62.2% vs 57.6% for no exchanges) padel. Additionally, differences in the likelihood of winning points based on whether the serving pair or the returning pair finished the rally at the net were highlighted. Indeed, finishing rallies at the net for the serving pairs increased the probability of scoring a winning shot (ie,in even-numbered net exchanges), while finishing rallies away from the net (ie,in odd-numbered net exchanges) was more likely to result in errors, for both male and female players and main and qualifying draws. This study provides valuable insights into the strategic behavior of professional padel matches, highlighting the importance of net dominance and its impact on match outcomes, particularly in relation to gender differences and phase of competition.

The two-stage pricing of preannouncement for platform introducing self-operated logistics under consideration of the first- or second-mover advantage

PurposeThe optimization of transport efficiency by self-operated logistics has brought competitive advantages to platform, who is gradually developing self-operated logistics and adopting the preannouncement to announce the related information in advance. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development order of self-operated logistics on platform under consideration of preannounce behavior.Design/methodology/approachThis paper considers the sequence of platform constructing the self-operated logistics and constructs the two-stage pricing models to analyze the optimal pricing of platforms under different preannounce strategies, including four scenarios: {no-preannounce, first mover}, {no-preannounce, second mover}, {preannounce, first mover} and {preannounce, second mover}.FindingsThe authors receive several conclusions: First, under no-preannounce scenario, regardless of the sequence of entry into self-operated logistics market, when the quality differentiation of two platforms’ self-operated logistics is moderate, the ratio pricing of two platforms at competition stage is positively correlated with quality differentiation of their self-operated logistics. Additionally, there exists the substitution effect between preannouncement and quality differentiation under no-preannounce condition, and the first-mover platform should increase the pricing of the monopoly phase until it is twice as high as its pricing during the competition phase. Interestingly, the pricing of platform and the strategy for developing self-operated logistics are symmetric between first- and second-mover scenarios.Originality/valueFirst, this study analyzes the pricing and self-operated logistics construction under different preannounce strategies, enriching the interdisciplinary research on corporate marketing and providing scientific suggestions on how to use preannouncement to acquire competitive advantages. Second, this paper also considers the sequence of platform developing self-operated logistics and analyzes how platform develops self-operated logistics as well as pricing to gain first-mover and second-mover advantages. Third, this paper develops the two-stage pricing models that consider the continuity of pricing in different cycles, enriching the relevant theories and models.

Deep learning accelerated phase prediction of refractory multi-principal element alloys

The tunability of the mechanical properties of refractory multi-principal-element alloys (RMPEAs) makes them attractive for numerous high-temperature applications. It is well-established that the phase stability of RMPEAs controls their mechanical properties. In this study, we develop a deep learning framework that is trained on a CALPHAD-derived database and is predictive of RMPEA phases with high accuracy up to eight phases within the elemental space of Ti, Fe, Al, V, Ni, Nb, and Zr with an accuracy of approximately 90 %. We further investigate the causes for the low out-of-domain performance of the deep learning models in predicting phases of RMPEAs with new elemental sets and propose a strategy to mitigate this performance shortfall. While our proposed approach shows marginal improvement in accurately predicting the phases of RMPEAs with new elemental sets, we should emphasize that overcoming the out-of-domain problem remains largely challenging, particularly in materials science where there are missing elements or absent material classes in training data hindering predictions, thus slowing the discovery of new potential materials. Predicting phase competition is inherently difficult due to the very small differences in free energies (on the order of meV/atom) that govern competing phases. Current deep learning models, including ours, face significant limitations in capturing these subtle energy differences. Accordingly, more substantial future work is needed to fully address this challenge and achieve robust out-of-domain predictions in complex alloy systems.

Correlational analysis of psychophysiological functions indicators, technical and physical readiness of young football players aged 12-13 at different training process stages

Background and purpose At the current stage, many teams in game sports have certain difficulties with stable success on the world sports arena. Football in this sense is no exception. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between psychophysiological functions and indicators of physical and technical readiness of young football players aged 12-13 years in the preparatory and competitive periods of the annual cycle of the training process. Materials and methods 12 football players of the Kharkiv Junior High School, 12-13 years old, took part in the study. We used the next methods. Determining the level of physical fitness: Running for 60 m, 1000 m run, Shuttle race, Pull-ups on the crossbar, Jump from a place. Determination of the level of technical preparation: Juggling. The main task of this test, the player needs to kick the ball so that it does not fall to the ground, this is done with the feet, the athlete must kick the ball as many times as possible; Shot at range. Held from the line of the field, the football player must hit the ball as far as possible from the run, this distance is measured in meters. Results In the preparatory phase for young soccer players aged 12-13 years, the total number of reliable relationships between the psychophysiological index and the physical and technical readiness index was 12. In the competition phase, the total number of reliable relationships between psychophysiological indicators and physical and technical readiness indicators remained the same for young soccer players aged 12-13 years, also 12 relationships. Conclusion The data obtained reflect the formative process of a specific type of soccer player, in which the speed of neurodynamic processes is related to the physical qualities of speed and speed-power.

Strain-Induced Tunable Enhancement of Piezoelectricity in a Novel Molecular Multiferroic Material.

Multiferroics are appealing because of application potentials in data storage devices, sensors, transducers, and energy harvesters. Molecular multiferroics emerge as a promising alternative to inorganic multiferroics due to flexibility, light weight, low toxicity, solution processing, structural diversity, and chemical tunability. While researches have predominantly focused on perovskite structures, studies on molecular ionic multiferroics remain relatively limited. It is urgent to creatively build a novel platform for studying and developing the coupling and interaction between the stress, electricity, and magnetism. Knowing this, the work focuses on a novel organic-inorganic hybrid multiferroic N-ethyl-N-(fluoromethyl)-N-methylethylammonium tetrabromoferrate (III) showing coexisting magnetic and electric orderings. It undergoes antiferromagnetic, ferroelectric, and ferroelastic transitions. Notably, under a strain of 2.0%, the piezoelectric response increases tenfold, and the coercive field of ferroelectric polarization is reduced by half. The strain-induced enhancement of piezoelectricity is rarely reported in molecular multiferroics. Density functional theory is employed to predict that the mechanism of the large piezoelectric response under strain engineering is related to the cation rotation and phase switching between the stable phase and an energetically competitive metastable phase. This study creates a new paradigm to develop molecular multiferroics and future microelectronic devices for energy conversion.

Defect engineering induced phase competition in BNT-based relaxor ferroelectrics for dielectric energy storage

Defect engineering induced phase competition in BNT-based relaxor ferroelectrics for dielectric energy storage

Early properties and reaction mechanism of hybrid alkali-activated cements (HAACs)

Geopolymers have received extensive attention due to their greenhouse effect. However, the application of geopolymers has been restricted by their workability and manufacturing technique. Hybrid alkali-activated cements (HAACs), which are transition materials between cement and geopolymers, have gradually been developed. The chemical reactions of HAACs are complicated, and adjusting their performance is difficult. In this study, the competitive reactivities and phase contents of commonly used HAACs with different raw material compositions and curing conditions are examined. The reaction degrees of the clinker (RoC), C-(A)-S-H+N(C)-A-S-H gel and unreacted amorphous particle (UAP) contents were calculated. The experimental results indicated that the quantity and structure of the gel were optimized when the Si2O/Na2O and Na2O contents of HAAC-G3 were 1.5 and 4 %, respectively, and the cement: mineral admixture ratio was 1:4. Moreover, a large amount of N-A-S-H with a dense structure was produced by alkali reactions rather than cement hydration reactions in HAAC-G3; these reactions improved the macroscopic mechanical properties. Additionally, the effects of steam curing on the properties of the HAACs were slight because of the internal water competition reaction mechanism. This research clarified the influence of different coordination methods on the internal reaction mechanism of HAACs and could be used to promote the engineering application of HAACs. Moreover, HAACs play an important role in mitigating greenhouse effects worldwide.

Mechanism of Thermodynamically Rationalized Selective Growth of a Two-Dimensional Ternary Ferromagnet on Insulating Substrates.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 holds great promise for advanced spintronic applications because of its gate-tunable ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature, whereas the controllable growth of large-area single crystals remains very challenging due to its ternary nature and variable stoichiometry inducing many competitive phases. Here, we theoretically probe the mechanism of selective growth of monolayer Fe3GeTe2 on various epitaxial substrates. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the corresponding phase-pure chemical potential windows for the selective growth of Fe3GeTe2 can be reasonably attained in ternary phase space on insulating and chemically inert c-plane sapphire and Ga2O3(0001) substrates by properly modulating the interfacial interaction and employing suitable feedstocks to avoid competitive growth of possible impurity phases with different stoichiometry ratios. It is also revealed that both the weak edge-substrate interaction and interlayer coupling of Fe3GeTe2 together lead to a surface-dominated nucleation behavior and, thereby, energetically favor lateral growth of the monolayer rather than vertical growth of the multilayer. Importantly, straight protocols for the experimentally selective growth of phase-pure ternary Fe3GeTe2 are also provided by establishing the relationship between the feedstock chemical potential and growth parameters on a thermochemical basis. Our insightful study can also be reasonably extended to guide future experimental design for the selective growth of other multicomponent 2D materials.

Mental toughness: state or trait? Context and sporting performance in rugby union, a longitudinal study

Mental toughness is a concept that has been considered a critical feature of sporting success. However, there are still conceptual issues related to its traitness and its relationship with sporting performance that remain unresolved. Consequently, the objective of this research is to contrast empirically whether the eventual changes in MT and its relationships with competition phases and sporting performance can sustain the notion of MT as a state or a trait. A longitudinal study included 12 male Chilean rugby players, aged 18-33 years, which regularly competed at the highest national level. The results indicated that there are no significant differences in mental toughness between the four measurements taken in the study and that the competitive phase did not predict mental toughness properties enduring across contexts and time. In addition, the data showed that mental toughness is an important predictor of relevant behavioural variables and sporting performance.

Absence of electron-phonon coupling superconductivity in the bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7 under pressure

An experimental study found superconductivity in bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7, with the highest superconducting transition temperature (Tc) ∼ 80 K under pressure. Recently, some reports claimed that there exists a competitive monolayer-trilayer structural phase in La3Ni2O7 compounds. We perform the first-principles calculations and find that bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7 is energetically favorable under pressure. Although extensive studies have been done to investigate the electronic correlation and potential superconducting pairing mechanism in bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7, the phonon properties and electron-phonon coupling (EPC) in the high-pressure I4/mmm phase of La3Ni2O7 are not reported. Using the density functional theory (DFT) combined with Wannier interpolation technique, we study the phonon properties and EPC in bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7 under 29.5 GPa. Our findings reveal that EPC is insufficient to explain the observed superconducting Tc ∼ 80 K. And the calculated Fermi surface nesting may explain the experimentally observed charge density wave (CDW) transition in bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7. Our calculations substantiate that bilayer phase of La3Ni2O7 is an unconventional superconductor.

Nearly linear orbital molecules on a pyrochlore lattice.

The interplay of spin-orbit coupling with other relevant parameters gives rise to the rich phase competition in complex ruthenates featuring octahedrally coordinated Ru4+. While locally, spin-orbit coupling stabilizes a nonmagnetic Jeff = 0 state, intersite interactions resolve one of two distinct phases at low temperatures: an excitonic magnet stabilized by the magnetic exchange of upper-lying Jeff = 1 states or Ru2 molecular orbital dimers driven by direct orbital overlap. Pyrochlore ruthenates A2Ru2O7 (A = rare earth, Y) are candidate excitonic magnets with geometrical frustration. We synthesized In2Ru2O7 with covalent In─O bonds. This pyrochlore ruthenate hosts a local Jeff = 0 state at high temperatures; however, at low temperatures, it forms a unique nonmagnetic ground state with nearly linear Ru─O─Ru molecules, in stark contrast to other A2Ru2O7 compounds. The disproportionation of covalent In─O bonds drives Ru2O molecule formation, quenching not only the local spin-orbit singlet but also geometrical frustration.

Quantum Geometry and Stabilization of Fractional Chern Insulators Far from the Ideal Limit.

In the presence of strong electronic interactions, a partially filled Chern band may stabilize a fractional Chern insulator (FCI) state, the zero-field analog of the fractional quantum Hall phase. While FCIs have long been hypothesized, feasible solid-state realizations only recently emerged, largely due to the rise of moiré materials. In these systems, the quantum geometry of the electronic bands plays a critical role in stabilizing the FCI in the presence of competing correlated phases. In the limit of "ideal" quantum geometry, where the quantum geometry is identical to that of Landau levels, this role is well understood. However, in more realistic scenarios only empiric numerical evidence exists, accentuating the need for a clear understanding of the mechanism by which the FCI deteriorates, moving further away from these ideal conditions. We introduce and analyze an anisotropic model of a |C|=1 Chern insulator, whereupon partial filling of its bands, an FCI phase is stabilized over a certain parameter regime. We incorporate strong electronic interaction analytically by employing a coupled-wires approach, studying the FCI stability and its relation to the quantum metric. We identify an unusual anti-FCI phase benefiting from nonideal geometry, generically subdominant to the FCI. However, its presence hinders the formation of FCI in favor of other competitive phases at fractional fillings, such as the charge density wave. Though quite peculiar, this anti-FCI phase may have already been observed in experiments at high magnetic fields. This establishes a direct link between quantum geometry and FCI stability in a tractable model far from any ideal band conditions, and illuminates a unique mechanism of FCI deterioration.

From Protectionist to Regulator: Policy-Driven Transformation of Digital Urban Networks in China’s Online Gaming Industry

In the digital era, data-driven production organizes digital urban networks. This study explores the critical role of government policies in shaping these networks, focusing on China’s evolving policy contexts. While existing research has mainly emphasized qualitative analyses, this paper quantitatively assesses the impact of policy changes on digital urban networks, specifically through the lens of China’s online gaming industry. The study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the policy environment and digital urban networks. By examining China’s transition from protectionist to regulatory policies, this research employed a social network analysis and valued exponential random graph models (ERGMs) across two key phases: the competitive protection phase (2014–2017) and the systematic regulatory phase (2018–2022). The findings revealed a significant transformation in urban network structure, shifting from a centralized model dominated by a few core cities to a decentralized, multi-centered network. The key factors influencing this evolution include the institutional proximity and cross-regional collaborations. This study offers valuable insights into how policy shifts affect urban networks in the digital economy, contributing both theoretically and practically to future policy design.

Real-time study of the interplay between phase formation and stress evolution at the W1−xSix/a−Si interface

Nanoscale W1−xSix layers with different Si content were deposited by magnetron sputtering on amorphous silicon layers. The structure and stress evolution during deposition were monitored and in real time. Thus, it was possible to disentangle different origins of stress built-up (interface formation, phase formation, grain growth, and texture) on the nanoscale. It was found that the bcc phase with a composition-dependent texture forms at low Si content (less than 10% Si), but only above a critical thickness. At intermediate Si content (13.9% and 16.5% Si), or low Si content and low thicknesses (≲4.5 nm), the β phase with A15 structure and coexisting phases (bcc or amorphous) form, while a single, amorphous phase is observed at high Si content (≳22% Si). An A15 formation driven by impurities (O,C,N) was excluded by combined x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction measurements on a second sample series. calculations of substitutional bcc and A15 W1−xSix alloys support the formation of A15 at higher Si content. The A15-containing interlayer should be taken into account when discussing the superconductivity of W/Si multilayers. The stress evolution during deposition of W1−xSix was correlated with the microstructure evolution, and compared to similar observations for Mo1−xSix. Due to the crystalline phase (bcc/A15) and bcc texture ([111] and [110]) competition, the structure formation of W1−xSix shows a higher complexity. This explains the wide range of stress states (from tensile to compressive) observed after deposition of W1−xSix. Nanoscale W-Si based stress-compensation layers could be employed for tailoring the stress state of nonepitaxial semiconductor devices. Published by the American Physical Society 2024