Stress Rate Research Articles

The Relationship Between Spousal Support and Pregnancy Stress in High-Risk Pregnant Women

Objective: This research was conducted to establish the relationship between spousal support and pregnancy stress in high-risk pregnant women. Methods: The sample of the descriptive and correlational study consisted of 220 pregnant women who were hospitalized for treatment in the perinatology service of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on the Anatolian side of Istanbul between 1st December 2020 and 1st February 2021. Data were collected using a descriptive data collection form, the Pregnancy Stress Assessment Scale, and the Spousal Support Scale. Data analysis involved numerical and percentage calculations, ANOVA test, Kruskal Wallis test, t-test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The average score on the Pregnancy Stress Assessment Scale for the participating pregnant women was 50.24 ± 27.10, and the average score on the Spousal support scale was 57.69 ± 9.21. No statistically significant relationship was found between the average scores on the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale and the Spousal Support Scale for pregnant women (P > 0.01). Conclusion: It is recommended that nurses and midwives working with high-risk pregnant women incorporate plans to reduce pregnancy stress into their care processes.

Evaluation of topotecan and 10-hydroxycamptothecin on Toxoplasma gondii: Implications on baseline DNA damage and repair efficiency

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and animals worldwide. Despite its prevalence, there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment for chronic infection. Although there are therapies against the acute stage, prolonged use is toxic and poorly tolerated. This study aims to explore the potential of repurposing topotecan and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) as drugs producing double strand breaks (DSBs) in T. gondii. DSBs are mainly repaired by Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) and Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). Two T. gondii strains, RHΔHXGPRT and RHΔKU80, were used to compare the drug's effects on parasites. RHΔHXGPRT parasites may use both HRR and NHEJ pathways but RHΔKU80 lacks the KU80 protein needed for NHEJ, leaving only the HRR pathway. Here we demonstrate that topotecan and HCPT, both topoisomerase I venoms, affected parasite replication in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, variations in fluorescence intensity measurements for the H2A.X phosphorylation mark (γH2A.X), an indicator of DNA damage, were observed in intracellular parasites under drug treatment conditions. Interestingly, intracellular replicative parasites without drug treatment show a strong positive staining for γH2A.X, suggesting inherent DNA damage. Extracellular (non-replicating) parasites did not exhibit γH2A.X staining, indicating that the basal level of DNA damage is likely to be associated with replicative stress. A high rate of DNA replication stress possibly prompted the evolution of an efficient repair machinery in the parasite, making it an attractive target. Our findings show that topoisomerase 1 venoms are effective antiparasitics blocking T. gondii replication.

Multifactorial stress reactivity to virtual TSST-C in healthy children and adolescents—It works, but not as well as a real TSST-C

A virtual version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) has been increasingly used in stress research. Benefits of the virtual TSST include that it is more economical, and offers improved control of context and enhanced flexibility of use. Many studies have confirmed the applicability of virtual TSSTs in stress research, but only in adulthood. In the present study, we aimed to experimentally verify the transferability of a virtual TSST to adolescence. A total of 73 healthy adolescents (aged 11–17 years) of both sexes completed either a real (IV-TSST-C) or virtual (VR-TSST-C) TSST for children. The surveyed stress parameters included salivary cortisol and alpha amylase concentrations, heart rate, heart rate variability, and subjective stress ratings across test sessions, as well as a pre- to post-TSST-C comparison. All parameters revealed significant stress responses over time. We observed significant effects of group on cortisol and subjective stress ratings, with the VR-TSST-C inducing less stress than the IV-TSST-C. In alpha amylase, heart rate, and heart rate variability, we found no significant difference between TSST versions, but only significant equivalence for alpha amylase. Some parameters may have been influenced by an expectancy effect and the participant’s sex. In conclusion, among adolescents, a virtual TSST-C effectively elicits stress at multiple levels (endocrinological, autonomic, and subjective); however, the magnitude is not always comparable to with the real TSST-C, which should be considered when applied.

Implications for fault reactivation and seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing

Evaluating the physical mechanisms that link hydraulic fracturing (HF) operations to induced earthquakes and the anticipated form of the resulting events is significant in informing subsurface fluid injection operations. Current understanding supports the overriding role of the effective stress magnitude in triggering earthquakes, while the impact of change rate of effective stress has not been systematically addressed. In this work, a modified critical stiffness was brought up to investigate the likelihood, impact, and mitigation of induced seismicity during and after hydraulic fracturing by developing a poroelastic model based on rate-and-state fraction law and linear stability analysis. In the new criterion, the change rate of effective stress was considered a key variable to explore the evolution of this criterion and hence the likelihood of instability slip of fault. A coupled fluid flow–deformation model was used to represent the entire hydraulic fracturing process in COMSOL Multiphysics. The possibility of triggering an earthquake throughout the entire hydraulic fracturing process, from fracturing to cessation, was investigated considering different fault locations, orientations, and positions along the fault. The competition between the effects of the magnitude and change rate of effective stress was notable at each fracturing stage. The effective stress magnitude is a significant controlling factor during fracturing events, with the change rate dominating when fracturing is suddenly started or stopped. Instability dominates when the magnitude of the effective stress increases (constant injection at each fracturing stage) and the change rate of effective stress decreases (the injection process is suddenly stopped). Fracturing with a high injection rate, a fault adjacent to the hydraulic fracturing location and the position of the junction between the reservoir and fault are important to reduce the Coulomb failure stress (CFS) and enhance the critical stiffness as the significant disturbance of stresses at these positions in the coupled process. Therefore, notable attention should be given to the injection rate during fracturing, fault position, and position along faults as important considerations to help reduce the potential for induced seismicity. Our model was verified and confirmed using the case of the Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin, China, in which the reported microseismic data were correlated with high critical stiffness values. This work supplies new thoughts of the seismic risk associated with HF engineering.

Monitoring of drought stress and transpiration rate using proximal thermal and hyperspectral imaging in an indoor automated plant phenotyping platform

BackgroundThermography is a popular tool to assess plant water-use behavior, as plant temperature is influenced by transpiration rate, and is commonly used in field experiments to detect plant water deficit. Its application in indoor automated phenotyping platforms is still limited and mainly focuses on differences in plant temperature between genotypes or treatments, instead of estimating stomatal conductance or transpiration rate. In this study, the transferability of commonly used thermography analysis protocols from the field to greenhouse phenotyping platforms was evaluated. In addition, the added value of combining thermal infrared (TIR) with hyperspectral imaging to monitor drought effects on plant transpiration rate (E) was evaluated.ResultsThe sensitivity of commonly used TIR indices to detect drought-induced and genotypic differences in water status was investigated in eight maize inbred lines in the automated phenotyping platform PHENOVISION. Indices that normalized plant temperature for vapor pressure deficit and/or air temperature at the time of imaging were most sensitive to drought and could detect genotypic differences in the plants’ water-use behavior. However, these indices were not strongly correlated to stomatal conductance and E. The canopy temperature depression index, the crop water stress index and the simplified stomatal conductance index were more suitable to monitor these traits, and were consequently used to develop empirical E prediction models by combining them with hyperspectral indices and/or environmental variables. Different modeling strategies were evaluated, including single index-based, machine learning and mechanistic models. Model comparison showed that combining multiple TIR indices in a random forest model can improve E prediction accuracy, and that the contribution of the hyperspectral data is limited when multiple indices are used. However, the empirical models trained on one genotype were not transferable to all eight inbred lines.ConclusionOverall, this study demonstrates that existing TIR indices can be used to monitor drought stress and develop E prediction models in an indoor setup, as long as the indices normalize plant temperature for ambient air temperature or relative humidity.

The experience of first-time parents in the transition to parenthood: Scoping review

Background: Marriage is everyone's dream and need to create a whole and happy family (household). Changing the status and role of being a parent is fun and even sad if the adjustment is not properly prepared. Self-acceptance as a parent can affect a person's psychological level where the rates of stress, depression, violence against family children, and even divorce experience an increasing trend. Young parents are more vulnerable to becoming victims of both physical and verbal violence. Methods: The method in this research is scoping review. The literature search in this study used three medical journal databases, namely Ebsco, ProQuest, and Willey Online Library, and one search engine, namely Google Scholar. Articles were selected using inclusion criteria, namely original research, in English and Indonesian, published within the last 5 years (2017-2022). The total search results were 3,395 articles. 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria in the authors' review were found. The instrument used to assess the quality of articles was the Joana Briggs tool from the Joana Briggs Institute (JBI). Conclusion: From the results of the review, it was found three themes related to readiness, influencing factors, and support in the transition to parenthood. The review of the ten articles showed that the transition to parenthood requires readiness both physically and mentally, internal and external factors, and the need for support from family, social, and health services.

Quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, and its association with vitiligo extent and distribution: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: Vitiligo, a globally prevalent psychocutaneous disorder (incidence: 0.1–2%), profoundly affects mental health. It often leads to depression and anxiety, particularly when more body surface area (BSA) is involved. Lesions appear on both exposed and unexposed skin, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life (QOL). The objectives of the study are to assess depression, anxiety, stress, QOL, and their relationship with BSA in vitiligo patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 50 vitiligo patients, gathering sociodemographic data using a self-designed form. BSA affected was calculated using the “rule of nines.” Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 42. QOL was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire BREF. Data analysis utilized SPSS version 20.0, adhering to ethical guidelines. Results: Depression, anxiety, and stress rates were 36%, 38%, and 32%, respectively. Depression prevalence was 21.7% in patients with <10% BSA affected and 100% in those with >80% involvement. Conclusion: Vitiligo significantly impacts mental health, particularly with greater BSA involvement, leading to heightened depression rates. It is a psychodermatological condition, adversely affecting QOL, highlighting the importance of holistic care in collaboration with mental health professionals.

Dislocation-density-related constitutive model and its applicability to cyclic deformation and damage behavior of 316LN SS at 823 K

In the present investigation, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between dislocation kinetics and cyclic plasticity, along with the description of yield asymmetry behavior during loading and unloading in nuclear grade 316LN austenitic stainless steel at 823 K, was examined by employing a constitutive framework using the evolution of physically-based internal-state variables. The formulation encompassed a set of first-order simultaneous differential equations that governed the evolution of dislocation density, mean free path of dislocations, and back stress. These variables were interdependent with the power law which described the kinetics of plastic strain rate. The evolution equations were numerically integrated, and the simulated data were fitted to the experimental data up to stabilized cycle at a temperature of 823 K and total strain amplitudes of ±0.004, ±0.006, ±0.008 and ± 0.010. The predicted cyclic stress response as a function of the cyclic number displayed the continuous cyclic hardening from the first cycle to the initiation of stabilized cycle. Further, good agreement between the predicted and experimental hysteresis loops was found at different cycle numbers. The predicted dislocation density and tensile peak values of back/effective stress increased with cyclic hardening and approached the value of saturation at the stabilized cycle. On the other hand, a rapid decrease in mean free path with cycle number was noticed. An increase in total strain amplitude resulted in a systematic increase in dislocation density, peak stress, back stress and effective stress. At the total strain amplitudes above ±0.006, the predicted higher rates of dislocation accumulation and annihilation, and the faster evolution rate of back stress towards saturation led to the development of stable dislocation substructure configurations with a clear distinction between dislocation high/low dense regions. Furthermore, the applicability of the model was extended by including an empirical relationship between the damage variable and cycle number within the power law, thereby enabling predictions of the cyclic stress-strain response beyond the stabilized cycle.

Exploring Behavioral Risk Factors for Non-communicable Diseases Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Western Gujarat: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The burden of morbidity and death caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is a significant global health concern influenced by modifiable behavioral risk factors. In India, the burden of NCDs is particularly high, with medical college students being a vulnerable population. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the prevalence and patterns of behavioral risk factors for NCDs among medical college students. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students in Gujarat. Risk factors for NCDs were assessed using various tools, including the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) for stress, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) for physical activity, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, the body mass index (BMI) for obesity, and dietary factors. The chi-square test was employed as a statistical tool to determine the association between socio-demographic variables and various risk factors. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the 400 students surveyed, the prevalence of single behavioral NCD risk factors was as follows: 248 (62%) reported stress (GHQ-12), 215 (54%) experienced poor sleep quality (PSQI), 251 (63%) had low levels of physical activity (IPAQ), 339 (85%) had inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, 97 (24%) consumed extra salt during meals, 163 (41%) were overweight or obese, and 189 (47%) had three or more risk factors for NCDs. In bivariate logistic regression analysis, factors such as age, male gender, urban residence, hostel stay, and lower socioeconomic status were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study reveals an alarming failure of medical colleges to positively influence students' health behaviors, despite their medical knowledge. The high rates of inactivity, stress, poor diet, and obesity among students demonstrate the curriculum's inability to instill preventative lifestyle practices. This omission in training compromises students' own health and their ability to counsel patients on NCD prevention. Urgent reform is needed to integrate health promotion into the curriculum, providing a supportive campus culture focused on wellness. By overlooking students' behaviors, medical colleges gravely disserve these future providers. This evidence compels curriculum reform to develop exemplary physician role models for NCD prevention.

How does Job Autonomy Influence Teachers' Turnover Intention? Testing the Mediating Effects of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction

Objective: Providing employees full freedom at their jobs is considered an important part of effective job design. Human resources professionals and job analysis specialists should focus deeply on the impact of job autonomy on different job behaviors like stress, satisfaction, and turnover rate. Therefore, this empirical study tries to highlight the impact of job autonomy on teachers' stress, satisfaction, and turnover intention among employees that working in the education sector. Methods: The study uses a quantitative research method depending on an international database. Data for this research was gathered from the survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Data for this research was collected through the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). TALIS surveyed more than 15980 teachers in the educational sector in 50 countries and economies. The main goal of the annual surveys is to assess the level of satisfaction among educational employees. Results: Data variables were analyzed by Pearson Correlations, regressions analysis, and mediation analysis – through SPSS version 24 and JAMOVI advanced mediation models. Some of the findings of this study show negative correlations between job autonomy and job stress (r = -.041, P&lt;0.05), and job autonomy and turnover intention (r = -.043, P&lt;0.05). The findings also found positive correlations between job Autonomy and job satisfaction (r =.018, P&lt;0.01). The study also finds that job stress and job satisfaction mediated the relationship between job autonomy and turnover intention indirectly (β =.196, .141 respectively, p-values&lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study help the decision makers at the educational institution to think deeply about the effective strategies which help to improve the level of job autonomy, improve the level of job satisfaction, and reduce the factors that are responsible for job stress to improve the retention rate and reduce turnover intention.

Two-dimensional viscoelastic beam element for ultra-large space structures based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation

Internal damping is an important factor in the dynamic behaviors of ultra-large space structures in zero damping space environment. To precisely describe the damping, this paper proposes a two-dimensional viscoelastic Euler-Bernoulli beam element based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation and Kelvin-Voigt damping model, where the damping stress is linearly dependent on the stress rate. Firstly, a precise generalized damping force model is developed using the principle of virtual work. A simplified generalized damping force model is then proposed to improve simulation efficiency by neglecting the axial damping force and a part of the transverse damping force. Numerical simulations show that the proposed damping force models will not affect the rigid-body motion of the beam. Then, a simple formula is presented to estimate the damping ratio of the beam for different parameters, which shows good agreement with the logarithmic decrement method in simulations. Finally, the effects of viscoelastic damping on the dynamic behaviors of a Sun-facing beam in space are investigated. Simulation results reveal that the viscoelastic damping can greatly reduce the vibration amplitude of the beam near the resonance frequencies.

Exploring Job Stress Among Public Health Workforce in Northeastern Malaysia.

Introduction Job stress is recognized as a significant concern across various occupational settings which have profound implications for both individuals and organizations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, job stress among the public health workforce (PHW) has been a significant concern, as they face a significantly increased risk of infection and mortality due to excessive COVID-19 exposure. This study presents a descriptive exploration of key job stress-related factors among PHW in Terengganu, Malaysia. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study conducted from May 2022 to April 2023, encompassing all eight District Health Offices (DHO) and government health clinics in Terengganu. Data collection involved a Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaire (M-JCQ), which assesses job characteristics based on Karasek's demand-control-support model and consists of four main domains: decision latitude, psychological job demands, physical job demands, and social support. Data was collected from 1044 participants, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Findings Of the 1044 participants, 18.9% experienced job stress. The highest percentage of job stress was observed among nurses (24.3%), followed by medical assistants (18.3%) and physicians (16.0%). In contrast, the public health assistant (PKA) group had the lowest rate of job stress. Job types based on Karasek's model also showed variations, with doctors having the highest percentage of active jobs (46.4%), while medical assistants had the highest percentage of low job strain (17.9%), and PKAs had the highest percentage of passive job types (44.7%). Conclusion This study offers significant insights into the work-related challenges faced by the public health workforce in Terengganu, Malaysia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Job stress is a substantial concern, and understanding its underlying factors is essential for improving the well-being of PHWs. Decision latitude, job demands, and social support play critical roles in shaping job stress among PHWs. Strategies and interventions are needed to mitigate job stress, improve working conditions, and enhance the effectiveness of PHWs in public health initiatives. This study highlights the importance of addressing job stress in this sector, with potential benefits for both the mental and physical health of PHW.

A statistical bonded particle model study on the effects of rock heterogeneity and cement strength on dynamic rock fracture

Numerical modelling and simulation can be used to gain insight about rock excavation processes such as rock drilling. Since rock materials are heterogeneous by nature due to varying mechanical and geometrical properties of constituent minerals, laboratory observations exhibit a certain degree of unpredictability, e.g. with regard to measured strength and crack propagation. In this work, a recently published heterogeneous bonded particle model is further developed and used to investigate dynamic rock fracture in a Brazilian disc test. The rock heterogeneities are introduced in two steps—a geometrical heterogeneity due to statistically distributed grain sizes and shapes, and a mechanical heterogeneity by distributing mechanical properties using three Weibull distributions. The first distribution is used for assigning average bond properties of the grains, the second one for the intragranular bond properties and the third one for the bond properties of the intergranular cementing. The model is calibrated for Kuru black diorite using previously published experimental data from high-deformation rate tests of Brazilian discs in a split-Hopkinson pressure bar device, where high-speed imaging was used to detect initiations of cracks and their growth. A parametric study is conducted on the Weibull heterogeneity index of the average bond properties and the grain cement strength and evaluated in terms of crack initiation and propagation, indirect tensile stress, strain and strain rate. The results show that this modelling approach is able to reproduce key phenomena of the dynamic rock fracture, such as stochastic crack initiation and propagation, as well as the magnitude and variations of measured quantities. Furthermore, the cement strength is found to be a key parameter for crack propagation path and time, overloading magnitudes and indirect tensile strain rate.

MYflow - A simple computer program for rheological modelling of mylonites

In this study, we present a new Matlab-derived software, MYflow, developed to perform rheological modelling of high-strain rocks and mylonites. The software handles both monomineralic and compositionally heterogeneous rocks made of various proportions of the most common minerals such as quartz, feldspar, calcite, olivine, plagioclase, micas, pyroxene, amphibole and garnet. The rheology of composite mylonites is evaluated using a suite of mixing models combined with two complementary mechanical constraints derived from the assumption of either uniform stress or strain-rate. Various compositions can be used to run either 0th dimensional rheological models corresponding to classical strength profiles, or 2D maps showing the grain-scale spatial variability of stress and strain rate as a function of composition, grain size and effective deformation mechanism. The applicability of the code, along with its main functionalities, is demonstrated using a model of composite mylonite that reproduces the typical microstructure of rocks deformed in high-strain zones. The software is further benchmarked by modelling the grain-scale distribution of effective deformation mechanism, stress, and strain-rate of three natural mylonite developed under different pressure, temperature, and strain-rate conditions. The outcomes of our modelling approach are compared to the results obtained from classical paleopiezometry studies and evaluated in relation to the processes that yield to partitioning of stress and strain rate in shear zones. Finally, we discuss the significance of mean stress and strain rate in mylonites addressing the applicability of recrystallized grain-size paleopiezometry.

Dilatancy Equation Based on the Property-Dependent Plastic Potential Theory for Geomaterials

The dilatancy equation ignores the noncoaxiality of granular soil for the coaxial assumption of the direction of the stress and strain rate in conventional plastic potential theory, which is inconsistent with extensive laboratory tests. To reasonably describe the noncoaxial effects on dilatancy, the energy dissipation of plastic flow is derived based on the property-dependent plastic potential theory for geomaterials and integrates the noncoaxiality, the potential theory links the plastic strain of granular materials with its fabric, and the noncoaxiality is naturally related to the mesoscopic properties of materials. When the fabric is isotropic, the dilatancy equation degenerates into the form of the critical state theory, and when the fabric is anisotropic, it naturally describes the effects of noncoaxiality. In the plane stress state, a comparison between a simple shear test and prediction of the dilatancy equation shows that the equation can reasonably describe the effect of noncoaxiality on dilatancy with the introduction of microscopic fabric parameters, and its physical significance is clear. This paper can provide a reference for the theoretical description of the macro and micro mechanical properties of geomaterials.

Effect of Yogic Practice on Stress and Resting Heart Rate Among Stressed Middle-Aged Men Police Personnel in Kerala Police Academy Thrissur

This research paper investigates the impact of yogic practice on stress levels and resting heart rates among middle-aged male police personnel experiencing high levels of stress at the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur. The study addresses the pressing issue of stress management in a high-stress profession and explores the potential benefits of incorporating yoga as a complementary intervention. A sample of thirty stressed middle-aged male police personnel was recruited, and a structured yogic program was implemented over a period of 12 weeks. Stress levels were assessed using validated psychological measures, and resting heart rates were recorded before and after the intervention. The findings reveal a significant reduction in stress levels and a notable decrease in resting heart rates among the participants following the yogic practice. The results suggest that yogic practices can serve as an effective means of stress reduction and cardiovascular health improvement for stressed middle-aged male police personnel. This research highlights the potential of integrating yoga as a holistic approach to enhance the well-being and resilience of individuals working in high-pressure occupations, such as law enforcement. Further studies and long-term assessments are recommended to consolidate these findings and explore the broader applicability of yogic interventions in stress management programs.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Health Anxiety and Perceived Stress Among Persons with IBD: A Population-representative Study.

The Corona Virus Immune Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has broadly impacted the mental health of individuals worldwide, especially with restrictions including social distancing and quarantining. Persons with IBD are at increased risk of mental health disorders. The aim was to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adults with a chronic health issue, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using a population-based sample. A survey study in Manitoba was conducted during the second COVID-19 wave in autumn 2020. We assessed proportions of health anxiety and perceived stress using validated measures, as well as stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess predictors of perceived stress and health anxiety. A total of 1,384 (47.1%) persons responded, with a mean age of 58.0, and 46.9% had Crohn's disease. Almost three quarters (73.7%) had increased stress, with 37.7% having increased stress about their IBD, and 33.6% worried about their IBD worsening. 46.0% felt increased stress about accessing their doctor or nurse, and 56.5% felt they had good access to their gastroenterologist. Elevated stress and health anxiety were seen in 63.5% and 17.2% of respondents, respectively. Younger age and being on immune-modifying therapy (IMT) was predictive of increased health anxiety and stress. Longer IBD duration was associated with decreased stress, including those on IMT. Persons with IBD reported high rates of stress and health anxiety early in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among those on IMT. It will be important to determine how this evolved over time and to what extent this impacted on disease course.

Nucleation Mechanism and Rupture Dynamics of Laboratory Earthquakes at Different Loading Rates

The loading rate of tectonic stress is not constant during long-term geotectonic activity and significantly affects the earthquake nucleation and fault rupture process. However, the mechanism underlying the loading rate effect is still unclear. In this study, we conducted a series of experiments to explore the effect of the loading rate on earthquake nucleation and stick–slip characteristics. Through lab experiments, faults were biaxially loaded at varying rates to produce a series of earthquakes (stick–slip events). Both shear strain and fault displacement were monitored during these events. The findings indicate a substantial effect of the loading rate on the recurrence interval and the shear stress drop of these stick–slip events, with the recurrence interval inversely proportional to the loading rate. The peak friction of the fault also decreases with the increasing loading rate. Notably, prior to the dynamic rupture of earthquakes, there exists a stable nucleation phase where slip occurs in a quasi-static manner. The critical nucleation length, or the distance required before the dynamic rupture, diminishes with both the loading rate and normal stress. A theoretical model is introduced to rationalize these observations. However, the rupture velocity of these lab-simulated earthquakes showed no significant correlation with the loading rate. Overall, this study enhanced our comprehension of earthquake nucleation and rupture dynamics in diverse tectonic settings.

Arrhenius activation energy effect in thermally viscous dissipative flow of micropolar material with gyrotactic microorganisms

The rheology of micropolar material with heat energy transport features is fully progressive, which allows considerable industrial and engineering applications. In this study, numerical analysis is presented to examine the micro-rotation characteristics of magnetized micropolar fluid flow towards the stagnation point region on a porous shrinking surface with gyrotactic microorganisms. To describe the convective energy transport features, Arrehenius activation energy, thermal radiation, Ohmic, and viscous dissipation effects are taken into consideration. The governing equations are converted into ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity variables. The physical features of flow constraints are displayed and explained for velocity, thermal and solutal distributions, microorganism profile, as well as friction drag, couple stress, and energy transport rate. The results revealed that suction strength contributes to the increment of friction drag, couple stress, and energy transport rate, but the boosted values of the micropolar parameter lower the values of these physical quantities. For a specific range of the shrinking parameter, analysis confirmed the persistence of non-uniqueness solutions. Further, the microorganism profile declines as the bioconvection Lewis number and the bioconvection Peclet number increases. Additionally, according to time-dependent stability analysis, only the upper branch of solutions is physically stable, while the lower branch is not physically.

Numerical Investigation on Mesoscale Evolution of Hydraulic Fractures in Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

Hydraulic fracturing is widely recognized as a potential stimulation technology for the development of challenging natural gas hydrate. However, the fracturing behavior of non-diagenetic hydrate reservoirs has peculiar characteristics that are different from those of conventional oil and gas reservoirs. Herein, a fully coupled fluid-mechanical model for simulating hydraulic fracturing in hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) was established based on the discrete element method, and the influence of hydrate saturation, in situ stress, and injection rate on the meso-fracture evolution was investigated. The results indicate that with the increase in hydrate saturation, the fracture morphology transitions from bi-wing to multi-branch, thereby enhancing fracture complexity. Both tensile and shear failure modes exist, and the tensile failure between the weakly cemented sediment particles is dominant. The tensile strength of HBS is an exponential function of hydrate saturation, with the breakdown pressure being governed by hydrate saturation and in situ stress, with the form being consistent with the classical Kirsch equation. Additionally, lower in situ stress and higher injection rates are conducive to the generation of microcracks, whereas an excessive injection rate reduces the fracture length. These findings contribute to understanding the meso-evolution mechanism of hydraulic fractures and guide the design of on-site hydraulic fracturing plans of natural gas hydrate reservoirs.