Strain Theory Research Articles

On hyperelastic solid with thin rigid inclusion and crack subjected to global injectivity condition.

The paper investigates a problem concerning the equilibrium of a solid body containing a thin rigid inclusion and a crack. It is assumed that the body is hyperelastic, therefore, it is described within the framework of finite strain theory. One of the peculiarities of this problem is a global injectivity constraint, which prevents the body, the crack faces and the inclusion from both mutual and self penetration. First, the paper deals with the differential formulation of the problem. Next, we consider energy minimization, showing that the latter provides the weak formulation of the former. Finally, the existence of the weak solution is demonstrated through the use of the variational technique.This article is part of the theme issue 'Non-smooth variational problems with applications in mechanics'.

Envelope-function theory of inhomogeneous strain in semiconductor nanostructures

Envelope-function theory of inhomogeneous strain in semiconductor nanostructures

Adolescent Binge Drinking: An Examination of Three Criminological Theories

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study is to examine the links between measures of social learning theory, self-control theory, and general strain theory and adolescent binge drinking. Using data from the Monitoring the Future 2019 Survey 2, the results indicate support for all three of the theories. In particular, soft drug using peers, personality version of low self-control, and depression all had links with adolescent binge drinking. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed below.

Dual career in sport and non-sport work: Exploring experiences of North American professional female ice hockey players

Grounded in role strain theory, this study explored the dual career experiences of North American female ice hockey players who were also involved in full-time non-sporting work, focusing on factors that produced and reduced their role strain. We interviewed ten professional ice hockey players who held full-time non-sport jobs at the time of their interview. Our reflexive thematic analysis revealed that the multitude of factors leading to role strain among professional female working-athletes were notably significant, spanning societal expectations and environmental complexities. The imposition of the superwoman persona, demanding excellence in both hockey and work roles, combined with inconsistent expectations from professional and athletic supervisors intensified stress and undermined well-being. The study’s findings emphasize the need for robust support systems and adaptive strategies, such as effective communication, careful planning, and proactive self-care, which can mitigate these pressures. Furthermore, the athletes’ narratives revealed a pressing call for empathy and flexibility from coaches, employers, and the broader sports community, suggesting that improvements in these areas could enhance the professional and personal experiences of these working-athletes. The findings provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by dual career female athletes, as well as current strategies aimed at supporting and enhancing their experiences. Furthermore, these results deepen our understanding of how professional female athletes in North America can achieve greater well-being by addressing the factors that produce and reduce role strain factors.

Which need satisfaction better explains the relation between parental psychological control and adolescent behavior problems: A parallel multi-mediator model based on general strain theory

ObjectivePredicated on the general strain theory and self-determination theory, the present study seeks to comparatively evaluate how well the (dis)satisfaction of three psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) can individually serve as a mechanism by which parental psychological control influences adolescent behavior problems jointly represented by depression, aggression, social anxiety, and problematic internet use. Method974 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.4, SD = 1.49; 46.7 % girl) constituted the sample. At three time points, they completed scales measuring parental psychological control, basic psychological needs, depression, aggression, social anxiety, and problematic internet use. A parallel multi-mediator model was adopted to contrast the individual mediation effect of satisfaction of three psychological need in the path from parental psychological control to adolescent behavior problems. Results(1) Parental psychological control directly predicts adolescent behavior problems. (2) Autonomy and competence need satisfaction independently mediate the association between parental psychological control and behavior problems while relatedness need satisfaction does not. (3) there is no difference in the strength of mediation between autonomy and competence need satisfaction. Yet, both autonomy and competence need satisfaction have a stronger mediation effect than relatedness need satisfaction. ConclusionThe findings demonstrate that in accounting for the relation between parental psychological control and adolescent behavior problems, autonomy and competence need satisfaction may represent better mechanisms than relatedness need satisfaction. Interventions targeting maladaptive parenting practices and adolescent maladjustment in the post-pandemic era need to consider the potency of relevant psychological mechanisms in operation as well as the sociocultural characteristics.

The Effect of Financial Resources on Misconduct: Evidence from Lottery Ticket Sales

We investigate the influence of financial resources on a firm’s propensity for misconduct. Previous studies offer conflicting predictions regarding the relationship, and much of the empirical evidence suffers from issues like selection, measurement error, reverse causality, and omitted variable bias. Leveraging a difference-in-differences design, we first examine quasirandom fluctuations in retailers’ financial resources resulting from large windfalls from selling winning lottery tickets. Our results suggest that an increase in financial resources from selling a large winning lottery ticket reduces retailers’ tobacco sales to minors. Next, to rule in strain theory and to rule out alternative explanations, we leverage a second natural experiment, heterogeneity analysis, an alternate measure of misconduct, and an online randomized experiment. In doing so, we provide plausibly causal evidence on the relationship between a firm’s financial resources and its propensity for misconduct and provide potentially useful findings for policymakers and regulators. Funding: This work was supported by the Blake Family Fund for Ethics, Leadership, and Governance at Purdue University. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.17541 .

Parametric analysis of a strain state of a soil base strengthened with vertical elements

Purpose is to identify vertical displacements of the “soil basem strengthened with piles or micropiles based upon drilling-mixing technology” system relying upon parametric analysis of strain state of the mentioned system, and arrangement of the strengthening elements. Methods. Mathematical modeling took place for twelve finite-element models using the computing complex SCAD intended to analyze strength of structures by means of finite-element method. Numerical analysis was carried out with variation of elastic-strain modulus of vertical reinforcing elements and change in distance between them (3d and 6d of micropiles). Findings. Results of parametric analysis have been obtained for a model without a micropile (non reinforced soil base); a model with a single micropile; a model with two micropiles where distance between them is 1.5 m, i.e. 3d of micropiles; and a model with two micropiles where distance between them is 3.0 m, i.e. 6d of micropiles. The performed comparative analysis has made it possible to obtain the results proving the hypothesis by the authors as for the specific nature of vertical displacement formation of the “soil base strengthened with piles or micropiles based upon drill-mixing technology” system. Originality. It has been identified for the first time that basing upon the standardized document for the auger or displacement piles, it is impossible to decrease efficiently vertical displacements while approaching micropiles since distance between the micropiles is 3d for elements, developed on the basis of the drilling-mixing, is minimal. Practical implications. The obtained results of a strain state may become the keystone for the development of the genera-lized strain theory of the composite “soil base strengthened with piles or micropiles based upon drilling-mixing technology” system as a medium differing in minor changes of strain characteristics.

Explaining Substance Use among Puerto Rican Older Adults: Impact of Perceived Discrimination, Perceived Stress, and Social Activities

Background: Despite Puerto Ricans having one of the highest rates of substance use among Hispanic groups in the United States, limited research has focused on the impact of perceived discrimination and stress on substance use among older adults. Individuals who experience stressful events are inclined to engage in harmful behaviors as a coping mechanism. Objectives: Based on the propositions of the General Strain Theory, the current study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination, perceived stress, social activities, and the use of alcohol and cigarettes. Methods: Baseline data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study collected in 2014 was used to conduct a logistic regression analysis. Results: The findings reveal that while perceived discrimination is significantly linked to both types of substance use, social activities may serve as a protective factor for cigarette use. Conclusion/Importance: Our study findings emphasize the need to examine perceived discrimination as a stressor impacting the health and well-being of Puerto Ricans in later adulthood. Policy implications for reducing substance use and directions for future research are discussed

The Effect of Bully Victimization on Self-Reported Delinquency and Substance Use Using the General Strain Theory Framework: Sex, Race, and Ethnicity Differences

ABSTRACT Young people who are bullied in school are more likely to skip school and engage in antisocial behavior than those who are not bullied. Through Agnew’s general strain theory (GST), bully victimization is considered an experienced strain, and deviant behavior may be one reaction to such strain. In contrast, skipping school can allow young people who are being bullied at school the chance to avoid victimization and is representative of what Agnew refers to as anticipated strain. The current study assesses whether bully victimization and skipping school due to bully victimization are associated with self-reported delinquency and substance use and whether these effects vary by the demographics of participants (e.g. sex, race, and ethnicity). Using data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, results indicate that only experienced measures of physical bully victimization and cyberbully victimization are associated with a greater variety of delinquency and substance use but verbal abuse was related to lower variety of substance use in the overall sample. While results largely suggest that the effects of strain on these outcomes do not significantly differ between males and females, there is evidence that some of these effects differ between races and ethnicities.

LGBTQ+ identity and delinquency: the importance of negative emotions and social bonds

ABSTRACT While prior research has examined differences in delinquency by LGBTQ+ identity, few have attempted to explain these differences within the scope of main criminological theories. Drawing on general strain theory and social bond theory, this study uses data from the Technology, Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, and Bullying in Three States, 2011–2012 survey (N = 5,647) to examine if negative emotions and different types of social bonds mediate relationships between LGBTQ+ identity and delinquency. Results show that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ report higher levels of negative emotions and lower levels of parental and school bonds compared to those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender. Results also show that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ report higher odds of general delinquency, marijuana use, and other drug use compared to youth who identify as heterosexual and cisgender. Finally, results show that relationships between LGBTQ+ identity and delinquency are largely mediated by negative emotions and school bonds.

Force-regulated chaperone activity of BiP/ERdj3 is opposite to their homologs DnaK/DnaJ.

Polypeptide chains experience mechanical tension while translocating through cellular tunnels, which are subsequently folded by molecular chaperones. However, interactions between tunnel-associated chaperones and these emerging polypeptides under force is not completely understood. Our investigation focused on mechanical chaperone activity of two tunnel-associated chaperones, BiP and ERdj3 both with and without mechanical constraints and comparing them with their cytoplasmic homologs: DnaK and DnaJ. While BiP/ERdj3 have been observed to exhibit robust foldase activity under force, DnaK/DnaJ showed holdase function. Importantly, the tunnel-associated chaperones (BiP/ERdj3) transitioned to a holdase state in the absence of force, indicating a force-dependent chaperone behavior. This chaperone-driven folding event in the tunnel generated an additional mechanical energy of up to 54 zJ, potentially aiding protein translocation. Our findings align with strain theory, where chaperones with higher intrinsic deformability act as mechanical foldases (BiP, ERdj3), while those with lower deformability serve as holdases (DnaK and DnaJ). This study thus elucidates the differential mechanically regulated chaperoning activity and introduces a novel perspective on co-translocational protein folding.

Negotiating Ideologies: The Campaign for Gender–Balanced Boards and Commissions in Iowa

ABSTRACT This interview and archival research case study of the successful movement to adopt state laws to require gender balance on Iowa state boards and commissions (adopted in the late 1980s) and to extend the law to local boards and commissions (adopted in 2009) provides an empirical challenge to two prominent theories of ideology—interest theory, in which the powerful impose ideology, and strain theory, in which people find ideology to cope with their experiences. My study suggests that traditional ideologies are not always the most powerful. While people tend to believe in ideologies they perceive as functional for themselves, ideology is better understood through a navigation theory in which people simultaneously hold multiple complementary and contradictory ideologies, and where particular contexts and people’s interpretations of those contexts impact how different ideologies are activated, understood, prioritized, negotiated, and applied.

Thermal buckling analysis of composite doubly‐curved shells with viscoelastic core

AbstractComposite sandwich double‐curved shells (CSDCS) have been extensively employed in the engineering domain of variable temperature environments; consequently, it becomes very significant and essential to present the thermal buckling characteristics of CSDCS to supply some valuable numerical results. The no‐linear strain–displacement relationship due to temperature variation has been taken into consideration based on the Von‐Karman non‐linear strain theory, and Hamilton's principle is adapted to derive the buckling differential equations of the CSDCS. The Navier method is employed to solve the eigenvalue problem for obtaining the critical buckling temperature. Finally, through studying the variation rule of thermal buckling temperature (CBT), several interesting findings on thermal buckling of the CSDCS are shown, as follows: As the h3/h1 rises, the CBTs of CSDCS first decrease then increase. With the increase of radius value, the CBTs of spherical shells decline, the CBTs of models (1,1) and (2,2) of hyperbolic paraboloidal shells are essentially unchanged, but the ones of models (1,2) and (2,1) decrease. As the h2 increases, the CBT progressively grows after the initial reduction. With the increase in aspect ratio, the CBTs for modes (1,1) and (2,1) of CSDCS gradually increase, and the ones of modes (1,2) and (2,2) shows an increase after an initial decrease. The CBTs of CSDCS gradually increase as the shear module of damping layer increases.Highlights Thermal buckling of composite doubly‐curved sandwich shells was studied. A solution was proposed to derive the buckling differential equations. The change rules of critical buckling temperature were obtained.

Terrorism, Insecurity and Youth Criminality in Nigeria: A Critical View from A Criminological Lens

Objectives: Terrorism is a global social problem that is presently receiving overwhelming attention and concern from all corners. The government, researchers, policymakers, Non-Governmental affected by the effect of this cankerworm. If left to thrive, it might drag the world into oblivion. This study examines terrorism, insecurity, and youth criminality in Nigeria: a critical view from a criminological lens Organizations, and law enforcement are all striving daily to figure a way out of this malady. This is because the impact of terrorism is devastating and destructive. Everyone is in one way or another. Methods: The study made use of Leonard Berkowitz Frustration Aggression Theory (1989) and Robert Agnew General Strain Theory (GST, 1991) to explain terrorism, insecurity, and criminality in Nigeria. The study employed qualitative study using Key Informant Interview (KII) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) using the youths as the population or universe. Results: The study concluded that terrorism is universally abhorred and generally seen as an unlawful, barbaric, and inhuman crime. It is a crime against man and society that must not be allowed to strive because it erodes peace, destroys properties, leads to loss of lives, and stampede growth and development. Conclusions: It was recommended in this study that the fight against terrorism should be an all-embracing one. Thus, the Government, parents, citizens, and youth must all be proactive in the fight against terrorism via effective strategize.

Extraction of uniaxial stress–strain curve from bending test using DIC measurements

This paper presents a novel methodology for the analytical determination of the uniaxial tensile/compressive stress–strain curve derived from the four-point bending test without a pre-assumed constitutive model. While the concept of extracting the stress–strain curve from a bending test is not new, the proposed methodology differs from existing methods by recognising the force equilibrium in a deformed configuration, resulting in a temporal variation of both a bending moment and an axial force. In addition, the deformation of the beam cross-section is taken into account according to the principles of finite strain theory either via Poisson’s ratio or by assuming volume conservation. The crucial data for this methodology are obtained from an experimentally conducted bending test in which the loading force, displacement and strain fields at the top, bottom and front faces of the specimen are measured using a stereo DIC. While the method is completely analytical, it reconstructs the stress–strain curve in discrete form by solving a system of linear equations. While the existing methods for the four-point bending test allow extraction of the stress–strain curve from a single experiment only for strains up to a few per cent, our methodology allows the extraction of the stress–strain curve in tension and compression up to five times the strains obtained with methods that neglect the above features.

EFFECTS OF MILITIA ACTIVITIES ON YAM PRODUCTION AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN UKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Overtime, the existence of militia groups and their activities has caused great concern in Nigeria and Benue State in particular. Their activities have constituted threat to human security as well as food production. This study examined the factors that birthed armed militia groups and how the activities of these groups have affected the production of yam, a major staple food in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. The study hypothesized that there is no relationship between militia activities and yam production among rural farmers in Ukum Local Government Area. The General Strain Theory was adopted as the study’s theoretical perspective. The study utilized Cross-sectional design whereby the study population of 384 (using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination formula) was drawn from 216,986 residents of Ukum Local Government Area. However, the study sampled 100 farmers through purposive and snowball sampling technique due to the volatile nature of the area. Findings of the study reveals that high rate of poverty, fear of domination/injustice, failure of law enforcement agencies to tame the activities of militia groups, and resurgence of political thugs that have been abandoned by their political godfathers, accounted for the formation and proliferation of militia groups in the study area. Results of correlation statistics show a positive correlation between the existence of militia activities and production of yam. Thus, ethnic militia activities negatively affect the production yam in the study locale. The study recommends, among other things, that concerted efforts should be made by the State government to fully develop the productive forces; provide avenues where youths will be engaged to alleviate poverty in Ukum and indeed Benue State, security personnel should be proactive in responding to identified threats, arrest and prosecute offenders to deter others, politicians should stop empowering youths with arms and the youths should be actively engaged in political matters as this will remove the tendencies of domination and marginalization between them and the political elites.

A novel analytical solution for horizontal vibration of partially embedded offshore piles considering the distribution effect of wave loads

According to the Novak's plane strain theory and Biot's wave equation, this paper proposes an analytical model for horizontal vibration of partially embedded offshore piles under distribution effect of wave loads (DEWL) incorporating the diffraction effects of waves. Firstly, for the pile above the mudline, the wave force acting on the pile is obtained through the method of separation of variables. Secondly, for the embedded section of offshore piles, the governing equations of the seabed are decoupled by introducing potential functions, and then the boundary condition of the seabed and the continuity condition at the soil-pile contact surface are combined to obtain the frequency domain analysis of the soil reaction forces. Furthermore, by applying the continuity condition of displacement at mudline and using the matrix transfer method, the analytical solution for the horizontal vibration characteristics (HVC) is derived. Finally, a comparison analysis with existing theoretical solutions is conducted to validate the rationality and accuracy of the analytical solution proposed in this paper. Based on this, a parametric analysis is conducted to discuss the effects of the parameters of the soil, the pile and the wave on the HVC of partially embedded offshore piles.

Influence of Youth Unemployment on Youth Involvement in Crime in Kakuma Refugee Camp

Youth, constituting an estimated 70% of the total population, play pivotal roles in society due to their energy and dynamism. Conversely, a significant portion of the refugee population comprises young individuals who, despite being provided with various capacity-building programs, sometimes find themselves involved in criminal activities. The study sought to assess the influence of youth unemployment on youth involvement in Crime in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Employing a descriptive research design, the study was guided by Strain theory. The target population included refugees, host community members operating businesses within the study area, government officials, and officials from humanitarian agencies implementing projects in refugee settlements. Stratified random sampling was utilized to select South Sudanese sub-clans, while purposive sampling was employed to select security officers and stakeholders from various departments. Data collection involved the use of questionnaires and interviews, gathering responses from 125 and 20 respondents, respectively. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews with government officers working in the camp, such as those from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), law enforcement officers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), community peace and protection teams (CPPTs), and national and county government administrators overseeing the refugee camp's jurisdiction. Secondary data was sourced from scholarly journals, books, the internet, reports, newspapers, and treaties on refugees, aiding in achieving the study objectives. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data, utilizing SPSS and NVIVO software, respectively. Results were presented through tables, charts, and figures. The study found that poverty was a significant factor contributing to youth involvement in crime. Additionally, societal treatment, characterized by suspicion, victimization, lack of recognition, and disharmony influenced youth criminal behaviour. To address these issues, the study recommends that humanitarian organizations and governments provide income-generating activities for youth, intensify initiatives to alleviate community involvement in crime, foster positive societal attitudes towards youth, and provide proper guidance on avoiding negative peer influence, thereby deterring youth from joining criminal groups.

Dynamic large strain formulation for nematic liquid crystal elastomers

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a class of materials which exhibit an anisotropic behavior in their nematic state due to the main orientation of their rod-like molecules called mesogens. The reorientation of mesogens leads to the well-known actuation properties of LCEs, i.e. exceptionally large deformations as a consequence of particular external stimuli, such as temperature increase. Another key feature of nematic LCEs is the capability to undergo deformation by constant stresses while being stretched in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of mesogens. During this plateau stage, the mesogens rotate towards the stretching direction. Such characteristic is defined as semisoft elastic response of nematic LCEs. We aim at modeling the semisoft behavior in a dynamic finite element method based on a variational-based mixed finite element formulation. The reorientation process of the rigid mesogens relative to the continuum rotation is introduced by micropolar drilling degrees of freedom. Responsible for the above-mentioned characteristics is an appropriate free energy function. Starting from an isothermal free energy function based on the small strain theory, we aim to widen it into the framework of large strains by identifying tensor invariants. In this work, we analyze the isothermal influence of the tensor invariants on the mechanical response of the finite element formulation and show that its space-time discretization preserves mechanical balance laws in the discrete setting.

Suicidal ideation and their relationship with job satisfaction and job strain among Jordanian hospitals' healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study.

Suicidal ideation is a major health problem that occurs in response to complex interactions among psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors. The phenomenon of suicidal ideation among healthcare professionals is still shrouded in mystery in Jordanian society, and there is still a scarcity of studies on its relationship with job strain and job satisfaction has been examined in the Arab world. Therefore, to fill this gap, this study aimed to reveal the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Jordanian hospitals health care professionals, and its relationship to job satisfaction and job strain. Additionally, how some sociodemographic factors were correlated with suicidal ideation levels, including age, sex, monthly income, occupation, years of experience, and sector type. Data were collected through a survey including sociodemographic characteristics, Suicidal ideation Scale (SIS), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and Demand Control Support Questionnaire (DCSQ). The survey was distributed among 910 physicians and nurses of both sexes in public and private Jordanian hospitals. The survey was conducted using an anonymous online platform via Google Forms between October 2022 and December 2023. In light of the strain theory of suicide (STS), our results showed that physicians and nurses reported low levels of suicidal ideation and job satisfaction, with high levels of job strain. Suicidal ideation was positively correlated with job strain and negatively correlated with job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is negatively correlated with job strain. Job satisfaction was a significant mediator between job strain and suicidal ideation. Greater attention should be paid to the work environment in healthcare, particularly to enhance social support, increase job satisfaction levels, reduce job strain, and provide extensive training on effective prevention strategies for suicidal ideation and behaviour in the workplace. Additionally, policies and practices related to the health sector should be modified to create stable, healthy, and safe relationships and work environments.