In cells, DNA is routinely subjected to significant levels of bending and twisting. In some cases, such as under physiological levels of supercoiling, DNA can be so highly strained, that it transitions into non-canonical structural conformations that are capable of relieving mechanical stress within the template. DNA minicircles offer a robust model system to study stress-induced DNA structures...

Cell phenotype and fate are driven by the mechanical properties of their surrounding environment. Changes in matrix rigidity or application of force have been shown to impact profoundly cell behavior and phenotype, demonstrating that the molecular mechanisms which "sense" and transduce these signals into biochemical pathways are central in cell biology. In this commentary, we discuss recent evi...

This paper describes how the quality and reliability of Intel’s products are designed, measured, modeled, and maintained. Four main reliability topics: ESD protection, electromigration, gate oxide wearout, and the modeling and management of mechanical stresses are discussed. Based on an analysis of the reliability implications of device scaling (the process of a planned reduction of dimensions ...

The nature of the bilayer motif coupled with the ability of lipids and proteins to diffuse freely through this structure is crucial to the viability of cells and their ability to compartmentalize domains contained therein. It seems surprising to find then that biological as well as model membranes exist in a dynamic state of mechanical stress. The stresses within such membranes are surprisingly...

A central question in developmental biology is whether and how mechanical forces serve as cues for cellular behavior and thereby regulate morphogenesis. We found that morphogenesis at the Arabidopsis shoot apex depends on the microtubule cytoskeleton, which in turn is regulated by mechanical stress. A combination of experiments and modeling shows that a feedback loop encompassing tissue morphol...

Electro-thermo-elastic stress analysis of piezoelectric polymeric thick-walled cylinder reinforced by boronnitride nanotubes (BNNTs) subjected to electro-thermo-mechanical fields is presented in this article. The electro-thermo-elastic properties of piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PEFRC) was studied by a modified XY micromechanical model capable of exhibiting full coupling relati...

Stress relieving is a common practice among manufacturing codes for reducing the magnitude of residual stresses in welded, quenched, and tempered steel structures and pressure vessels. The present work investigates the effect of stress relieving at 480, 560, 620, and 680°C on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 20 mm ASTM A517 Gr. B steel plate weldments produced by shielded metal a...

Thermally sprayed coatings are intrinsically associated with residual stresses in the deposits. These stresses are varied in nature and magnitude, and have a pronounced effect on the mechanical behavior of the system. In the current study, WC-12Co coatings were deposited using HVOF thermal spraying. The sin2ψ method was used to evaluate the through thickness residual stress by means ...

Mechanical forces exerted on cells impose stress on the plasma membrane. Cells sense this stress and elicit a mechanoelectric transduction cascade that initiates compensatory mechanisms. Mechanosensitive ion channels in the plasma membrane are responsible for transducing the mechanical signals to electrical signals. However, the mechanisms underlying channel activation in response to mechanical...