Influence of spin fluctuations near the Mott transition: a DMFT study

Dynamics of magnetic moments near the Mott metal-insulator transition is investigated by a combined slave-rotor and Dynamical Mean-Field Theory solution of the Hubbard model with additional fully-frustrated random Heisenberg couplings. In the paramagnetic Mott state, the spinon decomposition allows to generate a Sachdev-Ye spin liquid in place of the collection of independent local moments that typically occurs in the absence of magnetic correlations. Cooling down into the spin-liquid phase, the onset of deviations from pure Curie behavior in the spin susceptibility is found to be correlated to the temperature scale at which the Mott transition lines experience a marked bending. We also demonstrate a weakening of the effective exchange energy upon approaching the Mott boundary from the Heisenberg limit, due to quantum fluctuations associated to zero and doubly occupied sites.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. V3 was largely expande

EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF PERCEPTUAL LIGHT ART TO ENHANCE EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS

The surge in online shopping has resulted in decreased customer presence in brick-and-mortar stores. To attract customers, retailers need to enhance the experiential value of their environments. Lighting plays a crucial role in creating appealing spaces and guiding customers.  Through a  comparative analysis of "Normal" and "Rituals" stores, this study examines how lighting differentiates retail environments, focusing on parameters like color temperature and intensity differences. In addition, a case study is conducted on "The Crystal Chandelier," a dynamic light art installation at Westfield Mall of Scandinavia, to analyze how it enhances the experiential value in retail highlighting the importance of dynamic visuals and color variations in creating immersive experiences. Specifically, the study investigates "Outside Insight," a skyspace created by James Turrell in Stockholm, using a mixed-methods approach. The research examines the lighting qualities of Skyspace and its potential to create an immersive retail environment. The findings suggest that strategic use of color transitions, illumination, and correlated color temperature variations can, enhance visual stimulation, and evoke energy and excitement. Moments of color stability promote comfort and deeper engagement with displayed items. These insights demonstrate the potential of perceptual light art in designing retail environments, particularly in the personal care retail sector

Recovery of acetic acid by supported liquid membrane using vegetable oils as liquid membrane

266-270An attempt has been made to recover acetic acid from aqueous solutions using supported liquid membrane (SLM) technique. A flat sheet polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) supported membrane impregnated with vegetable oils was tested for transport of acetic acid. The permeation of acetic acid was studied by varying the experimental conditions namely strength of stripping phase, stirring speed and selection of LM. The oils tested for acetic acid transport included sunflower oil, coconut oil, palm oil and peanut oil, among which, sunflower oil gave best results with permeability of 2.86 x 10⁻² m/s against a stripping solution of strength 0.1 N. After 4 h, 100% transport of acetic acid of initial concentration 0. 01 M was observed

Deciphering the Role of Mucosal Immune Responses and the Cervicovaginal Microbiome in Resistance to HIV Infection in HIV-Exposed Seronegative (HESN) Women

The female genital tract (FGT) is an important site of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Discerning the nature of HIV-specific local immune responses is crucial for identifying correlates of protection in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals. The present study involved a comprehensive analysis of soluble immune mediators, secretory immunoglobulins (sIg), natural killer (NK) cells, CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, and T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the vaginal mucosa as well as the nature and composition of the cervicovaginal microbiome in HESN women. We found significantly elevated antiviral cytokines, soluble immunoglobulins, and increased frequencies of activated NK cells, CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, and Tfh cells in HESN females compared to HIV-unexposed healthy (UH) women. Analysis of the genital microbiome of HESN women revealed a greater bacterial diversity and increased abundance of Gardnerella spp. in the mucosa. The findings suggest that the female genital tract of HESN females represents a microenvironment equipped with innate immune factors, antiviral mediators, and critical T cell subsets that protect against HIV infection. IMPORTANCE The vast majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections across the world occur via the sexual route. The genital tract mucosa is thus the primary site of HIV replication, and discerning the nature of HIV-specific immune responses in this compartment is crucial. The role of the innate immune system at the mucosal level in exposed seronegative individuals and other HIV controllers remains largely unexplored. This understanding can provide valuable insights to improve vaccine design. We investigated mucosal T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells subsets, soluble immune markers, and microbiome diversity in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) women. We found a significantly higher level of mucosal CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, CD4+ Tfh cells, activated NK cell subsets, and antiviral immune cell mediators in HESN women. We also found a higher abundance of Gardnerella spp., microbiome dysbiosis, and decreased levels of inflammatory markers to be associated with reduced susceptibility to HIV infection. Our findings indicate that increased distribution of mucosal NK cells, CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, Tfh cells, and soluble markers in HIV controllers with a highly diverse cervicovaginal microbiome could contribute effectively to protection against HIV infection. Overall, our findings imply that future vaccine design should emphasize inducing these highly functional cell types at the mucosal sites