Dynamical scaling laws in the quantum qq-state clock chain

We show that phase transitions in the quantum $q$-state clock model for $q \leq 4$ can be characterized by an enhanced decay behavior of the Loschmidt echo via a small quench. The quantum criticality of the quantum $q$-state clock model is numerically investigated by the finite-size scaling of the first minimum of the Loschmidt echo and the short-time average of the rate function. The equilibrium correlation-length critical exponents are obtained from the scaling laws which are consistent with previous results. Furthermore, we study dynamical quantum phase transitions by analyzing the Loschmidt echo and the order parameter for any $q$ upon a big quench. For $q \leq 4$, we show that dynamical quantum phase transitions can be described by the Loschmidt echo and the zeros of the order parameter. In particular, we find the rate function increases logarithmically with $q$ at the first critical time. However, for $q > 4$, we find that the correspondence between the singularities of the Loschmidt echo and the zeros of the order parameter no longer exists. Instead, we find that the Loschmidt echo near its first minimum converges, while the order parameter at its first zero increases linearly with $q$.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

Macroautophagy in T Lymphocyte Development and Function

Macroautophagy (referred to as autophagy) is a fundamental intracellular process characterized by the sequestration of cytoplasmic compartments through double-membrane vesicles, termed autophagosomes. Recent studies have established important roles of autophagy in regulating T lymphocyte development and function. Resting T lymphocytes have basal levels of autophagy that is upregulated by T cell receptor stimulation. Several specific knockout or transgenic models have been developed during the past few years, and it has been revealed that autophagy plays an essential role in regulating thymocyte selection, peripheral T cell survival, and proliferation. The regulation of T cell development and function by autophagy is mediated through its role in regulating self-antigen presentation, intracellular organelle homeostasis, and energy production. Here we will review the current findings concerning how autophagy regulates T cell function, as well as compare different models in studying autophagy in T lymphocytes

High Curie temperature and high hole mobility in diluted magnetic semiconductors (B, Mn)X (X = N, P, As, Sb)

Doping nonmagnetic semiconductors with magnetic impurities is a feasible way to obtain diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). It is generally accepted that for the most extensively studied DMS, (Ga, Mn)As, its highest Curie temperature T$_{\text{C}}$ was achieved at 200 K with a Mn concentration of approximately 16% in experiments. A recent experiment reported record-breaking high electron and hole mobilities in the semiconductor BAs [Science 377, 437 (2022)]. Since BAs shares the same zinc-blende structure with GaAs, here we predict four DMSs (B, Mn)X (X = N, P, As, Sb) by density functional theory calculations. Our results indicate that a significantly higher T$_{\text{C}}$ in the range of 254 K to 300 K for (B, Mn)As with a Mn concentration of around 15.6%, and even higher T$_{\text{C}}$ values above the room temperature for (B, Mn)N and (B, Mn)P with a Mn concentration exceeding 12.5%. Furthermore, we have predicted a large hole mobility of 1561 cm$^{\text{2}}$V$^{\text{-1}}$s$^{\text{-1}}$ at 300 K for (B, Mn)As with a Mn concentration of about 3.7%, which is three orders of magnitude larger than the hole mobility of 4 cm$^{\text{2}}$V$^{\text{-1}}$s$^{\text{-1}}$ at 300 K observed in the experiment for (Ga, Mn)As. Our findings predict the emergence of a new family of DMS, (B, Mn)X, and are expected to stimulate both experimental and theoretical studies of the DMS with high T$_{\text{C}}$ and high mobilities

Synergistic Anti-MRSA Activity of Cationic Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Combination With Oxacillin for Cutaneous Application

Nanoparticles have become a focus of interest due to their ability as antibacterial agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity of cationic nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) combined with oxacillin against ATCC 33591 and clinical isolate. The cationic resource on the NLC surface was soyaethyl morpholinium ethosulfate (SME). NLC loaded with oxacillin was produced to assess the antibacterial activity and the effectiveness of topical application for treating cutaneous infection. The hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of oxacillin-loaded NLC were 177 nm and 19 mV, respectively. When combined with NLC, oxacillin exhibited synergistic MRSA eradication. After NLC encapsulation, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of oxacillin decreased from 250 to 62.5 μg/ml. The combined NLC and oxacillin reduced the MRSA biofilm thickness from 31.2 to 13.0 μm, which was lower than the effect of NLC (18.2 μm) and antibiotic (25.2 μm) alone. The oxacillin-loaded NLC showed significant reduction in the burden of intracellular MRSA in differentiated THP-1 cells. This reduction was greater than that achieved with individual treatment. The mechanistic study demonstrated the ability of cationic NLC to disrupt the bacterial membrane, leading to protein leakage. The cell surface disintegration also increased oxacillin delivery into the cytoplasm, activating the bactericidal process. Topical NLC treatment of MRSA abscess in the skin decreased the bacterial load by log 4 and improved the skin’s architecture and barrier function. Our results demonstrated that a combination of nanocarriers and an antibiotic could synergistically inhibit MRSA growth

Quantum many-body scars in spin-1 Kitaev chain with uniaxial single-ion anisotropy

To establish a solid-state-based framework for the coexistence of quantum many-body scars and quantum criticality, we investigate the spin-1 Kitaev chain with uniaxial single-ion anisotropy (SIA). In the subspace with uniform $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge fields, this model can be exactly mapped to the spin-1/2 effective detuned PXP Hamiltonian, where the SIA plays a role of static detuning term. The quench dynamics starting from the product states are symmetric between the positive and negative values of the SIA, while a quantum phase transition from the Kitaev spin liquid to the dimer phase only occurs at the critical point with a negative $D_c$, implies the spontaneous breaking of the translational symmetry. We find that the coherent oscillations of quantum fidelity and certain local observables are sustained against small SIA perturbations in a quantum quench from special initial states. While the oscillation amplitudes of these observables decay with time as the SIA strength is increased, the system completely thermalizes upon approaching the critical point. In contrast, the initial polarized state, which shows an absence of revivals of quantum fidelity, will exhibit long revivals for $D<D_c$. We also consider the perturbation of Heisenberg interactions which spoil the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge fields. A complete phase diagram is given by the infinite time evolving block decimation method and the ground state properties of each phase are accurately captured by miscellaneous spin correlations. Our work opens the door to understanding surprising connections between many-body scars and quantum criticality in systems with a higher value of spin.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, submitte

Oil components modulate the skin delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its ester prodrug from oil-in-water and water-in-oil nanoemulsions

The study evaluated the potential of nanoemulsions for the topical delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and methyl ALA (mALA). The drugs were incorporated in oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) formulations obtained by using soybean oil or squalene as the oil phase. The droplet size, zeta potential, and environmental polarity of the nanocarriers were assessed as physicochemical properties. The O/W and W/O emulsions showed diameters of 216–256 and 18–125 nm, which, respectively, were within the range of submicron- and nano-sized dispersions. In vitro diffusion experiments using Franz-type cells and porcine skin were performed. Nude mice were used, and skin fluorescence derived from protoporphyrin IX was documented by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The loading of ALA or mALA into the emulsions resulted in slower release across cellulose membranes. The release rate and skin flux of topical drug application were adjusted by changing the type of nanocarrier, the soybean oil O/W systems showing the highest skin permeation. This formulation increased ALA flux via porcine skin to 180 nmol/cm2/h, which was 2.6-fold that of the aqueous control. The CLSM results showed that soybean oil systems promoted mALA permeation to deeper layers of the skin from ∼100 μm to ∼140 μm, which would be beneficial for treating subepidermal and subcutaneous lesions. Drug permeation from W/O systems did not surpass that from the aqueous solution. An in vivo dermal irritation test indicated that the emulsions were safe for topical administration of ALA and mALA