Critical End Point Research Articles

Immunonutrition in patients who underwent major abdominal surgery: A comprehensive systematic review and component network metanalysis using GRADE and CINeMA approaches

BackgroundThe benefits of immunonutrition in patients who underwent major abdominal surgery have been recently established, but the optimal combination of immunonutrients has remained unclear. The aim is to clarify this point. MethodsA systematic search of randomized clinical trials about immunonutrition in major abdominal surgery was made. A frequentist random-effects component network meta-analysis was conducted, reporting the P score and odds ratio or mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. The best components and best plausible strategies were described. The critical endpoints were morbidity and mortality rates. The important endpoints were infectious complication rate and length of stay. ResultsThe meta-analysis includes 87 studies and 8,375 patients. The best approach for morbidity rate, with a moderate grade of certainty, was the use of perioperative enteral/oral immunonutrition with arginine, glutamine, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (odds ratio 0.32; 0.10 to 0.98; P score of 0.93). The mortality rate was reduced by postoperative enteral immunonutrition with RNA, arginine, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (odds ratio 59; 0.29 to 1.22; P score 0.84) but with a low grade of certainty. No significant heterogeneity or incoherence is observed. The length of stay and infectious results are “at risk” for high heterogeneity or network meta-analysis incoherence. The component analysis confirmed that postoperative oral/enteral use of 2 or 3 components is crucial to reducing morbidity rate. ConclusionThe oral/enteral immunonutrition in the postoperative period, with multiple immunonutrients, can reduce the morbidity rate in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. The effect of immunonutrition on mortality, infectious disease, and length of stay is unclear.

Plaquette Singlet Transition, Magnetic Barocaloric Effect, and Spin Supersolidity in the Shastry-Sutherland Model.

Inspired by recent experimental measurements [Guo etal., Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 206602 (2020PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.124.206602); Jiménez etal., Nature (London) 592, 370 (2021)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/s41586-021-03411-8] on frustrated quantum magnet SrCu_{2}(BO_{3})_{2} under combined pressure and magnetic fields, we study the related spin-1/2 Shastry-Sutherland model using state-of-the-art tensor network methods. By calculating thermodynamics, correlations, and susceptibilities, we find, in zero magnetic field, not only a line of first-order dimer-singlet to plaquette-singlet phase transition ending with a critical point, but also signatures of the ordered plaquette-singlet transition with its critical end point terminating on this first-order line. Moreover, we uncover prominent magnetic barocaloric responses, a novel type of quantum correlation induced cooling effect, in the strongly fluctuating supercritical regime. Under finite fields, we identify a quantum phase transition from the plaquette-singlet phase to the spin supersolid phase that breaks simultaneously lattice translational and spin rotational symmetries. The present findings on the Shastry-Sutherland model are accessible in current experiments and would shed new light on the critical and supercritical phenomena in the archetypal frustrated quantum magnet SrCu_{2}(BO_{3})_{2}.

Comparison of Fixed and Rising Displacement Rates of CO₂ for Euthanasia of Aged Rats.

This study compared euthanasia induced by rising concentrations of CO₂ in aged rats (n = 59) using different gas displacement rates. Rats were preimplanted with cardiovascular telemetry devices and had been previously used for short term safety pharmacology studies. Once fully recovered from previous studies, rats were euthanized using rising concentrations of CO₂. Three groups were exposed to gas displacement at fixed flow rates of 30%, 40%, and 50%, and 3 groups were exposed to increased flow rates at predetermined, one-minute intervals (10 to 30%, 20 to 40%, and 30 to 50%). Comparisons were based on the time taken to reach 4 critical endpoints: dyspnea, ataxia, recumbency, and death. The preimplanted telemetry devices were used to record cardiovascular parameters. Video recordings of the euthanasias were performed to allow behavioral assessment by a blind observer. The histologic effects of the different concentrations were also evaluated. No significant differences were detected between the groups in behavioral scores or histopathology. Groups of rats exposed to higher levels of CO₂ had a shorter time to loss of consciousness and death than did rats exposed to lower concentrations of CO₂. No statistically significant differences were detected in the time by which rats showed visual signs of dyspnea. Slow CO₂ displacement rates of CO2 may prolong the time necessary for euthanasia yet provide no appreciable improvement in welfare in aged rats and should therefore be avoided.

Multicritical bifurcation and first-order phase transitions in a three-dimensional Blume-Capel antiferromagnet.

We present a detailed study by Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling analysis of the phase diagram and ordered bulk phases for the three-dimensional Blume-Capel antiferromagnet in the space of temperature and magnetic and crystal fields (or two chemical potentials in an equivalent lattice-gas model with two particle species and vacancies). The phase diagram consists of surfaces of second- and first-order transitions that enclose a "volume" of ordered phases in the phase space. At relatively high temperatures, these surfaces join smoothly along a line of tricritical points, and at zero magnetic field we obtain good agreement with known values for tricritical exponent ratios [Y. Deng and H. W. J. Blöte, Phys. Rev. E 70, 046111 (2004)10.1103/PhysRevE.70.046111]. In limited field regions at lower temperatures (symmetric under reversal of the magnetic field), the tricritical line for this three-dimensional model bifurcates into lines of critical endpoints and critical points, connected by a surface of weak first-order transitions inside the region of ordered phases. This phenomenon is not seen in the two-dimensional version of the same model. We confirm the location of the bifurcation as previously reported [Y.-L. Wang and J.D. Kimel, J. Appl. Phys. 69, 6176 (1991)0021-897910.1063/1.348797], and we identify the phases separated by this first-order surface as antiferromagnetically (three-dimensional checker-board) ordered with different vacancy densities. We visualize the phases by real-space snapshots and by structure factors in the three-dimensional space of wave vectors.

Phase diagrams of semi-infinite systems by renormalization group theory and Monte Carlo simulation

In this work, we used the Migdal–Kadanoff renormalization group method to investigate two three-dimensional semi-infinite Ising systems. In the first one, the surface and bulk sites are occupied by spin-3/2 and spin-1/2 respectively, whereas those of the second one are occupied by spin-1/2 on the surface and spin-3/2 in the bulk. Based on the ratio of bulk and surface exchange interactions, we explored different topologies of phase diagrams showing various second order phase transitions, namely ordinary, extraordinary, surface and special transitions. We also found that both systems exhibited first order phase transitions, multicritical points and critical end-points. The existence of a first order phase transition at low temperatures was confirmed by plotting the derivative of the free energy. The Monte Carlo simulation was also used to verify and compare the results obtained by the renormalization group for the two semi-infinite systems.

Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin D, including the derivation of a conversion factor for calcidiol monohydrate.

Following two requests from the European Commission (EC), the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the revision of the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin D and to propose a conversion factor (CF) for calcidiol monohydrate into vitamin D3 for labelling purposes. Vitamin D refers to ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), and calcidiol monohydrate. Systematic reviews of the literature were conducted to assess the relative bioavailability of calcidiol monohydrate versus vitamin D3 on serum 25(OH)D concentrations, and for priority adverse health effects of excess vitamin D intake, namely persistent hypercalcaemia/hypercalciuria and endpoints related to musculoskeletal health (i.e. falls, bone fractures, bone mass/density and indices thereof). Based on the available evidence, the Panel proposes a CF for calcidiol monohydrates of 2.5 for labelling purposes. Persistent hypercalciuria, which may be an earlier sign of excess vitamin D than persistent hypercalcaemia, is selected as the critical endpoint on which to base the UL for vitamin D. A lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) of 250 μg/day is identified from two randomised controlled trials in humans, to which an uncertainty factor of 2.5 is applied to account for the absence of a no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL). A UL of 100 μg vitamin D equivalents (VDE)/day is established for adults (including pregnant and lactating women) and for adolescents aged 11-17 years, as there is no reason to believe that adolescents in the phase of rapid bone formation and growth have a lower tolerance for vitamin D compared to adults. For children aged 1-10 years, a UL of 50 μg VDE/day is established by considering their smaller body size. Based on available intake data, European populations are unlikely to exceed the UL, except for regular users of food supplements containing high doses of vitamin D.

Noncritical behavior in Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric crystals detected by acoustic emission method

[011]-oriented unpoled relaxor ferroelectric Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 crystals are studied by means of acoustic emission and dielectric methods in dependence on both temperature and dc bias electric field. The rhombohedral-cubic ferroelectric phase transition and the dielectric maximum as well as the intermediate temperature are successfully detected. Both rhombohedral-cubic ferroelectric phase transition and the dielectric maximum are studied in dependence on dc bias electric field, too. No the critical end point, but the tricritical one is detected. Existence of the supercritical behavior is discussed in these crystals.

Microemulsions supported by octyl monoglucoside and geraniol. 3. Microstructure & general pattern

This paper completes previous studies on the phase behaviour and microstructure of the quaternary microemulsion water – cyclohexane – n-octyl-β-D-glucoside (β-C8G1) – geraniol. The properties of this system are almost insensitive to temperature, while they can be tuned easily by adding an alcohol as co-surfactant. The addition of the alcohol changes the composition of the interfacial film, which, in turn, is the tuning parameter for the quaternary system. Studies of the phase behaviour together with SANS and NMR measurements allow drawing a quantitative picture of how the domain size ξ, the curvature H, and the interfacial tension σab depend on the composition of the interfacial film. The SANS data of both oil-in-water and water-in-oil droplet microemulsions recorded near the emulsification failure boundary were evaluated with the Generalised Indirect Fourier Transformation (GIFT), revealing a growth towards cylindrical structures when approaching the respective critical end point. We will show that the general behaviour of ternary and quaternary systems is equal if the appropriate tuning parameters are chosen. In addition, we will show that it is possible to apply the scaling description derived for temperature-dependent ternary systems to composition-dependent quaternary systems: plotting the reduced domain size, the reduced curvature and the reduced interfacial tension against the proper reduced tuning parameter, i.e., either the reduced temperature or the reduced interfacial composition, leads to one master curve for all systems.

Single‐Ion Anisotropy Effect on the Critical and Hysteresis Behaviors of a Mixed‐Spin (1, 3/2) Square Ising Nanowire

The effect of single‐ion anisotropy is investigated on a mixed‐spin (1, 3/2) square Ising nanowire with square ferromagnetic shell and negative core–shell exchange coupling using Monte Carlo simulation. Depending on the Hamiltonian parameters, three different topologies of the phase diagram in the (anisotropy, temperature) plane are found. The tricritical point appears for and effects. For influence of , there is no tricritical point in the phase diagram. The first‐order lines and critical endpoints are also obtained. Some important phenomena such as compensation behavior and rich variety of hysteresis loops are found. The results can be compared with other works, in particular on the nanowire with core–shell structure.

Is pulmonary inflammation a valid predictor of particle induced lung pathology? The case of amorphous and crystalline silicas

Although inflammation is a normal and beneficial response, it is also a key event in the pathology of many chronic diseases, including pulmonary and systemic particle-induced disease. In addition, inflammation is now considered as the key response in standard settings for inhaled particles and a critical endpoint in OECD-based sub-acute/ chronic animal inhalation testing protocols. In this paper, we discuss that whilst the role of inflammation in lung disease is undeniable, it is when inflammation deviates from normal parameters that adversity occurs. We introduce the importance of the time course and in particular, the reversibility of inflammation in the progression towards tissue remodelling and neoplastic changes as commonly seen in rat inhalation studies. For this purpose, we used sub-chronic/ chronic studies studies with synthetic amorphous silicas (SAS) and reactive crystalline silica (RCS) as a source of data to describe the time-course of inflammation towards and beyond adversity. Whilst amorphous silicas induce an acute but reversible inflammatory response, only RCS induces a persistent, progressive response after cessation of exposure, resulting in fibrosis and carcinogenicity in rodents and humans. This suggests that the use of inflammation as a fixed endpoint at the cessation of exposure may not be a reliable predictor of particle-induced lung pathology. We therefore suggest extending the current OECD testing guidelines with a recovery period, that allows inflammation to resolve or progress into altered structure and function, such as fibrosis.

Comparison of International Prognostic Indices and Validation Study for Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Rituximab Era

ABSTRACT In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), patients needing new alternative regimens in first-line treatment should be selected with better risk classification. After International Prognostic Index (IPI), Revised-IPI (R-IPI), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-IPI, and Grupo Español de Linfomas y Trasplante Autólogo de Médula Ósea (GELTAMO)-IPI, have been developed to improve risk predictions. This study compared performances of four prognostic indices concerning differentiation of overall survival (OS), the most critical endpoint. The study was conducted on 116 patients diagnosed with DLBCL. Patients with primary nervous system and testicular DLBCL, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, were excluded. The fitting of prognostic indices for database and the prediction of patient discrimination were compared using Akaike’s information criterion and concordance index. Of the study cohort, 63.8% were male, the median age was 56 (18-88), and median follow-up term was 45.6 (0.3-75.2) months. All factors, constituting IPI and R-IPI scores, demonstrated a significant difference in OS. Involvements of the extranodal regions specified in NCCN-IPI and elevated serum beta-2 microglobulin levels in GELTAMO-IPI had prognostic significance (p= 0.005 and p= 0.040, respectively). Each of the four prognostic indices, resulted in risk groups with significantly different OS. R-IPI provided the best fit for database, while NCCN-IPI provided the best discrimination between patients with high and low OS. Although NCCN-IPI provides the best discrimination between patients with short and long OS, using original IPI still seems acceptable in the rituximab era. Integration of tumor molecular characteristics into NCCN-IPI may better characterize high-risk group in new treatment approaches. Keywords: International Prognostic Index, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Validation, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Rituximab

Kaon Femtoscopy with Lévy-Stable Sources from sNN=200 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

Femtoscopy has the capacity to probe the space-time geometry of the particle-emitting source in heavy-ion collisions. In particular, femtoscopy of like-sign kaon pairs may shed light on the origin of non-Gaussianity of the spatial emission probability density. The momentum correlations between like-sign kaon pairs are measured in data recorded by the STAR experiment, from sNN=200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC, BNL. Preliminary results hint at the possible existence of non-Gaussian, Lévy-stable sources, with the likely presence of an anomalous diffusion process in the signal for the identically charged kaon pairs so produced. More statistically significant studies at lower centre-of-mass energies may contribute to the search for the critical end point of QCD.

The finite volume effects on the critical endpoint of chiral phase transition in Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model with different regularization schemes

In this paper, we study the influence of different regularization schemes on the critical endpoint (CEP) of chiral phase transition within a cubic box with volume [Formula: see text]. A two-flavor Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model at finite temperature [Formula: see text] and chemical potential [Formula: see text] is adopted as the effective model of the strong interacting matter. Due to the finite volume of the box, the momentum integral in gap equation is replaced by discrete summation, and an anti-periodic boundary condition for quark field is applied. We employ the Schwinger’s proper time and the Pauli–Villars regularization (PVR) schemes, respectively. It is found that the first-order phase transition line displays an intriguing “staircase” behavior, and eventually disappears as [Formula: see text] increases. In particular, there is no existence of the CEP for both regularization schemes in infinite volume limit [Formula: see text]. However, for the finite volume, the locations of the CEPs with proper time and PVR are determined, respectively.

Health risk assessment of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid exposure in China based on epidemiological data

BackgroundHealth risk assessment based on epidemiological data for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are evidenced. Whereas information about health-based guidance values (HBGVs) and health risk for Chinese population related to PFOS and PFOA is scarce. ObjectivesTo provide candidate HBGVs for PFOS and PFOA based on Chinese epidemiological data and assess the health risk related to excessive exposure. MethodsWe reviewed scientific literature and collected available original data from epidemiological studies conducted in China. Critical endpoints and data were selected and used in benchmark dose (BMD) analysis to obtain lower confidence limits of BMD (BMDLs) of PFOS and PFOA. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were applied to calculate the point of departure (PODs) for PFOS and PFOA, which led to the determination of the HBGVs for the said chemicals. Margin of exposure (MOE) method was used to evaluate the health risk of population based on exposure data among Chinese and HBGVs. ResultsAlanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC) and birth weight (BW) were selected as critical endpoints. Epidemiological data from 4,224 adults, 2,153 paired mother-newborn, 2,518 newborns, 439 pregnant women and 733 children in China were included in this study. BMDLs and PODs for PFOS are varied while BMDLs for PFOA were similar. PODs for PFOS (1.56 ng/kg/day) and PFOA (1.52 ng/kg/day) based on BW using National Birth Cohort Study were selected as HBGVs. Most MOEs for PFOS and PFOA among Chinese population were larger than 1 and smaller than 100, indicating moderate concern. Around 16% MOEs for PFOS were smaller than 1, implying high concern. ConclusionThe HBGVs for PFOS and PFOA were 1.56 ng/kg/day and 1.52 ng/kg/day, respectively. Health risk of Chinese population related to PFOS and PFOA exposure should be concerned and more studies should be conducted to evaluate the risk of the chemicals.

Preface: CSQCDIX

The 9th international workshop Compact Stars in the QCD phase diagram was held, during August 1-5 2022, in Banff (Alberta, Canada) entitled “Compact Stars in the QCD phase diagram IX (CSQCD IX): From RHIC to Astrophysics, Probing the Quark-Gluon Plasma”. This series of meetings started in 2001 in Copenhagen (Denmark), and then continued in 2009 in Beijing (China), 2012 in Guaruja (Brazil), 2014 in Prerow (Germany), 2016 in l’Aquila (Italy), 2017 in Dubna (Russia), 2018 in New York (NY, USA), and 2020 at ICTS (India; on line).The CSQCD workshops aim to bring together physicists working on strongly interacting dense matter with astrophysicists working on Compact Stars and related astrophysical phenomena such as supernovae, gamma ray bursts and pulsars. A profound theoretical description of these astrophysical phenomena necessarily involves the equation of state and transport properties of QCD matter that are derived from non-perturbative quantum field theories, many-body physics of strongly interacting matter and phenomenological investigations. CSQCD IX focussed on recent explorations of the quark-gluon phase using colliders (e.g. RHIC and LHC) and on the renewed interest in neutron and quark matter in astrophysics, particularly in the gravitational wave era.The science sessions focused on nuclear matter at high baryon density, on probing neutron-star matter in the laboratory, and on explorations of characterization of the critical endpoint in the nuclear matter phase diagram. The phases and the equation of state was discussed (in memory of Stefan Schramm) as well as transport phenomena in compact stars. Recent results constraining the nuclear symmetry energy from experiments, theory and observations and implications for compact stars were also presented. For the first time in the CSQCD series, talks highlighted the importance of gravitational waves as: (i) a tool to probe compact stars and QCD phase transitions; (ii) as probes of reacting interfaces in the core of neutron stars. Also featured were recent data from NICER and implications on neutron stars as well as neutron star mergers as materials science.The present volume of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series represents selected contributions from the participants of the CSQCD IX workshop. Each submitted contribution has been peer reviewed and the Editors are very grateful to the referees for their careful support.The Editors of the CSQCD IX Proceedings:Rachid Ouyed (University of Calgary, Canada)Denis Leahy (University of Calgary, Canada)Nico Koning (University of Calgary, Canada)Tobias Fischer (University of Wroclaw, Poland)Sumiyoshi Kohsuke (National Institute of Technology, Numazu College, Japan)Massimo Mannarelli (National Laboratories of Gran Sasso, Italy)Fridolin Weber (San Diego State University, USA)Calgary, 1st of May 2023

Critical behaviour near critical end points and tricritical points in disordered spin-1 ferromagnets

Critical end points and tricritical points are multicritical points that separate lines of continuous transitions from lines of first order transitions in the phase diagram of many systems. In models like the spin-1 disordered Blume–Capel model and the repulsive Blume–Emery–Griffiths model, the tricritical point splits into a critical end point and a bicritical end point with an increase in disorder and repulsive coupling strength respectively. In order to make a distinction between these two multicritical points, we investigate and contrast the behaviour of the first order phase boundary and the co-existence diameter around them.

Ferroelectric Nematic-Isotropic Liquid Critical End Point

A critical end point above which an isotropic phase continuously evolves into a polar (ferroelectric) nematic phase with an increasing electric field is found in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline material. The critical end point is approximately 30 K above the zero-field transition temperature from the isotropic to nematic phase and at an electric field of the order of 10 V/μm. Such systems are interesting from the application point of view because a strong birefringence can be induced in a broad temperature range in an optically isotropic phase.

Deep-Masker: A Deep Learning-based Tool to Assess Chord Length from Murine Lung Images.

Chord length is an indirect measure of alveolar size and a critical endpoint in animal models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In assessing chord length, the lumens of nonalveolar structures are eliminated from measurement by various methods, including manual masking. However, manual masking is resource intensive and can introduce variability and bias. We created a fully automated deep learning-based tool to mask murine lung images and assess chord length to facilitate mechanistic and therapeutic discovery in COPD called Deep-Masker (available at http://47.93.0.75:8110/login). We trained the deep learning algorithm for Deep-Masker using 1,217 images from 137 mice from 12 strains exposed to room air or cigarette smoke for 6 months. We validated this algorithm against manual masking. Deep-Masker demonstrated high accuracy with an average difference in chord length compared with manual masking of -0.3 ± 1.4% (rs = 0.99) for room-air-exposed mice and 0.7 ± 1.9% (rs = 0.99) for cigarette-smoke-exposed mice. The difference between Deep-Masker and manually masked images for change in chord length because of cigarette smoke exposure was 6.0 ± 9.2% (rs = 0.95). These values exceed published estimates for interobserver variability for manual masking (rs = 0.65) and the accuracy of published algorithms by a significant margin. We validated the performance of Deep-Masker using an independent set of images. Deep-Masker can be an accurate, precise, fully automated method to standardize chord length measurement in murine models of lung disease.

Critical and hysteresis behaviors for a hexagonal core-shell structure nanowire in the Blume–Emery–Griffiths model

The magnetic properties and hysteresis loops for the hexagonal Ising nanowire (HIN) with core–shell structure consisting of spin-32 are considered in the Blume–Emery–Griffiths (BEG) model by using the mean-field approximation (MFA) based on the Gibbs–Bogoliubov inequality for the free energy. The effects of various bilinear and biquadratic interaction parameters between the core, between the shell, and between the core and shell spins are considered for the phase diagrams of the model when temperature T=0 and T≠0 in addition to the crystal and external magnetic fields effects. The numerical calculations reveal that the model yields first- and second-order phase transition lines and tricritical points. In addition to the isolated critical and critical end-points, the model exhibits at most two compensation temperatures and interesting multiple hysteresis magnetic loops behaviors strongly dependent on the model parameters.

Strain-tuned quantum criticality in electronic Potts-nematic systems

Motivated by recent observations of threefold rotational symmetry breaking in twisted moir\'e systems, cold-atom optical lattices, quantum Hall systems, and triangular antiferromagnets, we phenomenologically investigate the strain-temperature phase diagram of the electronic 3-state Potts-nematic order. While in the absence of strain the quantum Potts-nematic transition is first order, quantum critical points (QCP) emerge when uniaxial strain is applied, whose nature depends on whether the strain is compressive or tensile. In one case, the nematic amplitude jumps between two nonzero values while the nematic director remains pinned, leading to a symmetry-preserving metanematic transition that terminates at a quantum critical end point. For the other type of strain, the nematic director unlocks from the strain direction and spontaneously breaks an in-plane twofold rotational symmetry, which in twisted moir\'e superlattices triggers an electric polarization. Such a piezoelectric transition changes from first to second order upon increasing strain, resulting in a quantum tricritical point. Using a Hertz-Millis approach, we show that these QCPs share interesting similarities with the widely studied Ising-nematic QCP. The existence of three minima in the nematic action also leaves fingerprints in the strain-nematic hysteresis curves, which display multiple loops. At nonzero temperatures, because the upper critical dimension of the 3-state Potts model is smaller than three, the Potts-nematic transition is expected to remain first order in three dimensions, but to change to second order in two dimensions (2D). As a result, the 2D strain-temperature phase diagram displays two first-order transition wings bounded by lines of critical end points or tricritical points, reminiscent of the phase diagram of metallic ferromagnets. We discuss how our results can be used to unambiguously identify spontaneous Potts-nematic order.