Pairing symmetry and long range pair potential in a weak coupling theory of superconductivity

We study the superconducting phase with two component order parameter scenario, such as, $d_{x^2-y^2} + e^{i\theta}s_{\alpha}$, where $\alpha = xy, x^2+y^2$. We show, that in absence of orthorhombocity, the usual $d_{x^2-y^2}$ does not mix with usual $s_{x^2+y^2}$ symmetry gap in an anisotropic band structure. But the $s_{xy}$ symmetry does mix with the usual d-wave for $\theta =0$. The d-wave symmetry with higher harmonics present in it also mixes with higher order extended $s$ wave symmetry. The required pair potential to obtain higher anisotropic $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and extended s-wave symmetries, is derived by considering longer ranged two-body attractive potential in the spirit of tight binding lattice. We demonstrate that the dominant pairing symmetry changes drastically from $d$ to $s$ like as the attractive pair potential is obtained from longer ranged interaction. More specifically, a typical length scale of interaction $\xi$, which could be even/odd multiples of lattice spacing leads to predominant $s/d$ wave symmetry. The role of long range interaction on pairing symmetry has further been emphasized by studying the typical interplay in the temperature dependencies of these higher order $d$ and $s$ wave pairing symmetries.Comment: Revtex 8 pages, 7 figures embeded in the text, To appear in PR

Integrated analysis of environmental and genetic influences on cord blood DNA methylation in new-borns

Epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are among the mechanisms allowing integration of genetic and environmental factors to shape cellular function. While many studies have investigated either environmental or genetic contributions to DNAm, few have assessed their integrated effects. Here we examine the relative contributions of prenatal environmental factors and genotype on DNA methylation in neonatal blood at variably methylated regions (VMRs) in 4 independent cohorts (overall n = 2365). We use Akaike’s information criterion to test which factors best explain variability of methylation in the cohort-specific VMRs: several prenatal environmental factors (E), genotypes in cis (G), or their additive (G + E) or interaction (GxE) effects. Genetic and environmental factors in combination best explain DNAm at the majority of VMRs. The CpGs best explained by either G, G + E or GxE are functionally distinct. The enrichment of genetic variants from GxE models in GWAS for complex disorders supports their importance for disease risk

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Comparison of two transmission electron microscopy methods to visualize drug-induced alterations of gram-negative bacterial morphology

In this study, we optimized and compared different transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods to visualize changes to Gram-negative bacterial morphology induced by treatment with a robenidine analogue (NCL195) and colistin combination. Aldehyde-fixed bacterial cells (untreated, treated with colistin or NCL195 + colistin) were prepared using conventional TEM methods and compared with ultrathin Tokuyasu cryo-sections. The results of this study indicate superiority of ultrathin cryo-sections in visualizing the membrane ultrastructure of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a clear delineation of the outer and inner membrane as well as the peptidoglycan layer. We suggest that the use of ultrathin cryo-sectioning can be used to better visualize and understand drug interaction mechanisms on the bacterial cell membrane.Hang Thi Nguyen, Lisa A. O’Donovan, Henrietta Venter, Cecilia C. Russell, Adam McCluskey, Stephen W. Page ... et al

Synaptic protein DLG2 controls neurogenic transcriptional programs disrupted in schizophrenia and related disorders

Genetic studies robustly implicate perturbation of DLG2-scaffolded mature postsynaptic signalling complexes in schizophrenia. Here we study in vitro cortical differentiation of DLG2-/- human embryonic stem cells via integrated phenotypic, gene expression and disease genetic analyses. This uncovers a developmental role for DLG2 in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and adhesion, and the activation of transcriptional programs during early excitatory corticoneurogenesis. Down-regulation of these programs in DLG2-/- lines delays expression of cell-type identity and causes marked deficits in neuronal migration, morphology and active properties. Genetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders converge on these neurogenic programs, each disorder displaying a distinct pattern of enrichment. These data unveil an intimate link between neurodevelopmental and mature signalling deficits contributing to disease - suggesting a dual role for known synaptic risk genes - and reveal a common pathophysiological framework for studying the neurodevelopmental origins of Mendelian and genetically complex mental disorders