Biordered superconductivity and strong pseudogap state

Interrelation between the two-particle and mean-field problems is used to describe the strong pseudogap and superconducting states in cuprates. We present strong pseudogap state as off-diagonal short-range order (ODSRO) originating from quasi-stationary states of the pair of repulsing particles with large total momentum (K - pair). Phase transition from the ODSRO state into the off-diagonal long-range ordered (ODLRO) superconducting state is associated with Bose-Einstein condensation of the K - pairs. A checkerboard spatial order observable in the superconducting state in the cuprates is explained by a rise of the K - pair density wave. A competition between the ODSRO and ODLRO states leads to the phase diagram typical of the cuprates. Biordered superconducting state of coexisting condensates of Cooper pairs with zero momentum and K - pairs explains some properties of the cuprates observed below Tc: Drude optical conductivity, unconventional isotope effect and two-gap quasiparticle spectrum with essentially different energy scales.Comment: 11 pages, 4 fugure

"Pair" Fermi contour and repulsion-induced superconductivity in cuprates

The pairing of charge carriers with large pair momentum is considered in connection with high-temperature superconductivity of cuprate compounds. The possibility of pairing arises due to some essential features of quasi-two-dimensional electronic structure of cuprates: (i) The Fermi contour with strong nesting features; (ii) The presence of extended saddle point near the Fermi level; (iii) The existence of some ordered state (for example, antiferromagnetic) close to the superconducting one as a reason for an appearing of "pair" Fermi contour resulting from carrier redistribution in momentum space. In an extended vicinity of the saddle point, momentum space has hyperbolic (pseudoeuclidean) metrics, therefore, the principal values of two-dimensional reciprocal reduced effective mass tensor have unlike signs. Rearrangement of holes in momentum space results in a rise of "pair" Fermi contour which may be defined as zero-energy line for relative motion of the pair. The superconducting gap arises just on this line. Pair Fermi contour formation inside the region of momentum space with hyperbolic metrics results in not only superconducting pairing but in a rise of quasi-stationary state in the relative motion of the pair. Such a state has rather small decay and may be related to the pseudogap regime of underdoped cuprates. It is concluded that the pairing in cuprates may be due to screened Coulomb repulsion. In this case, the superconducting energy gap in hole-doped cuprates exists in the region of hole concentration which is bounded both above and below. The superconducting state with positive condensation energy exists in more narrow range of doping level inside this region. Such hole concentration dependence correlates with typical phase diagram of cuprates.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Equine Torovirus (BEV) Induces Caspase-Mediated Apoptosis in Infected Cells

Toroviruses are gastroenteritis causing agents that infect different animal species and humans. To date, very little is known about how toroviruses cause disease. Here, we describe for the first time that the prototype member of this genus, the equine torovirus Berne virus (BEV), induces apoptosis in infected cells at late times postinfection. Observation of BEV infected cells by electron microscopy revealed that by 24 hours postinfection some cells exhibited morphological characteristics of apoptotic cells. Based on this finding, we analyzed several apoptotic markers, and observed protein synthesis inhibition, rRNA and DNA degradation, nuclear fragmentation, caspase-mediated cleavage of PARP and eIF4GI, and PKR and eIF2α phosphorylation, all these processes taking place after peak virus production. We also determined that both cell death receptor and mitochondrial pathways are involved in the apoptosis process induced by BEV. BEV-induced apoptosis at late times postinfection, once viral progeny are produced, could facilitate viral dissemination in vivo and contribute to viral pathogenesis