Band structure optimization of superconducting photonic crystals based on transmission spectrum calculation.

The design of photonic crystals using novel materials is of great significance for the construction of high-performance, next-generation photonic crystal devices. We propose a universal Band structure-Transmission optimization-Band structure method based on moving asymptotic (MMA) method, which can be widely applied to photonic crystal structures. In this paper, we use the method to optimize the band structure of high temperature superconducting photonic crystal, and obtain a wider photonic bandgap and better band flatness in a specific frequency band. This method avoids the disadvantages of traditional scanning methods such as low efficiency and high resource consumption, allows multi-parameter optimization, and improves the accuracy and effectiveness of band modulation based on the iterative process of numerical calculation. The study provides some insights for the design of novel wide-bandgap optical devices.

Verbal but not visual-spatial working memory contributes to complex arithmetic calculation.

The contribution of working memory to mathematics has been extensively studied. It has been proposed that verbal working memory (VWM) and visual-spatial working memory (VSWM) have distinct contributions, but results have been inconclusive. Here, we hypothesized that VWM and VSWM contribute differentially to separate sub-domains of mathematics. To test this hypothesis, we enrolled 199 primary school students and measured their VWM and VSWM with number/letter/matrix backward span tasks, and tested mathematics performance with simple subtraction, complex subtraction, multi-step calculation and number series completion, while controlling for several aspects of cognition. We found that while letter backward span had a significant contribution to complex subtraction, multi-step computation and number series completion, number backward span only had a significant contribution to multi-step computation, and matrix span had no effect on any math task. These results suggest that only VWM associated with complex mathematics, which might reflect verbal rehearsal. In contrast, VSWM does not appear to associated with mathematics.

Association between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Vitamin D Status in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) increases the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which might be related to insulin resistance (IR). We aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable indicator of IR, and VDD in patients with T2DM. METHODS: There were 1034 participants with T2DM enrolled in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting triglyceride (TG, mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2). VDD was defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level <50 nmol/L. RESULTS: Correlation analysis showed a negative association between the TyG index and 25(OH)D level. After adjustments for clinical and laboratory parameters, it was revealed that when taking the Q1 quartile of TyG index as a reference, an increasing trend of VDD prevalence was presented in the other three groups divided by TyG index quartiles, where the OR (95% CI) was 1.708 (1.132-2.576) for Q2, 2.041 (1.315-3.169) for Q3, and 2.543 (1.520-4.253) for Q4 (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher TyG index were more likely to have an increased risk of VDD in T2DM population, which may be related to IR.

Reply to Mahat, R.K.; Rathore, V. Comment on "Xiang et al. Association between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Vitamin D Status in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Nutrients 2023, 15, 639".

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CPNE3 moderates the association between anxiety and working memory.

Mutual influences between anxiety and working memory (WM) have been extensively studied, and their curvilinear relationship resembles the classic Yerkes-Dodson law of arousal and performance. Given the genetic bases of both anxiety and WM, it is likely that the individual differences in the Yerkes-Dodson law of anxiety and WM may have genetic correlates. The current genome wide association study (GWAS) enrolled 1115 healthy subjects to search for genes that are potential moderators of the association between anxiety and WM. Results showed that CPNE3 rs10102229 had the strongest effect, p = 3.38E-6 at SNP level and p = 2.68E-06 at gene level. Anxiety and WM had a significant negative correlation (i.e., more anxious individuals performed worse on the WM tasks) for the TT genotype of rs10102229 (resulting in lower expression of CPNE3), whereas the correlation was positive (i.e., more anxious individuals performed better on the WM tasks) for the CC carriers. The same pattern of results was found at the gene level using gene score analysis. These effects were replicated in an independent sample (N = 330). The current study is the first to report a gene that moderates the relation between anxiety and WM and potentially provides a genetic explanation for the classic Yerkes-Dodson law.