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With increases in mining depth and intensity, disasters such as stress concentration, slab failure, and coal body dynamic outbursts at the coal–rock interface have become more serious. Therefore, it is important to analyze the stress–strain behavior of coal–rock combinations to explore the deterioration process and failure characteristics of coal–rock combinations. In this study, we used field survey, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation methods to explore the microstructure characteristics of the coal–rock interface and the influence of interlayer thickness on the composite body. The results show that with the increase in interlayer thickness, the compressive strength of the composite body gradually decreases. This reduction is mainly due to the interlayer dividing the coal sample, resulting in a decrease in the equivalent elastic modulus of the composite body, weakening of the overall integrity, and a decrease in carrying capacity. In addition, the failure mode and mechanical properties of the coal–rock combination are influenced by the interlayer position. Different “soft layer” positions can lead to changes in the overall carrying and failure modes of the coal–rock composite. The position of the interlayer also has a significant influence on the failure mode and fracture propagation of the composite body. This study provides an important theoretical reference for the control of coal–rock deformation and instability and regional rock mass modification in underground engineering.

Follicular helper T (TFH) cells provide specialized help for B cells to ensure optimal humoral immunity. The histone methyltransferase EZH2, as a chromatin repressor, secures the TFH differentiation by promoting TFH lineage associated gene expression during acute viral infection, including Tcf7 and Bcl6. By using conditional deletion murine system, we observed that EZH2 ablation in CD4+ T cells was accompanied by aberrant accumulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) DNMT1 and DNMT3B in TFH cells. And the loss of EZH2 promoted aggravation of DNA methylation status at Tcf7 locus. Therefore, our findings suggested that EZH2 plays an important role in maintenance of hypomethylation at Tcf7 locus thus affecting TFH differentiation during acute viral infection.

TW-37 is a novel, potent and non-peptide Bcl-2 small-molecule inhibitor. Its activity in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is studied. In both HCT-116 cells and primary human colon cancer cells, treatment with TW-37 at only nM concentration efficiently inhibited cell survival and proliferation. TW-37 also induced caspase-3/9 and apoptosis activation in CRC cells. Feedback autophagy activation was observed in TW-37-treated CRC cells. Reversely pharmacological autophagy inhibition or Beclin-1 knockdown by targeted-shRNA potentiated TW-37-induced apoptosis and killing of CRC cells. In vivo, intravenous injection of TW-37 inhibited HCT-116 tumor growth in mice. TW-37's anti-tumor activity was further potentiated against Beclin-1-silenced HCT-116 tumors. Together, targeting Bcl-2 family protein by TW-37 efficiently inhibits CRC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of feedback autophagy activation could further sensitize TW-37.

Introduction: This exploratory cross-sectional study examined the effect of depression on neuropsychological and community function among major depressive disorder (MDD) outpatients without comorbidity in comparison with healthy controls (HCs). Methods: Sixty-nine participants (23 for each group) participated in the study. They were assessed on psychological, neuropsychological function, and community function skills. Results: The results revealed that first episode MDD and recurrent episodes MDD outpatients still have a significantly higher level of depression, impaired mental state, and executive function and worse community function compared with HCs. Intervariable relationships analysis revealed qualitative differences between the three groups. Conclusion: The study provides preliminary evidence that MDD outpatients may need more targeted cognitive and psychosocial interventions to improve their executive and community function skills. Larger-scale studies to increase the validity and generalizability of the pilot data are suggested.

Background: Schizophrenia is known for their theory of mind (ToM) impairment. However, this impairment in schizotypy (schizotypal traits) lacks investigation. Aims: The present study investigated: (1) whether ToM ability was impaired in schizotypy; (2) whether the ERP amplitudes in nine brain regions of interest associated with ToM (e.g., frontal region) in schizotypy and healthy controls differed; and (3) whether the relationship between ToM performances and ERP amplitudes in schizotypy differed from that in healthy controls. Method: Forty eight adolescents and young adults (16 schizotypy) with the mean age of 18 years were tested. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) was used to assess their ToM during which ERP amplitudes were recorded. Results: The schizotypy group showed significantly lower ERP amplitudes in all conditions of RMET in frontal, frontal-central, central, occipital and temporal regions when compared to those in healthy controls. Also, schizotypy's ERP amplitudes in the frontal, frontal-central, central, occipital, and temporal regions were different from those in the healthy individuals in responding to different types of ToM stimuli (positive, negative and neutral). In schizotypy group, reaction time responding to emotional stimuli was negatively related to ERP amplitudes in the frontal, central-parietal, parietal, occipital, and occipito-temporal regions during RMET while no significant correlations were found in healthy controls. Conclusion: The present findings inform us with the knowledge regarding the neural and behavioral abnormality of ToM in schizotypy, suggesting that brain activity can be an alternative to detect ToM impairment in schizotypy.

The adverse effects of depression on patients’ life have been reported but information about its effects on the sequential organization of the information processing stages remains poorly understood as previous studies focused only on distinct stages. This study adds to existing knowledge by examining the effect of major depressive disorder (MDD) on the sequential organization of information processing, executive and community functioning. Fifty-seven participants with 19 participants each for first episode depression (FMDD), recurrent episodes depression (RMDD), and healthy controls (HCs) participated in this study. They completed assessments on executive and community functioning measures, and choice reaction time task (CRTT) for the event-related potential (ERP) data. Findings revealed no significant between-group difference in executive functioning but participants with depression (FMDD and RMDD) were found to be more depressed, with FMDD participants having worse community functioning skills compared with HCs. There was no significant between-group main effect on behavioral data. ERP data showed significantly less positive-going P3b among RMDD participants compared with HCs. FMDD participants used a different information processing strategy at P1, while HCs and RMDD participants used a different processing strategy at N2b compared with the other group(s), respectively. The results suggest the use of multifaceted assessment to get a holistic view of the health status of people with MDD in order to inform clinicians on the appropriate interventional strategies needed for the patient.

Saturated hydraulic conductivity ([K.sub.s]) can be used to indicate changes in soil hydrology resulting from vegetation succession. A constant-head permeameter was used to investigate differences in [K.sub.s] at five soil depths (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm) along a successional sequence of 155 years in evergreen broad-leaved forest at Tiantong National Forest Park, eastern China. The following six forest successional classes were studied: climax evergreen broad-leaved forest (CE), sub-climax evergreen broad-leaved forest (SE), evergreen broad-leaved mixed coniferous forest (MF), coniferous forest (CF), secondary shrub (SS), and abandoned land (AL). Surface [K.sub.s] (the geometric mean of [K.sub.s] at 10 and 20 cm soil depths) significantly increased from AL to CE but declined in CF. The surface [K.sub.s] value under CE was higher than under other successional stages (CE 271 mm [h.sup.-1], AL58 mm [h.sup.-1], SS 124mm [h.sup.-1],CF90mm [h.sup.-1],MF 170mm [h.sup.-1], SE231 mm [h.sup.-1]), and was 4.7 times greater than under AL, 2.2 times greater than under SS, and 3.0 times greater than under CF, but showed no significant difference from SE (P > 0.05). Vertical difference of [K.sub.s] was detected up to a soil depth of 40 cm along forest successional series. Macroporosity was the main determining factor and played an important role in the process of [K.sub.s] recovery. The likelihood of overland flow generation was inferred by comparing [K.sub.s] at soil depths of 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm under the various successional stages at prevailing storm intensities. Overland flow was most likely to occur in the early successional stages. This study suggests that [K.sub.s] could be restored to climax forest levels along forest successional series, but the recovery time could be as long as 95 years. Additional keywords: ecosystem service, infiltration, land use, macroporosity, overland flow, soil hydrology., Introduction Forest successional processes are fundamental in recovering species compositions and forest structure after human modification and clearance (Bergeron 2000; Guariguata and Ostertag 2001), and are also vital in ameliorating [...]

Follicular helper T (TFH) cells provide specialized help for B cells to ensure optimal humoral immunity. The histone methyltransferase EZH2, as a chromatin repressor, secures the TFH differentiation by promoting TFH lineage associated gene expression during acute viral infection, including Tcf7 and Bcl6. By using conditional deletion murine system, we observed that EZH2 ablation in CD4+ T cells was accompanied by aberrant accumulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) DNMT1 and DNMT3B in TFH cells. And the loss of EZH2 promoted aggravation of DNA methylation status at Tcf7 locus. Therefore, our findings suggested that EZH2 plays an important role in maintenance of hypomethylation at Tcf7 locus thus affecting TFH differentiation during acute viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]