As one of the most important energy sources in the world today, shale gas has attracted extensive research. Numerous scholars agreed that the organic matter (OM) pores in shale provide the main space ...which benefits effective gas occurrence. However, the connectivity provided by OM pores is more important in the development process than their reservoir properties. A comprehensive portrayal of the 3D connectivity of the OM pores is elaborated in this study. The Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale samples were selected as the research subject. The shale samples are subjected to focused ion beam scanning electron microscope, helium ion microscope observation experiments, 2D microscopic characterization of OM pores, and 3D segmentation extraction. The results indicate that the connectivity of shale is mainly contributed by OM pores. The OM pores have the advantageous structural characteristics of large number per unit area, evenly distributed, regular pore morphology, and large pore size relative to the mineral matrix pores. The OM pores structure in shale is complex with a network structure of small pores nested in large pores, which can increase the adsorption capacity of gas. Besides, the small pores nested in large pores can act as a throat to significantly improve the connectivity. OM pores in the pyrobitumen are interconnected in 3D space, providing the main channels for gas percolation in the shale reservoir.
Organic matter pores have a large number of pores per unit area and are characterized by uniform distribution, regular morphology, and large pore size. The organic matter pores of shale have a composite network structure, with large pores nested in small pores, improving the connectivity of the system. The large size organic matter pores in the pyrobitumen scorched bitumen are interconnected, providing the main channel for gas percolation in the shale reservoir.
HIV-1 infection requires nuclear entry of the viral genome. Previous evidence suggests that this entry proceeds through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), with the 120 × 60 nm capsid squeezing through an ...approximately 60-nm-wide central channel
and crossing the permeability barrier of the NPC. This barrier can be described as an FG phase
that is assembled from cohesively interacting phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats
and is selectively permeable to cargo captured by nuclear transport receptors (NTRs). Here we show that HIV-1 capsid assemblies can target NPCs efficiently in an NTR-independent manner and bind directly to several types of FG repeats, including barrier-forming cohesive repeats. Like NTRs, the capsid readily partitions into an in vitro assembled cohesive FG phase that can serve as an NPC mimic and excludes much smaller inert probes such as mCherry. Indeed, entry of the capsid protein into such an FG phase is greatly enhanced by capsid assembly, which also allows the encapsulated clients to enter. Thus, our data indicate that the HIV-1 capsid behaves like an NTR, with its interior serving as a cargo container. Because capsid-coating with trans-acting NTRs would increase the diameter by 10 nm or more, we suggest that such a 'self-translocating' capsid undermines the size restrictions imposed by the NPC scaffold, thereby bypassing an otherwise effective barrier to viral infection.
•Longmaxi Shale is strongly controlled by the detachment belt in South China.•Structural deformation significantly influences the evolution of shale pore structure.•OM pore is poorly-developed in ...deformed shales.•Effect of tectonism on reservoir quality was discussed.
Pore types and pore size vary systematically across structural deformation in the shale gas reservoirs but lack a comprehensive study. Twelve Longmaxi Shale samples spanning a tectonism range from undeformed to deformed were formed in the structural deformation zone located in a field section of the Chuandong Thrust-Fold Belt, South China. Herein, pore structure investigations are performed using three types of organic-rich shale (undeformed shale, fault-related shale, and fold-related shale) with vitrinite reflectance (Ro value) ranging between 1.90 and 2.57% and total organic carbon (TOC) content ranging between 2.25 and 4.40%. Compared to the undeformed shales, deformed samples are quartz rich and carbonate poor. Total porosity from mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) ranges between 3.74 and 5.62% in undeformed shales, 2.66–6.83% in fold-related shales, and 2.55–13.92% in fault-related shales. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of the pore type evolution reveals organic matter (OM) pores are dominant in undeformed shales whereas the interparticle (interP) pores, intraparticle (intraP) pores, micro-channels, and micro-fractures are more developed in both fold- and fault-related shales. A combination of low-pressure gas (N2 and CO2) adsorption and MIP techniques suggests that with increasing structural deformation, micropore volumes relatively increase in fold-related samples, while macropore volumes significantly increase in fault-related shales. These observations and experiments confirm that tectonism produces an open and interconnected pore network within organic-rich shale, which is not related to OM pores. The role of structural deformation during ductile folding and brittle sliding, both in changing the mineral composition and in the producing process of the new pore networks, may be critical to understanding tectonism on organic-rich shales. These data could provide important theoretical guidance and scientific basis for the exploration and development of shale gas and resources assessment in the complex tectonic area of South China.
Hydraulic fracturing is an effective method for producing coalbed methane. To better understand the evolution of the fracture and pore structure of coals that contain macro-fractures during hydraulic ...fracturing, we have performed a series of in-situ compression experiments under continuous injection liquid conditions and dynamically monitored the samples using nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The mechanism of fracture and pore structure dynamic evolution is identified in terms of spherical expansion theory. The total porosity increases dramatically within 10–120 min of the initial injection stage, and pore channels form. The number of micro-pores (<10 nm) and transition pores (10–100 nm) continues to increase during the injection pressure reduction stage or increasing confining pressure stage. Total porosity tends to initially decrease and then increase when the confining pressure remains either constant or increases. Continuous liquid injection leads to a constant change of coal pore pressure and effective stress, such that pores break, close, and continuously reorganize. The results presented here provide a reference for permeability calculations, coalbed methane productivity predictions, and improved hydraulic fracturing techniques.
Ruptured and intact plasma membranes are classically considered as hallmarks of necrotic and apoptotic cell death, respectively. As such, apoptosis is usually considered a non-inflammatory process ...while necrosis triggers in- flammation. Recent studies on necroptosis and pyroptosis, two types of programmed necrosis, revealed that plasma membrane rupture is mediated by MLKL channels during necroptosis but depends on non-selective gasdermin D （GSDMD） pores during pyroptosis. Importantly, the morphology of dying cells executed by MLKL channels can be distinguished from that executed by GSDMD pores. Interestingly, it was found recently that secondary necrosis of apoptotic cells, a previously believed non-regulated form of cell lysis that occurs after apoptosis, can be programmed and executed by plasma membrane pore formation like that of pyroptosis. In addition, pyroptosis is associated with pyroptotic bodies, which have some similarities to apoptotic bodies. Therefore, different cell death programs induce distinctive reshuffling processes of the plasma membrane. Given the fact that the nature of released intracellular contents plays a crucial role in dying/dead cell-induced immunogenicity, not only membrane rupture or integrity but also the nature of plasma membrane breakdown would determine the fate of a cell as well as its ability to elicit an immune response. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in the field of apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis, with an emphasis on the mechanisms underlying plasma membrane changes observed on dying cells and their implication in cell death-elicited immunogenicity.
Carbonaceous materials are attractive supercapacitor electrode materials due to their high electronic conductivity, large specific surface area, and low cost. Here, a unique hierarchical porous ...N,O,S‐enriched carbon foam (KNOSC) with high level of structural complexity for supercapacitors is reported. It is fabricated via a combination of a soft‐template method, freeze‐drying, and chemical etching. The carbon foam is a macroporous structure containing a network of mesoporous channels filled with micropores. It has an extremely large specific surface area of 2685 m2 g−1. The pore engineered carbon structure is also uniformly doped with N, O, and S. The KNOSC electrode achieves an outstanding capacitance of 402.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and superior rate capability of 308.5 F g−1 at 100 A g−1. The KNOSC exhibits a Bode frequency at the phase angle of −45° of 18.5 Hz, which corresponds to a time constant of 0.054 s only. A symmetric supercapacitor device using KNOSC as electrodes can be charged/discharged within 1.52 s to deliver a specific energy density of 15.2 W h kg−1 at a power density of 36 kW kg−1. These results suggest that the pore and heteroatom engineered structures are promising electrode materials for ultrafast charging.
The integration of a tri‐doping and pore engineering method to prepare a unique hierarchical macroporous structure for ultrafast supercapacitors is demonstrated. This N,O,S tri‐doped structure offers an ultrahigh specific surface area and a network of multiple scale channels helping to improve capacitance performance of carbon structures including electric double layer capacitance, pseudocapacitance, and rate capability.
Nanopore sensing is a powerful single-molecule approach for the detection of biomolecules. Recent studies have demonstrated that aerolysin is a promising candidate to improve the accuracy of DNA ...sequencing and to develop novel single-molecule proteomic strategies. However, the structure-function relationship between the aerolysin nanopore and its molecular sensing properties remains insufficiently explored. Herein, a set of mutated pores were rationally designed and evaluated in silico by molecular simulations and in vitro by single-channel recording and molecular translocation experiments to study the pore structural variation, ion selectivity, ionic conductance and capabilities for sensing several biomolecules. Our results show that the ion selectivity and sensing ability of aerolysin are mostly controlled by electrostatics and the narrow diameter of the double β-barrel cap. By engineering single-site mutants, a more accurate molecular detection of nucleic acids and peptides has been achieved. These findings open avenues for developing aerolysin nanopores into powerful sensing devices.
Pores and old root‐channels are preferentially used by roots to allow them to penetrate hard soils. However, there are few studies that have accounted for the effects of pore‐rhizosheath on root ...growth. In this study, we developed an approach by adding the synthetic root exudates using a porous stainless tube with 0.1‐mm micropores through a peristaltic pump to reproduce the rhizosheath around the artificial pore, and investigated the effects of pores with and without rhizosheaths on maize root growth in a dense soil. The results indicated that the artificial rhizosheath was about 2.69 mm wide in the region surrounding the pores. The rhizosheath had a higher content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and abundance of Actinobacteria than that of the bulk soil. Compared with the artificial macropores, the artificial root‐pores with a rhizosheath increased the opportunities for root utilisation of the pores space, promoting steeper and deeper root growth. It is concluded that the pore‐rhizosheath has a significant impact on root architecture by enhancing root distribution in macropores.
Summary statement
There are few studies that have accounted for the effects of pore‐rhizosheath on root growth. This study reported that the artificial root‐pores with a rhizosheath increased the opportunities for maize root utilisation of the pores space, promoting steeper and deeper root growth.
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