Influence of pore structure heterogeneity on channeling channels during hot water flooding in heavy oil reservoir based on CT scanning

Hot water flooding is an effective way to develop heavy oil reservoirs.However,local channeling channels may form,possibly leading to a low thermal utilization efficiency and high water cut in the reservoir.The pore structure heterogeneity is an important factor in forming these channels.This study proposes a method that mixes quartz sand with different particle sizes to prepare weakly heterogeneous and strongly heterogeneous models through which hot water flooding experiments are conducted.During the experiments,computer tomography(CT)scanning identifies the pore structure and micro remaining oil saturation distribution to analyze the influence of the pore structure heterogeneity on the channeling channels.The oil saturation reduction and average pore size are divided into three levels to quantitatively describe the relationship between the channeling channel distribution and pore structure heterogeneity.The zone where oil saturation reduction exceeds 20%is defined as a channeling channel.The scanning area is divided into 180 equally sized zones based on the CT scanning images,and threedimensional(3D)distributions of the channeling channels are developed.Four micro remaining oil distribution patterns are proposed,and the morphology characteristics of micro remaining oil inside and outside the channeling channels are analyzed.The results show that hot water flooding is more balanced in the weakly heterogeneous model,and the oil saturation decreases by more than 20%in most zones without narrow channeling channels forming.In the strongly heterogeneous model,hot water flooding is unbalanced,and three narrow channeling channels of different lengths form.In the weakly heterogeneous model,the oil saturation reduction is greater in zones with larger pores.The distribution range of the average pore size is larger in the strongly heterogeneous model.The network remaining oil inside the channeling channels is less than outside the channeling channels,and the hot water converts the network remaining oil into cluster,film,and droplet remaining oil.

Effect of cyclic hydraulic stimulation on pore structure and methane sorption characteristics of anthracite coal: A case study in the Qinshui Basin, China

The cyclic hydraulic stimulation(CHS) has proven as a prospective technology for enhancing the permeability of unconventional formations such as coalbeds. However, the effects of CHS on the microstructure and gas sorption behavior of coal remain unclear. In this study, laboratory tests including the nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), low-temperature nitrogen sorption(LTNS), and methane sorption isotherm measurement were conducted to explore changes in the pore structure and methane sorption characteristics caused by CHS on an anthracite coal from Qinshui Basin, China. The NMR and LTNS tests show that after CHS treatment, meso- and macro-pores tend to be enlarged, whereas micropores with larger sizes and transition-pores may be converted into smaller-sized micro-pores. After the coal samples treated with 1, 3, 5 and 7 hydraulic stimulation cycles, the total specific surface area(TSSA)decreased from 0.636 to 0.538, 0.516, 0.505, and 0.491 m^(2)/g, respectively. Fractal analysis based on the NMR and LTNS results show that the surface fractal dimensions increase with the increase in the number of hydraulic stimulation cycles, while the volume fractal dimensions exhibit an opposite trend to the surface fractal dimensions, indicating that the pore surface roughness and pore structure connectivity are both increased after CHS treatment. Methane sorption isothermal measurements show that both the Langmuir volume and Langmuir pressure decrease significantly with the increase in the number of hydraulic stimulation cycles. The Langmuir volume and the Langmuir pressure decrease from 33.47 cm^(3)/g and 0.205 MPa to 24.18 cm^(3)/g and 0.176 MPa after the coal samples treated with 7 hydraulic stimulation cycles, respectively. The increments of Langmuir volume and Langmuir pressure are positively correlated with the increment of TSSA and negatively correlated with the increments of surface fractal dimensions.

Pore structure and oxygen content design of amorphous carbon toward a durable anode for potassium/sodium-ion batteries

Both sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)are considered as promising candidates in grid-level energy storage devices.Unfortunately,the larger ionic radii of K+and Na+induce poor diffusion kinetics and cycling stability of carbon anode materials.Pore structure regulation is an ideal strategy to promote the diffusion kinetics and cyclic stability of carbon materials by facilitating electrolyte infiltration,increasing the transport channels,and alleviating the volume change.However,traditional pore-forming agent-assisted methods considerably increase the difficulty of synthesis and limit practical applications of porous carbon materials.Herein,porous carbon materials(Ca-PC/Na-PC/K-PC)with different pore structures have been prepared with gluconates as the precursors,and the amorphous structure,abundant micropores,and oxygen-doping active sites endow the Ca-PC anode with excellent potassium and sodium storage performance.For PIBs,the capacitive contribution ratio of Ca-PC is 82%at 5.0 mV s^(-1) due to the introduction of micropores and high oxygen-doping content,while a high reversible capacity of 121.4 mAh g^(-1) can be reached at 5 A g^(-1) after 2000 cycles.For SIBs,stable sodium storage capacity of 101.4 mAh g^(-1) can be achieved at 2 A g^(-1) after 8000 cycles with a very low decay rate of 0.65%for per cycle.This work may provide an avenue for the application of porous carbon materials in the energy storage field.

Experimental investigation on pyrolysis products and pore structure characteristics of organic-rich shale heated by supercritical carbon dioxide

The efficient pyrolysis and conversion of organic matter in organic-rich shale,as well as the effective recovery of pyrolysis shale oil and gas,play a vital role in alleviating energy pressure.The state of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))in the pyrolysis environment of shale reservoirs is the supercritical state.Its unique supercritical fluid properties not only effectively heat organic matter,displace pyrolysis products and change shale pore structure,but also achieve carbon storage to a certain extent.Shale samples were made into powder and three sizes of cores,and nitrogen(N_(2))and supercritical carbon dioxide(ScCO_(2))pyrolysis experiments were performed at different final pyrolysis temperatures.The properties and mineral characteristics of the pyrolysis products were studied based on gas chromatography analysis,Xray diffraction tests,and mass spectrometry analysis.Besides,the pore structure characteristics at different regions of cores before and after pyrolysis were analyzed using N_(2) adsorption tests to clarify the impact of fracturing degree on the pyrolysis effect.The results indicate that the optimal pyrolysis temperature of Longkou shale is about 430℃.Compared with N_(2),the oil yield of ScCO_(2) pyrolysis is higher.The pyrolysis oil obtained by ScCO_(2) extraction has more intermediate fractions and higher relative molecular weight.The ScCO_(2) can effectively improve the pore diameter of shale and its effect is better than that of N_(2).The micropores are produced in shale after pyrolysis,and the macropores only are generated in ScCO_(2) pyrolysis environments with temperatures greater than 430℃.The pore structure has different development characteristics at different pyrolysis temperatures,which are mainly affected by the pressure holding of volatile matter and products blocking.Compared to the surface of the core,the pore development effect inside the core is better.With the decrease in core size,the pore diameter,specific surface area,and pore volume of cores all increase after pyrolysis.

Modeling of multiphase flow in low permeability porous media:Effect of wettability and pore structure properties

Multiphase flow in low permeability porous media is involved in numerous energy and environmental applications.However,a complete description of this process is challenging due to the limited modeling scale and the effects of complex pore structures and wettability.To address this issue,based on the digital rock of low permeability sandstone,a direct numerical simulation is performed considering the interphase drag and boundary slip to clarify the microscopic water-oil displacement process.In addition,a dual-porosity pore network model(PNM)is constructed to obtain the water-oil relative permeability of the sample.The displacement efficiency as a recovery process is assessed under different wetting and pore structure properties.Results show that microscopic displacement mechanisms explain the corresponding macroscopic relative permeability.The injected water breaks through the outlet earlier with a large mass flow,while thick oil films exist in rough hydrophobic surfaces and poorly connected pores.The variation of water-oil relative permeability is significant,and residual oil saturation is high in the oil-wet system.The flooding is extensive,and the residual oil is trapped in complex pore networks for hydrophilic pore surfaces;thus,water relative permeability is lower in the water-wet system.While the displacement efficiency is the worst in mixed-wetting systems for poor water connectivity.Microporosity negatively correlates with invading oil volume fraction due to strong capillary resistance,and a large microporosity corresponds to low residual oil saturation.This work provides insights into the water-oil flow from different modeling perspectives and helps to optimize the development plan for enhanced recovery.

Influence of tectonic preservation conditions on the nanopore structure of shale reservoir:A case study of Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation shale in western Hubei area,south China

Tectonism is one of the dominant factors affecting the shale pore structure.However,the control of shale pore structure by tectonic movements is still controversial,which limits the research progress of shale gas accumulation mechanism in the complex tectonic region of southern China.In this study,34 samples were collected from two exploratory wells located in different tectonic locations.Diverse experiments,e.g.,organic geochemistry,XRD analysis,FE-SEM,low-pressure gas adsorption,and high-pressure mercury intrusion,were conducted to fully characterize the shale reservoir.The TOC,Ro,and mineral composition of the shale samples between the two wells are similar,which reflects that the shale samples of the two wells have proximate pores-generating capacity and pores-supporting capacity.However,the pore characteristics of shale samples from two wells are significantly different.Compared with the stabilized zone shale,the porosity,pore volume,and specific surface area of the deformed zone shale were reduced by 60.61%,64.85%,and 27.81%,respectively.Moreover,the macroscopic and fine pores were reduced by 54.01%and 84.95%,respectively.Fault activity and uplift denudation are not conducive to pore preservation,and the rigid basement of Huangling uplift can promote pore preservation.These three factors are important reasons for controlling the difference in pore structure between two wells shales.We established a conceptual model of shale pores evolution under different tectonic preservation conditions.This study is significant to clarify the scale of shale gas formation and enrichment in complex tectonic regions,and helps in the selection of shale sweet spots.

Hydrodynamic resistance of pore–throat structures and its effect on shale oil apparent permeability

Oil transport is greatly affected by heterogeneous pore–throat structures present in shale.It is therefore very important to accurately characterize pore–throat structures.Additionally,it remains unclear how pore–throat structures affect oil transport capacity.In this paper,using finite element(FE)simulation and mathematical modeling,we calculated the hydrodynamic resistance for four pore–throat structure.In addition,the influence of pore throat structure on shale oil permeability is analyzed.According to the results,the hydrodynamic resistance of different pore throat structures can vary by 300%.The contribution of additional resistance caused by streamline bending is also in excess of 40%,even without slip length.Fur-thermore,Pore–throat structures can affect apparent permeability by more than 60%on the REV scale,and this influence increases with heterogeneity of pore size distribution,organic matter content,and organic matter number.Clearly,modeling shale oil flow requires consideration of porous–throat structure and additional resistance,otherwise oil recovery and flow capacity may be overestimated.

Spatio-temporal evolution of pore and fracture structures in coal induced by initial damage and creep behavior:A real-time NMR-based approach

Understanding the impact of mining disturbances and creep deformation on the macroscopic deformation and the microscopic pore and fracture structures(MPFS)of coal is paramount for ensuring the secure extraction of coal resources.This study conducts cyclic loading-unloading and creep experiments on coal using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)experimental apparatus which is equipped with mechanical loading units,enabling real-time monitoring the T2spectrum.The experiments indicated that cyclic loading-unloading stress paths initiate internal damage within coal samples.Under identical creep stress conditions,coal samples with more initial damages had more substantial instantaneous deformation and creep deformation during the creep process.After undergoing nearly 35 h of staged creep,the total strains for coal samples CC01,CC02,and CC03 reach 2.160%,2.261%,and 2.282%,respectively.In the creep stage,the peak area ratio of seepage pores and microfractures(SPM)gradually diminishes.A higher degree of initial damage leads to a more pronounced compaction trend in the SPM of coal samples.Considering the porosity evolution of SPM during the creep process,this study proposes a novel fractional derivative model for the porosity evolution of SPM.The efficacy of the proposed model in predicting porosity evolution of SPM is substantiated through experimental validation.Furthermore,an analysis of the impact mechanisms on key parameters in the model was carried out.

Effect of high-multiple water injection on rock pore structure and oil displacement efficiency

Experimental methods,including mercury pressure,nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)and core(wateroil)displacement,are used to examine the effects of high-multiple water injection(i.e.water injection with high injected pore volume)on rock properties,pore structure and oil displacement efficiency of an oilfield in the western South China Sea.The results show an increase in the permeability of rocks along with particle migration,an increase in the pore volume and the average pore throat radius,and enhanced heterogeneity after high-multiple water injection.Compared with normal water injection methods,a high-multiple water injection is more effective in improving the oil displacement efficiency.The degree of recovery increases faster in the early stage due to the expansion of the swept area,and the transition from oil-wet to water-wet.The degree of recovery increases less in the late stage due to various factors,including the enhancement of heterogeneity in the rocks.Considering both the economic aspect and the production limit of water flooding,it is recommended to adopt other technologies to further enhance oil recovery after 300 PV water injection.

Regulation of Pore Structure and Hightemperature Fracture Behavior of CACbonded Alumina-Spinel Castables Based on Hydration Design

The lamellar hydrates of CAC were designed with the introduction of nano CaCO_(3)or Mg-Al hydrotalcite(M-A-H),and the effects on the green strength,pore structures,and high-temperature fracture behavior of alumina-spinel castables were investigated.The results show that nano CaCO_(3)or M-A-H stimulates rapidly the hydration of CAC and the formation of lamellar C_(4)AcH_(11)or coexistence of C_(2)AH_(8)and C_(4)AcH_(11)at 25℃.The formation of lamellar hydrates can contribute to a more complicated pore structure,especially in the range of 400-2000 nm.Meanwhile,the incorporation of well-distributed CaO or MgO sources from nano CaCO_(3)or M-A-H also regulates the distribution of CA_(6)and spinel(pre-formed and in-situ).Consequently,the optimized microstructure and complicated pore structure can induce the deflection and bridging of cracks,thus facilitating the consumption of fracture energy and enhancing the resistance to thermal stress damage.

NMR-based analysis of the effect of moisture migration on sandstone pore structure under alternating wetting and drying conditions

The wetting-drying(W-D)cycle is a type of water–rock interaction.The pore structure of rock,such as shape,size,distribution and pore throat,affects fluid storage and transport.Fractal theory and experimental research on the evolution characteristics of pore damage during the wet-dry erosion process are highly important for determining W-D damage.The mass and velocity of liquid migration are related to the pore size,porosity,fluid properties,etc.Experimental data show that the water absorption quality and velocity in rocks decrease with the number of wet-dry cycles.At the same test time,the mass and velocity of the SI water absorption method are smaller than those of the FI method.Under these two conditions,the amount and rate of water absorption represent the degree of water–rock interaction.Considering the pore evolution during the wet-dry cycling,an equation describing the motion of liquid in porous media was derived based on the imbibition-type separation model.The experimental data are in excellent agreement with the calculated values of the model.Permeability characteristics can affect the area and degree of rock deterioration as well as the development rate of pores and microcracks.Based on the interaction between permeability and pores,quantitative analysis of the weakening process(local damage)of rocks under W-D cycles can provide good reference indicators for evaluating the stability of geotechnical engineering.

High-strength,multifunctional and 3D printable mullite-based porous ceramics with a controllable shell-pore structure

The quest for lightweight and functional materials poses stringent requirements on mechanical performance of porous materials.However,the contradiction between high strength and elevated porosity of porous materials severely limits their application scenarios in emerging fields.Herein,high-strength multifunctional mullite-based porous ceramic monoliths were fabricated utilizing waste fly ash hollow microspheres(FAHMs)by the protein gelling technique.Owing to their unique shell-pore structure inspired by shell-protected biomaterials,the monoliths with porosity of 54.69%–70.02% exhibited a high compressive strength(32.3–42.9 MPa)which was 2–5 times that of mullite-based porous ceramics with similar density reported elsewhere.Moreover,their pore structure and properties could be tuned by regulation of the particle size and content of the FAHMs,and the resultant monoliths demonstrated superior integrated performances for multifunctional applications,such as broadband sound insulation,efficient thermal insulation,and high-temperature fire resistance(>1300℃).On this basis,mullite-based porous ceramic lattices(porosity 68.28%–84.79%)with a hierarchical porous structure were successfully assembled by direct ink writing(DIW),which exhibited significantly higher compressive strength(3.02–10.77 MPa)than most other ceramic lattices with comparable densities.This unique shell-pore structure can be extended to other porous materials,and our strategy paves a new way for cost-effective,scalable and green production of multifunctional materials with well-defined microstructure.

Experimental study of the effects of a multistage pore-throat structure on the seepage characteristics of sandstones in the Beibuwan Basin:Insights into the flooding mode

To investigate the relationship between grain sizes, seepage capacity, and oil-displacement efficiency in the Liushagang Formation of the Beibuwan Basin, this study identifies the multistage pore-throat structure as a crucial factor through a comparison of oil displacement in microscopic pore-throat experiments. The two-phase flow evaluation method based on the Li-Horne model is utilized to effectively characterize and quantify the seepage characteristics of different reservoirs, closely relating them to the distribution of microscopic pores and throats. It is observed that conglomerate sandstones at different stages exhibit significant heterogeneity and noticeable differences in seepage capacity, highlighting the crucial role played by certain large pore throats in determining seepage capacity and oil displacement efficiency. Furthermore, it was found that the displacement effects of conglomeratic sandstones with strong heterogeneity were inferior to those of conventional homogeneous sandstone, as evidenced by multiple displacement experiments conducted on core samples with varying granularities and flooding systems. Subsequently, core-based experiments on associated gas flooding after water flooding were conducted to address the challenge of achieving satisfactory results in a single displacement mode for reservoirs with significant heterogeneity. The results indicate that the oil recovery rates for associated gas flooding after water flooding increased by 7.3%-16.4% compared with water flooding alone at a gas-oil ratio of approximately 7000 m^(3)/m^(3). Therefore, considering the advantages of gas flooding in terms of seepage capacity, oil exchange ratio, and the potential for two-phase production, gas flooding is recommended as an energy supplement mode for homogeneous reservoirs in the presence of sufficient gas source and appropriate tectonic angle. On the other hand, associated gas flooding after water flooding is suggested to achieve a more favorable development effect compared to a single mode of energy supplementation for strongly heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs.

Viscosity and structure relationship with equimolar substitution of CaO with MgO in the CaO–MgO–Al_(2)O_(3)–SiO_(2)slag melts

Currently,the Al_(2)O_(3)content in the high-alumina slag systems within blast furnaces is generally limited to 16wt%–18.5wt%,making it challenging to overcome this limitation.Unlike most studies that concentrated on managing the MgO/Al_(2)O_(3)ratio or basicity,this paper explored the effect of equimolar substitution of MgO for CaO on the viscosity and structure of a high-alumina CaO-MgO-Al_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)slag system,providing theoretical guidance and data to facilitate the application of high-alumina ores.The results revealed that the viscosity first decreased and then increased with higher MgO substitution,reaching a minimum at 15mol%MgO concentration.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)results found that the depths of the troughs representing[SiO_(4)]tetrahedra,[AlO_(4)]tetrahedra,and Si-O-Al bending became progressively deeper with increased MgO substitution.Deconvolution of the Raman spectra showed that the average number of bridging oxygens per Si atom and the X_(Q^(3))/X_(Q^(2))(X_(Q^(i))is the molar fraction of Q^(i) unit,and i is the number of bridging oxygens in a[SiO_(4)]tetrahedral unit)ratio increased from 2.30 and 1.02 to 2.52 and 2.14,respectively,indicating a progressive polymerization of the silicate structure.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)results highlighted that non-bridging oxygen content decreased from 77.97mol% to 63.41mol% with increasing MgO concentration,whereas bridging oxygen and free oxygen contents increased.Structural analysis demonstrated a gradual increase in the polymerization degree of the tetrahedral structure with the increase in MgO substitution.However,bond strength is another important factor affecting the slag viscosity.The occurrence of a viscosity minimum can be attributed to the complex evolution of bond strengths of non-bridging oxygens generated during depolymerization of the[SiO_(4)]and[AlO_(4)]tetrahedral structures by CaO and MgO.

Advanced Functional Electromagnetic Shielding Materials:A Review Based on Micro‑Nano Structure Interface Control of Biomass Cell Walls

Research efforts on electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding materials have begun to converge on green and sustainable biomass materials.These materials offer numerous advantages such as being lightweight,porous,and hierarchical.Due to their porous nature,interfacial compatibility,and electrical conductivity,biomass materials hold significant potential as EMI shielding materials.Despite concerted efforts on the EMI shielding of biomass materials have been reported,this research area is still relatively new compared to traditional EMI shielding materials.In particular,a more comprehensive study and summary of the factors influencing biomass EMI shielding materials including the pore structure adjustment,preparation process,and micro-control would be valuable.The preparation methods and characteristics of wood,bamboo,cellulose and lignin in EMI shielding field are critically discussed in this paper,and similar biomass EMI materials are summarized and analyzed.The composite methods and fillers of various biomass materials were reviewed.this paper also highlights the mechanism of EMI shielding as well as existing prospects and challenges for development trends in this field.

Molecular Structure Tailoring of Organic Spacers for High‑Performance Ruddlesden–Popper Perovskite Solar Cells

Layer-structured Ruddlesden–Popper(RP)perovskites(RPPs)with decent stability have captured the imagination of the photovoltaic research community and bring hope for boosting the development of perovskite solar cell(PSC)technology.However,two-dimensional(2D)or quasi-2D RP PSCs are encountered with some challenges of the large exciton binding energy,blocked charge transport and poor film quality,which restrict their photovoltaic performance.Fortunately,these issues can be readily resolved by rationally designing spacer cations of RPPs.This review mainly focuses on how to design the molecular structures of organic spacers and aims to endow RPPs with outstanding photovoltaic applications.We firstly elucidated the important roles of organic spacers in impacting crystallization kinetics,charge transporting ability and stability of RPPs.Then we brought three aspects to attention for designing organic spacers.Finally,we presented the specific molecular structure design strategies for organic spacers of RPPs aiming to improve photovoltaic performance of RP PSCs.These proposed strategies in this review will provide new avenues to develop novel organic spacers for RPPs and advance the development of RPP photovoltaic technology for future applications.

3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel Scaffolds with Functional Surface Structures for Tissue Regeneration

Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties.Inspired by Chinese ramen,we propose a universal fabricating method(printing-P,training-T,cross-linking-C,PTC&PCT)for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap.First,3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures(P).Then,the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance(T).Finally,the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing(C).The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa(622-fold untreated)and have excellent biocompatibility.Furthermore,this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter,which can efficiently induce directional cell growth.Interestingly,this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt,and many hydrogels,such as gelatin and silk,could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies.Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers,blood vessels,and nerves within 4 weeks,prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.

Graphene Aerogel Composites with Self‑Organized Nanowires‑Packed Honeycomb Structure for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

With vigorous developments in nanotechnology,the elaborate regulation of microstructure shows attractive potential in the design of electromagnetic wave absorbers.Herein,a hierarchical porous structure and composite heterogeneous interface are constructed successfully to optimize the electromagnetic loss capacity.The macro–micro-synergistic graphene aerogel formed by the ice template‑assisted 3D printing strategy is cut by silicon carbide nanowires(SiC_(nws))grown in situ,while boron nitride(BN)interfacial structure is introduced on graphene nanoplates.The unique composite structure forces multiple scattering of incident EMWs,ensuring the combined effects of interfacial polarization,conduction networks,and magnetic-dielectric synergy.Therefore,the as-prepared composites present a minimum reflection loss value of−37.8 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 9.2 GHz(from 8.8 to 18.0 GHz)at 2.5 mm.Besides,relying on the intrinsic high-temperature resistance of SiC_(nws) and BN,the EAB also remains above 5.0 GHz after annealing in air environment at 600℃ for 10 h.

Emerging structures and dynamic mechanisms ofγ-secretase for Alzheimer’s disease

γ-Secretase,called“the proteasome of the membrane,”is a membrane-embedded protease complex that cleaves 150+peptide substrates with central roles in biology and medicine,including amyloid precursor protein and the Notch family of cell-surface receptors.Mutations inγ-secretase and amyloid precursor protein lead to early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease.γ-Secretase has thus served as a critical drug target for treating familial Alzheimer’s disease and the more common late-onset Alzheimer’s disease as well.However,critical gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms of processive proteolysis of substrates,the effects of familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations,and allosteric modulation of substrate cleavage byγ-secretase.In this review,we focus on recent studies of structural dynamic mechanisms ofγ-secretase.Different mechanisms,including the“Fit-Stay-Trim,”“Sliding-Unwinding,”and“Tilting-Unwinding,”have been proposed for substrate proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein byγ-secretase based on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.While an incorrect registry of the Notch1 substrate was identified in the cryo-electron microscopy structure of Notch1-boundγ-secretase,molecular dynamics simulations on a resolved model of Notch1-boundγ-secretase that was reconstructed using the amyloid precursor protein-boundγ-secretase as a template successfully capturedγ-secretase activation for proper cleavages of both wildtype and mutant Notch,being consistent with biochemical experimental findings.The approach could be potentially applied to decipher the processing mechanisms of various substrates byγ-secretase.In addition,controversy over the effects of familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations,particularly the issue of whether they stabilize or destabilizeγ-secretase-substrate complexes,is discussed.Finally,an outlook is provided for future studies ofγ-secretase,including pathways of substrate binding and product release,effects of modulators on familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations of theγ-secretase-substrate complexes.Comprehensive understanding of the functional mechanisms ofγ-secretase will greatly facilitate the rational design of effective drug molecules for treating familial Alzheimer’s disease and perhaps Alzheimer’s disease in general.

Designing Electronic Structures of Multiscale Helical Converters for Tailored Ultrabroad Electromagnetic Absorption

Atomic-scale doping strategies and structure design play pivotal roles in tailoring the electronic structure and physicochemical property of electromagnetic wave absorption(EMWA)materials.However,the relationship between configuration and electromagnetic(EM)loss mechanism has remained elusive.Herein,drawing inspiration from the DNA transcription process,we report the successful synthesis of novel in situ Mn/N co-doped helical carbon nanotubes with ultrabroad EMWA capability.Theoretical calculation and EM simulation confirm that the orbital coupling and spin polarization of the Mn–N4–C configuration,along with cross polarization generated by the helical structure,endow the helical converters with enhanced EM loss.As a result,HMC-8 demonstrates outstanding EMWA performance,achieving a minimum reflection loss of−63.13 dB at an ultralow thickness of 1.29 mm.Through precise tuning of the graphite domain size,HMC-7 achieves an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 6.08 GHz at 2.02 mm thickness.Furthermore,constructing macroscale gradient metamaterials enables an ultrabroadband EAB of 12.16 GHz at a thickness of only 5.00 mm,with the maximum radar cross section reduction value reaching 36.4 dB m2.This innovative approach not only advances the understanding of metal–nonmetal co-doping but also realizes broadband EMWA,thus contributing to the development of EMWA mechanisms and applications.