Multi-scale Fractures and Their Influence on Shale Gas Deliverability in the Longmaxi Formation of the Changning Block, Southern Sichuan Basin, China.

The capacity and deliverability of shale gas are closely linked to the presence of multi-scale fractures, including fractures and faults, within organic-rich shales. This study aims to investigate the fracture system of the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Changning Block of the southern Sichuan Basin and quantify the influence of multi-scale fractures on shale gas capacity and deliverability. The fracture system was analyzed through outcrop, core observations, and 3D seismic interpretation. Criteria for fault classification were established based on the horizon, throw, azimuth (phase), extension, and dip angle. The Longmaxi Formation shale mainly comprises shear fractures that form under multi-phase tectonic stress, characterized by large dip angles, small extensions, small apertures, and high density. The high content of organic matter and brittle minerals in the Long 1-1 Member facilitates the occurrence of natural fractures, which somewhat enhance shale gas capacity. Reverse faults with a dip angle of 45-70° exist vertically, while laterally, there are early-stage nearly E-W faults, middle-stage NE faults, and late-stage NW faults. Based on the established criteria, faults that cut upward through the strata in and above the Permian with a throw greater than 200 m and a dip angle greater than 60° have the greatest influence on shale gas preservation and deliverability. These results provide important guidance for shale gas exploration and development in the Changning Block and contribute to our understanding of the relationship between multi-scale fractures and shale gas capacity and deliverability.

Antifibrotic Mechanism of Piceatannol in Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by myofibroblast accumulation and extracellular matrix deposition, which lead to irreversible damage of the lung's architecture and the formation of fibrotic lesions. IPF is also a sequela in serious patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The molecular mechanisms under pulmonary fibrosis remain unclear, and there is no satisfactory treatment currently available. Piceatannol (PIC) is a naturally occurring resveratrol analog found in a variety of dietary sources such as grapes, passion fruit, and white tea. It has been reported to inhibit liver fibroblast growth and exhibited various antitumor activities, although its role in pulmonary fibrosis has not been established yet. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-fibrotic role of PIC in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Methods: Mice with BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis were treated with PIC, and fibrotic changes were measured by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and hydroxyproline assay. Luciferase assay, Western blot assay, histological analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the effect of PIC on fibroblast activation and autophagy in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH-3T3) and human lung fibroblast cells (HFL1). The anti-fibrotic mechanisms of PIC were either confirmed in vivo. Results: Our results showed that PIC significantly alleviated the bleomycin-induced collagen deposition and myofibroblast accumulation. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that PIC plays a role in activating autophagy in the process of anti-fibroblast activation. Further mechanism studies demonstrated that PIC can promote autophagy via inhibiting the TGF-ß1-Smad3/ERK/P38 signaling pathway, which leads to a decreased number of activated myofibroblasts. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated for the first time that PIC possesses the protective effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis due to the direct pulmonary protective effects which enhance the effect of autophagy in vitro and in vivo and finally leads to the decreased number of activated myofibroblasts. PIC may serve as a candidate compound for pulmonary fibrosis therapy and attenuates the sequelae of SARS-COV-2 pulmonary fibrosis.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(2-(6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-6-methylnicotinoyl)-4-Substituted Semicarbazides/Thiosemicarbazides as Anti-Tumor Nur77 Modulators.

Nur77 is an orphan nuclear receptor that participates in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors. Many agonists of Nur77 have been reported to have significant anticancer effects. Our previous studies have found that the introduction of bicyclic aromatic rings, such as naphthalyl and quinoline groups, into the N'-methylene position of indoles' Nur77 modulators can effectively improve the anti-tumor activity of the target compounds. Following our previous studies, a series of novel 1-(2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-6-methylnicotinoyl)-4-substituted semicarbazide/thiosemicarbazide derivatives 9a-9w were designed and synthesized in four steps from 6-methoxy-2-acetonaphthone and N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal. All compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS, and their anti-tumor activity on various cancer cell lines such as A549, HepG2, HGC-27, MCF-7 and HeLa are also evaluated. From the series of compounds, 9h exhibited the most potent anti-proliferative activity against several cancer cells. Colony formation and cell cycle experiments showed that compound 9h inhibited cell growth and arrested the cell cycle. Additionally, 9h leads to the cleavage of PARP. We initially explored the mechanism of 9h-induced apoptosis and found that compound 9h can upregulate Nur77 expression and triggered Nur77 nuclear export, indicating the occurrence of Nur77-mediated apoptosis. These results suggested that 9h may be a promising anti-tumor leading compound for the further research.

Fractal Characteristics and Significance of Different Pore Types of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, Southern Sichuan Basin, China, Based on N2 Adsorption and Image Analysis.

Shale gas is an important unconventional natural gas resource, and its reservoirs have pores with strong heterogeneity, which have an important effect on the adsorption and migration of shale gas, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. To further clarify the pore structure characteristics of shale gas reservoirs and the mechanism of their influence on CH4 adsorption capacity, marine shale samples from the Wufeng-Longmaxi formation of wells N1, N3, and N10 in Changning block, southern Sichuan Basin, China, were selected for total organic carbon (TOC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 gas adsorption (N2-GA), CH4 gas adsorption (CH4-GA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) model and Slit Island Analysis (SIA) were used to calculate the fractal dimension of the pore system and different types of pores, and their relationship and influence on CH4 adsorption capacity were also discussed. The results show that the fractal dimension could reflect the complexity and heterogeneity of pores. According to the FHH model, fractal dimensions of the surface and structure of the pore system (D 1 and D 2, D 1 < D 2) were obtained, and the pore structure was more complex than the pore surface. According to SIA, the surface fractal dimensions of four types of reservoir space (D DP, D OP, D IP, and D MF) decrease progressively, and their main body is 2.60-2.80, 2.40-2.65, 2.20-2.40, and 2.05-2.30. Organic pores and intergranular pores are the most abundant, and so D 1 is mainly related to D OP and D IP. In high-TOC samples, D 1 is close to D OP, while in low-TOC samples, D 1 is close to D IP. The complexity of the pore surface, D 1, and specific surface area have a positive correlation, and with the increase of pore surface complexity, methane adsorption capacity could be significantly improved. Therefore, D 1 may be used as a characterization parameter of CH4 adsorption capacity, which could provide some evidence to further clarify the adsorption mechanism of shale gas.

Beckmann Rearrangement of Ketoxime Catalyzed by N-methyl-imidazolium Hydrosulfate.

Beckmann rearrangement of ketoxime catalyzed by acidic ionic liquid-N-methyl-imidazolium hydrosulfate was studied. Rearrangement of benzophenone oxime gave the desirable product with 45% yield at 90 °C. When co-catalyst P2O5 was added, the yield could be improved to 91%. The catalyst could be reused three cycles with the same efficiency. Finally, reactions of other ketoximes were also investigated.

Highly efficient procedure for the synthesis of fructone fragrance using a novel carbon based acid.

The novel carbon based acid has been synthesized via one-step hydrothermal carbonization of furaldehyde and hydroxyethylsulfonic acid. A highly efficient procedure for the synthesis of fructone has been developed using the novel carbon based acid. The results showed that the catalyst possessed high activity for the reaction, giving a yield of over 95%. The advantages of high activity, stability, reusability and low cost for a simple synthesis procedure and wide applicability to various diols and beta-keto esters make this novel carbon based acid one of the best choices for the reaction.

Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of the platinum(II) complexes of indaphyrin and thiaindaphyrin.

The novel free base meso-di(5'-methylthien-2'-yl)thiaindaphyrin, 10, was prepared from the corresponding meso-tetra(thien-2-yl)porphyrin using a methodology analogous to that for the preparation of known meso-diphenylindaphyrin, 5: beta,beta'-Dihydroxylation of the porphyrin is followed by oxidative diol cleavage. The resulting aldehyde moieties undergo an acid-catalyzed intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the adjacent meso-thienyl groups with concomitant oxidation. Insertion of Pt(II) into either of the chromophores is facile, producing 5Pt and 10Pt. The crystal structure of 5Pt, the first for any indaphyrin, shows that the conformation of the indaphyrinato ligand is strongly ruffled, while the N(4) donor set that coordinates the central Pt(II) maintains a near-perfect square-planar coordination geometry around the central metal ion (crystal data for C(44)H(24)N(4)O(2)Pt: triclinic space group P1 with a = 8.8735(4) A, b = 12.9285(6) A, c = 14.3297(6) A, alpha = 88.785(1) degrees, beta = 82.248(1) degrees, gamma = 72.422(1) degrees; Z = 2). The UV-vis and emission spectra, triplet yields, and lifetimes of the Pt(II) complexes 5Pt and 10Pt were determined. Both complexes luminesce (in EtOH at 77 K) in the NIR (5Pt: lambda(max-emission) = 864, 974 nm, lifetime 2 micros; 10Pt: lambda(max-emission) = 990, 1112, 1276 nm) with modest to low quantum yields (Phi(p) approximately 1% and approximately 6 x 10(-3) %, respectively).