Evolution of pore structure, submaceral composition and produced gases of two Chinese coals during thermal treatment

This research was funded by the Research Program for Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor of Beijing (grant no. YB20101141501), the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities (grant no. 35832015136) and Key Project of Coal-based Science and Technology in Shanxi Province-CBM accumulation model and reservoir evaluation in Shanxi province (grant no. MQ2014-01).Peer reviewedPostprin

Sensors for Integrated Monitoring and Mitigation of Scour

Systems and methods for detecting scour. Some embodiments provide systems which include a sensor and a signal generator with a combined density equal to or greater than that of water. Optionally, the sensor can be a magnet, magnetic resonator, or accelerometer. In some embodiments, the sensor is adapted to be placed in regions potentially subject to scour and to sense a scour-related condition. The signal generator generates a wireless signal conveying data regarding the as-sensed scour-related. In some embodiments the sensor is the signal generator while a receiver of the wireless signal can include an antenna, a magnetometer, or an ultrasonic sensor. In some embodiments, the housing is conic and the magnetic object is offset from the center of gravity of the coupled sensor, signal generator and housing

Smart rocks for integrated monitoring and mitigation of bridge scour ready for triage [abstract]

Scour is a process in which a fluid erodes material supporting a structure. When scour occurs near a bridge, the associated erosion can cause that bridge to collapse. Bridge collapses occur in hours or days. To prevent them, scour must be monitored and its mitigation strategy must be developed in real time. This invention introduces magnetic embodiments with sensors, a smart rock system, to tackle the grand challenge of scour monitoring and mitigation in real time. The smart rock system can facilitate an evaluation of the critical scour condition of bridges and reduce damage and loss of life from bridge failures caused by scour. Potential Areas of Applications: * applied for existing bridges * applied for new construction * tracking rocks that can also be used to stabilize bridge foundations. Patent Status: Provisional Patent Application Filed Inventor(s): Genda Chen, David J. Pommerenke, Zhi Zhou, Ying Huang Contact Info: Keith Strassner, [email protected]; 573-341-6725 Eric Anderson, [email protected]; 573-341-4551 Vera Anderson, [email protected]; 573-341-726

Effects of relative orientation of the molecules on electron transport in molecular devices

Effects of relative orientation of the molecules on electron transport in molecular devices are studied by non-equilibrium Green's function method based on density functional theory. In particular, two molecular devices, with the planer Au$_{7}$ and Ag$_{3}$ clusters sandwiched between the Al(100) electrodes are studied. In each device, two typical configurations with the clusters parallel and vertical to the electrodes are considered. It is found that the relative orientation affects the transport properties of these two devices completely differently. In the Al(100)-Au$_7$-Al(100) device, the conductance and the current of the parallel configuration are much larger than those in the vertical configuration, while in the Al(100)-Ag$_{3}$-Al(100) device, an opposite conclusion is obtained