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1. Interpreting floodplain heterogeneity: Using field data to understand unsupervised floodplain classifications.

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130508  

   Iskin, Emily; Wohl, Ellen (November 2023, Journal of hydrology)

   The dynamic environment of natural river 昀氀oodplains creates spatial heterogeneity that in昀氀uences 昀氀oodplain functions. Diverse human activities have homogenized natural 昀氀oodplains and reduced their functions across many river networks in the temperate latitudes. Consequently, quanti昀椀cation of 昀氀oodplain heterogeneity is needed to understand patterns of spatial heterogeneity on diverse 昀氀oodplains and to inform 昀氀oodplain restoration. We use a novel approach of spatially connecting 昀椀eld and remotely sensed data in order to interpret the output of, and build upon, a previous unsupervised classi昀椀cation work昀氀ow. We apply the method to three rivers in the US Paci昀椀c Northwest and the Altamaha River in the southeastern US and compare our results to a previous study. We 昀椀nd that 昀椀eld classi昀椀cations, relative topography, and NDVI are useful for interpreting results from the unsupervised classi昀椀cation work昀氀ow. The interpretations are visually interesting, but we propose that it is the heterogeneity within the groups that is vital to 昀氀oodplain functioning. Natural 昀氀oodplains in the Paci昀椀c Northwest and coastal Southeast have moderate to high evenness, moderate to high intermixing, and moderate aggregation; and aggregation and evenness similar to rivers in Colorado and Oklahoma, USA, but lower intermixing. We attribute lower intermixing at the Altamaha River to slower rates of lateral channel migration, and lower intermixing at the Hoh River to the different hydrologic and sediment regimes and less stable braided planform. The results show that the larger rivers in this study (Altamaha, Hoh, and Sol Duc Rivers) have spatial heterogeneity similar to beaver-modi昀椀ed and shortgrass prairie rivers in Colorado, whereas the more inland and smaller river (Lookout Creek) has spatial heterogeneity similar to the tallgrass prairie site (Sand Creek). From the results of an ad hoc sensitivity analysis, we suggest using the highest spatial resolution topographic data available, using aerial imagery/mosaics from the same sensor, and removing largest patch index from the suite of comparable indices. The metrics reveal similarities and differences between rivers in the United States, and indicate that discernable trends may arise from a meta study comparing heterogeneity from more rivers across the country. 

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2. Advances in non-thermal and electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies towards net-zero emissions

   Garcia, AE; Sanito, RC; Gao, M; Chuang, SSC; Azizah, LAN (March 2025, Cleaner engineering and technology)

   The escalating challenges posed by extreme climate change and the rapid greenhouse effect have heightened stress and urgency among governments, researchers, and the public. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), have signi昀椀cantly contributed to rising atmospheric temperatures, with agriculture, forestry, and industrial activities accounting for 22 % and 17 % of global emissions, respectively. In 2022, global GHG emissions reached 53.8 Gt CO2eq, underscoring the critical need for net-zero technologies and a circular carbon economy. This review systematically evaluates the ef昀椀ciencies of non-thermal and electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies, including plasma, arti昀椀cial photosynthesis, and electrochemical methods, for achieving net-zero emissions. These advanced technologies offer promising pathways for converting CO2 into value-added chemicals, such as syngas, methanol, and formic acid, while reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. However, upscaling these technologies from laboratory to industrial scales presents signi昀椀cant challenges, including high energy consumption, economic feasibility, and environmental impacts. The review highlights the mechanisms of CO2 conversion, economic considerations, and the potential for industrial implementation. Priority research directions are identi昀椀ed, focusing on ecological footprints, green supply chains, and the integration of renewable energy sources. By addressing these challenges, non-thermal and electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies can play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change and advancing toward a sustainable, circular carbon economy. 

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3. A facile biomass-based coating for flax fabric toward plant fiber/biobased epoxy composite with enhanced fire safety

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2024.111057  

   Ao, Xiang; Crouse, Robert; Guerrero-Muñoz, Gloria; Wang, De-Yi (January 2025, Polymer Degradation and Stability)

   The natural abundance, biodegradability, and low density of plant 昀椀bers, together with biobased epoxy thermoset resin, have driven the increasing popularity of plant 昀椀ber/polymer composites (PFRPs) to wider applications in various industries. However, the striving for biomass-based 昀氀ame retardants (FRs) treatment for PFRPs remained a bottleneck due to polymers’ inherent vulnerability against 昀椀re and the increasing environmental awareness. In this work, a facile two-step aqueous solution coating process was proposed for fabric surface treatment of 昀氀ax fabric using fully biobased phytic acid and chitosan from polysaccharides. The treated 昀氀ax fabric demonstrated self-extinguishing behavior when ignited and showed a decrease in peak heat release rate (PHRR) by 58% under combustion. The laminate produced by this treated 昀氀ax fabric and biobased epoxy resin showed a decrease of PHRR by 36% and an increase of more than 200% for the time of torch 昀椀re burn-through, demonstrating intriguing 昀氀ame retardance brought by only FRs treatment on 昀氀ax fabric reinforcements. Various measurements were done to elaborate on the role of treated 昀氀ax fabric in the 昀氀ame retardancy of polymer composites. 

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4. Time dependence of corrosion resistance in belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement concrete

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106099  

   Adnan, Tayyab; Bescher, Éric P; Thomas, Robert J (August 2025, Cement and Concrete Composites)

   This paper studies the time dependence of corrosion resistance in belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement concrete. BCSA is a hydraulic cement that sets rapidly and has a lower carbon footprint than portland cement (PC). Some studies suggest that BCSA concrete is highly susceptible to chloride-induced corrosion, but these claims are based on testing at 28 days. No later-age results have been reported. We con昀椀rm that BCSA cement concrete exhibits poor corrosion resistance when tested at 28 days, which can be attributed to an immature microstructure with weak resistance to chloride ingress and a pore solution that does not support passivation. We further show that corrosion resistance improves signi昀椀cantly as the BCSA system matures, achieving good corrosion resistance between 90 and 180 days. This improvement relates to the slow hydration of belite, which results in signi昀椀cant later-age microstructure re昀椀nement and probably alters the pore solution in a way that promotes or enhances steel passivation. 

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5. Peripheral Anomalies in USH2A Cause Central Auditory Anomalies in a Mouse Model of Usher Syndrome and CAPD

   https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12020151  

   Perrino, Peter A.; Newbury, Dianne F.; Fitch, R. Holly (February 2021, Genes)

   null (Ed.)

   Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is associated with difficulties hearing and processing acoustic information, as well as subsequent impacts on the development of higher-order cognitive processes (i.e., attention and language). Yet CAPD also lacks clear and consistent diagnostic criteria, with widespread clinical disagreement on this matter. As such, identification of biological markers for CAPD would be useful. A recent genome association study identified a potential CAPD risk gene, USH2A. In a homozygous state, this gene is associated with Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2), a recessive disorder resulting in bilateral, high-frequency hearing loss due to atypical cochlear hair cell development. However, children with heterozygous USH2A mutations have also been found to show unexpected low-frequency hearing loss and reduced early vocabulary, contradicting assumptions that the heterozygous (carrier) state is “phenotype free”. Parallel evidence has confirmed that heterozygous Ush2a mutations in a transgenic mouse model also cause low-frequency hearing loss (Perrino et al., 2020). Importantly, these auditory processing anomalies were still evident after covariance for hearing loss, suggesting a CAPD profile. Since usherin anomalies occur in the peripheral cochlea and not central auditory structures, these findings point to upstream developmental feedback effects of peripheral sensory loss on high-level processing characteristic of CAPD. In this study, we aimed to expand upon the mouse behavioral battery used in Perrino et al. (2020) by evaluating central auditory brain structures, including the superior olivary complex (SOC) and medial geniculate nucleus (MGN), in heterozygous and homozygous Ush2a mice. We found that heterozygous Ush2a mice had significantly larger SOC volumes while homozygous Ush2a had significantly smaller SOC volumes. Heterozygous mutations did not affect the MGN; however, homozygous Ush2a mutations resulted in a significant shift towards more smaller neurons. These findings suggest that alterations in cochlear development due to USH2A variation can secondarily impact the development of brain regions important for auditory processing ability. 

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