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1. A Field-Deployable and Low-Cost PCR (FLC-PCR) Thermocycler for the Rapid Detection of Environmental E. coli

   https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC44109.2020.9176519  

   Ferguson, James; Duran, Jesse; Killinen, Wesley; Wagner, Jason; Kulesza, Caroline; Chatterley, Christie; Li, Yiyan (July 2020, Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc)

   null (Ed.)

   This is a proof-of-concept study for the development of a field-deployable and low-cost PCR thermocycler (FLC-PCR) to perform Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the rapid detection of environmental E. coli. Four efficient (77.1 W) peltier modules are used as the central temperature control unit. One 250 W silicone heating pad is used for the heating lid. The PID (proportional-integral-derivative) control algorithm for the thermocycles is implemented by a low-cost 8-bit, 16 MHz microcontroller (ATMEGA328P-PU). ybbW and uidA genes from specific E. coli colonies were used as amplicons for the PCR reactions that were carried out by a commercial PCR machine (Bio-Rad) and our FLC-PCR thermocycler. The heating and cooling speeds averaged 1.11 ± 0.33°C/s which is on a par with the commercial bench-top PCR thermocycler and the efficiency of the heating lid outperformed the Bio-Rad PCR thermocycler. The overall cost of the system is lower than $200 which is more than ten times lower than commercially available units. The heating block can be customized to accommodate different PCR tubes and even microfluidic chambers. An 8000 W portable power generator will be used as the power supply for field studies. 

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2. Data from the publication: Drought decreases water storage capacity of two arboreal epiphytes with differing ecohydrological traits

   https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.4e9723d9937f4adfa7e6f588a2f77ba4  

   Moore, Althea; Antoine, Jalayna; Bedoya, Laura; Medina, Ann; Buck, Clifton; Van_Stan, John; Gotsch, Sybil (June 2023, Hydroshare)

   The attached datasets are from the publication: Drought decreases water storage capacity of two arboreal epiphytes with differing ecohydrological traits. Canopy epiphytes, plants that grow on trees, can have a significant influence on canopy water storage, interception, and precipitation fluxes. However, the drought response of the plants at a foliar level may influence their ability to store and capture rainfall. We experimentally tested the effects of leaf desiccation on water storage (Smax) and relevant leaf properties of two canopy epiphytes common in coastal maritime forests in Georgia, U.S.A. Full methodological information can be found in the publication listed under "Related Resources." 

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3. Hadronic effects in Møller scattering at NNLO

   https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2022)183  

   Erler, Jens; Ferro-Hernández, Rodolfo; Freitas, Ayres (August 2022, Journal of High Energy Physics)

   A bstract Two-loop electroweak corrections to polarized Møller scattering are studied in two different schemes at low energies. We find the finite Q 2 corrections to be well under control. The hadronic and perturbative QCD corrections to the γZ two-point function are incorporated through the weak mixing angle at low energies, which introduce an error of 0 . 08 × 10 − 3 in the weak charge of the electron $$ {Q}_W^e $$ Q W e . Furthermore, by studying the scheme dependence, we obtain an estimate of the current perturbative electroweak uncertainty, $$ \delta {Q}_W^e $$ δ Q W e ≈ 0 . 23 × 10 − 3 , which is five times smaller than the precision estimated for the MOLLER experiment ( $$ \delta {Q}_W^e $$ δ Q W e = 1 . 1 × 10 − 3 ). Future work is possible to reduce the theory error further. 

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4. RegionGrow3D: A Deterministic Analysis for Characterizing Discrete Three‐Dimensional Landslide Source Areas on a Regional Scale

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JF007815  

   Mathews, Nicolas W; Leshchinsky, Ben A; Mirus, Benjamin B; Olsen, Michael J; Booth, Adam M (September 2024, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface)

   Regional‐scale characterization of shallow landslide hazards is important for reducing their destructive impact on society. These hazards are commonly characterized by (a) their location and likelihood using susceptibility maps, (b) landslide size and frequency using geomorphic scaling laws, and (c) the magnitude of disturbance required to cause landslides using initiation thresholds. Typically, this is accomplished through the use of inventories documenting the locations and triggering conditions of previous landslides. In the absence of comprehensive landslide inventories, physics‐based slope stability models can be used to estimate landslide initiation potential and provide plausible distributions of landslide characteristics for a range of environmental and forcing conditions. However, these models are sometimes limited in their ability to capture key mechanisms tied to discrete three‐dimensional (3D) landslide mechanics while possessing the computational efficiency required for broad‐scale application. In this study, the RegionGrow3D (RG3D) model is developed to broadly simulate the area, volume, and location of landslides on a regional scale (≥1,000 km2) using 3D, limit‐equilibrium (LE)‐based slope stability modeling. Furthermore, RG3D is incorporated into a susceptibility framework that quantifies landsliding uncertainty using a distribution of soil shear strengths and their associated probabilities, back‐calculated from inventoried landslides using 3D LE‐based landslide forensics. This framework is used to evaluate the influence of uncertainty tied to shear strength, rainfall scenarios, and antecedent soil moisture on potential landsliding and rainfall thresholds over a large region of the Oregon Coast Range, USA. 

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5. Inventory of Landslides Along Alabama Highways

   https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-xs04-th22  

   Rahimikhameneh, Lili; Montgomery, Jack; Knights, Michelle; Alvarez_Reyna, Abraham; O'Donnell, Frances; Carcamo, Patricia (July 2025, Designsafe-CI)

   An inventory of landslides along Alabama highways was created using both inclinometer readings collected by the Alabama Department of Transportation and based on Detailed Damage Inspection Reports (DDIRs) submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for emergency assistance. For the inclinometer-based dataset, we have processed the readings to extract the change in displacement from the previous reading at the top of the slide plane. For the emergency relief landslides, we have extracted key information from the submitted DDIRs. These datasets can be used for landslide susceptibility modeling, testing remote sensing-based monitoring or warning systems, or to better understand landslide patterns in the southeastern United States. 

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