14 Apr 2026

A Synthesis of Freshwater Forested Wetland Soil Organic Carbon Storage

Abstract: Freshwater forested wetlands account for ~76% of the total global wetland extent. However, freshwater forested wetlands are difficult to distinguish from upland forest due to canopy coverage, the abundance of wetland-nonwetland mosaics, seasonal hydropatterns, and fewer readily observable connections to large surface water bodies relative to marshes and other emergent habitats. Therefore, freshwater forested wetland ecosystems are often misclassified as upland forests in carbon accounting models, underestimating soil organic carbon storage. This study highlights freshwater forested wetland SOC accounting challenges and presents SOC densities/stocks from a global literature synthesis across different freshwater forested wetland types. We reviewed 374 forested wetland articles, compiling and calculating carbon densities by depth from 90 freshwater forested wetland studies to construct a database of 334 study sites including nine countries. The median SOC stock was 91.2 ± 46.4 Mg C ha−1 and 235.3 ± 125.6 Mg C ha−1 in the top 30 cm and 100 cm of soil, respectively. The tidal freshwater forested wetland had highest SOC stock in the upper 100 cm soil profile followed by rainforest, non-tidal swamps, and floodplain forested wetlands. Within the conterminous United States forest type groups, the Tsuga/Picea group had the highest median SOC stocks in the top 100 cm of soil followed by Quercus/Pinus and Quercus/Liquidambar/Taxodium groups, likely driven by variability in litter degradability, wetland hydroperiod, geomorphic positions, and regional climatic factors. This literature synthesis highlights SOC accounting in freshwater forested wetland carbon pools when estimating carbon stocks and fluxes. Results can be used to improve carbon modeling outcomes, as well as inform regional, national, and global management of wetland carbon resources.

9 Apr 2026

Vertebrates in Trade that Pose High Invasion Risk to the United States

Abstract: The United States imports thousands of live vertebrate species annually as part of legal trade. Escapes and releases from captivity are major pathways of invasion, however, the risk posed by the thousands of imported vertebrate species has not been systematically assessed. We conducted a horizon scan that used a data-driven climate match to filter a list of nearly 15,000 taxa drawn from across the globe of imported fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals for rapid assessment by taxonomic experts. Experts evaluated 840 species and identified 32 as having the highest risk for establishment, spread, and negative impacts. Of those high-risk species, the majority have the capacity to disrupt ecosystem processes via their role as top predators or the unique ecological niches that they occupy, while several of the snake species pose a threat to human health. High-risk species were often scored with high confidence while in contrast, low scores were attributed to a combination of ecological redundancy, low propagule pressure, or low climate match while low confidence arose from a lack of information in the literature. Our study therefore highlights legally imported species likely to cause the greatest harm with the recognition that many other species could also become invasive in the United States. The ranked list of vertebrate threats can be used to prioritize watchlists and inform the development of targeted regulations for importation can be applied to regions to provide a rapid, preliminary screening for large pools of potential invaders.

8 Apr 2026

Phase-pure Formamidinium Lead Iodide Perovskite Films Deposited via Flow-Limited Field-Injection Electrostatic Spraying

Abstract: Phase-pure perovskite formamidinium lead iodide (FPI) films were deposited using flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying at a deposition temperature of 120 ○C without employing stabilizing additives while retaining large-area scalability. The structures of the films were analyzed using the Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction measurements, enabling achievement of phase purity under optimized charging voltage and deposition temperature. The effect of precursor molar ratio on the phase of FPI was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealing the crucial role of the FAPbI3 ⋅ DMSO adduct formed in solution for achieving phase purity. Optical properties and photoactivity were assessed by absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence, demonstrating viability for application to solar cells.

3 Mar 2026

The Use of Nitrocellulose Production Waste for Energy Generation

Abstract: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center investigated the use of nitrocellulose (NC) fines, an ammunition waste, for energy generation. NC is a natural high polymer obtained from treating cotton or wool with nitric and sulfuric acid. It is widely used in the industry, with military applications being the largest use currently. Since military applications range from bullet propellants to missiles for tube munitions, large quantities must be produced to meet the demand. However, large NC production batches result in large quantities of NC fines waste, generated in the form of insoluble fibers in suspension in wastewater after manufacturing. Hence, a method to reuse this generated waste and convert it into energy was tested. This study evaluated the potential of creating energy from NC waste through hydrothermal liquefaction and gasification of NC, yielding methane (CH4) as the final product. Results demonstrated that the CH4 concentrations increased as the temperature, reaction time, and catalyst addition were increased, yielding a maximum concentration of 2,000 ppm (6,400 peak area of the chromatograph). The homogenous catalyst performed better than the heterogenous catalyst, since it increased the CH4 yield up to 6 times the concentration obtained with no catalyst added.

18 Feb 2026

Infection Risk Assessment for Socially Structured Population Using Stochastic Microexposure Model

Abstract: Predicting infection outbreak dynamics within local microenvironments is a challenging task. Some methods assume smaller population pools and often lack the statistical power of inferences. Others are designed for larger population pools and cannot be downscaled to accommodate the details of microenvironments. Practicable infection risk assessment models should account for population size, geometry and occupancy of public places, behavioral and professional patterns of daily routines, and societal structure. This study is based on the stochastic microexposure model, which has been generalized to describe clustered populations. The methodology is demonstrated for a community of several thousand students on campus. The results indicate the social structure has the first order effect on the spread of the infection. Depending on the number, size, and degree of inner- and outer-cluster connections, the outbreak exhibits distinct durations, power, and multiple peaks of infection. Moreover, the contribution of different microenvironments to infection risk evolves during the course of the outbreak. Social structure plays a major role in infection spread and should be accounted for in risk prediction tools. The stochastic microexposure model accounts for the social structure of a population at multiple scales and can predict the dynamic contributions of different microenvironments to infection spread risks.

3 Feb 2026

Public Risk Perceptions of Advanced Water Purification in an Arid Urban Region of the U.S. Southwest: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract: As water utilities implement potable reuse technology, there is a need to understand how to increase public acceptance and trust in public water supplies. The study objective was to use surveys and interviews in a large metropolitan area in Arizona to characterize tap water and advanced purified water acceptability, and factors contributing to (un)acceptability. Participants were recruited through a water utility email listserv for participation in an online REDCap survey and/or 1-hr Zoom interview. Surveys and interviews inquired about perceptions of tap water safety, familiarity with water reuse terms, acceptability of direct potable reuse (called “advanced water purification” in our study for consistency with state messaging), and rationales related to acceptance. Four hundred seventy-nine individuals participated in the survey, and twenty-two individuals participated in the interviews, with roughly comparable demographics for our city of interest but with slightly higher levels of household income and education. Only 36 % of survey respondents use their tap water for drinking water supplies, but (42 %) would be open to drinking advanced purified water. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2024 on risk-based thinking to evaluate how advanced purified water may compare to current drinking water safety and analyzed with inductive thematic analysis. Survey and interview participants wanted more reassurances (e.g., third party testing and opportunities for hands-on testing). Water utilities should prioritize transparent communication strategies, including sharing detailed third-party testing data and direct community engagement initiatives, to enhance public acceptance. Utilities can build trust through clear comparisons between advanced purified water and current tap water quality.

29 Jan 2026

Composite Materials for Sector Gates and Vertical Lift Gates: Report of FY22–FY24 Project Outcomes

Abstract: This project supported a Statement of Need (SON) submitted to the Navigation Research Area Review Group: SON 2021-1505 by David Weston, Business Line Manager for Inland Navigation (INAV) and Flood Risk Management (FRM) at Jacksonville District. The goal of this study was to provide design guidance, criteria, and performance standards for professionals to use in the design, retrofit, maintenance, and repair of Canaveral sector gates and W. P. Franklin vertical lift gates using structural grade fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The results also contribute to guidance documentation used for Hydraulic Composite Structures at other INAV structures. Our work focused on four main subject areas: direct field support, workforce education, structural connection design and modal analysis, and inspection guidance. As this research project progressed through three FYs in coordination with stakeholders across the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and industry, the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC) and the Jacksonville District gained competency in hydraulic composite structures design techniques, which enabled their successful award of a contract for composite bulkheads at Port Mayaca and vertical lift gates at W. P. Franklin.

22 Jan 2026

Knowledge Gaps and Education Opportunities on Direct Potable Reuse: Interviews with Customers of a Large, Southwestern United States Water Utility

Abstract: Water scarcity is a global public health threat that has increased urgency in implementing new sustainable practices to protect water supplies, such as the use of direct potable reuse, or “advanced water purification (AWP)". The study objective was to use interviews to characterize knowledge gaps and community outreach strategies to increase successful AWP implementation in an arid city in the southwestern United States. Through partnership with a water utility in an urbanized area of Arizona, 6000 individuals were emailed for invitation to participate in interviews. Interviews were conducted over Zoom and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts underwent inductive thematic analysis. Twenty-two individuals participated in interviews, and saturation of themes was reached. Five main themes emerged: 1) Conflation of filters with all treatment and the influence of residential technologies, 2) individual-level control over decisions to use advanced purified water, 3) desire for regulation, testing, and transparency about testing results, 4) concerns about specific chemicals, 5) educational resources to strengthen community engagement. Participants expressed lack of knowledge about how water is delivered to their residences by expressing the desire for opting in or out of system-wide treatment approaches.

14 Jan 2026

Fiscal Year 24 Sustainable Design and Development Support Order: Identifying Building Electrification and Decarbonization Opportunities for Army Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Projects

Abstract: In fiscal year 2024, the Army advanced its strategic goals for resilient and sustainable building design, certifying 12 new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects and reaching a total of 899 LEED-certified projects since 2006. Key findings of this report reflect the Army’s alignment with updated LEED prerequisites, including increased energy performance standards and new green-house gas emissions metrics. The ongoing challenges in decarbonization and electrification, including increased construction costs and maintenance uncertainties, underscore the need for early integrative planning and improved data collection. The report highlights the best practices and technology solutions that are critical for reducing carbon footprints and enhancing operational resilience for the purpose of closing implementation gaps in complying with new policy, such as the Department of the Army Policy Guidance on Resilient Buildings released 27 March 2024 and the 29 March 2023 DoD memorandum on Electrification of Standard Building Operations. The report also emphasizes the importance of early LEED documentation to improve certification outcomes. With the upcoming LEED v5 release and evolving Army policies, this year’s progress sets a strong foundation for further implementation of electrification and sustainability efforts in alignment with Army resiliency goals.

7 Jan 2026

Evaluation of Seven Bridges at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, for Eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places

Abstract: The US Congress codified the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), the nation’s most effective cultural resources legislation to date, mostly through establishing the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The NHPA requires federal agencies to address their cultural re-sources, which are defined as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object. Section 110 of the NHPA requires federal agencies to inventory and evaluate their cultural resources, and Section 106 requires them to determine the effect of federal undertakings on those potentially eligible for the NRHP. Fort Hunter Liggett is in central California, within Monterey County. It was first established as the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation in 1941. The post was renamed Fort Hunter Liggett in 1975. This report provides a determination of eligibility for the NRHP for seven properties (Bridges 749, 750, 753, 760, 767, 779, and 781) constructed between 1965 and 2010 and recommends that none are eligible under the NRHP and the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR) criteria.