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Wildfires affect soils in multiple ways, leading to numerous challenges for colonizing microorganisms. Although it is thought that fire-adapted microorganisms lie at the forefront of postfire ecosystem recovery, the specific strategies that these organisms use to thrive in burned soils remain largely unknown. Through bioactivity screening of bacterial isolates from burned soils, we discovered that several Paraburkholderia spp. isolates produced a set of unusual rhamnolipid surfactants with a natural methyl ester modification. These rhamnolipid methyl esters (RLMEs) exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity against other postfire microbial isolates, including pyrophilous Pyronema fungi and Amycolatopsis bacteria, compared to the typical rhamnolipids made by organisms such as Pseudomonas spp. RLMEs also showed enhanced surfactant properties and facilitated bacterial motility on agar surfaces. In vitro assays further demonstrated that RLMEs improved aqueous solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are potential carbon sources found in char. Identification of the rhamnolipid biosynthesis genes in the postfire isolate, Paraburkholderia kirstenboschensis str. F3, led to the discovery of rhlM, whose gene product is responsible for the unique methylation of rhamnolipid substrates. RhlM is the first characterized bacterial representative of a large class of integral membrane methyltransferases that are widespread in bacteria. These results indicate multiple roles for RLMEs in the postfire lifestyle of Paraburkholderia isolates, including enhanced dispersal, solubilization of potential nutrients, and inhibition of competitors. Our findings shed new light on the chemical adaptations that bacteria employ to navigate, grow, and outcompete other soil community members in postfire environments.

Since the 1990s, the Norwegian management for cultural heritage has increased its focus on finding effective solutions for protecting Norway's wooden cultural heritage from fire damage. The medieval churches in general, including the wooden stave churches, with their interiors and inventories, are of special interest. However, the usefulness of protecting valuable interiors and inventories when fighting fire has been questioned. An experiment was carried out to find manageable solutions for protecting large inventories by using fire covers in case of fire. An experiment using seven commercially available products was conducted by fire fighters to investigate whether these products could protect historic interiors from water and fire. The preliminary results show that it is possible to find manageable, large format covers for the protection of large, immovable historic inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holocene infill of an intermittently open-closed barrier estuary (Painkalac Creek/Aireys Inlet) was examined on the southern margins of Australia, through aerial LiDAR, coring, sedimentology, radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis. It is found that almost all the accommodation space within the estuary has been occupied, with a thick sequence (>9 m) of sediments being deposited rapidly soon after flooding by the sea. The rate of sedimentation was 4.8 mm/year which closely matches the rate of sea level rise (4.5 mm/year) during the 1200 year period that the estuary infilled, from around 8000–6800 years ago. The evidence of estuarine deposition above the elevation of the modern intertidal zone provides significant further evidence for the presence of the mid-Holocene highstand sea level in this relatively unstudied part of the Australian coast. The pattern of infill departs from the traditional barrier evolution models. The first phase of infill was likely tide dominated with subtidal sand shoals being found landward of a subtidal bedrock sill. Once a beach-barrier sequence formed, the estuary infilled in a more traditional manner, with lateral progradation of a flood tide delta and central mud basin infill. The barrier estuary of Painkalac Creek therefore has undergone a complex evolutionary history, characterised by a change in process dominance from classic tidal to wave-dominated form. Infill occurred in a keep-up (or fast catch-up) mode, with geological control occurring in regard to the presence of an intertidal bedrock sill at the mouth of the estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major threats to biodiversity is changing fire regimes, particularly increasingly frequent fires, especially during the dry season. However, studies on the direct and indirect effects of fire on biotic responses in aquatic ecosystems are still scarce. In this study, we investigated how water quality and phytoplankton community structure were affected by different ash concentrations from burning vegetation of a tropical savanna.We used a microcosm experiment to simulate the aquatic ecosystem with different ash concentration scenarios and evaluated the water quality and the composition, richness and density of phytoplankton over time.We found increased total phosphorus and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations after ash addition, in addition to changes in electrical conductivity. We identified 242 phytoplankton taxa throughout the experiment and identified changes in species composition among treatments. We identified changes in the taxonomic richness of total phytoplankton, green algae and desmids over time. The density of total phytoplankton, diatoms, green algae, desmids and cyanobacteria also changed over time.Our results suggest that ash from terrestrial fires affects water quality and phytoplankton communities depending on the proportion of ash input. Our results serve as a basis for further investigations of the effects of fire on abiotic conditions in aquatic ecosystems and their communities over long periods of time. Finally, longer‐term experiments are needed to evaluate delayed responses by the phytoplankton community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buckling and critical temperatures of steel columns are crucial parameters for structural fire safety design. However, the existing simplified design methods for buckling or critical temperature are based on column models with either pin ends or with large rotational restraints. Their applications on steel columns with limited rotational restraint stiffness ratios—the ones smaller than the critical rotational restraint stiffness ratio—is questionable. In this paper, parametric analyses on a validated numerical column model with rotational restraint stiffness ratio varying from 0.0001 to 10.0 were conducted. The effects of slenderness ratio, load ratio, and axial restraint stiffness ratio were also considered. Results show that for steel columns with limited rotational restraint stiffness ratios, prediction errors of existing simplified design methods were significant. Following the parametric analyses, new prediction formulas of buckling temperature and critical temperature are proposed for H-section steel columns. Results of proposed formulas aligned closely with those of parametric analyses in the full range of considered parameters. Furthermore, the proposed formulas were also validated by test results in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine a chaos theory view of accidental dwelling fire injuries using data from a UK fire and rescue service over a 10‐year period. Although chaos theory could not predict if or when a fire injury will occur for a given individual, chaos theory provided further information above and beyond the typical statistical analyses undertaken by fire and rescue services in terms of identifying pattern repetitions, interconnectedness of circumstances and sensitivity to initial conditions relating to the circumstances of accidental dwelling fire injuries. Householder behaviours such as attempting to tackle the fire or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs were the most prevalent circumstances relating to fire injury over the period studied. Proportions of smoke/toxic fumes inhalation injuries and injuries sustained attempting to fight the fire compared to the overall numbers of fire injuries per year showed pattern repetition over the period studied. In terms of interconnectedness, although there were roughly equal numbers of male and female fire injuries overall, the likelihood of an alcohol‐/drug‐related fire injury or a fire injury resulting from attempting to put out a fire was strongly connected with the gender of the householder involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate prediction of residual compressive strength (RCS) of concrete plays a critical role in assessing concrete constructions' safety and structural integrity following exposure to elevated temperatures. Existing ensemble models exhibit RCS prediction capabilities, yet they are constrained by their opaque nature. This research endeavors to develop an intelligible model for RCS by employing five ensemble machine-learning models, namely, random forest (RF), adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), gradient boosting (GBoost), light gradient boosting (LGBoost), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and integrating Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) to ascertain the precise importance of each input variable in forecasting the RCS of concrete under elevated temperature conditions. The input variables encompass concrete type, compressive strength, aggregate type, water-cement ratio, heating type, heating rate, maximum core temperature, and cooling type. Model performance is appraised using established performance metrics such as mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root-mean squared error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The analytical results exhibit the efficacy of employing machine-learning models in accurately predicting the RCS of concrete under elevated temperature conditions. Among the implemented models, XGBoost demonstrated the highest performance, yielding an R2 value of 0.876, closely trailed by the LGBoost model at 0.871. The SHAP analysis elucidates the crucial role of core temperature, water-cement ratio, heating rate, and compressive strength in determining the RCS of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is a sporadic disaster of concrete bridges, with diverse fire environments and complex damage mechanisms. Accurately evaluating the damage situation of concrete bridges after a fire is exceedingly challenging. This study formulates a damage analysis and assessment method based on the step-by-step and progressively deepening working principle. The method relies on fire scene numerical reconstruction and encompasses key technical aspects, including bridge detection and analysis during the fire incident, fire scene numerical reconstruction, and subsequent bridge damage assessment. Building upon these principles, the study utilizes results from the detection and analysis of the concrete T-girder bridge during a fire incident to establish Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Method (FEM) models for the numerical reconstruction of the fire scene. These models enable the calculation of varying temperature distributions and the evolution of the bridge under fire. Compared with the parameters obtained through the ISO834 method, the numerical reconstruction approaches not only enhances the accuracy of replicating the bridge combustion process but also enables the extraction of temperature field distribution patterns within the bridge fire space and its concrete components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed tomography (CT) is an excellent tool to solve certain engineering problems connected to material science (such as sulfate swelling, internal degradation due to freezing, and alkali silicate swelling) and to understand specific processes (frost peeling, acid action). Albeit borne and mostly used in the medical domain, CT is increasingly used in the examination of the internal structure of building materials, where degradation processes occur to the detriment of their mechanical performance and durability. This paper presents five engineering problems concerning concrete freezing and thawing, concrete at high temperatures, timber charring, spalling in asbestos‐cement pipes, and deterioration in prestressed concrete pipes due to the corrosion of metallic inserts. In each case, the degradation processes are monitored via CT, something that may be crucial in the renovation and preservation of historical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are among the most‐threatened terrestrial ecosystems, experiencing ongoing conversion to agricultural fields, pasture, and human settlements. Human disturbances are often precursors to invasion of ecosystems by non‐native species, but research on invasion patterns in tropical ecosystems is sparse, and there is no comprehensive synthesis of invasive species in TDF. We conducted a review of published scientific literature to catalog and synthesize information about invasion by non‐native plants in TDF ecosystems across the globe, drawing out patterns in the invasion of these ecosystems. We found that 130 invasive plant species were documented as present in TDF, but only 25 of these species were mentioned in three or more articles. Almost all 25 of these more‐studied invasive species—mostly pasture grasses, woody legumes, and climbers—have been intentionally cultivated for agricultural or ornamental purposes. Many of these plants are native to open‐canopy savanna or forest edge habitats and benefit from human‐altered disturbance regimes (burning, grazing, and fuelwood and timber harvesting) of TDF fragments within agricultural landscapes. Field studies show that management approaches incorporating invasive removal, native plantings, and reduction in agricultural disturbance (e.g. ungulate fencing and fire control) simultaneously are often the most successful at reducing invasive plant cover. However, management studies in TDF have focused on a limited number of invasive species, and most were conducted in India and Hawaii. Global differences in TDF soils, natural fire regimes, and historic and current land use by humans influence modern biogeographic patterns of invasion and the feasibility of restoration options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When analyzing military, defense, or structures/infrastructures deemed critical, explosion‐induced actions—often associated with malicious actions—play a significant role. The combined effect of a blast and fire is not uncommon: in fact, an explosion can be the extreme consequence of a fire or vice versa, a fire can occur as the result of an explosion. Although advanced numerical approaches can be a proper solution for analyzing critical structures and infrastructures subjected to accidental actions, their complexity makes these approaches unsuitable for the analysis of ordinary buildings or even for the preliminary design of structures. A pressure–impulse diagram is an easy and common tool that can be adopted to verify the safety of structural members for a wide range of blast scenarios even considering the damage caused by a previous fire. This study aims to compare different approaches that can be adopted for the construction of pressure–impulse diagrams of reinforced concrete structures subjected to a blast and a blast preceded by fire. Taking as a reference case a statically indeterminate beam with three supports, this work presents the influence of the methods of analysis on the safety level assessed through pressure–impulse diagrams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the issue of teaching fire protection in elementary schools in the Czech Republic. The area of fire protection is one of the key areas that everyone should be familiar with and it is important to teach children how to prevent fires and how to face fires in case of danger. Thus, this article analyses the current approaches of elementary schools to teaching fire protection and compares the data obtained with approaches in teaching abroad. The obtained comparison is complemented by conducting a questionnaire survey, which underpins the current trends and possibilities of modernising the teaching itself. The results are presented in the form of graphs and the design of a potential application based on the presented mobile applications available on common mobile platforms. The conclusions of the study are summarised in the final chapter, which points to the need to expand fire protection education and the use of modern technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean climates, characterised by hot and dry summers, have predictable fire regimes, and many species with physical seed dormancy (PY) thrive after wildfires. While it is well known that PY is released after heat shock in these species, intraspecific variation in seed response to heat is less understood. This research explores, for the first time, the variability in the traits of Cistus ladanifer seeds from the same central Spain population over eight years. It examines seed germination and viability under different heat shocks and the relationships among seed traits and climatic variables. While the response to heat shock remained constant over the years studied, achieving the highest germination percentages after heat shock at 100 °C, seed germination varied between years, and environmental conditions affected seed traits. Seed moisture content was negatively correlated with the maximum summer temperatures, and seed viability was positively related to annual precipitation. Germination at 100 °C was lower in warmer years as more seeds did not break their PY. In conclusion, despite the fact that PY appears to be genetically determined, it also depends on the environmental conditions experienced by the mother plant. This interannual phenotypic variability may help Cistus ladanifer to cope with the increasingly unpredictable conditions imposed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coke oven gas (COG), as a by-product of the coking process and a mixture with a high hydrogen content, is an important potential component of the sustainable economy of the coking industry. Ongoing studies and analyses are looking at many opportunities for the utilization of coke oven gas, including for the production of hydrogen, methanol or other chemicals. However, it is important not to forget that all processes for the utilization of this gas may pose a potential hazard to humans and the environment. This is due to the physicochemical properties of COG and the content of flammable gases such as hydrogen, methane or carbon monoxide in its composition. Potential hazardous events are also related to the content of toxic substances in the composition of coke oven gas. The publication focuses on the occurrence of a fire or explosion as a result of the uncontrolled release of purified coke oven gas from the installation. The potential hazard zones associated with the occurrence of these phenomena are presented concerning different levels of hydrogen concentration in coke oven gas and the influence of selected factors on the range of these zones. Zones related to human deaths due to fire of coke oven gas reached a maximum range of about 130 m from the site of the failure, depending on the gas composition, level of damage and parameters of the installation. Zones related to human deaths due to the explosion of the coke oven gas did not occur. The zone related to the injury of humans as a result of the COG explosion reached a maximum range of about 12 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete sustainability and performance under extreme conditions are of growing interest in construction engineering. This study delves into the influence of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) content and elevated temperatures on normal‐strength concrete containing RCA. Five different concrete compositions, featuring varying content of RCA (ranging from 0% to 100%), were examined. The heating and subsequent cooling followed the ISO‐834 temperature–time graph up to 800°C. The primary objective was to evaluate residual properties, including the stress–strain behavior, compressive and tensile strength, secant elastic modulus, peak strain, and bond strength of RCA concrete. The findings reveal a consistent decrease in both strength and stiffness parameters of RCA concrete with rising temperatures, while peak strain exhibits a rapid increase at elevated temperatures. Interestingly, RCA content had a negligible impact on the relative deterioration of high‐temperature exposed RCA concrete compared to that at ambient conditions. Moreover, the bond behavior closely resembled that of natural aggregate concrete when used in moderate proportions. Degradation models based on regression analysis of the data were used to quantify the bond strength reduction for RCA‐based concrete and the slip of rebar concerning various temperatures. Importantly, these models demonstrated consistency with those applicable to conventional concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many design regulations around the globe rely on member deflection as a governing criterion for resistance assessment in fire. The deflection evaluation in fire is generally achieved by conducting expensive experiments or computationally expensive finite-element analyses. This often restricts practicing engineers from using robust performance-based design philosophy for typical structures. Instead, they rely on objective design guidelines, often resulting in inefficient sizes of reinforced concrete (RC) members. Therefore, semiempirical relations are derived in the current study to determine the maximum deflection of the RC beam and RC column in a fire. Three separate end conditions are considered within the beam category: fixed-fixed beam, propped cantilever beam, and simply supported beam. Plausible variables are first identified that could affect the overall deflection of the member, and their proportionality is subsequently determined by performing one-on-one regression analysis. Furthermore, these relations are developed in terms of the most suitable fire intensity measures derived from the literature, which makes them applicable irrespective of the type of fire framework. The credibility of the deflection equations is validated through visual analysis followed by the three popular error indicator parameters, namely, Pearson's correlation coefficient, relative root-mean squared error (RRMSE), and performance index. Results indicated that all deflection equations accurately predict the RC member behavior under fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is a common and frequent disturbance in Mediterranean ecosystems, affecting the diversity and dynamics of native bee communities by modifying the distribution and availability of the resources that bees require to forage and nest. Previous studies have found changes in bee diversity depending on the time since the last fire, with increases in species diversity in the early stages postburn.Using a chronosequence of plots with different times since the last fire in the Mediterranean‐climate chaparral of Baja California, Mexico, we estimated changes in overall abundance, richness, diversity and species composition of the native bee community.Bee abundance and richness were higher at recently burned plots and gradually decreased, but Hill–Shannon and Hill–Simpson diversities did not change over the chronosequences. Nearby plots (in the same locality) of different stages were more similar in composition than distant plots (in different localities) of a similar stage, suggesting a spatial correlation. Plant species richness increased after fires. Bare soil was also greater on recently burned patches and may facilitate nesting resources. The number of bees was positively correlated to plant richness.Our results highlight the importance of fire as a natural disturbance structuring the bee community in the Mediterranean chaparral of Baja California.Furthermore, our results are relevant for future conservation plans since fire management (i.e., prescribed fires) could improve conditions for sustaining greater bee richness and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) thermal runaway (TR) emits a wide size range of particles with diverse chemical compositions. When inhaled, these particles can cause serious adverse health effects. This study measured the size distributions of particles with diameters less than 10 µm released throughout the TR-driven combustion of cylindrical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and pouch-style lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) LIB cells. The chemical composition of fine particles (PM2.5) and some acidic gases were also characterized from filter samples. The emission factors of particle number and mass as well as chemical components were calculated. Particle number concentrations were dominated by those smaller than 500 nm with geometric number mean diameters below 130 nm. Mass concentrations were also dominated by smaller particles, with PM1 particles making up 81–95% of the measured PM10 mass. A significant amount of organic and elemental carbon, phosphate, and fluoride was released as PM2.5 constituents. The emission factor of gaseous hydrogen fluoride was 10–81 mg/Wh, posing the most immediate danger to human health. The tested LFP cells had higher emission factors of particles and HF than the LCO cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatland carbon storage is increasingly threatened by the combination of land‐use change and climate variability, though carbon losses from land‐use changes that span centuries are difficult to quantify, particularly in systems where little undisturbed area remains. Here we use a combination of vegetation change, fire history, and calculations of excess ash mass to quantify carbon loss in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GDS NWR), USA, a highly impacted oligotrophic temperate peat swamp. Our results indicate that ditch construction that began in the Colonial Era in the late 1700s and continued into the mid‐20th century across the swamp resulted in shifts from cypress‐tupelo swamps to a combination of maple‐gum and pine pocosin forests, consistent with drying surface conditions. Two large smoldering fires (2008, 2011) that were exacerbated by surface drainage, shifted vegetation from swamp to marsh, consumed peat over 25 km2, and caused losses of 1.05–1.34 Tg C due to peat burning. Across the Refuge as a whole, up to 48.2 Tg C has been lost to peat oxidation since ditch construction. Both stocks and rates of carbon loss remain higher than post‐disturbance accumulation across most of GDS NWR, suggesting that existing efforts to block drainages to elevate water tables may not be enough to offset carbon losses. Rewetting heavily impacted surface peats may reduce peat oxidation and carbon loss, and shift vegetation toward hydrologic conditions preferred by pre‐disturbance cypress‐tupelo swamps. Plain Language Summary: Peatlands sequester a globally significant pool of carbon despite covering only 3% of the terrestrial earth's surface. However, this carbon can be released to the atmosphere as the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane due to changes in climate and land use. In this study we quantify carbon loss from Great Dismal Swamp, a temperate peat swamp with a history of drainage that began with George Washington in the late 18th century. Using ash content as a proxy for peat loss, we found that Great Dismal Swamp has lost a substantial amount of carbon (∼50 million metric tons) since Colonial‐era ditching, with more than 1 million metric tons lost from two recent catastrophic smoldering peat fires. Our calculations suggest that the swamp continues to lose carbon, despite efforts to slow water loss from nearly 240 km of drainage ditches constructed over the last >200 years. More aggressive mitigation methods may be needed to return the Great Dismal Swamp to a carbon sink, an important consideration as the United States aims to reach carbon neutrality in the coming decades. Key Points: Excess ash mass is used to quantify a loss of ∼50 Tg of carbon in a temperate peat swamp since drainage began in the late 1700sMore than 1 Tg of carbon and 50–75 cm of peat were consumed in two recent fires in Great Dismal SwampCarbon loss in the peat swamp is continuing, despite management efforts to reduce water loss from ∼240 km of drainage ditches [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's forests are being increasingly disturbed from exposure to the compounding impacts of land use and climate change, in addition to natural disturbance regimes. Boreal forests have a lower level of deforestation compared to tropical forests, and while they have higher levels of natural disturbances, the accumulated impact of forest management for commodity production coupled with worsening fire weather conditions and other climate-related stressors is resulting in ecosystem degradation and loss of biodiversity. We used satellite-based time-series analysis of two canopy indices—canopy photosynthesis and canopy water stress—to calculate an index that maps the relative stability of forest canopies in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. By drawing upon available spatial time-series data on logging, wildfire, and insect infestation impacts, we were able to attribute the causal determinants of areas identified as having unstable forest canopy. The slope of the two indices that comprise the stability index also provided information as to where the forest is recovering from prior disturbances. The stability analyses and associated spatial datasets are available in an interactive web-based mapping app. that can be used to map disturbed forest canopies and the attribution of disturbances to human or natural causes. This information can assist decision-makers in identifying areas that are potentially ecologically degraded and in need of restoration and those stable areas that are a priority for protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of their improved properties, FRP composites are vastly used in the strengthening of aged concrete infrastructures. However, it has been observed that their performance is highly compromised when exposed to high temperatures, as expected during fire incidents, which critically affects FRP–concrete bond behavior, hence affecting the overall efficiency of the strengthening system. This paper critically presents the available literature concerning the degradation of bond strength between FRP systems with concrete substrates due to increased temperatures. Both analytical and numerical bond–slip models developed for the prediction of bond strength degradation under such conditions are reviewed. A generally confirmed fact is that exposure to high temperatures, especially those reaching glass transition temperature (Tg) for epoxy adhesives, leads to bond degradation. Therefore, cement mortar-bonded CFRP textiles display better performance in fire endurance. This present paper also utilizes machine learning algorithms for the prediction of bond strength under elevated temperatures based on an experimental database of 37 beams. The nonlinear relationships and variable interactions in the developed model provide a reliable method for the estimation of bond strength with reduced extensive experimental testing, where the critical role of temperature in bond behavior is identified. This paper emphasizes the use of advanced predictive models to ensure the durability and safety of FRP-strengthened concrete structures in thermally challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Wildland fires that occur near communities, in the wildland–urban interface (WUI), can inflict significant damage to urban structures. Although computational models are vital in wildfires, they often focus solely on wildland landscapes. Aim: We conducted a computational study to investigate WUI fire spread, encompassing both urban and wildland landscapes. Methods: We developed a 1D landscape-scale semi-physical model by integrating a semi-physical urban fire spread model into an Eulerian level set model of wildfire. The model includes ignition and spread through radiation, direct flame contact and ember deposition. Key results: Through a parametric study, we compare the relative change of spread rate from various structural properties and landscape layouts represented by model parameters, highlighting the significant impact of fire-resistant structure materials over surface treatments. Layout configurations play a pivotal role in fire spread, with isolated islands of combustibles effective in reducing spread rate, aligning with existing mitigation strategies. Conclusion: Despite using a 1D domain and limitations on spatial and temporal variability, our model provides insights into underlying phenomena observed in WUI fires and their mitigation. It offers early-stage development of strategies for managing structure materials and landscape layouts. Implications: Our model and findings provide insights into WUI fire dynamics, paving the way for advanced mitigation strategies. This paper introduces a 1D semi-physical model for WUI fires, integrating urban and wildland fire dynamics. It accounts for fire spread via direct flame contact, radiation and embers. Despite limited spatial and temporal variability, the model demonstrates the relative impact of structure properties and landscape layout on WUI fire spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Fire-adapted species have evolved to exploit resources in heterogenous landscapes that presumably maximize energy acquisition and minimize energetic expenditure. However, limited empirical work exists demonstrating the explicit energetic mechanisms that drive such adaptive responses to fire across diverse landscapes. Objectives: The California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) appears to benefit from landscape heterogeneity and preferentially uses smaller patches of severely burned forest, a behavior that has been hypothesized as adaptive. Here, we investigate empirical support for this hypothesis. Methods: We leveraged high-resolution GPS tracking and nest video monitoring to examine the hunting success, movement, and nest provisioning of 34 spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains, California across burned and unburned landscapes. Results: Regardless of time since fire, individuals avoided foraging directly within moderately or severely burned patches. 1 to 2 years post-fire, individuals had more success capturing prey in unburned forest, and the energy individuals spent moving increased with the proportion of high-severity fire and decreased with the proportion unburned forest. Multiple years after a fire, individuals had more success capturing prey, spent less energy moving, and provisioned more energy to nests in landscapes with more low-severity fire. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that spotted owls are adapted to fire-prone landscapes and that disturbance events within this region’s natural range of variation can ultimately promote hunting and provisioning. As fires deviate from regional norms across the globe, the negative impacts of fire may become more extreme and long-term benefits of fire may degrade for animals in fire-prone landscapes. Examining the mechanistic impacts of disturbance can allow us to better understand animal responses to rapidly changing landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fire on steep slopes increases stormwater runoff and the occurrence of runoff‐initiated debris flows. Predicting locations of debris flows and their downstream effects on trunk streams requires watershed‐scale high‐resolution topographic data. Intense precipitation in July and September 2013 following the June 2011 Las Conchas Fire in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, led to widespread debris flows in the watershed of Rito de los Frijoles. We differenced lidar Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) collected in 2010 and 2016 to map subwatersheds experiencing debris flows and changes in elevation of the trunk stream. Debris flow occurrence was well predicted by previous assessments of debris‐flow hazard; debris flows occurred in 7 of 9 sub‐basins where the debris‐flow hazard was above 60% for the 25‐year rainfall event, and in 0 of 21 basins where debris flow hazard was less than 60%. Debris flows resulted in fan deposition at the confluence with the trunk stream followed by transport during three documented floods. The bed of the 22 km trunk stream increased in elevation by a mean of 0.29 m, but the local change in thalweg elevation was controlled by inputs of water and sediment and longitudinal variation in gradient. Downstream of the mouths of tributaries with debris flows, the thalweg of the trunk stream rose as much as 2 m. Downstream of the mouths of tributaries without debris flows the thalweg of the main stem degraded by as much as 2 m, mobilizing sediment that was then deposited further downstream where the gradient of the trunk stream decreases. In conclusion, the transport of sediment generated by debris flows was predictably related to spatial variation in sediment supply, discharge and gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of in-situ load testing is to evaluate the safety and performance of a structural system under particular loading conditions. Advancements in building techniques, analytical tools, and monitoring instruments are prompting the evaluation of the appropriate loading value, loading process, and examination criteria. The procedure for testing reinforced concrete (RC) structures on-site, as outlined in the ACI Building Code, involves conducting a 24-h load test and applying specific evaluation criteria. This article detailed a retrofitting project for an RC slab-beams system by utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to strengthen the structure following a fire incident. The RC structure showed indicators of deterioration, including deflections, concrete cracking, and concrete spalling in some zones. Whereas, a detailed presentation of the strengthening procedure as well as its evaluation, rationale for the loading procedure, instrumentation needs, assessment criteria, and outcomes of the field testing. The study concentrated on assessing the structure of the RC slab-beam system with widespread cracking in both the positive and negative moment areas. The finite element model was created and examined to help with the load test design, and it confirmed the field findings considerably. The proposed finite element (FE) model demonstrated a reduced estimation of net deflection value in comparison to the corresponding actual values. It maintained a highly acceptable mean value of 0.843 and a small deviation limit of 6.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciénegas are desert wetlands that are strongly correlated with the stability of the hydrologic cycle in arid landscapes. However, these environments are particularly vulnerable to climate change, drought, water diversion, and fire suppression which all have contributed to the degradation of ciénegas along the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. Therefore, identifying the timing of precipitation patterns in this region is of particular interest because of its relationship to many ecological responses of the landscape such as groundwater recharge and fire. Here, we present the first-ever fire paleoenvironmental record from Ciénega Chimeneas, a ciénega complex in the Sierra de Juárez of Baja California. We explore how changes in the amount and seasonality of moisture affected ciénega complexes and fire activity from across the southwestern North American region over the past 45,000 years. Our record suggests that during the late glacial period, 41,000–21,000 cal yr BP, the increase of Larrea and Quercus indicate an increase in summer precipitation. Subsequently, when summer precipitation increased, pollen preservation and pollen accumulation rates (PAR) also increased. Increased vegetation allowed for increased fire activity during the late glacial period. Regionally, most of the comparison sites also indicated wet conditions during the full glacial period. However, around 21,000 cal yr BP, effective moisture decreased resulting in a dramatic change in the vegetation assemblage. Specifically, the summer wet taxa disappeared, while pollen preservation and PAR decreased, suggesting a dry period until ∼14,000 cal yr BP. Little fire activity is recorded after 21,000 cal yr BP, likely due to the absence of fuels. At ∼14,000 cal yr BP, Larrea and Quercus reappear suggesting increased summer precipitation. However, the appearance of Cyperaceae and increases in grasses suggest increased winter precipitation. We suggest that the combination of summer wet and winterwet taxa ∼14,000 cal yr BP represents an increase in ENSO conditions, while the summer moisture controls remained relatively constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Cistus ladanifer L. shows an extraordinary plasticity of germination and growth. Fire promotes the regeneration of C. ladanifer by triggering its germination through thermal shock as well as by enhancing its seedling growth through the addition of ashes. On the contrary, stacking of Pinus pinaster Ait. leaf litter may hinder seedling establishment, at least in the first months after germination. Context: Pinus pinaster Ait. is affected by forest fires in the Mediterranean basin. Its extreme flammability is due to the high spatial continuity together with the massive accumulation of leaf litter. Cistus ladanifer L. is a species which is widely distributed in the west Mediterranean region where it can form vast shrublands and flourish under these pinewoods. Although high temperatures associated with the occurrence of fire trigger germination of C. ladanifer, knowledge on how other factors, such as the presence of litter on the forest floor or the ash left after the fire, influence germination and seedling growth is essential to improve land management plans. Aims: The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of different loads of litter from P. pinaster and ash from their combustion on the germination and growth of seedlings of C. ladanifer. Methods: Two experiments were carried out to assess the effect of heat shock (100 °C for 10 min) and two loads of litter and ash from P. pinaster (control, high and low loads of litter, high and low loads of ash) on the germination and growth after 2 and 4 months of C. ladanifer. Results: Heat shock significantly increased the germination of C. ladanifer. In contrast, the addition of litter and ash had no effect on total germination but affected the growth of the seedlings coming from seeds exposed to heat shock. Litter treatments reduced biomass of 2 months seedlings and ash increased biomass of 4 months seedlings. Conclusion: C. ladanifer is a species favoured by fire in different ways depending on the stage of regeneration. Germination is promoted by heat shock while seedling growth is favoured by ash nutrients. In contrast, pine leaf litter hinders seedling growth, although this effect disappears 4 months after germination. Alternative forest management practices to prescribed fires are recommended if preventing the spread of Cistus is a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance seasonality and return interval can create complex interactions of direct and indirect effects on species and ecosystems. Fire is a key grassland disturbance, yet long‐term research examining seasonality and return intervals is limited. A 15‐year experiment testing combinations of fire seasonality (summer, fall, spring) and return interval (2, 3, 6‐year) plus non‐burned controls was conducted in northern mixed prairie to evaluate effects on the plant community. Hesperostipa comata is a native C3 bunchgrass and dominant species in northern mixed prairie and previously observed to be fire‐sensitive. Current‐year aboveground biomass results were generally counter to expectations based on short‐term research. Fire increased H. comata biomass with a strong, rhythmic response pattern to a specific fire seasonality‐return‐interval combination (fall fire at 3‐year return intervals) that periodically increased biomass to more than three times that with no fire. Through the first four post‐fire growing seasons, biomass with summer, fall and spring fire across return intervals was 41, 89 and 93% of that with no fire. Afterward, no fire combination produced less biomass than no fire and recurring patterns emerged with large increases in biomass, particularly with fall fire at 3‐year intervals. Peak biomass years were regularly two growing seasons after 3‐year fall fire and occurred across wet, near‐average and dry conditions. We hypothesize that productivity responses were driven by the combination of demographic processes of seedling recruitment and synchronization of multiple tiller age classes. Because short‐term negative effects were reversed and regular patterns only emerged 5 years after study initiation, more long‐term research evaluating fire regimes is recommended to expand upon tests of individual factors over short periods. This suggestion is based on fire research, but likely applies to multiple forms of disturbance and demonstrates how demographic processes can inform responses for individual species and larger ecosystem functions, such as productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean‐climate shrublands are key biodiversity hotspots and carbon storage pools, but are increasingly threatened by climate change, non‐native species, and altered fire regimes. Fires are important to historic shrubland disturbance cycles but can also promote non‐native plants, which may limit post‐fire native shrub recovery. Increasing drought with climate change could also reduce post‐fire shrub regeneration. I developed a stochastic, individual‐based demographic model (IBM) for the native shrub Artemisia californica, parameterized from an experimental removal of non‐native annuals after a 2013 fire in southern California. The IBM simulated A. californica recovery for 7 years after fire under different rainfall conditions (drought or pre‐drought) and non‐native removal strategies (from no years to all 7 years). Drought lowered A. californica canopy volume 7 years after fire by 90% or more. Rainfall in the second year after fire, when most A. californica germination occurred, had particularly strong effects on final canopy cover. Non‐native removal in all 7 years increased canopy volume by three times under drought conditions and 3.5 times under pre‐drought conditions. Targeting non‐native removal in the first 2 years proved nearly as effective, achieving from 88% (drought) to 95% (pre‐drought) the benefits of removal in all 7 years. In sum, low rainfall may be the most important limitation on post‐fire shrub recovery, but removal of non‐natives in years of pulsed shrub recruitment can be an effective restoration strategy even under drought conditions. More generally, this study illustrates how demographic models can help optimize the targeting of scarce management and restoration resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors offer a commentary on the article "Commentary: The role of palaeoecology in reconciling biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and carbon storage in Madagascar" by G. S. Joseph and C. L. Seymour. Topics include the investigation made by the authors on the longevity of open grasslands in the Highlands of Madagascar, reason that binary allocations to forest and/or grassland habitats are problematic, and evidence for the effects of anthropogenic fire according to Seymour and Joseph.

Many revegetation projects are intended to benefit wildlife species. Yet, there are few a priori evaluations that assess the potential efficiency of restoration actions in recovering wildlife habitats. We developed a spatial vegetation–habitat recovery model to gauge the degree to which field planting strategies could be expected to recover multi-factor habitat conditions for wildlife following wildfires. We simulated a wildfire footprint, multiple sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) planting scenarios, and tracked projected vegetation growth for 15 years post-fire. We used a vegetation transition framework to track and estimate the degree to which revegetation could accelerate habitat restoration for a Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus) population within the Great Basin, western United States. We assessed the amount of habitat 15 years post-fire to estimate the degree to which revegetation could be expected to accelerate habitat restoration. Our results highlight a potential disconnect between the expansive areas required by wide-ranging wildlife such as sage-grouse and the relatively small areas that planting treatments have created. Habitat restorations and planting strategies that are intended to benefit sage-grouse may only speed up localized habitat restoration. This study provides an example of how linked revegetation–habitat modeling approaches can scope the expected return on restoration investment for habitat improvements and support the strategic use of limited restoration resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-formed steel (CFS) sections, increasingly favored in the construction industry due to their numerous advantages over hot-rolled steel, have received limited attention in research concerning the flexural behavior of galvanized iron (GI)-based CFS at elevated temperatures. Understanding how these materials and structures behave under elevated temperatures is crucial for fire safety. The authors have performed experimental studies previously on GI-based CFS under elevated temperatures. In that study, CFS sections made of GI of grade E350 of 1.5 m long and 2 mm thickness were used. Built-up beam sections were tested under two-point loading after heating to 60 and 90 min durations and subsequently cooling them down using air and water. This study aims to uncover the influence of different stiffener configurations on the load carrying capacity of sections under elevated temperature parametrically. With the experimental study results from previous studies as a reference, authors used FEM analysis to comprehensively study the behavior of GI-based CFS sections under fire. Vertical, horizontal, and not providing a stiffener were the configurations selected to study the beams parametrically. Parametric analysis confirmed that different stiffener configurations did not alter the predominant failure mode, which remained distortional buckling across all specimens. Beams with vertical stiffeners demonstrated superior performance compared to those with horizontal stiffeners in parametric analysis. Lateral–torsional buckling was observed in the reference specimen, lacking stiffeners due to inadequate restraint at the supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting organic matter can lower the global warming potential of food and agricultural waste and provide a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Compost applications generally increase net primary production (NPP) and soil water-holding capacity and may stimulate soil carbon (C) sequestration. Questions remain regarding the effects of compost nitrogen (N) concentrations and application rates on soil C and greenhouse gas dynamics. In this study, we explored the effects of compost with different initial N quality (food waste versus green waste compost) on soil greenhouse gas fluxes, aboveground biomass, and soil C and N pools in a fire-impacted annual grassland ecosystem. Composts were applied annually once, twice, or three times prior to the onset of the winter rainy season. A low-intensity fire event after the first growing season also allowed us to explore how compost-amended grasslands respond to burning events, which are expected to increase with climate change. After four growing seasons, all compost treatments significantly increased soil C pools from 9.5 ± 0.9 to 30.2 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 (0–40 cm) and 19.5 ± 0.9 to 40.1 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 (0–40 cm) relative to burned and unburned controls, respectively. Gains exceeded the compost-C applied, representing newly fixed C. The higher N food waste compost treatments yielded more cumulative soil C (5.2–10.9 Mg C ha−1) and aboveground biomass (0.19–0.66 Mg C ha−1) than the lower N green waste compost treatments, suggesting greater N inputs further increased soil stocks. The three-time green waste application increased soil C and N stocks relative to a single application of either compost. There was minimal impact on net ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions. Aboveground biomass accumulation was higher in all compost treatments relative to controls, likely due to increased water-holding capacity and N availability. Results show that higher N compost resulted in larger C gains with little offset from greenhouse gas emissions and that compost amendments may help mediate effects of low-intensity fire by increasing fertility and water-holding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire detection and extinguishing systems are critical for safeguarding lives and minimizing property damage. These systems are especially vital in combating forest fires. In recent years, several forest fires have set records for their size, duration, and level of destruction. Traditional fire detection methods, such as smoke and heat sensors, have limitations, prompting the development of innovative approaches using advanced technologies. Utilizing image processing, computer vision, and deep learning algorithms, we can now detect fires with exceptional accuracy and respond promptly to mitigate their impact. In this article, we conduct a comprehensive review of articles from 2013 to 2023, exploring how these technologies are applied in fire detection and extinguishing. We delve into modern techniques enabling real-time analysis of the visual data captured by cameras or satellites, facilitating the detection of smoke, flames, and other fire-related cues. Furthermore, we explore the utilization of deep learning and machine learning in training intelligent algorithms to recognize fire patterns and features. Through a comprehensive examination of current research and development, this review aims to provide insights into the potential and future directions of fire detection and extinguishing using image processing, computer vision, and deep learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire, the most frequent disaster in human society, often results in property damage and casualties, posing a significant threat to public safety and societal development. While flames and smoke are commonly associated with fires, few realize that toxic gases generated during combustion are among the primary causes of fire-related injuries and fatalities. Understanding the "chemical secrets" within fire smoke becomes crucial. This paper employs an anthropomorphic and exaggerated narrative approach, depicting a tale of planetary exploration, to educate readers on the toxic gases commonly encountered in fires and how to safeguard against their harmful effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If palaeoendemic invertebrates depend on palaeoendemic plants, and the latter are threatened by an increase in fire incidence, there is a possibility of an extinction cascade. We test whether there is co‐occurrence of palaeoendemic plants and invertebrates in the proximity of a 52‐year‐old fire boundary in subalpine Tasmania, Australia. We used 2 × 2 m quadrats to record the incidence and cover of vascular plants and trapped invertebrates at each of these 33 sites in six time periods using an alpine Malaise trap and a CD sticky trap. The number of co‐occurrences of palaeoendemic plant taxa with palaeoendemic invertebrate taxa was greater than expected by chance (p = 0.020), but many palaeoendemic invertebrates co‐occurred with non‐palaeoendemic plants. Some of the palaeoendemic invertebrate taxa that were associated with palaeoendemic plants were monophagous, while others were associated with environmental conditions created by a long absence of fire. Many may be threatened if increasing fire incidence destroys vegetation dominated by palaeoendemic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boreal and Arctic regions have warmed up to four times quicker than the rest of the planet since the 1970s. As a result, boreal and tundra ecosystems are experiencing more frequent and higher intensity extreme weather events and disturbances, such as wildfires. Yet limitations in ground and satellite data across the Arctic and boreal regions have challenged efforts to track these disturbances at regional scales. In order to effectively monitor the progression and extent of wildfires in the Arctic-boreal zone, it is essential to determine whether burned area (BA) products are accurate representations of BA. Here, we use 12 different datasets together with MODIS active fire data to determine the total yearly BA and seasonal patterns of fires in Arctic-boreal North America and Russia for the years 2001–2020. We found relatively little variability between the datasets in North America, both in terms of total BA and seasonality, with an average BA of 2.55 ± 1.24 (standard deviation) Mha/year for our analysis period, the majority (ca. 41%) of which occurs in July. In contrast, in Russia, there are large disparities between the products—GFED5 produces over four times more BA than GFED4s in southern Siberia. These disparities occur due to the different methodologies used; dNBR (differenced Normalized Burn Ratio) of short-term composites from Landsat images used alongside hotspot data was the most consistently successful in representing BA. We stress caution using GABAM in these regions, especially for the years 2001–2013, as Landsat-7 ETM+ scan lines are mistaken as burnt patches, increasing errors of commission. On the other hand, we highlight using regional products where possible, such as ABoVE-FED or ABBA in North America, and the Talucci et al. fire perimeter product in Russia, due to their detection of smaller fires which are often missed by global products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work on the material culture of the eighteenth century has shown that light was more than a metaphor. The everyday social practise of the Enlightenment reposed on a contrast between light and dark. There was a growing emphasis on brightness in clothing and furnishings, and elite homes, social venues, fashionable shops, and even the main streets were more brightly lit. Fireworks displays became more frequent and more spectacular. Furthermore, in many Enlightenment practices, such as theater, Freemason lodges, salons, and coffeehouses, light was not simply a practical necessity, but was central to the meaning of the activity. However, this growing use of light (and of heating in the colder months) came with a dark side, for it greatly increased the risk of fire. It led to many blazes, especially in theaters but also in other public venues and in private homes. Fireworks caused explosions and dangerous fires. The danger was further increased by some of the consumer goods that accompanied elite social practices, including tallow and oils, furnishings, clothing, and sugar. They were all flammable, and many of them were dangerous to manufacture and to store. The material culture and sociability of Enlightenment thus created new fire risks, particularly in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) availability is a well‐known driver of ecosystem structure and function, but as air quality regulations continue to reduce atmospheric N deposition, there is a need to understand how managed and unmanaged ecosystems respond to widespread decreases in terrestrial N availability. Historical N eutrophication, from pollution or fertilisation, may continue to constrain contemporary responses to decreases in available N because of altered plant and microbial feedbacks. Thus, while certain management practices like prescribed fire remove N from grassland ecosystems, the role of fire supporting ecosystems recovering from chronic N input is unknown.To address this knowledge gap, we ceased a 30‐year N‐fertilisation treatment at a field experiment in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem crossed with burned and fire‐suppressed (unburned) treatments. We established subplots within each previously fertilised, recovering plot, fertilised at the same historical rate (10 g N m−2 year−1 as NH4NO3), to compare plant and soil properties in recovering plots with control (never‐fertilised) and still‐fertilised treatments within different fire regimes.We document different N‐fertilisation legacies among ecosystem properties in burned and unburned prairies recovering from N‐fertilisation. Soil N availability, nitrification and denitrification potentials in recovering plots remained higher than controls for 3–5 years—indicative of positive legacies—in both burned and unburned prairies, but burning did not reduce this legacy. In burned prairies, however, a positive legacy in above‐ground plant production persisted because a more productive grass species (switchgrass) replaced the previously dominant species (big bluestem) even though root C:N, but not soil C:N, increased to return back to control levels. Consequently, the main N loss pathways in burned and unburned prairies (pyrovolatilisation and microbially mediated processes, respectively) led to similar losses of soil total N (20–28 g N m−2) over 5 years.Synthesis: Our results indicate that N eutrophication induces positive legacies of ecosystem functions that can persist for at least half a decade. N‐induced legacies arise because of shifts in soil microbial N‐cycling and plant functional traits. As a result, different management practices may elicit similar trajectories of ecosystem recovery in terms of total and available soil N because of different plant and microbial feedbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To test the hypothesis that adaptive shifts leading to the assembly of tropical savannas involved coordination between bark and wood traits and to understand the underlying mechanisms. Location: Tropical South America. Taxon: Angiosperms (woody). Methods: We compiled data on three bark traits (total, inner and outer relative bark thickness), wood density, maximum height, five secondary xylem traits and on species' habitat information (light environment, climate, soil and fire history) for Neotropical savanna, forest and generalist species (biome groups). We tested for pairwise and multivariate associations among traits across species and if biome group and habitat conditions explained species positions along the resulting strategy axes. Results: Traits covaried along four different axes. The first axis was consistent with a trade‐off between fire (thick barks) and shade tolerance (low bark to diameter ratio, high vessel density) and contributed to differentiate the three biome groups according to the preference for shaded environments. Forest species also differed from savanna and generalist species in a separate axis by being more resource acquisitive. Maximum height and wood density did not strongly trade‐off with bark thickness, although maximum height was negatively covaried with relative outer bark thickness. Preference for shaded conditions was the main driver of variation in the two principal strategy axes, but temperature, fire and soil sand content also explained differences in plant stature between savanna and generalist species. Main Conclusions: Allocation to bark is constrained by trade‐offs with wood, opposing shade‐tolerant and acquisitive forest species to fire‐resistant and conservative savanna species. Rather than a single strategy axis, three axes are necessary to understand the functional differences among savanna, forest and generalist species. Because two of these axes are controlled by light availability, the associated traits tend to covary in space and time, but not across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Northern and eastern grassland-savanna boundary defined by minimum temperature. • Dynamics of fire, frost and growing season temperatures combine to produce this limit. • Western limit is related to moisture availability. • Modern, high-resolution climate data enables refinement of bioclimatic limits. • Reparameterisation improves global model performance at regional scale. Understanding the controls of biome distributions is crucial for assessing terrestrial ecosystem functioning and its response to climate change. We analysed to what extent differences in climate factors (minimum temperatures, water availability, and growing season temperatures (degree days above 5 °C (GDD5)) might explain the poorly understood borders between grasslands, savannas and shrublands in eastern South Africa. The results were used to improve bioclimatic limits in the dynamic global vegetation model (DGVM) LPJ-GUESS. The vegetation model was also used to explore the role of fire in the biome borders. Results show no clear differences between the adjacent biomes in water availability. Treeless grasslands primarily occur in areas with minimum temperatures and GDD5 values below that of savannas. The standard fire module in LPJ-GUESS is not able to reproduce observed burned area patterns in the study region, but simulations with prescribed fire return intervals show that a combination of low temperatures and fire can explain the treeless state of the grassland biome. These results confirm earlier hypotheses that a combination of low winter temperatures, causing frost damage to trees, and low growing season temperatures that impede tree sapling growth and recruitment, particularly under re-occurring fires, drive the grassland-savanna border. With these insights implemented, the LPJ-GUESS simulation results substantially improved grass distribution in the grassland biome, but challenges remain concerning the grassland-shrubland boundary, tree-grass competition and prognostic fire modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a combination of theoretical analysis, Similarity simulation, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to examine the airflow caused by the stack effect under different leakage conditions in high-rise buildings and the transport of fire smoke. Building on previous research, we quantify the leakage area using a formula and classify it into two categories, "tight" and "leaky." Based on the analysis results, we conduct a similarity simulation experiment in a small-scale high-rise building experimental platform with a height of 5.2 m to create a certain size of leakage area at the bottom and record carbon monoxide concentration at different locations and times. The obtained result is then compared with the numerical simulation result, and the similarity simulation results match well with the numerical simulation results. The findings demonstrate that increasing the leakage area accelerates the transport of smoke due to the stack effect, particularly at higher floors. This paper also discusses strategies to impede smoke diffusion, providing valuable references for the safety design of high-rise buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fracture behavior of welding material at elevated temperatures can significantly affect the performance of steel welded connections in fires. Therefore, this paper investigates the fracture behavior and fracture model of welding material in steel welded connections exposed to elevated temperatures up to 700°C. Firstly, using the standard tension test data and numerical analysis method, the true stress–strain model of E7018 welding materials at elevated temperatures was derived for fracture prediction of steel welded connections. The fracture parameters of the welding materials at elevated temperatures in tension and shear were calibrated from the results of the standard tension test and longitudinal fillet-welded connection tension test, respectively. The 2D fracture models of welds at elevated temperatures were developed considering the relationship between stress triaxiality and equivalent plastic strain at fracture. The 3D fracture models of welds at elevated temperatures were then established from the 2D fracture model by considering the effect of Lode angle parameters in tension and shear. The 3D fracture models of welds were validated against the tension tests on the fillet welded connections at elevated temperatures under different load angles including 0°, 45°, and 90°. Finally, the fracture model as the function of temperature, stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter, and plastic strain at fracture was proposed for E7018 welding material. According to the results, the welding material demonstrates ductile fracture behavior at elevated temperatures. The developed 3D fracture model can reasonably predict the fracture behavior of the welding material in steel welded connections at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of the exposure temperature of skeletal remains can be done by means of colourimetry and a previously published decision model for the colourimetric data, resulting in clusters that represent a range of exposure temperature. The method was based on thermally altered freshly burned human skeletal remains. However, in practice the origin or pre-burning condition of (possibly fragmentary) burned remains can be unknown. Further, in order to use the colourimetric analysis, and accompanying decision model, it is important to have a reference or test set. Fresh human material is not available for this purpose in all countries. Hence, the classification accuracy of the decision model was tested for, in some countries more readily available substitutes for fresh bone; embalmed human bone and non-human bone. The model yielded high accuracies for these sample materials, making it possible to create a reference or test set from fresh non-human and embalmed human bone as substitute for human, and also to use the decision model for these deviating samples in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Metallum Fire-Resistant paint, denoted as MFR henceforth, represents a cutting-edge insulating material with dual functionality as a fireproof solution, presenting substantial advantages in the realm of construction applications. This exposition derives its primary insights from the scholarly contributions documented in publications. The focal point of these investigations includes the assessment of fire hazards associated with polyethylene materials in building structures and the enhancement of mortars in high-temperature environments in tunnels. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified cork-based coating (MFR) compared to traditional coatings in terms of corrosion protection, fire resistance, and thermal insulation properties in construction applications. This evaluation focuses on quantifying the efficacy of MFR by examining key properties, such as adhesion, the reduced thickness required for fire protection, thermal conductivity reduction, and corrosion resistance under extreme environmental conditions. MFR is highly effective in fire prevention for buildings and tunnels, withstanding temperatures over 1000 °C while maintaining structural integrity. A unique aspect of MFR is its use of cork shavings, a typically underutilized byproduct from wine-bottle-stopper production. This innovative not only amplifies MFR's fire-resistant attributes, but also introduces sustainability and judicious resource utilization into its manufacturing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]