Search Results (435)

Monitoring soil moisture (SM) using permanently installed gamma radiation (GR) detectors is a promising non-invasive method based on the inverse relationship between SM and soil-emitted GR. In a previous study, we successfully estimated SM from environmental gamma radiation (EGR) measured by a low-cost counter-tube detector. Since this detector type provides a bulk GR response across a wide energy range, EGR signals are influenced by several confounding factors, e.g., soil radon emanation, biomass. To what extent these confounding factors deteriorate the accuracy of SM estimates obtained from EGR is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of SM estimates from EGR with those from reference ⁴⁰K GR (1460 keV) measurements which are much less influenced by these factors. For this, a Geiger–Mueller counter (G–M), which is commonly used for EGR monitoring, and a gamma spectrometer were installed side by side in an agricultural field equipped with in situ sensors to measure reference SM and a meteorological station. The EGR_G–M and spectrometry-based ⁴⁰K measurements were related to reference SM using a functional relationship derived from theory. We found that daily SM can be predicted with an RMSE of 3.39 vol. % from ⁴⁰K using the theoretical value of α = 1.11 obtained from the effective ratio of GR mass attenuation coefficients for the water and solid phase. A lower accuracy was achieved for the EGR_G–M measurements (RMSE = 6.90 vol. %). Wavelet coherence analysis revealed that the EGR_G–M measurements were influenced by radon-induced noise in winter. Additionally, biomass shielding had a stronger impact on EGR_G–M than on ⁴⁰K GR estimates of SM during summer. In summary, our study provides a better understanding on the lower prediction accuracy of EGR_G–M and suggests that correcting for biomass can improve SM estimation from the bulk EGR data of operational radioactivity monitoring networks. Full article

Researchers have tended to blend isopropanol (IPA) with other fuels in diesel engines to reduce emissions and improve performance. However, low-reactivity controlled compression ignition via port injection at a low cetane number results in a well-mixed charge of low-reactivity fuel, air, and recirculated exhaust gas (EGR). This study’s novel approach combines critical elements, such as the mass fraction of port-injected IPA, EGR ratio, and charge temperature, to improve combustion characteristics and lessen emissions from a diesel engine. The results demonstrated that the injection of IPA and the installation of EGR at the inlet reduced NO_x, smoke, and PM_2.5. On the contrary, HC and CO increased with the port-injection of IPA and EGR. Preheating air at the inlet can suppress the emissions of HC and CO. Under 1500 rpm and 60% load, when compared to diesel at the same EGR ratio and charge temperature, the maximum smoke decrease rate (26%) and PM_2.5 decrease rate (21%) occur at 35% IPA, 45 °C, and 10% EGR, while the maximum NO_x decrease rate (24%) occurs at 35% IPA, 60 °C, and 20% EGR. These findings support the novelty of the research. Conversely, it modestly increased CO and HC emissions. However, port-injecting IPA increased thermal efficiency by up to 24% at 60 °C, 1500 rpm, and 60% load with EGR. Full article

Anthropogenic CO₂ emissions are a major driver of climate change, highlighting the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) offers a promising approach, particularly through CO₂-enhanced gas recovery (EGR) in shale reservoirs, which enables simultaneous hydrocarbon production and CO₂ sequestration. This study employs a numerical simulation model to compare two injection strategies: CO₂ flooding and huff-and-puff (H&P). The results indicate that, without accounting for key mechanisms such as adsorption and molecular diffusion, CO₂ H&P provides minimal improvement in methane recovery. When adsorption is included, methane recovery increases by 9%, with 14% of the injected CO₂ stored over 40 years. Incorporating diffusion enhances recovery by 19%, although with limited storage potential. In contrast, CO₂ flooding improves methane production by 26% and retains up to 94% of the injected CO₂. Higher storage efficiency is observed in reservoirs with high porosity and low permeability, particularly in nano-scale pore systems. Overall, CO₂ H&P may be a viable EGR option when adsorption and diffusion are considered, while CO₂ flooding demonstrates greater effectiveness for both enhanced gas recovery and long-term CO₂ storage in shale formations. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal primary brain tumor, characterized by rapid growth and resistance to therapy. Despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms driving GBM progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we employed integrative transcriptomic analysis to identify transcription factors associated with GBM, revealing EGR3 as a key candidate. Functional assays demonstrated that EGR3 promotes GBM cell viability, with EGR3 overexpression significantly enhancing cell growth, while EGR3 disruption impaired viability. To elucidate the downstream targets of EGR3, we further performed transcriptomic analysis and identified MYC and CDK1 as significantly upregulated in response to EGR3 overexpression. These results suggest that EGR3 is associated with enhanced GBM cell growth, potentially through the regulation of MYC and CDK1. Our findings provide a clear model linking EGR3 to GBM proliferation and highlight MYC and CDK1 as potential therapeutic targets. This study advances the understanding of transcription factor-associated oncogenesis in GBM and suggests that targeting EGR3 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy. Full article

Although the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is well underway and expected to continue in global car markets, most vehicles on the world’s roads will be powered by internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, possibly well past 2050. Thus, good environmental performance and effective emission control of ICE vehicles will continue to be of paramount importance if the world is to achieve the stated air and climate pollution reduction goals. In this study, we review 228 publications and identify four main issues confronting these objectives: (1) cheating by vehicle manufacturers, (2) tampering by vehicle owners, (3) malfunctioning emission control systems, and (4) inadequate in-service emission programs. With progressively more stringent vehicle emission and fuel quality standards being implemented in all major markets, engine designs and emission control systems have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, creating opportunities for cheating and tampering. This is not a new phenomenon, with the first cases reported in the 1970s and continuing to happen today. Cheating appears not to be restricted to specific manufacturers or vehicle types. Suspicious real-world emissions behavior suggests that the use of defeat devices may be widespread. Defeat devices are primarily a concern with diesel vehicles, where emission control deactivation in real-world driving can lower manufacturing costs, improve fuel economy, reduce engine noise, improve vehicle performance, and extend refill intervals for diesel exhaust fluid, if present. Despite the financial penalties, undesired global attention, damage to brand reputation, a temporary drop in sales and stock value, and forced recalls, cheating may continue. Private vehicle owners resort to tampering to (1) improve performance and fuel efficiency; (2) avoid operating costs, including repairs; (3) increase the resale value of the vehicle (i.e., odometer tampering); or (4) simply to rebel against established norms. Tampering and cheating in the commercial freight sector also mean undercutting law-abiding operators, gaining unfair economic advantage, and posing excess harm to the environment and public health. At the individual vehicle level, the impacts of cheating, tampering, or malfunctioning emission control systems can be substantial. The removal or deactivation of emission control systems increases emissions—for instance, typically 70% (NO_x and EGR), a factor of 3 or more (NO_x and SCR), and a factor of 25–100 (PM and DPF). Our analysis shows significant uncertainty and (geographic) variability regarding the occurrence of cheating and tampering by vehicle owners. The available evidence suggests that fleet-wide impacts of cheating and tampering on emissions are undeniable, substantial, and cannot be ignored. The presence of a relatively small fraction of high-emitters, due to either cheating, tampering, or malfunctioning, causes excess pollution that must be tackled by environmental authorities around the world, in particular in emerging economies, where millions of used ICE vehicles from the US and EU end up. Modernized in-service emission programs designed to efficiently identify and fix large faults are needed to ensure that the benefits of modern vehicle technologies are not lost. Effective programs should address malfunctions, engine problems, incorrect repairs, a lack of servicing and maintenance, poorly retrofitted fuel and emission control systems, the use of improper or low-quality fuels and tampering. Periodic Test and Repair (PTR) is a common in-service program. We estimate that PTR generally reduces emissions by 11% (8–14%), 11% (7–15%), and 4% (−1–10%) for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), respectively. This is based on the grand mean effect and the associated 95% confidence interval. PTR effectiveness could be significantly higher, but we find that it critically depends on various design factors, including (1) comprehensive fleet coverage, (2) a suitable test procedure, (3) compliance and enforcement, (4) proper technician training, (5) quality control and quality assurance, (6) periodic program evaluation, and (7) minimization of waivers and exemptions. Now that both particulate matter (PM, i.e., DPF) and NO_x (i.e., SCR) emission controls are common in all modern new diesel vehicles, and commonly the focus of cheating and tampering, robust measurement approaches for assessing in-use emissions performance are urgently needed to modernize PTR programs. To increase (cost) effectiveness, a modern approach could include screening methods, such as remote sensing and plume chasing. We conclude this study with recommendations and suggestions for future improvements and research, listing a range of potential solutions for the issues identified in new and in-service vehicles. Full article

Concentrated apple juice (AJC) is a globally traded commodity, with major producers such as China, Poland, and the United States supplying AJC to markets worldwide. The aim of this article is to determine the competitive position of the main global exporters of concentrated apple juice. It also seeks to analyze changes in their positions over the period from 2005 to 2023. Assessing competitive position is important for several economic and business reasons, including identifying leading exporters and recognizing both growing and declining markets. The competitive position was measured using Market Share (MS) indicators, Gross and Net Export Orientation indicators (E_gr, E_net), and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index. The results reveal significant structural shifts in global AJC trade. Most notably, China’s declining competitiveness, reflected across all indicators, led to its loss of market leadership. This raises questions about the reasons for this decline and whether it presents opportunities for other exporters. This signals a broader reconfiguration in the global AJC supply chain, driven in part by domestic economic changes, such as rising consumption and decreasing export orientation. Simultaneously, other countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, show varying degrees of competitive growth, with Moldova and Ukraine emerging as key players. These trends suggest a diversification of supply sources and a more fragmented competitive landscape. Although national differences persist, the analysis indicates that structural and economic transformations, rather than short-term price signals, are driving the evolving global competitiveness in the AJC market. The observed weak correlations between prior-year apple prices and RCA confirm that broader market and policy factors play a more decisive role. Full article

A wide experimental campaign was developed on an automotive turbocharged diesel engine, using two blends between diesel oil and waste cooking oil methyl esters (WCOME) and neat biodiesel. A conventional B7 diesel oil was considered as a reference fuel. The two blends, respectively, included 40 and 70% of WCOME, on a volumetric basis. The influence of biodiesel was analyzed by testing the engine in two part-load operating conditions, applying proper control strategies to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit and rail pressure, to assess the interactions between the engine management and the tested fuels. The variable nozzle turbine (VNT) was controlled to obtain a constant level of intake pressure in the two experimental points. Referring to biodiesel effects at constant operating mode, higher WCOME content generally resulted in better efficiency and soot emission, while NO_X emission was negatively affected. EGR activation allowed for limited NO formation but with penalties in soot emission. Furthermore, interactions between the EGR circuit and turbocharger operations and control led to higher fuel consumption and lower efficiency. Finally, the increase in rail pressure corresponded to better soot emission and penalties in NO_X emission. Combining all these effects, the selection of EGR rate and rail pressure values higher than the standard levels resulted in better efficiency, NO_X, and soot emissions when comparing blends and neat biodiesel to conventional B7, granting advantages not only with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. Combustion parameters were also assessed, showing that combustion stability and combustion noise were not negatively affected by biodiesel use. Combustion duration was reduced when using WCOME and its blend, even if the center of combustion was slightly shifted along the expansion stroke. The main contribution of this investigation to the scientific and technical knowledge on biodiesel application to internal combustion engines is related to the development of tests on diesel–biodiesel blends with high WCOME content or neat WCOME, identifying their effects on NO_X emissions, the definition of integrated strategies of HP EGR system, fuel rail pressure, and VNT for the simultaneous reduction in NO_X and soot emissions, and the detailed assessment of the influence of biodiesel on a wide range of combustion parameters. Full article

This study examined how green innovation (GIN), environmental governance (EGR), and renewable energy transition (RET) influence trade-adjusted resource footprints (proxied by material footprint, MFP) in the top 15 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 1970 to 2022. After confirming the cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the dataset, second-generation panel econometric techniques, including the cross-sectionally augmented Dickey–Fuller (CADF) unit root test and Kao cointegration test, were employed to establish stationarity and long-run equilibrium relationships. The Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) revealed heterogeneous effects across quantiles: GIN exhibited a positive impact on MFP, intensifying at higher quantiles (resource-intensive economies), while GDP per capita (GDPC) reduced MFP, with effects strengthening as quantiles raised. Conversely, EGR and RET exacerbated MFP across all quantiles, suggesting that governance and energy policies may inadvertently spur resource exploitation in SSA’s transitional economies. The Dumitrescu–Hurlin (D-H) causality test confirmed a unidirectional relationship from all independent variables to MFP, highlighting the need for integrated policies to decouple growth from material consumption. This suggests that while governance, innovation, and renewable energy transition influence resource footprints, MFP does not, in turn, impact these factors, reinforcing the importance of proactive policy interventions. Full article

Skeletal muscle health and function are closely linked to long-term aerobic exercise, particularly in enhancing muscle metabolism and regulating gene expression. Regular endurance training can significantly ameliorate metabolic dysfunction and prevent chronic diseases. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle adaptations to long-term aerobic exercise require further clarification. To address this, we integrated transcriptomic and single-cell omics datasets from multiple long-term aerobic exercise models retrieved from the GEO database. After merging and batch correction, differential expression analysis identified 204 DEGs, including 110 upregulated and 94 downregulated genes. Key feature genes were screened using Lasso regression, SVM-RFE, and Random Forest machine learning algorithms, validated by RT-qPCR, and refined through PPI network analysis. Among them, Fos and Tnfrsf12a were significantly downregulated following long-term aerobic exercise. Notably, Fos exhibited a more pronounced decrease than Tnfrsf12a, and was strongly associated with inflammation and muscle regeneration. PPI network analysis indicated that Fos interacted with genes such as Casp3, Egr1, Aft3, Hspa5, Src, and Igf2. GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses revealed that Fos is involved in skeletal muscle differentiation, tissue remodeling, and the NF-κB inflammatory pathway. ssGSEA analysis further showed that samples with low Fos expression had significantly elevated Th1/Th2 and Treg cell infiltration. Single-cell analysis confirmed preferential Fos expression in muscle fiber/adipocyte progenitors, satellite cells, and tenocytes, all critical for myogenesis. In summary, our findings suggest that long-term aerobic exercise downregulates Fos, potentially alleviating inflammation and enhancing satellite cell-mediated muscle regeneration. Fos may serve as a central regulator of skeletal muscle remodeling during long-term aerobic exercise. Full article

The intestinal epithelium, which is protected by mucosal surfaces composed of mucins and other glycoproteins, functions as a selective barrier that absorbs nutrients while preventing the translocation of harmful substances. To understand the mechanisms between mucosal disruption and tissue inflammation, we orally administrated a mucus-disrupting agent, dextran sodium sulfate, to Drosophila melanogaster and screened 63 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Through a database search using bioinformatics tools (CHEA3 and WebGestalt), we identified ELK1 as a potential key transcription factor for the selected DEGs, and among the 63 DEGs, ELK1-related genes, B3GAT3, FIBP, and TENT2 (GlcAT-S, Fibp, and Wisp in Drosophila), were selected as the relevant genes that respond to mucus disruption. We confirmed that enterocyte (EC)-specific GlcAT-S knockdown by RNAi significantly reduced gut length and increased intestinal stem cell proliferation in Drosophila. Additionally, in EC-specific GlcAT-S-knockdown flies, it was observed that the mucus-production-related genes, Muc68D and Mur29B, were specifically reduced, whereas the inflammatory cytokines egr and upd3 were overexpressed. This study provides evidence that GlcAT-S is involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation in Drosophila and plays a protective role against mucus disruption. Our findings suggest that GlcAT-S may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of intestinal inflammatory diseases such as IBD. Full article

Red tilapia is highly valued as a premium variety in Asia due to its vibrant red skin coloration. However, during aquaculture production, irregular black pigmentation (melanotic spots) frequently appears on the skin of some individuals, significantly reducing their economic value. Although epigenetic regulation is suspected to play a role, its involvement remains poorly understood. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying black spot formation, we employed Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) to compare four key histone modifications (H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27me3, and H3K27ac) between red and black pigmented skin regions. Integrated with transcriptomic analysis, our data indicated that red skin regions exhibited high expression of genes suppressing melanin synthesis, whereas melanotic spots likely resulted from localized derepression, allowing upregulation of melanin biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, by combining epigenomic chromatin state analysis and transcriptome data, we identified critical genes consistently active in melanotic spots and their corresponding potential cis-regulatory elements. Motif analysis of transcription factor binding sites upstream of these regulatory elements revealed that Ehf, Klf9, and Egr1 might facilitate melanin production in black regions, while Prdm1 and Sp5 could inhibit melanogenesis in red regions by repressing the Wnt signaling pathway. These findings provide valuable epigenetic insights into the mechanisms driving melanotic spot formation in red tilapia. Full article

The real driving emissions of gasoline and diesel vehicles are significantly influenced by altitude, temperature, and starting conditions. In this study, the real driving emissions (RDEs) of gasoline and diesel vehicles compliant with China V standards were investigated under various conditions. The adaptability of RDE testing in China was evaluated by analyzing vehicle emissions at different altitudes, ambient temperatures, and starting conditions. The results show that, with increasing altitude, CO, NOx, and PN emissions generally exhibit a downward trend, particularly for gasoline vehicles, whose conformity factors remain well below the China VI limit. However, for China V diesel vehicles relying solely on EGR technology, NOx emissions significantly exceed China VI standards, indicating that EGR alone is insufficient to meet regulatory requirements. Temperature variations have little effect on the emissions of China V PFI gasoline vehicles, while diesel vehicles continue to exhibit excessive NOx emissions under varying temperatures. Although the cold-start phase generates substantial pollutant emissions, the EMROAD evaluation method excludes this phase, resulting in limited differences between cold- and hot-start emission results. Nevertheless, the inclusion of cold-start emissions should be considered in future RDE assessments. Full article

The growth of global trade has fueled a booming shipping industry, but high pollutant emissions from low-speed marine diesel engines have become a global concern. In this study, it is hypothesized that the combustion efficiency of biodiesel B10 in low-speed two-stroke diesel engines can be improved and pollutant emissions can be reduced by optimizing the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate and injection time. This study systematically analyzed the effects of EGR rate (5%, 10%, and 20%) and injection time (0 °CA to 6 °CA delay) on combustion and emission characteristics using numerical simulation combined with experimental validation. The results showed that the in-cylinder combustion temperature and NOx emission decreased significantly with the increase in EGR rate, but the soot emission increased. Specifically, NOx emissions decreased by 35.13%, 59.95%, and 85.21% at EGR rates of 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively, while soot emissions increased by 12.25%, 26.75%, and 58.18%, respectively. Delaying the injection time decreases the in-cylinder pressure and temperature peaks, decreasing NOx emissions but increasing soot emissions. Delaying the injection time from 2 °CA to 4 °CA and 6 °CA decreased NOx emission by 16.01% and 25.44%, while increasing soot emission by 4.98% and 11.64%, respectively. By combining numerical simulation and experimental validation, this study provides theoretical support for the combustion optimization of a low-speed two-stroke diesel engine when using biodiesel, and is of great significance for the green development of the shipping industry. Full article

The need to decarbonize the road transport sector is driving the evaluation of alternative solutions. From a long-term perspective, biomethane and e-methane are particularly attractive as green energy carriers and a part of the solutions for the sustainable freight on-road transport, as they offer significant CO₂-equivalent emissions savings in a net Well-to-Wheel assessment. However, to make methane-fuelled spark ignition (SI) heavy-duty (HD) engines competitive in the market, their efficiency must be comparable to the top-performing diesel applications that dominate the sector. To this end, dilution techniques such as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) or lean air–fuel mixtures represent promising solutions. Within limits specific to the engine’s tolerance to the used strategy, charge dilution can improve thermal efficiency impact on the pumping and wall heat loss, and the heat capacity ratio (γ). However, their potential has never been explored in the case of methane SI HD engines characterized by a semi diesel-like combustion system architecture. This work presents an experimental study to characterize the energy and pollutant emission performance of a state-of-the-art SI HD gas single-cylinder engine (SCE) operating with EGR or with lean conditions. The engine type is representative of most HD powertrains used for long-haul purposes. The designed test plan is representative of the majority of on-road operating conditions providing an overview of the impact of the two dilution methods on the overall engine performance. The results highlight that both techniques are effective for achieving significant fuel savings, with lean combustion being more tolerable and yielding higher efficiency improvements (10% peak vs. 5% with EGR). Full article

Sustainable transitions are essential for balancing economic growth with environmental preservation. Ecological sustainability, measured through environmental footprints (ECV), serves as a strategic pathway for mitigating environmental degradation and fostering long-term ecological resilience. This study examines the role of industrialization (IDS), economic growth (EGR), human capital (HDV), green technologies (GNN), and renewable energy consumption (RNC) in shaping ECV across G5 countries from 2000 to 2022. Employing the cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimator, alongside the augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) for robustness, this study unveils a positive association between EGR and ECV, indicating its adverse impact on environmental sustainability. However, IDS, HDV, GNN, and RNC exhibit negative relationships with ECV, suggesting their contributions to improving ecological sustainability. These findings highlight the need for integrated policies that promote sustainable industrial practices, enhance technological advancements, and optimize human capital to counterbalance the environmental pressures of economic growth. Aligning economic expansion with ecological sustainability remains crucial for achieving long-term environmental balance in G5 nations. Full article