Sn-modified catalyst boosts diesel emission control performance

Higher Education Press

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChat
WhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

 (a) The formation energies and (b) the surface energies of NbOx, CeOx, and NbCeOx species on the SnO2(110) surface. Blue, red, cyan, and yellow circles denote Nb, O, Sn, and Ce atoms, respectively.

view more 

Credit: Ying Zhu et al.

A recent study published in Engineering presents a significant advancement in the field of diesel vehicle emission control. The research focuses on enhancing the performance of selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) catalysts, which are crucial for reducing harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by diesel vehicles.

Nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles cause various environmental problems, such as acid rain, haze, and photochemical smog. The NH3-SCR technology is widely used to remove NOx from diesel exhaust. However, to meet strict emission standards like Chinese VI and European VI, the NH3-SCR catalytic converter often works with an upstream diesel particulate filter (DPF). During the DPF’s active regeneration, the NH3-SCR catalyst is exposed to high temperatures (up to 750–800 °C) in the presence of water vapor, demanding excellent catalytic performance and hydrothermal stability from the catalyst.

In this study, researchers synthesized a tin (Sn)-modified Ce–Nb mixed-oxide catalyst, Ce1Sn2Nb1Ox, using the co-precipitation method. They investigated its NH3-SCR activity and hydrothermal stability through a series of experiments and characterizations.

The results showed that the addition of Sn remarkably enhanced both the NH3-SCR activity and hydrothermal stability of the catalyst. Even after hydrothermal aging at 1000 °C, the Ce1Sn2Nb1Ox catalyst achieved more than 90% NOx conversion at 325–500 °C. In contrast, the unmodified Ce1Nb1Ox catalyst and a commercial Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst had significantly lower NOx conversion rates after hydrothermal aging.

Characterization methods, including N2-physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and in-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD), revealed that Sn addition promoted the formation of the active phase and improved its thermal stability. It inhibited the grain growth of the catalyst, increased the specific surface area and total pore volume, and stabilized the coordination structures of Nb species.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrated that the dispersed CeOx and NbOx species on the SnO2 surface formed efficient and stable NbCeOx active species, which helped retain redox and acid sites during hydrothermal aging.

This research provides a promising sintering-resistant catalyst for diesel vehicle NOx emission control, offering a practical solution to meet stringent environmental regulations and improve air quality.

The paper “Remarkable Enhancement of the Activity and Hydrothermal Stability of a CeO2-Based NH3-SCR Catalyst by Sn Modification,” authored by Ying Zhu, Jingjing Liu, Guangzhi He, Shaohua Xie, Wenpo Shan, Zhihua Lian, Fudong Liu, Hong He. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2024.02.011. For more information about Engineering, visit the website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/engineering.

---

Journal

Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.eng.2024.02.011 

Article Title

Remarkable Enhancement of the Activity and Hydrothermal Stability of a CeO2-Based NH3-SCR Catalyst by Sn Modification

 

Risk-aware optimal dispatch strategy for resource aggregators: Balancing renewable energy and building flexibility

Higher Education Press

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChat
WhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Framework of the proposed dispatch strategy for resource aggregator.

view more 

Credit: Hong Tang et al.

A new study published in Engineering presents a risk-aware optimal dispatch strategy for resource aggregators, aiming to address the challenges brought by renewable energy’s uncertainty and unlock building energy flexibility.

 

With the global push towards green energy transition and carbon neutrality, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are playing an increasingly important role. However, their intermittent and uncertain nature has put pressure on power systems. Resource aggregators, which integrate distributed generation, energy storage, and demand-response resources, are emerging. But they face difficulties in dealing with renewable energy uncertainty and setting proper incentives for demand-side flexibility.

 

The research team, led by Hong Tang, Zhe Chen, Hangxin Li, and Shengwei Wang, proposed a strategy that combines probabilistic renewable energy prediction and bi-level building flexibility engagement. They used the natural gradient boosting algorithm (NGBoost) to develop a probabilistic photovoltaic (PV) prediction model. NGBoost is effective in extracting uncertainty from historical data without prior knowledge of uncertain variables. This model provides prediction intervals and probability density functions, enabling more informed decision-making.

 

To unlock demand-side flexibility, the researchers designed an interactive flexibility engagement scheme. It uses a bi-level optimization problem to determine demand response incentives and load-reduction capacities. This takes into account building users’ willingness based on indoor comfort and load satisfaction indices. For example, it considers the impact of load reduction on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, dimmable lighting systems, and curtailable plug-in loads. Building users can set self-defined coefficients to quantify discomfort and dissatisfaction costs.

 

The aggregator’s energy management is optimized through a chance-constrained risk-aware bidding strategy. By leveraging the flexibility of multiple responsive loads and storage systems, the aggregator can maximize operating profits from electricity trading between the wholesale and retail markets.

 

The case study, conducted in Hong Kong, tested the operation of the resource aggregator on five weekdays. The results showed the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. The interactive flexibility engagement scheme led to cost savings for both the resource aggregator (8.90%) and the building cluster (1.87%). The NGBoost-based PV prediction was accurate, and the aggregator could make better decisions considering different confidence levels. A higher confidence level reduced the risk of supply shortages but also affected economic performance. The strategy also contributed to a 3% reduction in carbon emissions.

 

This new strategy provides a practical approach for resource aggregators to operate more sustainably and economically in the face of renewable energy challenges. It also offers insights for future research on integrating renewable energy and demand-side flexibility.

 

The paper “Risk-Aware Optimal Dispatch of Resource Aggregators Integrating NGBoost-Based Probabilistic Renewable Forecasting and Bi-Level Building Flexibility Engagements,” is authored by Hong Tang, Zhe Chen, Hangxin Li, Shengwei Wang. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.009. For more information about Engineering, visit the website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/engineering.

---

Journal

Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.009 

Article Title

Risk-Aware Optimal Dispatch of Resource Aggregators Integrating NGBoost-Based Probabilistic Renewable Forecasting and Bi-Level Building Flexibility Engagements

WYRM

Between the sexes

Researchers in the technion faculty of biology discover a sexual dimorphism in the structure of a single neuron, with a role in sexual behavior in c. elegans

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology

LinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

PVD structure showing sex-based differences. On the right, PVD in an adult hermaphrodite (cyan). On the left, PVD in an adult male (cyan), alongside 18 neurons innervating the male tail fan (magenta). Scale bar: 0.05 mm (white) in each image

view more 

Credit: Podbilewicz’s Lab, Technion

Is there a difference in brain structure between men and women? And if we were to find such a difference in a single neuron, would it matter?

One of the most useful models for studying these questions is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). This tiny worm has several characteristics that make it an excellent research model, one of which is that every cell in its body has a predetermined identity and lineage. Like humans, C. elegans has two sexes. However, instead of male and female, the two sexes of this worm are male and hermaphrodite—a self-fertilizing individual capable of producing both male and female gametes (sperm and eggs), allowing it to reproduce without a partner.

 

Researchers from the Faculty of Biology at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology examined these sex-specific differences (sexual dimorphism) in C. elegans, and uncovered surprising findings. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was led by Dr. Yael Iosilevskii and Dr. Menachem Katz from Prof. Beni Podbilewicz’s Lab, in collaboration with Prof. David H. Hall of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

 

The researchers discovered that a highly branched neuron called PVD, previously characterized in hermaphrodites, forms a different structure in males. Moreover, while in hermaphrodites, PVD functions primarily in pain sensing, in males, it has an additional role during mating; when its development is disrupted, males are slower and less coordinated. This discovery provides a unique example of sexual dimorphism in the structure of a single neuron, which is linked to behavioral differences.

 

"Male" vs. "Female" Brains

It has long been established that men and women have different susceptibilities to various neurological disorders. For example, women are more prone to depression, while men have a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. Could these differences be linked to the structure of individual neurons in the brain? This is difficult to determine due to the sheer number of neurons in the human brain – approximately 75 billion (von Bartheld et al., 2016). Even if a difference were found between the sexes in just one neuron, pinpointing its exact contribution would be challenging, as even the simplest tasks require a multitude of intricately interconnected neurons.

 

To explore the significance of a single neuron's spatial structure, researchers have turned to the nematode C. elegans, just one millimeter long. A unique feature of this organism is that the identity of all 302 neurons in the hermaphrodite is invariant, allowing scientists to map their placement, spatial structure, and connections fully. “Furthermore,” said Prof. Podbilewicz, “within the nematode population, there are also male individuals with distinct anatomy, additional neurons, and different behavior. This makes for a remarkably simple system where we can directly ask: What determines the structure of each neuron in the nervous system? Are there sex-specific differences, and do they affect behavior?”

 

To answer these questions, Dr. Iosilevskii and Dr. Katz studied the development of the sensory neuron PVD. This neuron has a highly branched structure, with repetitive subunits resembling a candelabra (“menorahs”). Its distinctive shape and its development during the organism’s maturation have made it a research focus for over a decade. While much is known about its development in hermaphrodites, PVD had not been characterized in males or examined for sexual dimorphism. The Technion researchers set out to determine whether male PVD neurons develop a different spatial structure and whether this difference influences a male’s behavior.

 

When examining PVD development in males, the researchers found that its menorah-like structures remained consistent across both sexes. However, they were surprised to discover that in adult males, PVD extends additional branches into the tail fan – a specialized male organ used for mating. Along with Prof. Hall, they found that these branches are entirely separate from the previously known neurons in this region. This unique branching of PVD does not occur during the tail fan's development but emerges immediately afterward, during the final molt from juvenile to adult. Shortly afterwards, the male begins to exhibit his sex-specific mating behavior. The researchers further discovered that when PVD does not develop properly, this mating behavior is impaired, causing males to become slower and less coordinated.

 

This discovery of sexual dimorphism in the structure of a single sensory neuron, which also relates to male-specific behavior, provides a unique example in C. elegans and opens new avenues for studying sex-based neural differences. The discovery is expected to enhance our understanding of how such sexual dimorphisms alter responses both at the single-cell level and the behavior of the whole organism.

---

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2421376122 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

The PVD neuron has male-specific structure and mating function in Caenorhabditis elegans

 

Study gauges what affects professional women's soccer players' brands

When team linked accounts with a men's team it drove down players' popularity

University of Kansas

Facebook

XLinkedInWhatsAppEmail

LAWRENCE — Women’s professional soccer has grown in popularity over the last decade, while social media has simultaneously given athletes an accessible way to promote their personal brands. A new study from the University of Kansas analyzed how professional women soccer players in Europe use social media to promote their personal brand and how factors like their team’s social media use influence their popularity.

Perhaps most prominently, the research found that when a player’s team shared its social media presence with a men’s team, it negatively affected women players’ following.

“Intuitively, you’d think when men and women are branded together on one account it would be good,” said Nataliya Bredikhina, assistant professor of sport management at KU and the study’s lead author. “It exposes them to a larger audience and more followers. But it actually has the opposite effect. It verifies, essentially, the same gender discrimination we see online and in society.”

Bredikhina, who researches athletes’ branding, led two studies into the factors that shape European women soccer players’ Instagram followings, a popular platform for athletes to promote their personal brands. The first collected and analyzed Instagram posts for teams and players at the end of the 2020-2021 season, and a second collected data from posts for a three-month period during the 2021-22 season. Both analyzed how the team’s master brand, media and the market the athletes played in affected their online following, influence and popularity.

The first study found that if a team’s account had authentication, or a “check mark” for an official account, it positively influenced both the team and player’s following and engagement. However, when the men’s and women’s team were branded on the same account, it negatively influenced athlete’s follower count.

The second study delved deeper into the teams’ branding efforts and how it influenced the athletes’ following. Media use and verification also boosted athletes’ accounts. Analysis showed teams with joint accounts devoted more posts to the men’s teams and players, and that while team verification helped, it was more difficult for women athletes to get verification.

“We have to be conscious here that verification helps grow status. Media has influence over who can get those check marks,” Bredikhina said. “Gaining prominence as a woman athlete is much harder. Accounts that are already more heavily promoted get continued attention and get recommended by the algorithms. It’s like the rich getting richer.”

When analyzing a team’s ranking and geographic market size, the researchers found no significant effects on athletes’ following. Bredikhina said it is not clear exactly why ranking and market had little influence but theorizes it could be because in-person attendance is not important in people’s decisions whether to follow an athlete or that transferring among teams influences a player’s popularity by region, but that the questions could be grounds for future research.

The current research, co-written with Thilo Kunkel of Temple University, Heather Kennedy of the University of Guelph and Francesca Fumagalli of Cantú Next in Cantú Italy, was published in the journal Sport Management Review.

Bredikhina said the research can both help fill gaps in understanding of athletic branding and help teams and athletes improve their approaches via social media.

“Traditionally in sport management there is an overemphasis on male athletes’ brands,” she said. “It can also sometimes be generalized that what happens in men’s sports applies to women’s sports as well. Social media these days is often looked at as a proxy to athletes’ lives, and it is highly important to the monetization of brands. Women have not been the focus of these studies.”

Monetization is vital for women athletes, who are traditionally paid much less than their male counterparts. However, better understanding how team marketing influences players’ prominence could help clubs as well.

“Making the investment to have dedicated accounts for women’s teams and to post about them more frequently should not be hard for teams to do and could help build a team’s brand, which can spill over to the athlete,” Bredikhina said. “It could also help women boost their careers and give insight on how to dedicate resources and help them build their own brands.”

---

Journal

Sport Management Review

DOI

10.1080/14413523.2025.2468037 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Exploring the determinants of women football players’ Instagram popularity

Article Publication Date

13-Mar-2025

 

Integrated model quantifies flood risks in lower yellow river under different management modes

Higher Education Press

WhatsAppEmail

A new study published in Engineering presents an integrated model that evaluates flood risks to people’s life and property in the lower Yellow River (LYR) under various floodplain management modes. With climate change increasing flood frequency and the LYR floodplains being densely populated, accurate flood risk assessment is crucial for effective management.

 

River flooding causes significant losses globally, and the LYR is no exception. Its complex channel–floodplain system and high sediment load pose challenges for flood risk quantification. Existing 2D morphodynamic models have limitations in simulating highly sediment-laden floods like those in the LYR, and previous flood risk evaluation methods lack comprehensiveness for this region.

 

The integrated model developed by the research team consists of two modules. The 2D morphodynamic module uses modified hydrodynamic governing equations to account for sediment-laden flows and bed deformation. It is solved using the finite volume method on unstructured meshes. The flood risk evaluation module calculates the hazard degrees of people, buildings, and crops on the floodplains. For example, the flood hazard degree of people is calculated based on an improved formula considering body buoyancy and flow velocity, while that of buildings and crops is determined through mechanical analysis and field surveys.

 

The model was validated using two real-world flood events in the LYR: the 2004 hyperconcentrated flood and the 2003 dike-breach induced flood. In the 2004 flood simulation, the model showed good accuracy in predicting sediment concentration, with a maximum underestimation of 9%. The 2003 dike-breach flood simulation also matched well with the field record in terms of inundation depth.

 

The researchers then applied the model to assess flood risks under three common floodplain management modes: the original mode (Scheme I), the construction of protection embankment mode (Scheme II), and the floodplain partition harnessing mode (Scheme III). They identified the vulnerable reach between Jiahetan (JHT) and Gaocun (GC) under a 1000-year return period extreme flood.

 

The results indicate that under Scheme I, most of the floodplains would be in medium and heavy inundation degrees. Scheme II alleviates the inundation extent, with more areas in slight inundation. Scheme III leads to most areas being in medium inundation. The high-risk area for people’s life and property reduces by 21%–49% under Scheme II and 35%–93% under Scheme III compared to Scheme I.

 

This study provides a valuable tool for flood risk assessment in the LYR. While it doesn’t consider all socio-economic factors like infrastructure support and exact costs, it offers a starting point for further research and decision-making in floodplain management.

 

The paper “Modelling of Flood Risks to People’s Life and Property in the Lower Yellow River Under Different Floodplain Management Modes,” is authored by Yifei Cheng, Junqiang Xia, Hongwei Fang, Meirong Zhou, Zuhao Zhou, Jun Lu, Dongyang Li, Roger A. Falconer, Yuchuan Bai. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.011. For more information about Engineering, visit the website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/engineering.

---

Journal

Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.011 

Article Title

Modelling of Flood Risks to People’s Life and Property in the Lower Yellow River Under Different Floodplain Management Modes

 KENNEDY, MUSK, TRUMP; HHS CUTS

ACMG response to the NASEM report on newborn screening and recent federal government actions

ACMG applauds NASEM’s recommendations and outlines urgent steps to protect and advance newborn screening in light of recent federal changes

American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Facebook

XLinkedIn
MessageWhatsAppEmail

BETHESDA, MD – May 12, 2025| On May 1, 2025, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released its report, Newborn Screening in the United States: A Vision for Sustaining and Advancing Excellence, in response to a Congressional request.

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) commends NASEM for its thoughtful and timely recommendations. Newborn screening (NBS) is among the most effective public health initiatives in US history. Its continued success depends on maintaining a coordinated, well-supported infrastructure that ensures timely evaluation and adoption of new technologies and treatments.

The NASEM report outlines nine recommendations to sustain and improve NBS nationwide:
1. Establish national leadership and set priorities
2. Incorporate multistakeholder and rightsholder input into NBS priorities
3. Optimize decision-making on conditions for NBS
4. Support NBS program excellence through a performance system
5. Amplify shared NBS resources
6. Expand NBS education and awareness among the public and healthcare professionals
7. Specify standards for retention, sharing, and use of dried newborn bloodspots and derived data
8. Expand and coordinate research to inform NBS policy and practice
9. Promote responsible application of technologies to NBS

These recommendations underscore the need for a nationally coordinated system grounded in scientific evidence, supported by federal and state agencies, and inclusive of the voices of clinicians, researchers, patients and public health experts. Central to that system is the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC), which has played a crucial role in developing recommendations and resources utilized by state NBS programs, including recommendations for conditions appropriate for NBS based on thorough evidence reviews.

Unfortunately, the NASEM report coincides with troubling federal actions that threaten the integrity of the national NBS system. On April 3, 2025, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated the ACHDNC. The Administration has also proposed eliminating the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a standalone agency and cutting funding for essential maternal and child health programs, including HRSA’s NBS activities. These actions come at a time when new technologies hold the promise to transform newborn screening, making the need for national coordination more urgent than ever.

The ACMG has a robust history in shaping the NBS landscape, from leading the expert panel that informed the creation of the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), to actively participating in the ACHDNC and advocating for evidence-based expansion of screened conditions. In the wake of ACHDNC’s termination, the ACMG has convened a RUSP Continuation Task Force to evaluate how we can support the ongoing review of NBS conditions and preserve the collaborative framework that has been essential to past progress.

While our long-term goal is the reinstatement of the ACHDNC, or the creation of a similar federally mandated advisory body, the ACMG is committed to ensuring that newborn screening does not lose momentum. We are exploring interim solutions to uphold the integrity of evidence reviews and engage the organizations and experts who have long supported this work.

The ACMG intends to work closely with our advocacy partners to use the NASEM report as a catalyst to call on Congress to reauthorize the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which expired in 2019. With appropriate updates, this legislation can secure the future of NBS and shield it from ongoing policy disruptions.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to newborn screening and will continue to provide leadership through expert guidance, stakeholder convening and advocacy for the infrastructure and funding needed to protect and advance this life-saving program.

About the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) is a prominent authority in the field of medical genetics and genomics and the only nationally recognized medical professional organization solely dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics. The only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization, the ACMG provides education, resources and a voice for more than 2,600 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals. ACMG’s mission is to improve health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health. Genetics in Medicine and the new Genetics in Medicine Open, a gold open access journal, are the official ACMG journals. ACMG’s website, www.acmg.net, offers resources including policy statements, practice guidelines, and educational programs.

---

DOI

10.17226/29102 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

People