bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the mechanisms underlying recovery from freeze–thaw injury in Colobanthus quitensis: mechanistic insights via transcriptome profiling
Authors: Min Kyungwon , Sulaiman Syahril , Jeong Jihye , Lee Hyodong , Lee Jungeun , Lee Jun Hyuck , Lee Hyoungseok 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAntarctic plants face significant challenges due to exposure to freeze–thaw stress throughout their life cycle. The ability to recover from freeze–thaw injuries during post‐thaw recovery (PTR) periods is a crucial skill for their survival and growth. However, no research, to the best our knowledge, has explored their recovery mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. To investigate the potential cellular mechanism during PTR periods, we focused on Colobanthus quitensis, one of solely two vascular plant species in the Antarctic Peninsula. Having determined the lethal temperature causing 50% cellular injury (LT50) under freezing to be −8.0°C, we subjected plants to sub‐injurious (−7.0°C) and injurious (−9.0°C) freezing treatments. We then compared recovery abilities at these stress levels using physiological indicators such as ion‐leakage, PSII quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), and antioxidant enzyme activities. Comparative analysis indicated that plants exposed to −7.0°C progressively recovered during PTR periods, showing reduced ion‐leakage and increased Fv/Fm, while those stressed at −9.0°C exhibited irrecoverable damage with lower antioxidant enzymes activities. To investigate the molecular basis of recovery, we examined transcriptome changes in tissues exposed to −7.0°C during PTR periods through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. These analyses identified six potential cellular events involved in the recovery process, including ionic & pH homeostasis, cell wall remodeling, protein repair, defense against potential microbial attacks, free radical scavenging, and DNA repair. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of recovery from freeze–thaw injuries enhances our knowledge on how Antarctic plants adapt to extreme environments, offering valuable insights into their survival strategies.
Facilitating Individual Innovation from the Perspective of Social Network Ties: A Fuzzy‐Set QCA Approach
Authors: Liu Tao , Lu Shaokai , Mao Yanhui 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPursuing successful innovation poses a significant challenge for employees, as generating creative ideas does not guarantee final innovation outcomes (i.e., products). To enrich our understanding of the critical factors that contribute to the success of transforming creative ideas into innovation outcomes, drawing on the social network perspective and configuration theory, we utilize the fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach to identify how different social network tie configurations facilitate various stages of individual innovation, including idea generation and idea implementation. Through a survey of 216 R&D employees in China, we have identified four pathways with distinct configurations that promote high levels of idea generation and three pathways that facilitate high levels of idea implementation. This work contributes to developing a configurational strategy for facilitating individual innovation from the perspective of social network ties, thus shedding light on how employees might successfully traverse different stages of the innovation journey.
Patè olive cake and its solid extract as amendments for ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): Effects on soil chemical, microbiological and enzymatic characteristics and on plant yield and N content
Authors: Neri Ulderico , Fontana Claudia , Corti Giuseppe , Socciarelli Silvia , Migliore Melania , Aromolo Rita , Benedetti Anna , Salvati Ascenzo , Bellincampi Daniela , Sciubba Fabio , Pontiggia Daniela , Beni Claudio 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA peculiar solid olive mill waste called Patè Olive Cake (POC), produced by decanters of latest generation, and its derivative solid extract from centrifugation called ‘pellet’ were evaluated as soil amendments on a pot cultivation of ryegrass in sub‐acid and sub‐alkaline soils. Characterization of POC and pellet was performed to determine their main chemical characteristics and phytochemical profile by conventional methods, NMR and HPLC to evaluate their suitability for agronomic applications. In both soils, POC and pellet were applied and contrasted to (i) half dose of POC and pellet added of mineral nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) to correct the C:N ratio and to balance the phyto‐nutritive formula, (ii) commercial mineral and organo‐mineral fertilizers and (iii) untreated soil (Control). During the ryegrass annual cycle, the vegetative responses and the N concentration were monitored in the epigeal biomass. At the end of the experiment, soil samples were taken from the pots to determine the main physicochemical characteristics and to carry out genomic and enzymatic investigations. Both soils treated with POC and pellet supplemented with N and P showed a significant increase in biomass productions compared to Control (+36.32%) and to commercial fertilizers (+14.34% and + 16.41%, respectively, to mineral and organo‐mineral fertilizers). In all treatments, higher cumulative biomass productions were observed in the sub‐acid soil (+7.02%). In both soils, abundance and structure of fungi and bacteria communities showed no difference compared with the Control. Furthermore, enzymatic analysis indicated that microbial activity was not adversely affected by POC and pellet treatments. Our results indicate that POC and pellet can be used as soil amendments, contributing to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and implementing circular economy and sustainability.
CsCBF1/CsZHD9‐CsMADS27, a critical gene module controlling dormancy and bud break in tea plants
Authors: Hao Xinyuan , Tang Junwei , Chen Yao , Huang Chao , Zhang Weifu , Liu Ying , Yue Chuan , Wang Lu , Ding Changqing , Dai Wenhao , Yang Yajun , Horvath David P. , Wang Xinchao 
Published: December 2024

SUMMARYTea plants are perennial evergreen woody crops that originated in low latitudes but have spread to high latitudes. Bud dormancy is an important adaptation mechanism to low temperatures, and its timing is economically significant for tea production. However, the core molecular networks regulating dormancy and bud break in tea plants remain unclear. In the present study, a MADS‐box transcription factor CsMADS27 was identified in tea plants. Gene and phenotype characterizations following ectopic overexpression and endogenous silencing experiments are consistent with a role for CsMADS27 in dormancy and sprouting in different tea cultivars. Furthermore, CsDJC23 was found to be a downstream target of CsMADS27 and implicated in bud sprouting. Based on yeast one‐hybrid screening and comprehensive verification, CsCBF1 and CsZHD9 were identified as upstream transcriptional inhibitors and activators of CsMADS27, respectively, with the two proteins showing direct interactions and competitive binding effects. Histone acetylation (H3K27Ac) in the first exon and intron regions of CsMADS27 was associated with a positive role in CsMADS27 expression. These results revealed that CsMADS27 is a key transcription factor involved in the regulation of dormancy and bud break. Furthermore, the CsCBF1/CsZHD9‐CsMADS27 module plays a critical role in sensing environmental factors and accurately regulating the growth and development of overwintering buds in tea plants.
The background sodium leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in pituitary cell excitability
Authors: Belal Marziyeh , Mucha Mariusz , Monteil Arnaud , Winyard Paul G. , Pawlak Robert , Walker Jamie J. , Tabak Joel , Belle Mino D. C. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe pituitary gland produces and secretes a variety of hormones that are essential to life, such as for the regulation of growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and the stress response. This is achieved through an intricate signalling interplay between the brain and peripheral feedback signals that shape pituitary cell excitability by regulating the ion channel properties of these cells. In addition, endocrine anterior pituitary cells spontaneously fire action potentials to regulate the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) level, an essential signalling conduit for hormonal secretion. To this end, pituitary cells must regulate their resting membrane potential (RMP) close to the firing threshold, but the molecular identity of the ionic mechanisms responsible for this remains largely unknown. Here, we revealed that the sodium leak channel NALCN, known to modulate neuronal excitability elsewhere in the brain, regulates excitability in the mouse anterior endocrine pituitary cells. Using viral transduction combined with powerful electrophysiology methods and calcium imaging, we show that NALCN forms the major Na+ leak conductance in these cells, appropriately tuning cellular RMP for sustaining spontaneous firing activity. Genetic depletion of NALCN channel activity drastically hyperpolarised these cells, suppressing their firing and [Ca2+]i oscillations. Remarkably, despite this profound function of NALCN conductance in controlling pituitary cell excitability, it represents a very small fraction of the total cell conductance. Because NALCN responds to hypothalamic hormones, our results also provide a plausible mechanism through which hormonal feedback signals from the brain and body could powerfully affect pituitary activity to influence hormonal function.
imageKey points
Pituitary hormones are essential to life as they regulate important physiological processes, such as growth and development, metabolism, reproduction and the stress response.
Pituitary hormonal secretion relies on the spontaneous electrical activity of pituitary cells and co‐ordinated inputs from the brain and periphery. This appropriately regulates intracellular calcium signals in pituitary cells to trigger hormonal release.
Using viral transduction in combination with electrophysiology and calcium imaging, we show that the activity of the background leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in eliciting spontaneous electrical activity and intracellular calcium signalling in pituitary cells.
Remarkably, our results revealed that a minute change in NALCN activity could have a major influence on pituitary cell excitability.
Our study provides a plausible mechanism through which the brain and body could intricately control pituitary activity to influence hormonal function.
Investigating the Influence of Fueling Strategies and Spark on Combustion Instability for a Single Cylinder Two-Stroke Natural Gas Engine
Authors: Pommier Forrest , Stewart Emma , Patterson Mark , Jacobs Timothy 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Emissions reductions are the primary driver for technological innovation in the gas compression industry with partial-fire and misfire events contributing significantly to the total output of hydrocarbons. A single misfire event in a large-bore two-stroke engine can be equivalent to over a hundred normal firing cycles. With government regulations continuing to restrict an engine’s allowable emissions, equipment manufacturers and operators are in search of solutions that can effectively and reliably reduce combustion instability, and understanding the root causes is an instrumental step towards that goal. Exploring the numerous possible contributors to combustion instability is a large endeavor, so this paper narrows the scope to studying methods of fueling and effects of spark timing on large-bore two-stroke natural gas engines. This investigation into fueling assesses both carburetion and direct injection fueling strategies at a range of spark timings. The direct injection fueling system is also tested at a series of fuel pressures. Typically, direct fuel injection has shown to lower total hydrocarbon emissions by reducing short-circuiting. However, its impact to an engine’s stability has not been thoroughly investigated for large-bore single cylinder two-stroke engines. Studying these fundamental parameters provides insight into potential contributors of engine instability and understanding how to mitigate them and ultimately reduce emissions.
Operation of a Compression Ignition Engine at Idling Load Under Simulated Cold Weather Conditions
Authors: Dev Shouvik , Guo Hongsheng , Liko Brian , Lafrance Simon 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Heavy-duty compression ignition (CI) engines can be subject to long periods of idling during their duty cycles. In colder climates, getting the engine and exhaust aftertreatment system (EATS) to ideal operating temperatures can be challenging under such idling and low load conditions. This may lead to high emissions of criteria pollutants especially nitrogen oxides (NOx). Increasing the engine load and idling speed may help mitigate NOx emissions but typically leads to higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a heavy-duty CI engine operating at various idling conditions and determine suitability for EATS operation.
Tests are conducted on a heavy-duty single cylinder CI research engine fueled with diesel. As per the United States’ (US) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), CI engines can be certified for the optional Clean Idle NOx emission standard. A corresponding two-mode Clean Idle Test (CIT) is specified in CFR which requires the engine to be operating in fully warmed-up condition at two engine speeds. Steady state tests are conducted at these two engine speeds of 650 and 1100 rpm, and cold weather operation is simulated by operating the engine at sub-optimal coolant, lubricant, and intake air temperatures. The steady state tests are used to determine suitable diesel injection timing for performing the CIT under standard and simulated cold weather conditions.
At the lowest load and 650 rpm idling speed, use of multiple injections and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are insufficient for raising the exhaust gas temperature above 200°C. A combination of higher load, EGR, and 1100 rpm idling speed can create conditions for light-off selective catalytic reduction (LO-SCR) operation at the expense of higher fuel consumption. The modified CIT results show that the optional Clean Idle NOx emission standards can be met with the use of EGR at both test modes. The Mode 2 conditions at 1100 rpm may allow LO-SCR activation as well. There are also distinct differences between results under fully and partially warmed-up conditions.
Numerical Investigation on Temperature Dependence of Flame Behavior in High Pressure Direct Injection Combustion of Diesel Piloted Liquid Ammonia Sprays
Authors: Pathak Utkarsh , Scharl Valentin , Krnac Dominik , Sattelmayer Thomas 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Ammonia is a viable carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels used in large internal combustion engines (ICEs). However, it is characterized by its reluctance to combust due to a high heat of vaporization, low flame speeds and high auto-ignition temperature. High-pressure dual-fuel (HPDF) combustion of ammonia, piloted by diesel, has been shown to overcome these unfavorable combustion characteristics. The stability of ammonia diffusion flame under these conditions determines the overall efficiency of combustion and pollutant formation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms governing ammonia flame behavior in HPDF combustion remain under-examined in the scientific literature. This work investigates the temperature dependence of flame behavior in the combustion of diesel-piloted liquid ammonia sprays using detailed chemistry simulations. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to simulate ammonia spray combustion in a rapid compression expansion machine (RCEM). Simulation results for evaporating and combusting sprays are validated against experimentally obtained optical and heat release rate (HRR) data. Subsequently, numerical investigations are conducted using the validated CFD model to isolate the effect of ambient mixture temperature on ammonia flame stability by varying the temperature while maintaining an operating pressure of 125 bar. The resulting structure of the flame is discussed in depth at several stages of combustion for the relevant temperatures. It is shown that ammonia flame does not stabilize up to a temperature of 1100 K and drifts downstream of the flow. The study reveals the mechanism through which a strong spatial and temporal interaction between ammonia spray and diesel combustion products promotes flame stabilization in the HPDF combustion of ammonia at high temperatures. High ambient mixture temperatures lead to increased NOx formation.
Development of an On-Road Stochiometric Heavy Duty Natural Gas Engine
Authors: Kandappadi Sudheesh , Stetter John , Banerjee Pranay , Kandlagunta Ankababu , Shah Jay , Shipp Timothy , Mohr Daniel 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
As the emission regulations are getting more stringent, engine manufacturers are continuously improving engine performance and emissions along with exploring alternative fuel options. Diesel engines dominate the current on highway heavy duty engine market. Compared with diesel, natural gas engines have many advantages like near zero soot emissions, lower CO2 emissions, lower operating cost, quieter operation, and domestic natural gas availability. Natural engines can operate at stoichiometric air fuel ratio and allow for the use of cost effective three-way catalytic converter to achieve emission targets. Moreover, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is the only fuel in the market with carbon negative intensity. To improve the overall engine efficiency, new engine design integrates tumble combustion, dual overhead camshaft, variable valve train system, optimized fuel system, pulse Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system and optimized turbocharger. Integration and optimization of new technologies has improved the peak Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) by 12% above the current Cummins heavy-duty production engine. Average transient cycle BTE is improved by 16% on Ramped Mode Cycle Supplemental Emissions Test (RMCSET) and 17% on Federal Test Procedure (FTP) cycles. Optimized architecture has demonstrated system out emission capability of 0.02 g/hp-hr. on both the FTP and RMCSET cycles.
Emissions, Performance and Vibro-Acoustic Analysis of a Compression-Ignition Engine Running on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
Authors: Colangeli Claudio , d’Ambrosio Stefano , Mancarella Alessandro , Marello Omar , Salamone Nicolò 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
To meet future energy sustainability and carbon neutrality requirements, disruptive changes to the current energy mix are expected. Renewable fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), could play an important role in this context. To assess the potential of HVO, further quantitative research analyses are still required in order to emphasize the benefits (and drawbacks, if any) from a global perspective, rather than limiting the investigation to a single topic (e.g., emissions).
For this purpose, HVO and conventional diesel were compared, in this study, running initially the engine with the same (diesel-oriented) calibration, before being optimized using purposely developed fuel-specific calibrations.
In terms of exhaust pollutant emissions, HVO showed the potential to substantially reduce engine-out emissions of soot, HC and CO at low loads, while differences in exhaust emissions at higher loads proved to be mainly determined by the amount of oxygen available in the combustion chamber, rather than the specific characteristics of the fuels. HVO also demonstrated reductions in tank-to-wheel CO2 emissions, due to lower fuel consumption, even though the primary benefit of renewable fuels should be highlighted in a larger well-to-wheel analysis.
In addition to emission analyses, since extensive investigations on the area of vibroacoustic behavior of engines running on renewable fuels are rare in the literature, a thorough comparison between regular diesel and HVO was carried out on this aspect. In this preliminary activity, the acoustic analysis focused solely on combustion noise, which was extracted by using dedicated signal processing techniques. This approach allowed the authors to focus on the noise contribution that is specifically influenced by the fuel characteristics. Furthermore, the vibrations of the engine block were evaluated. The results showed slightly lower levels of HVO in terms of both noise and vibrations.
Assessment of Performance and Emissions of an RCCI-Diesel Dual Combustion Mode Engine During a Vehicle Duty Cycle
Authors: Khedkar Nikhil , Marwaha Tejasva , Sarangi Asish Kumar , Sreedhara Sheshadri , Singh Arvind Kumar 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Dual fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines are capable of operating on both renewable and conventional fuels. They produce ultra-low nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions while maintaining thermal efficiency similar to that of conventional diesel engine operating at part load conditions. However, the engine needs to transition to the conventional diesel combustion (CDC) mode during high speed and high load operation due to the limited operating range of the engine in the RCCI mode. This study aims to compare a virtual vehicle level drive cycle-based fuel economy and emissions data for the RCCI (operating with both gasoline-diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG)-diesel) and CDC dual combustion mode engine. In this work a combination of engine experimental data and a vehicle powertrain simulation tool (AVL CRUISE) is employed to determine the vehicle level emissions and performance of a light-duty commercial vehicle on the world-wide harmonized light-duty test cycle (WLTC). The vehicle duty cycle results demonstrate ∼62% decrease in NOx and ∼36% reduction in soot emissions with the gasoline-diesel RCCI-CDC engine compared to conventional diesel only operation. A further 26% reduction of soot emission is observed with the CNG-diesel RCCI-CDC dual combustion mode engine. However, the combustion efficiency decreased in the RCCI mode resulting in a significant increase in total hydrocarbon (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. Despite the poor combustion efficiency and marginally reduced thermal efficiency of the RCCI mode, the fuel economy of the vehicle, with the RCCI-CDC dual combustion mode engine, undergoing the WLTC drive cycle is comparable with the diesel only vehicle. Fuel economy of 21.2 km/l (diesel equivalent) and 21.6 km/l (diesel equivalent) are estimated with the gasoline-diesel and CNG-diesel RCCI-CDC modes, respectively, compared to 22.3 km/l (diesel) of conventional diesel only operation. Engine-out CO2 reduced by 7% in case of gasoline-diesel RCCI-CDC engine whereas, due to the lower carbon to hydrogen ratio in the CNG-diesel RCCI-CDC dual combustion mode engine, engine-out CO2 reduced by 16% as compared to CDC only operation. However, when the global warming potential of methane was considered, the CO2 equivalent emissions for the CNG-diesel RCCI-CDC dual combustion mode engine were 1.67 times higher than that for CDC.