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Discovery of new lignin biosynthetic pathway could aid biofuel production

Green Car Congress

Researchers from Ghent University (Belgium) and the University of Dundee (UK) led a team that has uncovered the role of a new enzyme—caffeoylshikimate esterase (CSE)—in a previously unknown biosynthetic pathway for the formation of lignin in plants. Science doi: 10.1126/science.1241602.

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Field trials with genetically modified poplars shows potential for efficient conversion to sugars but with impact on biomass yield

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The results of field trials with genetically modified poplar trees in Belgium and France shows that the wood of the modified poplar trees—down-regulated for cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR), an enzyme in the lignin biosynthetic pathway—improved saccharification yield—i.e., Van Acker et al. Click to enlarge. —Prof.

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EC awards Better Place and partners €4.95M for EV infrastructure project, including battery switch stations

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The project is designed to help de-carbonize the grid—a key policy initiative for the European Union—and will provide feedback to ongoing EU consultation around the new TEN-T guidelines (2013-2020) and other initiatives shaping the future of transportation in Europe including CARS 21.

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Axens, Total and IFPEN launch new technology for bio-ethylene production through dehydration of bio-ethanol

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Within this cooperation, Total developed a high performance catalyst formulation at its research Center in Feluy, Belgium; IFPEN scaled up catalyst performance within a heat recovery innovative process; and Axens industrialized the catalyst formulation and finalized the process scheme with particular focus on energy-efficiency.

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Imaging study: air pollution impairs function of blood vessels in lungs

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Between 2009 and 2013, transthoracic echocardiography including an evaluation of pulmonary pressure was conducted in 16,295 individuals and correlated with average air pollution in Brussels on the same day and in the last five and ten days. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea were at greater risk.

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The Dutch Tax Authority Was Felled by AI—What Comes Next?

Cars That Think

Those claims passed through the gauntlet of a self-learning algorithm, initially deployed in 2013. We need to define what ‘fair’ is,” says Yong Suk Lee , a professor of technology, economy, and global affairs at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. But that process did not exist.”

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The importance of considering non-exhaust traffic emissions; the role of EVs

Green Car Congress

Further, a 2013 review by Denier van der Gon et al. 2013 found that the ratio of non-exhaust to exhaust particles is strongly increasing in the last two decades, due to exhaust emission reductions. As reported earlier here ( earlier post ) a recent literature review by a team from the University of Edinburgh (Timmers et al.

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