David Field, professor of neonatology at the University of Leicester, said the US findings did not give the green light for using nitric oxide treatment, but were useful pointers to further research.

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Rather than eliminate nitrogen oxide via a bulky chemical treatment system that even the EPA questioned initially, EGR would make the motor do all the work by piping exhaust gas back into the cylinders and burning it again a cleaner, cheaper, lower-maintenance solution, which would set Navistar ahead of the pack.

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The treatment, which is currently a three-step process involving zinc oxide, silica, and other materials, takes about a day.

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