Treatment Techniques Research Articles

Tennis Elbow Treatment: Efficaciousness of Kinesio tape and Therapeutic Ultrasonography

A common musculoskeletal ailment known as tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, ischaracterized by discomfort and soreness on the outside of the elbow. Numerous therapeuticapproaches have been investigated in an effort to reduce symptoms and encourage healing. The purposeof this research is to assess the effectiveness of two widely used therapies for tennis elbow therapeuticultrasound and kinesio tape. Tennis elbow was identified in the participants of a randomized controlledexperiment. Over a six-week period, assessments were made of patient satisfaction, pain levels, andfunctional progress. To evaluate the efficacy of each treatment technique, the data were statisticallyexamined.

Improved Thoracoscopic-Assisted Surgery for the Treatment of Metastatic Thoracic Vertebral Tumors.

The significant progress made in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors has led to improved patient survival rates. However, the metastatic spread of these tumors to the thoracic vertebrae remains a significant challenge, often resulting in bone-related adverse events, such as pathological fractures and severe complications. To address this issue, a refined multidisciplinary approach has been explored, which utilizes thoracoscopic techniques for tumor resection and spinal interventions. Thoracoscopic techniques offer a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open surgical methods, aiming to reduce the overall trauma experienced by patients. By leveraging the advantages of thoracoscopy, clinicians can effectively resect metastatic tumors within the thoracic vertebrae while minimizing the impact on surrounding tissues and structures. This approach, combined with targeted spinal interventions, has the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by mitigating the debilitating effects of pathological fractures and other complications associated with metastatic bone disease. The implementation of this multidisciplinary strategy, incorporating thoracoscopic tumor resection and spinal interventions, represents a promising avenue for the management of metastatic tumors within the thoracic vertebrae. Further research and clinical evaluation are necessary to fully elucidate the long-term benefits and establish the optimal treatment protocols for this patient population, ultimately enhancing the care and outcomes for individuals afflicted by this challenging condition.

Long-term Outcomes of Intramedullary Nails in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Fewer Surgeries and Longer Survival Times With Telescoping Rods in Patients With Over Ten Years Follow-up.

Intramedullary rodding of lower extremity long bones in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a widely accepted technique for fracture treatment and prevention. Previous small studies with short to medium-term follow-up have shown that telescoping rods have longer survival times compared with static rods. However, there are no long-term studies (10 or more years) longitudinally evaluating the results of these procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the rod survival duration and number of procedures in patients treated with static versus telescoping rods with 10 years minimum follow-up. This was a multicenter retrospective comparative study of patients with a diagnosis of OI who had intramedullary nailing of the femur and/or tibia. Each bone included in the study had a 10-year minimum follow-up, only one type of rod utilized over the follow-up period, and no rod replacement surgeries outside of the primary hospital system. Patient demographics, clinical data, and details of each procedure were obtained. Groups were compared using univariate analysis with a 2-independent samples t test for continuous variables, χ2 for categorical variables, and the Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis. A total of 119 bones in 52 patients met inclusion criteria. Average follow up was 13.1 (range: 10.2 to 18.4) years. There were no differences between groups in follow-up length, Sillence type, bisphosphonate use, or age at first-rod placement. There were significantly more tibias treated in the static rod group compared with the telescopic rod group. The average survival length was significantly longer for telescopic rods, 5.8 ± 3.9 years versus 4.0±3.6 years for static rods. On average, bones treated with telescopic rods had significantly fewer surgeries compared with static rods (2.2 ± 0.8 vs 3.3 ± 1.6). At long term follow up, bone segments in patients with OI treated with telescopic rods required fewer surgeries and had longer implant survival times compared with those treated with static rods. When available, surgeons should consider telescopic rods as the initial implant choice in this patient population.

Effects of muscle energy technique overhold relax on pain and range of motion in patients with post-surgical elbow stiffness

Background. An elbow joint that can move and is stable is important for work, play, and sports. Stiffness in the elbow after surgery is common and can make it difficult to perform daily activities. This is a significant problem for therapy. Therapeutic exercises, especially stretching exercises, are a crucial part of physiotherapy for alleviating elbow stiffness. Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a manual therapy that uses mild isometric contractions to utilize the muscles’ energy to help with limited limb movement. On the other hand, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is one of the best ways to improve motor performance and speed up recovery by increasing the range of motion and flexibility. The goal is to determine how MET over Hold‑Relax affects pain and range of motion when rehabilitating stiffness in the elbow after surgery. Methods. A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 12 patients post-elbow fracture fixation. Group A was given MET, while Group B received the Hold-Relax Technique three times a week for three consecutive weeks after the immobilization period. As baseline treatment, both groups received active ROM exercises. Pain (Visual Analog Scale) and ROM (goniometer) were assessed pre- and post-3 weeks. Results. In the third week, the two treatment groups showed a statistically significant difference in all parametric values (P < 0.05). However, Group B Hold-Relax’s mean difference and paired and unpaired t-test values were greater compared to Group A MET at the end of the third week. Conclusion. This study concludes that implementing PNF stretch (Hold-Relax) in conjunction with conventional treatment techniques in post-surgical stiffness is beneficial in enhancing the subject’s quality of life by reducing pain and restoring ROM. Hence, PNF (Hold-Relax) can be the best treatment option in physiotherapy practice.

The GIS framework is used to assess Lucknow City's groundwater quality using the water quality index [WQI

Monitoring groundwater quality continuously is essential to reducing the dangers of geochemical pollutants through suitable treatment techniques and guaranteeing safe drinking and irrigation. Thus, this study's main goal was to evaluate the appropriateness of the groundwater that was collected, from India's Lucknow for irrigation as well as drinking. To assess the quality of the groundwater in the research area, ten samples were taken from various locations. Analysis was done on some parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness, total alkalinity, BOD, COD, nitrate, total nitrogen, E. Coli, and ammonia. The water quality index (WQI) has arithmetical weights. Using a critical grading system that shows overall quality, the water's quality was evaluated and categorized as very good, good, moderate, bad, and unfit for consumption. Increasing public understanding and decision-making to make informed choices about efficient care, management, and long-term, sustainable social growth is greatly aided by this classification. To find relationships between the different parameter values, a correlation matrix was created and examined. As a result, the results imply that the groundwater in the investigated region is secure and appropriate for irrigation and consumption.

Preparation of magnetite nanoparticles and their application in the removal of methylene blue dye from wastewater

Wastewater is discharged in large amounts from different industries; thus, wastewater treatment is currently one of the main concerns, advanced oxidation is a promising technique for wastewater treatment. This research aims to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles and study their application in wastewater treatment via adsorption and advanced oxidation processes. Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized via coprecipitation technique between ferric and ferrous sulfate at a molar ratio of 2:1. The prepared sample was characterized using FTIR, XRD, TEM, BET surface area, zeta potential, VSM, and UV‒visible spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the formation of a single face-centered cubic (FCC) spinel structure of Fe3O4. TEM revealed an average particle size of 29.2 nm and a BET surface area of 70.1 m2 g−1. UV‒visible spectroscopy revealed that the UV–visible peak of the sample was obtained at 410 nm. VSM confirmed the attraction of the sample to a magnet with a magnetization of 60 (emu/g). The removal efficiency of methylene blue was studied using adsorption and advanced oxidation methods. For adsorption, the studied parameters were dye concentration 2–10 ppm, 3–10 pH, and 50:300 mg Fe3O4/L. For advanced oxidation, peroxide was used with nanomagnetite as a catalyst, and the studied parameters were pH 2–11, magnetite dose 20–200 PPM, and peroxide dose 500–2000 PPM. The removal efficiency by adsorption reached 95.11% by adding 50 mg of Fe3O4/L and 10 ppm dye conc at 6.5 pH; on the other hand, in advanced oxidation, it reached 98.5% by adding 110 PPM magnetite and 2000 ppm H2O2 at pH 11. The magnetite nanoparticles were reused for ten cycles of advanced oxidation, for a 10% reduction in removal efficiency at the tenth cycle.

MRI in the prenatal genetic diagnosis and intrauterine treatment of fetal congenital cystic adenoma of the lung

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of magnetic resonance examination technique for prenatal genetic diagnosis and clinical intrauterine treatment of fetal congenital cystic adenoma (CCAM) of the lung.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 pregnant women admitted to a certain hospital from January 2016 to January 2022 for pre natal examination and consultation on eugenics. The selected pregnant women were aged 20–40 and had a gestational age of 17–36 weeks. Ultrasound and MRI examinations were performed on 108 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria. Follow-up and investigation were conducted on the fetus after being diagnosed with CCAM. To analyze the results of prenatal genetic diagnosis, chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) was used to analyze samples with pathogenic Copy Number Variants (CNV) and identify pathogenic genes. Finally, the imaging diagnosis results obtained through statistical software were analyzed, and the correlation between pathogenic genes and CCAM, as well as the clinical application value of MRI in fetal intrauterine treatment was explored.ResultsAmong all cases, 68 fetuses were diagnosed with CCAM through ultrasound examination; 71 fetuses were diagnosed with CCAM through MRI examination. A total of 74 samples were confirmed as CCAM by autopsy and neonatal CT. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI in diagnosing fetal congenital CCAM were higher than those of ultrasound examination. The expression of CCAM was positively correlated with DUSP22, PRSS1, and SHOX, with all R values greater than 0.8. The clinical decision curve showed that when the probability of fetal CCAM was less than 0.03, the prenatal genetic diagnostic model of MRI was not applicable; But when the probability of fetal CCAM was higher than 0.05, the auxiliary intrauterine treatment effect that MRI diagnostic methods achieved was significantly better than conventional diagnosis.ConclusionMRI is significantly better than ultrasound in the diagnosis of CCAM, which can effectively improve the sensitivity of diagnosis and provide accurate information for the eugenics of pregnant women, and has high clinical application value.

CARACTERÍSTICAS ACÚSTICAS DA MADEIRA DE ROXINHO (<i>PELTOGYNE SP.</i>) TRATADA TERMICAMENTE

The present research aimed to develop products for the musical instruments market using wood modified through heat treatments. Initially, a survey of wood traditionally used in musical instruments, or their parts was carried out. Subsequently, bibliographic research about the wood modification treatments was produced to know the technical limits and their characteristics and to identify which of these can be applied in Brazilian woods, being then chosen as the technique of heat treatment with the application of temperatures of 160ºC and 200ºC carried out in laboratory ovens. From this, the musical instrument xylophone was chosen as a test product to evaluate the use of the chosen technique of modification for the roxinho wood (Peltogyne sp.). Thus, the musical instrument was designed and produced with untreated wood and treated with the mentioned temperatures and evaluated the mass loss, specific gravity, resonance frequency, sound propagation velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd). The results indicated that the treatment with the temperatures used increased the sound propagation velocity and the MOEd, even with the decrease in the apparent density. The production of the product also showed a significant gain in relation to the final timbre when compared to untreated wood. Thus, the use of temperature at 160ºC is indicated as a technological product that can increase the final quality of the musical instrument.

Shared characteristics of intervention techniques for oral vocabulary and speech comprehensibility in preschool children with co-occurring features of developmental language disorder and speech sound disorder: a systematic review with narrative synthesis

ObjectivesTo descriptively compare and contrast intervention techniques for preschool children with features of developmental language disorder (outcome: oral vocabulary) and speech sound disorder (outcome: speech comprehensibility) and analyse them in...

Artificial intelligence-based motion tracking in cancer radiotherapy: A review.

Radiotherapy aims to deliver a prescribed dose to the tumor while sparing neighboring organs at risk (OARs). Increasingly complex treatment techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and proton therapy have been developed to deliver doses more precisely to the target. While such technologies have improved dose delivery, the implementation of intra-fraction motion management to verify tumor position at the time of treatment has become increasingly relevant. Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently demonstrated great potential for real-time tracking of tumors during treatment. However, AI-based motion management faces several challenges, including bias in training data, poor transparency, difficult data collection, complex workflows and quality assurance, and limited sample sizes. This review presents the AI algorithms used for chest, abdomen, and pelvic tumor motion management/tracking for radiotherapy and provides a literature summary on the topic. We will also discuss the limitations of these AI-based studies and propose potential improvements.

Investigating the internal erosion behavior and microscopic mechanisms of chemically stabilized soil: an experimental study

IntroductionInternal erosion triggered by water pipeline leaks seriously threatens the stability of the urban ground. Hangzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, China, is facing critical challenges due to urban ground collapse (UGC) caused by internal erosion. However, there is a lack of research on the prevention of UGC by improving the internal erodibility of underground soil. Addressing this issue is of utmost importance to ensure the city’s stability and safety. This paper proposes to improve the internal erodibility of typical sandy silt soils with chemical stabilisers.MethodsThe effects of three chemical stabilisers, lignosulphonate (LS), lime (LI), and lignin fibre (LF), on the critical shear stress (τc) and erosion coefficient (kd) of sandy silt soils were investigated, which from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, by the hole erosion test (HET) at different mixing amounts and at different conservation times.ResultsThe findings indicate that LF mainly improves the erosion resistance of sandy silt by increasing τc, and the maximum increase is 2.38 times; LI mainly improves the erosion resistance by decreasing kd, and the maximum decrease is 2.18 times. After adding LS, τc and kd did not change significantly. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) test revealed that the inclusion of LF led to the formation of larger agglomerates in the sandy silt soil. The microstructure of sandy silt soil remained dispersed even after adding LS. Various chemical stabilisers used to improve sandy silt soils exhibited distinct erosion mechanisms. Sandy silt soils improved with LF exfoliated into agglomerates, displaying high resistance to erosion. On the other hand, the sandy silt treated with LF still lacks a protective layer and shows minimal improvements in its ability to withstand erosion. In contrast, the LS-amended sandy silt remains stripped with individual soil particles with insignificant changes in erosion resistance.DiscussionThis study can provide a conceptual framework for choosing foundation treatment techniques in future urban development projects.

Closed-loop control of a tendon-driven active needle for tip tracking at desired bending angle for high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy

Abstract Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in American men. High-dose-rate brachytherapy is a popular treatment technique in which a large, localized radiation dose is used to kill cancer. Utilization of curvilinear catheter implantation inside the prostate gland to provide access channels to host the radiation source has shown superiority in terms of improved dosimetric constraints compared to straight needles. To this aim, we have introduced an active needle to curve inside the prostate conformal to the patient’s specific anatomical relationship for improved dose distribution to the prostate and reduced toxicity to the organs at risk. This work presents closed-loop control of our tendon-driven active needle in water medium and air using the position feedback of the tip obtained in real time from an ultrasound (US) or an electromagnetic (EM) tracking sensor, respectively. The active needle consists of a compliant flexure section to realize bending in two directions via actuation of two internal tendons. Tracking errors using US and EM trackers are estimated and compared. Results show that the bending angle of the active needle could be controlled using position feedback of the US or the EM tracking system with a bending angle error of less than 1.00 degree when delay is disregarded. It is concluded that the actuation system and controller, presented in this work, are able to realize a desired bending angle at the active needle tip with reasonable accuracy paving the path for tip tracking and manipulation control evaluations in a prostate brachytherapy.

Effects of antioxidant addition and catalytic converter on emissions in off-road motors running on diesel tire oil blend

Repurposing used tires into fuel could help address environmental degradation and the fast depletion of fossil fuel resources to some extent. In this work, an attempt has been made to control the emissions by combining fuel modification and after treatment techniques. Fuel modification is done through antioxidant additive addition with the fuel blend to mitigate the prompt NOx emission and catalytic converter for additional emission reduction. The test results indicate that used tire oil may be a good substitute for fossil fuels. NO emissions were reduced by 15.3% for the 300 ppm antioxidant addition at full load. Whereas NO emissions were reduced by 21.1% with the incorporation of the catalytic converter. However, the maximum NO emission reduction achieved was 30.5% by combining antioxidants with fuel and incorporating a catalytic converter.

Adherence to resistance training and hypocaloric diet among persons near retirement age — A secondary data analysis of three randomized controlled trials

ObjectivesAdherence to lifestyle interventions is crucial for the treatment of obesity. However, there is little research about adherence to lifestyle interventions in persons around retirement age. The objectives of this study are (1) to identify factors associated with the adherence to resistance training and a hypocaloric diet and (2) to describe the association between adherence and changes in body composition outcome parameters. DesignThis secondary data analysis included three randomized controlled trials. Setting & participantsThe inclusion criteria of the participants were an age of 55–75 years, a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and receiving both a hypocaloric diet and resistance training. All participants were residing in the community. MeasurementsAdherence to hypocaloric diet was measured through the mean dietary intake on the basis of a 3-day dietary record. If the participant consumed at least 600 kcal less than the individual caloric requirements, they were considered adherent. Adherence to resistance training was achieved if ≥67% of the recommended training sessions were attended over the course of the study periods. Results232 participants were included, 47.0% female, mean age 64.0 (±5.5) years. 80.2% adhered to resistance training and 51.3% adhered to a hypocaloric diet. Older age (Beta 0.41; 95% CI 0.05, 0.78; p = 0.028) and male sex (Beta 7.7; 95% CI 3.6, 11; p < 0.001) were associated with higher resistance training adherence. A higher BMI at baseline (Beta 6.4; 95% CI 3.6, 9.2; p < 0.001) and male sex (Beta 65; 95% CI 41, 88; p < 0.001) were associated with higher adherence to hypocaloric diet. ConclusionWe identified several associated factors (sex, age and BMI at baseline) that should be considered to promote adherence in future lifestyle intervention studies in persons around retirement age. We recommend including behavior change techniques in lifestyle interventions and consider sex-specific interventions to improve the adherence of women.

A review on algae-mediated adsorption and catalytic processes for organic water pollution remediation

Wastewaters consist of organic pollutants that have environmental concerns. Wastewaters are treated by different methods, but efficient, low-cost, and sustainable techniques still need to be developed. Algae-based water pollution remediation techniques are considered to be sustainable approaches. This review exclusively discusses the facets of macro and microalgae in the treatment of organic toxicants. The current trends of algae-mediated water treatments have been discussed under adsorption and degradation methods. A focus on algae fuel cell, algae mediated activation of oxidizing agents, Fenton-like reactions, and photocatalysis was given. The need of algae-based adsorptive and catalytic materials was mentioned. The role of algae in the synthesis of catalysts which were employed in pollutant removal methods was also explained. The integrated algae-mediated water treatment techniques were also highlighted. The toxicant removal performances of different algae-based materials in the water medium were summarized. The conclusion and future prospects derived from the literature survey were described. This review will be helpful for researchers who are working in the field of sustainable water pollution remediation.

A Review of the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance through Wastewater Treatment Plants: Current Situation in Sri Lanka and Future Perspectives.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance (AR) poses a significant threat to both public health and aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as potential hotspots for disseminating AR in the environment. However, only a limited number of studies have been conducted on AR dissemination through WWTPs in Sri Lanka. To address this knowledge gap in AR dissemination through WWTP operations in Sri Lanka, we critically examined the global situation of WWTPs as hotspots for transmitting antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) by evaluating more than a hundred peer-reviewed international publications and available national publications. Our findings discuss the current state of operating WWTPs in the country and highlight the research needed in controlling AR dissemination. The results revealed that the impact of different wastewater types, such as clinical, veterinary, domestic, and industrial, on the dissemination of AR has not been extensively studied in Sri Lanka; furthermore, the effectiveness of various wastewater treatment techniques in removing ARGs requires further investigation to improve the technologies. Furthermore, existing studies have not explored deeply enough the potential public health and ecological risks posed by AR dissemination through WWTPs.

CT guided sharp recanalization to restore dialysis access in patients with central venous obstruction: A single centre experience and review of alternative techniques.

Central venous obstructions that impedes catheter placement or results in catheter dysfunction is a significant problem for haemodialysis patients. Recanalization can be performed with an intent to restore central venous access, improve outflow from arteriovenous fistula or to relieve symptomatic venous obstructions. Sharp recanalization encompasses various interventional techniques using a sharp instrument to puncture through or bypass around a venous obstruction. In this paper we outline our experience performing CT guided sharp recanalization and review alternative sharp recanalization techniques that are specifically used to restore haemodialysis access in patients with thoracic central venous obstruction.

Multiple RONS-Loaded Plasma-Activated Ice Microneedle Patches for Transdermal Treatment of Psoriasis.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a fledgling therapeutic technique for psoriasis treatment with noninvasiveness, but clinical adoption has been stifled by the insufficient production and delivery of plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Herein, patches of air-discharge plasma-activated ice microneedles (PA-IMNs) loaded with multiple RONS are designed for local transdermal delivery to treat psoriasis as an alternative to direct CAP irradiation treatment. By mixing two RONS generated by the air-discharge plasma in the NOx mode and O3 mode, abundant high-valence RONS are produced and incorporated into PA-IMNs via complex gas-gas and gas-liquid reactions. The PA-IMNs abrogate keratinocyte overproliferation by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis of keratinocytes. The in vivo transdermal treatment confirms that PA-IMNs produce significant anti-inflammatory and therapeutic actions for imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in mice by inhibiting the release of associated inflammatory factors while showing no evident systemic toxicity. Therefore, PA-IMNs have a large potential in transdermal delivery platforms as they overcome the limitations of using CAP directly in the clinical treatment of psoriasis.

Two decades of research trends in microbial-induced carbonate precipitation for heavy metal removal: a bibliometric review and literature review.

Amidst the increasing significance of innovative solutions for bioremediation of heavy metal removal, this paper offers a thorough bibliometric analysis of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) for heavy metal removal, as a promising technology to tackle this urgent environmental issue. This study focused on articles published from 1999 to 2022 in the Scopus database. It assesses trends, participation, and key players within the MICP for heavy metal sequestration. Among the 930 identified articles, 74 countries participated in the field, with China being the most productive. Varenyam Achal, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chemosphere are leaders in the research landscape. Using VOSviewer and R-Studio, keyword hotspots like "MICP", "urease", and "heavy metals" underscore the interdisciplinary nature of MICP research and its focus on addressing a wide array of environmental and soil-related challenges. VOSviewer emphasises essential terms like "calcium carbonate crystal", while R-Studio highlights ongoing themes such as "soil" and "organic" aspects. These analyses further showcase the interdisciplinary nature of MICP research, addressing a wide range of environmental challenges and indicating evolving trends in the field. This review also discusses the literature concerning the potential of MICP to immobilise contaminants, the evolution of the research outcome in the last two decades, MICP treatment techniques for heavy metal removal, and critical challenges when scaling from laboratory to field. Readers will find this analysis beneficial in gaining valuable insights into the evolving field and providing a solid foundation for future research and practical implementation.

Pollutant Effects and Management of Animal Manure

Animal manure pollution constitutes a significant environmental issue, particularly in areas with intensive livestock activities. Manure, due to its various pollution loads such as nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and pathogens, can have adverse effects on soil, water resources, and air quality. Among manure management practices, sustainable methods such as composting, biogas production, and advanced treatment techniques stand out. These methods offer effective solutions for reducing the environmental impact of manure, while also holding the potential to be valued as valuable resources for agriculture and energy production. The growth in the global population along with urbanization has intensified the demand in commerce, industry, and agriculture sectors. This need to satisfy the supply-demand dynamics has led to increased production activities, subsequently giving rise to significant waste management challenges. This review examines the environmental impacts of pollution originating from animal manure, current management strategies, and research developments (R&amp;D) in this field.