bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacterial protease activity: a prognostic biomarker of early wound infection
Authors: Serena Thomas E , Bayliff Simon W , Brosnan Patrick J 
Published: April 2022

Objective: High bacterial burden is one of several reasons that wounds fail to heal. At present, clinicians rely primarily on clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) to diagnose infection in hard-to-heal wounds; however, studies have demonstrated that CSS can be unreliable. This is especially true in the early stages of bacterial infection. Bacteria release proteases, virulence factors that promote invasive infection. This clinical trial evaluated the use of bacterial protease activity (BPA) as a biomarker to detect whether a wound was in the period of pathogenicity, prior to overt clinical signs. Method: Participants were drawn from six US wound centres and had their wounds assessed clinically for infection. In addition, wound fluid swabs were collected and analysed for BPA, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), and cultured for quantitative microbiology. Results: A total of 366 patients were recruited. The median BPA level increased with the increasing number of signs of infection. The majority of wounds tested positive for elevated BPA prior to exhibiting at least three CSS of infection, the level at which the criteria for infection are met. BPA tended to increase with the bioburden (colony forming unit (CFU)/ml) although some wounds with high bioburden were negative for BPA, and others with low bioburden were positive for BPA. The mean levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in BPA-positive wounds (p<0.0001 and p=0.0002, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this clinical trial suggest that measuring BPA can lead to the early detection of pathogenic bacteria in the wound that impede wound healing and may progress to invasive infection. In a large percentage of cases, BPA detected virulent bacteria in the absence of CSS of infection. As a biomarker, BPA has an advantage over measuring bacterial load—hard-to-heal wounds are often colonised with non-pathogenic bacteria that do not inhibit wound healing and, conversely, a low number of highly virulent species could disrupt the healing process.
Use of single-layer artificial dermal template in patients with trauma and burns
Authors: Karatan Berrak , Yamak Kamil 
Published: April 2022

Objective: Artificial dermal templates (ADTs), were designed initially to provide extracellular matrix and skin substitute for extensive burn injuries. Use of ADTs in a variety of other indications, has also been described in the literature. In this study, we describe our experience of using ADTs for different indications in burn contractures and wound coverage. Method: In this retrospective study, patients requiring burn scar contracture release, permanent wound coverage for acute traumatic wounds and temporary wound coverage to prepare for complex reconstructions, and where the ADT Pelnac (Gunze Ltd., Japan) was applied, were evaluated. Data regarding patient sex, age, type and location of injury, comorbidities, operations and complications were recorded. Results: A total of 24 patients were included in the study, of whom 12 patients were operated on for burn contractures. ADTs were used with split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) or Z-plasties in a single-stage procedure. In six patients, ADT and STSGs were used to cover defects with exposed bone or tendon. Of the patients, six had their wounds covered temporarily while they were stabilised for complex reconstructions or were awaiting definitive histopathological results. Revisional surgeries due to graft failures or insufficient contracture releases were required by 12 patients. All temporary wound coverage patients had successful flap reconstructions after stabilisation of their general status, had tumour-free margins in the histopathological examination, and no necrosis or infection was seen on follow-up. Conclusion: In this study, ADTs had positive effects on selected patients, but comprehensive and comparative clinical studies are needed for different indications to choose between these templates.
Properties of Nonwoven Fabrics Containing Immobilized Superabsorbent Polymer Particles for Air Conditioning in Grain Dryers
Authors: Kimani Peter Kang´ethe , Mbuge Duncan , Gitau Ayub N. 
Published: April 2022

HighlightsThe SAP fabric adsorbed up to 1.05 times its dry weight, at room temperature SAP fabric had up to three times more adsorption capacity compared with silica gel.SAP fabric moisture adsorption rate trends are best predicted using logarithmic models.The fabric maintains high permeability in comparison with other desiccants, an average pressure drop of 0.10 millibar for 10 layers of SAP was recorded at 0.5 m/s air velocity.SAP fabric adsorption capacity remained unchanged after several cycles of regeneration by oven drying at 105°C.Abstract.In sub-Saharan Africa, maize and other cereal grains are normally sun-dried after harvesting. Post-harvest preservation techniques and conditions greatly contribute to the loss of the produce mainly due to mycotoxins infestation. There is lack of affordable and adequate technical facilities for post-harvest preservation of the produce. This research presents the findings of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) fabric properties, a material that is proposed for use in hybrid solar drying technology. The objective of the study was to determine the moisture adsorption capacity of SAP fabric. The experiments were carried out in an air conditioning unit, in each experiment the inlet air temperatures were maintained at a constant level of 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C, the inlet air relative humidity was varied between 50% and 90% in 10 unit intervals. It was found that the SAP Fabric had a high adsorption capacity of up to 105% of its dry weight at an air temperature of 20°C and 90% relative humidity. The adsorption rate trends are best predicted using logarithmic models which showed high initial moisture adsorption decreasing gradually to the equilibrium moisture content. The pressure drop across 3, 6, 10, and 15 layers was between 0.09 to 0.12 millibars, which showed that SAP fabric is a highly porous desiccant. There was no noticeable change in moisture adsorption capacity of the SAP when oven-dried at 105°C to regenerate it. It was established that SAP fabric is effective for use in drying air. Keywords: Air conditioning, Desiccant, Grain drying, Non-woven fabric, Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP).
Deep-Pest-Detector: Automated Detection and Localization of Processionary Moth Nests on Pine Trees via Aerial Drones and Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Jaber Nael , Daher Naseem , Asmar Daniel 
Published: April 2022

HighlightsA deep learning architecture, which relies on multi-modal imagery from the RGB and thermal spectra, is proposed to detect PPM nests via aerial drones.A GPS-based computation method is implemented to geo-tag the position of the detected nests in the drone’s perimeter.A Kalman filter is utilized as a nest tracker to avoid reporting back the position of the same nest several times.The system is tested in a pine forest and exhibits accurate detection and localization, as evidenced by reporting back the positions of the detected PPM nests.Abstract.The pine processionary moth (PPM) is considered the main defoliator of pine trees and is a menacing threat to various other perennial species including oak and cedar. Given their negative secondary effects, spraying of pesticides has been banned as a means for the eradication of PPM; instead, an individualized approach is to be adopted, in which each nest is localized and destroyed. Detection of PPM nests using optical sensing is challenging because of the changing outdoor lighting conditions and the camouflaged appearance of moth in the underlying foliage. This article proposes a promising solution for nest detection by fusing sensory data from an RGB camera on one hand, and a thermal camera on the other, both mounted on an aerial drone. The proposed detection system is built on a two-channeled deep convolutional neural network, one for each spectrum of the collected sensory data. Experiments performed in a pine forest demonstrate successful detection rates with an average accuracy of 97% in various experiments and settings. Geo-localization is performed to report the position of the detected nests within a scanned forest map by means of an estimation scheme that is particularly designed for this purpose achieving centimeter accuracy (&lt;20 cm). Keywords: Aerial robotics, Agriculture, Detection, Machine learning, Multi-stream CNN, Pest control.
Nondestructive Quantitative Analysis of Water Potential of Tomato Leaves Using Online Hyperspectral Imaging System
Authors: Tung Kuo-Chih , Yen Ping-Lang , Tsai Chao-Yin , Ong Pauline , Lin Jer-Wei , Chang Yung-Huei , Chen Suming 
Published: April 2022

HighlightsWe developed an online measurement system for water potential of tomato plants using hyperspectral imaging.We used Linear Discriminant Analysis to automatically and quickly extract the leaf images.We used SNV scattering correction to remove the spectral variations caused by collecting the defocused leaf images.We developed a prediction model of leaf water potential based on spectral image information.Abstract. Tomatoes have different water requirements in each growing period. Excessive water use or insufficient water supply will affect the growth and yield of tomato plants. Therefore, precise irrigation control is necessary during cultivation to increase crop productivity. Traditionally, the soil moisture content or leaf water potential has been used as an indicator of plant water status. These methods, however, have limited accuracy and are time-consuming, making it difficult to be put into practice in tomato production. This study developed an online hyperspectral imaging system to measure the leaf water potential of tomato nondestructively. Linear Discriminant Analysis was utilized to automatically and quickly extract the leaf images, with the recognition accuracy of 94.68% was achieved. The mathematical processing of Standard Normal Variate scattering correction was used to remove the spectral variations caused by the defocused leave images. The developed leaf water potential prediction model based on the spectral image information attained using the developed system achieved the standard error of calibration of 0.201, coefficient of determination in calibration set of 0.814 and standard error of cross-validation of 0.230, and one minus the variance ratio of 0.755. The obtained performance indicated the feasibility of applying the developed online hyperspectral imaging system as a real-time non-destructive measurement technique for the leaf water potential of tomato plants. Keywords: Hyperspectral imaging system, Machine learning, Tomato, Water potential.
Whole Farm Performance of Centrifuge Extraction of Phosphorus from Dairy Manure
Authors: Rotz C. Alan , Reiner Michael R. , Fishel Sarah K. , Church Clinton Dean 
Published: April 2022

HighlightsA centrifuge can be used to extract manure phosphorus to a more concentrated form for easier transport.Extraction for more efficient transport to distant cropland reduced production costs in a scraped manure system.Use of a centrifuge in a flush manure system was less practical and economical due to handling of much more material.The cost of producing highly concentrated phosphorus material for export was greater than phosphate fertilizer prices.Abstract. As the size of dairy farms has increased, feeds produced on the farm as well as those purchased from off-farm sources can be transported long distances to feed the herd. Transporting the manure back to the cropland used to produce the feed can be difficult and uneconomical. Technology such as a centrifuge can be used to extract nutrients into a more concentrated form for more efficient transport. A dairy farm with 2000 cows and 1400 ha of land in Pennsylvania was simulated with the Integrated Farm System Model to evaluate the feasibility of extracting phosphorus (P) to reduce transport requirements on farm or to produce a concentrated P product for off-farm use. On this farm where manure must be transported to distant cropland to obtain uniform distribution, P extraction with a centrifuge provided a better ratio of nitrogen and P contents for use on nearby cropland and reduced transport costs for nutrients applied to more distant cropland. The centrifuge was found to be more practical and economical when used with manure scraped from the barn floor than with flushed manure because much less material was handled. Moving less material through the centrifuge both improved extraction efficiency and reduced electricity consumption, providing more economical P extraction. To avoid long-term accumulation of soil P on the farm with less land (2000 cows and 1100 ha) where concentrate feed (27% of total feed) was imported, centrifuge extraction provided a material with a high P concentration exported from the farm for other uses. Extracting the P for off-farm use cost about $2.51/kg P, which was greater than the price of phosphate fertilizer, but the extract also included other nutrients and micronutrients of value to crops. A centrifuge provides a useful tool for extracting and concentrating manure P, but the economic benefit to the producer depends upon the value of the full array of nutrient contents in the product, other manure handling practices, and the end use of the extracted material. Reducing the risk of eutrophication of surface waters provides additional benefit to society. Keywords: Dairy farm, Integrated Farm System Model, Manure handling, Manure management.
An Overview of the Effectiveness of Agricultural Conservation Practices for Water Quality Improvement
Authors: Yuan Yongping , Book Ruth S. , Mankin Kyle R. , Koropeckyj-Cox Lydia , Christianson Laura , Messer Tiffany , Christianson Reid 
Published: April 2022

HighlightsDenitrifying bioreactor and nutrient management effectively reduced nitrate-N loads from subsurface drainage.Constructed wetland was effective in removing total N, nitrate-N, and total P from wetland influent water.Filter strip was the most effective practice in reducing sediment, total N, and total P loads from surface runoff.Cover crop was effective in reducing sediment and total P loads from surface runoff.More research is needed on conservation practice effectiveness in reducing dissolved P loss from agricultural fields.Abstract. This article introduces a Special Collection of literature reviews documenting the performance and cost-effectiveness of six agricultural conservation practices (ACPs): conservation crop rotation, cover crop, filter strip, nutrient management, denitrifying bioreactor, and constructed wetland. The overall objectives of the Special Collection are to: (1) review published studies on ACP effectiveness in reducing nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural fields; (2) compare, integrate, and synthesize the results from those studies to obtain a systematic understanding of the mitigation efficacy of each ACP in a consistent format across the selected ACPs; and (3) assemble cost analyses and obtain general insights on performance-based costs of the ACPs. The specific objectives of this introductory article are to summarize key information from each of the six review articles and develop a comparative understanding of the performance and cost-effectiveness of the six ACPs. Among the selected ACPs, denitrifying bioreactor, constructed wetland, cover crop, crop rotation, and nutrient management were all effective in reducing nitrate-N loads in subsurface drainage, with performance effectiveness in load reduction ranging from 23% to 40%. A corn-soybean rotation (relative to continuous corn) was the most cost-effective among the selected ACPs and can reduce nitrate-N load at a net benefit of about USD $5 per kg nitrate-N compared to continuous corn. Filter strip was most effective in reducing sediment, total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) loads from surface runoff and can be effective in reducing nitrate-N and dissolved P. Cover crop was also effective in reducing sediment and total P loads. Studies of the selected ACPs for their performance effectiveness for dissolved P are limited, and results varied among the ACPs included; thus, more research is needed relative to ACP effectiveness in reducing dissolved P loss, particularly in subsurface flow. Finally, although each review article included cost-analysis information, more data and analyses are needed to better understand the cost-effectiveness of ACPs and their ecological benefits. Keywords: Constructed wetland, Cost-effectiveness, Cover crop, Crop rotation, Filter strip, Nutrient management, Denitrifying bioreactor, Reduction effectiveness.
Analysis of filtering and refractive index sensing characteristics based on gold-coated photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Gao Zhigang , Jing Xili , Li Shuguang , Chen Hailiang , Liu Yundong , Guo Ying 
Published: April 2022

A gold-coated photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with dual functions of filtering and refractive index sensing is proposed. The gold layer is deposited in two open grooves, which make it easy to manufacture. For the filtering characteristics, it can achieve high loss at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The results show that the confinement losses of the

x

- and

y

-polarized modes are 0.012 dB/cm and 445.10 dB/cm, respectively. When the crosstalk is greater than 20 dB, it shows high bandwidth of 910 nm for the PCF length of 3 mm. For the sensing characteristics, it shows a maximum sensitivity of 4000 nm/RIU for an analyte range of 1.39–1.40. It also has a high figure of merit with a maximum value of

45.45

R
I
U

−
1

and a low detection limit (56.13 nm). Owing to the excellent performance of the gold-coated PCF in filtering and sensing, it will become a suitable candidate for optical communication and sensing systems.
Relevanz und Bedeutung der Nachhaltigkeit – Green IT/IS als Nischenthema in KMU der DACH-Region
Authors: Alsdorf Helge , Kosmol Linda , Rivera Fernandez Zaira 
Published: April 2022

ZusammenfassungSeit längerem sind Green IT/IS ein Diskussionsthema und werden für Unternehmen zu einer zunehmend wichtigen Komponente auf dem Weg zu ökologischer Nachhaltigkeit. Unklar ist jedoch, wie verbreitet nachhaltige IT- und IS-Maßnahmen in der Praxis sind, mit welchem Ziel sie eingesetzt werden und wie ihre Wirkung gemessen wird. Um diese Fragen zu adressieren, haben wir eine Umfragestudie mit KMU in der deutschsprachigen DACH-Region durchgeführt. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Einblick in die Antworten von 1535 Unternehmen und zeigt, dass die Mehrheit die ökologische Nachhaltigkeit zwar als relevant betrachtet (70,8 %), aber nur wenige (23,7 %) Kennzahlen zur Untersuchung der Nachhaltigkeit ihres Unternehmens eingeführt haben. Ein noch geringerer Teil hat Green IT- (11,2 %) oder Green IS-Praktiken (9,4 %) eingeführt. Dies deutet auf Forschungsbedarf zur erfolgreichen Einführung und Nutzung von Green IT/IS in Unternehmen und ihrem positiven Beitrag für das Unternehmen und die Umwelt hin.
Rainfall and other meteorological factors as drivers of urban transmission of leptospirosis
Authors: Cunha Marcelo , Costa Federico , Ribeiro Guilherme S. , Carvalho Marilia S. , Reis Renato B. , Nery Jr Nivison , Pischel Lauren , Gouveia Edilane L. , Santos Andreia C. , Queiroz Adriano , Wunder Jr. Elsio A. , Reis Mitermayer G. , Diggle Peter J , Ko Albert I. 
Published: April 2022

Background
Leptospirosis is an important public health problem affecting vulnerable urban slum populations in developing country settings. However, the complex interaction of meteorological factors driving the temporal trends of leptospirosis remain incompletely understood.

Methods and findings
From March 1996—March 2010, we investigated the association between the weekly incidence of leptospirosis and meteorological anomalies in the city of Salvador, Brazil by using a dynamic generalized linear model that accounted for time lags, overall trend, and seasonal variation. Our model showed an increase of leptospirosis cases associated with higher than expected rainfall, lower than expected temperature and higher than expected humidity. There was a lag of one-to-two weeks between weekly values for significant meteorological variables and leptospirosis incidence. Independent of the season, a weekly cumulative rainfall anomaly of 20 mm increased the risk of leptospirosis by 12% compared to a week following the expected seasonal pattern. Finally, over the 14-year study period, the annual incidence of leptospirosis decreased significantly by a factor of 2.7 (8.3 versus 3.0 per 100,000 people), independently of variations in climate.

Conclusions
Strategies to control leptospirosis should focus on avoiding contact with contaminated sources of Leptospira as well as on increasing awareness in the population and health professionals within the short time window after low-level or extreme high-level rainfall events. Increased leptospirosis incidence was restricted to one-to-two weeks after those events suggesting that infectious Leptospira survival may be limited to short time intervals.
Tuberculosis infection and stillbirth in Ethiopia—A prospective cohort study
Authors: Walles John , Otero Laura García , Tesfaye Fregenet , Abera Asmamaw , Jansson Marianne , Balcha Taye Tolera , Sturegård Erik , Winqvist Niclas , Hansson Stefan R. , Björkman Per 
Published: April 2022

Background
Tuberculosis is among the leading causes of death among infectious diseases. Regions with a high incidence of tuberculosis, such as sub-Saharan Africa, are disproportionately burdened by stillbirth and other pregnancy complications. Active tuberculosis increases the risk of pregnancy complications, but the association between latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and pregnancy outcomes is unknown. We explored the effect of latent tuberculosis infection on the risk of stillbirth in women attending antenatal care clinics in Ethiopia, a country with >170 000 annual cases of active tuberculosis.

Method
Pregnant women were enrolled from antenatal care at three health facilities in Adama, Ethiopia, during 2015–2018, with assessment for previous and current active tuberculosis and testing for LTBI using QuantiFERON-TB-GOLD-PLUS. Proportions of stillbirth (≥ 20 weeks of gestation) and neonatal death (< 29 days of birth) were compared with respect to categories of maternal tuberculosis infection (tuberculosis-uninfected, LTBI, previous-, and current active tuberculosis). Multivariable logistic regression was performed for stillbirth.

Results
Among 1463 participants enrolled, the median age was 25 years, 10.2% were HIV-positive, 34.6% were primigravidae, and the median gestational age at inclusion was 18 weeks. Four (0.3%) were diagnosed with active tuberculosis during pregnancy, 68 (4.6%) reported previous treatment for active tuberculosis, 470 (32.1%) had LTBI, and 921 (63.0%) were tuberculosis-uninfected. Stillbirth was more frequent in participants with LTBI compared to tuberculosis-uninfected participants, although not reaching statistical significance (19/470, 4.0% vs 25/921, 2.7%, adjusted [for age, gravidity and HIV serostatus] odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 0.73–2.57, p = 0.30). Rates of neonatal death (5/470, 1.1% vs 10/921, 1.1%) were similar between these categories.

Conclusion
Latent tuberculosis infection was not significantly associated with stillbirth or neonatal death in this cohort. Studies based on larger cohorts and with details on causes of stillbirth, as well as other pregnancy outcomes, are needed to further investigate this issue.