BACKGROUND Skin abscesses are a frequent encountered health care problem and lead to a significant source of morbidity. They consequently have an essential impact on the quality of life and work. To date, the type of aftercare for surgically drained abscesses remains under debate. This leads to undesirable practice variations. Many clinical standard protocols include sterile wound dressings twi...

Background: Ultrasound is preferred as first imaging modality in the study of the female pelvis. In this article, we have tried to mention 8 points that each midwife or nurse needs to know for planning the time of sonography and analysis of findings. Results: During the menstrual cycle, all pelvic organs are influenced by cyclic changes. Thus, pathologic conditions of pelvis need to be well ass...

BACKGROUND Build-up of earwax is a common reason for attendance in primary care. Current practice for earwax removal generally involves the use of a softening agent, followed by irrigation of the ear if required. However, the safety and benefits of the different methods of removal are not known for certain. OBJECTIVES To conduct evidence synthesis of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effect...

Plant metabolic activity in arid and semi-arid environments is largely tied to episodic precipitation events or ‘‘pulses’’. The ability of plants to take up and utilize rain pulses during the growing season in these water-limited ecosystems is determined in part by pulse timing, intensity and amount, and by hydrological properties of the soil that translate precipitation into plant-available so...

Use of dairy manure to supply crop nutrients is gaining broader acceptance as the cost of fertilizer rises. However, there are concerns regarding manure's effect on water quality. In 2003 and 2004, we measured sediment, NO3-N, NH4-N, K, dissolved reactive P (DRP), and total P (TP) concentrations in runoff from furrow irrigated field plots (6-7 irrigations yr(-1)) cropped to corn (Zea mays L.) i...

This paper presents the need, value, and concept of flexible irrigation water supply systems that can deliver water with flexibility in frequency, rate, and duration under the control of the farmer at the point of application using a limited rate arranged-demand or other schedule. It introduces the needed terminology including "congestion"-how much reserve time and capacity is required to assur...

The potential farm-level gains from improvements in a tertiary canal vary among farmers according to their location along the canal. An economic model describing that variation is developed using the concept of irrigation success, which considers the degree to which water volume and quality, and the timing of irrigation events match the requirements of plants throughout a season. A bid-rent mod...

Improving water efficiency in irrigated agriculture is a priority for better environmental and economic performance. It can be achieved by reducing the amount of water used and optimizing the timing of application. Among numerous methods, hybrid biophysical/decisional simulation models are effective tools for evaluating and comparing irrigation strategies under different weather conditions. How...

A simulation model was developed to estimate the effect of deficit irrigation upon crop yield. The model was designed to provide relative yield estimates for numerous combinations of irrigation system, crop growth and irrigation management parameters. A daily soil moisture balance was used to predict evaporation and transpiration from which crop yields were estimated. Gross irrigation water req...