BACKGROUND Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) for combat wounds is controversial. Current military practice favors its use, despite scant supporting evidence. OBJECTIVE To analyze outcomes of combat casualties returned to duty after initial wound care for penetrating trauma, comparing infection rates based on whether SAP was administered and whether wounds were irrigated. SETTING Forward...

Many water management problems have arisen in past Asian irrigation projects. They have been characterized as a vicious cycle involving the lack of maintenance, poor irrigation service, low rates of fee collection, inadequate institutional arrangements, and lack of user participation. This article argues that we have generally agreed on a strategy to address these problems and asks whether or n...

Saline irrigation has been shown to be both experimentally and clinically efficacious in decreasing bacterial contamination as well as decreasing infection rates. The dynamics of irrigation delivery fall into two primary categories: simultaneous and intermittent irrigation. An important component to irrigation therapy is distribution of irrigation solution to hard-to-reach areas of a wound bed,...

Conversion of wastewater to reclaimed water for crop irrigation conserves water and is an effective way to handle a growing urban problem: the disposal of wastewater. Water Conserv II is a large reclaimed water project developed by Orlando and Orange County, Fla., that presently irrigates ≈1900 ha of citrus. The project includes a research component to evaluate the response of citrus to irrigat...

The sustainability of the Hetao Irrigation System, located in the water scarce upper Yellow River basin, is a priority considering the need for water saving, increased water productivity, and higher farmers’ incomes. The upgrading of basin irrigation, the main irrigation method, is essential and includes the adoption of precise land levelling, cut-off management, improved water distribution uni...

Growing on rooting media other than soils in situ -i.e., substrate-based growing- allows for higher yields than soil-based growing as transport rates of water, nutrients, and oxygen in substrate surpass those in soil. Possibly water-based growing allows for even higher yields as transport rates of water and nutrients in water surpass those in substrate, even though the transport of oxygen may b...

Plastic film mulching (PM) is widely utilized for maize production in China. However, the effect of PM on the grain yield of crops has not been established, and the biochemical mechanism underlying the increase or decrease in grain yield under PM is not yet understood. Grain filling markedly affects the grain yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PM on maize grain...