The introduction of treatment and systematic vaccination has significantly reduced diphtheria mortality; however, toxigenic strains continue to circulate worldwide. The emergence of an indigenous diphtheria case with fatal outcome in Greece, after 30 years, raised challenges for laboratory confirmation, clinical and public health management. Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae was isolated from an incompletely vaccinated 8-year-old boy with underlying conditions. The child passed away due to respiratory distress syndrome, before the administration of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT). All close contacts in family, school and hospital settings were investigated. Pharyngeal swabs were obtained to determine asymptomatic carriage. Chemoprophylaxis was given for 7 days to all close contacts and a booster dose to those incompletely vaccinated. Testing revealed a classmate, belonging to a subpopulation group (Roma), and incompletely vaccinated, as an asymptomatic carrier with an indistinguishable toxigenic strain (same novel multilocus sequence type, designated ST698). This case highlights the role of asymptomatic carriage, as the entry of toxigenic strains into susceptible populations can put individuals and their environment at risk. Maintenance of high-level epidemiological and microbiological surveillance, implementation of systematic vaccination in children and adults with primary and booster doses, availability of a DAT stockpile, and allowing timely administration are the cornerstone to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Centipedegrass is a warm-season turf grass that has increased in popularity in recent years. However, more information is needed on the use of herbicides during centipedegrass establishment from seed, particularly in seed and sod production systems. The intent of this study was to evaluate turf-grass injury and weed control when atrazine, imazapic, imazethapyr, and simazine are applied immediately after seeding centipedegrass. Atrazine and simazine (applied at 1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 kg ai/ ha) injured centipedegrass less than 15% at 5 wk after treatment (WAT) in 2001. Imazethapyr and imazapic (applied at 0.04, 0.07, and 0.1 kg ai/ha) injured centipedegrass between 7 and 13%, 5 WAT, in 2001 and from 30 to 77% in 2002. Herbicide and application rate also affected centipedegrass cover. At 3 WAT, cover decreased with all herbicides as application rate increased. At 12 WAT in both years, centipedegrass cover increased as atrazine application rate increased and imazethapyr application rate decreased. Imazapic and simazine were less consistent, causing increases in cover one year and decreases, or no change, the next. Imazapic controlled Texas panicum 80 to 89% and was more effective than any other herbicide. Atrazine and simazine controlled crowfootgrass better than any other herbicide. Imazethapyr often injured centipedegrass and failed to control weeds. Atrazine effectively controlled grass and broadleaf weeds with minimal centipedegrass injury. Imazethapyr and imazapic were too injurious to permit usage during centipedegrass establishment from seed.

Small broomrape is an annual, parasitic weed that was discovered recently in Oregon's red clover seed production system. Field experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at two locations to evaluate 10 herbicide treatments applied after small broomrape emergence in red clover. Bentazon, bromoxynil, glyphosate, imazamox, imazamox plus bentazon, imazethapyr, MCPA, and pendimethalin were evaluated. Small broomrape density, small broomrape seed viability after treatment, and clover injury and seed yield were quantified. Small broomrape control with imazamox, glyphosate, and imazamox plus bentazon treatments was greater than the nontreated check in both years. However, imazamox and imazamox plus bentazon treatments were the only herbicide treatments that consistently exhibited a high level of crop safety, reduced small broomrape density, and did not reduce red clover yield. Herbicide treatments did not prevent production of viable small broomrape seeds. Future research is needed to develop control options that will prevent red clover yield loss and viable small broomrape seed production when applied before small broomrape emergence.

Coapplication of herbicides and insecticides affords growers an opportunity to control multiple pests with one application, given that efficacy is not compromised. Glufosinate was applied at 470 g ai/ha both alone and in combination with the insecticides acephate, acetamiprid, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, dicrotophos, emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, methoxyfenozide, spinosad, or thiamethoxam to determine coapplication effects on control of some of the more common and/or troublesome broadleaf weeds infesting cotton. Hemp sesbania, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, redroot pigweed, and sicklepod were treated at the three- to four- or the seven- to eight-leaf growth stage. When applied at the earlier application timing, glufosinate applied alone provided complete control at 14 d after treatment, and control was unaffected by coapplication with insecticides. When glufosinate application was delayed to the later application timing, visual weed control was unaffected by insecticide coapplication. Fresh-weight reduction from the herbicide applied to larger weeds was negatively impacted by addition of the insecticides dicrotophos and imidacloprid with respect to redroot pigweed and prickly sida, but only in one of two experiments. In most cases, delaying application of glufosinate to larger weeds resulted in reduced control compared to that from a three- to four-leaf application, with the extent of reduction varying by species. Results indicate that when applied according to the herbicide label (three- to four-leaf stage), glufosinate/ insecticide coapplications offer producers the ability to integrate pest management strategies and to limit application costs without sacrificing control of the broadleaf weeds evaluated.

Small broomrape is an annual holoparasitic weed that was recently discovered in red clover production fields in Oregon. Imidazolinone herbicides such as imazamox control small broomrape; however, the mechanism of uptake by the parasite is largely unknown. Studies were conducted to determine the imazamox route of uptake by small broomrape in red clover, and to determine the potential for imazamox to be exuded from red clover and the subsequent effect on small broomrape. Small broomrape control was best at 90% when imazamox was foliar-applied, and worst at 42% or less when imazamox was soil-applied. The presence of activated charcoal to adsorb imazamox at the soil surface did not affect efficacy of broadcast foliar treatment. Small broomrape control was also evaluated when a foliar-treated red clover plant was grown in the same pot as a nontreated, parasitized red clover plant that was bagged during herbicide application. Activated charcoal was spread on the soil surface to adsorb imazamox, thus limiting herbicide uptake routes to the foliage of one of two red clover plants in the pot. Small broomrape attachment decreased on nontreated red clover when the other red clover plant in the pot was treated, suggesting roots exuded the herbicide or an active metabolite.

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia), hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata), and pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa) seed production and viability in early-maturing soybean (Glycine max) were evaluated following preharvest desiccation. The herbicide combinations 1.1 kg ai/ha glyphosate plus 6.7 kg ai/ha sodium chlorate, 2.2 kg/ha glyphosate plus 3.4 kg/ha sodium chlorate, and 0.3 kg ai/ha paraquat plus 6.7 kg/ha sodium chlorate reduced sicklepod germination, emergence, and seedling growth in most cases. Oxyfluorfen at 0.3 kg ai/ha plus 3.4 or 6.7 kg/ha sodium chlorate also reduced sicklepod germination and growth. Glufosinate from 0.8 to 1.4 kg ai/ha reduced sicklepod germination but did not have a consistent effect on other seedling growth parameters. Bromoxynil at 1.1 kg ai/ha plus 3.4 kg/ha sodium chlorate reduced sicklepod germination but did not have a consistent effect on most growth parameters. A wide range of treatments reduced hemp sesbania germination, emergence, and growth to very low levels. All desiccant applications reduced pitted morningglory seed production compared to the untreated check. Glyphosate at 1.1 kg/ha plus 6.7 kg/ha sodium chlorate, 0.3 kg/ha oxyfluorfen plus 3.4 kg/ha sodium chlorate, and 0.8 or 1.1 kg/ha glufosinate reduced pitted morningglory seed production and desiccated weeds effectively. Most treatments reduced emergence in 1996, when seeds were smaller and less mature than those collected in 1995. When application volume of paraquat alone or in tank mixture decreased, germination and growth of sicklepod was reduced, indicating increased paraquat efficacy.

Absorption and translocation of nicosulfuron and dicamba applied alone and combined was studied in 25-cm-high hemp dogbane originating from lateral roots that had overwintered. Absorption of 14C-nicosulfuron by hemp dogbane was not affected by applications of 70 g ai/ha unlabeled dicamba. Upward translocation of 14C-nicosulfuron in hemp dogbane was 86% greater 6 d after treatment (DAT) when dicamba was tank mixed with nicosulfuron, compared to nicosulfuron applied alone. Combinations of nicosulfuron plus dicamba increased translocation of nicosulfuron to hemp dogbane crown and roots 237 and 130%, 1 and 6 DAT, respectively, compared to nicosulfuron applied alone. Absorption of 14C-dicamba by hemp dogbane was not affected by the addition of 31 g ai/ha nicosulfuron. Upward translocation of dicamba in hemp dogbane was 42% greater 6 DAT for nicosulfuron plus dicamba compared to dicamba applied alone. Increased hemp dogbane control with nicosulfuron plus dicamba compared to either herbicide applied alone can be explained by enhanced translocation of both herbicides.

Differential response of wild carrot to 2,4-D was found in seeds collected from 10 locations in Michigan, three in Ohio, one in Illinois, and one in Ontario, Canada. Greenhouse studies were conducted on plants grown from the collected seeds to confirm resistance of wild carrot to 2,4-D, and to study variations among and within populations. The differential response of wild carrot to 2,4-D in field research was due to resistant individuals. Among the 14 locations, wild carrot control with 2,4-D ranged from 18 to 91%. Wild carrot varied in its response to 2,4-D among and within populations as well as within individual umbels. In 69% of the tested samples, at least one wild carrot plant was resistant to 2,4-D.

Volunteer corn in soybean can reduce yields, interfere with harvest, and cause unacceptable levels of contamination by its presence in the harvested soybean. In Ontario, soybean frequently follow corn in rotation. The use of glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean varieties has increased dramatically in Ontario. Field studies were conducted at two locations in southwestern Ontario to determine whether quizalofop-p-ethyl, clethodim, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl can be tank mixed with glyphosate to provide effective control of volunteer glyphosate-resistant corn in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Soybean plots were overseeded with glyphosate-resistant corn and treatments consisting of glyphosate applied alone and tank mixed with full and reduced rates of each graminicide with and without a recommended surfactant. Tank mixing the graminicides and adjuvants with glyphosate did not affect glyphosate weed control or crop tolerance. Use of a recommended adjuvant significantly improved the effectiveness of the graminicides, particularly when reduced rates were applied. Quizalofop-p-ethyl was the most effective graminicide for controlling glyphosate-resistant volunteer corn, followed by clethodim and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl.

Field trials were conducted in 1998 and 1999 to determine the influence of harvest-aids on dry bean desiccation, seed yield, and quality. Light Red Kidney and Great Northern dry beans were pulled from the soil and placed on the soil surface to dry or treated with glufosinate at 440 g ai/ha, with glyphosate at 840 g ae/ha, or with paraquat at 560 g ai/ha at three stages during the maturation process. Dry bean seed weight and seed yield were reduced by all harvest-aid treatments applied when only 5 to 7% of the seedpods were yellow. Herbicides did not affect dry bean seed yield, weight, or germination if treatments were delayed until 77 to 85% of the seedpods had turned yellow. Application of harvest-aids at early stages of the maturation process enhanced desiccation of dry bean plants, pods, and seeds, but reduced yield. Herbicides applied at later stages of the maturation process avoided seed yield reductions, but were not as effective in desiccating plants. Therefore, applying glufosinate, glyphosate, or paraquat to reduce the time from dry bean maturation to harvest may not be beneficial when the crop is grown on the high plains of the United States.

Field experiments were conducted during 1998, 1999, and 2000 in Santa Fe, Argentina, to evaluate chlorimuron, clethodim, flumetsulam, 2,4-DB, glyphosate, and haloxyfop for control of broadleaf and grass weeds in established alfalfa. Herbicides were applied to alfalfa, 6 to 10 cm in height, after first or second cuttings. Clethodim and haloxyfop were highly effective against bermudagrass, barnyardgrass, and knotroot foxtail, and alfalfa yields were increased. 2,4-DB was effective against Scotch thistle, swinecress, turnipweed, and birdsrape mustard, but no effects were observed on alfalfa yields. Chlorimuron, flumetsulam, and glyphosate were effective against burning nettle, common chickweed, common lambsquarters, spiny cocklebur, and Persian speedwell, but they injured alfalfa and decreased yields.

Field experiments were carried out during 1997 and 1998 in northern Greece to investigate the effects of tank mixing rimsulfuron and primisulfuron with atrazine or dicamba against johnsongrass in corn. Sequential applications, where the johnsongrass herbicides were applied 5 d after the broadleaf herbicides, were also evaluated. Rimsulfuron applied alone at 10 g ai/ha gave very good control (91%) of johnsongrass, which was significantly higher than that provided by 30 g ai/ha of primisulfuron (43%). Rimsulfuron applied in tank mixture with atrazine (1.0 kg ai/ha) or dicamba (0.28 kg ai/ha) gave 12 and 17% lower johnsongrass control, respectively, than of rimsulfuron applied alone, whereas the corresponding reduction for primisulfuron was 18 and 43%. Efficacy of rimsulfuron applied 5 d after the application of atrazine or dicamba was similar to that applied alone; however, this was not the case for primisulfuron, where reduced antagonism was observed compared to that produced by its tank mixture treatments. Again, primisulfuron was affected more by dicamba than by atrazine. Corn yield with rimsulfuron and primisulfuron applied alone was more than double that of the untreated control and similar to that of the weed-free control. Also, rimsulfuron applied with atrazine or dicamba (in tank mixture or sequentially) produced similar corn yield to that applied alone. However, primisulfuron applied in tank mixture or sequentially with dicamba gave 22 and 14% lower yield, respectively, than when applied alone, and slightly lower when applied with atrazine.

Field experiments were conducted in Greece during 1997, 1998, and 1999 to study the efficacy of various preemergence and postemergence herbicides against red rice. Tolerance of rice seeded 15 and 6 d after preemergence and postemergence herbicide application was also examined. Control of red rice with alachlor, dimethenamid, metolachlor, or acetochlor applied preemergence was 92, 84, 92, and 92%, respectively. The corresponding control with postemergence applications of paraquat, glyphosate, glufosinate, or quizalofop-ethyl to emerged red rice seedlings was 92, 89, 81, and 100%, respectively. None of the herbicides had any phytotoxic effect on rice cultivars planted after the herbicide application, and grain yield produced in treated plots was higher than that in untreated plots. These results clearly showed that red rice can be effectively controlled by applying the previously mentioned preemergence or postemergence herbicides and that rice could be safely seeded 15 and 6 d after treatment, respectively.

A study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate response of seven rice cultivars to V-10029 applied at 20 and 40 g ai/ha to two- to three- or four- to five-leaf rice. Differential response of the rice cultivars to V-10029 was observed. Medium-grain ‘Earl’ was less tolerant to V-10029, as reflected by increased injury, shorter plants, and fewer plants at 7 d after late postemergence treatment and shorter plants and lower grain yield at harvest, when compared with nontreated Earl. Growth of medium-grain ‘Bengal’ was initially inhibited by V-10029; however, plant height at harvest and rice grain yield of Bengal were not affected. All long-grain cultivars exhibited tolerance to V-10029, both initially and at harvest. The results indicate that rice cultivars vary in tolerance to V-10029.

The present study investigated everyday numerical abilities in a group of 21 patients affected by mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). Though patients did not differ from a control group in standard laboratory tests tapping transcoding, number comparison, simple calculation, and estimation, they showed significant difficulties in numerical tasks embedded in an everyday context, such as handling money, a bus schedule, or a television program. Patients' difficulties were attributed to those multiple cognitive demands which are inherent to real situations as compared to well-structured abstract paper-and-pencil tasks. Overall, the study suggests that the examination of numerical abilities in DAT patients should go beyond abstract paper-and-pencil tasks which can only partially reflect the actual numerical skills in DAT and should therefore include also tasks simulating everyday life situations. Assessment of everyday numerical skills may be crucial in planning adequate support for patients, for example in handling money, but also in designing targeted training programs. (JINS, 2003, 9, 871–878.)