Schistosomiasis has been subjected to extensive control efforts in the People's Republic of China (China) which aims to eliminate the disease by 2030. We describe baseline results of a longitudinal cohort study undertaken in the Dongting and Poyang lakes areas of central China designed to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum in humans, animals (goats and bovines) and Oncomelania snails utilizing molecular diagnostics procedures. Data from the Chinese National Schistosomiasis Control Programme (CNSCP) were compared with the molecular results obtained.

Sixteen villages from Hunan and Jiangxi provinces were surveyed; animals were only found in Hunan. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in humans was 1.8% in Jiangxi and 8.0% in Hunan determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while 18.3% of animals were positive by digital droplet PCR. The CNSCP data indicated that all villages harboured S. japonicum-infected individuals, detected serologically by indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA), but very few, if any, of these were subsequently positive by Kato-Katz (KK).

Based on the outcome of the IHA and KK results, the CNSCP incorporates targeted human praziquantel chemotherapy but this approach can miss some infections as evidenced by the results reported here. Sensitive molecular diagnostics can play a key role in the elimination of schistosomiasis in China and inform control measures allowing for a more systematic approach to treatment.

On March 28, 2019, less than two weeks after the Christchurch, New Zealand massacre, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2462. It stands as a signal of the United Nations' continued recognition of the critical importance of finance in combatting and countering global terrorism. Unfortunately, it may also be an indication that states are not doing what they have been urged to do in previous resolutions. The text of 2462 and its preamble are riddled with language like “Reminding,” “Reaffirming,” “Encouraging,” and “Noting with Concern,” rather than with language and ideas that break new ground.

Radiocarbon (14C) wiggle-match dating is a technique with a substantial potential to improve the precision of dating timbers in situations where dendrochronology is not tenable. However, one of the key reasons why obtaining a dendrochronological determination might be difficult is the short-lived nature of timbers on a range of archaeological sites, something that also affects the efficiency of the wiggle-match dating technique. Combined with the potential for high expense that the technique presents, it is paramount that wiggle-match dating research design has a good empirical basis. To this end we dated 50 consecutive, individual rings from a timber that grew during the Hallstatt radiocarbon calibration plateau (ca. 750–400 cal BC) in southwest Scotland. The results indicate that (1) the precision and accuracy of wiggle-match dates carried out on short-lived sequences during the Hallstatt plateau may suffer due to insufficient resolution of the calibration data, (2) sampling time-frames roughly equivalent to the underpinning calibration data are recommended (for the period in question this means decadal blocks), and (3) short-lived sequences are at risk of losing accuracy if the actual past trend of radiocarbon diverges from the mean of the radiocarbon calibration curve.

Building Management Systems and Home Automation are, at present, active areas of research and development. One of the unsolved problems within this field is that of Occupant Location within a premises. Computer vision systems are, as yet, too expensive and still not entirely adequate to monitor occupation from every room in a building. The use of existing movement sensors is a cost effective solution but has the disadvantages of not detecting people who are stationary for some time, or giving any indication of how many people are in a room.

This paper addresses the problem of using the collaborative sum of these simple movement sensors in a temporal reasoning scheme to deduce room occupation.

Schistosomiasis in China has been substantially reduced due to an effective control programme employing various measures including bovine and human chemotherapy, and the removal of bovines from endemic areas. To fulfil elimination targets, it will be necessary to identify other possible reservoir hosts for Schistosoma japonicum and include them in future control efforts. This study determined the infection prevalence of S. japonicum in rodents (0–9·21%), dogs (0–18·37%) and goats (6·9–46·4%) from the Dongting Lake area of Hunan province, using a combination of traditional coproparasitological techniques (miracidial hatching technique and Kato-Katz thick smear technique) and molecular methods [quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)]. We found a much higher prevalence in goats than previously recorded in this setting. Cattle and water buffalo were also examined using the same procedures and all were found to be infected, emphasising the occurrence of active transmission. qPCR and ddPCR were much more sensitive than the coproparasitological procedures with both KK and MHT considerably underestimating the true prevalence in all animals surveyed. The high level of S. japonicum prevalence in goats indicates that they are likely important reservoirs in schistosomiasis transmission, necessitating their inclusion as targets of control, if the goal of elimination is to be achieved in China.

Field studies were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to explore interactions among DPX-V9360 herbicide applied postemergence, terbufos insecticide applied as an in-furrow treatment, and the environment. Field corn (‘Pioneer 3751’) and sweet corn (‘Jubilee’) were planted with and without an in-furrow application of terbufos. DPX-V9360 was applied postemergence when the corn was in the 4- to 6-leaf stage at 0, 35, 70, 140, and 280 g ai ha-1 with nonionic surfactant and 28% N fertilizer solution. Crop response to DPX-V9360 was similar at all three locations, varying only in magnitude of injury. Crop injury was greater with Jubilee sweet corn than with Pioneer 3751 field corn. Injury to both hybrids increased as DPX-V9360 application rate increased. Application of terbufos increased injury from DPX-V9360 to both hybrids. Significant yield reduction did not occur with either hybrid when DPX-V9360 was applied at rates of 140 g ha-1 or less and no terbufos was applied.

Field experiments were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in 1990 to explore interactions between nicosulfuron applied POST and terbufos insecticide at 0.06 or 0.11 g ai/m of row applied in-furrow on ‘Pioneer 3751’ field corn and ‘Jubilee’ sweet corn. Nicosulfuron at 0, 70, and 140 g ai/ha plus nonionic surfactant and 28% nitrogen fertilizer was applied to both corn types. Field corn response to nicosulfuron and terbufos was similar at all locations, whereas sweet corn injury varied with location. Nicosulfuron injured field corn more when applied at the four-leaf than the three-leaf stage. Injury to both corn types increased as nicosulfuron rate increased or when applied following terbufos. Nicosulfuron at 140 g/ha without terbufos did not reduce yield of either corn type; however, corn previously treated in-furrow with terbufos reduced yield.

Sweet corn tolerance to nicosulfuron as affected by interactions between nicosulfuron applied postemergence (POST), sweet corn hybrid, and rootworm insecticide applied at planting was determined in 1992 and 1993 field experiments. Sweet corn vigor was reduced as nicosulfuron rate increased from 35 to 140 g ai/ha. Sweet corn vigor was reduced 4% more by nicosulfuron with oil emulsifier mixture than nicosulfuron with non-ionic surfactant one week after treatment (WAT). Adjuvant selection did not influence nicosulfuron injury to sweet corn 2 WAT. Nicosulfuron applied postemergence directed (PDIR) caused less sweet corn injury than nicosulfuron applied broadcast POST. ‘Jubilee’ sweet corn was more sensitive to nicosulfuron and insecticide treatments than ‘Excellency’ or ‘Green Giant 40.’ Nicosulfuron reduced sweet corn vigor twice as much when terbufos was applied at planting compared to no insecticide at planting. Neither chlorpyrifos or chlorethoxyfos at planting increased sweet corn injury due to nicosulfuron compared to no insecticide. Excellency and Green Giant 40 yields were not reduced by any treatment. Yields were reduced only when nicosulfuron was applied to Jubilee treated with terbufos. Jubilee yield reduction from nicosulfuron and terbufos was prevented by applying nicosulfuron PDIR.

Field experiments were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to evaluate injurious interactions between nicosulfuron herbicide applied POST and nine insecticides applied at planting on ‘Pioneer 3751’ field corn in 1991. Insecticides were applied in-furrow, T-band, and surface band at planting. Corn injury from nicosulfuron and terbufos applications was more severe in Wisconsin than in Michigan. No corn injury was observed in Minnesota. Terbufos 15% ai granule (15G) or 20% ai controlled release granule (20CR) increased nicosulfuron injury to corn in Wisconsin. Nicosulfuron at 35 g ai/ha caused the greatest vigor reduction following terbufos 15G, intermediate vigor reduction following terbufos 20CR, phorate 20G, or phorate 20CR, and the least vigor reduction following fonofos, chlorpyrifos, chlorethoxyfos, tefluthrin, or carbofuran in Wisconsin.

The current World Health Organization strategic plan targets the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2025 and accurate diagnostics will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. DNA-based detection methods provide a viable alternative to some of the commonly used tests, notably microscopy and serology, for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The detection of parasite cell-free DNA in different clinical samples is a recent valuable advance, which provides significant benefits for accurate disease diagnosis. Here we validated a novel duplex droplet digital PCR assay for the diagnosis of Chinese (SjC) and Philippine (SjP) strains of Schistosoma japonicum infection in a mouse model. The assay proved applicable for both SjC and SjP infections and capable of detecting infection at a very early intra-mammalian stage in conveniently obtainable samples (urine and saliva) as well as in serum and feces. The target DNA copy numbers obtained in the assay showed a positive correlation with the infection burden assessed by direct traditional parasitology. The potential to detect parasite DNA in urine and saliva has important practical implications for large-scale epidemiological screening programmes in the future, particularly in terms of logistical convenience, and the assay has the potential to be a valuable additional tool for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica.

A field experiment was conducted between 1988 and 1993 to determine the number of wild-proso millet seed that could be returned to the soil without increasing future soil seed bank populations. The first seed bank (1988) was 15,300 seed m−2 and ranged from 14,000 to 21,000 seed m−2, which represented a high seed population for the area. Seed rain treatments of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48% of the 1988 soil seed bank were returned each fall. By 1993, more than 90% of the original millet seed bank had been depleted for all treatments. It was estimated that 77% of the seed rain and 68% of the spring seed bank were lost each year. As a result, wild-proso millet must produce approximately three times the seed in the soil to maintain a constant seed bank population.

The effect of nicosulfuron application timing on wild-proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) control and sweet corn (Zea mays) yield was evaluated in the field during 1991, 1992, and 1993. Sweet corn yields were equal to hand weeded controls when nicosulfuron was applied to wild-proso millet shorter than 9 cm, but the best (> 95%) wild-proso millet control occurred when nicosulfuron was applied to wild-proso millet plants between 11 and 19 cm tall. However, nicosulfuron controlled wild-proso millet 90 to 95%, 13 wk after planting, when nicosulfuron was applied to plants 8 to 10 cm tall. Nicosulfuron applications made to wild-proso millet plants less than 8 cm were made early in the season and failed to control subsequent wild-proso millet flushes. Additionally, nicosulfuron failed to control completely wild-proso millet plants larger than 20 cm. Consequently, nicosulfuron applied to wild-proso millet plants shorter than 8 cm or taller than 20 cm resulted in a rapid decline in wild-proso millet control 13 wk after planting. Nicosulfuron applied following 6.7 kg ai/ha EPTC plus 2.2 kg ai/ha cyanazine PPI in 1991, could be applied to wild-proso millet 25 cm tall without subsequent losses in wild-proso millet control or sweet corn yield. Wild-proso millet control was 93% and sweet corn yields were equal to hand-weeded controls when nicosulfuron was applied to wild-proso millet 4 cm tall and followed by one cultivation 14 d after application.

Field studies were conducted at 35 sites throughout the north-central United States in 1998 and 1999 to determine the effect of postemergence glyphosate application timing on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-resistant corn. Glyphosate was applied at various timings based on the height of the most dominant weed species. Weed control and corn grain yields were considerably more variable when glyphosate was applied only once. The most effective and consistent season-long annual grass and broadleaf weed control occurred when a single glyphosate application was delayed until weeds were 15 cm or taller. Two glyphosate applications provided more consistent weed control when weeds were 10 cm tall or less and higher corn grain yields when weeds were 5 cm tall or less, compared with a single application. Weed control averaged at least 94 and 97% across all sites in 1998 and 1999, respectively, with two glyphosate applications but was occasionally less than 70% because of late emergence of annual grass and Amaranthus spp. or reduced control of Ipomoea spp. With a single application of glyphosate, corn grain yield was most often reduced when the application was delayed until weeds were 23 cm or taller. Averaged across all sites in 1998 and 1999, corn grain yields from a single glyphosate application at the 5-, 10-, 15-, 23-, and 30-cm timings were 93, 94, 93, 91, and 79% of the weed-free control, respectively. There was a significant effect of herbicide treatment on corn grain yield in 23 of the 35 sites when weed reinfestation was prevented with a second glyphosate application. When weed reinfestation was prevented, corn grain yield at the 5-, 10-, and 15-cm application timings was 101, 97, and 93% of the weed-free control, respectively, averaged across all sites. Results of this study suggested that the optimum timing for initial glyphosate application to avoid corn grain yield loss was when weeds were less than 10 cm in height, no more than 23 d after corn planting, and when corn growth was not more advanced than the V4 stage.

Field experiments were conducted across the north-central United States to determine the benefits of various weed control strategies in corn. Weed control, corn yield, and economic return increased when a preemergence (PRE) broad-spectrum herbicide was followed by (fb) postemergence (POST) herbicides. Weed control decisions based on field scouting after a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application increased weed control and economic return. Application of a PRE grass herbicide fb a POST herbicide based on field scouting resulted in less control of velvetleaf and morningglory species, corn yield, and economic return compared with a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application fb scouting. Cultivation after a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application increased weed control and corn yield compared with the herbicide applied alone, but economic return was not increased. An early-postemergence herbicide application fb cultivation resulted in the highest level of broadleaf weed control, the highest corn yield, and the greatest economic return compared with all other strategies. Weed control based on scouting proved to be useful in reducing the effect of weed escapes on corn yield and increased economic return compared with PRE herbicide application alone. However, economic return was not greater than the PRE fb planned POST or total POST strategies.