Effects of Different Shelling Methods on Data Variability during Field Screening for Reduced Aflatoxin Contamination in Maize.

Non-genetic variation limits the identification of novel maize germplasm with genetic markers for reduced infection and aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin measurements can vary substantially within fields containing the same germplasm following inoculation with . While some variation is expected due to microenvironmental differences, components of field screening methodologies may also contribute to variability in collected data.

Identification of genetic loci associated with rough dwarf disease resistance in maize by integrating GWAS and linkage mapping.

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a viral disease that causes substantial yield loss, especially in China's summer planted maize area. Discovery of resistance genes would help in developing high-yielding resistant maize hybrids. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have advanced quickly and are now a powerful tool for dissecting complex genetic architectures.

Implementing a Novel Quality Improvement-Based Approach to Data Quality Monitoring and Enhancement in a Multipurpose Clinical Registry.

Objective: To implement a quality improvement based system to measure and improve data quality in an observational clinical registry to support a Learning Healthcare System.

Data Source: ImproveCareNow Network registry, which as of September 2019 contained data from 314,250 visits of 43,305 pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients at 109 participating care centers.

Study Design: The impact of data quality improvement support to care centers was evaluated using statistical process control methodology.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of toxigenic Fusarium temperatum in maize stalks and kernels.

Fusarium temperatum is an emerging maize pathogen that causes maize ear and stalk rot diseases and produces various mycotoxins including moniliformin, beauvericin, enniatins and fumonisin B1, which poses a potential risk to the human food or animal feed supply chains. Early detection of F. temperatum is crucial to prevent its derived mycotoxins from entering the food chain, and is also a useful tool in disease management practices.

Introgression of the gene into quality protein maize inbred lines using molecular markers.

Quality protein maize (QPM; L.) has effectively enhanced levels of the amino acids, lysine, and tryptophan, over normal maize and provided balanced dietary protein for the health and development of monogastric animals and humans. However, as in normal maize, QPM varieties are low in provitamin A (ProVA), a precursor of vitamin A, which can lead to vitamin A deficiency in humans when maize is a significant part of their diet.

Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries.

Consecutive outbreaks of acute aflatoxicosis in Kenya in 2004 and 2005 caused > 150 deaths. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization convened a workgroup of international experts and health officials in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2005. After discussions concerning what is known about aflatoxins, the workgroup identified gaps in current knowledge about acute and chronic human health effects of aflatoxins, surveillance and food monitoring, analytic methods, and the efficacy of intervention strategies.