14 research outputs found
Inconsistencies within the proposed framework for stabilizing fungal nomenclature risk further confusion
No full textSarah E. Kidd, Ferry Hagen, Catriona L. Halliday, Alireza Abdolrasouli, Teun Boekhout, Pedro W. Crous, David H. Ellis, Juliet Elvy, Graeme N. Forrest, Marizeth Groenewald, Rosane C. Hahn, Jos Houbraken, Anderson M. Rodrigues, James Scott, Tania C. Sorrell, Richard C. Summerbell, Clement K. M. Tsui, Andrey Yurkov, Sharon C.-A. Che
Rapid identification and detection of pathogenic Fungi by padlock probes
No full textFungi are important pathogens of human diseases, as well as to agricultural crop and trees. Molecular diagnostics can detect diseases early, and improve identification accuracy and follow-up disease management. The use of padlock probe is effective to facilitate these detections and pathogen identification quickly and accurately. In this chapter we describe three diagnostic assays that utilize padlock probes in combination with various technologies for the detection of pathogenic fungi
Rapid identification and detection of pathogenic Fungi by padlock probes
No full textFungi are important pathogens of human diseases, as well as to agricultural crop and trees. Molecular diagnostics can detect diseases early, and improve identification accuracy and follow-up disease management. The use of padlock probe is effective to facilitate these detections and pathogen identification quickly and accurately. In this chapter we describe three diagnostic assays that utilize padlock probes in combination with various technologies for the detection of pathogenic fungi
Social Impacts of Landslide Disasters with Special Reference to Sri Lanka
No full textDisaster call be explained as an occurrence disrupting the normal conditions of existence and, causing a level of suffering that exceeds the capacity of adjustment of the affected community. Any disaster event is tagged with tremendous impact to the society or community. Thus, Social Impacts of Landslides can be defined as "the consequences to human populations of any Landslide incident that alter the ways in which people live, work and spend their leisure time, relate to one another, organize to meet their needs and generally cope as members of society including changes 10 the cultural norms, values, and beliefs that guide and rationalize their cognition of themselves and their society ". Hence, any consequence caused as a result of a landslide, which eventually leads to alter the day to day life-styles, livelihood patterns, cultural integrity and social networks of affected family/s or a neighbourhood can be classified as a Social Impact. Scope of the Problem Of the 65,000 sq. kill of the land area of the island of Sri Lanka, nearly 12,000 kill spread over seven of its administrative districts are highly prone to landslides. Scientific studies have revealed that the frequency of landslides is on the increase particularly because of the unplanned intensive cultivation, nOI1 - engineered constructions, deforestation, neglect of land, and ever increasing human intervention. Although humans create and contribute to landslide events, they are also the sufferers of these dreadful events. This paper will focus on the Social Impacts of Landslide Disasters in Sri Lanka with special reference to May -2003 and January -2007 incidents in Matara and Nuwara Eliya Districts respectively. Objective of this paper is to explore the Social Impacts of Landslides with reference to Deaths, Displacement, Personnel & Social Insecurity, Health Issues, Issues of Women & Children, Psychological Reactions, Involuntary Resettlement, Legal Issues and Recovery & Reconstruction Needs. This paper includes information gathered and experiences gained from the research conducted among the May 2007 landslide affectedfamilies in the Deniyaya area of the Matara District and the field observations carried out among families that experienced similar disasters in mid January 2007 in Walapane and Hanguranketha areas of the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. A Questionnaire Survey was carried out among the affectedfamiliesjust one week after the May-2003 landslides in the Southern Sri Lanka. In the Research Methodology techniques such as field observations. recording of case studies. collection of spatial data and geographical coordinations of the affected areas using Global Positioning Systems (GPS - MLR - SP24) were also used in this research headed by the author of this paper. in collaboration with several members of the academic staff and about 70 under graduates of the Department of Geography of University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka. Field observations and informal interviews were conducted afew days after the January - 2007land5lide incidents in central Sri Lanka among the affected families and formal meetings were held with officials to collect information. Major Issues Addressed The population and social structures of the landslide affected areas were seriously affected mainly by the number of human deaths. During the period 1869 to 2003. there were about 178 reported landslides all over Sri Lanka. causing over 455 deaths. The impacts of landslides have worsened during the last 25 years and 85% of deaths have occurred during this period The worst ever landslide disasters in the history of Sri Lanka were reported in May-2003 with 188 deaths and 139. 000 displaced. Further, the landslides of January - 2007 in Sri Lanka have claimed 21 lives while over 4.200 have been displaced. In the past 25 years from 1982 to 2007 landslides have killed 403 persons and affected over 150.000 families while around 28 billion rupees (US$ 28 million) had been incurred on relief and reconstruction efforts. Landslide disasters in May-2003 were solely accountable for 96% of the above expenditure. Conclusion Social impacts of landslide disasters in Sri Lanka are immense and the effects more pronounced during the last 25 years. Thus landslide mitigation strategies that harmonize with the natural environment need to be implemented vigilantly in landslide prone areas
Fine-scale genetic diversity and relatedness in fungi associated with the mountain pine beetle
No full textThe mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902) forms beneficial symbiotic associations with
fungi. Here we explored the fine-scale spatial genetic structure of three of those fungi using single nucleotide polymorphism. We found that single mated pairs of beetles carry not only multiple fungal species, but also multiple genotypes of each species into their galleries. We observed genetic diversity at a fine spatial scale. Most of the diversity was found within and among galleries with nonsignificant diversity among trees. We observed clonal propagation almost exclusively within galleries. Ophiostoma montium (Rumbold) Arx possessed a larger expected number of multilocus genotypes and lower linkage disequilibrium than Grosmannia clavigera (Rob.-Jeffr. & R.W. Davidson) Zipfel, Z.W. de Beer & M.J. Wingf. and Leptographium longiclavatum S.W. Lee, J.J. Kim & C. Breuil. More than 80% of fungal samples were genetically unrelated, a result that parallels what has been observed in the beetles. The proportion of genetically related samples within galleries was higher in O. montium (40%) than in G. clavigera (20%) or L. longiclavatum (6%), likely the consequence of within-gallery sexual recombination in O. montium. The underlying genetic diversity reported here and the differences among fungal species could enable the symbiont community to quickly respond to new environmental conditions or changes in the host, enhancing the maintenance of this multipartite relationship and allowing the MPB to colonize new habitats
Behind the Audit Report: A Descriptive Study of Discussions and Negotiations Between Auditors and Directors
No full textThis paper presents direct evidence concerning the extent, nature, and outcome of interactions between the two primary parties in the auditor-client relationship - finance directors (FDs) and audit engagement partners (AEPs). A questionnaire instrument is used to elicit the frequency with which, over a three year period, an extensive set of 46 audit and audit-related issues is discussed, is negotiated, and results in a change to either the accounting numbers or disclosures. Three hundred FDs and 307 AEPs of listed UK companies are surveyed, with response rates of 51% and 80%, respectively. Principal findings are that: (i) compliance issues dominate discussions, while accounting and fee issues dominate negotiations; (ii) audit committees generally reduce the level of negotiation and increase the level of discussion, suggesting that the overall degree of confrontation declines; and (iii) in the majority of cases (57%), negotiation results in a change to the financial statements, providing evidence of the auditor's influence on the financial statements
Molecular techniques for pathogen identification and fungus detection in the environment
No full textMany species of fungi can cause disease in plants, animals and humans. Accurate and robust detection and quantification of fungi is essential for diagnosis, modeling and surveillance. Also direct detection of fungi enables a deeper understanding of natural microbial communities, particularly as a great many fungi are difficult or impossible to cultivate. In the last decade, effective amplification platforms, probe development and various quantitative PCR technologies have revolutionized research on fungal detection and identification. Examples of the latest technology in fungal detection and differentiation are discussed here
Intraspecific Diversity and Taxonomy of Emmonsia crescens
No full textContains fulltext :
229620.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Emmonsia crescens is known as an environmental pathogen causing adiaspiromycosis in small rodents. As the generic name Emmonsia is no longer available for this species, its taxonomic position is re-evaluated. The intraspecific variation of Emmonsia crescens was analyzed using molecular, morphological, and physiological data, and the relationship between frequency of adiaspiromycosis and body temperature of host animals was explored. A North American and a pan-global lineage could be discerned, each with subclusters at low genetic distance. European strains produced the classical type of very large adiaspores, while in the North American lineage adiaspores relatively small, resembling the broad-based budding cells of Blastomyces. Members of the closely related genus Emergomyces may exhibit large, broad-based in addition to small, narrow-based budding cells. We conclude that the morphology of the pathogenic phase in these fungi differs gradationally between species and even populations, and is therefore less suitable as a diagnostic criterion for generic delimitation. Two Emmonsia species are reclassified in Emergomyces
Molecular techniques for pathogen identification and fungus detection in the Environment
No full textMany species of fungi can cause disease in plants, animals and humans. Accurate and robust detection and quantification of fungi is essential for diagnosis, modeling and surveillance. Also direct detection of fungi enables a deeper understanding of natural microbial communities, particularly as a great many fungi are difficult or impossible to cultivate. In the last decade, effective amplification platforms, probe development and various quantitative PCR technologies have revolutionized research on fungal detection and identification. Examples of the latest technology in fungal detection and differentiation are discussed her
