Pitfalls in QCA's consistency measure

Over the years, Qualitative Comparative Analysis developed into a widely-used analytical technique in political science. This article, however, reveals that the consistency measure, QCA's single most important parameter of fit, is significantly flawed. Contrary to the requirements that were set forth when this measure was introduced, inconsistent cases with small membership scores exert greater bearing on the consistency score than inconsistent cases with large membership scores. In consequence, the measure does not accurately express the degree to which empirical evidence supports statements of sufficiency and necessity. After revealing this flaw, the article introduces a new formula for calculating consistency, which more accurately assesses the evidence for sufficiency and/or necessity. Subsequently, it demonstrates how the standard consistency measures leads to the misinterpretation of empirical evidence by reanalysing two recent QCA-application

Amphibian chytridiomycosis : a review with focus on fungus-host interactions

Amphibian declines and extinctions are emblematic for the current sixth mass extinction event. Infectious drivers of these declines include the recently emerged fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Chytridiomycota). The skin disease caused by these fungi is named chytridiomycosis and affects the vital function of amphibian skin. Not all amphibians respond equally to infection and host responses might range from resistant, over tolerant to susceptible. The clinical outcome of infection is highly dependent on the amphibian host, the fungal virulence and environmental determinants. B. dendrobatidis infects the skin of a large range of anurans, urodeles and caecilians, whereas to date the host range of B. salamandrivorans seems limited to urodeles. So far, the epidemic of B. dendrobatidis is mainly limited to Australian, neotropical, South European and West American amphibians, while for B. salamandrivorans it is limited to European salamanders. Other striking differences between both fungi include gross pathology and thermal preferences. With this review we aim to provide the reader with a state-of-the art of host-pathogen interactions for both fungi, in which new data pertaining to the interaction of B. dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans with the host's skin are integrated. Furthermore, we pinpoint areas in which more detailed studies are necessary or which have not received the attention they merit

Role of sialic acid in brachyspira hyodysenteriae adhesion to pig colonic mucins

Infection with Brachyspira hyodysenteriae results in mucoid hemorrhagic diarrhea. This pathogen is associated with the colonic mucus layer, mainly composed of mucins. Infection regulates mucin O-glycosylation in the colon and increases mucin secretion as well as B. hyodysenteriae binding sites on mucins. Here, we analyzed potential mucin epitopes for B. hyodysenteriae adhesion in the colon, as well as the effect of colonic mucins on bacterial growth. Associations between B. hyodysenteriae binding to pig colonic mucins and mucin glycan data showed that B. hyodysenteriae binding was associated with the presence of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) on mucins. The role of sialic acid in B. hyodysenteriae adhesion was analyzed after the removal of sialic acid residues on the mucins by enzymatic treatment with sialidase A, which decreased bacterial binding to the mucins. The effect of pig colonic mucins on B. hyodysenteriae growth was determined in carbohydrate-free medium. B. hyodysenteriae growth increased in the presence of mucins from two out of five infected pigs, suggesting utilization of mucins as a carbon source for growth. Additionally, bacterial growth was enhanced by free sialic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. The results highlight a role of sialic acid as an adhesion epitope for B. hyodysenteriae interaction with colonic mucins. Furthermore, the mucin response and glycosylation changes exerted in the colon during B. hyodysenteriae infection result in a potentially favorable environment for pathogen growth in the intestinal mucus layer

Great Effort, Some Concern. How Making Effort to Acquire Information Influences Managerial Reporting

I investigate if managers’ tendency to report opportunistically depends on the effort they expend in acquiring the information they need to report. I develop and test theory positing that expending effort to acquire information can justify opportunistic behavior but also enhances a sense of responsibility discouraging unethical actions. I predict that the dominant effect depends on whether the reporting environment induces sufficient concerns for honesty. In my 2 × 2 experiment, managers are either endowed with information to report or required to expend intellectual effort to earn it. I also manipulate whether concerns about honesty are triggered by framing reporting in terms of profit allocation or an ethical dilemma. I find that when honesty is not triggered, managers report earned information more opportunistically than endowed information. However, when the reporting context triggers honesty concerns, the negative effect of earned information on opportunistic reporting is alleviated. These results have strong implications for theory and practice by showing the conditions under which acquiring information detrimentally affects reporting behavior

Prolonged environmental persistence requires efficient disinfection procedures to control Devriesea agamarum associated disease in lizards

Aims: Devriesea agamarum infection causes chronic proliferative dermatitis, especially in desert dwelling lizards. The present study was concerned with evaluating persistency of D. agamarum in the environment and the evaluation of the efficacy of various disinfection procedures. Methods and Results: First, the survival of D. agamarum was assessed both in dermal crusts obtained from clinically and naturally infected lizards, and during periods of prolonged nutrient starvation on dry surface, in moist sand and in distilled water. Secondly, a modified European Suspension Test was performed to determine the efficacy of eight procedures for the disinfection of equipment, environmental surfaces and the topical treatment of D. agamarum-associated dermal lesions. The bacterium proved to persist and remain viable for up to 57 days in dermal crusts and for more than 5 months in moist sand and distilled water. In contrast, survival on dry surfaces was limited. The results of the described dilution-neutralization method demonstrated that most of the tested disinfection procedures were sufficient in achieving a 5-decimal logarithmic reduction in the number of D. agamarum colony-forming units. The use of relatively low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and a boric and peracetic acid solution on the other hand resulted in insufficient reduction in viable counts. Conclusions: Devriesea agamarum can persist for long periods of time in the environment, especially under moist conditions, making the use of suitable disinfection procedures necessary. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates the need for a dry environment for most desert lizards and the use of effective disinfection procedures next to antimicrobial treatment to eliminate D. agamarum-associated disease from captive saurian collections