The observation of striped patterns in a thin droplet of a smectic C phase (Sm C) deposited on a substrate with unidirectional anchoring has led us to the study of the geometry of lines of half-integral strength. A theoretical analysis of these observations, based on a covariant formalism of the elasticity of Sm C phases, and using an analogy with magnetic systems because of the presence of a Néel wall attached to disclinations, has enabled us to draw some conclusions about the relative orders of magnitude of four of the ten stiffness coefficients of the Sm C under study (D.O.B.C.P.)

MIC values for amphotericin B and three azoles determined by the EUCAST reference technique and by gradient concentration strips were compared for 30 Mucorales isolates belonging to clinically important species. Essential agreement (EA) within ±2 dilution steps at 24 hours between the techniques was 83.3% for isavuconazole. EAs for itraconazole, amphotericin B, and posaconazole were 86.7%, 73.3%, and 56.7%, respectively. A good agreement was obtained between visual and spectrophotometric readings for EUCAST.