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Candida nivariensis is emerging as a highly resistant species of the Candida glabrata complex causing invasive and mucocutaneous infections. In this study, three cases of vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by C. nivariensis are described and identified by Internal Transcribed Spacer 1–2 sequencing. All isolates were susceptible in vitro to anidulafungin, micafungin, caspofungin, 5-flucytosine, posaconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and showed dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole. In two patients, three doses of oral fluconazole were effective, while one patient developed clinical fluconazole resistance with a new relapse after 6 months. Increasing the weekly dose of fluconazole showed to be effective in this patient.

In order to scientifically and rationally assess the safety condition of coal mine production logistics system, this paper establishes a risk assessment model of coal mine production logistics system based on BWM-Vague set. On the basis of reviewing a large amount of literature and combining the main contributing factors of coal mine production safety accidents in practice, a relatively complete set of safety evaluation index system for coal mine production and logistics system was established, including 4 primary indexes of personnel safety, machine and equipment safety, environmental safety and management safety, and 16 secondary indexes such as the proportion of professional and technical personnel, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was applied to evaluate the index system. Firstly, the BWM assignment method is used to determine the weights of each index, after which Vague set theory is introduced and experts are invited to evaluate and score each index, and then the two are combined to determine the final comprehensive evaluation. Finally, the model was empirically tested in the context of a coal mine enterprise in Beijing, with a view to improving the safety of the production logistics system in coal mines.

A value chain integrated Structure Conduct Performance (SCP) framework applied in agribusiness products in general and fishery products, in particular, is of great significance in conceptualizing strategy design specifically to a value chain segment in a territory in terms of economic development. This study analysed the market structure and financial performance of each actor in the tuna value chain in three South Central provinces of Vietnam to provide an overview of the economic efficiency of the value chain. We interviewed 315 respondents, including shipowners, middle-persons, and processors, directly related to the tuna value chain in 2018. The market concentration of each actor was quantitatively determined by the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient. Actor's financial performance was calculated by costs and earnings models. The results showed that the market structure of middle-persons and processors tended to be monopolistic while shipowner's market structure tended to be in perfect competition. The processors received the highest return compared to other actors due to their highest value-added contribution and the most significant business scale. Several policy interventions were suggested to improve the economic efficiency of the value chain. Keywords: Market Structure, Market Concentration, Market Performance, Tuna Value Chain, Vietnam. JEL Classifications: M, Q, R DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.11911

This study purports to investigate the effect of image analysis technique on pore structure and performance of carbon anode. Methods: Through the introduction of image analysis methods, a fractal model is constructed to calculate and analyze the pores of carbon anodes, to understand the characteristics of their pore diameter distributions, and to explore the association rules between different aperture intervals and carbon anode resistivity based on gray theory. Results: The accuracy of research data on pore structure and performance of carbon anode is improved with the application of image analysis technique, which has certain application and popularization value.

Because wind power is intermittent, random and so on, large scale grid will directly affect the safe and stable operation of power grid. In order to make a quantitative study on the characteristics of the wind speed of wind turbine, the wind speed time series model of the multi wind turbine generator is constructed by using the mixed Copula-ARMA function in this paper, and a numerical example is also given. The research results show that the model can effectively predict the wind speed, ensure the efficient operation of the wind turbine, and provide theoretical basis for the stability of wind power grid connected operation.

Viral infections are major threats to human health (1,2). Because of the advent of high-throughout sequencing, researchers are identifying new viruses with an unprecedented speed (3), and continuous attempts at [...]

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at low levels in serum (<200 IU/mL) with a negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test. OBI remains a major challenge to blood safety, particularly in HBV-endemic regions like Cameroon, where HBV detection relies solely on HBsAg testing. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the actual incidence and genotype characteristics of OBI in Cameroonian blood donors. Methods: Between March and June 2023, samples were collected from 288 HBsAg-negative blood donors aged 18 to 55 years and analysed for antibodies against the HBV core (anti-HBc) and surface antigens (anti-HBs). Following DNA extraction from the serum samples, qualitative nested PCR and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect HBV viral DNA and viral load respectively. For positive samples, sequencing of a fragment of the S gene was performed to identify the circulating HBV genotypes. Results: The findings revealed that 58% (n = 167/288) of blood donors tested positive for anti-HBc, 29% (n = 83/288) tested positive for anti-HBs, and 26% (n = 75/288) being positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Occult hepatitis was confirmed in 4.5% of the blood donors, all of whom belonged to either HBV genotypes A or E, which are predominant in Cameroon. The amino acid substitution sA184V associated with HBsAg detection failure in genotype E was observed in 70% of OBI sequences, and the HBsAg immune escape variants (sT131N and sS143L) implicated in OBI were also observed. The mutation rtN139K in the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain of the overlapping HBV polymerase (P) gene was present in 17% of OBI-positive sequences of genotype E, likely contributing to masking HBsAg secretion. Conclusion: The results suggest a considerable risk of transfusion-transmitted HBV in this region. Therefore, to ensure blood safety, nucleic acid testing (NAT) is recommended, as relying solely on HBsAg assays is insufficient to eliminate this risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To predict recurring atrial fibrillation (AF) following radiofrequency catheter ablation by assessing the attributes of the left atrium and the left atrial (LA) appendage (LAA) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and speckle tracking imaging. Methods: The structural and functional indices of the LA and LAA of 80 patients with AF who underwent preoperative transthoracic echocardiography and TEE were measured. Recurrence was recorded postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months. The independent determinants of recurring AF were identified by logistic regression, and their optimum cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity were estimated from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The recurrent and nonrecurrent groups comprised 17 and 63 patients, respectively. The LA internal diameter, LA end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes, LAA length, diameter and area of the opening of the LAA, and LAA end‐diastolic volume were higher in the recurrent group. The LA strain in the reservoir phase, the ejection fraction and filling velocity of the LAA, the LAA emptying velocity (LAAeV), and the LAA strain (LAAS) reduced considerably. Multifactorial regression analyses demonstrated that the LAAeV and LAAS were independent determinants of recurring AF. ROC curve analysis revealed that the LAAeV and LAAS predicted postoperative recurrence at 34.5 cm/s (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.954, sensitivity: 94.1%, and specificity: 92.1%) and 11.61% (AUC: 0.925, sensitivity: 82.4%, and specificity: 95.2%), respectively, while the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the combined predictors (LAAeV + LAAS) were 0.978, 94.1%, and 93.7%, respectively. Conclusion: The LAAeV and LAAS independently influenced the postoperative recurrence of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]