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Raman spectroscopy has already proved to be a powerful tool for studying the properties of single graphene layers. It is now shown that this technique can also provide information on the interaction between graphene sheets in multilayered graphene structures. In particular, a Raman peak corresponding to the interlayer shear mode, and probably linked to the interlayer coupling, is unveiled. The quest for materials capable of realizing the next generation of electronic and photonic devices continues to fuel research on the electronic, optical and vibrational properties of graphene. Few-layer graphene (FLG) flakes with less than ten layers each show a distinctive band structure. Thus, there is an increasing interest in the physics and applications of FLGs. Raman spectroscopy is one of the most useful and versatile tools to probe graphene samples. Here, we uncover the interlayer shear mode of FLGs, ranging from bilayer graphene (BLG) to bulk graphite, and suggest that the corresponding Raman peak measures the interlayer coupling. This peak scales from ~43 cm −1 in bulk graphite to ~31 cm −1 in BLG. Its low energy makes it sensitive to near-Dirac point quasiparticles. Similar shear modes are expected in all layered materials, providing a direct probe of interlayer interactions.

Purpose We report on first evidence of simultaneous occurrence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) neuroinvasive infection in humans in Croatia during the transmission season 2013. Methods From June to December 2013, a total of 95 patients with clinically suspected WNV infection (WNV fever and neuroinvasive disease) were tested for WNV IgM/IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty-six reactive samples were further tested by virus neutralization test for confirmation. Results WNV neuroinvasive infection was confirmed in 20 patients, while in three patients USUV neutralizing antibodies were detected. Cases occurred during the 11-week interval (from 24 July to 07 October 2013). Both WNV and USUV cases were distributed in three north-western Croatian counties. In addition to human cases, recent asymptomatic WNV infection (detection of IgM antibodies) was recorded in 9/3,460 (0.3 %) tested sentinel horses. Infected animals were recorded in two eastern and one north-western county. Conclusions Our results indicate co-circulation of WNV and USUV in Croatia. WNV infection could be misdiagnosed with other emerging infectious diseases presenting with neurological symptoms such as USUV infection.

Purpose of review Vivity is a new class of extended range of focus IOL, and it is growing in terms of its use both in Europe and the USA. It is a new IOL using new technology and there is a paucity of peer-reviewed literature on this new IOL. The authors wanted to write a paper explaining the technology and sharing their experience and perspectives to provide new users with a better understanding and insights. Recent findings We review the current publications in the literature and provide our own collective experience and perspective as users of the Vivity IOL. A total of 30% of recipients of the Vivity IOL could read when emmetropia was achieved in both eyes while a much greater proportion could read up close (phones, books) with a modest amount of defocus in the near vision eye. Summary Our findings to date suggest that this IOL is indeed in a new category with a significant improvement in range of focus but with the same photic phenomena as a monofocal IOL.

This study reports the monitoring of several emerging viral pathogens in Mauritania, which was carried out by the analysis of bovine and camel samples taken at the slaughterhouse of Nouakchott. Blood and serum were collected by random sampling from 159 camels and 118 cattle in March 2013 at the large animals abattoir in Nouakchott. Serological tests for Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), West Nile disease (WND), epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) and African horse sickness (AHS) were carried out using commercial ELISA kits. The samples, which resulted positives for PPR, WND and AHS, were tested with the confirmatory virus neutralization test (VNT). According to ELISA results, serological prevalence of RVF was 45% (95% CI 52.3–37.7) in camels and 16% (95% CI 22.6–9.4) in cattle. The difference between the observed prevalences in camels and in cattle was significant (p value ≤ 0.01). PPR was absent in camels and had 12% prevalence (95% CI, 17.86–6.14) in cattle. Furthermore, camels showed 92% (95% CI, 96.1–87.9) prevalence of WNV, 73% (95% CI, 82.3–63.64) of EHD and 3% (95% CI, 5.6–0.4) of AHS. This data are of relevance since provided useful feedbacks on the circulation of the pathogens in field. Moreover, this survey provided new information on the susceptibility of camels to several emerging pathogens and on the possible use of this species as sentinel animal.

Antenna-pattern measurements obtained from a double-metal supra-terahertz-frequency (supra-THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) are presented. The QCL is mounted within a mechanically micro-machined waveguide cavity containing dual diagonal feedhorns. Operating in continuous-wave mode at 3.5 THz, and at an ambient temperature of ~60 K, QCL emission has been directed via the feedhorns to a supra-THz detector mounted on a multi-axis linear scanner. Comparison of simulated and measured far-field antenna patterns shows an excellent degree of correlation between beamwidth (full-width-half-maximum) and sidelobe content and a very substantial improvement when compared with unmounted devices. Additionally, a single output has been used to successfully illuminate and demonstrate an optical breadboard arrangement associated with a future supra-THz Earth observation space-borne payload. Our novel device has therefore provided a valuable demonstration of the effectiveness of supra-THz diagonal feedhorns and QCL devices for future space-borne ultra-high-frequency Earth-observing heterodyne radiometers.

West Nile virus (WNV) circulation dynamics in the context of the urban environment is not yet elucidated. In this perspective, three groups of eight rock pigeons (Columbia livia) were inoculated with three WNV lineage 1 strains isolated in Italy between 2009 and 2012. The pigeons did not develop any clinical signs consistent with WNV acute infection. All animals seroconverted and shed virus up to 15 days post-infection by the oral or cloacal routes. In all infected groups viraemia lasted for 4 days post-infection. No WNV-specific gross or histological lesions were found in infected birds compared to control birds and immunohistochemistry remained constantly negative from all tissues. The reservoir competence index was also assessed and it ranged between 0·11 and 0·14. This study demonstrates that pigeons are competent reservoir hosts for Italian WNV lineage 1 circulating strains thus potentially posing a risk to the public health system.

Human Norovirus has been reported as the major non-bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis due to the consumption of contaminated bivalve mollusks. The European legislation established microbiological criteria only for bacteria (Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli), while no viruses have still been considered. In this study, samples of Chamelea gallina were harvested along the Central Adriatic coasts (Italy) and artificially contaminated with Murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) up to a final concentration of 103TCID50/ml in water. They were subject to a depuration process in a closed-circuit system using both ozone and ultraviolet light. Four experimental trials (100 specimens/trial) were performed and, at the end of depuration, the digestive glands of mollusks were examined by means of two methods –namely, RT-PCR and tissue culture. The results of RT-PCR ranged from 103.17 to 104.60 TCID50/ml, and the constant presence of MNV-1 was confirmed by the tissue culture as well. In conclusion, no significant viral reduction was obtained, but the contaminated bivalve mollusks remained infectious until the end of the depuration treatment. The proper cooking of live bivalve mollusks could be considered the most important preventive measure against this sanitary risk.

West Nile virus (WNV) strains belonging to lineage 2 were detected and isolated from the tissues of a goshawk and two carrion crows in Sardinia in August 2012. According to NS3 sequence analysis, the Sardinian isolates shared a high level of similarity with those of Italian lineage 2 strains which circulated in 2011 and with the homologous sequence of the 2004 Hungarian isolate. Following the human fatality reported in 2011 in Olbia, this study is the first to report the spread and enzootic circulation of WNV lineage 2 in Sardinia.

Purpose To assess whether pupil dilation influences retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measurements provided by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in healthy individuals. Patients and Methods In this observational case series, carried out in a private clinical practice, 32 eyes of 32 participants were investigated. Using Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) three individual 200 × 200 cube optic disc scans were obtained before and after pupil dilation. The RNFL thickness was the outcome measure. Coefficient of variation (COV) and test–retest variability were calculated. Results Pupil size did not influence RNFL thickness measurements: mean values did not change in any sector (except the 9 o’clock hour) after dilation. Excellent repeatability was achieved both before and after mydriasis. In the former condition, COV ranged between 1.37% (for average RNFL) and 4.46% (for clock hour 2 RNFL) and test–retest variability between 2.17 (for temporal quadrant RNFL) and 9.18  μ m (for clock hour 6 RNFL). In the latter condition, COV ranged between 1.36% (for average RNFL) and 4.48% (for clock hour 2 RNFL) and test–retest variability between 2.41 (for average RNFL) and 9.29  μ m (for clock hour 6 RNFL). The repeatability was higher than that previously reported for time-domain OCT. Conclusion In eyes with clear media highly repeatable measurements of the RNFL thickness can be obtained by SD-OCT both before and after mydriasis.

NIKA (New IRAM KID Arrays) is a dual-band imaging instrument installed at the IRAM (Institut de RadioAstronomie Millimetrique) 30-meter telescope at Pico Veleta (Spain). Two distinct Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID) focal planes allow the camera to simultaneous image a field-of-view of about 2 arc-min in the bands 125 to 175 GHz (150 GHz) and 200 to 280 GHz (240 GHz). The sensitivity and stability achieved during the last commissioning Run in June 2013 allows opening the instrument to general observers. We report here the latest results, in particular in terms of sensitivity, now comparable to the state-of-the-art Transition Edge Sensors (TES) bolometers, relative and absolute photometry. We describe briefly the next generation NIKA-2 instrument, selected by IRAM to occupy, from 2015, the continuum imager/polarimeter slot at the 30-m telescope.