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Paper is the ideal substrate for the development of flexible and environmentally sustainable ubiquitous electronic systems, which, combined with two-dimensional materials, could be exploited in many Internet-of-Things applications, ranging from wearable electronics to smart packaging. Here we report high-performance MoS 2 field-effect transistors on paper fabricated with a “channel array” approach, combining the advantages of two large-area techniques: chemical vapor deposition and inkjet-printing. The first allows the pre-deposition of a pattern of MoS 2 ; the second, the printing of dielectric layers, contacts, and connections to complete transistors and circuits fabrication. Average I ON /I OFF of 8 × 10 3 (up to 5 × 10 4 ) and mobility of 5.5 cm 2 V −1 s −1 (up to 26 cm 2 V −1 s −1 ) are obtained. Fully functional integrated circuits of digital and analog building blocks, such as logic gates and current mirrors, are demonstrated, highlighting the potential of this approach for ubiquitous electronics on paper. Paper is a promising substrate for flexible and environmentally sustainable electronic devices. Here, the authors combine chemical vapor deposition of MoS 2 with inkjet printing of a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) dielectric and silver electrodes, to fabricate flexible MoS 2 field-effect transistors on paper, and then combine the latter with printed graphene resistors and silver interconnects to create inverters, logic gates and current mirrors.

Different stressful conditions such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, pH changes, or reduced vascularization, potentially able to act as growth-limiting factors for tumor cells, activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is therefore involved in tumor growth and adaptation to severe environments and is generally cytoprotective in cancer. The present review describes the molecular mechanisms underlying UPR and able to promote survival and proliferation in cancer. The critical role of UPR activation in tumor growth promotion is discussed in detail for a few paradigmatic tumors such as prostate cancer and melanoma.

The mosquito-transmitted Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a global health threat, with no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines currently available. Here, we report the discovery of a series of ZIKV NS3 protease inhibitors identified through phenotypic high-throughput screening (HTS) using a ZIKV replicon-based cellular assay, and the subsequent selection of resistant mutants. These inhibitors, characterized by the presence of an N -acylsydnone imine group, bind to a previously undescribed allosteric pocket of the protease, locking the enzyme into a catalytically inactive conformation. We describe the characterization of IRBM-Z-1, our initial allosteric hit and IRBM-Z-2, a potent inhibitor of ZIKV infectivity and other orthoflavivirus proteases with a favourable in vitro and in vivo ADME profile, resulting in oral efficacy against ZIKV infection in mouse models, with potential as a prophylactic agent for human use. The authors describe the discovery of a series of potent non-competitive allosteric inhibitors of the ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease, which exhibit antiviral activity in vitro and robust oral efficacy against ZIKV infections in a mouse model.

Fluctuations in body weight may impact cognitive decline, but current evidence is inconclusive. The aim of this study is to investigate associations between body weight trajectories from midlife to later life and cognitive decline. This retrospective study analyzed harmonized data from two population-based longitudinal studies, the Progetto Veneto Anziani and the Italian Longitudinal Study of Aging, encompassing baseline and two follow-up assessments over 9 years. Weight changes were recorded from baseline to the last available follow-up or from 50 years (self-reported data) to the last available follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and cognitive decline was defined as experiencing a MMSE change from baseline to the follow-up within the lowest quartile of the change distribution in the total sample. In a sample of 3852 individuals (46% females, age 65–96 years at baseline), we investigated the impact of weight change on cognitive decline with two sets of analyses. First, using weight measurements obtained during old age, growth mixture modelling identified three weight trajectories: decreasing, stable, and increasing. None of these trajectories was significantly associated with cognitive decline. Second, we considered weight at age 50 as the baseline assessment to capture weight changes from midlife. Among the three trajectories detected (increasing, stable, and decreasing), the decreasing trajectory was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive decline in males (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.06–1.94) and females (HR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.23–1.67), whereas the increasing trajectory was associated with cognitive decline only in females (HR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.01–1.76). These results suggest that changes in body weight from middle to older age are associated with cognitive decline in advanced age. Since body weight is influenced by multiple factors, a broader assessment of health—including metabolic, vascular, behavioral, and social dimensions—should be considered in both research and clinical settings.

In reproductive-aged women, a vaginal microbiota dominated by several Lactobacillus species is crucial for maintaining vaginal health. Among the various factors affecting the composition of the vaginal ecosystem, the impact of dietary habits has rarely been explored. Thus, in this cross-sectional study, we assessed the role of macronutrient intake on the vaginal microbiota in a cohort of 113 young women, independently from potential confounders. For each subject, we characterized (i) the vaginal bacterial community-state type (CST) by 16S rRNA gene profiling, (ii) the vagina lmetabolic profile by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and (iii) the energy, nutrient and alcohol intake through a validated food frequency questionnaire. We found that the increase in animal protein intake, mainly derived from red and processed meat, was positively associated with the dysbiotic condition of CST IV and, similarly, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with the levels of Gardnerella spp. and Ureaplasma spp. On the other hand, we noticed a beneficial effect of a-linolenic acid, with its increase inversely associated with CST III, dominated by the 'less-protective' species Lactobacillus iners. Moreover, linolenic acid was related to the abundance of Lactobacillus crispatus, in turn related tovarious vaginal metabolites such as 4-hydroxyphenyllactate and several amino acids. Total carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, total fiber, and starch were negatively correlated with Gardnerella spp. We highlighted that specific dietary habits (i.e., reduced consumption of alcohol and animal proteins, higher intake of linolenic acid) can have a beneficial impact on the vaginal environment, through the maintenance of a microbiota mainly dominated by 'protective' Lactobacillus species.

The vaginal microbiota (VMB), predominantly shaped by species, plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal health and preventing infections. However, its delicate balance is increasingly challenged by the widespread use of antibiotics and the consequent rise in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). While the VMB has been recognized as a potential reservoir for ARGs, limited research has explored how microbial composition, antibiotic exposure, and individual behavioral factors converge to shape the vaginal resistome. In this cross-sectional study, vaginal swabs were collected from 105 reproductive-age Caucasian women. The VMB composition was characterized and classified into Community State Types (CSTs), by sequencing the hypervariable V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. In order to highlight common patterns of abundance among taxa, a co-abundance groups (CAGs) analysis was performed. We assessed the distribution of 14 ARGs conferring resistance to macrolides, tetracyclines, beta-lactams, and quinolones along with two associated transposons by means of PCR. An overall composite ARGs score was also calculated. Participants completed detailed questionnaires assessing demographics and behavioral factors, with a particular focus on both health- and antibiotic-related behaviors. Statistical analyses examined associations between ARG prevalence, vaginal microbiome composition and relevant exposures. CSTs I and III were the most prevalent, with the most frequently detected ARGs being , , , ), and , each present in over 65% of participants. ARG presence was positively correlated with a higher vaginal microbiome alpha-diversity. Moreover, BV-associated bacterial taxa showed strong associations with ARGs, while species generally exhibited negative correlations. Smoking, a higher body mass index (BMI), presence of spp. and a history of antibiotic use were significantly associated with increased ARG prevalence, whereas oral contraceptive use and higher diet quality scores were negatively associated. Correlating together the relative abundances of the microbial CAGs and the presence/absence of specific ARGs, we found a positive association between several genes related to macrolide and tetracycline resistance and the - CAG. Additionally, the - , and the CAGs were positively correlated to the total ARG score, whereas the CAG was negatively correlated. These findings underscore the role of the VMB as a dynamic reservoir of ARGs and highlight the influence of individual lifestyle and antibiotic-related behaviors on ARG dissemination in the vaginal niche. This supports the need for integrated public health strategies that combine antibiotic stewardship with targeted lifestyle and behavioral interventions, as well as the development of individualized therapeutic approaches.

An article in Science Robotics presents a micro air vehicle able to navigate obstacles with high speed and bird-like agility.

Complementary electronics has represented the corner stone of the digital era, and silicon technology has enabled this accomplishment. At the dawn of the flexible and wearable electronics age, the seek for new materials enabling the integration of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology on flexible substrates, finds in low-dimensional materials (either 1D or 2D) extraordinary candidates. Here, we show that the main building blocks for digital electronics can be obtained by exploiting 2D materials like molybdenum disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride and 1D materials such as carbon nanotubes through the inkjet-printing technique. In particular, we show that the proposed approach enables the fabrication of logic gates and a basic sequential network on a flexible substrate such as paper, with a performance already comparable with mainstream organic technology.

An article presented at the 2024 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting describes a single-chip image sensor with simultaneous colour and ranging information capabilities.

An article in Nature Electronics presents a headset with customizable real-time sound bubbles that adapt to user needs.