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Coatings based on hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphates have a significant relevance in several research fields, such as biomaterials, cultural heritage, and water treatment, due to their characteristic properties. Hydroxyapatite can easily accommodate foreign ions, which can either be incorporated into the lattice, thanks to its specific lattice characteristics, or be adsorbed onto its surface. All these substitutions significantly alter the morphology, lattice parameters, and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite so they influence its main properties. These ion substitutions can be sought or can derive from substrate contaminations, which is an important aspect to be evaluated. Finally, this capability can be used to obtain hydroxyapatites with specific properties, such as antibacterial characteristics, among others. For these reasons, the aim of this Special Issue is to document current advances in the field of ion-substituted hydroxyapatites and highlight possible future perspectives regarding their use. Contributions in the form of original articles and review articles are presented, covering different areas of application.

calcium phosphates --- ion-substituted apatites --- bone regeneration --- plasma-assisted deposition --- solubility --- crystallinity --- composition --- lithium-doped hydroxyapatite coatings --- renewable resources for implant coatings --- pulsed laser deposition --- biocompatibility --- inhibition of microbial biofilms development --- zinc --- hydroxyapatite --- ultrasound measurement --- sol–gel spin coating --- layers --- C. albicans --- S. aureus --- calcium phosphate --- magnesium phosphate --- struvite --- dolomite --- consolidating treatment --- cultural heritage --- ammonium phosphate --- marble --- calcite --- dissolution --- electrodeposition --- protective coatings --- acid attack --- potential --- current --- RF magnetron sputtering --- GLAD --- carbonated hydroxyapatite --- nanomaterials --- coatings --- cave painting --- inorganic consolidant --- ethyl silicate --- TEOS --- non-thermal plasma --- wettability --- bone --- allograft --- autograft --- xenograft --- ion-substituted calcium phosphates --- nanostructured coatings

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In the last two decades, due to the continuous increase of lifespans in Westernsocieties, and the consequent growing of the elderly population, have witnessedan increase in the number of studies on biological and molecular factors able topromote healthy aging and reach longevity. The study of the genetic componentof human longevity demonstrated that it accounts for 25% of intra populationphenotype variance. The efforts made to characterize the genetic determinantssuggested that the maintenance of cellular integrity, inflammation, oxidativestress response, DNA repair, as well as the use of nutrients, represent the mostimportant pathways correlated with a longer lifespan. However, although aplethora of variants were indicated to be associated with human longevity, onlyvery few were successfully replicated in different populations, probably becauseof population specificity, missing heritability as well as a complex interactionamong genetic factors with lifestyle and cultural factors, which modulate theindividual chance of living longer. Thus, many challenges remain to be addressedin the search for the genetic components of human longevity. This Special Issue isaimed to unify the progress in the analysis of the genetic determinants of humanlongevity, to take stock of the situation and point to future directions of the field.We invite submissions for reviews, research articles, short-communicationsdealing with genetic association studies in human longevity, including all types ofgenetic variation, as well as the characterization of longevity-related genes.

unknown zygosity --- exceptional longevity --- TERC --- xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes --- lifespan --- gender-specific association --- long-livers --- polymorphism --- cumulative incidence curves --- cardiovascular health --- twins --- genetic determinants of human longevity --- TERT --- SNP --- moonlighting protein --- longevity --- genomics --- APOE --- polygenic risk score --- signal transduction --- xenobiotics --- survival --- IPMK --- genetic variation --- genetic association study --- molecular senescence --- zygosity --- longevity-related genes --- age-stratification --- lipid profile --- mortality --- apolipoprotein E --- aging --- model systems --- leukocyte telomere length --- inositol phosphates --- human lifespan --- populations

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Ion-sensitive membrane-based sensors and ionic processes in bio-membranes are the focus of this book. The chapters are carefully chosen to characterize essential research trends, applications, and perspectives. They include solid contact ion-selective and reference electrodes and their electroanalytical behavior in zero and nonzero-current modes, planar and miniaturized multielectrode platforms, ion monitoring in extreme sports, and transmembrane transport through living endothelial cells to find the volume. This book is crowned by the consideration of a yet unexplored ion status in a mitochondrial matrix

potentiometry --- reference electrode --- solid contact --- heterogenous membranes --- polymer membranes --- ion transport --- water transport --- epithelium --- cystic fibrosis --- mitochondrion --- calcium carbonates --- calcium phosphates --- calcium polyphosphates --- ATP production --- hypoxia --- ischemia --- pre-conditioning --- ion selective electrodes --- wearable sensors --- solid-contact materials --- response mechanism --- anhydrous and hydrous ruthenium dioxide --- porous microstructure --- high capacity --- stable measuring signal --- chemically modified electrodes --- membrane-coated voltammetric sensors --- antidepressant and immunosuppressant drugs --- detection limit --- resolution --- ion-selective membranes --- components leakage --- incorporation --- all-solid-state sensors --- n/a

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Biomaterials—the materials used for the manufacturing of medical devices— are part of everyday life. Each one of us has likely had the experience of visting a dentist’s office, where a number of biomaterials are used temporarily or permanently in the mouth. Devices that are more complex are used for to support, heal, or replace living tissues or organs in the body that are suffering or compromised by different conditions. The materials used in their construction are metals and metallic alloys, polymers—ranging from elastomers to adhesives—and ceramics.Within these three cases, there are materials that are inert in the living environment, that perform an active function, or that are dissolved and resorbed by the metabolic pathways. Biomaterials are the outcome of a dynamic field of research that is driven by a growing demand and by the competition among the manufacturers of medical devices, with innovations improving the performance of existing devices and that contribute to the development of new ones. The collection of papers forming this volume have one particular class of of biomaterial in common, ceramic (bioceramic) composites, which as so far been used in applications such as orthopaedic joint replacement as well as in dental implants and restorations and that is being intensively investigated for bone regeneration applications. Today’s bioceramic composites (alumina–zirconia) are the golden standard in joint replacements. Several manufracturers have proposed different zirconia–alumina composites for use in hip, knee, and shoulder joint replacements, with several other innovative devices also being under study. In addition, bioceramic composites with innovative compositions are under development and will be on the market in years to come. Something that is especially interesting is the application of bioceramic composites in the regeneration of bone tissues. Research has devoted special attention to the doping of well-known materials (i.e., calcium phosphates and silicates) with bioactive ions, aiming to enhance the osteogenic ability and bioresorbability of man-made grafts. Moreover, high expectations rely on hybrid biopolymer/ceramic materials that mimic the complex composition and multiscale structure of bone tissue.

biomaterials --- bone grafts --- bone repair --- dental implants --- scaffolds --- alumina --- zirconia --- Alumina-Toughened Zirconia --- Zirconia-Toughened Alumina --- hip arthroplasty --- calcium phosphates --- hydroxyapatite --- bone cements --- bioactive composites --- bone regeneration --- zirconia–alumina composite --- stabilizing oxides --- critical grain size --- tetragonality --- mechanical properties --- fracture toughness --- flexural strength --- ceramic additive manufacturing --- DLP --- bioceramics --- calcium phosphate --- carbon fibers --- mineralization --- zirconia-toughened alumina --- phase transformation --- Raman spectroscopy --- calcium-based biomineralization --- hydroxyapatite nanoparticles --- biomimicry --- multifunctional materials --- Freeze Foam --- hybrid bone --- biocompatibility --- bone replacement --- transformation toughening --- platelet reinforcement --- hip --- alumina matrix composite --- AMC --- hip prosthesis --- prosthesis --- case series --- ceramic-on-ceramic --- n/a --- zirconia-alumina composite

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The articles published in this Special Issue reprint offer a sound update of research fields where the concepts of modular crystallography are important and provide unique keys to understand and to solve problems of structural crystallography. Polytypism, polysomatism, and twinning are fertile fields of research, and their basic principles—often coupled with the OD (order-disorder) theory—are powerful tools to solve and classify related crystal structures. Research on twinning and its consequences on structure and properties of crystalline materials is cutting-edge, e.g., dealing with relations between twin walls and piezoelectricity.

tetrahedrite --- tennantite --- twinning --- order–disorder approach --- tetrahedral framework --- modular structures --- polysomes (series) --- synthetic analogues of minerals --- transition metal phosphates --- X-ray diffraction --- antiferromagnets --- frustrated magnets --- kagomé lattice --- chemical ordering --- superstructure --- spryite --- argyrodite-type compounds --- ultra-low temperature --- RE-silicate-germanate --- hydrothermal synthesis --- layered silicates --- modular approach --- wollastonite chain --- topology-symmetry analysis --- OD theory --- structure prediction --- luminescence properties --- twin wall --- twin boundary --- minerals --- emerging properties --- piezoelectricity in minerals --- surface relaxations --- anorthite --- Pamierite --- perovskite --- OD structures --- polytypism --- polymorphism --- heteropolyhedral framework --- modularity --- topology --- borophosphates --- aluminophosphates --- DFT --- electron diffraction --- c-type reflections --- ordering --- calcite --- glendonite --- TEM --- n/a --- order-disorder approach --- kagomé lattice