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This review explores the latest advancements in enhancing the biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of implantable structures, with a focus on titanium (Ti) and its alloys. Titanium implants, widely used in dental and orthopedic applications, demonstrate excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility, yet face challenges such as peri-implantitis, a bacterial infection that can lead to implant failure. To address these issues, both passive and active surface modification strategies have been developed. Passive modifications, such as altering surface texture and chemistry, aim to prevent bacterial adhesion, while active approaches incorporate antimicrobial agents for sustained infection control. Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative tool, enabling the creation of nanoscale materials and coatings like TiO2 and ZnO that promote osseointegration and inhibit biofilm formation. Techniques such as plasma spraying, ion implantation, and plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) show promising results in improving implant integration and durability. Despite significant progress, further research is needed to refine these technologies, optimize surface properties, and address the clinical challenges associated with implant longevity and safety. This review highlights the intersection of surface engineering, nanotechnology, and biomedical innovation, paving the way for the next generation of implantable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topological properties of the A15-type compound Ti3Pd reveal a complex landscape of multi-fold fermionic and bosonic states, as uncovered through ab initio calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The electronic band structure shows multi-fold degenerate crossings at the high-symmetry point R near the Fermi level, which evolves into 4-fold and 8-fold degenerate fermionic states upon the introduction of spin–orbit coupling (SOC). Likewise, the phononic band structure features multi-fold degenerate bosonic crossings at the same R point. Topological analysis, including the calculation of Z2 invariant and surface states, confirms the non-trivial nature of Ti3Pd. Moreover, both fermionic and bosonic quasiparticles exhibit nodal line features, whose topological non-triviality is further substantiated by Berry phase calculation. This research illuminates the intricate topological framework of Ti3Pd, opening avenues for experimental exploration in the field of topological quantum materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high risks of traumatic cataract treatments promoted the development of the concept of autologous lens regeneration. Biochemical cues can influence the cellular behavior of stem cells, and in this case, biophysical cues may be the important factors in producing rapid activation of cellular behavior. Here we bio-printed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using a commonly used bioink sodium alginate-gelatin blends, and investigated the induction effect of MSC differentiation towards lens epithelial stem cells (LESCs) under a combination of biochemical cues and biophysical cues. It was found that biochemical cues in the porous three-dimensional (3D) matrix constructed using bioink sodium alginate-gelatin blends for bio-printing did not reduce the cell viability of loaded MSCs in the matrix by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and cell viability detection. Loaded MSCs in the matrix were consistently upregulated in the expression of proteins and genes involved in phenotypes and development signaling pathways of LESCs, as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the support of biochemical cues. These results indicated that biophysical cues could rapidly activate the cellular behavior of MSCs differentiation, and biochemical cues could continuously induce MSCs differentiation towards LESCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their apparent simplicity, the helium hydride ion (HeH+) and its analogues with heavier noble gas (Ng) atoms present intriguing challenges due to their unusual electronic structures and distinct ground-state heterolytic bond dissociation profiles. In this work, we employ modern valence bond calculations and the interference energy analysis to investigate the nature of the chemical bond in NgH+ (Ng = He, Ne, Ar). Our findings reveal that the energy well formation in their ground-state potential energy curves is driven by a reduction in kinetic energy caused by quantum interference, identical to cases of homolytic bond dissociation. However, clear differences in bonding situation emerge: in HeH+ and ArH+, electron charge transfer leads to Ng+–H covalent bonds, while in NeH+, a preferred Ne + H+ valence bond structure suggests the formation of a dative bond. This study highlights the distinct bonding mechanisms within the NgH+ series, showcasing the interplay between quantum interference and quasi-classical effects in molecules featuring noble gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic optical structures, such as diffraction gratings and numerous photonic crystals, are one of the staples of modern nanophotonics for the manipulation of electromagnetic radiation. The array of subwavelength dielectric rods is one of the simplest platforms, which, despite its simplicity exhibits extraordinary wave phenomena, such as diffraction anomalies and narrow reflective resonances. Despite the well-documented properties of infinite periodic systems, the behavior of these diffractive effects in systems incorporating a finite number of elements is studied to a far lesser extent. Here we theoretically and numerically study the evolution of collective spectral features in finite arrays of dielectric rods. We develop an analytical model of light scattering by a finite array of circular rods based on the coupled dipoles approximation and analyze the spectral features of finite arrays within the developed model. Finally, we validate the results of the analytical model using full-wave numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The neurometabolic function is controlled by a complex multi-level physiological system that includes neurochemical, hormonal, immunological, sensory, and metabolic components. Functional disorders of monoamine systems are often detected in clinical practice together with metabolic dysfunctions. An important part of the mentioned pathological conditions are associated with disturbances in protein metabolism, some of the most important biomarkers which are aminotransferases and transcription factors that regulate and direct the most important metabolic reactions. Another important part of energy metabolism is the dopamine-mediated regulation of protein metabolism. Methods: The review describes research results into the dopamine-mediated mechanism of metabolic regulation in humans and animals. Particular attention is paid to the neurometabolic mechanisms of protein metabolism. Results: The dopamine–aminotransferase system of the energy metabolism regulation is a separate, independent, regulatory and diagnostically significant biochemical pathway controlled by the hormonal system, the key hormone is cortisol, the key neurotransmitter is dopamine, the key transcription factor is CREB, and the key regulatory enzymes are alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and tyrosine aminotransferase. Conclusions: This review presents an original study describing the discovery of a new regulatory mechanism for neurometabolic physiological function in humans and animals. A key part of this mechanism is the dopamine–aminotransferase system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of depression in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) through the utilization of multimodal fusion techniques represents a significant domain. The primary challenge involves the creation of a robust fusion framework to address the heterogeneity among different modalities effectively. However, previous studies primarily focused on interactions between heterogeneous data, neglecting the structural similarities among isomorphic data, resulting in a substantial loss of feature information when merging heterogeneous data. In this study, we introduced a multi-modal data image encoding and fusion approach for diagnosing depression in PD patients. Additionally, we proposed a multi-modal dataset encompassing motion, facial expression, and audio data. First, we designed an RGB and sparse coding method to encode the multi-modal data, achieving the isomorphic transformation of multi-modal information and extracting feature information from lower-dimensional spaces. Furthermore, we introduced a Spatial-Temporal Network (STN) to fuse the three types of encoded images. We incorporated the Relation Global Attention (RGA) to enhance feature extraction and leverage all encoded image location feature nodes for balanced decision attention. Finally, recognizing the limitations of traditional machine learning algorithms in handling multi-tasks in medical diagnosis, we established a multi-task weighted loss function to achieve depression identification and severity prediction through Multi-Task learning (MTL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional biopolymeric fibers are key building blocks for developing sustainable materials within the growing bioeconomy. However, their flexible use in emerging advanced materials with smart properties typically requires processing methods that may compromise sustainability. Here, a sustainable route to generate living fiber dispersions (LFD) from mycelium that combines the excellent material-forming properties of biopolymeric fibers, and the highly dynamic properties of living materials is proposed. This is showcased by using industrially available liquid culture and mechanical defibrillation methods to generate well-dispersed living mycelium fibers. These fibers can form materials where precursors with good dispersibility and network formation properties are paramount and can harness dynamic properties through growth even in the absence of added nutrients. This is demonstrated in unique living emulsions with 3.6x slower phase separation and in living films with 2.5x higher tensile strength upon growth, the latter vastly outperforming the strongest pure mycelium materials to date. Further, humidity can be used to modulate mechanical properties and to trigger the superhydrophobic patterning of substrates, mechanical actuation, and degradation of lignocellulosic consumer goods at their end of life. In the future, combining synthetic biology with this promising platform for smart materials can expand the horizons for sustainable material manufacturing., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Biogenic synthesis of metal nanoparticles offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that often rely on toxic reducing agents, offering an environmentally friendly approach to nanoparticle production. The use of nanofibrous substrates, algal nanofibers (Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/Cystoseira barbata (Cb)), for the reduction process enhances the efficiency of nanoparticle formation, providing a larger surface area for reaction and ensuring uniform distribution of the synthesized nanoparticles. Following the biogenic synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and their stabilization with xanthan gum (XG), the resulting PAN/Cb/Ag@XG nanofibrous catalyst demonstrates excellent reusability, maintaining its activity and structural integrity even after multiple cycles of use. The stabilization with XG also ensures long-term shelf life by preventing nanoparticle aggregation. Additionally, the nanofibrous material exhibits antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Its dual functionality-targeting harmful pathogens while avoiding secondary pollution-positions them as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for advanced water purification and disinfection systems., (© 2025 The Author(s). Macromolecular Rapid Communications published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Food security is defined as uninterrupted access to food that meets people's dietary needs. One essential trace element of a complete diet is zinc, which is vital for various processes, including growth, development, and the immune response. The estimated global prevalence of zinc deficiency is around 30%. Meat and meat products provide an abundant and also bioavailable source of zinc. However, in developing countries, access to meat is restricted, and in developed countries, meat consumption has declined for ethical and environmental reasons. The potential for zinc deficiency arises from (i) low concentrations of this element in plant-based diets, (ii) poor zinc absorption from plant-based food in the human intestine, and (iii) the risk of uptake of toxic metals together with essential ones. This review summarises the current knowledge concerning type 4 metallothioneins, which represent promising targets for zinc biofortification. We describe their place in the zinc route from soil to seed, their expression patterns, their role in plants, and their three-dimensional protein structure and how this affects their selectivity towards zinc. This review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the potential use of type 4 plant metallothioneins to create zinc-biofortified crops., (© 2025 Cambridge Philosophical Society.)