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Large rivers are highly important systems that require close monitoring of the ecological consequences of factors like commercial and recreational exploitation, channel alterations, and climate change. The Long‐Term Survey and Assessment of Large River Fishes in Illinois (LTEF) monitors the fish communities of the Illinois, Mississippi, Wabash, and Ohio rivers using daytime, pulsed‐DC electrofishing between June and October each year. Previous research has documented diel differences in the catch and composition of fish communities. Therefore, the addition of nighttime electrofishing may be beneficial to the overarching goals of long‐term monitoring. This study sought to determine whether there are significant diel differences in fish catch and composition in the Wabash River and whether these potential differences warrant the addition of nighttime sampling to the current protocol. We used nighttime, pulsed‐DC electrofishing at fixed sites corresponding to LTEF sites in the lower Wabash River from June 7 to November 7, 2017. We compared catch per unit effort (CPUE), length distributions, family, and species composition between our nighttime electrofishing data and LTEF daytime electrofishing data. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed that the differences between nighttime and daytime electrofishing samples were driven by higher catches of catostomids, centrarchids, and lepisosteids. Nighttime electrofishing had significantly higher mean CPUE than daytime electrofishing, and the four families with significant differences were Catostomidae, Cyprinidae, Lepisosteidae, and Sciaenidae. Of the families for which we compared length data, only Sciaenidae had a significantly different length distribution, with a higher proportional catch of smaller individuals (<100 mm) at night. Despite these differences, compositional shifts were minor, with overlap between daytime and nighttime sampling. Due to the compositional similarities between night and day, the costs of adding nighttime electrofishing to long‐term monitoring would not be necessary. We would recommend nighttime electrofishing for targeting specific taxa and age‐classes that are underrepresented in daytime samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) Water Security Test Bed (WSTB) facility is a full-scale representation of a drinking water distribution system. In collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory, USEPA designed the WSTB facility to support full-scale evaluations of water infrastructure, premise plumbing, and appliance decontamination. Thus far, USEPA's research has focused on decontamination of Bacillus globigii (BG) spores, a nonpathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, and Bakken crude oil. Flushing and disinfection effectively removed 7-8 log10 BG spores from the bulk water, but only 2-3 log10 from the pipe wall coupons. Bakken crude oil components were removed from distribution pipe and premise plumbing water by flushing, although 55% of the injected oil components persisted in the dishwasher and refrigerator water dispenser. Using the WSTB facility allows USEPA to test contaminants without any human health or ecological risk and to inform water systems on effective methodologies for responding to contamination incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impoundments are common features of many rivers that often impact abiotic conditions and the organisms that inhabit impacted reaches. As dams alter both local environmental conditions and the ability of organisms to move throughout the habitat, it is difficult to know which factors are driving changes in assemblage composition. To separate these effects, we employed a metacommunity approach to evaluate drivers of assemblage composition in fish and macroinvertebrate communities across two impoundments slated for removal in Danville, Illinois. Based on movement ability, we would expect dams to represent barriers to fish populations, whereas macroinvertebrates, with their motile adult phases, should be easily able to move across impoundments. Therefore, we would expect the assemblage structure of these two groups to be driven by different processes. We sampled habitat quality (measures) and both fish and macroinvertebrate communities in a replicated series of sites across two low-head dams. As expected, the presence of dams resulted in reduced habitat quality as well as changes in fish and macroinvertebrate quality indices. However, fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages were driven by different metacommunity processes. Fish communities showed strong environmental filtering, responding to local environmental conditions, with no effect of distance between habitats. In marked contrast, macroinvertebrate communities were only related to physical distance between sites, with no indication of environmental filtering. These results suggest that when these dams are removed, fish assemblages should change with the removal of dam-generated habitats. In contrast, dam removal may not alter macroinvertebrate composition, as it did not vary with habitat but appears driven by local dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to assess the efficacy and safety of B cell depletion with rituximab which is a chimeric murine/human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). It states that SS is a systematic autoimmune disease marked by chronic inflammation of the salivary and lacriminal glands which results in xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca in patients. It notes that rituximab is an effective and safe in treating patients with SS.

The article focuses on the response of commercial water quality sensors to contamination in a model drinking water distribution system. It states that the water quality sensor responses to contaminants in chloraminated drinking water as absolute change and the total organic carbon (TOC) sensor responded to each contaminant except sodium arsenite. However, it is observed that contamination detection is another factor that water utilities might consider when contemplating a switch to chloramines or when investing in online water quality sensors for a chloraminated system.

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was politicised in the United States (US) by Donald Trump in an effort to deflect blame as the virus spread. In this paper, we empirically investigate media coverage of the WHO in the US to better understand how negative evaluations of international organisations (IOs) spread. To do so, we perform quantitative text analysis on an original corpus of over 11,000 news articles on the WHO from the New York Times and the Washington Post between 1980 and 2020. Our text‐as‐data analyses yield several noteworthy findings. First, we show that media coverage of the WHO in the US has become more negative over time. Second, we show that negativity increases during global health crises. Third, we provide evidence that explicit criticisms also increase during crises. Fourth, we show that "blame‐shifting" by Trump and allies was clearly observable in the US news media. Finally, we show that negative stories about the WHO are shared more than positive ones on social media. Our results provide unique evidence, suggesting that the WHO has become more politicised in the US, which we argue creates opportunities for politicians seeking to blame IOs during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration of forests is now considered an essential tool to combat climate change and the global biodiversity decline. However, our understanding of how animal communities recover after restoration interventions in tropical forests is limited. Here, we aim to reveal the recovery patterns of fruit‐feeding butterfly communities across a large‐scale rainforest restoration area in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Our study represents a chronosequence resampling of fruit‐feeding butterfly communities across actively restored Afrotropical forest planted between 1995 and 2011 and primary forest reference sites. Sampling of 40 study sites was done first in the period 2011–2012 and again in the period 2020–2021 (including 5 new study sites), allowing a direct comparison of how communities have changed in nine years and to follow the progress of 26 years of active restoration. Fruit‐feeding butterfly community composition showed a directional pattern from the younger restored to older restored and primary forests. However, over the nine years, the similarity of community composition to primary forest increased only in younger restored forests. Furthermore, different characteristics of community structure and different diversity facets recovered at different paces. For example, the count of individuals, the count of species, and phylogenetic diversity increased in the restored forests; however, Simpson's diversity increased only in the older restored forest. Our study shows that active restoration can help fruit‐feeding butterfly communities become increasingly similar to communities found in primary forests, and such changes can be relatively fast in the early‐successional phases of tropical forests but slow down at later phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea ice forms a barrier to the exchange of energy, gases, moisture and particles between the ocean and atmosphere around Antarctica. Ice temperature, salinity and the composition of ice crystals determine whether a particular slab of sea ice is habitable for microorganisms and permeable to exchanges between the ocean and atmosphere, allowing, for example, carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to be absorbed or outgassed by the ocean. Spring sea ice can have high concentrations of algae and absorb atmospheric CO2. In the summer of 2016–2017 off East Antarctica, we found decayed and porous granular ice layers in the interior of the ice column, which showed high algal pigment concentrations. The maximum chlorophyll a observed in the interior of the ice column was 67.7 μg/L in a 24% porous granular ice layer between 0.8 and 0.9 m depth in 1.7 m thick ice, compared to an overall mean sea‐ice chlorophyll a (± one standard deviation) of 13.5 ± 21.8 μg/L. We also found extensive surface melting, with instances of snow meltwater apparently percolating through the ice, as well as impermeable superimposed ice layers that had refrozen along with melt ponds on top of the ice. With future warming, the structures we describe here could occur earlier and/or become more persistent, meaning that sea ice would be more often characterized by patchy permeability and interior ice algal accumulations. Plain Language Summary: The growth and melt of Antarctic sea ice is one of the largest seasonal events on Earth. The rapid changes visible at its surface correspond to changes hidden inside the sea ice. East Antarctic sea‐ice samples were collected in 2016–2017 from the icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis to investigate the internal structure of sea ice in summer. Capping the sea ice, impermeable layers inhibited vertical transfer of material through the ice, but ponds had also melted through these layers to allow exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. We also found high concentrations of ice algae deep inside the sea ice, which might be inaccessible to grazers but important for absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. With warming temperatures, the observed ice characteristics may become more common or persist longer in each summer with potential consequences for ecosystem processes. Key Points: East Antarctic summer sea ice can be rotten, with melt ponds, but otherwise sealed by superimposed ice and mostly stratified brineDeep layers of decayed granular crystals allow infiltration of relatively nutrient‐rich seawater and sustain algal assemblagesEvidence for incorporation of old pack ice floes into landfast sea ice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To prospectively assess the clinical performance and patient‐reported outcomes of dental implants in dentate patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS and sSS, respectively) compared to patients without SS. Materials and Methods: Thirty‐seven implants were placed in 17 patients with pSS/sSS and 26 implants in 17 non‐SS patients to replace missing (pre)molars. Clinical performance, marginal bone‐level changes, patient satisfaction, and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) were assessed at 1 (T1), 6 (T6), 12 (T12), and 18 (T18) months after placement of the superstructure. Marginal bone‐level changes were measured on standardized dental radiographs. Clinical parameters included implant and crown survival, plaque, bleeding and gingival indices, and probing depth. Patient satisfaction and OHRQoL were assessed with validated questionnaires. Results: Implant survival at T18 was 100% in the patients with pSS/sSS and 96.2% in the non‐SS group. Mean marginal bone loss at T18 did not differ between patients with pSS/sSS and non‐SS patients, 1.10 ± 1.04 and 1.04 ± 0.75 mm, respectively (p =.87). Clinical performance was good with no differences between the groups for all outcome measures (p >.05). OHRQoL in patients with pSS/sSS had improved significantly after placement of implant supported crowns at all measuring moments compared to baseline (p <.05). Nevertheless, patient satisfaction and OHRQoL remained significantly higher for patients without SS at all measuring moments (p <.05). Conclusion: Dental implants can be successfully applied in dentate patients with pSS/sSS and have a positive effect on OHRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric cross‐aldol reaction of two different aldehydes is a synthetically relevant reaction. Diarylprolinol catalyst with trifluoromethyl substituents and sulfonamide catalyst derived from diphenylprolinol are organocatalysts for the cross‐aldol reaction. The reactivity and stereoselectivity of these two catalysts were compared in the asymmetric cross‐aldol reactions of propanal and acetaldehyde as nucleophilic aldehydes and several electrophilic aldehydes. Depending on the electrophilic aldehydes, the preferable catalyst differs. By the proper selection of these two catalysts, potentially synthetically useful chiral building blocks can be synthesized with diastereoselectivities of anti:syn=2.6:1∼>20:1 and enantioselectivities of 60∼>98% ee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical contingency has long figured prominently in the conceptual frameworks of evolutionary biology and community ecology. Evolutionary biologists typically consider the effects of chance mutation and historical contingency in driving divergence and convergence of traits in populations, whereas ecologists instead are often interested in the role of historical contingency in community assembly and succession. Although genetic differences among individuals in populations can influence community interactions, variability among populations of the same species has received relatively little attention for its potential role in community assembly and succession. We used a community‐level study of experimental evolution in two compositionally different assemblages of protists and rotifers to explore whether initial differences in species abundances among communities attributed to differences in evolutionary history, persisted as species that continued to evolve over time. In each assemblage, we observed significant convergence between two invaded treatments initially differing in evolutionary history over an observation period equal to ~40–80 generations for most species. Nonetheless, community structure failed to converge completely across all invaded treatments within an assemblage to a single structure. This suggests that whereas the species in the assemblage represent a common selective regime, differences in populations reflecting their evolutionary history can produce long‐lasting transient alternative community states. In one assemblage, we also observed increasing within‐treatment variability among replicate communities over time, suggesting that ecological drift may be another factor contributing to community change. Although subtle, these transient alternative states, in which communities differed in the abundance of interacting species, could nonetheless have important functional consequences, suggesting that the role of evolution in driving these states deserves greater attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent advances in asymmetric organocatalysis using eutectic mixtures as a reaction medium are revised in this mini‐review. In addition, the first enantioselective transformations using chiral eutectic solvents, which play the role of a green medium and organocatalyst, are described. In this minireview we intend to deepen not only in the synthetic aspects of asymmetric organocatalysis in eutectic mixtures, but also in the fundamental issues that seem to be essential for a successful development of this promising, and at the same time challenging, methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amazing potential of multi‐catalytic cascade reactions to reduce the number of reaction steps and to solve synthetic problems brings the challenge of an increasing complexity that must be controlled. Particularly chemo‐enzymatic reactions are prone to conflicts regarding different optimal reaction conditions for chemical and biological catalysts. The preference of many chemical catalysts for hydrophobic (and often water‐free) solvent and of many enzymes for water poses a solvent dilemma. Recently, non‐conventional solvents have been very successful to provide suitable reaction media for catalysts that otherwise require very different solvents, and to alleviate fundamental problems such as the low solubility of many substrates in aqueous solvents. In the last few years, several examples underlined the considerable potential of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for the engineering of cascade reactions. This mini‐review showcases the recent developments on the implementation of the so‐called non‐conventional media in such processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel method is proposed to achieve multiband absorption in the visible region. Different from the conventional metal–insulator–metal (MIM) based multiband absorbers which absorb normally incident plane waves at different frequencies based on the impedance matching effect, the multiband absorption proposed here is achieved through the coupling effects of Fabry–Pérot (FP), propagating surface plasmons (PSPs), and void plasmons (VPs) resonance. A clear physical image is unveiled by means of numerical simulations through the geometric parameters corresponding to various resonance modes. The absorption features can be easily controlled by tuning the period of square lattice, porosity of unit cell in the top silver layer, and the film thickness of the middle layer. The presented study on the physical mechanism of the multiband absorption is believed to be beneficial for designing new‐generation absorbers for suitable novel applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic sea ice is an important temporal reservoir of iron which can boost primary production in the marginal ice zone during the seasonal melt. While studies have reported that Antarctic fast ice bears high concentrations of iron due to the proximity to coastal sources, less clear are the biogeochemical changes this iron pool undergoes during late spring. Here we describe a 3‐week time series of physical and biogeochemical data, including iron, from first‐year coastal fast ice sampled near Davis Station (Prydz Bay, East Antarctica) during late austral spring 2015. Our study shows that dissolved and particulate iron concentrations in sea ice were up to two orders of magnitude higher than in under‐ice seawater. Furthermore, our results indicate a significant contribution of lithogenic iron from the Vestfold Hills (as deduced from the comparison with crustal element ratios) to the particulate iron pool in fast ice after a blizzard event halfway through the time series. Windblown dust represented approximately 75% of the particulate iron found in the ice and is a potential candidate for keeping concentrations of soluble iron stable during our observations. These results suggest that iron entrapped during ice formation, likely from sediments, as well as local input of coastal dust, supports primary productivity in Davis fast ice. As ice‐free land areas are likely to expand over the course of the century, this work highlights the need to quantify iron inputs from continental Antarctic dust and its bioavailability for ice algae and phytoplankton. Plain Language Summary: Oceanic single‐celled algae are the base of the ocean food web and play an important role in the Earth climate. In the Southern Ocean, the growth of these microorganisms is limited by the naturally low concentration of iron in the seawater. Microalgae benefit from the presence of the Antarctic sea ice since iron is highly concentrated in sea ice relative to the seawater. Less clear though is the contribution of the potential sources of iron to the sea ice. We collected and analyzed sea ice cores for a series of parameters, including iron, from first‐year coastal sea ice sampled near Davis Station (Prydz Bay, East Antarctica) during late austral spring 2015. Our results suggest that iron entrapped during ice formation, likely from seafloor sediments, as well as dust blown by winds from the neighboring Vestfold Hills, are the main sources of iron to Davis coastal sea ice. Since we can expect the expansion of ice‐free areas and exposed grounds over the course of this century, our results highlight the need to quantify the amount of iron coming from continental Antarctic dust and to access if microalgae can use this form of iron for their basic physiological needs. Key Points: Primary production in East Antarctic fast ice is not Fe‐limited during late spring/early summerIron in suspended sediment entrapped during ice formation supports primary production in the iceWindblown dust from ice‐free coastal landmasses in the Vestfold Hills contributes significantly to the total iron pool in Davis fast ice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental role of the micronutrient Fe in controlling phytoplankton growth in large parts of Earth's oceans and a lack of information on seasonal transitions in remote regions motivated us to create an autonomous water sampler capable of collecting uncontaminated open‐ocean seawater samples with monthly resolution over a full annual cycle. Phytoplankton are at the base of the food chain, which take up carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Assessing Fe availability is essential to understanding both ocean productivity and our climate. This need is particularly important in the Southern Ocean, where Fe limitation is wide spread and access is difficult especially in winter. To address this need, we have developed an autonomous system capable of observing iron concentrations over a full seasonal cycle, at the subnanomolar concentrations that are important in the open ocean. The automated clean environmental sampler has been developed initially for 1‐yr deployments on oceanographic moorings. Twelve samples per unit can be programmed to collect 65 mL of seawater through a noncontaminating, primarily Teflon sample path. The system is vaned to maintain its intake tubes in upstream water and has been tested to 100 m depth. The system was deployed during a GEOTRACES section (SR3 line, GS01) in 2018 alongside an industry standard, trace metal clean rosette, and no significant difference was found in Fe concentrations in the 50 pmol L–1 range, proving its capability at collecting uncontaminated seawater samples in the open ocean at temperatures above 0°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovered more than one decade ago, α,α‐diaryl prolinols, most of them commercially available compounds, demonstrated to be distinctive organocatalysts in asymmetric synthesis. Their application successfully spanned across different carbon‐carbon or carbon‐heteroatom bond forming reactions and cascade processes, exploiting covalent and noncovalent activation of the reagents. In this minireview, the advances from 2013 up to the end of 2018 in α,α‐diaryl prolinols promoted stereoselective catalysis and synthesis of biologically active compounds, are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of immunobiologics for the management of oral disease in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Materials and Methods: MEDLINE®, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched for evidence on the use of immunobiologics for management of glandular disease in SS. Primary outcomes were xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction, assessed via visual analogue scales, disease‐specific scales for SS, measurement of salivary flow, ultrasound data, and quality of life measures. Results: Seventeen studies (11 randomized controlled trials and 6 observational studies) met inclusion criteria. Rituximab showed efficacy in improving salivary gland function but not xerostomia. Abatacept showed promise in improving both xerostomia and salivary flow. Belimumab exhibited long‐term improvement of salivary flow and subjective measures. The novel agent CFZ533 improved both disease activity and patient‐reported indexes. Conclusions: There is strong evidence pointing to the efficacy of rituximab in the management of oral disease in SS. Future controlled trials may elucidate the efficacy of belimumab and abatacept. The new drug CFZ533 is a promising alternative for the management of SS and its salivary gland involvement. In considering these agents, the promise of efficacy must be balanced against the harmful effects associated with biologic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Systematic review with meta‐analysis of interventions for dry mouth symptoms and hyposalivation of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Materials and Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central and EMBASE up to February 2018 for randomized trials of interventions for dry mouth and hyposalivation of SS. The primary outcome was the mean change in xerostomia symptoms. The secondary outcomes included changes in salivary flow and quality of life. We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool for individual studies and the GRADE method to summarize the quality of evidence across studies for the included outcomes. Results: Thirty‐six studies (3,274 patients) were included in the systematic review. Results from the meta‐analyses showed high‐quality evidence that pilocarpine was superior to placebo in reducing dry mouth symptoms. We found moderate quality of evidence that pilocarpine, rituximab and interferon‐alpha were more effective than placebo in increasing salivary flow, with the relevant effect size being large for pilocarpine, and notably smaller for rituximab and interferon‐alpha. Conclusion: Clinicians should be very confident in the beneficial effects of pilocarpine upon dry mouth symptoms of SS and moderately confident that pilocarpine, rituximab and interferon‐alpha can have beneficial effects upon salivary flow. Adverse events are common. The use of other treatment modalities cannot be supported on the basis of current evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a hydrophobic eutectic solvent based on dl‐menthol and a naturally occurring acid such as acetic acid has been tested as an eco‐friendly electrolyte medium in dye‐sensitized solar cells. In the presence of a de‐aggregating agent and a representative hydrophobic organic photosensitizer, the corresponding devices displayed relatively good power conversion efficiencies in very thin active layers. In particular, the higher cell photovoltage detected in comparison to devices based on toxic and volatile organic compounds may stem from a more efficient interface interaction, as suggested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies showing greater charge recombination resistance and electron lifetime. Moving towards sustainable energy solutions! The first environmentally friendly hydrophobic eutectic solvent‐based dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been designed and fabricated. These low‐cost solar cells exhibit power energy conversion efficiencies that compare well with those of traditional DSSCs based on toxic and volatile organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a strong imperative to reduce the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment, and many efforts are currently being made to replace conventional hazardous VOCs in favour of safe, green and bio‐renewable reaction media that are not based on crude petroleum. Recent ground‐breaking studies from a few laboratories worldwide have shown that both Grignard and (functionalised) organolithium reagents, traditionally handled under strict exclusion of air and humidity and in anhydrous VOCs, can smoothly promote both nucleophilic additions to unsaturated substrates and nucleophilic substitutions in water and other bio‐based solvents (glycerol, deep eutectic solvents), competitively with protonolysis, at room temperature and under air. The chemistry of polar organometallics in the above protic media is a complex phenomenon influenced by several factors, and understanding its foundational character is stimulating in the perspective of the development of a sustainable organometallic chemistry. Make the switch! This Concept article highlights key developments of the chemistry of s‐block elements in water and in bio‐based solvents (glycerol and deep eutectic solvents), analysing and discussing data in light of progresses made over the last few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the pioneering examples of chemoenzymatic cascades in water such as the palladium‐catalysed Suzuki‐cross coupling followed by an enzymatic reduction has been revisited by the employment of a medium containing Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for the catalytic performance. Thus, the unique properties of these neoteric solvents enabled to reach high substrate concentration for the overall process. Moreover, both isolated enzymes and whole cells exhibited excellent activities which allowed to obtain a set of chiral biaryl alcohols in good yields and very high enantiomeric excess (>99 %). Pd goes biorenewable! A mixture of deep eutectic solvent (DES) and aqueous buffer proved to be an optimal medium for performing a chemoenzymatic cascade consisting of a palladium‐catalysed Suzuki cross‐coupling followed by an enzymatic reduction. Owing to the unique features of DESs, the process could be run at high concentration for both steps, enabling a variety of biarylic alcohols with very high conversion and enantiomeric excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: his review evaluated implant survival in geriatric patients (≥75 years) and/or the impact of systemic medical conditions. Materials and Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed to identify studies reporting on geriatric subjects with dental implants and on implant patients who had any of the seven most common systematic conditions among geriatric patients. Meta‐analyses were performed on the postloading implant survival rates. The impact of systemic medical conditions and their respective treatment was qualitatively analyzed. Results: A total of 6,893 studies were identified; of those, 60 studies were included. The fixed‐effects model revealed an overall implant survival of 97.3% (95% CI: 94.3, 98.7; studies = 7) and 96.1% (95% CI: 87.3, 98.9; studies = 3), for 1 and 5 years, respectively. In patients with cardiovascular disease, implant survival may be similar or higher compared to healthy patients. High implant survival rates were reported for patients with Parkinson's disease or diabetes mellitus type II. In patients with cancer, implant survival is negatively affected, namely by radiotherapy. Patients with bone metastases receiving high‐dose antiresorptive therapy (ART) carry a high risk for complications after implant surgery. Implant survival was reported to be high in patients receiving low‐dose ART for treatment of osteoporosis. No evidence was found on implant survival in patients with dementia, respiratory diseases, liver cirrhosis, or osteoarthritis. Conclusions: Implant prostheses in geriatric subjects are a predictable treatment option with a very high rate of implant survival. The functional and psychosocial benefits of such intervention should outweigh the associated risks to common medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine risk factors for primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS)–associated lymphoma in a multicenter cohort of patients, with analysis of the predictive power of previously reported risk factors, including the presence of ectopic germinal center (GC)–like structures in minor salivary gland (MSG) biopsy tissue. Methods: One hundred fifteen patients with primary SS were included, and MSG biopsy tissue from these patients was retrospectively examined, focusing on the presence of ectopic GC‐like structures. Epidemiologic, clinical, biologic, immunologic, and histologic data were collected at the time of diagnosis of primary SS. Patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were compared with those without NHL during the follow‐up period, using a Cox proportional hazards multiple regression model. Results: NHL was diagnosed in 8 patients (6.96%), and ectopic GC‐like structures in 19 patients (16.5%). The presence of ectopic GC‐like structures was associated with a 7.8‐fold increased risk of lymphoma occurrence (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.73–34.86 [P = 0.0075]). Other independent predictors included a positive cryoglobulin test result (hazard ratio [HR] 7.10, 95% CI 1.74–28.92 [P = 0.006]), male sex (HR 28.73, 95% CI 4.46–144.87 [P = 0.0004]), sensorimotor neuropathy (HR 35.48, 95% CI 5.79–217.39 [P = 0.0001]), and splenomegaly (HR 19.9, 95% CI 4.4–90 [P = 0.0001]). Conclusion: The presence of ectopic GC‐like structures in MSG biopsy tissue is associated with the risk of lymphoma in patients with primary SS. These data reinforce the major role of MSG biopsy tissue in primary SS, for the identification a priori of a subgroup of patients with the highest risk of lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Sj€ogren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction, mainly causing sicca symptoms. B cells have a prominent role in SS, and the T follicular helper (TFH) cells provide B cells with survival and specialization signals in germinal centres. Here, we investigate peripheral TFH cells in pSS. Sixteen pSS patients and healthy controls were enrolled in the study, with 13 women and 3 men in each group. Whole blood was collected and separated into PBMC and plasma, followed by cryopreservation. Plasma samples were analysed for Ro52, Ro60 and La48 autoantibodies by indirect ELISA. For flow cytometric analysis, we defined 4 subsets of TFH-like cells within the CD3+CD4+CXCR5+ population, namely the ICOS-PD-1-, ICOS-PD-1+, ICOS+PD-1- and ICOS+PD-1+ ("TFH") cells. We also investigated 4 CD19+ B cell subsets, the CD20+CD27+CD38- memory B cells, CD20+CD27+CD38+ memory B cells, CD20-CD27+CD38++CD138- plasmablasts and CD20-CD27+CD38++CD138+ plasma cells. We observed higher fractions of ICOS+PD-1- cells, ICOS+PD-1+ ("TFH") cells and plasmablasts in pSS patients compared to controls, and lower frequencies of both types of memory B cells. The number of TFH cells correlated positively with the levels of plasmablasts and plasma cells in the pSS patients, but not in the controls. The pSS patients were stratified according to Ro52/Ro60/La48 serology, and a positive association was found between autoantibody levels and increased level of TFH cells, plasmablasts and plasma cells and lowered levels of memory B cells. We observed a higher response to Ro/La stimulation in pSS patients compared to controls of the memory B cells, although only significantly for the CD38- memory B cells. Overall, a pathological relation between the ICOS+ T follicular-like helper cells and B cells in pSS was observed, but further work should be conducted to explore their overall impact upon disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In healthy subjects, dental implants have evolved to be a common therapy to solve problems related to stability and retention of dentures as well as to replace failing teeth. Although dental implants are applied in medically compromised patients, it is often not well known whether this therapy is also feasible in these patients, whether the risk of implant failure and developing peri‐implantitis is increased, and what specific preventive measures, if any, have to be taken when applying dental implants in these patients. Generally speaking, as was the conclusion by the leading review of Diz, Scully, and Sanz on placement of dental implants in medically compromised patients (J Dent, 41, 2013, 195), in a few disorders implant survival may be lower, and the risk of a compromised peri‐implant health and its related complications be greater, but the degree of systemic disease control outweighs the nature of the disorder rather than the risk accompanying dental implant treatment. So, as dental implant treatment is accompanied by significant functional benefits and improved oral health‐related quality of life, dental implant therapy is a feasible treatment in almost any medically compromised patient when the required preventive measures are taken and follow‐up care is at a high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fast ice is an important component of Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems, providing a prolific habitat for ice algal communities. This work examines the relationships between normalized difference indices (NDI) calculated from under‐ice radiance measurements and sea ice algal biomass and snow thickness for Antarctic fast ice. While this technique has been calibrated to assess biomass in Arctic fast ice and pack ice, as well as Antarctic pack ice, relationships are currently lacking for Antarctic fast ice characterized by bottom ice algae communities with high algal biomass. We analyze measurements along transects at two contrasting Antarctic fast ice sites in terms of platelet ice presence: near and distant from an ice shelf, i.e., in McMurdo Sound and off Davis Station, respectively. Snow and ice thickness, and ice salinity and temperature measurements support our paired in situ optical and biological measurements. Analyses show that NDI wavelength pairs near the first chlorophyll a (chl a) absorption peak (≈440 nm) explain up to 70% of the total variability in algal biomass. Eighty‐eight percent of snow thickness variability is explained using an NDI with a wavelength pair of 648 and 567 nm. Accounting for pigment packaging effects by including the ratio of chl a‐specific absorption coefficients improved the NDI‐based algal biomass estimation only slightly. Our new observation‐based algorithms can be used to estimate Antarctic fast ice algal biomass and snow thickness noninvasively, for example, by using moored sensors (time series) or mapping their spatial distributions using underwater vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the effect of abatacept (CTLA-4Ig), which limits T cell activation, on homeostasis of CD4+ T cell subsets and T cell-dependent B cell hyperactivity in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Methods Fifteen patients with primary SS treated with abatacept were included. Circulating CD4+ T cell and B cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline, during the treatment course, and after treatment was completed. CD4+ effector T cell subsets and Treg cells were identified based on expression of CD45RA, CXCR3, CCR6, CCR4, CXCR5, programmed death 1, inducible costimulator (ICOS), and FoxP3. Serum levels of anti-SSA/anti-SSB and several T cell-related cytokines were measured. Expression of ICOS and interleukin-21 (IL-21) protein was examined in parotid gland tissue at baseline and after treatment. Changes in laboratory parameters and associations with systemic disease activity (EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index [ESSDAI]) over time were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results Abatacept selectively reduced percentages and numbers of circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and Treg cells. Other CD4+ effector T cell subsets were unaffected. Furthermore, expression of the activation marker ICOS by circulating CD4+ T cells and expression of ICOS protein in parotid gland tissue declined. Reduced ICOS expression on circulating Tfh cells correlated significantly with lower ESSDAI scores during treatment. Serum levels of IL-21, CXCL13, anti-SSA, and anti-SSB decreased. Among circulating B cells, plasmablasts were decreased by treatment. After cessation of treatment, all parameters gradually returned to baseline. Conclusion Abatacept treatment in patients with primary SS reduces circulating Tfh cell numbers and expression of the activation marker ICOS on T cells. Lower numbers of activated circulating Tfh cells contribute to attenuated Tfh cell-dependent B cell hyperactivity and may underlie the efficacy of abatacept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fake news?? The contact insecticide DDT has been reappraised as a safe, life‐saving compound by special interest groups committed to repealing environmental regulations. It is shown in this essay how some specific toxicological data has been misused by those aiming to disingenuously influence public policy. Graphic: Pestroy, a DDT‐laced coating marketed in 1946 by Sherwin‐Williams Research Laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors focus on the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of a heterogeneous disease known as Sjögren's syndrome (SS). They discuss the effectiveness of a potent biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug Rituximab, which reduces disease activity in primary SS patients. Effects of the drug on B cell hyperactivity and clinical effects of the drug are also discussed.

Multi-step processes catalysed by several catalysts working concurrently have been developed in nature, thus improving reaction efficiency. The quest for novel and improved catalytic systems has led to the development of biocatalytic and later to organocatalytic procedures as very valuable tools in asymmetric synthesis while using mild reaction conditions in the absence of metal catalysts. As a timeless challenge, chemists are facing the need for process designs in which different sorts of catalysts can operate successfully in a one-pot concurrent fashion. Likewise, such designs bring about the best of each catalyst and, in certain cases, enable us to improve problematic issues, such as reactivity, selectivity, solubility, inhibition, etc. Specifically, to combine these two types of catalysts in one-pot, achieving high yields and selectivity, is a fascinating aspect of catalysis. This review covers representative advances in this field, in particular those in which biocatalysts and organocatalysts are employed either in sequential reactions or in simultaneous processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we report the first successful baker's yeast reduction of arylpropanones using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as biodegradable and non-hazardous co-solvents. The nature of DES [ e.g. choline chloride/glycerol (2:1)] and the percentage of water in the mixture proved to be critical for both the reversal of selectivity and to achieve high enantioselectivity on going from pure water (up to 98:2 er in favour of the S-enantiomer) to DES/aqueous mixtures (up to 98:2 er in favour of the R-enantiomer). As a result, both enantiomers of valuable chiral alcohols of pharmaceutical interest were prepared from the same biocatalyst by simply switching the solvent. The possible inhibition of some ( S)-oxidoreductases making part of the genome of such a wild-type whole cell biocatalyst when DESs are used as co-solvents may pave the way for an anti-Prelog reduction. The scope and limitations of this kind of biotransformations for a range of aryl-containing ketones are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that use an aqueous (40 % w/ w water content) choline chloride based deep eutectic solvent as an electrolyte medium have been investigated. The joint combination of the eutectic mixture and an appropriate hydrophilic sensitizer afforded a DSSC with a power conversion efficiency comparable to that using the same electrolyte composition but with conventional, toxic, and volatile solvents as the medium, which thereby paves the way to a new generation of eco-friendly, nature-inspired, low-cost solar devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Minireview, the state of the art in the use of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as alternative reaction media for biocatalytic processes and biomass conversion is presented. Initial, proof-of-concept studies, more than a decade ago, involved first-generation ILs based on dialkylimidazolium cations and non-coordinating anions, such as tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate. More recently, emphasis has switched to more environmentally acceptable second-generation ILs comprising cations, which are designed to be compatible with enzymes and, in many cases are derived from readily available, renewable resources, such as cholinium salts. Protic ionic liquids (PILs), prepared simply by mixing inexpensive amines and acids, are particularly attractive from both an environmental and economic viewpoint. DESs, prepared by mixing inexpensive salts with, preferably renewable, hydrogen-bond donors such as glycerol and amino acids, have also proved suitable reaction media for biocatalytic conversions. A broad range of enzymes can be used in ILs, PILs and DESs, for example lipases in biodiesel production. These neoteric solvents are of particular interest, however, as reaction media for biocatalytic conversions of substrates that have limited solubility in common organic solvents, such as carbohydrates, nucleosides, steroids and polysaccharides. This has culminated in the recent focus of attention on their use as (co)solvents in the pretreatment and saccharification of lignocellulose as the initial steps in the conversion of second-generation renewable biomass into biofuels and chemicals. They can similarly be used as reaction media in subsequent conversions of hexoses and pentoses into platform chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the link between monoclonal gammopathy (MG), disease activity, and incidence of malignant hematologic disorders (MHDs), including lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM), in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Methods Screening for the presence of MG was performed in 352 primary SS patients. Each patient with MG was paired with 2 age- and sex-matched primary SS controls without MG. Their characteristics were compared for the presence of risk factors for MG and for the relationship between MG and MHD. Results Twenty-six of the 352 primary SS patients (7.4%) had MG; 88% were women, with a median age of 62.7 years (interquartile range [IQR] 50.3-69.1 years) and a median disease duration of 7.8 years (IQR 3.6-12.8 years). The parameters associated with MG on multivariate analysis were higher disease activity, as measured by either the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 9.7, P = 0.0002) or the Clinical ESSDAI (adjusted OR 6.7, P = 0.001), and low C4 level (adjusted OR 3.4, P = 0.04). After a median follow-up of 6.3 years (IQR 3.1-9.5 years), 10 patients with MG had developed an MHD (38.5%; 4 had lymphomas and 6 had MM), as compared with 4 patients in the control group (7.7%; all had lymphomas) (OR 7.5, P = 0.002). The only factor associated with the risk of MHDs was the presence of MG (adjusted OR 5.5, P = 0.02), which was principally associated with an increased risk of MM (23% versus 0%; P = 0.0009), but not lymphoma (15% versus 8%; P = 0.3). Conclusion The presence of MG was associated with higher disease activity and an increased risk of MHD in primary SS. In the presence of MG, the risk of MM was even higher than the risk of lymphoma. These results suggest that regular monitoring of primary SS patients with MG for the emergence of both lymphoma and MM is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To define parameters predictive of lymphoma development in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Methods A multicenter case-control survey was performed to identify predictors of lymphoma. Cases were patients who developed lymphoma after diagnosis of primary SS and were mainly recruited through the Club Rhumatismes et Inflammation network. For each case, 2 controls (matched for disease duration and age) were randomly selected among patients with primary SS and without lymphoma. Cases and controls were compared using univariate analysis and then using multivariate analysis to identify independent predictors of lymphoma. Results One hundred one patients with primary SS and lymphoma were included. Eighty-seven patients were women (86.1%), and the mean ± SD age at lymphoma diagnosis was 57.4 ± 12.6 years. The most frequent histologic type was B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in 99 of 101 patients, with marginal-zone lymphoma in 76 of the 99 patients (76.8%) including 58 (58.6%) with lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type. Lymphomas were most frequently located in the salivary glands (43 patients). A specific treatment was initiated at diagnosis in 87 patients with B cell NHL, and 61 patients (61.6%) achieved complete sustained remission after the first line of treatment. In the multivariate analysis, salivary gland enlargement, the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), low C4, cryoglobulinemia, lymphopenia, and disease activity according to the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (excluding the lymphoma domain) were found to be predictors of lymphoma. No previous treatment for primary SS was associated with any effect on lymphoma occurrence. Conclusion In addition to previously known factors predictive of lymphoma occurrence, the independent roles of RF and disease activity were demonstrated in this case-control study of primary SS-associated lymphoma. Our findings highlight the roles of chronic antigenic stimulation and disease activity in the development of this severe complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as promising solutions in many areas of chemistry. DES have many of the advantages of ionic liquids (e.g., low vapor pressure, nonflammability, tunability, etc.) but have lower costs, straightforward syntheses, and are often biodegradable. In this minireview, we discuss briefly the applications of DES in areas such as biotransformations, organocatalysis, and combinations of these that lead to multistep processes. DES can be used as solvents, cosolvents, performance additives for bio- and organocatalysis, tools to anchor organocatalysts selectively, or for extraction/separation. Several DES have been used both as solvents and organocatalysts at the same time. Given their promising features, it may be expected that many applications in these areas will appear in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of deep eutectic solvents has been demonstrated for the first time in promiscuous lipase-catalysed aldol reactions. The model reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone was examined in depth, with excellent compatibility being found between porcine pancreas lipase and choline chloride/glycerol mixtures for the formation of the aldol product in high yields. The system was compatible with a series of aromatic aldehydes and ketones including acetone, cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone. In some cases, the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were found as minor products. Control experiments demonstrate that the enzymatic preparation was also responsible for a collateral dehydration reaction once the aldol product is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereocontrolled formation of carbon−carbon and carbon−heteroatom bonds through asymmetric organocatalysis is a formidable challenge for modern synthetic chemistry. Among the most significant contributions to this field are the transformations involving the use of acetaldehyde or α-heteroatom-substituted acetaldehydes for constructing valuable synthons (e.g., amino acid derivatives and hydroxycarbonyl). In this Minireview, versatile (enantioselective) organocatalytic transformations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This microreview summarizes the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and related melts in organic synthesis. Solvents of this type combine the great advantages of other proposed environmentally benign alternative solvents, such as low toxicity, high availability, low inflammability, high recyclability, low volatility, and low price, avoiding many disadvantages of the more modern media. The fact that many of the components of these mixtures come directly from nature assures their biodegradability and renewability. The classification and distribution of the reactions into different sections in this microreview, as well as the emphasis paid to their scope, easily allow a general reader to understand the actual state of the art and the great opportunities opened, not only for academic purposes but also for industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a severe complication of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in the salivary glands are predictors of the occurrence of NHL. Given the association between CCL11 and CXCL13 and ectopic GCs, we assessed the link between these chemokines and NHL, as well as the association between these chemokines and disease activity, in patients with primary SS. Methods Serum levels of CCL11 and CXCL13 were evaluated by multiplex assay in 385 patients included in the Assessment of Systemic Signs and Evolution of Sjögren's Syndrome (ASSESS) cohort. The association between chemokine levels, B cell biomarkers, and patient subsets was assessed using Spearman's test for continuous data and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test for categorical data. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify parameters associated with lymphoma and disease activity. Results Seventeen patients had a history of lymphoma, and 5 of them had developed NHL during followup. The median serum levels of CCL11 and CXCL13 in the total cohort were 106.48 pg/ml (interquartile range 69.33-149.85) and 108.31 pg/ml (interquartile range 58.88-200.13), respectively. Patients with lymphoma had higher levels of CXCL13 than did patients without lymphoma ( P = 0.006) and a trend toward a higher level of CCL11 ( P = 0.056). Low C4 and high BAFF levels were associated with NHL on multivariate analysis ( P = 0.01 and P = 0.0002, respectively). CCL11 and CXCL13 levels correlated positively with the rheumatoid factor titer, the κ-to-λ free light chain ratio, and the β2-microglubulin level. CXCL13 was the only parameter associated with disease activity on multivariate analysis. Conclusion These findings demonstrate a link between CXCL13 and CCL11 and disease activity and lymphoma. This highlights the continuum between chronic B cell activation, disease activity, and lymphomagenesis in patients with primary SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this microreview, trifunctional organocatalysts, defined as catalysts with three distinct mechanistic functionalities, are surveyed in order to understand not just catalytic activation but also catalysis orchestration. Related cases in which the mechanistic trifunctionality in catalysis is conferred by more than one singular catalyst are also evaluated. The potential role of highly functionalised organocatalysts toward organized catalysis with more complexity and proficiency is subsequently discussed to anticipate new challenges in biomimetic catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Renal calculi are common extracolonic incidental findings on computed tomographic colonography (CTC). This work aims to develop a fully automated computer-aided diagnosis system to accurately detect renal calculi on CTC images. Methods: The authors developed a total variation (TV) flow method to reduce image noise within the kidneys while maintaining the characteristic appearance of renal calculi. Maximally stable extremal region (MSER) features were then calculated to robustly identify calculi candidates. Finally, the authors computed texture and shape features that were imported to support vector machines for calculus classification. The method was validated on a dataset of 192 patients and compared to a baseline approach that detects calculi by thresholding. The authors also compared their method with the detection approaches using anisotropic diffusion and nonsmoothing. Results: At a false positive rate of 8 per patient, the sensitivities of the new method and the baseline thresholding approach were 69% and 35% (p < 1e - 3) on all calculi from 1 to 433 mm³ in the testing dataset. The sensitivities of the detection methods using anisotropic diffusion and nonsmoothing were 36% and 0%, respectively. The sensitivity of the new method increased to 90% if only larger and more clinically relevant calculi were considered. Conclusions: Experimental results demonstrated that TV-flow and MSER features are efficient means to robustly and accurately detect renal calculi on low-dose, high noise CTC images. Thus, the proposed method can potentially improve diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is a limiting micronutrient for primary production in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Recent observations reveal low dissolved Fe (dFe) concentrations in the Ross Sea polynya following high initial rates of primary production in summer, after the dFe winter reserve has been consumed. Significant new sources of dFe are therefore required to further sustain phytoplankton blooms. Iron from aeolian sand and dust (ASD) released from melting sea ice is one potential source. To constrain aeolian Fe inputs, we determined ASD mass accumulation rates and the total and soluble Fe content of ASD on sea ice in McMurdo Sound, southwestern (SW) Ross Sea. The mean mass accumulation rate was ~1.5 g m−2 yr−1, total Fe content of this ASD was 4 ± 1 wt %, and the percentage of soluble Fe was 11 ± 1%. Our mean estimate of the bulk aeolian dFe flux of 122.1 µmol m−2 yr−1 for the McMurdo Sound region suggests that aeolian Fe can support between 9.0 × 109 and 4.1 × 1011 mol C yr−1 (0.1-4.9 Tg C yr−1) of new primary production. This equates to only ~15% of new primary production in the SW Ross Sea, suggesting that aeolian dFe is a minor component of seasonal Fe supply. The very high ASD accumulation on sea ice in McMurdo Sound compared to other regions of Antarctica suggests that our results represent the upper limit of dFe supply to the ocean from this source in the Ross Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides the abstracts of papers presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) which cover topics such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and innate immunity.