Investigating the nexus among environmental pollution, economic growth, energy use, and foreign direct investment in 6 selected sub-Saharan African countries.

This research seeks to enhance the current literature by exploring the nexus among environmental contamination, economic growth, energy use, and foreign direct investment in 6 selected sub-Saharan African nations for a time of 34 years (1980-2014). By applying panel unit root (CADF and CIPS, cross-sectional independence test), panel cointegration (Pedroni and Kao cointegration test, panel PP, panel ADF), Hausman poolability test, and an auto-regressive distributed lag procedure in view of the pooled mean group estimation (ARDL/PMG), experimental findings disclose that alluding to the related probability values, the null hypothesis of cross-sectional independence for all variables is rejected because they are not stationary at levels but rather stationary at their first difference. The variables are altogether integrated at the same order I(1). Findings revealed that there is a confirmation of a bidirectional causality between energy use and CO2 in the short-run and one-way causality running from energy use to CO2 in the long run. There is additionally a significant positive outcome and unidirectional causality from CO2 to foreign direct investment in the long run yet no causal relationship in the short run. An increase in energy use by 1% causes an increase in CO2 by 49%. An increase in economic growth by 1% causes an increment in CO2 by 16% and an increase in economic growth squared by 1% diminishes CO2 by 46%. The positive and negative impacts of economic growth and its square approve the EKC theory. To guarantee sustainable economic development goal, more strict laws like sequestration ought to be worked out, use of sustainable power source ought to be stressed, and GDP ought to be multiplied to diminish CO2 by the utilization of eco-technology for instance carbon capturing, to save lives and also to maintain a green environment.

Indications for fissure sealants and their role in children and adolescents.

The aim of this article is to summarize and interpret present knowledge and evidence on the effect of fissure sealing permanent first and second molars in children and adolescents with two commonly used materials: resin sealants and glass ionomer sealants. Also, to identify important gaps in our knowledge. The results show that the conclusions from systematic reviews differ in several aspects, and that important knowledge gaps still exist, such as the costs and benefits of sealing low- versus high-risk populations. The effect of sealing noncavitated caries lesions is uncertain and possible differences in effect between resin sealants and the high viscosity glass ionomers need to be investigated.

Parental attitudes on restorative materials as factors influencing current use in pediatric dentistry.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine pediatric dentists' current practices and the perceptions about parents' opinions and how those parental preferences regarding dental materials influence dentists' practices. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 500 randomly selected active members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Twenty-five items queried demographics, use of restorative materials, perceptions of parents' attitudes towards materials, and dentists' reactions to parents' concerns. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 61%. Parental concerns about materials in decreasing order were: (1) esthetics; (2) cost; (3) toxicity; and (4) durability. Parents' greatest concerns about stainless steel crowns were: (1) esthetics; and (2) cost. Among respondents, 43% followed parental preferences when challenged, and 28% currently never use amalgam. Amalgam use and the dentists' perception of parental challenge were each related to the socioeconomic status of the practice population, with lower socioeconomic practices feeling less parental challenge than higher socioeconomic practices and being more likely to use amalgam than "white" filling materials (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Mercury concerns occur more frequently with higher than lower socioeconomic status parents (P = .002). Stainless steel crowns are challenged based on esthetics and cost. When confronted, many pediatric dentists (43%) follow parental preferences, even when that action is contrary to their initial clinical judgment.