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Introduction and purpose: Hypodontia and hyperdontia are two common developmental dental anomalies characterized by an abnormal number of teeth and they present a significant challenge in dentistry, affecting both the functionality and aesthetics of the dentition. Hypodontia refers to the congenital absence of one or more teeth, while hyperdontia is characterized by the presence of supernumerary teeth in the oral cavity. These conditions can lead to various complications, such as bite issues, speech disorders, and difficulties in daily functioning. State of knowledge: Tooth number anomalies can have various causes, ranging from evolutionary reduction in dentition due to lifestyle changes over the years. The reduction in the number of teeth is currently among the most common developmental dental defects. Environmental factors also influence tooth number, acting as either local or general factors. Genetic influences should also be considered, as hypodontia and hyperdontia can be hereditary, and gender also plays a role in the predisposition to these conditions. Numerical anomalies in teeth can also be a symptom of certain genetically determined syndromes. Summary: Hypodontia and hyperdontia are examples of developmental disorders related to the number of teeth in the oral cavity, with various underlying causes. Diagnosis and subsequent treatment are crucial in managing these conditions. These disorders may require long-term therapies involving different areas of dentistry and interdisciplinary cooperation or may simply require ongoing clinical and radiological observation. Treatment depends on the severity of the disorder and the individual needs of the patient. However, thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, it is possible to effectively prevent complications.

Introduction and purpose: Tooth eruption disorders are complex issues that can affect both primary and permanent teeth. The process of tooth eruption is a natural stage of development, but it can sometimes be disrupted. Common eruption disorders include delayed eruption, tooth impaction, premature eruption, and abnormalities in the location and direction of eruption. In each case, consultation with a specialist is required, along with early diagnosis and subsequent planning of appropriate treatment. State of knowledge: Impacted teeth are a common occurrence in dentistry and they occur in 0.8–3.6% of the general population The most frequently impacted teeth, in decreasing order of prevalence, are third molars, maxillary canines, mandibular premolars, and maxillary central incisors. Factors contributing to tooth impaction can be general, local, or genetic. Impacted teeth and difficulties with eruption may be associated with complications such as follicular cysts and a variant of these cysts known as eruption cysts. Summary: Tooth eruption disorders require an individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Depending on the issue, treatment may involve observation, orthodontic interventions, and in some cases, surgical procedures. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent complications such as malocclusion, damage to adjacent teeth, or unsatisfactory aesthetics. Radiographs can help confirm the presence of impacted teeth or in some cases, CBCT may be used for more detailed imaging.

Introduction and purpose: Participating in sports plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health. However, as the popularity of physical activity increases, so does the incidence of dental injuries. The aim of this scientific paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of various types of mouthguards in preventing sports-related dental injuries and to demonstrate their positive impact on athletes' overall health. State of knowledge: Dental injuries are prevalent in sports, comprising 31% of all maxillofacial injuries. The most common types of injuries are crown fractures, dislocations, and soft tissue damage. Preventive measures, particularly the use of mouthguards, are the most effective means of reducing these injuries, lowering their incidence by 82-93%. Custom-made mouthguards provide the best protection and comfort, and their use can improve physical endurance. Summary: Mouthguards are an essential component of injury prevention in sports, providing effective protection for the oral cavity and significantly reducing the risk of serious injuries. The use of mouthguards, particularly custom-made, should be a standard practice in contact sports. In addition to protecting the teeth, mouthguards offer additional benefits, such as improving physical endurance and releasing protective substances like chlorhexidine and fluoride, which contribute to oral health. Increasing awareness and enacting legal regulations mandating the use of mouthguards can significantly improve the oral health of athletes.

We studied the effects of Aeroxide P25 titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) with a diameter of 21 nm on induction of DNA damage and long-term survival of three human cell lines: hepatocellular liver carcinoma HepG2, colorectal adenocarcinoma HT29 and lung carcinoma A549. The endpoints examined were DNA breakage estimated by the comet assay and oxidative base damage recognized by formamide-pyrimidine glycosylase (FPG) estimated with the FPG+ comet assay, frequencies of histone γH2AX foci and micronuclei, apoptosis, cell metabolic activity measured by mitochondrial activity (MTT) assay and long-term survival measured by colony-forming ability. Each cell line had a different pattern of DNA breakage and base damage vs. nanoparticle (NP) concentration and treatment time. There was no increase in the frequencies of histone γH2AX foci and micronuclei as compared to those in the untreated cells. In parallel with these results, no induction of apoptosis has been found in none of the cell lines tested. The reported experiments provided no evidence of the long-term in vitro toxicity of Aeroxide P25 TiO2 NPs, despite a slight decrease in mitochondrial activity and cell survival during the first 72 h.

Introduction and purpose: The gut microbiota is a diverse collection of microorganisms that coexist in the human intestine. Disorders in its structure leads to dysregulation of huge number of organs, including the thyroid. This review summarizes the latest findings regarding the links between gut microbiota and common thyroid diseases: Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease and thyroid cancer. Materials and methods: This review was based on the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using keywords: „gut microbiota AND thyroid/Hashimoto/Graves/thyroid cancer”, „Graves’ disease”, ,,Hashimoto thyroiditis”. Description of knowledge: Gut dysbiosis can contribute to autoimmune thyroid diseases by influencing micronutrient availability and immune regulation. Specific bacterial species may impact Hashimoto's development by regulating neurotransmitters and hormone secretion. In Graves' disease, significant changes in gut microbiota suggest their potential role in autoimmune processes. Research on gut microbiota in thyroid cancer suggests potential diagnostic tools and implicates gut microbiota alterations in tumor development. Conclusions: Significant gut microbiota changes are observed in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and thyroid cancer compared to healthy individuals, indicating a possible association. However, the exact mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating further research to understand how microbiota alterations contribute to these diseases.

Introduction and purpose: Hypertension is a global public health issue, affecting over 1.4 billion people and is responsible for a significant portion of deaths due to heart disease and strokes. Pharmacotherapy, especially antihypertensive drugs, can lead to undesirable effects, including gingival overgrowth, which is a known drug-dependent phenomenon. Despite the availability of numerous drugs from various pharmaceutical classes, gingival overgrowth still remains a serious health problem, particularly among older patients. State of knowledge: Drugs such as calcium channel blockers are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. Amlodipine, a popular calcium channel blocker, is associated with gingival overgrowth, although the incidence of this effect can vary depending on the dose and duration of use. Gingival overgrowth may have multifactorial mechanisms, including drug-cell interactions and the patient's genetic predispositions. Summary: Drug-induced gingival overgrowth, including amlodipine, is a rare but significant phenomenon that can complicate treatment and lead to serious consequences for the patient. Implementing prophylactic measures, monitoring periodontal state, and continuing periodontal therapy are crucial to minimalize the risk of DIGO. In cases of intensification of symptoms, surgical intervention may be necessary, however, prognosis depends on individual factors, and recurrence can be an issue for susceptible patients.

Successful cell and gene therapy clinical trials have resulted in the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approving their use for treatment of patients with certain types of cancers and monogenetic diseases. These novel therapies, which rely heavily on lentiviral vectors to deliver therapeutic transgenes to patient cells, have driven additional investigations, increasing demand for both pre-clinical and current Good Manufacturing Practices-grade viral vectors. To better support novel studies by improving current production methods, we report the development of a genetically modified HEK293T-based cell line that is null for expression of both Protein Kinase R and Beta-2 microglobulin and grows in suspension using serum-free media, SJ293TS-DPB. Absence of Protein Kinase R increased anti-sense lentiviral vector titers by more than 7-fold, while absence of Beta-2 microglobulin, a key component of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, has been reported to reduce the immunogenicity of lentiviral particles. Furthermore, we describe an improved methodology for culturing SJ293TS-DPB that facilitates expansion, reduces handling, and increases titers by 2-fold compared with previous methods. SJ293TS-DPB stably produced lentiviral vectors for over 4 months and generated lentiviral vectors that efficiently transduce healthy human donor T cells and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells.

In the dynamic field of satellite imagery, the significance of super-resolution (SR) techniques, grounded on advanced deep learning methods, is paramount. A thorough understanding and remediation of the distinct challenges posed by various land cover types for image resolution enhancement form the essence of this research. This work diligently employs two unique neural networks, SRCNN and SwinIR Transformer, to scrutinize their varying impacts on a range of land cover types, ensuring a detailed and comprehensive exploration. This study transcends the mere enhancement of the Sentinel-2 dataset's resolution from 20 m/pix to 10 m/pix. It ambitiously seeks to excavate the intricate trends inherent to different land cover types and their corresponding interactions with SR processes. The application of neural networks on 255 × 254 pixel patches, covering six dominant types—forests, large fields, small fields, urban, sub-urban, and mixed—highlights substantial variations in metrics, underlining the individual interactions of each land cover type with SR techniques. A comprehensive accuracy assessment is meticulously conducted, employing an array of metrics and frequency domains to shed light on the nuanced differences and provide vital insights for optimizing each land cover type's SR approaches. Notably, the PSNR metric reveals significant disparities, particularly in the “forest” and “urban” categories for both SRCNN and SwinIR. According to the PSNR metric, the “forest” class yielded the best results with 66.06 for SRCNN and 67.00 for SwinIR, while the “urban” class marked the lowest with 55.09 and 57.02, respectively, reinforcing the critical nature of this study.

This article provides a report of the recent workshop on “The metrology of quantities which can be counted” organised jointly by the International Committee for Weights and Measures’ Consultative Committees for Amount of Substance (CCQM) and for Units (CCU). The workshop aimed to trigger a discussion on counting and number quantities across the metrological community so that a common understanding of counting and a common nomenclature could be achieved and there was clarity on the differences between these increasingly important concepts. This article details the background to the workshop, provides a summary of the presentations given and the discussions on the topics raised. It also reports the conclusions, agreed actions and next steps resulting from the workshop.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a pathology of the small intestine and may predispose individuals to various nutritional deficiencies. Little is known about whether specific subtypes of SIBO, such as the hydrogen-dominant (H+), methane-dominant (M+), or hydrogen/methane–dominant (H+/M+), impact nutritional status and dietary intake in SIBO patients. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlations between biochemical parameters, dietary nutrient intake, and distinct SIBO subtypes. This observational study included 67 patients who were newly diagnosed with SIBO. Biochemical parameters and diet were studied utilizing laboratory tests and food records, respectively. The H+/M+ group was associated with low serum vitamin D (p < 0.001), low serum ferritin (p = 0.001) and low fiber intake (p = 0.001). The M+ group was correlated with high serum folic acid (p = 0.002) and low intakes of fiber (p = 0.001) and lactose (p = 0.002). The H+ group was associated with low lactose intake (p = 0.027). These results suggest that the subtype of SIBO may have varying effects on dietary intake, leading to a range of biochemical deficiencies. Conversely, specific dietary patterns may predispose one to the development of a SIBO subtype. The assessment of nutritional status and diet, along with the diagnosis of SIBO subtypes, are believed to be key components of SIBO therapy.

Abstract We demonstrate a series of organic–inorganic nanocomposite materials combining the mesoporous silica (PS) and benzil (BZL) nanocrystals embedded into its nanochannels (6.0–13.0 nm in diameter) by capillary crystallization. One aims to design novel, efficient nonlinear optical composite materials in which inactive amorphous host PS-matrix provides a tubular scaffold structure, whereas nonlinear optical functionality results from specific properties of the deposited guest BZL-nanocrystals. A considerable contraction of the BZL melt during its crystallization inside the silica nanochannels results in a formation of the texture consisting of (221)- and (003)-oriented BZL nanoclusters (22 nm in length), separated by voids. Specificity of the textural morphology similarly to the spatial confinement significantly influences the nonlinear optical features of composite PS:BZL materials being explored in the second harmonic generation (SHG) experiment. The light polarization anisotropy of the SHG response appears to be considerably reduced at channel diameters larger than 7 nm apparently due to the multiple scattering and depolarization of the light on randomly distributed and crystallographically oriented BZL-nanoclusters. The normalized SHG response decreases nonlinearly by more than one order of magnitude as the channel diameter decreases from 13.0 to 6.0 nm and vanishes when spatial cylindrical confinement approaches the sizes of a few molecular layers suggesting that the embedded BZL clusters indeed are not uniformly crystalline but are characterized by more complex morphology consisting of a disordered SHG-inactive amorphous shell, covering the channel wall, and SHG-active crystalline core. Understanding and controlling of the textural morphology in inorganic–organic nanocrystalline composites as well as its relationships with nonlinear optical properties can lead to the development of novel efficient nonlinear optical materials for the light energy conversion with prospective optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Transcriptional enhancers can be in physical proximity of their target genes via chromatin looping. The enhancer at the β-globin locus (locus control region [LCR]) contacts the fetal-type (HBG) and adult-type (HBB) β-globin genes during corresponding developmental stages. We have demonstrated previously that forcing proximity between the LCR and HBG genes in cultured adult-stage erythroid cells can activate HBG transcription. Activation of HBG expression in erythroid cells is of benefit to patients with sickle cell disease. Here, using the β-globin locus as a model, we provide proof of concept at the organismal level that forced enhancer rewiring might present a strategy to alter gene expression for therapeutic purposes. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from mice bearing human β-globin genes were transduced with lentiviral vectors expressing a synthetic transcription factor (ZF-Ldb1) that fosters LCR-HBG contacts. When engrafted into host animals, HSPCs gave rise to adult-type erythroid cells with elevated HBG expression. Vectors containing ZF-Ldb1 were optimized for activity in cultured human and rhesus macaque erythroid cells. Upon transplantation into rhesus macaques, erythroid cells from HSPCs expressing ZF-Ldb1 displayed elevated HBG production. These findings in two animal models suggest that forced redirection of gene-regulatory elements may be used to alter gene expression to treat disease.

The primary objective of this research was to enhance the quality of semantic segmentation in cytology images by incorporating super-resolution (SR) architectures. An additional contribution was the development of a novel dataset aimed at improving imaging quality in the presence of inaccurate focus. Our experimental results demonstrate that the integration of SR techniques into the segmentation pipeline can lead to a significant improvement of up to 25% in the mean average precision (mAP) metric. These findings suggest that leveraging SR architectures holds great promise for advancing the state-of-the-art in cytology image analysis.

This volume is the result of a panel held in Warsaw on 8 and 9 June 2022, during the annual conference “Poles in the Near East” organized by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Faculty of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw. The panel, entitled “Marble Use, Trade, and Distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity”, consisted of 16 papers. Ten of them are included in the proceedings published herein as a special issue of the journal Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean.

This paper reviews the key studies concerning GNSS positioning and applications conducted at leading Polish research institutions from 2019 until 2022. The review also constitutes a contribution to the national report of Poland for the International Union of Geodesy and Geodynamics (IUGG) presented at the 28th General Assembly of IUGG held in 2023 in Berlin, Germany. In particular, we discuss the advances in theory and applications of relative and absolute positioning, troposphere and ionosphere sounding, smartphone and low-cost GNSS data processing, and other specific studies such as those on satellite antenna calibration and clock stability. In light of these recent advances by the Polish scientific community, continuous progress in GNSS theory and processing algorithms is thought to be maintained in the future, and GNSS applications are expected to continue to proliferate.

Microalgae provide valuable bio-components with economic and environmental benefits. The monitoring of microalgal production is mostly performed using different sensors and analytical methods that, although very powerful, are limited to qualified users. This study proposes an automated Raman spectroscopy-based sensor for the online monitoring of microalgal production. For this purpose, an in situ system with a sampling station was made of a light-tight optical chamber connected to a Raman probe. Microalgal cultures were routed to this chamber by pipes connected to pumps and valves controlled and programmed by a computer. The developed approach was evaluated on Parachlorella kessleri under different culture conditions at a laboratory and an industrial algal platform. As a result, more than 4000 Raman spectra were generated and analysed by statistical methods. These spectra reflected the physiological state of the cells and demonstrate the ability of the developed sensor to monitor the physiology of microalgal cells and their intracellular molecules of interest in a complex production environment.

Swarm electron density (Ne) observations from the Langmuir probe (LP) can detect ionospheric disturbances at the altitude of a satellite. Along-track satellite observations provide a large number of very short observations of different places in the ionosphere, where Ne is disturbed. Moreover, different perturbations occupy various Ne signal frequencies. Therefore, such short signals are more recognizable in two dimensions, where aside from their change in time, we can observe their diversity in the frequency domain. Spectral analysis is an essential tool applied here, as it enables signal decomposition and the recognition of composite patterns of Ne disturbances that occupy different frequencies. This study shows a high-resolution application of short-term Fourier transform (STFT) to Swarm Ne observations in the Papua New Guinea region in the vicinity of earthquakes, tsunamis, and related general seismic activity. The system of tectonic plate junctions, including the Pacific–Australian boundary, is located orthogonally to Swarm track footprints. The selected wavelengths of seismically induced ionospheric disturbances detected via Swarm are compared with the three sets of three-month records of seismic activity: in the winter solstice of 2016/2017, when seismic activity was highest, and in the summer solstice and vernal equinox of 2016, which were calmer. Moreover, more Swarm data records are analyzed at the same latitudes for validation purposes, in a place where there are no tectonic plate boundaries that are orthogonal to the Swarm orbital footprint. Additional validation is supplied through Swarm Ne observations from completely different latitudes, where the Swarm orbital footprint orthogonally crosses a different subducting plate boundary. Aside from the seismic energy, the solar radio flux (F10.7), equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), and geomagnetic ap and Dst indices are also reviewed here. Their influence on the ionospheric Ne is also found in Swarm observations. Finally, the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), applied to the pairs of 3-month time series created from Swarm Ne variations, seismic energy, ap, Dst, and F10.7, summarizes the graphical inspection of mutual correlations. It points to the predominant correlation of Swarm Ne disturbances with seismicity, especially during nighttime. We show that most of the Ne disturbances at a selected wavelength of 300 km correlate more with seismicity than with geomagnetic and solar indices. Therefore, Swarm LP can be assessed as being capable of observing the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) from the orbit.

Recent observations have shown that Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)affects the host through various mechanisms. While both weight loss and obesity have been reported in the SIBO population due to alterations in the gut microbiome, very little is known about the influence of SIBO type on body composition. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is a link between the three types of SIBO: methane dominant (M+), hydrogen dominant (H+), and methane–hydrogen dominant (H+/M+) and specific anthropometric parameters. This observational study included 67 participants (W = 53, M = 14) with gastrointestinal symptoms and SIBO confirmed by lactulose hydrogen–methane breath tests (LHMBTs) using the QuinTron device. Participants underwent a body composition assessment by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) using the InBody Analyzer. In the H+/M+ group, body weight (p = 0.010), BMI (p = 0.001), body fat in kg (p = 0.009), body fat in % (p = 0.040), visceral fat (p = 0.002), and mineral bone content (p = 0.049) showed an inverse correlation with hydrogen (H2) gas production. These findings suggest that body weight, BMI, body fat, and mineral bone content may be inversely linked to the production of hydrogen and the risk of hydrogen–methane SIBO.

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among US military veterans can adversely impact their concerned significant others (CSOs; eg, family members and romantic partners). Mobile apps can be tailored to support CSO mental health through psychoeducation, coping skills, and stress monitoring. ObjectiveThis study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of PTSD Family Coach 1.0, a free, publicly available app that includes psychoeducation, stress management tools, self-assessments, and features for connecting to alternative supports, compared with a psychoeducation-only version of the app for cohabitating CSOs of veterans with PTSD. MethodsA total of 200 participants with an average age of 39 (SD 8.44) years, primarily female (193/200, 97%), and White (160/200, 80%) were randomized to self-guided use of either PTSD Family Coach 1.0 (n=104) or a psychoeducation-only app (n=96) for 4 weeks. Caregiver burden, stress, depression, anxiety, beliefs about treatment, CSO self-efficacy, and relationship functioning assessed using measures of dyadic adjustment, social constraints, and communication danger signs were administered via a web survey at baseline and after treatment. User satisfaction and app helpfulness were assessed after treatment. Data were analyzed using linear mixed methods. ResultsOverall, 50.5% (101/200) of randomized participants used their allocated app. Participants found PTSD Family Coach 1.0 somewhat satisfying (mean 4.88, SD 1.11) and moderately helpful (mean 2.99, SD 0.97) to use. Linear mixed effects models revealed no significant differences in outcomes by condition for caregiver burden (P=.45; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.4), stress (P=.64; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI −0.4 to 0.6), depression (P=.93; Cohen d= 0.0, 95% CI −0.3 to 0.3), anxiety (P=.55; Cohen d=−0.1, 95% CI −0.4 to 0.2), beliefs about treatment (P=.71; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.3), partner self-efficacy (P=.59; Cohen d=−0.1, 95% CI −0.4 to 0.2), dyadic adjustment (P=.08; Cohen d=−0.2, 95% CI −0.5 to 0.0), social constraints (P=.05; Cohen d=0.3, 95% CI 0.0-0.6), or communication danger signs (P=.90; Cohen d=−0.0, 95% CI −0.3 to 0.3). Post hoc analyses collapsing across conditions revealed a significant between-group effect on stress for app users versus nonusers (β=−3.62; t281=−2.27; P=.02). ConclusionsApproximately half of the randomized participants never used their allocated app, and participants in the PTSD Family Coach 1.0 condition only opened the app approximately 4 times over 4 weeks, suggesting limitations to this app version’s feasibility. PTSD Family Coach 1.0 users reported moderately favorable impressions of the app, suggesting preliminary acceptability. Regarding efficacy, no significant difference was found between PTSD Family Coach 1.0 users and psychoeducation app users across any outcome of interest. Post hoc analyses suggested that app use regardless of treatment condition was associated with reduced stress. Further research that improves app feasibility and establishes efficacy in targeting the domains most relevant to CSOs is warranted. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02486705; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02486705

Inthis study, we introduce Point2Tree, a modular and versatile framework that employs a three-tiered methodology, inclusive of semantic segmentation, instance segmentation, and hyperparameter optimization analysis, designed to process laser point clouds in forestry. The semantic segmentation stage is built upon the Pointnet++ architecture and is primarily tasked with categorizing each point in the point cloud into meaningful groups or ’segments’, specifically in this context, differentiating between diverse tree parts, i.e., vegetation, stems, and coarse woody debris. The category for the ground is also provided. Semantic segmentation achieved an F1-score of 0.92, showing a high level of accuracy in classifying forest elements. In the instance segmentation stage, we further refine this process by identifying each tree as a unique entity. This process, which uses a graph-based approach, yielded an F1-score of approximately 0.6, signifying reasonable performance in delineating individual trees. The third stage involves a hyperparameter optimization analysis, conducted through a Bayesian strategy, which led to performance improvement of the overall framework by around four percentage points. Point2Tree was tested on two datasets, one from a managed boreal coniferous forest in Våler, Norway, with 16 plots chosen to cover a range of forest conditions. The modular design of the framework allows it to handle diverse pointcloud densities and types of terrestrial laser scanning data.

Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) have unique properties that make them suitable for various applications. In this study, we used a spray pyrolysis process to develop undoped ZnO and ZnO doped with Sn thin films on a glass substrate. We aimed to investigate the effect of Sn concentration on the optical, nonlinear optical, and structural properties of ZnO:Sn thin films. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the deposited ZnO thin films exhibit polycrystalline hexagonal structures well-oriented along the c-axis. The obtained films were transparent in the visible range, with a transmittance between 70% and 80%. The optical energy bandgap values for the films varied from 3.16 eV to 3.29 eV. We also determined the second- and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities, which decreased with increasing Sn concentration. We investigated the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-doped Sn thin films using methylene blue dye under visible light. Sn doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of ZnO thin films, with constant rate values of 0.00046 and 0.00074 min − 1 for ZnO and ZnO:Sn thin films, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, are the leading cause of decreased life expectancy and death in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although a lifestyle, which includes no tobacco use, good nutrition, and regular physical activity is touted as key to health, the environmental, racial, social and economic conditions, which underpin lifestyle are often ignored or considered only secondarily. Placing the main responsibility on a patient to change their lifestyle or to simply comply with pharmacological treatment ignores the specific conditions in which the individual lives. Furthermore, there are major disparities in access to both healthy living conditions as well as access to medical care. There is sufficient evidence to support advocating for policies that support healthy living, particularly healthy food choices. Progress is being made to improve the food environment with enactment of front of package nutritional labels. However, policies were enacted only after intense regional research and advocacy supporting their implementation. Government officials must rise above the pressures of commercial interests and support health-promoting policies or be exposed as self-interest groups themselves. Strong advocacy is required to persuade officials that all policies should take health into consideration both to improve lives and economies.