[Accepted Manuscript] Drivers of health system strengthening: learning from implementation of maternal and child health programmes in Mozambique, Nepal and Rwanda.

There is a growing understanding that strong health systems are crucial to sustain progress. Health systems, however, are complex and much of their success depends on factors operating at different levels and outside the health system, including broader governance and political commitment to health and social development priorities. Recognizing these complexities, this article offers a pragmatic approach to exploring the drivers of progress in maternal and child health in Mozambique, Nepal and Rwanda. To do this, the article builds on a semi-systematic literature review and case study findings, designed and analysed using a multi-level framework. At the macro level, governance with effective and committed leaders was found to be vital for achieving positive health outcomes. This was underpinned by clear commitment from donors coupled by a significant increase in funding to the health sector. At the meso level, where policies are operationalized, inter-sectoral partnerships as well as decentralization and task-shifting emerged as critical. At micro (service interface) level, community-centred models and accessible and appropriately trained and incentivized local health providers play a central role in all study countries. The key drivers of progress are multiple, interrelated and transversal in terms of their operation; they are also in a constant state of flux as health systems and contexts develop. Without seeking to offer a blueprint, the study demonstrates that a 'whole-system' approach can help elicit the key drivers of change and potential pathways towards desirable outcomes. Furthermore, understanding the challenges and opportunities that are instrumental to progress at each particular level of a health system can help policy-makers and implementers to navigate this complexity and take action to strengthen health systems

Heat-capacity anomalies at TscT_{sc} and T∗T^{*} in the ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2_2

The heat-capacity and magnetization measurements under high pressure have been carried out in a ferromagnetic superconductor UGe$_2$. Both measurements were done using a same pressure cell in order to obtain both data for one pressure. Contrary to the heat capacity at ambient pressure, an anomaly is found in the heat capacity at the characteristic temperature $T^{*}$ where the magnetization shows an anomalous enhancement under high pressure where the superconductivity appears. This suggests that a thermodynamic phase transition takes place at $T^{*}$ at least under high pressure slightly below $P_{c}^{*}$ where $T^{*}$ becomes zero. The heat-capacity anomaly associated with the superconducting transition is also investigated, where a clear peak of $C/T$ is observed in a narrow pressure region ($\Delta P \sim 0.1$ GPa) around $P_{c}^{*}$ contrary to the previous results of the resistivity measurement. Present results suggest the importance of the thermodynamic critical point $P_{c}^{*}$ for the appearance of the superconductivity.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Communication

Efecto del ácido indolbutírico sobre el enraizamiento de acodos aéreos de guayabo (Psidium guajava L.) en el municipio Baralt, Venezuela. Evaluación preliminar

The air layer represents an alternative for asexual propagation. The effect of indole butyric acid (IBA) on the air layer rooting in guava (Psidium guajava L.) in Baralt County, Zulia state, Venezuela was evaluated. Air layer were completed in semi-lignified branches in active growth, of guava variants with White and Red meso or endocarp. Substrate was phenolic foam+coconut coit fiber (1:1) and four concentrations of IBA (0, 2000, 4000 and 6000 mg·kg-1) were evaluated, by following a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 2x4 and two and four replications. Eleven weeks after air layers were made, the percentage of live (LL), and rooting layers (RL) and with callus formation (CL), root number per layer (RNL) and length of longest root (LLR). An analysis of variance and mean comparison were accomplished. There was not significant effect for RL, RLN and LLR; however, had 20.83% of RL, the RLN was 0.96 of air layers and LLR was of 8.73 mm in average. The LL percentages were between 20.83 and 62.50% for 4000 mg·kg-1 of IBA and control, for CL between 0.00 and 25.00% for 6000 mg·kg-1 and control, respectively, with statistical differences (P<0.045) in both cases. It is conclude that in selected guava variants and concentration of IBA used did not promote adequately the air layers rooting.El acodo aéreo representa una alternativa para la propagación vegetativa de plantas, a través del cual se obtienen individuos uniformes; partiendo de ramas de similar forma y edad, asegurando de esta manera la propagación clonal, aspecto de gran relevancia especialmente en especies frutales. Por ello se evaluó el efecto del ácido indolbutírico (AIB) sobre el enraizamiento de acodos aéreos en plantas de guayabo (Psidium guajava L.) en el municipio Baralt, estado Zulia, Venezuela. Los acodos se realizaron en ramas semi-lignificadas en activo crecimiento, de variantes de guayabo con meso y endocarpio Blanco o Rojo, utilizando como sustrato espuma fenólica + viruta de coco (1:1). Se evaluaron cuatro concentraciones de AIB (0, 2000, 4000 y 6000 mg·kg-1), bajo un diseño experimental totalmente al azar con arreglo de tratamientos factorial 2x4 con dos y cuatro repeticiones. Once semanas después de realizados los acodos se evaluó el porcentaje de acodos vivos (AV), acodos enraizados (AE) y acodos con formación de callo (AC), número de raíces por acodo (NRA) y longitud de la raíz más larga (LRL). No hubo efecto significativo para AE, NRA y LRL por efecto de la variante y de la concentración de AIB; no obstante, hubo 20,83% de AE, el NRA fue de 0,96 por acodo y la LRL fue de 8,73 mm en promedio. Los porcentajes de AV estuvieron entre 20,83 y 62,50% para 4000 mg·kg-1 de AIB y el testigo, para AC entre 0,00 y 25,00% para 6000 mg·kg-1 y el testigo, respectivamente, con diferencias estadísticas (P<0,04) en ambos casos. Se concluye que en las variantes de guayabo seleccionadas y las concentraciones de AIB utilizadas no promovieron adecuadamente el enraizamiento de acodos aéreos

Appendix A. Supplementary data. Supplementary information: Early-stage analysis of a novel insulation material based on MPCM-doped cementitious foam: Modelling of properties, identification of production process hotspots and exploration of performance trade-offs

Multimedia component 1. S1. Costs used for LCCA calculations S2. Details of the modelling approach used in the dynamic part of the study S2.1. Parameters used for finding a Pareto frontier using gamultiobj Matlab function S2.2. Physical parameters of the components used for the calculations and modelling in this studyPeer reviewe

Early-stage analysis of a novel insulation material based on MPCM-doped cementitious foam: Modelling of properties, identification of production process hotspots and exploration of performance trade-offs

This study presents an early-stage design exploration of NRG-Foam, an innovative insulation material composed of cementitious foam doped with microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs). The study comprises the static part that utilizes life cycle assessment and life cycle costing assessment for getting insight into the impacts of the NRG-Foam production process and the dynamic part that identifies the trade-offs between performance characteristics of NRG-Foam using multi-objective optimization. The production of MPCMs was found to be a major contributor to environmental impacts while the addition of small amounts of reduced graphene oxide amplifies the impacts even further. The hot spot analysis pinpointed high electricity consumption as the main driver of environmental impacts. A multi-objective optimization analysis revealed trade-offs between performance characteristics, emphasizing the necessity of compromises during material development. The selection of the MPCM type was shown to be determinative of the final properties of NRG-Foam.This research was funded by the European Commission NRG-STORAGE project (project no. GA 870114).Peer reviewe

Early-stage analysis of a novel insulation material based on MPCM-doped cementitious foam: Modelling of properties, identification of production process hotspots and exploration of performance trade-offs

This study presents an early-stage design exploration of NRG-Foam, an innovative insulation material composed of cementitious foam doped with microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs). The study comprises the static part that utilizes life cycle assessment and life cycle costing assessment for getting insight into the impacts of the NRG-Foam production process and the dynamic part that identifies the trade-offs between performance characteristics of NRG-Foam using multi-objective optimization. The production of MPCMs was found to be a major contributor to environmental impacts while the addition of small amounts of reduced graphene oxide amplifies the impacts even further. The hot spot analysis pinpointed high electricity consumption as the main driver of environmental impacts. A multi-objective optimization analysis revealed trade-offs between performance characteristics, emphasizing the necessity of compromises during material development. The selection of the MPCM type was shown to be determinative of the final properties of NRG-Foam.Materials and Environmen