An approach to classifying human resources constraints to attaining health-related Millennium Development Goals

BACKGROUND: For any wide-ranging effort to scale up health-related priority interventions, human resources for health (HRH) are likely to be a key to success. This study explores constraints related to human resources in the health sector for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in low-income countries. METHODS AND FRAMEWORK: The analysis drew on information from a variety of publicly-available sources and principally on data presented in published papers in peer-reviewed journals. For classifying HRH constraints an analytical framework was used that considers constraints at five levels: individual characteristics, the health service delivery level, the health sector level, training capacities and the sociopolitical and economic context of a country. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: At individual level, the decision to enter, remain and serve in the health sector workforce is influenced by a series of social, economic, cultural and gender-related determinants. For example, to cover the health needs of the poorest it is necessary to employ personnel with specific social, ethnic and cultural characteristics. At health-service level, the commitment of health staff is determined by a number of organizational and management factors. The workplace environment has a great impact not only on health worker performance, but also on the comprehensiveness and efficiency of health service delivery. At health-sector level, the use of monetary and nonmonetary incentives is of crucial importance for having the accurate skill mix at the appropriate place. Scaling up of priority interventions is likely to require significant investments in initial and continuous training. Given the lead time required to produce new health workers, such investments must occur in the early phases of scaling up. At the same time coherent national HRH policies are required for giving direction on HRH development and linking HRH into health-sector reform issues, the scaling-up of priority interventions, poverty reduction strategies, and training approaches. Multisectoral collaboration and the sociopolitical and economic context of a country determine health sector workforce development and potential emigration. CONCLUSIONS: Key determinants of success for achieving international development goals are closely related to human-resource development

Synthesis, structure and spectroscopic properties of bis(triphenylphosphane)iminium (chlorido)(cyanido) argentates(I)

Four new compounds containing the (chlorido)((2-x))(cyanido)(x)argentate(I) anion (x = 2, 1.63, 1 and 0.5) are reported. Their solid-state structures with the monocation PPN, bis(triphenylphosphane) iminium, are described; in a few cases the products also contain solvent molecules. The compounds have the formula (PPN)(2)[Ag2Cl3(CN)], (PPN)[Ag(CN)Cl](CH2Cl2) and (PPN)[Ag(CN)(1.63)Cl-0.37](hexane)(0.5) and (PPN)[Ag(CN)(2)] (CH2Cl2). Apart from the molecular structures and the synthetic process, also the solid-state luminescence has been studied.In the case of (PPN)(2)[Ag2Cl3(CN)], the silver ions are pseudo-trigonally coordinated, with 2 chloride bridges between the Ag+ ions. The terminal Cl and terminal CN ligands are disordered over two positions, but only a single C-13 NMR signal is observed for the cyanide ligands of this compound. The compound (PPN)[Ag(CN)(2)] serves as a reference compound and contains the linear [Ag(CN)(2)] unit.The compound with CN/Cl = 1.0 shows disorder of the [AgCl(CN)] unit, and also in the compounds with other CN/Cl ratios, disorder among the Cl - and CN - ligands is seen. The Ag+ ion is linearly coordinated by two ligands in these two cases, and for cyanides normal Ag-C bond lengths are observed in both cases (1.97-1.99 angstrom). The [Ag(CN)(2)] anion is linear and uneventful. The PPN cation has normal bond lengths in all 4 compounds and no short contacts with other atoms in the lattice are observed. The luminescence properties of the new compounds were explored as solid powders. Only one of the compounds (compound 2, with x = 1) shows luminescence under excitation. The other three compounds do not show emission when irradiated at 320 nm, 350 nm or 380 nm. (C) 2015 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Material

Synthesis, structure and spectroscopic properties of bis(triphenylphosphane)iminium (phenylacetylido)(cyanido)aurate(I) monoacetone monohydrate, (PPN)[Au(C N)(C C-C6FH5)]center dot H2O center dot(CH3)(2)CO and bis(triphenylphosphane)iminium (t-butylacetylido) (cyanido)aurate(I) monohydrate, (PPN)[Au(C N)(C C-C4H9)]center dot H2O

Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Material

Electron-rich pyridines with para-N-heterocyclic imine substituents: ligand properties and coordination to CO2, SO2, BCl3 and PdII complexes†

<jats:p>N-heterocyclic imine groups significantly increase the donor strength of pyridines and their propensity to form complexes with Lewis acids.</jats:p&gt

Tunable Porosities and Shapes of Fullerene-Like Spheres

The formation of reversible switchable nanostructures monitored by solution and solid-state methods is still a challenge in supramolecular chemistry. By a comprehensive solid state and solution study we demonstrate the potential of the fivefold symmetrical building block of pentaphosphaferrocene in combination with CuI halides to switch between spheres of different porosity and shape. With increasing amount of CuX, the structures of the formed supramolecules change from incomplete to complete spherically shaped fullerene-like assemblies possessing an Ih-C80 topology at one side and to a tetrahedral-structured aggregate at the other. In the solid state, the formed nano-sized aggregates reach an outer diameter of 3.14 and 3.56 nm, respectively. This feature is used to reversibly encapsulate and release guest molecules in solution

Tetrahedrally coordinated luminescent copper(I) compounds containing halide, phosphane and norharmane ligands

Three isomorphous compounds have been prepared, i.e. [Cu-I(PPh3)(2)(Hnor)(I)], [Cu-I(PPh3)(2)(Hnor)Cl] and [Cu-I(PPh3)(2)(Hnor)Br]. The compounds are tetrahedrally coordinated, as deduced from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the iodide compound. The chloride and bromide compounds were found to be isomorphous. Significant twinning hampered a detailed X-ray diffraction study of the bromide derivative. All three compounds are highly luminescent in the solid state at room temperature and at 100 K. In addition, in acetonitrile (solution) at room temperature the compounds are luminescent. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Material

Photoswitchable electron-rich phosphines: using light to modulate the electron-donating ability of phosphines

The synthesis and properties of photoswitchable electron-rich phosphines containing N-heterocyclic imines equipped with a photochromic dithienylethene unit are reported.The synthesis and properties of photoswitchable electron-rich phosphines containing N-heterocyclic imines equipped with a photochromic dithienylethene unit are reported. Heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and UV/vis studies reveal that the imine substituents undergo reversible electrocyclic ring-closing and ring-opening reactions upon exposure to UV and visible light, respectively. The photoisomerization alters the electron-donating ability of the phosphines by up to ΔTEP = 8 cm −1 .Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes https://doi.org/10.13039/50110000435