Effects of NaB2O4:Mn2+ and Ba2Li2Si2O7:Sn3+,Mn2+ phosphors and remote structure organizations on the white light-emitting diodes with quantum dots and phosphors

In order to increase the optical features of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs), quantum dots (QDs) and phosphor materials have been proposed because of outstanding performance. The configuration of WLEDs with QDs layer and phosphor-silicone layer suggested placing these components separately to limit light loss, and enhance consistency at contact surface of QDs. In this research, the effects of QDs and phosphor on the performance of WLEDs are concluded through experiments. The emitted light and PL spectra were examined thoroughly, and infrared thermal imagers were applied to simulate the heat generation of an actual WLED device. The results show that with the configuration of 60 mA energy source, WLEDs which has the QDs-on-phosphor form attained luminous efficiency (LE) of 110 lm/W, with color rendering index (CRI) of Ra=92 and R9=80, whereas the WLEDs which has the phosphor-on-QDs form only has 68 lm/W in LE, Ra=57 and R9=24. Furthermore, WLEDs which has the QDs-on-phosphor form has less high temperature generated at the components’ conjunction in comparison to the counterpart, the peak generated heat in QDs-on-phosphor WLEDs is also lower and the heating capacity gap between 2 structures can go up to 12.3°C.

Capacity development in household surveys experience from the centre for development data training initiative

Household surveys remain the major source of official statistics for monitoring development policies particularly in developing countries. In the context of rapid developments in data needs, extensive methodological work, data processing and use at national and international levels and a remaining capacity gap despite efforts for statistical capacity building in last decade, it is critical for training centers to keep up to speed with international best practices. This paper show that the approach of the Centre for Development Data Training initiative (C4D2 Training Initiative) is highly effective and stand to have a long-term impact on household survey capacity in Africa region. It is made of several components all of which aim to bolster capacity development in the region. It harmonizes and improves the quality and sustainability of training on household surveys through increased local capacity and greater dissemination of best practices, creates a network among participants and trainers to facilitate knowledge exchange on best practices as well as survey harmonization across countries. Taking advantage of benefits, the initiative should endeavor other regions subject to their interest and embrace the use of virtual and web-based training.

The Impact of Upcoming Treatments in Huntington’s Disease: Resource Capacity Limitations and Access to Care Implications

Background: The most advanced disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in development for Huntington’s disease (HD) require intrathecal (IT) administration, which may create or exacerbate bottlenecks in resource capacity. Objective: To understand the readiness of healthcare systems for intrathecally administered HD DMTs in terms of resource capacity dynamics and implications for patients’ access to treatment. Methods: Forty HD centres across 12 countries were included. Qualitative and quantitative data on current capacity in HD centres and anticipated capacity needs following availability of a DMT were gathered via interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Data modelling was used to estimate the current capacity gap in HD centres. Results: From interviews with 218 HCPs, 25% of HD centres are estimated to have the three components required for IT administration (proceduralists, nurses and facilities). On average, 114 patients per centre per year are anticipated to receive intrathecally administered DMTs in the future. At current capacity, six of the sampled centres are estimated to be able to deliver DMTs to all the anticipated patients based on current resources. The estimated waiting list for IT administration at current capacity will average 60 months (5 years) by the second year after DMT availability. Conclusion: Additional resources are needed in HD centres for future DMTs to be accessible to all anticipated patients. Timely collaboration by the HD community will be needed to address capacity gaps. Healthcare policymakers and payers will need to address costs and navigate challenges arising from country- or region-specific healthcare delivery schemes.

Nepal’s Post Pandemic Diplomacy

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of priortising health and other social and environmental issues and treating them as national security concerns. Taking a small state policy capacity approach-a small state’s ability to make informed policy decisions, this article looks at the nascent efforts being made to pursue regional cooperation in dealing with non-conventional threats in South Asia; and both implications and opportunities for Nepal to diversify its diplomatic engagement with a view to bridging its own domestic capacity gap-heightened by the pandemic. This analytical article argues that this is the right time for Nepal to reframe the issue of health and other emergencies, recalibrate the roles of its domestic institutions and diversify its diplomacy with the regional players and pivotal middle powers for building domestic capacity.

Needs driven talent and competency development for the next generation of regulatory scientists in Africa

There is a critical skills gap on the African continent in regulatory sciences, and an acknowledged need to develop a long-term strategy for training and professional development of African regulatory personnel. Capacity building programs for African regulators should link education, training and research with career development in an approach that combines an academic base and experiential learning aligned within a competency framework. A regulatory ecosystem that engages with a broad range of stakeholders will mean that expertise in the ever-expanding field of regulatory science filters into teaching and research in a symbiotic way. In this way capacity development interventions will be a collaborative approach between the learning context (academic and training institutions) and the performance context (regulatory agencies and industry), which will ultimately best serve the patients. Monitoring and evaluation of capacity development interventions will be essential to show value of investments and ultimately guide continued funding and sustainability. This paper reviews the skills and human capacity gap and outlines a staged tactical approach for Africa that builds on previous efforts to strengthen African regulatory ecosystems.

The European Union and the Liberal International Order in the Age of ‘America First’: Attempted Hedging and the Willingness-Capacity Gap

The crisis of the Liberal International Order (LIO) has resulted in, and been amplified by, the unilateral turn taken by the United States (US) under the Trump presidency. In this sense, ‘America First’ resulted in revisionism by the system leader vis-à-vis an order the US created and led for decades. This shift away from a historical US liberal hegemony has been even more consequential as it resulted in a leadership crisis and translated into episodes of rupture within the transatlantic community, which constitutes the backbone of the LIO. While the European Union (EU) initially positioned itself as a follower of the US, today it appears to oppose American ‘illiberalism’ through its rhetoric of ‘principled pragmatism’, expressed in an increasing number of issues. Building on the concept of leadership, this article analyses whether and to what extent the EU has the willingness to uphold LIO leadership and to what extent it is strategically equipped to do so. Following an analysis of the 2003 European Security Strategy and 2016 EU Global Strategy in order to comprehend better the EU’s relationship with the LIO and its willingness to lead, the article builds on two brief case studies: the America First trade policy and the Iran nuclear agreement. In turn, this facilitates examination of the EU’s capacity to lead and determination of the extent to which this leadership is accepted by other actors. The article argues that, while being limited by American preponderance over international issues, the EU is faced with a willingness-capacity gap but still attempts to uphold the LIO through pragmatic leadership by hedging.

Capacity development for urban water senior staff members, stakeholders and influencers in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in Ghana

It is expected that adequate quantity and quality of service delivery is one of the preconditions that contributes to safe water and sanitation delivery. Yet the human resource gap in WATSAN sector is relatively unknown (S. Cavill & D. Saywell, 2009). This paper outlines a piece of research that was conducted to provide a reliable skill gap assessment and building solution in Ghana to national water utility provider staff members, stakeholders and influencers.The Purpose of the Research is to undertake Training Needs Analysis that will be followed up with Capacity Gap Assessment and Enhancement in urban water management and service delivery in Accra and Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, GhanaThe research found significant relationship between staff, stakeholders and influences service quality delivery and customer satisfaction. Therefore, the study was followed up with staff, stakeholders and influencer’s capacity building initiatives and motivation techniques, communication skills, cost reduction strategies, assets maintenance, billing cycles, monitoring and evaluation as panacea to quality service delivery. Furthermore, the study recommended that the management, influencers and stakeholders should reexamine and re programme the organization’s conceptual framework, vision, mission and operations such as their customer data base system to capture their customer’s profiles and needs so as to deliver customer focused services.Key Words: WATSAN, Utility, Influencers, Service Delivery, Customer, Staff, Stakeholders, Capacity, Ghana

Urban Infrastructure

Infrastructure has an indispensable, positive role in development. There has been much written about the role of urban infrastructure: besides its function of raising the productivity of labor and capital, infrastructure contributes to the welfare of households. Its provision is a lengthy process of financing, construction, and maintenance that involves a multitude of players. With accelerating urbanization, every year developing countries invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new infrastructure, with sizeable portion in transport, power, telecommunications, and water supply and sanitation. For this reason, this entry focuses on these four sectors of urban infrastructure in the context of developing countries and its various regions, while incorporating an understanding of the fundamental role of urban infrastructure for growth and development. To study urban infrastructure in emerging markets and developing economies means grasping the multiple frameworks for infrastructure provision and financing mechanisms, as well as considering the growing arena of private participation in infrastructure. Furthermore, the literature is examining several pressing challenges, such as the infrastructure investment gap and infrastructure capacity gap. Simply, the infrastructure investment gap highlights the financing shortfalls for new infrastructure development and rehabilitation of existing projects. The infrastructure capacity gap primarily recognizes the existing shortages of the necessary infrastructure as well as the institutional shortfalls that limit options for both policymakers and investors. The selected articles demonstrate how these core challenges are addressed through regionally and sector-specific processes of urban infrastructure planning, financing, and service delivery.