Background: In conflict-afflicted areas, pregnant women and newborns often have higher rates of adverse health outcomes. Objective: To describe maternal and child health indicators and interventions between 1998 and 2016 comparing high and low conflict areas in Colombia. Methods: Mixed study of convergent triangulation. In the quantitative component, 16 indicators were calculated using official, secondary data sources. The victimization rate resulting from armed conflict was calculated by municipality and grouped into quintiles. In the qualitative component, a comparative case study was carried out in two municipalities of Antioquia: one with high rates of armed conflict and another with low rates. A total of 41 interviews and 8 focus groups were held with local and national government officials, health professionals, community informants, UN agencies and NGOs. Results: All of the indicators show improvement, however, four show statistically significant differences between municipalities with high victimization rates versus low ones. The maternal mortality ratio was higher in the municipalities with greater victimization in the periods 1998-2004, 2005-2011 and 2012-2016. The percentage of cesarean births and women who received four or more antenatal visits was lower among women who experienced the highest levels of victimization for the period 1998-2000, while the fertility rate for women between 15 and 19 years was higher in these municipalities between 2012 and 2016. In the context of the armed conflict in Colombia, maternal and child health was affected by the limited availability of interventions given the lack of human resources in health, supplies, geographical access difficulties and insecurity. The national government was the one that mostly provided the programs, with difficulties in continuity and quality. UN Agencies and NGOs accessed more easily remote and intense armed conflict areas. Few specific health interventions were identified in the postconflict context. Conclusions: In Colombia, maternal and child health indicators have improved since the conflict, however a pattern of inequality is observed in the municipalities most affected by the armed conflict.

New hybrid waterborne polyurethane/acrylate (WPUA) dispersions were synthesized by grafting with bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) in order to create chemical bonds between polyurethane and polyacrylate chains. WPUAs were prepared by using prepolymer self-emulsifying method with isophorone diisocianate, poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol, dimethylolpropionic acid, and ethylenediamine in the polyurethanic part, and styrene and n-butyl acrylate in the polyacrylate portion. A redox pair system consisting of ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide were used as polymerization initiator. The particle size of the WPUA dispersions increased by increasing the Bis-GMA/1,4 butanediol ratio, stable dispersions of negatively charged particles were obtained, and they had low viscosity (around 1.3 mPa.s) in spite of the relatively high solids content (27 wt%). Higher thermal stability was obtained when 50 mol% of chain extension was carried out with Bis-GMA. Using Bis-GMA/BD, instead of HEMA, as grafting agent, allowed obtaining hybrid polyurethane dispersions with the lowest mean particle size and better colloidal stability. Finally, the addition of 35 wt% Bis-GMA increased noticeably the cross-cut adhesion of polyurethane/acrylate coatings to stainless steel.

We report synthesis, structure, electrical transport, and heat capacity of SmFeAsO. The title compound is synthesized by one-step encapsulation of stoichiometric FeAs, Sm, and Sm 2 O 3 in an evacuated ͑10−5 Torr͒ quartz tube by prolong ͑72 h͒ annealing at 1100°C. The as-synthesized compound is crystallized in tetragonal structure with P4 / nmm space group having lattice parameters a = 3.937 26͑33͒ A and c = 8.498 02͑07͒ A. The resistance ͑R-T͒ measurements on the compound exhibited ground state spin-density-wave ͑SDW͒-like metallic steps below 140 K. Heat capacity C P ͑T͒ measurements on the title compound, showed an anomaly at around 140 K, which is reminiscent of the SDW ordering of the compound. At lower temperatures the C P ͑T͒ shows a clear peak at around 4.5 K. At lower temperature below 20 K, C p ͑T͒ is also measured under an applied field of 7 T. It is concluded that the C P ͑T͒ peak at 4.5 K is due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of Sm 3+ spins. These results are in confirmation with ordering of Sm in Sm 2−x Ce x CuO 4 .

The superconductivity of MgB 2 , AlB 2 , NbB 2+x , and TaB 2+x is intercompared. The stretched c-lattice parameter ͑c = 3.52 Å͒ of MgB 2 in comparison to NbB 2.4 ͑c = 3.32 Å͒ and AlB 2 ͑c = 3.25 Å͒ decides empirically the population of their and bands and as a result their transition temperature T c values, respectively, at 39 and 9.5 K for the first two and no superconductivity for the later. The nonstoichiometry induces an increase in c parameter with Boron excess both in NbB 2+x and TaB 2+x . Magnetization ͑M-T͒ and resistivity measurements ͑ -T͒ in case of niobium boride samples show the absence of superconductivity in stoichiometric NbB 2 sample ͑c = 3.26 Å͒ while a clear diamagnetic signal and a = 0 transition for boron excess NbB 2+x samples. On the other hand, superconductivity is not achieved in TaB 2+x case. The probable reason behind is the comparatively lesser or insufficient stretching of c parameter.