Artificial intelligence (AI) requires new ways of evaluating national technology use and strategy for African nations. We conduct a survey of existing “readiness” assessments both for general digital adoption and AI policy in particular. We conclude that existing global readiness assessments do not fully capture African states’ progress in AI readiness and lay the groundwork for how assessments can be better used for the African context. We consider the extent to which these indicators map to the African context and what these indicators miss in capturing African states’ on-the-ground work in meeting AI capability. Through case studies of four African nations of diverse geographic and economic dimensions, we identify nuances missed by global assessments and offer high-level policy considerations for how states can best improve their AI readiness standards and prepare their societies to capture the benefits of AI.

We report the case of a 16-year-old female with previously diagnosed bilateral sub-segmental pulmonary emboli who presented in cardiogenic shock from depressed biventricular function with cardiac MRI demonstrating concern for microvascular coronary injury. She was ultimately diagnosed with catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome-induced ischaemic cardiomyopathy, potentially associated with an underlying autoimmune connective tissue disease.

Declining labor force participation of older men throughout the 20th century and recent increases in participation have generated substantial interest in understanding the effect of public pensions on retirement. The National Bureau of Economic Research's International Social Security (ISS) Project, a long-term collaboration among researchers in a dozen developed countries, has explored this and related questions. The project employs a harmonized approach to conduct within-country analyses that are combined for meaningful cross-country comparisons. The key lesson is that the choices of policy makers affect the incentive to work at older ages and these incentives have important effects on retirement behavior.

Background: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major cause of sepsis among hospitalized neonates globally. Aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) skin antisepsis has been shown to be safe for use in infants; however, its sustained effectiveness in preventing Gram-negative pathogen colonization, bloodstream infection (BSI), and mortality is unclear. Methods: We conducted a period prevalence survey, with 26 sampling events over 12 months (18 October 2022 – 31 October 2023) at a 33-bed neonatal unit in a tertiary public hospital in Botswana where ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are leading causes of BSI. Perirectal and periumbilical skin swabs were collected every two weeks from all inpatients. Swabs were inoculated onto chromogenic media selective and differential for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and Acinetobacter spp. (CHROMagar™ ESBL, Acinetobacter). Colonization status was determined based on culture growth and colony morphology. Contemporaneous data on all-cause mortality and BSI were abstracted from routine surveillance records. Pre- and post-CHG prevalences were compared using a simple Chi-square test. During the surveillance period, an outbreak of K. pneumoniae linked to contaminated multi-use vials was detected, thus BSIs and deaths during the outbreak period (2 February–6 April, 2023) were excluded. In February 2023, the hospital infection prevention and control (IPC) team introduced twice-weekly whole-body cleansing with commercially available 2% aqueous CHG, performed by caregivers and healthcare workers on neonates >24 hours old and weighing ≥1 kg until discharge. Results: There were significant decreases in ESBL-E and Acinetobacter skin and perirectal colonization following the CHG intervention (Table 1; Figure 1). After the CHG intervention, the incidence of Acinetobacter BSIs declined significantly and there was a trend toward a decline in other BSIs and mortality. No adverse events associated with CHG were reported. Conclusions: Twice-weekly CHG application was temporally associated with significant reductions in neonatal ESBL-E and Actinetobacter skin and perirectal colonization and Acinetobacter BSI. This analysis was limited by a short pre-intervention surveillance period and thus may have been influenced by confounders such as seasonality, and intensified IPC efforts following the outbreak. Analysis of the routine CHG use in other settings and over longer surveillance periods are needed to better understand its effectiveness as an IPC strategy in settings where neonatal sepsis incidence is high. Table 1. Colonization prevalence, BSI incidence, and mortality surrounding introduction of CHG skin cleansing in a neonatal unit, 18 October 2022 – 31 October 2023.

The aim of this study was to assess whether adding Ca2+ to aggregate or native forms of β-lactoglobulin alters gut hormone secretion, gastric emptying rates and energy intake in healthy men and women. Fifteen healthy adults (mean ± sd: 9M/6F, age: 24 ± 5 years) completed four trials in a randomised, double-blind, crossover design. Participants consumed test drinks consisting of 30 g of β-lactoglobulin in a native form with (NATIVE + MINERALS) and without (NATIVE) a Ca2+-rich mineral supplement and in an aggregated form both with (AGGREG + MINERALS) and without the mineral supplement (AGGREG). Arterialised blood was sampled for 120 min postprandially to determine gut hormone concentrations. Gastric emptying was determined using 13C-acetate and 13C-octanoate, and energy intake was assessed with an ad libitum meal at 120 min. A protein × mineral interaction effect was observed for total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1TOTAL) incremental AUC (iAUC; P < 0·01), whereby MINERALS + AGGREG increased GLP-1TOTAL iAUC to a greater extent than AGGREG (1882 ± 603 v. 1550 ± 456 pmol·l−1·120 min, P < 0·01), but MINERALS + NATIVE did not meaningfully alter the GLP-1 iAUC compared with NATIVE (1669 ± 547 v. 1844 ± 550 pmol·l−1·120 min, P = 0·09). A protein × minerals interaction effect was also observed for gastric emptying half-life (P < 0·01) whereby MINERALS + NATIVE increased gastric emptying half-life compared with NATIVE (83 ± 14 v. 71 ± 8 min, P < 0·01), whereas no meaningful differences were observed between MINERALS + AGGREG v. AGGREG (P = 0·70). These did not result in any meaningful changes in energy intake (protein × minerals interaction, P = 0·06). These data suggest that the potential for Ca2+ to stimulate GLP-1 secretion at moderate protein doses may depend on protein form. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04659902).

To investigate the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, their dynamics and their discriminatory power for the disease using longitudinally, prospectively collected information reported at the time of their occurrence. We have analysed data from a large phase 3 clinical UK COVID-19 vaccine trial. The alpha variant was the predominant strain. Participants were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 infection via nasal/throat PCR at recruitment, vaccination appointments, and when symptomatic. Statistical techniques were implemented to infer estimates representative of the UK population, accounting for multiple symptomatic episodes associated with one individual. An optimal diagnostic model for SARS-CoV-2 infection was derived. The 4-month prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 2.1%; increasing to 19.4% (16.0%–22.7%) in participants reporting loss of appetite and 31.9% (27.1%–36.8%) in those with anosmia/ageusia. The model identified anosmia and/or ageusia, fever, congestion, and cough to be significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms’ dynamics were vastly different in the two groups; after a slow start peaking later and lasting longer in PCR+ participants, whilst exhibiting a consistent decline in PCR- participants, with, on average, fewer than 3 days of symptoms reported. Anosmia/ageusia peaked late in confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (day 12), indicating a low discrimination power for early disease diagnosis.

This article provides an analysis of the potential danger to a president’s policy agenda that comes from appointing a sitting elected official to the cabinet. We present historical data on cabinet secretaries since the founding and demonstrate that concerns about seats falling to the other party following the appointment of an elected official to the cabinet date back at least to Martin Van Buren’s establishment of the first American mass political party in 1828. We then focus on the post-Seventeenth Amendment cabinet and show that almost 30 percent of cabinet secretaries in this era who were elected officials at the time of their appointment left seats that flipped to the other party by the next regular general election. We conclude by discussing how our results compare with Alexander Hamilton, Martin Van Buren, and Woodrow Wilson’s differing views on the cabinet and the implications for the president’s policy agenda.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has emerged as a major cause of bloodstream infection among hospitalized patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). CRAB infections can be difficult to treat and are devastating in neonates (~30% mortality). CRAB outbreaks are hypothesized to arise from reservoirs in the hospital environment, but outbreak investigations in LMICs seldom incorporate whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Methods: WGS (Illumina NextSeq) was performed at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (South Africa) on 43 preserved A. baumannii isolates from a 530-bed referral hospital in Gaborone, Botswana, from March 2021–August 2022. This included 23 blood-culture isolates from 21 unique patients (aged 2 days–69 years) and 20 environmental isolates collected at the 36-bed neonatal unit in April–June 2021. Infections were considered healthcare-associated if the culture was obtained >72 hours after hospital arrival (or sooner in inborn infants). Blood cultures were incubated using an automated system (BACT/ALERT, BioMérieux) and were identified using manual methods. Environmental isolates were identified using selective or differential chromogenic media (CHROMagarTM). Taxonomic assignment, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), antimicrobial resistance gene identification, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using publicly accessible analysis pipelines. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) matrices were used to assess clonal lineage. Results: All 23 blood isolates and 5 (25%) of 20 environmental isolates were confirmed as A. baumannii; thus, 28 A. baumannii isolates were included in the phylogenetic analysis. MLST revealed that 22 (79%) of 28 isolates were sequence type 1 (ST1), including all 19 healthcare-associated blood isolates and 3 (60%) of 5 environmental isolates. Genes encoding for carbapenemases (blaNDM-1, blaOXA-23) and biocide resistance (qacE) were present in all 22 ST1 isolates; colistin resistance genes were not identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the ST1 clade demonstrated spatial clustering by hospital unit. Related isolates spanned wide ranges in time (>1 year), suggesting ongoing transmission from environmental sources (Fig. 1). An exclusively neonatal clade (0–2 SNPs) containing all 8 neonatal blood isolates was closely associated with 3 environmental isolates from the neonatal unit: a sink drain, bed rail, and a healthcare worker’s hand. Conclusions: WGS analysis of clinical and environmental A. baumannii revealed the presence of unit-specific CRAB clones, with evidence of ongoing transmission likely driven by persistent environmental reservoirs. This research highlights the potential of WGS to detect hospital outbreaks and reaffirms the importance of environmental sampling to identify and remediate reservoirs (eg, sinks) and vehicles (eg, hands and equipment) within the healthcare environment.

Disclosures: None

To increase inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility in Antarctic science, we must build more positive and inclusive Antarctic field work environments. The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) has engaged in efforts to contribute to that goal through a variety of activities since 2018, including creating an open-access ‘Field and Ship Best Practices’ guide, engaging in pre-field season team dynamics meetings, and surveying post-field season reflections and experiences. We report specific actions taken by ITGC and their outcomes. We found that strong and supported early career researchers brought new and important perspectives regarding strategies for transforming culture. We discovered that engaged and involved senior leadership was also critical for expanding participation and securing funding to support efforts. Pre-field discussions involving all field team members were particularly helpful for setting expectations, improving sense of belonging, describing field work best practices, and co-creating a positive work culture.

In a survey of infection prevention programs, leaders reported frequent clinical and infection prevention practice modifications to avoid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure that exceeded national guidance. Future pandemic responses should emphasize balanced approaches to precautions, prioritize educational campaigns to manage safety concerns, and generate an evidence-base that can guide appropriate infection prevention practices.