The Role of Multilateral Finance and the Environment: A View from the World Bank

Dr. Steer and Mr. Mason begin by noting that since fundingfor the Rio Earth Summit agreements has not been forthcoming, multilateralfinanciailn stitutions (MFIs) have taken responsibilityf or advancing the environmental agenda set forth at the Summit. Dr. Steer and Mr. Mason note that MFIs furnish three crucial functions in implementing the global environmental agenda. First, MFIs are able to target investments in developing countries that involve important environmental issues. Second, MFIs are able to support policy reforms within developing countries to ensure environmental standards and issues are properly addressed. Finally, MFIs can multiply a small amount offunding into a significant amount. While developing countries are beginning to acknowledge the relationship between economic progress and environmental sustainability, MFIs, according to Dr. Steer and Mr. Mason, are presented with several challenges to continue advocating this relationshipf or the future

Studies on the prebiotic origin of 2-deoxy-D-ribose

This research attempts to provide a possible explanation to the chemical origin of 2-deoxy-D-ribose via an aldol reaction of acetaldehyde and D-glyceraldehyde. The sugar mixture is trapped with N,N-diphenylhydrazine for ease of purification and characterisation. The reaction is promoted by amino acids, amino esters and amino nitriles consistently giving selectivities in favour of 2-deoxy-D-ribose. This is the first example of an amino nitrile-promoted reaction. The research is developed further by exploring the formation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose in a "protocell" environment - a primitive cell. Here we suggest that primitive cells may have been simple hydrogel systems. A discussion of the characterisation and catalytic ability of small peptide-based structures is included

Prospective surveillance of invasive group a streptococcal disease, Fiji, 2005-2007.

We undertook a prospective active surveillance study of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease in Fiji over a 23-month period, 2005-2007. We identified 64 cases of invasive GAS disease, which represents an average annualized all-ages incidence of 9.9 cases/100,000 population per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.6-12.6). Rates were highest in those >65 years of age and in those <5 years, particularly in infants, for whom the incidence was 44.9/100,000 (95% CI 18.1-92.5). The case-fatality rate was 32% and was associated with increasing age and underlying coexisting disease, including diabetes and renal disease. Fifty-five of the GAS isolates underwent emm sequence typing; the types were highly diverse, with 38 different emm subtypes and no particular dominant type. Our data support the view that invasive GAS disease is common in developing countries and deserves increased public health attention

Emerging Digital Technologies in Patient Care: Dealing with connected, intelligent medical device vulnerabilities and failures in the healthcare sector

The integration of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into clinical routines is significantly impacting organisational preparedness at the point of care, raising concerns not only about the resilience of the healthcare infrastructure, but also about how physicians, clinicians, and healthcare professionals respond to, manage, and reduce new risks associated with connected and intelligent medical devices in the interest of patient safety and care. The following report summarises findings from the workshop entitled Emerging Digital Technologies in Patient Care: Dealing with Connected, Intelligent Medical Device Vulnerabilities and Failures in the Healthcare Sector, held on 23 February 2023 at Goodenough College, London. The workshop was organised by members of the Reg-MedTech project, funded by the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence in IoT Systems Cybersecurity (EPSRC grant number EP/S035362/1), in collaboration with project partners at the BSI, the UK’s National Standards Body. Since October 2021, the Reg-MedTech project has investigated the extent to which current regulatory frameworks and standards address the critical cybersecurity, data governance, and algorithmic integrity risks posed by connected and intelligent medical devices. A critical finding from its ongoing research has been the need to develop standards, regulations, and policies that are better informed by the experiences of physicians, clinicians, and healthcare professionals dealing with software-based medical devices or software as a medical device (SaMD) in their day-to-day practice