In previously healthy adults with otherwise unexplained disseminated/extrapulmonary Nocardia infections, anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies should be considered. Their presence may suggest that these patients may be at risk for later development of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis or other opportunistic infections, and that patients may benefit from therapeutic GM-CSF administration.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have the ability to catalyze chemical reactions when they occur in their inner space. To date, no systematic investigation has considered the effect of chirality on the kinetics and molecular features of reacting systems. This study advances our understanding of this question by comparing the impact of different types of SWNTs, armchair (n,n), zigzag (n,0), and chiral (n,m), on the particular Menshutkin SN2 reaction between ammonia and chloromethane. The stationary points of the corresponding potential energy surfaces were obtained via the Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the hybrid functional M06-2X. In general, all of the SWNTs are able to reduce significantly the activation energy and the endothermicity of the reaction when compared to the values in the gas phase. For large diameters, all types of SWNTs converge to the limit values of these two energetic parameters, respectively, 28 and 21 kcal mol–1, which correspond to the reaction over a graphene surface. However, as the diameters decrease, each type of SWNT shows a different potential well, with chiral (6,4) SWNT (diameter 6.8 Å) exhibiting the lowest energy barrier of 17.9 kcal mol–1.

A variety of systems for centralised viewing of fetal signals during labour are currently available, allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple tracings in one or more locations. Display of maternal vital signs, ST signals and an electronic partogram are available in the majority of these systems. A few of them have incorporated computer analysis of cardiotocographic signals or combined cardiotocographic and ST data analysis. Computer analysis may elicit real-time alerts for healthcare professionals when changes associated with fetal hypoxia are detected. Central fetal monitoring systems have been installed in a large number of maternity hospitals in industrialised countries, but there is still limited evidence of their impact on perinatal indicators, on the behaviour of healthcare professionals and on related health costs.

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