Fast outflow of neutral and ionized gas from the radio galaxy 3C 293

We detect a fast outflow of neutral and ionized gas with velocities up to about 1000 km/s from the central region of radio galaxy 3C 293. With optical spectroscopy we locate the bulk of the ionized gas outflow at the position of a bright radio hot-spot in the inner radio jet, about 1 kpc east of the nucleus. Given the presence of large amounts of cold gas and the distorted morphology of the radio jet in this region, we argue that the ISM is pushed out by a severe interaction with the radio plasma. The similarity of the outflow of HI with the ionized gas outflow that we see at the position of the radio hot-spot suggests that despite the high energies involved in the jet-ISM interaction, part of the gas stays, or becomes again, neutral. In this paper we also present the detection of HI emission in three nearby companions of 3C 293.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of the "Extra-planar Gas" conference, Dwingeloo, the Netherlands, June 7-11, 2004. To appear in ASP Conference Series, ed. R. Brau

An evaluation of enteral nutrition practices and nutritional provision in children during the entire length of stay in critical care

<b>Background</b> Provision of optimal nutrition in children in critical care is often challenging. This study evaluated exclusive enteral nutrition (EN) provision practices and explored predictors of energy intake and delay of EN advancement in critically ill children.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> Data on intake and EN practices were collected on a daily basis and compared against predefined targets and dietary reference values in a paediatric intensive care unit. Factors associated with intake and advancement of EN were explored.<p></p> <b>Results</b> Data were collected from 130 patients and 887 nutritional support days (NSDs). Delay to initiate EN was longer in patients from both the General Surgical and congenital heart defect (CHD) Surgical groups [Median (IQR); CHD Surgical group: 20.3 (16.4) vs General Surgical group: 11.4 (53.5) vs Medical group: 6.5 (10.9) hours; p <= 0.001]. Daily fasting time per patient was significantly longer in patients from the General Surgical and CHD Surgical groups than those from the Medical group [% of 24 h, Median (IQR); CHD Surgical group: 24.0 (29.2) vs General Surgical group: 41.7 (66.7) vs Medical group: 9.4 (21.9); p <= 0.001]. A lower proportion of fluids was delivered as EN per patient (45% vs 73%) or per NSD (56% vs 73%) in those from the CHD Surgical group compared with those with medical conditions. Protein and energy requirements were achieved in 38% and 33% of the NSDs. In a substantial proportion of NSDs, minimum micronutrient recommendations were not met particularly in those patients from the CHD Surgical group. A higher delivery of fluid requirements (p < 0.05) and a greater proportion of these delivered as EN (p < 0.001) were associated with median energy intake during stay and delay of EN advancement. Fasting (31%), fluid restriction (39%) for clinical reasons, procedures requiring feed cessation and establishing EN (22%) were the most common reasons why target energy requirements were not met.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Provision of optimal EN support remains challenging and varies during hospitalisation and among patients. Delivery of EN should be prioritized over other "non-nutritional" fluids whenever this is possible.<p></p&gt

Star Formation in Galaxies Along the Hubble Sequence

Observations of star formation rates (SFRs) in galaxies provide vital clues to the physical nature of the Hubble sequence, and are key probes of the evolutionary properties of galaxies. The focus of this review is on the broad patterns in the star formation properties of galaxies along the Hubble sequence, and their implications for understanding galaxy evolution and the physical processes that drive the evolution. Star formation in the disks and nuclear regions of galaxies are reviewed separately, then discussed within a common interpretive framework. The diagnostic methods used to measure SFRs are also reviewed, and a self-consistent set of SFR calibrations is presented as an aid to workers in the field.Comment: 41 pages, with 9 figures. To appear in Volume 36 of the Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysic

Anthropometrics and fat mass, but not fat-free mass, are compromised in infants requiring parenteral nutrition after neonatal intestinal surgery

BACKGROUND: Children with intestinal failure (IF) receiving long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) have altered body composition (BC), but data on BC changes from start of PN onwards are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess growth and BC in infants after neonatal intestinal surgery necessitating PN and at risk for IF, and to explore associations with clinical parameters. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study in infants after intestinal surgery. IF was defined as PN-dependency for > 60 days. Standard deviation scores (SDS) for anthropometry were calculated until 6 months corrected age. In a subgroup, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured with air-displacement plethysmography at 2- and 6-months corrected age. SDS for length-adjusted FM index and FFM index were calculated. Associations between cumulative amount of PN and BC parameters were analyzed with linear mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Ninety-five neonates were included (54% male, 35% born < 32 weeks). Thirty-nine infants (41%) had IF. Studied infants had compromised anthropometric parameters during follow-up. At 6 months corrected age, they remained smaller (median weight-for-age SDS -0.9 [interquartile range -1.5, 0.1], P < 0.001) than the normal population. In 57 infants, 93 BC measurements were performed. FM index SDS was lower than in healthy infants at 2- and 6-months corrected age (-0.9 [-1.6, -0.3], P < 0.001 and -0.7 [-1.3, 0.1], P = 0.001, respectively), but FFM index SDS did not differ. A higher cumulative amount of PN predicted higher FM index in female infants but lower FM index in male infants. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of infants receiving PN after intestinal surgery, compromised anthropometrics, decreased FM and adequate FFM were observed during the first 6 months. Male and female infants seemed to respond differently to PN when it comes to FM index. Continuing growth monitoring after 6 months of age is strongly recommended, while further research should explore the benefit of incorporating ongoing BC monitoring during follow-up.Clinical Trial Registration: Dutch Trial Register NTR6080, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5892

Effects of Digested Onion Extracts on Intestinal Gene Expression: An Interspecies Comparison Using Different Intestine Models.

Human intestinal tissue samples are barely accessible to study potential health benefits of nutritional compounds. Numbers of animals used in animal trials, however, need to be minimalized. Therefore, we explored the applicability of in vitro (human Caco-2 cells) and ex vivo intestine models (rat precision cut intestine slices and the pig in-situ small intestinal segment perfusion (SISP) technique) to study the effect of food compounds. In vitro digested yellow (YOd) and white onion extracts (WOd) were used as model food compounds and transcriptomics was applied to obtain more insight into which extent mode of actions depend on the model. The three intestine models shared 9,140 genes which were used to compare the responses to digested onions between the models. Unsupervised clustering analysis showed that genes up- or down-regulated by WOd in human Caco-2 cells and rat intestine slices were similarly regulated by YOd, indicating comparable modes of action for the two onion species. Highly variable responses to onion were found in the pig SISP model. By focussing only on genes with significant differential expression, in combination with a fold change > 1.5, 15 genes showed similar onion-induced expression in human Caco-2 cells and rat intestine slices and 2 overlapping genes were found between the human Caco-2 and pig SISP model. Pathway analyses revealed that mainly processes related to oxidative stress, and especially the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, were affected by onions in all three models. Our data fit with previous in vivo studies showing that the beneficial effects of onions are mostly linked to their antioxidant properties. Taken together, our data indicate that each of the in vitro and ex vivo intestine models used in this study, taking into account their limitations, can be used to determine modes of action of nutritional compounds and can thereby reduce the number of animals used in conventional nutritional intervention studies

Probiotics and Preterm Infants: A Position Paper by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition and the ESPGHAN Working Group for Probiotics and Prebiotics

More than 10,000 preterm infants have participated in randomised controlled trials on probiotics worldwide, suggesting that probiotics in general could reduce rates of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, and mortality. However, answers to relevant clinical questions as to which strain to use, at what dosage, and how long to supplement, are not available. On the other hand, an increasing number of commercial products containing probiotics are available from sometimes suboptimal quality. Also, a large number of units around the world are routinely offering probiotic supplementation as the standard of care despite lacking solid evidence. Our recent network meta-analysis identified probiotic strains with greatest efficacy regarding relevant clinical outcomes for preterm neonates. Efficacy in reducing mortality and morbidity was found for only a minority of the studied strains or combinations. In the present position paper, we aim to provide advice which specific strains might potentially be used and which strains should not be used. Besides, we aim to address safety issues of probiotic supplementation to preterm infants, who have reduced immunological capacities and occasional indwelling catheters. For example, quality reassurance of the probiotic product is essential, probiotic strains should be devoid of transferable antibiotic resistance genes, and local microbiologists should be able to routinely detect probiotic sepsis. Provided all safety issues are met, there is currently a conditional recommendation (with low certainty of evidence) to provide either L. rhamnosus GG ATCC53103 or the combination of B. infantis Bb-02, B. lactis Bb-12, and Str. thermophilus TH-4 in order to reduce NEC rates

Rotation Curves of Spiral Galaxies

Rotation curves of spiral galaxies are the major tool for determining the distribution of mass in spiral galaxies. They provide fundamental information for understanding the dynamics, evolution and formation of spiral galaxies. We describe various methods to derive rotation curves, and review the results obtained. We discuss the basic characteristics of observed rotation curves in relation to various galaxy properties, such as Hubble type, structure, activity, and environment.Comment: 40 pages, 6 gif figures; Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. Vol. 39, p.137, 200

The Role of Grains in Molecular Chemical Evolution

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