This paper describes a new Heterodyne Array Receiver Program (HARP) and Auto-Correlation Spectral Imaging System (ACSIS) that have recently been installed and commissioned on the James Clerk Maxwell ...Telescope. The 16-element focal-plane array receiver, operating in the submillimetre from 325 to 375 GHz, offers high (three-dimensional) mapping speeds, along with significant improvements over single-detector counterparts in calibration and image quality. Receiver temperatures are ∼120 K across the whole band, and system temperatures of ∼300 K are reached routinely under good weather conditions. The system includes a single-sideband (SSB) filter so these are SSB values. Used in conjunction with ACSIS, the system can produce large-scale maps rapidly, in one or more frequency settings, at high spatial and spectral resolution. Fully sampled maps of size can be observed in under 1 h. The scientific need for array receivers arises from the requirement for programmes to study samples of objects of statistically significant size, in large-scale unbiased surveys of galactic and extra-galactic regions. Along with morphological information, the new spectral imaging system can be used to study the physical and chemical properties of regions of interest. Its three-dimensional imaging capabilities are critical for research into turbulence and dynamics. In addition, HARP/ACSIS will provide highly complementary science programmes to wide-field continuum studies and produce the essential preparatory work for submillimetre interferometers such as the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA).
This paper describes a new Heterodyne Array Receiver Programme (HARP) and Auto-Correlation Spectral Imaging System (ACSIS) that have recently been installed and commissioned on the James Clerk ...Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). The 16-element focal-plane array receiver, operating in the submillimetre from 325 to 375 GHz, offers high (three-dimensional) mapping speeds, along with significant improvements over single-detector counterparts in calibration and image quality. Receiver temperatures are \(\sim\)120 K across the whole band and system temperatures of \(\sim\)300K are reached routinely under good weather conditions. The system includes a single-sideband filter so these are SSB figures. Used in conjunction with ACSIS, the system can produce large-scale maps rapidly, in one or more frequency settings, at high spatial and spectral resolution. Fully-sampled maps of size 1 square degree can be observed in under 1 hour. The scientific need for array receivers arises from the requirement for programmes to study samples of objects of statistically significant size, in large-scale unbiased surveys of galactic and extra-galactic regions. Along with morphological information, the new spectral imaging system can be used to study the physical and chemical properties of regions of interest. Its three-dimensional imaging capabilities are critical for research into turbulence and dynamics. In addition, HARP/ACSIS will provide highly complementary science programmes to wide-field continuum studies, and produce the essential preparatory work for submillimetre interferometers such as the SMA and ALMA.
Rural residents experience higher rates of obesity, obesity-related chronic diseases, and poorer lifestyle. Promoting physical activity and healthy eating are critical for rural residents; however, ...lack of resources and access barriers limit the feasibility of in-person lifestyle interventions. There is a need to design and deliver remotely accessible lifestyle interventions in this population. This pilot study examined the effect of a telephone-based lifestyle intervention on weight, body composition, lipids, and inflammatory biomarkers among rural Ohio residents. Rural Ohio adults with overweight/obesity (n = 40) were 2:1 randomized to a 15-week telephone-based lifestyle intervention (n = 27) or control group (n = 13). The lifestyle intervention group received weekly telephone counseling sessions emphasizing healthy eating and increasing physical activity. The control group received educational brochures describing physical activity and dietary recommendations. Weight, body composition, fasting blood lipids, and inflammatory biomarkers were objectively measured at baseline and 15 weeks at local community centers (trial registration#: NCT05040152 at ClinicalTrial.gov). Linear mixed models were used to examine change over time by group. Participants were mostly female, with an average age of 49 years. Over the 15-week trial, the lifestyle intervention showed superior improvements in total cholesterol (∆ = -18.7 ± 7.8 mg/dL,
= 0.02) and LDL (∆ = -17.1 ± 8.1 mg/dL,
= 0.04) vs. control, whereas no significant between-group differences in weight, body composition, or inflammation were observed. Our findings suggest that a 15-week telephone-based lifestyle intervention may offer metabolic benefits that reduce disease risk in rural adults with obesity. Future large-scale studies are needed to determine the efficacy of remotely accessible lifestyle interventions in rural populations, with the goal of reducing obesity-related disparities.
Ketogenic diets (
) that elevate beta-hydroxybutyrate (
) promote weight and fat loss. Exogenous ketones, such as ketone salts (
), also elevate BHB concentrations with the potential to protect ...against muscle loss during caloric restriction. Whether augmenting ketosis with KS impacts body composition responses to a well-formulated KD remains unknown.
To explore the effects of energy-matched, hypocaloric KD feeding (<50 g carbohydrates/day; 1.5 g/kg/day protein), with and without the inclusion of KS, on weight loss and body composition responses.
Overweight and obese adults were provided a precisely defined hypocaloric KD (~75% of energy expenditure) for 6 weeks. In a double-blind manner, subjects were randomly assigned to receive ~24 g/day of a racemic BHB-salt (KD + KS;
= 12) or placebo (KD + PL;
= 13). A matched comparison group (
= 12) was separately assigned to an isoenergetic/isonitrogenous low-fat diet (LFD). Body composition parameters were assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging.
The KD induced nutritional ketosis (>1.0 mM capillary BHB) throughout the study (
< 0.001), with higher fasting concentrations observed in KD + KS than KD + PL for the first 2 weeks (
< 0.05). There were decreases in body mass, whole body fat and lean mass, mid-thigh muscle cross-sectional area, and both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (
< 0.001), but no group differences between the two KDs or with the LFD. Urine nitrogen excretion was significantly higher in KD + PL than LFD (
< 0.01) and trended higher in KD + PL compared to KD + KS (
= 0.076), whereas the nitrogen excretion during KD + KS was similar to LFD (
> 0.05).
Energy-matched hypocaloric ketogenic diets favorably affected body composition but were not further impacted by administration of an exogenous BHB-salt that augmented ketosis. The trend for less nitrogen loss with the BHB-salt, if manifested over a longer period of time, may contribute to preserved lean mass.
The measurement of alcohol consumption over long time periods is important for monitoring treatment outcome and for research applications. Giner, Inc. has developed a wearable device that senses ...ethanol vapor at the surface of the skin, using an electrochemical cell that produces a continuous current signal proportional to ethanol concentration. A thermistor monitors continuous contact of the sensor with the skin, and a data-acquisition/logic circuit stores days of data recorded at 2- to 5-min intervals. Testing of this novel ethanol sensor/recorder was conducted on nonalcoholic human subjects consuming known quantities of ethanol and on intoxicated alcoholic subjects. The transdermal sensor signal closely follows the pattern of the blood alcohol concentration curve, although with a delay. This paper describes the concept of electrochemical ethanol measurement and presents some of the clinical data collected in support of the sensor/recorder development.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) cultivars Aspen and S-21 and annual bluegrass (Poa annua) were treated with live or killed inoculum of Magnaporthe poae and incubated in growth chambers at four ...temperatures (20, 25, 30, 30, 35 C) and four water-stress conditions corresponding to inferred soil matric potential ranges of > -0.05, -0.05 to -0.40, -0.40 to -0.80, or -0.80 to -1.20 MPa. All plants grown at 35 C died of supraoptimal temperature stress before disease symptoms developed. Disease developed only in plants receiving live inoculum. The area under the disease progress curve for disease incidence was greatest in annual bluegrass at all temperatures, and at 30 C for all grasses. At 20 C, disease incidence and symptom expression were greatest at -0.05 to -0.40 MPa. At 25 and 30 C, disease incidence and symptom expression were greatest at > -0.05 MPa. There was a reduction in quality of asymptomatic plants within pots inoculated with live M. poae when compared with plants receiving killed inoculum. Summer patch was most severe in plants growing at supraoptimal temperature stress of 25 or 30 C and high soil moisture. Temperature, but not severe drought stress, appears to be a key factor in summer patch development.
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