Observable Dirac Electron in Accelerated Frames

We present a new quantum algebraic description of an electron localized in space-time. Positions in space and time, mass and Clifford generators are defined as quantum operators. Commutation relations and relativistic shifts under frame transformations are determined within a unique algebraic framework. Redshifts, i.e. shifts under transformations to uniformly accelerated frames, are evaluated and found to differ from the expressions of classical relativity.Comment: 7 pages, revised versio

Limits of CDCL Learning via Merge Resolution

In their seminal work, Atserias et al. and independently Pipatsrisawat and Darwiche in 2009 showed that CDCL solvers can simulate resolution proofs with polynomial overhead. However, previous work does not address the tightness of the simulation, i.e., the question of how large this overhead needs to be. In this paper, we address this question by focusing on an important property of proofs generated by CDCL solvers that employ standard learning schemes, namely that the derivation of a learned clause has at least one inference where a literal appears in both premises (aka, a merge literal). Specifically, we show that proofs of this kind can simulate resolution proofs with at most a linear overhead, but there also exist formulas where such overhead is necessary or, more precisely, that there exist formulas with resolution proofs of linear length that require quadratic CDCL proofs

Limits of CDCL Learning via Merge Resolution

In their seminal work, Atserias et al. and independently Pipatsrisawat and Darwiche in 2009 showed that CDCL solvers can simulate resolution proofs with polynomial overhead. However, previous work does not address the tightness of the simulation, i.e., the question of how large this overhead needs to be. In this paper, we address this question by focusing on an important property of proofs generated by CDCL solvers that employ standard learning schemes, namely that the derivation of a learned clause has at least one inference where a literal appears in both premises (aka, a merge literal). Specifically, we show that proofs of this kind can simulate resolution proofs with at most a linear overhead, but there also exist formulas where such overhead is necessary or, more precisely, that there exist formulas with resolution proofs of linear length that require quadratic CDCL proofs

Mapping access to health services as a strategy for planning: access to primary care for older people in regional Queensland

Australia has seen a significant increase in people aged over 65 years accessing general practice services over the last decade. Although people aged 65 years and over comprise 14% of the total population, this age demographic accounts for the largest proportion of general practitioner (GP)–patient encounters. Access to general practice is important for older Australians as the burden of chronic disease increases with age. A geographic information system, ArcGIS, was used to assess geographic access to general practice for older people residing in the regional Queensland towns of Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. Geographic units with high proportions of over 65-year-old people were spatially analysed in relation to proximity to geomapped general practices with a 2-km buffer zone. Modelling of changes in access was performed with the strategic location of a new general practice where gaps existed. Geographic access to general practice for the older population was poorest in Cairns despite a high population density. Addition of a single, strategically placed general practice in Cairns markedly improved access. Socioeconomic analysis suggested that general practices were appropriately located in areas of greatest need. Geographic information systems provide a means to map population characteristics against service locations to assist in strategic development and location of future health services

Differences between pharmacists’ perception of counseling and practice in the era of prescription drug misuse

Objective: This study was conducted to assess pharmacists\u27 practices when counseling patients on their prescription medications, and their preferences for training. Methods: Five focus group discussions of community pharmacists (n=45, with seven to eleven participants in each group) were conducted in a major metropolitan city in the southern United States. Participants were recruited via email using a list of community pharmacists provided by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. All focus group discussions were structured using a moderator guide consisting of both discrete and open-ended questions. Qualitative analysis software was used to analyze the data with a thematic analysis approach. Results: The participants in this study had a high self-efficacy regarding their ability to counsel on both new and opioid prescriptions. Many pharmacists experienced the same barriers to counseling and agreed on the components of counseling. However, the themes that emerged showed that the participants exhibited only a partial understanding of the components of counseling. The themes that emerged in the thematic analysis were perceived confidence and discordant counseling practices, inadequate infrastructure, lack of comprehensive counseling, inconsistent use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and pharmacists\u27 desired training/assistance. Conclusions: Community pharmacists are in a unique position to help combat the opioid crisis; however, there has been very little research on the pharmacist-patient interaction in this context. With policy changes, such as the PDMP mandate, going into effect across the country, it is important to capitalize on the potential community pharmacists have in ameliorating the opioid crisis in the United States

Efficacy and Safety of Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel and Idecabtagene Vicleucel in Multiple Myeloma Patients

Background: Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) and idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) are chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies used to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM) after at least four lines of therapy. However, no head-to-head clinical trials to compare them have been conducted. Objective: To compare between CARTITUDE-1 and KarMMa clinical trials in terms of efficacy, safety, and patient characteristics. Method: Overall response rate (ORR) and safety signals were compared using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at p \u3c 0.05. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method with a log-rank test. Patient characteristics were compared using the chi-square test. Statistical analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel and R version 4.0.5. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between cilta-cel and ide-cel in terms of ORR, complete response (CR), OS, and PFS (p \u3c 0.05). Partial response (PR) showed no statistically significant difference (p \u3e 0.05). Ide-cel was significantly associated with higher incidences of any Grade ≥ 3 adverse events than cilta-cel. Cilta-cel on the other hand, was significantly associated with higher incidences of leukopenia, lymphopenia, and CRS Grade 1 & 2 than ide-cel (RORs \u3e 1, p \u3c 0.05). Penta-drug refractory showed a statistically significant difference between cilta-cel and ide-cel clinical trials. Conclusion: This study found that cilta-cel is a superior treatment over ide-cel with better efficacy and less incidence of serious adverse events

Disentangling the Cost of Orphan Drugs Marketed in the United States

The increasing number and high prices of orphan drugs have triggered concern among patients, payers, and policymakers about the affordability of new drugs approved using the incentives set by the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) of 1983. This study evaluated the factors associated to the differences in the treatment cost of new orphan and non-orphan drugs approved by the FDA from 2017 to 2021. A generalized linear model (GLM) with the Gamma log-link analysis was used to ascertain the association of drug characteristics with the treatment costs of orphan and non-orphan drugs. The results of the study showed that the median and interquartile range (IQR) drug cost was USD 218,872 (IQR = USD 23,105) for orphan drugs and USD 12,798 (IQR = USD 57,940) for non-orphan drugs (p \u3c 0.001). Higher market entry prices were associated with biologics (108%; p \u3c 0.001), orphan status (177%; p \u3c 0.001), US sponsor companies (48%; p = 0.035), chronic use (1083%; p \u3c 0.001), treatment intent (163%; p = 0.004), and indications for oncology (624%; p \u3c 0.001) or genetic disorders (624%; p \u3c 0.001). Higher market entry treatment cost for newly approved drugs were associated with biologics, orphan status, US sponsor companies, chronic use, therapeutic intent, and indications for oncology or genetic disorders