Government-Assisted Rental Accommodations: Should They Accommodate Homeowners with Unmet Needs?

Stephen Golant, a national expert on elderly housing concerns, describes the types and seriousness of housing problems facing elders nationally and in Maine. Although older adults are predominantly homeowners, national policymakers often downplay the needs of this group and hand over responsibility to state and local governments. The author reviews arguments that cynics have offered for deemphasizing older homeowners’ needs, and discusses various solutions to meet those needs. He poses the question: Do we unrealistically romanticize aging in place? As the title of the article suggests, Golant proposes that a good solution to the needs of older homeowners is to increase the availability of government-assisted rental accommodations, ideally accompanied by supportive services

Assisted living : a potential solution to Canada\u27s long-term care crisis

By 2020, 29% of Canada\u27s seniors will be in the 75-84 age bracket, and 13% will be aged 85 and over. How they live and who will look after them will become increasingly urgent problems. While Canada has primarily depended on extended family and nursing homes to care for their elderly, Dr. Stephen Golant, a U.S.-Canada senior Fulbright scholar, suggests there is another way. Over a five-month period spent at Simon Fraser University\u27s Gerontology Research Centre, Dr. Golant evaluated the current state of Canada\u27s housing policy for the elderly and urged all levels of government to look at new strategies to provide for this growing group of elderly seniors. In particular, Dr. Golant suggests the establishment of Assisted Living Facilities, a more resort-like setting targeted at upper-middle and high income seniors

Luminescence of phosphorus doped silica glass

This work is supported by Material Science program IMIS2 of Latvia.A fiber preform with P-doped silica core is studied by luminescence methods. P-doped silica was synthesized via the SPCVD method on a substrate tube made of pure silica glass F300. Two luminescence bands were detected under excitation of the F2 excimer laser (157 nm). One band is in UV range at 4.6 eV (265 nm) with two time constants ~ 30 ns and 5 μs and the other at 3.1 eV (400 nm) with time constant ~ 5.5 ms. Fast decay of the blue band with time constant ~ 20 ns was also observed. The main excitation band of the UV luminescence is at 7.1 eV (~ 170 nm) and that for blue band is at 6.3 eV (~ 195 nm). These bands belong to two different luminescence centers, however, both are associated with the presence of phosphorus. The UV band is similar to the one observed in many different oxide materials containing phosphorus and is ascribed to PO43- complex ion. The blue band is ascribed to a twofold coordinated phosphorus. Both the blue and the UV luminescences participate in the recombination process due to electron trapping. These luminescences appear due to thermal stimulation upon recombination of liberated self-trapped holes. Other than the detected phosphorus-related oxygen-hole-centers, there is no other recombination luminescence.IMIS2; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Digital literacy linked to engagement and psychological benefits among breast cancer survivors in Internet-based peer support groups

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Objective: Internet-based peer support groups (ISGs) represent an innovative, scalable approach to addressing information and support needs of cancer survivors. However, this innovation may not benefit survivors equally due to population variance in digital literacy. This study examined how digital literacy influences level of engagement in and psychological benefits from participating in ISGs for breast cancer (N = 183). Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a randomised trial of ISGs that included behavioural measures of engagement, subjective ratings and psychological distress symptoms. Results: Digital literacy was positively related to education level (p =.005). Relative to women with high digital literacy, those with lower digital literacy were more likely to report difficulties using the ISG and to value the user's guide and facilitator assistance (all p's <.05). Digital literacy was negatively correlated with computer anxiety pre-intervention, distress before and after online chat during the intervention and post-intervention depressive symptoms (all p's <.05). Conclusion: Low digital literacy is associated with computer anxiety and barriers to ISG use, as well as distress during and after ISG use. Digital literacy must be taken into account when designing or delivering innovative digital interventions for cancer survivors

Collisional cross sections and momentum distributions in astrophysical plasmas: dynamics and statistical mechanics link

We show that, in stellar core plasmas, the one-body momentum distribution function is strongly dependent, at least in the high velocity regime, on the microscopic dynamics of ion elastic collisions and therefore on the effective collisional cross sections, if a random force field is present. We take into account two cross sections describing ion-dipole and ion-ion screened interactions. Furthermore we introduce a third unusual cross section, to link statistical distributions and a quantum effect originated by the energy-momentum uncertainty owing to many-body collisions, and propose a possible physical interpretation in terms of a tidal-like force. We show that each collisional cross section gives rise to a slight peculiar correction on the Maxwellian momentum distribution function in a well defined velocity interval. We also find a possible link between microscopical dynamics of ions and statistical mechanics interpreting our results in the framework of non-extensive statistical mechanics.Comment: 8 page

Tapinarof Cream 1% Once Daily for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis: Case Photography of Clinical Outcomes from Three Phase 3 Trials

Tapinarof cream 1% (VTAMA(®); Dermavant Sciences, Inc.) is a non-steroidal, topical, aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and under investigation for the treatment of psoriasis in children down to 2 years of age, and for atopic dermatitis in adults and children down to 2 years of age. The PSOARING phase 3 clinical trial program evaluated tapinarof cream 1% once daily (QD) in adults with mild to severe plaque psoriasis for up to 52 weeks (NCT03956355, NCT03983980, NCT04053387). Here we present case photography documenting outcomes in the PSOARING trials. Cases illustrate various outcomes across different body areas, including responses meeting the formal FDA-mandated regulatory endpoint of a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) and a decrease of at least 2 points from baseline at week 12, meaningful clinical improvement not meeting this formal endpoint, patient-reported outcomes, and pre-specified adverse events of special interest (AESIs). Tapinarof cream 1% QD demonstrated rapid and highly statistically significant efficacy, with improvements in disease activity and quality of life. In addition, a high rate (40.9%; n = 312/763) of complete disease clearance (PGA = 0) was achieved, and improvements exceeding National Psoriasis Foundation treatment goals were demonstrated. After first achieving complete disease clearance (PGA = 0), patients treated with tapinarof experienced an approximately 4-month remittive effect off therapy. Incidence and severity of folliculitis and contact dermatitis AESIs were generally mild or moderate, localized to the site of application, and associated with low discontinuation rates. Medical images are of importance in trials of dermatologic therapies to inform clinical decision-making and enhance patient assessment. Tapinarof cream 1% QD is efficacious and well tolerated in patients with mild to severe plaque psoriasis, with clinically relevant improvements seen early in the course of treatment. Clinicaltrials.gov numbers: NCT03956355, NCT03983980, NCT04053387

Исследование методов государственного регулирования цен и издержек системы здравоохранения на лекарственные препараты в Великобритании

Objective: analysis of state regulation of prices and costs for the purchase of medicines (drugs) in the United Kingdom (UK), and proposal development to improve the processes of state regulation of manufacturers’ marginal registered prices of medicines included in the list of vital and essential drugs approved in the Russian Federation.Material and methods. Analysis of the structure of state regulation of prices and costs for the procurement of drugs was carried out based on information contained in the regulatory legal documents of the UK Government, health services and technical regulation, and data provided in systematic reviews and articles.Results. A key feature of regulation in the UK is maximizing the efficiency of health care costs based on the principles of digitization, long-term planning and health technology assessment in pricing. Government regulation of costs is focused on the patent-protected drug segment. Providers of such medicines fall under the Voluntary or Statutory Scheme and are required to make payments in the form of a fixed percentage of sales to the Department of Health and Social Care. Certain drug segments are exempt from payments to stimulate innovative development of the pharmaceutical industry and accelerate market access for new therapies. As practice shows, the Voluntary Scheme is more profitable for most companies. Regulation in the segment of reproduced drugs is carried out by free-market mechanisms and the antimonopoly service.Conclusion. The analysis revealed the mechanisms and key features of the methods of state regulation of prices and costs of the health care system for the procurement of drugs, identified best practices that are promising for adaptation to improve the state regulation of prices in the Russian Federation. Цель: анализ государственного регулирования цен и издержек на закупку лекарственных препаратов (ЛП) в Великобритании, а также разработка предложений по совершенствованию процессов государственного регулирования предельных зарегистрированных цен производителей на препараты, включенные в перечень жизненно необходимых и важнейших ЛП, утвержденный в Российской Федерации.Материал и методы. Анализ структуры государственного регулирования цен и издержек на закупку ЛП проведен на основании сведений, содержащихся в нормативных правовых документах Правительства Великобритании, служб здравоохранения и технического регулирования, а также информации, представленной в систематических обзорах и статьях.Результаты. Ключевой особенностью регулирования в Великобритании является максимизация эффективности издержек здравоохранения на основе принципов цифровизации, долгосрочного планирования и оценки технологий здравоохранения при ценообразовании. Государственное регулирование издержек сконцентрировано на сегменте ЛП, находящихся под патентной защитой. Поставщики таких препаратов подпадают под действие Добровольной или Принудительной схемы доступа на рынок и обязаны осуществлять платежи в виде фиксированного процента продаж в пользу Департамента здравоохранения и социального обеспечения. Отдельные сегменты лекарств освобождены от платежей с целью стимулирования инновационного развития фармацевтической отрасли и ускорения доступа на рынок новых видов терапии. Как показывает практика, Добровольная схема выгоднее для большинства компаний. Регулирование в сегменте воспроизведенных ЛП осуществляется механизмами свободного рынка и антимонопольной службой.Заключение. В результате анализа выявлены механизмы и ключевые особенности методов государственного регулирования цен и издержек системы здравоохранения на закупку ЛП, определены лучшие практики, перспективные для адаптации с целью совершенствования подходов государственного регулирования цен в Российской Федерации

Обзор методик расчета, процедуры регистрации и перерегистрации цен производителей лекарственных препаратов в странах Евразийского экономического союза

Aim. To analyze the methods of the state regulation of prices for the manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs in the Eurasian Economic Community counties (EAEC).Materials and Methods. The comparison of the aspects of the price regulation was presented as short characteristics of the regulating impact of the key normative legal acts (NLA) in the sphere of price formation on pharmaceutical drugs in the EAEC. The study included the following stages: the analysis of NLA in the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Armenia, and the Kyrgyz Republic, the comparison of the list of reference countries, and decreasing coefficients.Results. The authors revealed the differences in the procedure of the registration, re-registration, referencing of prices, and decreasing coefficients for the generics. The authors highlighted the drawbacks of the existing procedure of the registration of prices in Russia in terms of the formation of the list of the referent countries, the re-registration of drugs with an increase in price, and limited economic efficiency.Conclusion. The performed analysis showed that the differences in the methods of the state regulation of prices on pharmaceutical drugs in the EAEC countries do not allow for the formation of a unified approach. However, the creation of supranational method of price formation is an essential condition for the functioning of the united market of pharmaceutical drugs.Цель. Анализ методов государственного регулирования цен производителей лекарственных препаратов в странах-участницах Евразийского экономического союза (далее – ЕАЭС, Союз).Материалы и методы. Сопоставление аспектов ценового регулирования представлено в виде краткой характеристики регулирующего воздействия ключевых статей нормативных правовых актов (далее – НПА) в сфере ценообразования на лекарственные препараты в странах ЕАЭС. Исследование включало следующие этапы: анализ НПА в Российской Федерации, Республике Беларусь, Республике Казахстан, Республике Молдова, Республике Армения, Киргизской Республике; сравнение перечня референтных стран, понижающих коэффициентов.Результаты. Выявлены различия в процедурах регистрации, перерегистрации, реферирования цен, величине понижающих коэффициентов для воспроизведенных препаратов, выделены недостатки существующего порядка регистрации цен в России в части формирования перечня референтных стран, перерегистрации цены производителя в сторону увеличения, ограничения рентабельности.Заключение. По результатам анализа сделан вывод о том, что различия в методах государственного  регулирования цен на лекарственные препараты в странах ЕАЭС на данный момент не позволяют  сформировать универсальный подход, однако создание наднациональной методики ценообразования  является необходимым условием для функционирования единого рынка лекарственных средств