Function elements (FE) are vital components of nanochannel-systems for artificially regulating ion transport. Conventionally, the FE at inner wall (FEIW) of nanochannel−systems are of concern owing to their recognized effect on the compression of ionic passageways. However, their properties are inexplicit or generally presumed from the properties of the FE at outer surface (FEOS), which will bring potential errors. Here, we show that the FEOS independently regulate ion transport in a nanochannel−system without FEIW. The numerical simulations, assigned the measured parameters of FEOS to the Poisson and Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations, are well fitted with the experiments, indicating the generally explicit regulating-ion-transport accomplished by FEOS without FEIW. Meanwhile, the FEOS fulfill the key features of the pervious nanochannel systems on regulating-ion-transport in osmotic energy conversion devices and biosensors, and show advantages to (1) promote power density through concentrating FE at outer surface, bringing increase of ionic selectivity but no obvious change in internal resistance; (2) accommodate probes or targets with size beyond the diameter of nanochannels. Nanochannel-systems with only FEOS of explicit properties provide a quantitative platform for studying substrate transport phenomena through nanoconfined space, including nanopores, nanochannels, nanopipettes, porous membranes and two-dimensional channels.

BACKGROUNDAt-risk drinking, excessive or potentially harmful alcohol use in combination with select comorbidities or medication use, affects about 10% of elderly adults and is associated with higher mortality. Yet, our knowledge is incomplete regarding the prevalence of different categories of at-risk drinking and their associations with patient demographics.OBJECTIVETo examine the prevalence and correlates of different categories of at-risk drinking among older adults.DESIGNCross-sectional analysis of survey data.SUBJECTSCurrent drinkers ages 60 and older accessing primary care clinics around Santa Barbara, California (n = 3,308).MEASUREMENTSAt-risk drinkers were identified using the Comorbidity Alcohol Risk Evaluation Tool (CARET). At-risk alcohol use was categorized as alcohol use in the setting of 1) high-risk comorbidities or 2) high-risk medication use, and 3) excessive alcohol use alone. Adjusted associations of participant characteristics with at-risk drinking in each of the three at-risk categories and with at-risk drinking of any kind were estimated using logistic regression.RESULTSOver one-third of our sample (34.7%) was at risk. Among at-risk individuals, 61.9% had alcohol use in the context of high-risk comorbidities, 61.0% had high-risk medication use, and 64.3% had high-risk alcohol behaviors. The adjusted odds of at-risk drinking of any kind were decreased and significant for women (odds ratio, OR = 0.41; 95% confidence interval: 0.35-0.48; p-value < 0.001), adults over age 80 (OR = 0.55; CI: 0.43-0.72; p < 0.001 vs. ages 60-64), Asians (OR = 0.40; CI: 0.20-0.80; p = 0.01 vs. Caucasians) and individuals with higher education levels. Similar associations were observed in all three categories of at-risk drinking.CONCLUSIONSHigh-risk alcohol use was common among older adults in this large sample of primary care patients, and male Caucasians, those ages 60-64, and those with lower levels of education were most likely to have high-risk alcohol use of any type. Our findings could help physicians identify older patients at increased risk for problems from alcohol consumption.

A supersaturated design is a design whose run size is not enough for estimating all the main effects. It is commonly used in screening experiments, where the goals are to identify sparse and dominant active factors with low cost. In this paper, we study a variable selection method via the Dantzig selector, proposed by Candes and Tao (2007), to screen important effects. A graphical procedure and an automated procedure are suggested to accompany with the method. Simulation shows that this method performs well compared to existing methods in the literature and is more efficient at estimating the model size.MSC: primary 62K15; secondary 62J05; 62J07

ABSTRACT. Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a patient-provider educational intervention in reducing at-risk drinking among older adults. Method: This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial of 31 primary care providers and their patients ages 60 years and older at a community-based practice with seven clinics. Recruitment occurred from July 2005 to August 2007. Eligibility was determined by telephone and a baseline mailed survey. A total of 1,186 at-risk drinkers were identifi ed by the Comorbidity Alcohol Risk Evaluation Tool. Follow-up patient surveys were administered at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline. Study physicians and their patients were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 640 patients) versus the Project SHARE (Senior Health and Alcohol Risk Education) intervention (n = 546 patients), which included personalized reports, educational materials, drinking diaries, physician advice during offi ce visits, and telephone counseling delivered by a health educator. Main outcomes were alcohol consumption, at-risk drinking (overall and by type), alcohol discussions with physicians, health care utilization, and screening and intervention costs. Results: At 12 months, the intervention was signifi cantly associated with an increase in alcohol-related discussions with physicians (23% vs. 13%; p .01) and reductions in at-risk drinking (56% vs. 67%; p .01), alcohol consumption (-2.19 drinks per week; p .01), physician visits (-1.14 visits; p = .03), emergency department visits (16% vs. 25%; p .01), and nonprofessional caregiving visits (12% vs. 17%; p .01). Average variable costs per patient were $31 for screening and $79 for intervention. Conclusions:The intervention reduced alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking among older adults. Effects were sustained over a year and may have been associated with lower health care utilization, offsetting screening and intervention costs. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 75, 447-457, 2014)

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