read time_advance_knobs namelist from the input file; sets the explicit time advance option, as well as allows for scaling of the x and y components of the magnetic drifts and of the drive term allocate distribution function sized arrays needed, e.g., for Runge-Kutta time advance set up neoclassical corrections to the equilibrium Maxwellian; only calculated/needed when simulating higher order terms in rhostar for intrinsic rotation calculate the term multiplying dg/dvpa in the mirror term and set up either the semi-Lagrange machinery or the tridiagonal matrix to be inverted if solving implicitly calculate the term multiplying dg/dz in the parallel streaming term and set up the tridiagonal matrix to be inverted if solving implicitly allocate and calculate the factors multiplying dg/dx, dg/dy, dphi/dx and dphi/dy in the magnetic drift terms allocate and calculate the factor multiplying dphi/dy in the gradient drive term