Everyday Discrimination and Alcohol use among Sexual Minority Adults in a U.S. National Probability Sample

Objective: Limited research assesses how sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE)-based discrimination affects alcohol use above and beyond non-SOGIE-related discrimination and how this may differ for sexual minority subgroups. We examined if SOGIE-related discrimination is additive in affecting alcohol use above and beyond non-SOGIE-related discrimination and examined differences in alcohol use, everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination by sex and sexual identity. Methods: A national probability sample of sexual minority adults in the United States was used (N = 1311, female = 56.4%). Bivariate sexual identity and sex-based differences in drinking frequency, heavy episodic drinking (HED), everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination were assessed. Sexual identity and sex-stratified logistic regression models were estimated, where everyday discrimination and the attribution of discrimination predicted drinking frequency and HED. Results: Several differences by sex assigned at birth and sexual identity in drinking frequency, HED, everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination were found in bivariate analyses. In logistic regression models, experiencing SOGIE-related in addition to other types of discrimination was associated with higher odds of HED only for gay males. No other associations were found for everyday discrimination or the attribution of discrimination with drinking frequency or HED. Conclusions: Findings suggest sex and sexual identity-based differences in everyday discrimination and the attribution of discrimination

Cigarette Smoking and Minority Stress Across Age Cohorts in a National Sample of Sexual Minorities: Results From the Generations Study

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority populations in the United States have persistently higher rates of cigarette use than heterosexuals, partially driven by exposure to minority stressors (e.g., discrimination and victimization). Little is known about cigarette use across cohorts of sexual minority adults who came of age in distinctly different sociopolitical environments. PURPOSE: To examine cigarette use and minority stressors across three age cohorts of U.S. sexual minority adults. METHODS: We used data from the Generations Study, a nationally representative sample (N = 1,500) of White, Black, and Latino/a sexual minority adults in three age cohorts (younger: 18-25 years; middle: 34-41 years; and older: 52-59 years). Survey data were collected from March 2016 to March 2017. We used sex-stratified logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between age cohort, minority stressors (discrimination and victimization), and two indicators of cigarette smoking (lifetime use and current use). RESULTS: Prevalence of current cigarette use in each age cohort was high (younger: 20%; middle: 33%; and older: 29%). Relative to the younger cohort, men and women in the middle- and older-age cohorts had significantly higher odds of lifetime and current smoking (e.g., men, current, aOR [95% CI]: middle = 2.47 [1.34, 4.52], older = 2.85 [1.66, 4.93]). Minority stressors were independently associated with higher odds of current smoking; when victimization was included, the magnitude of the association between age cohort and current smoking was diminished but remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation interventions must consider the role of minority stress and the unique needs of sexual minority people across the life course

Cigarette Smoking and Minority Stress Across Age Cohorts in a National Sample of Sexual Minorities:Results From the Generations Study

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority populations in the United States have persistently higher rates of cigarette use than heterosexuals, partially driven by exposure to minority stressors (e.g., discrimination and victimization). Little is known about cigarette use across cohorts of sexual minority adults who came of age in distinctly different sociopolitical environments. PURPOSE: To examine cigarette use and minority stressors across three age cohorts of U.S. sexual minority adults. METHODS: We used data from the Generations Study, a nationally representative sample (N = 1,500) of White, Black, and Latino/a sexual minority adults in three age cohorts (younger: 18–25 years; middle: 34–41 years; and older: 52–59 years). Survey data were collected from March 2016 to March 2017. We used sex-stratified logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between age cohort, minority stressors (discrimination and victimization), and two indicators of cigarette smoking (lifetime use and current use). RESULTS: Prevalence of current cigarette use in each age cohort was high (younger: 20%; middle: 33%; and older: 29%). Relative to the younger cohort, men and women in the middle- and older-age cohorts had significantly higher odds of lifetime and current smoking (e.g., men, current, aOR [95% CI]: middle = 2.47 [1.34, 4.52], older = 2.85 [1.66, 4.93]). Minority stressors were independently associated with higher odds of current smoking; when victimization was included, the magnitude of the association between age cohort and current smoking was diminished but remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation interventions must consider the role of minority stress and the unique needs of sexual minority people across the life course

An investigation of the evidence of benefits from climate compatible development

Climate change is likely to have profound effects on developing countries both through the climate impacts experienced, but also through the policies, programmes and projects adopted to address climate change. Climate change mitigation (actions taken to reduce the extent of climate change), adaptation (actions taken to ameliorate the impacts), and on-going development are all critical to reduce current and future losses associated with climate change, and to harness gains. In the context of limited resources to invest in climate change, policies, programmes, or projects that deliver ‘triple wins’ (i.e. generating climate adaptation, mitigation and development benefits) – also known as climate compatible development – are increasingly discussed by bilateral and multilateral donors. Yet there remains an absence of empirical evidence of the benefits and costs of triple win policies. The purpose of this paper is therefore to assess evidence of ‘triple wins’ on the ground, and the feasibility of triple wins that do not generate negative impacts. We describe the theoretical linkages that exist between adaptation, mitigation and development, as well as the trade-offs and synergies that might exist between them. Using four developing country studies, we make a simple assessment of the extent of climate compatible development policy in practice through the lens of ‘no-regrets’, ‘low regrets’ and ‘with regrets’ decision making. The lack of evidence of either policy or practice of triple wins significantly limits the capacity of donors to identify, monitor or evaluate ‘triple wins at this point in time. We recommend a more strategic assessment of the distributional and financial implications of 'triple wins' policies

Some Respiratory Properties of the Blood of Four Species of Antarctic Fishes

1. Fishes in Antarctic seas live at a temperature lower than that at which most other poikilotherms remain active. 2. Hematocrit, absolute oxygen capacity and oxygen equilibrium curves were determined for whole blood from each of four related species of Antarctic fishes. These parameters were related to the habits and activity of each species. 3. Temperature increase was found to have a marked effect on the affinity of the blood for oxygen. This effect was compared with data from other fishes and found to be extreme in the Antarctic species. 4. These fishes are known to be stenothermal and geographically restricted in distribution. It seems likely that the sensitivity of their oxygen transport systems to temperature increase could provide at least some of the physiological basis for this

Divergent Humoral Responses to 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine in Critically-Ill Burn and Neurosurgical Patients

INTRODUCTION: Critically ill hospitalized patients are at increased risk of infection so we assessed the immunogenicity of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) administered within six days of injury. METHODS: This prospective observational study compared the immunogenicity of PPSV23 among critically ill burn and neurosurgical patients at a tertiary, academic medical center. Patients received PPSV23 vaccination within six days of ICU admission per standard of care. Consent was obtained to measure concentrations of vaccine-specific IgG to 14 of 23 serotype capsule-specific IgG in serum prior to and 14-35 days following PPSV23. A successful immunologic response was defined as both a ≥2-fold rise in capsule-specific IgG from baseline and concentrations of \u3e1 mcg/mL to 10 of 14 measured vaccine serotypes. Immunologic response was compared between burn and neurosurgical patients. Multiple variable regression methods were used to explore associations of clinical and laboratory parameters to immunologic responses. RESULTS: Among the 16 burn and 27 neurosurgical patients enrolled, 87.5% and 40.7% generated a successful response to the vaccine, respectively (p = 0.004). Both median post-PPSV23 IgG concentrations (7.79 [4.56-18.1] versus 2.93 [1.49-8.01] mcg/mL; p = 0.006) and fold rises (10.66 [7.44-14.56] versus 3.48 [1.13-6.59]; p CONCLUSION: Critically ill burn patients can generate successful responses to PPSV23 during acute injury whereas responses among neurosurgical patients is comparatively blunted. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of differential antigen responsiveness in these populations, including the role of acute stress responses, as well as the durability of these antibody responses

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Tetrasubstituted Pyridines as Potent 5-HT2C Receptor Agonists.

A series of pyrido[3,4-d]azepines that are potent and selective 5-HT2C receptor agonists is disclosed. Compound 7 (PF-04781340) is identified as a suitable lead owing to good 5-HT2C potency, selectivity over 5-HT2B agonism, and in vitro ADME properties commensurate with an orally available and CNS penetrant profile. The synthesis of a novel bicyclic tetrasubstituted pyridine core template is outlined, including rationale to account for the unexpected formation of aminopyridine 13 resulting from an ammonia cascade cyclization.We would like to thank the EPSRC (SVL, grant nº EP/K0099494/1 and nº EP/K039520/1) for financial support.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from ACS at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ml500507v

Literature and Medicine: Twenty-Five Years Later

An analysis of ten studies in Victorian literature and medicine examines the changes in the interdisciplinary field since G. S. Rousseau published an influential article on the topic in 1981

HII Region Metallicity Distribution in the Milky Way Disk

The distribution of metals in the Galaxy provides important information about galaxy formation and evolution. HII regions are the most luminous objects in the Milky Way at mid-infrared to radio wavelengths and can be seen across the entire Galactic disk. We used the NRAO Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to measure radio recombination line and continuum emission in 81 Galactic HII regions. We calculated LTE electron temperatures using these data. In thermal equilibrium metal abundances are expected to set the nebular electron temperature with high abundances producing low temperatures. Our HII region distribution covers a large range of Galactocentric radius (5 to 22 kpc) and samples the Galactic azimuth range 330 degree to 60 degree. Using our highest quality data (72 objects) we derived an O/H Galactocentric radial gradient of -0.0383 +/- 0.0074 dex/kpc. Combining these data with a similar survey made with the NRAO 140 Foot telescope we get a radial gradient of -0.0446 +/- 0.0049 dex/kpc for this larger sample of 133 nebulae. The data are well fit by a linear model and no discontinuities are detected. Dividing our sample into three Galactic azimuth regions produced significantly different radial gradients that range from -0.03 to -0.07 dex/kpc. These inhomogeneities suggest that metals are not well mixed at a given radius. We stress the importance of homogeneous samples to reduce the confusion of comparing data sets with different systematics. Galactic chemical evolution models typically derive chemical evolution along only the radial dimension with time. Future models should consider azimuthal evolution as well.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap