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Judicial protection of disfavored minorities against oppressive legislation in majoritarian separation-of-power systems raises a puzzle: Why don't legislative majorities enacting discriminatory legislation curb judicial power when judges use their power to protect minorities and stymie the legislation? We answer this question by showing that judicial protection of disfavored minorities can emerge as an unintended by-product of majoritarian politics. We develop a model that includes the two aspects of judicial review Alexander Hamilton discusses in The Federalist No. 78: Judicial protection of disfavored minorities against hostile popular majorities, and judicial protection of majority interests against legislative depredation. It is the institutional linkage between these functions that induces popular majorities, within limits, to side with judges against legislatures even when those judges protect minorities that popular majorities want to oppress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lawyer-submitted reports may have unintended consequences on safety signal detection in spontaneous adverse event reporting systems.Objective: Our objective was to assess the impact of lawyer-submitted reports primarily for one adverse event (AE) on the ability to detect a signal of disproportional reporting for another AE for the same drug in the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).Methods: FAERS reports from January 2004 to September 2015 were used to estimate yearly cumulative proportional reporting ratios (PRRs) for three known drug-AE pairs—isotretinoin-birth defects, atorvastatin-rhabdomyolysis, and rosuvastatin-rhabdomyolysis—with and without lawyer-submitted reports. Isotretinoin and atorvastatin have been the subject of high-profile tort litigation regarding other AEs. A lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of one or more based on three or more reports defined a signal.Results: Cumulative PRRs met signaling criteria in all analyses. For isotretinoin, lawyer-submitted reports increased PRRs for birth defects before 2008, with the largest increase in 2006 (2.9 [95% CI 2.4-3.5] to 3.3 [95% CI 2.8-3.9]); lawyer-submitted reports decreased PRRs for birth defects after 2011, with the largest decrease in 2013 (2.2 [95% CI 2.0-2.5] to 1.9 [95% CI 1.7-2.1]). For atorvastatin, lawyer-submitted reports reduced PRRs for rhabdomyolysis after 2013, with the largest decrease in 2015 (18.0 [95% CI 17.1-19.1] to 15.4 [95% CI 14.5-16.2]). Lawyer-submitted reports had little impact on PRRs for rosuvastatin and rhabdomyolysis.Conclusions: Inclusion of lawyer-submitted reports in FAERS did not meaningfully distort known safety signals for two drugs subject to high-profile tort litigation for other AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In aggregate, existing data quality (DQ) checks are currently represented in heterogeneous formats, making it difficult to compare, categorize, and index checks. This study contributes a data element-function conceptual model to facilitate the categorization and indexing of DQ checks and explores the feasibility of leveraging natural language processing (NLP) for scalable acquisition of knowledge of common data elements and functions from DQ checks narratives. Methods: The model defines a "data element", the primary focus of the check, and a "function", the qualitative or quantitative measure over a data element. We applied NLP techniques to extract both from 172 checks for Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) and 3,434 checks for Kaiser Permanente's Center for Effectiveness and Safety Research (CESR). Results: The model was able to classify all checks. A total of 751 unique data elements and 24 unique functions were extracted. The top five frequent data element-function pairings for OHDSI were Person- Count (55 checks), Insurance-Distribution (17), Medication-Count (16), Condition-Count (14), and Observations-Count (13); for CESR, they were Medication-Variable Type (175), Medication-Missing (172), Medication-Existence (152), Medication-Count (127), and Socioeconomic Factors-Variable Type (114). Conclusions: This study shows the efficacy of the data element-function conceptual model for classifying DQ checks, demonstrates early promise of NLP-assisted knowledge acquisition, and reveals the great heterogeneity in the focus in DQ checks, confirming variation in intrinsic checks and use-case specific "fitness-for-use" checks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Some evidence suggests that bisphosphonates may reduce atherosclerosis, while concerns have been raised about atrial fibrillation. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effects of bisphosphonates on total adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and CV death in adults with or at risk for low bone mass. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE through July 2014 identified 58 randomized controlled trials with longer than 6 months in duration that reported CV events. Absolute risks and the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of total CV events, atrial fibrillation, MI, stroke, and CV death were estimated. Subgroup analyses by follow-up duration, population characteristics, bisphosphonate types, and route were performed. Results: Absolute risks over 25–36 months in bisphosphonate-treated versus control patients were 6.5% versus 6.2% for total CV events; 1.4% versus 1.5% for atrial fibrillation; 1.0% versus 1.2% for MI; 1.6% versus 1.9% for stroke; and 1.5% versus 1.4% for CV death. Bisphosphonate treatment up to 36 months did not have any significant effects on total CV events (14 trials; ORs [95% CI]: 0.98 [0.84–1.14]; I2 = 0.0%), atrial fibrillation (41 trials; 1.08 [0.92–1.25]; I2 = 0.0%), MI (10 trials; 0.96 [0.69–1.34]; I2 = 0.0%), stroke (10 trials; 0.99 [0.82–1.19]; I2 = 5.8%), and CV death (14 trials; 0.88 [0.72–1.07]; I2 = 0.0%) with little between-study heterogeneity. The risk of atrial fibrillation appears to be modestly elevated for zoledronic acid (6 trials; 1.24 [0.96–1.61]; I2 = 0.0%), not for oral bisphosphonates (26 trials; 1.02 [0.83–1.24]; I2 = 0.0%). The CV effects did not vary by subgroups or study quality. Conclusions: Bisphosphonates do not have beneficial or harmful effects on atherosclerotic CV events, but zoledronic acid may modestly increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Given the large reduction in fractures with bisphosphonates, changes in osteoporosis treatment decision due to CV risk are not justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has identified a negative association between suicidal ideation and help-seeking, a phenomenon called 'help-negation.' Help-negation has been documented to occur for both professional and nonprofessional sources of help. In this study help-seeking attitudes, stigma concerns, and perceptions of social support were examined as possible mediators of help-negation. Data were collected from a nonclinical sample of college undergraduates at a midwestern university (N = 321). Findings provided partial support for the mediation hypotheses. Help-seeking attitudes and stigma were significant predictors of help-seeking intentions (β = .34 and β = −.17, p < .05, respectively), but did not mediate helpnegation for professional sources. Perceptions of social support, on the other hand, fully mediated help-negation for nonprofessional sources (β = .27, p < .05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from 1,376 respondents on a 1994 scale to measure depressive and manic experiences devised by Thalbourne, Delin, and Bassett (1994) were analyzed. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the Total scale (.66), the Depressive subscale (.63), and the Manic subscale (.45) were poor to marginal, and a confirmatory factor analysis did not support the two-subscale structure of the scale. These results, considered in conjunction with those of previous psychometric analyses of the Manic-Depressive Scale, cast doubt on its usefulness for research and clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample of 40 suicide notes were analyzed for motivational content in relation to an existential-constructivist theory of suicide. Results generally supported the 4 theoretical categories of somatic, relational, spiritual, and psychological motivations, with 39 notes having content that could be classified according to the aforementioned categories. Psychological motivations were found to be the most prevalent, followed by relational, spiritual, and somatic concerns. Notes of completed suicides included more relational motivations than did those of suicide attempters, and older writers of notes showed more psychological and fewer spiritual motivations than did younger writers. Recommendations are offered for revising the theory to provide a stronger meaning-based understanding of suicidal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the author's views on taking over as the editor of the "Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC)." Focus on the contribution of the former editor Carole Pistole; Description of the journal as an integral component of the American Association of Mental Health Counseling; Impact of the journal on the studies related to social behavioral sciences; Support from contributing authors, readers, members of the editorial board to JMHC; Discussion on several editorials related to behavioral science to be published in the journal.

The duty to protect a client identified as “suicidal” has been clearly established in the mental health literature. We propose that (a) the duty to protect should apply whenever a client is engaging in a behavior that may lead to serious self-harm or death within a reasonably short period of time and (b) the best method of meeting the duty to protect is to assess for impaired judgment and then fashion appropriate interventions depending on the result of this evaluation. If implemented, this proposal has significant implications for conduct when working with clients making end-of-life decisions: a mental health professional would have an initial duty to protect, through conducting a thorough assessment, with every individual who is making a decision that may affect the manner and timing of death and this duty would be in effect until a determination is made that the person's judgment is not impaired. This would eliminate basing the determination of whether a client's behavior engenders the duty to protect on the counselor's perception of the intent and motivation of the client or the counselor's values, while also providing a mechanism by which people can follow through with end-of-life decisions. Guidelines for the determination of whether the duty applies and an outline of an assessment protocol are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information regarding empirical determinants of bicameral sequence in state legislatures. In a simple spatial setup with no uncertainty, the bicameral chamber that originates legislation will typically realize policy outcomes closer to the preference of its median member than will the chamber that votes second on enacted legislation. The existence of this first-mover advantage in the bicameral process implies, first, that substantive policy outcomes will differ depending on which bicameral chamber originates a given piece of legislation.

Suicide is a recognized national health risk in many countries. In order to effectively intervene in suicidal crises, it is important for mental health professionals to understand facts about suicidal behaviour, procedures for assessing an individual's risk of self-harm, and the evaluation of the lethality of a client's suicidal gestures. With updated knowledge and proper training, counselling psychologists can play a vital role in suicide prevention. This paper summarizes for counselling psychologists current statistics about suicide, general and specific risk factors for suicidality, and assessment tools used to evaluate suicidal risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the impact of bicameralism on legislative production of laws. Comparison between bicameralism and unicameralism; Assessment of historical data from four U.S. states that have experienced cameral transitions; Percentage of bills adopted by one chamber and adopted and rejected by the other chamber in state legislatures of the U.S.

Suicidologists have made tremendous strides in advancing the knowledge of correlates of completed suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior since the early 1960s. In order to move beyond the simple identification of risk factors, however, scientific suicidology needs to give greater attention to the critical role of theory in guiding inquiry and advancing the understanding of suicidal behaviors. In this article I argue the importance of theoretical grounding from the perspective of psychological science, provide examples of this perspective from my work, and discuss their implications for future research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the research on the relationship between a reported history of sexual abuse and subsequent suicidal behavior. Based on this review, it is suggested that a conclusion that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant risk factor for subsequent suicidal ideation, attempts, and completed suicides is premature. Identified limitations of the existing research include the lack of consistency in definitions of CSA and suicidality, issues related to sample selection and causality interpretations, and the absence of theoretical grounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation surveyed 162 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals recruited from LGB-related social organizations or contacted through networking procedures with regard to suicidal behaviors, suicide risk factors, and reasons for living. Approximately 41% of the respondents indicated a serious consideration of suicide including the identification of a specific suicide plan (23%) or a past suicide attempt (36%) with significant intent to die (13%). Forty-six percent of the sample indicated at least some degree of chance of attempting suicide in the future. Grounded in the existential-constructivist theory of suicide (Rogers, 2001), empirically and theoretically identified suicide risk factors were found as a group to predict suicidal ideation (R2 = .16) and attempts (R2 = .17), with abuse-related items independently predicting both suicidal ideation (R2 = .03) and attempts (R2 = .08). Items related to self-identity issues and social acceptance were predictive of suicidal ideation (R2 = .04), while substance abuse was predictive of suicidal ideation (R2 = .05) and attempts (R2 = .13) for males only. The established factor structure of the Reasons for Living Inventory (Linehan et al., 1983) was not supported in the current data, suggesting that it may not be an appropriate measure of reasons for living with LGB individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validity of the Suicide Assessment Checklist (SAC; J. R. Rogers, 1990) was investigated in a sample of 1,969 admissions to a psychiatric emergency crisis center. Internal consistency reliability for rated items of the SAC was .87. Supporting construct-related validity, total score differences were found in the expected directions as a function of referral reason. Convergent validity was based on observed correlations between selected SAC items and conceptually similar items on the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, 1970). Supporting criterion-related validity, total score differences in the expected directions were found as a function of disposition setting. Recommendations are made for the use of the SAC in the practice of counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the contributions of the author to the research section of the 'Journal of Mental Health Counseling,' in the U.S. Importance of research in the progress of mental health counseling profession; Application of statistical significance testing; Efforts in continuing the legacy of past associate editors. research.

Describes the anthrax prophylaxis clinic that would provide education and medication to workers and people who visited the mail facility in Washington, D.C. Functions and design of the clinic; Factors that need to consider in designing a bioterrorism response protocol; Vital role of pharmacists in temporary clinic.

Focuses on the judicial advisory opinions and legislative outcomes in comparative perspective in the U.S. Implication of advisory mechanism for institutional behavior and policy outcomes; Emphasis on the advantages in allowing courts to intervene early legislative process; Creation of incomplete information model of advisory opinions.

This study investigated attitudes of mental health counselors toward rational suicide. Over 80% of respondents were moderately supportive of the idea that people can make well-reasoned decisions that death is their best option, and further, they identified a consistent set of criteria to evaluate such decisions. Additionally, analyses revealed that as the scenario moved from client, to friend, to self, rational suicide seemed to gain in acceptability for these professionals. Implications for training and practice in light of the apparent responsibilities with suicidal clients defined in the 1995 American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Congruent' bicameralism exists when two chambers are similarly constituted and are expected generally to share the same house preferences. Many com-mentators have wondered whether there is any purpose for having a second chamber if it has the same house preferences as the first chamber, and hold that divergent house preferences are a necessary condition to justify bicameralism. Other commentators have argued that even if the chambers and their respective house preferences are congruent, the informational interaction between the chambers is sufficient for bicameralism to improve the quality of legislation relative to unicameralism. Developing a game theoretic model with informational uncertainty and with identically congruent bicameral chambers, the analysis demonstrates that the informational interaction of acoustically separated chambers can nonetheless improve the objective quality of legislation relative to legislation enacted by a unicameral legisla-ture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Develops a simple signaling game in which a Legislature and a Court interact in seeking their own policy goals. Sources of uncertainty faced by the Legislature when legislating; Informational productivity of the Court; Effect of the possibility of informative judicial review on the quantity and informational quality of legislation enacted by the Legislature.

This article discusses the strengths and limitations of the current pragmatic focus of research in suicidology and presents an argument for theoretical grounding as a precursor for continued advancement in this area. An existential-constructivist framework of "meaning creation" is presented as a theoretical heuristic for understanding suicide. This formulation focuses on the basic human quest for meaning and connectedness as the underlying motivations for individual constructions of reality. Finally, the model outlines general areas of challenge and stress that may provide pathways to suicide and provides a general discussion of the implications of the model for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which examined work-family commitment and attitudes toward feminism among medical students. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study.

Presents a study which examined the relationship of attitudes and cognitions supportive of sexual aggression and gender role conflict to self-reported, sexually aggressive behavior of college male students. Methodology; Comparison of sexually aggressive students and nonaggressive students; Treatment and prevention of sexual aggression.

Analyzes the selection of judicial standards in reviewing legislation in the United States. Reference to the case `U.S. v. Carolene Products Co.'; Background of Footnote Four; Description of the paradigmatic McCulloch/Barnwell game; Adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment; Aspects of undesirable legislation.

Presents information on a study conducted which examined the relationship between informational and bicameral legislatures. What is voting sequence; Role of informational expertise in sequential strategies adopted by bicameral chambers; How do bicameral chambers vote on legislative bills.

Examines risk factors for gay and lesbian suicidal behavior. Previous attempts; Substance abuse; Family dysfunction; Identity confusion; Social ties; Social inequity; Implications for mental health counselors.

Presents a development and psychometric analysis of the Suicide Assessment Checklist (SAC). Use of SAC as a standardized component of a comprehensive suicide risk assessment and documentation strategy; Objectives of the Crisis Line Suicide Risk Scale; Importance of the individual items to the overall assessment of suicidal risk.

Investigates counselor education and counseling psychology programs to determine the academic hiring policies and projections for employment in the next 10 years. Survey of counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Limitations of the research survey.

Presents a study which cross-validates the five-factor interpretative model of the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ) reported by Rogers and DeShon (1992). Psychometric status of the SOQ; Factor analysis; Test-retest reliability; Internal consistency reliability; Emotional perturbation items.

Cross-validates Glenn E. Good and his colleagues' 1995 report on the results of their confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of two separate samples of data on the Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS). Hypothesized intercorrelated four-factor measurement model for the GRCS; Good and colleagues' CFA strategy; Internal consistency; Exploratory factor analysis.

Investigates the psychometric integrity of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory (Westefeld, Cardin and Deaton, 1992) which addressed the issue of college student suicidality. Confirmatory factor analysis; Exploratory factor analysis; Contrasted group analyses.

This article presents a formulation of the association between alcohol consumption and suicidal behavior derived from recent advances in the area of social cognition. It is suggested that the social cognitive mechanism of alcohol-induced myopia may serve an important role in developing a comprehensive conceptualization of the alcohol-suicide relationship. Implications for practitioners and ethical considerations of further research in this area are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a conceptually guided measurement model in assessing right to die attitudes. It discusses the current status of research regarding the assessment of attitudes toward euthanasia and other right to die constructs with a focus on conceptual and methodological issues hindering advancement in this area. Two models are presented: a conceptual model for differentiating the various right to die constructs, and a measurement model to guide scale development and refinement. The conceptual model defines the right to die constructs as a fraction of locus of decision and locus of action. The past two decades in the United States have seen a dramatic increase in concern regarding the moral. ethical, legal, and economic issues related to the right to die and, more specifically, euthanasia. A primary theoretical issue regarding the right to die debate is related to the confusing and uneasy conceptual relationships between the constructs of euthanasia, voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia, active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, assisted suicide, rational suicide, suicide, and homicide.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Alise Bartley that provides a first-hand account of her experience as an emergency volunteer and another by Josef I. Ruzek on the overview of the emergency responses.

The article focuses on the revised guidelines of the journal for submission of manuscripts. It has been observed previously that manuscripts submitted for the journal are quite irrelevant and sometimes so far from the topic of interest which mental health counseling. The editorial board members have agreed to establish a new set of guidelines to eliminate the possibility that a manuscript would be considered as inappropriate for the journal based on content domain. They have suggested that topics should be directly related to the practice of mental health counseling, theory related to the practice, or professional issues that mental health counselors commonly encounter.

Introduction: Lawyer-submitted reports may have unintended consequences on safety signal detection in spontaneous adverse event reporting systems.Objective: Our objective was to assess the impact of lawyer-submitted reports primarily for one adverse event (AE) on the ability to detect a signal of disproportional reporting for another AE for the same drug in the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).Methods: FAERS reports from January 2004 to September 2015 were used to estimate yearly cumulative proportional reporting ratios (PRRs) for three known drug-AE pairs-isotretinoin-birth defects, atorvastatin-rhabdomyolysis, and rosuvastatin-rhabdomyolysis-with and without lawyer-submitted reports. Isotretinoin and atorvastatin have been the subject of high-profile tort litigation regarding other AEs. A lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of one or more based on three or more reports defined a signal.Results: Cumulative PRRs met signaling criteria in all analyses. For isotretinoin, lawyer-submitted reports increased PRRs for birth defects before 2008, with the largest increase in 2006 (2.9 [95% CI 2.4-3.5] to 3.3 [95% CI 2.8-3.9]); lawyer-submitted reports decreased PRRs for birth defects after 2011, with the largest decrease in 2013 (2.2 [95% CI 2.0-2.5] to 1.9 [95% CI 1.7-2.1]). For atorvastatin, lawyer-submitted reports reduced PRRs for rhabdomyolysis after 2013, with the largest decrease in 2015 (18.0 [95% CI 17.1-19.1] to 15.4 [95% CI 14.5-16.2]). Lawyer-submitted reports had little impact on PRRs for rosuvastatin and rhabdomyolysis.Conclusions: Inclusion of lawyer-submitted reports in FAERS did not meaningfully distort known safety signals for two drugs subject to high-profile tort litigation for other AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which illustrates the importance of precision in thought, word, and mathematics in an academic curriculum in a problem to solve the amount of time needed by a carpenter and an apprentice to detail a room.

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the problems encountered by an algebra teacher with parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction (PEMDAS).

The article presents a lesson plan which teaches students how to prove limits of quadratic functions.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Introducing the Fourth Pythagorean Identity" by James R. Rogers, published in a previous issue of 2015.