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This paper presents original data from interviews with veterans of recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan about their use of cannabis as a coping tool for dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several prior studies indicate that, for some, cannabis can be an efficacious means of treating PTSD-related sleep disorders, including nightmares. Other reports suggest that veterans are self-medicating with cannabis for a far greater range of PTSD symptoms. This paper presents a range of purported mental health benefits as reported during in-depth interviews and focus groups by 40 predominantly Black and Latino, low-income veterans of the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Veterans' comparisons between cannabis, alcohol, and psychopharmaceuticals tended to highlight advantages to cannabis use, which was described by some as more effective for direct confrontation of traumatic memory and stimuli than pharmaceuticals and alcohol and less complicated by side effects. These narratives suggested that cannabis could be part of an active, approach-based coping strategy that aids with introspection and direct confrontation of the sources of personal trauma. For others, however, cannabis use appeared to be part of a less-productive, avoidant coping strategy involving recreational use and/or dependence. Some self-reports could not easily be assigned to dichotomous coping categories, as they suggested a form of use grounded in symptom alleviation but not necessarily a more active confrontation of the sources of trauma. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which marijuana may be able to potentially help some veterans coping with PTSD. The findings provide partial support for existing calls for further research into effective and safe professionally supported treatment protocols that incorporate cannabis use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing use of the Internet, the Web has become the predominant means by which people obtain information. However, due to the fast growth of the amount and (sometimes competing) sources of resources available on the Web, users want to find information quickly and efficiently. Currently, web personalization has been explored in order to encourage user's feedback, improve usability and provide interesting content. In the literature, the most common approach is to analyze server logs, which contain information about what pages the user accesses during browsing. However, client logs contain more information about the user navigation. The amount of data of the client logs is significantly greater than the amount of server logs, and this is one factor that discourages analysis of client logs. In this paper, an approach is presented to classify the level of user's experience in real time, using indices of efficiency and effectiveness. The proposed approach, called RUX (Real-time User eXperience), contains an efficient algorithm for analyzing the user's behavior of web applications in real time using client logs. RUX focuses on the paths that a user goes through during the interaction, comparing them to previously defined tasks. RUX approach can be used by application developer to consume the classification of user's experience in real time, previously programming actions that can be taken. Experimental results show that the approach is efficient for aspects of data collection, latency and scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss the philosophy of parens patriae with respect to juvenile offenders, particularly those who are committed and serving a sentence within the juvenile correctional system. We discuss connections between the philosophies of parens patriae and rehabilitation, and we examine staff issues in the role of parental surrogate. In particular, we discuss research on adolescent development and parenting styles which promote positive development. Recommendations are made for further research on surrogate parenting styles employed by staff of correctional programs as well as staff recruitment, screening, training, and supervision. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]