Spartan Daily, October 11, 2007

Volume 129, Issue 26https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/10398/thumbnail.jp

Role of community pharmacists in patients' self-care and self-medication

This review highlights the growing prominence of self-care and explores the contribution of community pharmacy. Firstly, background to self-care is discussed, followed by placing self-care in context with regard to the general public and accessing community pharmacy. From this perspective the contribution community pharmacy currently makes is assessed, paying particular attention to the factors that negatively impact on the ability of community pharmacy to facilitate self-care

Social influence in subgroups from superordinate group polls

Polling can influence public opinion—polls convey normative information people are motivated to follow. Polls are often presented as reflecting the larger population (superordinate group)—frequently representing high-status subgroups. Marginalized groups are treated as exceptions to the norm in need of explanation. The current work examines if low-status subgroup members perceive their group as represented in national polls and the consequences of perceived representation for following superordinate group norms (bandwagoning). I expected: 1) Low-status subgroup members would identify with the superordinate group less than high-status subgroup members, 2) Low-status subgroup members would perceive less subgroup representation in national polls than high-status subgroup members, 3) Low-status subgroup members would be less likely than high-status subgroup members to bandwagon, 4) Norm adherence would depend on perceived representation and identification, with low-status subgroup members bandwagoning less than high-status subgroups members to the extent they see their group as underrepresented and less identified with the superordinate group, and 5) Subgroups would be less likely to bandwagon when the issue was relevant to the group’s interests. Participants viewed a national poll in which the majority of respondents either supported or opposed a position (Studies 1-2). Participants rated support for the issue and perception of racial groups’ representation in the poll. In Study 3, participants viewed a similar poll, but viewed poll sample gender composition information—either women or men were a majority of respondents. In all studies, low-status (vs. high-status) subgroup members had equal (Studies 1-3) or higher (Study 2A) national identification. Participants viewed low-status subgroup members as less represented than high-status subgroups (Studies 1-2) or perceived representation as manipulated (Study 3). Reliable general bandwagon effects emerged in all three studies. Counter to expectations, low-status subgroup members bandwagoned equally to or more than high-status subgroups members (Studies 1-3; but see exceptions Study 2A/B). Perceived subgroup representation did not reliably influence bandwagoning (Studies 1-3). In Study 3, women were more likely to bandwagon and perceived relevance decreased bandwagoning compared to men for a less gender-relevant issue. Results offered mixed support for hypotheses—subgroup representation did not reliably predict bandwagoning, but relevance may help explain inconsistencies

Social Movements on Liberalization "Free Marijuana" of Thai's Government Policy: Freedom under Boundaries

The Thai government's declaration of marijuana as free and legal requires marijuana plants to be produced, exported, sold, and possessing consumption marijuana plants. The medicinal marijuana use, leveraging solutions, and leverage points in the social movement sector. While Thai lifestyles have long been associated with marijuana, the evidence appears in murals, literary works, and parallel Thai drug recipes on medicine relief. A critical leverage point considered liberal marijuana has gained social acceptance and widespread policy discussions through the activism of various organizations, the fight in the discourse sector, and civil society are "marijuana is a medicine" or "marijuana is a magic drug." Simultaneously, there was a product launch and a research publication by Rangsit University that marijuana substances are supported for inhibiting cancer cells.  Although the liberalization of marijuana is not yet complete, this is because there is no law to keep it. Therefore, it has resulted in a relatively unprecedented easing of policies, regulations, and prohibitions. Social movements are confident in the government that they can legally regulate the cultivation to use of marijuana, and products of their responses to their unbelievable toward the free marijuana policy indicate that at all levels

State of the art 2015: a literature review of social media intelligence capabilities for counter-terrorism

Overview This paper is a review of how information and insight can be drawn from open social media sources. It focuses on the specific research techniques that have emerged, the capabilities they provide, the possible insights they offer, and the ethical and legal questions they raise. These techniques are considered relevant and valuable in so far as they can help to maintain public safety by preventing terrorism, preparing for it, protecting the public from it and pursuing its perpetrators. The report also considers how far this can be achieved against the backdrop of radically changing technology and public attitudes towards surveillance. This is an updated version of a 2013 report paper on the same subject, State of the Art. Since 2013, there have been significant changes in social media, how it is used by terrorist groups, and the methods being developed to make sense of it.  The paper is structured as follows: Part 1 is an overview of social media use, focused on how it is used by groups of interest to those involved in counter-terrorism. This includes new sections on trends of social media platforms; and a new section on Islamic State (IS). Part 2 provides an introduction to the key approaches of social media intelligence (henceforth ‘SOCMINT’) for counter-terrorism. Part 3 sets out a series of SOCMINT techniques. For each technique a series of capabilities and insights are considered, the validity and reliability of the method is considered, and how they might be applied to counter-terrorism work explored. Part 4 outlines a number of important legal, ethical and practical considerations when undertaking SOCMINT work

Constitutional Courage

In this lecture, Professor Arthurs argues that we are currently in need of constitutional courage -the courage to say no to ambitious projects of constitutional reform and constitutional litigation as a way to solve our pressing social and political problems. Professor Arthurs first lays out why our current obsession with the constitution is problematic. He insists that we do not even know what the supposed supreme law of Canada actually is, what it says, or even what it does. Moreover, instead of transforming society, the current cult of constitutionalism has only served to transform legal practice and scholarship. ei then surmises on the potential causes of our constitutionalism: the preponderant influence of American political and legal culture in Canada; the patchy and uncertain nature of our own constitution; frustration with parliamentary politics; the neo-liberal agenda; and perhaps even postrWodemisn. Lastly, he examines the role constitutionalism has played in the expansion of the judiciary power. Professor Arthurs concludes that it is time we said no to the constitution. Only by summoning up our constitutional courage will we be able to turn away from the distractions of constitutionalism and toward the more pressing and practical problems of the day

Measuring Happiness to Guide Public Policy Making: A Survey of Instruments and Policy Initiatives

This author examines subjective indicators of well-being as they relate to the happiness movement, a global effort to create a new economic paradigm. The essay focuses on the prominent international institutions that are developing happiness metrics as well as agencies exploring the use of happiness data for crafting supportive public policy. A definition of happiness metrics, based on international institutions, identifies the primary questions that compose perceived happiness and how this data can be used

Working in Australia's digital games industry

The Working in Australia’s Digital Games Industry: A Consolidation Report is the outcome of a comprehensive study on the games industry in Australia by Dr Sandra Haukka from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) based at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. The study responds to concerns that Australia’s games industry would not reach its full potential due to a lack of local, highly skilled staff, and a lack of appropriately trained graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills. This is the first of two reports produced with the support of the Games Developers’ Association of Australia. Over coming months researchers will develop a future skills strategy report for the industry