Connection Between Sexual Activity And Urinary Incontinence Article

Connection Between Sexual Activity And Urinary Incontinence - Article Example While the authors effectively considered marital status and age to be important determinants of sexual activity among older women, they failed to include other factors including family structure and the socioeconomic conditions. The authors seem to assume the old women to be lonely nesters or solitary survivors. Also, the socioeconomic background of the women has completely been ignored. These factors should have been analyzed in order to come down to a more relevant and sound conclusion. Not only these, but the ten item questionnaire seems to have provided a limitation as it restricted the participants to respond to a fixed set of responses eliminating the scope of probing. According to one definition, a primary source is a written matter which is authentic (Princeton University, n.pag.). Primary sources also include peer reviewed articles in journals that present a study on a new subject rather than the commenting and assessing the findings of a previous research. Under such condit ions, the journal article is a primary source as the authors have carried out a research by employing a particular methodology, structure, and so on. Instead of translating and explaining available knowledge, the authors have made an effort to conduct a study by using a suitable questionnaire (quantitative method) of gathering data. Such data has then been tested for validity and reliability by making it go through a series of statistical tests. The questionnaire used in order to conduct the research has been International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form and by statistically analyzing the data acquired from the participants’ response; a conclusion has been drawn that defines the relationship between UI and sexual activity. The research has employed a purely quantitative methodology for collecting data. As mentioned, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ) has been used to evaluate the impact of symptoms experienced as a result of UI on the lives of older women. Although the questionnaire is very simple and provides extensive information regarding the variables under study, however, the fact that it is a quantitative from of research limits the responses to a fixed set of preset answers. As a result, the participant’s are not able to provide any other relevant information apart from the items present in the questionnaire. Qualitative methodology including semi-structured interviews could generate more relevant and specific responses from the participants. While I thought that other determinants of sexual activity should have been considered, a research reports age and the individual’s score from the ICIQ short form to be the best forecasters of UI (Timmermans, Falez, Melot, and Wespes, n.pag.). Therefore, the use of a quantitative method particularly the ICIQ-SF score was essential in predicting UI although its effectiveness in finding the relationship between sexual activity and UI is questionable. The authors have used various peer reviewed journal articles as sources. However, the data obtained from their research using the ICIQ short form has been the most important in coming down to the conclusion. While the authors have backed up their claims using references from journal articles, the role of the data provided from the ICIQ questionnaire response has been critical. Throughout the research, a discussion using the data obtained from the questionnaire has been used and further clarified using support from journal articles. Various tables present in the research demonstrate that statistical testing

Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods NAME: LUCKY AMADI DISCUSS QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS. INTRODUCTION. What is Research? Research is an inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed development. Research helps to acquire knowledge about a particular thing it is done to understand. It can also be seen as the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. Research methods are often divided into two main types: Qualitative Research methods Quantitative Research methods Qualitative Method of Research. Qualitative research which is also called Field research is done to gain a deep understanding of a specific organisation or event rather than the surface description.it is aimed at getting a better understanding through first experience, truthful reports and quotation of actual conversations, also aims to know how participants derive meaning from their surroundings and how their meaning influences their behaviour. Qualitative research makes use of observation as a data collection method; this is the selection and recording of behaviours of people in their environment, observation is useful for generating in-depth descriptions of organisations or events, for obtaining information that is otherwise inaccessible, and for conducting research when other methods are inadequate. The context or background of behaviour is included in observations of both people and their environment. Stages in Participatory Observation Selection of a site and definition of problems, concepts and indicators. The problem or phenomenon of interest is first identified by the researcher; he tries to discern what will yield the greatest understanding of that problem. The researcher then identifies preliminary concepts and what data will be gathered as indicators of those concepts. The researcher chooses a strategy to move into the researcher. This involves an overt or a covert role for the researcher, issues may include how to record observations (writing notes, tape recordings, video tape) as well as ethical issues (privacy, confidentiality, etc.) Strategies include: adopting a passive role at first, learning the ropes; don’t seek data aggressively until later; be a researcher not a therapist, answer questions but don’t become closely identified with any one person until you are sure it will not cost you information in the long run, be non-persistence. Selecting people and events to observe. Primary sources also known as â€Å"key informants† of information are identified by the researcher. These people may be relied upon in the beginning to help the researcher get acculturated to the situation. The statements of key informants can be taken as evidence, even if their statements are somewhat self-serving. The researcher must also be aware of possible differences between the validity and intention of volunteered statements that are made in response to the researcher’s questions. Develop relationships with the participants. Researchers must have the trust and confidence of the informants. Researchers must speak their â€Å"language† and understand their â€Å"world†. The researcher can note the differences rather than accept one and reject the other. The researcher must determine whether certain things are not being said because of his or her role as â€Å"researcher† or whether they can use their position as â€Å"neutral outsider† to gain more information. Analysing observations. The researcher can check whether none, all or some proportion of behaviours or events occur under distinct circumstances. A preliminary model can be generated to explain the data collected. Further observations are then collected which can strengthen or weaken the researchers preliminary model. Final analysis and interpretation. Models are checked against the evidence. Advanced concepts and evidence for their support and refutation are checked. The major problem is how to present the data in a brief but meaningful form. Advantages of Qualitative research. It gives the researcher freedom to let the study unfold more naturally. The researcher gains more detailed and rich data in the form of comprehensive written descriptions or visual evidence such as photographs. It looks at the context and social meaning and how it affects individuals. Disadvantages of Qualitative research. It is time consuming. It is difficult to code data. It is not applicable to widely dispersed social settings It is difficult to control for researcher bias. Quantitative Research of Method. Quantitative research can be seen as explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods; this method reduces the data into numbers, the researcher helps to analyse the data with the help of statistics. The researcher knows in advance what he/she is looking for and all aspects of the study are carefully designed before the data is collected. Its objective is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. Process of Quantitative research method. Developing models, theories, and hypotheses of what the researcher expects to find. Developing instruments and methods for measuring the data. Experimental control and manipulation of variables. Collecting the data. Modelling and analysing the data. Evaluating the results. Principles of Quantitative Research. Objectivity is important. Methods and conclusions are examined by researchers for any possible bias. Researchers go to great length to ensure that they are really measuring what they claim to be measuring. External factors which might affect the result must also be controlled as it might be the other factor which produces the result. When looking at results the P value is important, P stands for probability. It measures the likelihood that a particular finding or observed difference is due to chance, P is between 0 and 1, the closer the result is to 0 the less likely it is that the observed difference is due to change, the closer the result is to 1 the greater the likelihood that the finding is due to chance and that there is no difference between the variables. Advantages of Quantitative method of research. It allows researchers to measure and analyse data. It helps to carry out test for hypotheses in experiments because of its ability to measure data using statistics. The researcher is more objective about the findings of the research. Disadvantages of Quantitative research. It doesn’t study things in a natural setting or discuss the meaning things have for different people unlike qualitative method of research. A large sample of population must be studied; the larger the sample of people researched the more statistically accurate the results will be. CONCLUSION. Each of these researches are done for a purpose just like Qualitative is done to gain understanding of a specific organisation or phenomena, Quantitative is done by analysing data with the help of statistics it has to do with numbers. Just like everything they both have their advantages and disadvantages. REFERENCES Anderson, ML and Taylor, H.F (2009) sociology. The essentials Belmont C.A Thomson Wadsworth.

Arizona Concrete :: essays research papers fc

Arizona Concrete According to the Mine Faculty at the University of Arizona, cement is manufactured primarily from suitable limestone and shale rocks. Arizona had two dry-process cement plants in 1969, namely the Arizona Portland Cement Company plant in Pima County, near Tucson, and the American Cement Corporation plant at Clarkdale, in Yavapai County (52-53). The use of cementing materials goes back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, but the invention of modern portland cement is usually attributed to Joseph Aspdin, a builder in Leeds, England, who obtained a patent for it in 1824. Currently, the annual world production of portland cement is around 700 million metric tons (Danbury). Many people use the words concrete and cement interchangeably, but they're not. Concrete is to cement as a cake is to flour. Concrete is a mixture of ingredients that includes cement but contains other ingredients also (Day 6- 7). Portland cement is produced by pulverizing clinker consisting essentially of hydraulic calcium silicates along with some calcium aluminates and calcium aluminoferrites and usually containing one or more forms of calcium sulfate (gypsum) as an interground addition. Materials used in the manufacture of portland cement must contain appropriate proportions of calcium oxide, silica, alumina, and iron oxide components. During manufacture, analyses of all materials are made frequently to ensure a uniformly high quality cement. Selected raw materials are crushed, milled, and proportioned in such a way that the resulting mixture has the desired chemical composition. The raw materials are generally a mixture of calcareous (calcium oxide) material, such as limestone, chalk or shells, and an argillaceous (silica and alumina) material such as clay, shale, or blast-furnace slag. Either a dry or a wet process is used. In the dry process, grinding and blending operations are done with dry materials. In the wet process, the grinding and blending are done with the materials in slurry form. In other respects, the dry and wet processes are very much alike. After blending, the ground raw material is fed into the upper end of a kiln. The raw mix passes through the kiln at a rate controlled by the slope and rotational speed of the kiln. Burning fuel (powdered coal, oil, or gas) is forced into the lower end of the kiln where temperatures of 2600Â °F to 3000Â °F change the raw material chemically into cement clinker, grayish-black pellets about the size of 1/2-in.-diameter marbles. The clinker is cooled and then pulverized. During this operation a small amount of gypsum is added to regulate the setting time of the cement. The clinker is ground so fine that nearly all of it passes through a No.

Alliant Health System: A Vision of Total Quality Essay

1. Is Alliant’s strategy Sound? What does it have to do well to succeed? a. No strategy is totally sound.b. On paper, Alliant’s strategy would seem sound but, even though over the past five years they have made progress, Alliant has hit a few snags along the way that has prevented their strategy from becoming truly sound. i. They have only been able to lay down a foundation.c. Alliant is faced with â€Å"a culture and a climate that is inhospitable to the TQM philosophy.† ii. CEO Wolford states the he cannot â€Å"point to any one area that demonstate[s] we are substantially better than our competition.†d. â€Å"Alliant had achieved breakthroughs in organizational learning at each step in their TQM journey.† e. CARES+ – â€Å"basic outline for quality goal-setting and review†; bureaucraticf. EQUIP – â€Å"employees used it as a substitute for talking to their managers about day-to-day issues† g. Quality Improvement Teams – weren’t able to â€Å"bite off little pieces† and instead tried to solve â€Å"world hunger† problems; only able to come up with programs but was not capable implementing them; some have been â€Å"going on for over a year with nothing to show for it† h. Critical Paths – Unable to monitor rate of compliance, statistics was anywhere from 2% to 70% i. Have to do well to succeed:iii. Alliant needs to get everybody on board with Total Quality Management (TQM) for their strategy to succeed. 1. The quality process still needs a jumpstart.2. Some physicians are reluctant to adopt the new way of thinking. iv. Implement an IT system that â€Å"support[s] TQM and provide[s] Alliant with the information it need[s] to manage its evolution into the health care organization of the future.† v. Create a central quality organization that could come up with programs and implement them. 2. How well have they implemented the quality strategy? j. Alliant came up with guiding principles and a 10-point action plan to help introduce TQM to the organization through quality management teams (QMT). vi. Alliant was thorough in making sure their quality strategy was implemented systematically through targeted programs and processes that would help their â€Å"organization achieve a competitive advantage based on the management of quality. â€Å" vii. They implemented the quality stategy well in the first year because after Petersdorf died in 1987, â€Å"quality had already taken root† and â€Å"one of the board’s primary selectin criteria for Petersdorf’s replacement was a commitment to total quality management.† k. In the second year of implementation, Alliant saw their most profitable year in the history of the company. l. Four components of TQM strategy were implemented pretty well: viii. CARES+ process â€Å"diffused rapidly across Alliant†; Were â€Å"making the transition from traditional planning to quality improvement†; found quality planning process to be highly effective ix. EQUIP allowed employees to voice their ideas; helped communicate between employees, managers, and executives x. Quality Improvement Teams â€Å"prescribed specific analytical tools and walked a team from problem statement through actions, results, and future plans†; drilled right to the core of performance issues; applied statistical process control techniques to cash flow to bring the receivables range down xi. Critical Paths worked; was able to shorten length of hospital stay for coronary artery bypass graft surgeries from 17 days to 13 days and reduced average costs from $41,863 to $35,843; saved Alliant almost $1 million in 1990; moves process along if everyone works with the same time frame in mind 3.  Assess Alliant’s information technology agenda/strategy. m. Believed information technology (I/T) is a key in the future strength of TQM n. Need â€Å"expert systems – computers to help the mind†Ã‚  o. â€Å"Was a shift in focus: to patient-oriented systems rather than functional, â€Å"stove pipe† applications that met narrow departmental needs. p. Physicians, clinical support professionals, and administrators could share information and drive continuous improvement in service q. â€Å"HELP offered advice on possible diagnoses, cost-effective treatments, resource scheduling, and drug contraindications.† r. New I/T strategy offered significant advantages over Alliant’s existing patchwork of stand-alone systems: xii. System worked concurrently – advice was available as patient was being treated xiii. Had the potential to improve coordination dramatically by collecting data from  all corners of the hospital into a single patient-centered system 3. This would minimize patient costs and stay and the quality of care would be improved by eliminating â€Å"inappropriate procedures, unnecessary waiting time, and ineffective treatments.† 4. Would you proceed with HELP? s. Yes xiv. HELP would bring together Alliant’s hospitals and technically make it one working unit by providing a single patient-oriented system that had all data of a patient from every area of the hospital in one computer making Alliant efficient, productive, and quality focused. xv. This would allow information to be shared and eliminate all repeat and unnecessary procedures and allow a shorter waiting time because information would not have to be collected again. xvi. In effect, HELP would improve quality. 5. What would you do to make sure the implementation is successful? t. Make sure that the process works for us rather than us work for the process u. Take everything one step at a time; analyze little by little instead of taking in everything at once v. Make sure everybody was on board with Total Quality Management by restructuring the culture and climate in making TQM more hospitable w. Train managers with a familiar interface as that of HELP  xvii. This would help with a smooth short-term transition and involve fewer hiccups. xviii. â€Å"Stabilize the existing infrastructure, lay the foundation for HELP, and begin to make some progress on automating support for TQM†

First Day of College Essay

This first week of college has been very exciting. I remember on Sunday all day not knowing what and how to feel and what to expect. I woke up Monday morning nervous and excited, but also blessed because I feel lucky for what I call â€Å"one of those fortunate kids to be able to attend college†. I’ve been reading this devotional book each morning since I began Monday and I pray before I leave the house. Monday morning, I got on this campus, and I immediately started walking towards my first class, excited and anxious, but nervous because I didn’t know anyone in the class. I met my first teacher for the day, Mrs. Martinez for Math, and she is such a sweet and nice woman. Then, I had my hour-and-a-half until my next class, Student Success, so I met up with my best friend Whitney, which I haven’t seen the last time we were at Taco Bell with her mom and grandma, sometime in late June or early July. Her mom passed away last month and Thursday, August 29th would be one month. I was so happy to see her and share my college experience with her!!! Then, I had lunch and bought a ham and swiss cheese sub. Then, it was time to go to my last class, Student Success with Mrs. Butler, who is also a lovely lady. I walked in the class, with my friend Alison, and was nervous not knowing what to expect. The syllabus and presentation was very informative and I enjoyed playing and listening to the â€Å"Have You Ever?† and the â€Å"Head, Shoulders† games. The day ended. I left the campus happy and grateful to be a part of this experience. Tuesday afternoon came and I went to my English class, and met my teacher, Mr. Vrhovac, who is a really funny gu y and sarcastic. I also left this day feeling happy and grateful and I’m really starting to feel comfortable in my own skin and I’m loving passing through many of my friends from whom I went to high school with or young adults from my church. One thing I did notice is that for me personally, I felt that the atmosphere was different†¦ in a good way. It’s very unique and I’m beginning to get accustom with it and a liking to it. I also believe that I’m going to use all these resources to my benefits and I’ve met some incredible people already that will make some great study buddies. Overthese past 2 days, it’s just been an incredible feeling, I’m looking forward to the rest of this year, and I just feel incredibly blessed.

Coordination Number Definition in Chemistry

Coordination Number Definition in Chemistry The coordination number of an atom in a molecule is the number of atoms bonded to the atom. In chemistry and crystallography, the coordination number describes the number of neighbor atoms with respect to a central atom. The term was originally defined in 1893 by Swiss chemist Alfred Werner (1866–1919). The value of the coordination number is determined differently for crystals and molecules. The coordination number can vary from as low as 2 to as high as 16. The value depends on the relative sizes of the central atom and ligands and by the charge from the electronic configuration of an ion. The coordination number of an atom in a molecule or polyatomic ion is found by counting the number of atoms bound to it (note, not by counting the number of chemical bonds). Its more difficult to determine chemical bonding in solid-state crystals, so the coordination number in crystals is found by counting the number of neighboring atoms. Most commonly, the coordination number looks at an atom in the interior of a lattice, with neighbors extending in all directions. However, in certain contexts crystal surfaces are important (e.g., heterogeneous catalysis and material science), where the coordination number for an interior atom is the bulk coordination number and the value for a surface atom is the surface coordination number. In coordination complexes, only the first (sigma) bond between the central atom and ligands counts. Pi bonds to the ligands are not included in the calculation. Coordination Number Examples Carbon has a coordination number of 4 in a methane (CH4) molecule since it has four hydrogen atoms bonded to it.In ethylene (H2CCH2), the coordination number of each carbon is 3, where each C is bonded to 2H 1C for a total of 3 atoms.The coordination number of diamond is 4, as each carbon atom rests at the center of a regular tetrahedron formed by four carbon atoms. Calculating the Coordination Number Here are the steps for identifying the coordination number of a coordination compound. Identify the central atom in the chemical formula. Usually, this is a transition metal.Locate the atom, molecule, or ion nearest the central metal atom. To do this, find the molecule or ion directly beside the metal symbol in the chemical formula of the coordination compound. If the central atom is in the middle of the formula, there will be neighboring atoms/molecules/ions on both sides.Add the number of atoms of the nearest atom/molecule/ions. The central atom may only be bonded to one other element, but you still need to note the number of atoms of that element in the formula. If the central atom is in the middle of the formula, youll need to add up the atoms in the entire molecule.Find the total number of nearest atoms. If the metal has two bonded atoms, add together both numbers, Coordination Number Geometry There are multiple possible geometric configurations for most coordination numbers. Coordination Number 2- linearCoordination Number 3- trigonal planar (e.g., CO32-), trigonal pyramid, T-shapedCoordination Number 4- tetrahedral, square planarCoordination Number 5- square pyramid (e.g., oxovanadium salts, vanadyl VO2), trigonal bipyramid,  Coordination Number 6- hexagonal planar, trigonal prism, octahedralCoordination Number 7- capped octahedron, capped trigonal prism, pentagonal bipyramidCoordination Number 8- dodecahedron, cube, square antiprism, hexagonal bipyramidCoordination Number 9- three-face centered trigonal prismCoordination Number 10- bicapped square antiprismCoordination Number 11- all-faced capped trigonal prismCoordination Number 12- cuboctahedron (e.g., Ceric ammonium nitrate -(NH4)2Ce(NO3)6)

Memory essays

Memory essays What exactly is memory? In Book ten, more specifically, Chapters eight through fourteen of The Confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine examines what he believes the memory to be, and how it functions. Augustine first addresses memory specifically in Chapter eight of Book ten where he describes memory as where are treasures of countless images of things of every manner . . . [and] also whatever we think about . . . (p. 236). He can recall any of these memories that forgetfulness has not yet swallowed up and buried away . . . (p. 236). It may take longer to remember some things than others, for some things may have to be searched for, sifting through other memories that jump into his mind that he must brush away until they are needed. Inside ones memory everything is kept distinct and according to kind . . . (p. 236). Each is obtained through its respective sensory organ and stored for whenever it may be needed. Although the things themselves do not enter . . . (p. 237), images of them are kept. But Augustine ponders how these images are remembered. For when one remembers remembers a sound, he can still hear other things. Also in the memory, Augustine talks of remembering things he has done or others have told him of, and these can be conjured up at any moment in order to influence his many decisions which he must make. Augustine ends the chapter by proclaiming Great is the power of memory, exceedingly great is it, O God, and inner chamber, vast and unbounded! (p. 238). In this final paragraph he amazes at that which is memory. He says that men go to great lengths in order to gaze at mountain heights, at huge waves in the sea, at the broad expanse of flowing rivers, at the wide reaches of the ocean, and at the circuits of the stars . . . (p. 238), but they fail to observe the wonder which is within themselves. They do not appreciate...