Evidence based practice critique and application Dissertation

Evidence based practice critique and application - Dissertation Example The aforementioned article reports the findings of a randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled monotherapy trial which was conducted with the aim of elucidating the efficacy and the safety profile of the pharmacological agent Pregabalin in patients who were suffering from Fibromyalgia (Arnold, et al., 2008). Moreover, as a co-primary objective, this study also aimed at determining the impact of Pregabalin on other parameters and symptoms of fibromyalgia, in addition to pain, in patients in which a significant improvement in pain was found (Arnold, et al., 2008). The study assessed the outcomes of a group of 750 patients suffering from fibromyalgia (as diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia) who were randomly assigned to two different groups, viz. those who received placebo and those who received Pregabalin in three different doses (i.e. 300 mg/dL, 400 mg/dL and 600 mg/dL) twice a day for a cumulative period of 14 weeks (Arnold, et al., 200 8). ... pain score and the PGIC and FIQ scores, amongst patients who received Pregabalin as compared to those who received the placebo (Arnold, et al., 2008). Moreover, all the three tested doses of Pregabalin were found to be efficacious in improving sleep and were not found to be associated with any major adverse affects. Thus, the study concluded that the use of Pregabalin as a monotherapy for the alleviation of the symptoms of fibromyalgia was both safe and efficacious over a dose range of 300-600mg/dL, over a treatment period of upto 14 weeks (Arnold, et al., 2008). Evaluation of study: In the article â€Å"A 14-week, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trial of Pregabalin in Patients with Fibromyalgia,† the authors have provided sufficient background information regarding the disorder, its prevalence, common manifestations and possible etiological factors, in the introduction section. Moreover, they have also shed light on the mechanism of action of the pr oposed drug to be used in this study, i.e. Pregabalin. However, with regard to the literature review, in my opinion, the authors have conducted an inadequate literature review and have not reported the findings of the relevant studies. They have just cited a single study and have not explored the topic adequately. Moreover, since the study focuses on monotherapy for fibromyalgia, the authors should have shed some light on the available treatment options for this disorder and whether any treatment regimes which propose the use of a combination of multiple drugs exist. They should have also justified their choice of monotherapy and the pharmacologic agent being used and should have discussed whether this option is the drug of choice for

Are Solar Panels Cost Effective in Massachusetts Research Paper

Are Solar Panels Cost Effective in Massachusetts - Research Paper Example These incentives include tax credits, improvements in household asset valuation, cost reductions stemming from higher demand and supply capabilities by licensed installers, and even rebates that provide instant cost recovery on solar photovoltaic system installation. Because of Massachusetts’ total basket of potential incentives, solar panels are not only cost effective, but can provide long-term financial benefits for consumers and businesses that can relatively quickly recoup the initial costs of installation. Why Solar Panels are Cost Effective in Massachusetts Solar photovoltaic cells are installed either on the rooftops of homes and businesses or as ground-level panels depending on the wattage required by the user and their available square footage or acreage. Most consumers install five kilowatt-capable solar panels which will require 500 square feet of available space in order to install this efficient system (Boston Solar, 2011). Typically, this type of solar energy sy stem will completely remove dependency on standard electric utilities which allows the consumer to be 100% self-reliant in electric energy production. Such a system ranges, in general, between $20,000 and $27,500 before considering any incentive enhancements. There are, however, less efficient solar packages that produce significantly less energy output and will force the consumer to be partially reliant on power production from their local utility companies to supplement solar-produced output. Despite this initial high cost of installation, it is estimated that a five kilowatt solar photovoltaic system will generate enough electricity to power the entire home and be equivalent to $2,200 in savings on annual electricity costs (Local Solar Panels, 2009). Thus, in one year, a $20,000 system provides a return on investment, before considering incentives, at 11 percent. Now, many consumers are turned away from installing a solar panel system due to the initial expenditure required. Not many consumers can readily afford such a high price for solar panel installation and will be forced to procure financing options (e.g. second mortgage or home mortgage refinancing) in order to have the system installed. Despite this, there are significant long-run advantages for having their own solar energy production system that are provided by the Federal government and Massachusetts government that enhance the initial 11 percent return on investment. The state of Massachusetts has created a Commonwealth State Rebate that provides consumers with up to $8,500 in repayments when installing a solar system with higher output levels. This rebate system was established in 2010 in order to entice consumers to consider installation. In fact, demand for the program was so very high that the program ran out of its initial funding capabilities, requiring Massachusetts government to provide an additional $222 million in funding over the initial budget of just $108 million (Boston Solar, 2011 ). With potential rebates of up to $8,500, the Commonwealth Rebate System now maintains the capability to increase return on investment from 11 percent to 53.5 percent, thus recapturing over half of the initial installation costs for the system. In 2008, the Federal gover

Free topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Free topic - Essay Example efine the way that the 20th and 21 century has developed, it is exceedingly hard to argue that any one invention has changed the way in which life exists more than that of the internet. Due to the fact that the internet allows a level of communication, and information distribution across such a wide range of topics, one can view it in an entirely different way the other tools that have thus far been listed. Regardless of the level of utilization that can be had from any range of inventions that such an study could reveal, the revolution that the internet has provided spans across nearly each and every layer of available knowledge and information that one can hope to engage with. For this reason, understanding, appreciating, and analyzing the unique ways that that internet has fundamentally reshaped our world will the point towards which this research proposal seeks to analyze. The idea of the internet has existed within minds of scientists and engineers since the dawn of the communication age; however, it was not until research from the last 1960’s that the United States government saw the benefit to such an interconnected group of robust computer networks. This was primarily born out of the fact that early computing power was so limited that it had to be maximized by utilizing a type of â€Å"piggyback† approach which allowed one server system to piggyback on another and communicate as a means to maximizing existing output. In such a way, this eagerly representation of the internet was less about person to person communication or information retrieval as it was about seeking to ameliorate a given alack within the realm of computing. Regardless of the reason, the growth and development of these network of interconnected computers soon began to expand beyond the realm of government research and soon began to see rapid growth within the field of private business and finally, with the advent of personal computers (PCs), the individual user himself/herself. As

Hereditary Disorders in Children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hereditary Disorders in Children - Essay Example Hereditary defects are one of the leading cause of death in children—â€Å"causing 1 in 5 deaths in babies through 12 months of age and as many as 40% of deaths in children through the age of 10 years. Hereditary disorders are also a significant cause of childhood morbidity and long-term disability. Children with hereditary disorders often require care that is expensive and highly specialized. Hereditary disorders often impact family dynamics resulting in additional financial pressures, marital discord, and concerns about the needs of siblings. There is very little that can be done to mitigate the cause of hereditary disorders, although non-genetic birth defects they can be competently managed through public health efforts, such as promoting folic acid intake to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, etc† (www.michigan.gov/mdch/). Genetic disorders can occur in males and females of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. It causes different types of birth defects, as well as developmental disabilities. To take a particular example, Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in 800 people. There is wide variation in the mental abilities of children with Down syndrome. Most have developmental delays. They usually learn at a slower pace, but do not lose skills once they are acquired. They may â€Å"also have trouble with judgment and reasoning. The degree of mental impairment is usually in the mild to moderate range. Emotional problems such as behavior issues or depression may occur in childhood. Common facial features include upward slanting eyes with epicanthal folds (skin over the inside corner of the eye), a small mouth, and a flat nasal bridge. Children with Down syndrome are often shorter than average, and prone to extra weight gain. Babies may seem â€Å"floppy† due to low muscle tone (hypotonia).† (www.lpc h.org) But all is not lost for parents of children with Down syndrome and other genetic disorders. Down syndrome cannot be cured, but some symptoms can be

Professional Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Professional Development - Essay Example The first step in the strategic plan is to secure membership as a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), a world renowned organization dedicated to advancing knowledge of human resources, providing literature on managing people using contemporary leadership philosophy, and serving as an HR advocate for legal issues in business and coordinating efforts of HR policy makers (SHRM, 2013). As a student, this membership is only $35 annually, with the expenditure allowing the student to access modern HR research studies and having the ability to network with other international and domestic human resources leaders and practitioners. Through this networking, I will be able to exchange ideas and interact with reputable and competent HR professionals who will provide the knowledge necessary to become a more progressive HR leader and also stay up-to-date on advances in HR practice versus theory. Once securing the aforementioned membership with SHRM, I will begin reviewing qualitative and quantitative research data regarding how to properly motivate teams, build their long-term loyalty, and establish cohesive teams devoted to achieving strategic goals.

Insomnia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Insomnia - Essay Example All of these possible reasons could cause a person to be unable to fall asleep when they want to, or keep them from being able to stay at rest enough to eventually fall asleep. Insomnia however is a treatable condition; however one must be careful when trying to treat the condition. Different sleep medications are available to try to help people who are suffering from insomnia sleep, however taking the wrong amounts or not following the right instructions can lead to harmful side effects. Also, a person should know that they actually are suffering from insomnia that needs to be treated, and that it is not another condition that should be treated differently. Insomnia is a sleep disorder which keeps a person from being able to fall asleep, or to sleep when they want to. It can be caused by a myriad of other problems within a person’s life, such as â€Å"fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression or sometimes for no apparent reason†(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia#Treatment_for_insomnia). Sometimes, even an overactive mind or pain can lead a person to suffer at the hands of insomnia. The best way to cure and help treat a person’s insomnia is to first find the cause, and then try to solve that cause as best as one can. Insomnia can be divided into three different cases, all depending on how severe the actual type of insomnia the person is experiencing is. These three cases of insomnia are transient insomnia, acute insomnia, and chronic insomnia. The first type of insomnia, also know as transient insomnia, is the shortest and least server of the other insomnia forms. This type of insomnia usually â€Å"lasts from one night to a few weeks but it seems longer† ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia#Types_of_insomnia). A person may experience this type of insomnia due in part to anxiety, or possibly jet lag. If several cases of transient

Socrates and his trial Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Socrates and his trial - Research Paper Example In addition, more knowledge about the teachings and life of Socrates are available through the memoirs of Xenophon (Aristophanes, Irvine and Plato 14). Historical records describe Socrates as an individual who neglected his personal affairs in order to spend much of his time discussing a number of concepts, which include piety, justice as well as virtue. He taught his fellow citizens at all places whenever they congregated around him to hear his teachings. These citizens usually gathered around him in order to seek wisdom about how to conduct them justly and right. They wanted this kind of knowledge in order to shape and guide the moral as well as the intellectual improvement of their community, Athens. Socrates used a powerful method in dialogue known as the Socratic Dialogue or Dialect in order to draw forth knowledge and understanding from his students. He did this through his pursuit of a series of questions posed at the students as well as examining the implications of the answe rs that they gave for the questions (Aristophanes, Reeve and Xenophon 45). Socrates valued morality so much that he equated virtue with the knowledge of the true self of an individual. He argued that nobody in his or her clear and pure mind committed a wrong act knowingly or intentionally. In addition, Socrates looked down upon the soul. He claimed that the soul was the seat of both moral character as well as waking consciousness. He also argued that the universe was purposively mind-ordered. As such, he gravely criticized the religious as well as the political institutions of the Athenians and the Sophists. These criticisms made him so many enemies that Aristophanes burlesqued his position in the society. As such, the authorities feeling offended by the criticisms from Socrates decided to fix him by putting him through trails and charging him for corrupting the people (Danzig 23). These enemies made true their threats and held Socrates accountable for the teachings he gave his foll owers about justice, virtue and morality within the society. In 399 B.C, Socrates faced trial with charges of corrupting the morals o the youth within Athenian, as well as facing accusations for religious heresies. Most people believe in the modern times that the arrest of Socrates stemmed primarily from the influence that he held over Critias as well as Alcibiades, who in an earlier perspective betrayed Athens in one way or another. He faced conviction from his charges without many pleas to argue out his innocence. He resisted all the attempts and efforts made to rescue or save his life from impending death. He got a death sentence, whereby he was to drink a cup of poisoned hemlock, and he did this willingly (Johnson). All these accounts of the life and trial of Socrates are only available through the stories made by Plato in the Phaedo, Crito and Apology. Consequently, the death of Socrates through drinking of poisonous hemlock marks one of the most famous usages of the poison in early history. Socrates, whom most philosophers, as well as, the Greek descendants consider him as the father of Greek philosophy, faced trial for impiety and corruption of the youths of Athens with his teachings and criticisms. He became a controversial figure in the city of Athens and as such created many enemies through the hatred that he aroused in many of the people he criticized their way of life or traditions, such as the religious factions and the political dispensations. He therefore created many