Anaylsis of gambling industry Essay Example for Free

Anaylsis of gambling industry Essay Introduction A service is the result of applying human or mechanical efforts to people or objects. Services are intangible products involving a deed, a performance or an effort which cannot be physically possessed (s dibb, 1994). Within this report their will be a number of topics discussed including the marketing mix, the effects of gambling and the ongoing conflict between services and product. These topics will be referred to the specific service which is the gala casino in Edinburgh. Methodology. In the UK there are many different gambling bodies, such as Gala, William Hill and Betfred. The gambling industry is one of the most successful services in the Britain.. Gala casinos are owned by the Gala Group who in 2005 merged with another European gambling business Coral Eurobet to create Europes largest integrated betting group. At present, Gala employs over 17000 people and generates over ? 400 million per annum, serving over 2 million customers (Gala Group, 2005). The casino that this report will focus on will be the Maybury Casino in Edinburgh, which is owned by Gala. Despite it being a large city, there are only two casinos in Edinburgh, the Maybury being the bigger and more successful, rather than the William Hill casino closer to the centre of town. The casino has a high quality restaurant which is used all year round. Unlike some casinos, the Maybury has all the major casino tables, such as craps, roulette, blackjack and various types of poker. It has also has two function rooms mainly used for poker tournaments or mah-jong tables. Main body Marketing mix The marketing mix is key when developing any business whether it is a product based company or a service provider. The marketing mix is a very simple tool yet effect is basically a step to step guide on how to market the product(foxall, 1999). The following are the main marketing mix elements which refer to all business however in some cases a further 3 of physical evidence, people and process, all of these ingredients mask a major role of the retailer which is to select and acquire goods in order to sell their product (d Gilbert, 1999) Place For many different services the location of a business is a powerful marketing tool by itself( d Carson, 1991) . For example: the Waverley Hotel on Princes Street is on one of the busiest streets in the country and is therefore almost guaranteed to make a profit. Although this is not really the case for the Maybury Casino, it is still in a good position. It is situated in Corstorphine which is just out of the centre of Edinburgh. Despite this distance from the busy city centre, its location does allow for increased space. Most customers would want a casino closer to the centre of Edinburgh, but this would almost certainly mean that the venue would be smaller, with higher costs for the customer and the business. Having the business out of town allows for more space which in turn means the company can offer a better service to the customers. The other advantage of this location is that it is situated next to the main road into Edinburgh from Fife, going through Haymarket. This allows passers by to see the establishment. The benefit to having this out of town location is access: it is very simple to travel to the casino as Edinburgh has an award winning bus service with more than two buses running 24 hours a day that go past the casino. Price is one of the most difficult aspects of the marketing mix to tackle. Companies can do many things with promotion and can offer great products, but when it comes down to it, the cost of this is all that the vast majority of customers are interested in(j lee, 2002) Price is tricky when it comes to gambling, as it is an entertainment industry solely based on money. All casinos are always going to cost money when it comes to betting on tables, so there is nothing any one particular company can do differently, as it is generally up to the customer how much they spend. However, there are other aspects that are important in this industry, the main one being the membership price. The Maybury Casino does not charge a membership fee ? this is quite rare for most casinos. This is an enormous marketing tool in itself, as the amount of gamblers and money spent on gambling is increasing. Therefore, if it is free to play then this will entice gamblers even more, and at the end of the day free is free. Another aspect of price is the poker room. This room is used for weekly poker tournaments, which is something that a lot of casinos do. However the Gala Casino differs from others: poker is one of the fastest growing pastimes, which has encouraged Gala to offer poker tournaments every day of the week with different price levels. Having all these different price levels can encourage a larger range of customers, allowing those with less money to not miss out. One of the best reasons for the lower priced tournaments is the large amount of students this attracts. Students generally have less money than most members of the public, and as poker is becoming increasingly popular with younger people today, the casino is therefore an affordable place they can go with friends. The general misconception about casinos is that they are for older businessmen who enjoy an expensive lifestyle and are happy to have expensive food and drink prices, but this is not the case. The prices of the drinks in the casino are the same as most Edinburgh bars with similar ranges and well trained staff. The restaurant is of a high quality and not overpriced. Therefore, it cannot be said that the price of the establishment could be responsible for putting people off going to the Casino. Promotion in general is harder for a service rather than a product. This is especially the case when referring to casinos. The only way in which casinos tend to promote themselves is in the actual casino itself. Casinos cannot advertise in the same way that normal products can, due to legislations so they rely heavily on word of mouth. In some ways, promotion is actually very important to a service, (especially this type of service) as they are relying on their own performance to act as their promotion. Product This is the most important part of the marketing mix for a service, as this is all they have. In regards to a service this element is basically the result of the previous three elements of the marketing mix without this one they all fail. In all aspects of retail, whether it is in a service or providing a product, it is this that matters to the customer. It does not matter how they promote it or at what price they sell it at they will fail either way if the product is not up to standard. The three extra elements only really refer to services due to the intangible element of human behaviour, where quality and its control is off paramount importance(d Gilbert,1999 ) People are also vital in services as they are your promotion they do all the work. Again the service as a whole can be great but if it is not applied properly by the staff then this becomes irrelevant. They employees are the face of the service so they must look and act in the way that is suitable for the service such as in the bank clean and in a shirt and tie. Process is very similar to some of the other elements as this is the procedures that are undertaken in providing the service. Other elements of process are the information that is available about the service, if customers are not aware of the details of the service they are unlikely to take part. Physical evidence is reasonably self explanatory, it is the physical elements the tangible elements of the service for example in a hotel the cleanliness of the curtains would be an example of physical evidence. Effects of gambling on society Gambling is one service (unlike most) where it can be taboo in mainstream society to advertise or promote itself. There are many laws and regulations on gambling such as (Hanson, 2005). For casinos to make a profit and to attract customers they have to rely on peoples need for gambling. Many people feel that gambling is immoral and praying on the weakness of others and their lack of discipline; because of this many people feel that gambling should be abolished completely. However despite those people who do not agree with gambling, there are plenty of individuals who support it. Many people feel that it is their own choice to spend their own money, and the few who lack the discipline to control their gambling should not stop others who can. With the relatively recent boom of internet gambling, especially poker, gambling is becoming more and more of a hot topic with governments and groups throughout the world. Casinos should take advantage of this surge of interest in gambling in order to make a profit and keep it available to customers; however, they should also remember to do so without angering people. Difficulty of services compared to products Citizens of the Western world are living in increasingly service-based economies. Services are no longer a minor or superficial part of economies, but go to the heart of value creation within the economy. (Palmer 2004) What Palmer is suggesting here is that services are no longer viewed in the traditional way as an unproductive aspect of the economy, but are now the base of many economies. In spite of this it is still incredibly difficult to succeed in a service. In general it is much easier to sell a tangible product people can see, touch or taste before purchasing (c gronroos, 1978). Service providers must rely on the quality of their own performance with many variables that can scupper a good experience. This however can all depend on the economy of the country, i. e. providing a service in a country such as Portugal where many other nations go to vacation and for many parts of the country being a service provider is simpler such as bars in a busy tourist area. This is not so much the case in the more powerful countries such as the UK, U. S. A and France. These countries are very much consumer driven and succeeding as a service provider can be difficult in many ways due to the attitude of society in the 21st century. There are, like previously mentioned, so many variables which can effect a service provider and with most customers being viewed as fickle if the service in anyway is not more than their level of tolerance they will try bring this service down. There will always be a conflict between services and products and each has their day in certain societies. Conclusion The service provider chosen has pros and cons from many different topics. The difficulties that a casino like this faces will never change and it is not an attack on the way in which they are providing this service it is always going to be on the service itself and societys view of it. The service encounter was however more full of positive notes rather than negative. In order to get past people views on gambling, they have decided to divert all their efforts on how they provide this service and in this, there are few flaws. integral to the selling activity in all markets( dibb, 2001) They have utilised ever point of the marketing mix well and definitely to their advantage, providing the best service possible to customers. Their use of location is especially impressive, normally out of town locations can prove to be a stumbling block for many services but the casino has utilised it to their advantage and turned being an in-town location into the less popular of the two. The conflict between services and products is always going to be around. However services are growing and growing with 73% of the employees working in the UK are working in the service sector (ILO, 1999). To conclude, if services are to be performed in such a manner as the Gala casino then the service industry will continue to rise.

Mass Media And The Public Opinion Problem Media Essay

Mass Media And The Public Opinion Problem Media Essay The war on Iraq is drawing to a close, but over the last six years, it has eclipsed the news agenda. Ever since the Gulf war ended in 1991, the United states and Britain have been waging an undeclared secret war on Iraq for twelve years1. The US led war in Iraq began in March 2003. Their intent was to abolish the Iraqi society allowing them to command Iraqs huge oil reserves. This war received unparalleled media coverage on television and in the press. News networks spent significant amounts of money in situating reporters and photographers in Iraq. These reporters spent time with the coalition armed forces on the front line where they were able to provide live coverage of events as they happened. A number of consequences followed. Watchdog groups raised issues about the sheer quantity of war coverage, the nature of that coverage and the independence and objectivity of those so-called embedded journalists2. Clearly, it became important to know not only what the public felt about the actual war, but also how the public received information and formed their opinion about the war. Radio had World War II. Television had the Vietnam War. Cable TV had the Gulf War. Now, the Internet may have the U.S. war with Iraq3. In this modern day war, reporters with laptops and digital cameras reported directly from battlefields. Cameras were placed at key locations for live online feeds 24 hours a day. Interactive, 3-D maps updated online graphs of troop movements, casualties and weapons used4. The Internet is capable of providing so much more, with unregulated and unbiased reports/opinions of the war. It is also capable of connecting people with like minded opinions for discourse. Coupled with other semiotic advantages of the web (instant, cost-effective), the information explosion of the Internet has led to a worldwide crises in the television industry. This crisis is responsible for transforming the creation, distribution and consumption of content. As audiences make a move from television to the Internet (for unbiased war coverage), the television industry has struggled to keep up with new technologies, to reinvent itself, to formulate new formats, to find consumers on new platforms, to cut costs and create new business models such as providing free online access to shows on their networks. This shift in mass audience attention from television to the Internet will have a large impact on the media landscape. Youre combining the speed of television with the depth of print, says Mitch Gelman, executive producer of CNN.com. This could define how [the] future [is] covered. 5 Research Question Does the explosion in Internet media further diversify and fragment the media landscape, reducing the influence of biased media on public opinion? Thesis Statement Even though the Internet is a privilege that is enjoyed only in first world countries and television and radio is still the primary source of information in most developing nations, an apparent bias in television news media has led audiences to seek more objective information from the world wide web because television news is filled with selective viewpoints while the interactivity, diversity and information capacity available on the Internet has the potential to allow the public to form a more knowledgeable opinion about politics and their government. Significance The significance of Internet news, forums and online political discussions as an information source is the ability to diversify the type of news people receive, and improve their ability to check the actions of elected officials. As opposed to news coverage on television which, filled with reports of vague truths, incomplete facts, inaccurate rumors and selective viewpoints, is determined to sell the war. Thus people are turning to online news sources in great numbers, to get a more balanced, objective and realistic perspective. Television and the Internet are pulling in opposite directions, and hence this study is important to understand this growing trend. Hypothesis This research paper claims the theory of a shift of audience attention in an information era that now includes new un-monopolized and un-biased media sources such as the Internet and hence a shift to a more diversified public opinion. This paper will bring forward the relationship between media usage and support or opposition to the Iraq war. The claims put forth in this paper will be based on the Pew Internet American Life Project Iraq War survey, March 20-25, 2003. Purpose The purpose of this research is to show that public opinion is directly dependent upon what source they get their news information from. The round-the-clock convenience of the Internet and the centralization of un-regulated and un-biased information on the web can cut information costs for citizens while still providing ample political and government information6. Thus the goal of this paper is to show that television media does not continue to exert an effect on public opinion as the impact of the Internet has made opinion more diverse leading to a crises in the television news industry. Statement of scope and limitations The scope of this research is to show how the US television media have altered facts, reported several inaccurate stories and never acknowledged that this has been more of an invasion than a war. As a result of this apparent bias in television news media, audiences are seeking more objective information from the world wide web. This paper will not cover how the Internet is a privilege that is enjoyed only in first world countries and television and radio is still the primary source of information, shaping public opinion, in these developing nations. Also, this paper will not cover how most television shows are streamed illegally online and has led to a decline in network revenue. Outline of argument Television media coverage of news events is part of the free-market system in the U.S. where a number of elite groups can influence the type of coverage given to an issue and who gets heard7. This becomes a troubling factor in the case of news covering foreign affairs because the public has fewer sources of information to compare against. This has increased the importance of the Internet as a news source. As the television media is becoming concentrated in the hands of a few, it heightens the possibility that the public will have trouble getting both sides of a report. So far, the Internet has resisted the trend toward a singular message. Opposing viewpoints and information not available from other news sources flourish on the Web. For example, a 2003 Pew Internet and American Life survey found that the majority of respondents reported using the Internet for political news because of convenience and dissatisfaction with television media8. Literature Review about 50 per cent of the population now believes that Iraq was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Centre. This has happened since September 2002. In fact, after the September 11 attack, the figure was about 3 per cent. Government-media propaganda has managed to raise that to about 50 per cent. Now if people genuinely believe that Iraq has carried out major terrorist attacks against the United States and is planning to do so again, well, in that case people will support the war. Noam Chomsky, Iraq is a trial run9 Introduction To explore the influence of both the Internet and the consolidation of television media on public opinion, this paper uses data and statistical analysis from surveys done by Pew Internet and American Life project entitled The Internet And The Iraq War. These surveys are consistent with other writers such as Herman and Chomsky (Manufacturing consent and Iraq Is A Trial Run), Shapiro and Dempsey (What moves public opinion) and Macye and Steven (Embedding The Truth) among others also mentioned in this research paper. Even though some of the articles mentioned in this paper were published before the Iraq war, their detailed analysis of the effect of media on the public opinion still has modern day ramifications for this growing shift from television to the Internet. Hence the survey data along with several consistent articles in this research paper tests the theory of media influence on public opinion in a digital age that now includes new forms of media such as the Internet, as well as increased biassnes of the television industry. An inherent bias Experts have long agreed that news coverage has a very overwhelming influence on public opinion. Analyzing surveys and polls of public opinion on issues regarding the Iraq war, Page, Shapiro and Dempsey (1987) find that change in public opinion is attributable to the source of news media forming the opinion. Public opinion towards the Iraq war in 2003 provides a case study under very unusual circumstances than other wars. Radio had World War II. Television had the Vietnam War. Cable TV had the Gulf War. Now, the Internet may have the U.S. war with Iraq10. Under these very different circumstances of newer technology, Page et al have found that, we might expect media coverage of the war to have a direct effect on public opinion. Among experts arguing that news media are systematically biased, no other has been as influential as Herman and Chomsky. In Manufacturing Consent, they advanced a propaganda model that suggests that the societal purpose of the media is to inculcate and defend the economic, social, and political agenda of privileged groups that dominate the domestic society and the state11 (298). While trying to shed light on the relationship between politics and media, this work is often taken as evidence of a biassnes in the news media. Using multivariate logistic regression, surveys done by Pew Internet American Life Project in 2003, which seem to agree with the Herman and Chomskys analysis, found that television media coverage of the Iraq war shaped public opinion. Respondents who watched cable or network television as a primary source of news about the war, about thirty million Americans, were statistically more likely to support the Iraq war. But, respondents who read online war news were significantly less likely to support the war13. The Internet has become a rich repository for satirical and subversive alternate visions. With the US campaign against Iraq, a unique form of resistance is emerging: not so much on the streets as through the electronic networks of the Internet.14 A former reporter turned media critic Bernard Goldberg writes, There are lots of reasons fewer people are watching network news, and one of them, Im more convinced than ever, is that our viewers simply dont trust us. And for good reason. The old argument that the networks and other media elites have a liberal bias is so blatantly true that its hardly worth discussing anymore.15 Shanto Iyengar, in The Accessibility Bias In Politics, argues that when the networks make a certain event more accessible by giving it extensive coverage, viewers automatically give that issue greater importance and use their opinions concerning that issue to a greater range when thinking about their country at war. During the Iraq war coverage individuals were fed a steady diet yellow journalism.16 Yellow journalism, such as images of blown up military vehicles and downed helicopters, capture the attention of an audience much more than pictures of everyday mundane events. The practice of looking for the next big event, whether it comes from a suicide bomber or from an ambush on coalition troops, convinces Americans to believe that the war is far from over. Television news programs have sensationalized the war and discarded objectivity in favor of their own opinion of the conflict. A reporter for the International Herald Tribune, Michiko Kakutani observed, Network producers have turn ed real-time reporting of the 2003 war in Iraq into prime time reality TV entertainment. Rather than presenting the real horror of war.17 Shift to the Internet In three different polls, an aggregate sample of three thousand respondents was asked, Where do you tend to get most of your news? The options offered were newspapers and magazines or TV and radio. Overall, nineteen percent said their primary news source was print media, while eighty percent said it was electronic18. These results are consistent with the findings of Kull and Ramsay, in Misperceptions, the Media, and the Iraq War, who mention that traditional news sources are to blame for misperceptions regarding the reasons to invade Iraq. People who depend on the Internet as their main news source, who tend to be younger and better educated than rest of the public and is roughly 68 percent of the American population, expressed unfavorable and analytical opinions of traditional news sources and press performance19. These audiences, about 6 out of 10,also say that news organizations do not care about the people they report on, and fifty three percent, of that number, believe that news organizations are too critical of America20. In the 2003 surveys these respondents mentioned they got news of the Iraq war from the web because you dont get all the news and information you want from traditional new sources such as the daily news paper or the network TV news.21 They also said getting information online is more convenient22 The Internet strips away one of the most despicable beliefs of journalism the ridiculous idea that journalists are fair-minded truth seekers out for nothing more than a good story.23 Due to Internet journalism -which has broken the monopoly of the status quo-, Mark Poster, in The Second Media Age, says we are shifting back towards an era of open discourse, much similar to the old days when various newspapers with various political connections, competed for the publics attention.24 He goes on to explain that the interactivity, diversity, flexibility, and information capacity available on the Internet have the capability to allow the public to become more knowledgeable about politics and government. Its hard to be unbiased Over the last six years of the Iraq war coverage, we have become used to watching journalists report from battlefields. These embedded journalists live, sleep, eat and face danger with the troops. Spending so much time with them, the journalists get to know the troops as individuals. Hence the reports are humanised. But these much praised reports of war overlook the fact that these embeds are embedded with one side only. This in no way is a balanced perspective25. A very pessimistic John Simpson of the BBC says: I dont want to spend my whole time with people to whom I owe my safety, my protection, my food, my transport, and then be expected to be completely honest about them, because theres always that sense that youre betraying a trust.26 In todays style of non stop news coverage, it is very hard for a report to be unbiased. News programs today are made to grasp the attention of hyperactive and impatient audience (since there are other channels to choose from). Usually, every television news report is told in less than two minutes. This results in a great loss of detail, and thats where the TV reporters personal bias comes into play: he or she decides what parts of a story to include or omit. As many people have pointed out, broadcast news is dangerous, not because of whats reported, but because of what is not reported. Fortunately the Internet is becoming a more reliable source of daily news, and it helps fill in the gaps. Anyone looking for current news, can gather more information in five minutes on the Internet than they can get in an hour of watching television. Conclusion The television media culture has become arrogant, often ignorant and mindless, but not quite so dominant as it used to be. Specifically, television news is no the same anymore. The Internet, with its hundreds of news sources, some professional reports and many others not so professional, is doing to television news what television news did to newspapers a generation ago, steadily stealing its audience. Methodology see >> http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sociology/notes06/Level4/SO4530/Assigned-Readings/Seminar%2011.2.pdf Bibliography/Footnotes 1.(see John Pilgers The Secret War on Iraq). 2. The Media Workers Against the War and the Indymedia network media War coverage. wiki 3. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-03-18-iraq-internet_x.htm 4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2889171.stm 5. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-3-2003_pg6_1 6. http://prq.sagepub.com/content/56/2/175.short 7. http://search2.scholarsportal.info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/ids70/view_record.php?id=7recnum=2log=from_resSID=986263f7ea97c6532362216a8e2aee36mark_id=search:7:76,0,4 8. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2003/PIP_Iraq_War_Report.pdf.pdf 9. http://www.zcommunications.org/iraq-is-a-trial-run-by-noam-chomsky 10. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-03-18-iraq-internet_x.htm 11. Manufacturing Consent 12. http://www.media-studies.ca/articles/war_propaganda.htm 13. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2003/PIP_Iraq_War_Report.pdf.pdf 14. http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/dwhayes/iraq_mpsa08.pdf 15. http://www.amazon.com/Bias-Insider-Exposes-Media-Distort/dp/0895261901 16. http://ijpor.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/2/1/1.pdf [oxford journals] >> http://ijpor.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/2/1/1.pdf 17. Michiko Kakutani. The Ultimate Reality TV Show: Coverage on the War in Iraq. At Issue: Reality TV. Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. August 2004. 25 July 2010. . 18. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2003/PIP_Iraq_War_Report.pdf.pdf 19. Lbid, page 20.lbid 21.lbid 22. lbid 23. http://www.lewrockwell.com/greenhut/greenhut34.html 24. http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/9541_011389ch01.pdf 25. see downloads dooley 26. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/15/john-simpson-bbc-murdoch-journalism -http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/18/embedded-war-reporting-iraq-afghanistn

Telecommunications Implementation at a Company Essay -- Networks Telec

Table of Content Introduction 3 PBX and Centrex 4 Rotary and DTMF 6 WATS and Leased Lines 7 ISO and OSI 9 Conclusions 11 Reference List 12 Introduction Networking and telephony is a part of our everyday environment, whether it be in our homes or in our place of business. We will somehow come into contact with one or the other in some shape or fashion. At Baker, we are no different from any other business. The infrastructure of Baker is not a simple pc and telephone setup. The network incorporates everything from a simple analog line to our data network backbone that is made of T-3 lines, ISND lines, and IPFR provided by the AT&T datacenter. Baker has 30 offices all over the country and a couple of offices in abroad in Europe. I will be discussing the setup of the Houston office, since I am most familiar with this office. PBX and Centrex The Houston office of Baker is comprised of three types of phones, well, at least until the company moves into one central location. Currently there are three offices in Houston that are all a block apart. The building that I support houses an old Merlin Legend telephone system. It's funny, because I have to set the date on the voicemail to the year 1999 so that when users check their messages, it will give the correct month and date. The system is comprised of about 100 direct-inward dialed (DIDs), some used as analog and some use as digital lines. The digital lines are ISDN lines that allow for digital transmission of voice and data over ordinary telephone copper wires. Direct-inward dialing routes calls from the outside lines to the PBX, which allows telephone systems to bypass an operator. The PBX then routes the call to the desired extension an... ... developers a better understanding of how to better design a network and works very well when they have to trouble shoot a problem. The end-users and specialized developers do not necessarily use the OSI model as a business tool to gain more clients, but they are indeed using the concept whenever they go out and market to clients about out hosting abilities. Conclusions With the internet and better means of communication being developed on a daily basis, there is going to be a constant change in the way data networks and telephony are today. We have gone from rotary dialed phones, which I can vaguely remember at my grandmother's house to voice recognition cell phones that dial the number for you. We have also went from some crazy number in the past for data travel, like 33 baud/s to what we are at today, reaching speeds that I can't imagine of over 12Mb/s.

Cold War Rhetoric of the Lysenko Era Essay -- Politics Communism Commu

The Cold War Rhetoric of the Lysenko Era During the Cold War, the Soviet Union forced its biologists to support the theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which opposed the conventional theory of genetics accepted by the scientists in America and most of the world. This theory that environmentally induced changes to an organism’s physical or biochemical traits could be passed on to its offspring was the main tenet in Lamarck’s work during the early 1800s. It was accepted by most biologists during Lamarck’s time, until the work of Darwin on evolution by natural selection in the mid-1800s and the discovery of Mendel’s work on heredity in the early 1900s lead most biologists to discount Lamarck’s theory. However, in 1948, the Soviet Union officially supported the paradigm of the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which they called the â€Å"Michurin teaching† (Lysenko 33). Michurin was a Russian scientist who worked during the late-1800s to improve and create new varieties of plants and introduce them to areas of severe climate in Russia (Bakharev 6). His principle that â€Å"we cannot wait for favours from Nature† and that instead, â€Å"we must wrest them from her,† was based on his interpretation that Marxist dialectical materialism taught â€Å"how to actively influence Nature and how to change it† (Bakharev 6-8). The revival of his theories in the mid-1900s was tied to the fate of Trofim Denisovich Lysenko. Lysenko gradually gained power until he became the president of the Lenin All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences (LAAAS) in 1941 (U.S. Department of Commerce 2). His address to the 1948 session of LAAAS marked the beginning of the Soviet state’s official support of the Michurin teaching and it’s suppression o... ... Soviet Science.† Russian History 21.1(1994): 49-53. Russia Academy of Science Bibliographies. Langson Lib., U of California, Irvine. 27 May 2004 Soyfer, Valery N. Lysenko and the Tragedy of Soviet Science. Trans. Leo Gruliow and Rebecca Gruliow. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1994. Soyfer, Valery N. â€Å"New light on the Lysenko era.† Nature 339 (8 June 1989). Russia Academy of Science Bibliographies. Langson Lib., U of California, Irvine. 27 May 2004 United States. Dept. of Commerce. Office of Technical Services. Lysenko, Michurinism, and Soviet biology. Washington, 1960. Zirkle, Conway. Death of a Science in Russia; the fate of genetics as described in Pravda and elsewhere. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1949.

powmac Macbeth: His Downfall Was Due to His Ambition for Power :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth: His Downfall Was Due to His Ambition for Power In the Shakespearean novel Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth is caught in a down spiral induced by his ambition which in the end, was the cause of his tragic end. Macbeth, once a great hero falls victim of his ambition for power. Although the protagonist initially tries to resist his human urge, he in the end committed crime his country, his friends, and sadly himself. Macbeth's first great crime was the crime against his country. In the beginning, Macbeth was described by his fellow noblemen as a great, loyal soldier, giving all he has for his country. Soon, it becomes evident when the witches foretells Macbeth future: "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter" (I. iii. 53) that Macbeth will be destined for greatness but not in the way he thinks. After receiving the three prophecies, Macbeth is intrigue by the idea the he will be king hereafter. He soon shows his intention to carry out the prophecies in his aside: "The prince of Cumberland! that is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap, for in my way it lies" (I. iv. 55-57). With the help of his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth was able to kill the Duncan, the king of Scotland, a man whom trusted and loved Macbeth. With Duncan dead and the two princes fleeing, Macbeth was crowned king of Scotland. In the end, Macbeth had fulfilled his prophecies but in doing, he had committed treason against his country. Macbeth's second great crime was committed against his friends, the people around him whom use to admire him. After he had been crowned king, Macbeth believed his greatest obstacle had been overcame but that assumption was far the truth. By committing the first great crime, Macbeth had unconsciously paved the way for his downfall. Perhaps the turning point of the novel in which Macbeth kills Banquo; his loyal friend, that Macbeth's character begins to deteriorate. In one of his aside: "The very firstling of my heart shall be the firstling of my hand" (IV. i. 161-162) Macbeth's mental deterioration becomes visible. This aside is crucial because it foreshadows the future events to come. Macbeth now seems to have not a shred of decency or guilt left in him. Because of his irrational thinking, Macbeth commits probably the worst crime he had every committed. Macbeth had his Macduff's family slaughtered. This crime was so horrendous because unlike Macbeth's prior murders, this one had no other purpose but to quench Macbeth hatred of his rival Macduff. It soon became clear that

Obesity and Asthma

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults have asthma, too. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs. In most cases, we don't know what causes asthma, and we don't know how to cure it. We know that if someone in your family has asthma, you are also more likely to have it.You can control your asthma  by knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying away from things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of your doctor or other medical professional. When you control your asthma: * you won't have symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, * you'll sleep better, * you won't miss work or school, * you can take part in all physical activities, and * you won't have to go to the hospital. How Is Asth ma Diagnosed? Asthma can be hard to diagnose, especially in children younger than 5 years of age.Regular physical checkups that include checking your lung function and checking for allergies can help your doctor or other medical professional make the right diagnosis. During a checkup, the doctor or other medical professional will ask you questions about whether you cough a lot, especially at night, and whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or during a particular time of year. Doctors will also ask about other symptoms, such as chest tightness, wheezing, and colds that last more than 10 days.They will ask you whether your family members have or have had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems, and they will ask you questions about your home. The doctor will also ask you about missing school or work and about any trouble you may have doing certain activities. A lung function test, called  spirometry  (spy-rom-e-tree), is another way to diagnose a sthma. A spirometer (spy-rom-e-ter) measures the largest amount of air you can exhale, or breathe out, after taking a very deep breath. The spirometer can measure airflow before and after you use asthma medicine.What Is an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack happens in your body's airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even more. The attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Some people call an asthma attack an  episode.What Causes an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack can occur when you are exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are called  asthma triggers. Important Asth ma Triggers On This Page * Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) * Dust Mites * Outdoor Air Pollution * Cockroach Allergen * Pets * Mold * Wood Smoke * Other Triggers If you have asthma your airways always have some irritation. When you have an asthma attack this irritation gets worse and your airways close part way and get blocked with mucus.Asthma attacks may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. An asthma attack can occur when you are exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are called  asthma triggers. Your personal triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Try to avoid your triggers. Some of the most important triggers are listed below: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) Environmental tobacco smoke is often called  secondhand smokebecause the smoke created by a smoker is breathed in by a second person nearby.Parents, friends, and relatives of chil dren with asthma should try to stop smoking and should never smoke around a person with asthma. They should only smoke outdoors and not in the family home or car. They should not allow others to smoke in the home, and they should make sure their child's school is smoke-free. Dust Mites Dust mites are in almost everybody’s homes, but they don’t cause everybody to have asthma attacks. If you have asthma, dust mites may be a trigger for an attack. To help prevent asthma attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself.Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters. Remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom. Outdoor Air Pollution Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low if air pollution aggravates your asthma. A good source of air quality information is  EnviroFlash. Cockroach Allergen:Cockroaches and their droppings may trigger an asthma attack.Get rid of cockroaches in your home and keep them from coming back by taking away their food and water. Cockroaches are usually found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind. Remove as many water and food sources as you can because cockroaches need food and water to survive. At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches. You can also use roach traps or gels to decrease the number of cockroaches in your home. Pets:Furry pets may trigger an asthma attack. When a furry pet is suspected of causing asthma attacks, the simplest solution is to find the pet another home.If pet owners are too attached to their pets or are unable to locate a safe, new home for the pet, they should keep the pet out of the bedroom of the person with asthma. Pets should be bathed weekly and kept outside as much as possible. People w ith asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming your pet’s fur will not help your asthma. If you have a furry pet, vacuum often to clean up anything that could cause an asthma attack. If your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, and are not carpeted, damp mop them every week.Mold:Inhaling or breathing in mold can cause an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in all parts of your home to help control your asthma attacks. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or both. Fix water leaks, which allow mold to grow behind walls and under floors. Wood Smoke:Smoke from burning wood is made up of a mix of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing in too much of this smoke can cause an asthma attack. Other TriggersInfections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an attack. Sinus infections, allergies, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks. Strenuous physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms; high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; biomass smoke from burning grass or other vegetation; and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack. Strong emotional states can also lead to hyperventilation and an asthma attack.Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible. Be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided. How Is Asthma Treated? You can control your asthma  and avoid an attack by taking your medicine exactly as your doctor or other medical professional tells you to do and by avoiding things that can cause an attack. Not everyone with asthma takes the same medicine. Some medicines can be inhaled, or breathed in, and some can be taken as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two types—quick relief and long-term control.Quick-relief medi cines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, you should visit your doctor or other medical professional to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they don’t help you if you’re having an asthma attack. Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor or other medical professional about the side effects of your medicines. The important thing to remember is that  you can control your asthma.With your doctor’s or other medical professional’s help, make your own asthma action plan (management plan) so that you know what to do based on your own symptoms. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you don’t have symptoms. Asthma Action Plan People with Asthma Should Have an Asthma Ac tion Plan All people with asthma should have an  asthma action plan. An asthma action plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you develop  with your doctor  to help control your asthma.The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them. Your plan describes how to control asthma long term AND how to handle worsening asthma, or attacks. The plan explains when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room. If your child has asthma, all of the people who care for him or her should know about the child's asthma action plan. These caregivers include babysitters and workers at daycare centers, schools, and camps. These caretakers can help your child follow his or her action plan.Data and Surveillance Asthma Surveillance Data Asthma surveillance data includes collection of asthma data at both the national and the state level. National data is available on asthma prevalence, activity limitation, days of w ork or school lost, rescue and control medication use, asthma self-management education, physician visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations due to asthma, and deaths due to asthma from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveys and the Vital Statistics System.Asthma surveillance data at the state level include adult and child asthma prevalence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and in-depth state and local asthma data through implementation of the BRFSS Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS). * Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) The ACBS is an in-depth asthma survey developed and funded by the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch (APRHB) in NCEH. It is conducted with BRFSS survey respondents who report an asthma diagnosis. The ACBS was piloted in three states in 2005 and has been conducted each year since.A majority of states participate in the ACBS each year. * Asthma Survey Questions Description of asthma survey instruments and their word ing differences. * Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Data BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey designed to monitor the prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. * FastStats FastStats provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance, including asthma. * National Health Interview Survey Prevalence DataNHIS is a multistage probability sample survey designed to solicit health and demographic information about the population, conducted annually with face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of households. Asthma and daily living * ————————————————- Asthma and exercise ————————————————- ————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Learn how to exercise without asthma symptoms ————————————————- Learn More ————————————————-Living day to day with well controlled asthma means life as normal with a little extra thought and planning   ————————————————- Many asthma triggers are common things that may be around the home, so people often ask what they can change at home, or whatproducts  might help their asthma. For others it’s plants and pollens that cause them difficulties with asthma or allergies – if that’s you, read about  asthma and allergy friendly gardens. If you find your asthma is  worse at work  then there are some tips for your consideration.If you travel with work or plan a holiday, there are a few simple suggestions to help you  make the most out of your trip. ————————————————- Having a healthy  diet  and an  active lifestyle  is an important part of living well. Being  overweight,  smoking  or suffering from  stress  or   depression   can have a significant impact on your asthma. For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when their asthma is not  well-controlled. Research shows that for most people with well-controlled asthma, reducing exposure to triggers doesn’t reduce symptoms or reduce the risk of an asthma attack.With good treatment, most people do not need to change their lifestyle or environment just because they have asthma. However, it may be useful for you to identify triggers and reduce your exposure to them if: * you have troublesome asthma symptoms despite treatment * you need high doses of medication to keep your asthma symptoms under control, or * your asthma is much better when you are away from home Note: Cigarette smoke is directly harmful to the airways and makes asthma worse, so exposure to cigarette smoke should be avoided by anyone who has asthma Obesity ————————————————- Is it my weight or is it my asthma that is causing my symptoms? ————————————————- Research into the link between increasing levels of obesity and asthma still hasn’t come up with a definite answer. There is a recognised association between increasing body mass index (BMI) and increased levels of diagnosed or reported asthma in bot h children and adults, and it’s possible that there are other factors, e. g. genetic or environmental that may lead to both conditions. We do know that being obese makes asthma a lot more of a problem. ———————————————— People who are obese are more likely to have asthma, to have more severe asthma, and to need more medication to control it. ————————————————- Obesity can lead to people being breathless and wheezy without having asthma, so it’s important that you get a proper diagnosis from your doctor. Once you have that, and the right medications, you should be able to increase your activity levels without getting too breathless, and start living an active life. ——————————— —————- ———————————————— Why does obesity make asthma worse? * ————————————————- Having a larger amount of fat on the body means there’s more pushing onto and into the chest, so there’s less room for the lungs to move. This causes the muscles around the airways to contract more, causing more asthma symptoms. * ————————————————- Airways in obese people with asthma are more likely to stay closed in normal breathing, so there’s less oxygen exchange able to happen. * ————————————————-Obesity c auses general inflammation in the body, which makes asthma symptoms worse. * ————————————————- People who are obese are more likely to have problems with reflux and obstructive sleep apnoea (where you stop breathing while asleep), both of which can make asthma worse. * ————————————————- There has been some suggestion in research studies that people who are obese might have less response to some asthma medications. The reason for this is not clear, and more research is needed to clarify this. ————————————————- ———————————————— Will losing weigh t really help my asthma? ————————————————- Losing weight can have a big impact on your asthma; it can improve your symptoms and reduce your need for medication. In fact if you are overweight or obese, losing weight might have a greater impact on your asthma control than increasing medication. If you have asthma and are overweight or obese you should discuss weight control and healthy lifestyle with your doctor as part of your asthma management. ————————————————-Remember:  it is important that you don’t change your medication without speaking with your doctor first. ————————————————- Having a healthy lifestyle with regular activity and a balance d diet is important for everyone. Asthma and exercise * ————————————————- Being active is an important part of life. Well controlled asthma means you shouldn’t have to stop or restrict any of your normal activities. People with asthma should be able to participate in almost any sport or exercise, for example, going to the gym,  swimming, and team sports. ———————————————— Although some people have  exercise induced asthma, many Olympic gold medals have been won by Australian athletes with asthma. Exercise is essential for people with asthma and can even help control asthma and reduce the amount of medication you need. Scuba diving  is the only form of exercise that requires some special consideration for people with asthma. Asthma at work * —â €”——————————————- ————————————————- Work-related and occupational asthma ————————————————-Up to 15% of newly diagnosed asthma cases in adults are related to exposure to agents encountered at work and up to 3,000 cases of occupational asthma occur per year in Australia. If you experience asthma symptoms at work, and these symptoms improve when you are away from work, e. g. during holidays or on weekends, you may have what is called work-related or occupational asthma. Occupational asthma can occur in many types of workplaces, but is most commonly reported where people are working with flour and isocyanates (chemicals which are found in paints as hardening agents). ———————————————— Work-aggravated asthma is different from occupational asthma, which occurs when there is sensitisation to a substance encountered at work. Work-aggravated asthma occurs when people who already have asthma are exposed to factors such as gases or fumes, smoke, dust or cold dry air which irritate the airways causing asthma symptoms to occur and make a pre-existing condition worse. ————————————————- ————————————————-What causes occupational asthma? ————————————————- Over 4000 substances in the workplace (known as sensitisers) may cause asthma. Repeated exposure to these sensitisers over a period of time (usually years) may produce permanent asthma symptoms identical to non-occupational asthma. This usually takes weeks or years to develop. ————————————————- ————————————————- What are the symptoms of occupational asthma? ————————————————-Symptoms include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath and tightness across the chest. Often these symptoms will develop after irritation is noticed in the nose and eyes. Other workers may be affected or may have left the job because of these symptoms. ———————————â €”————- Symptoms may vary during the working week or shift. In the early stages of exposure, symptoms tend to improve when the worker is away from work. However, once the airways are sensitised, continued exposure even in small amounts can produce symptoms.Continued exposure may also lead to more symptoms and eventually to permanent asthma in some people. ————————————————- ————————————————- How do I know if I have occupational asthma? ————————————————- If you suspect something is affecting your breathing at work, go and see your doctor. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and your work, and carry out tests suc h as a  spirometry test  to decide if you might have occupational asthma.They may also ask you to keep a diary of your symptoms to compare with your working hours. There is also a software program available which can automatically compare your peak flows with your working shifts. This can be downloaded free from the  Oasys website. ————————————————- It can be very difficult to distinguish between true occupational asthma and work exacerbated asthma, and it may be necessary for your GP to refer you to a respiratory specialist with expertise in this area. Common sensitisers and occupations where workers may be exposedAgent  | Example occupations  | Wood dust (e. g. western red cedar, redwood, oak)  | Carpenters, builders, sawmill workers, sanders, model builders| Isocyanates  | Automotive industry, mechanics, painters, adhesive workers, chemical industry, polyu rethane foam workers| Formaldehyde  | Cosmetics industry, embalmers, foundry workers, hairdressers, laboratory staff, medical personnel, paper industry, plastics industry, rubber industry, tanners| Platinum salts  | Chemists, dentists, electronics industry,photographers, metallurgists| Latex  | Health care workers, textile industry, toyManufacturers| Flour nd grain dust  | Bakers, cooks, pizza makers, grocers, farmers, combine harvester drivers| Animal allergens (e. g. urine, dander)  | Veterinary surgery workers, animal care workers, laboratory workers, jockeys, animal breeders, pet shop employees| Table adapted from Hoy, R. , Abramson, M. , Sim, M. (2010). Work related asthma. Diagnosis and management. Australian Family Physician, 39 (1/2), 39-42. What is the treatment for occupational asthma? Early diagnosis and management by removing any exposure to irritants in the workplace is the best way to treat occupational asthma and prevent it becoming a permanent condition.Oth erwise, treatment with the usual asthma inhalers is usually effective. Note: Occupational asthma does not always mean having to leave your workplace, as workplace strategies can be developed. For example, if exposure cannot be minimised or ceased, then employers must provide adequate respiratory protection and/or substitute the irritant substance with a known non-irritant. This is a part of Occupational Health and Safety requirements. More information is available from your State or Territory Workcover authority   www. workcover. (insert your state). gov. u If you develop asthma symptoms at work, or your existing asthma gets worse, it is essential that you visit your doctor for tests and an accurate diagnosis. If you did not already have a diagnosis of asthma and/or a written   Asthma Action Plan  , then this should be provided to you. What if I only had temporary symptoms? If you have inhaled a high dose of a substance that causes damage to the airways, possibly as part of an industrial accident or spillage, you may temporarily experience breathlessness and wheeze similar to asthma. This is called Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS).Symptoms usually occur within 24 hours of a single exposure to very high concentrations of a chemical spill, irritant gases, corrosive mists or solvent vapours. Usually, symptoms will gradually improve as your airways heal, but occasionally workers can be left with permanent symptoms. It is very important to have a medical check if this does happen, and to make sure your work environment is safe. Smoking * ————————————————- Smoking and exposure to smoke (passive smoking) can damage your lungs, and stop them from working properly. ———————————————— People with asthma who smoke have more frequent as thma attacks, have more severe asthma, and are more likely to be admitted to hospital. The type of inflammation in the airways that is caused by smoking means they don’t respond as well to preventer medication, and so need higher doses to control their asthma. ————————————————- Asthmatic children who are exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to have poor asthma control and more likely to need admission to hospital.Smoke exposure in the car is especially bad and opening the windows does not help. ————————————————- Smoking has two main effects on the airways: ————————————————- 1) Increases mucus —————— ——————————- – more mucus-producing cells and glands grow in the airway walls ————————————————- – damages and reduces parts of the airways that help to clear mucus ————————————————- 2) Damages the airways ————————————————- chemicals in cigarette smoke destroy lung tissue and also make the airways less elastic and therefore more narrow ————————————————- – causes inflammation in the airways ————————â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- If I quit smoking will my lung function really improve? ————————————————- Everybody’s lung function tends to gradually decrease as they age, but the lung function of people who smoke decreases much faster than normal. If you stop smoking, this rate will go back to normal.This means that although the damage done to your airways by smoking cannot be fixed, it’s never too late to quit no matter how long you have smoked for. ————————————————- Is smoking around children really harmful? ————————————————- Children are more vulnerable to the bad effects of cigarette smoke. —â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- If a pregnant woman smokes, or a young child is exposed to smoke, the child is at a much greater risk of developing asthma-like symptoms in early childhood.Babies of smoking mothers are four times more likely to develop wheezing illnesses before the age of one. Even if you go outside to have a cigarette, particles can still be present on you when you return indoors, so although it’s better than smoking near your child, it may still affect them in the long term. ————————————————- Other health issues ————————————————- Around 15-20% of people who smoke develop permanent lung disease (COPD), and smoking increases the risk of many other health i ssues: stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer are just a few. ———————————————— Quitting smoking is difficult, and most people make several attempts before they quit for good. Diet and vitamin/mineral supplements and asthma * ————————————————- There are many theories about how diet can play a role in the management of asthma. Studies have been done but some have not been well designed and although they provide directions for future research, specific conclusions are not easily drawn from the data collected. Reliable data on specific vitamins and minerals is also not available.We do not recommend the routine use of vitamin and mineral supplements as part of asthma management. It is important to discuss any supplements you want to take with your doct or or pharmacist as some supplements can  interact  with other medication you are taking. Note: Some vitamin and mineral supplements can have detrimental health effects or are toxic if taken in high doses. ————————————————- ————————————————- Will a diet change help my asthma? ————————————————-Everybody should have a healthy balanced diet, which includes a mix of: * ————————————————- fresh fruit * ————————————————- fresh vegetable s * ————————————————- fish * ————————————————- lean meats * ————————————————- whole grains * ————————————————- low fat dairy products, and * ————————————————- healthy fats. ————————————————-Calorie control is also important, as being  overweight  can have a significant impact on asthma symptoms and control. Food is rare ly a trigger for asthma. Read more about  food as a trigger for asthma. Some people have specificfood allergy  which can have similar respiratory symptoms, and they need to avoid their known food allergens. If you have a serious food allergy, you should also read about  anaphylaxis. Do not restrict entire food groups without first consulting a dietitian who can help identify if any food restrictions are necessary.Note: The belief that milk increases problems with mucus for people with asthma is false. Dairy products are an important part of any diet. However, some people do have specific dairy intolerance (or allergy), which can cause symptoms in the nose, throat and ears. See our section on  food and asthma  for more information on food allergies. ————————————————- ————————————â €”———- Specific Supplements ————————————————- Magnesium and Selenium ————————————————-Magnesium (in those people low in magnesium) and selenium supplements have been shown to have a potentially positive effect on asthma symptoms, though they don’t affect breathing capacity. ————————————————- Fish Oil (EPH/DHA) ————————————————- Most trials of adding fish oil to the diet of people with asthma found that their asthma was not improved. However there is some evidence that dietary supplementation with fish oil can re duce the severity of  exercise-induced asthma  in those with mild to moderate persistent asthma.This has led to better lung function and reducedreliever  use. Eating fish at least once a week is an important part of a balanced diet. ————————————————- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) ————————————————- There is not enough information for or against using Vitamin C supplementation to improve asthma. Generally trials of the vitamin have been small, varied and not well reported. Larger and better designed studies are required. ————————————————- Probiotics —————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€-Probiotics are live organisms that can be taken as a supplement to alter the types of bacteria that naturally live in your gut. The more commonly used probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Many people know these as ‘acidophilus’ supplements. Probiotics such as lactobacillus have not been shown to be effective in improving asthma. ————————————————- Folic Acid ————————————————- Folic acid is recommended for women to take before and during the early stages of pregnancy.This significantly reduces the chance of a baby developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida, and it is also thought to play an important role in brain development. However recent research has shown that women who took folic acid supplements throughout their whole pregnancy increased their risk of having a child with asthma by about 30%. Folic acid from natural sources such as green leafy vegetables had no increased risk. It is recommended that folic acid supplements are taken only for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, unless advised otherwise by their doctor. Stress * ————————————————-A tear-jerking movie, a fight with your partner, the stress of work related deadlines or even a joyous reunion can leave some people with asthma gasping for air. Strong emotions like fear, stress or even laughter can sometimes lead to increased asthma symptoms. ————————————————- Children can easily be affected by high levels of emotion. From fits of giggles to screaming tantrums; the effects on their asthma can be simil ar. ————————————————- ————————————————- How can I stop stress from affecting my asthma? ———————————————— While it is impossible to eliminate emotional stress from your life, you can learn to reduce the effect and recognise potential symptoms that may need some  reliever medication. * ————————————————- Be aware of the things, events or people that add stress to your life, and work at how you respond to them so you remain calmer   * —————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Acknowledge the feelings you are having – this is a technique that can be effective in reducing their impact * ————————————————-If you can, remove yourself from stressful situations * ————————————————- Find constructive and positive ways to reduce your anger, anxiety or fear   * ————————————————- Learn more about your asthma; take an active role in caring for yourself and staying in control   * ————————————————- Exercise. It’s a great way to let off steam, and is good for you as well! ——†”—————————————-Life can be a roller coaster of emotions so the best thing to do is to be prepared as much as you can, and along with appropriate asthma medication you can  take control of your asthma. ————————————————- So next time you’re going to see that adrenalin pumping movie or have an experience that gets the tears rolling, make sure you’ve got your  reliever medication  with you †¦ just in case. Depression and asthma * ————————————————- Research has shown that there is a link between depression and asthma. In fact, having severe asthma more than doubles the risk of developing epression. Around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men will experience dep ression in their life, and these numbers are even higher in people with asthma. As with other chronic illnesses, research shows that having severe asthma more than doubles the risk of developing depression. ————————————————- What is depression? ————————————————- Depression is a serious health condition, not just a low mood. People with depression can have trouble doing normal activities, and it can have serious effects on mental and physical health. ————————————————-How can depression and asthma affect each other? * ————————————————- Having bo th depression and asthma worsens health more than either condition alone. * ————————————————- Having depression makes it less likely that people will be treated for asthma effectively. This may be because of poor memory and problem-solving skills with a shortened attention, making it harder to recognise the need to get medical help. * ————————————————- People with depression have trouble concentrating or staying motivated.This may make them less likely to get help with their asthma, keep appointments and take medication. * ————————————————- Having uncontrolled asthma can make it harder to join in with fun activities such as playing sport or other recrea tional activities. This can make people with depression further isolated and low in motivation. * ————————————————- Stress can be a  trigger  for both asthma and depression. ————————————————- How do I know if I’m depressed? ————————————————-There are different checklists on the  BeyondBlue National Depression Initiative website  you can check to get a better idea if you or someone you know may have symptoms of depression. Depression is more than just stress and needs proper diagnosis by a health professional. You should talk to your doctor to learn more and get correct treatment. ———————â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- What can I do? ————————————————- Both depression and asthma can be treated, but first need to be recognised and diagnosed by a health professional.There are a number of treatments for depression, both therapy and medication-based. It is important to have a treatment plan that monitors both the symptoms of depression and asthma in order to find the treatment that works best for you. Some things you can do yourself include: * ————————————————- Learn relaxation techniques. * ————————————————- Get your asthma well  controlled  so you can take part in activities without being limited by your symptoms. * ————————————————- Learn as much as you can about both conditions. ————————————————- Get help and support from family and friends. * ————————————————- Visit a doctor regularly to review both your asthma and your depression. Travel * ————————————————- Make sure you have enough medication and the right equipment before you travel   ————————————————- Whether you’re taking a holiday or a work trip, changes in routine, location, weather, temperature, pollution (especially bushfires during summer in Australia) and unknown allergens may produce unexpected asthma symptoms.Following these tips will help maintain good asthma control and an â€Å"asthma friendly† time away which is enjoyable and worry-free. ————————————————- ————————————————- Visit your doctor before you go * ————————————————- Have a check-up before you go away to make sure your day-to-day asthma is  under control, that you have enough  medications, and you’re  taking them the right way. * ———————————â €”————- Make sure your written  Asthma Action Plan  is up to date. ————————————————- If you’re going overseas, it’s a good idea to get your doctor to write a letter stating the history and severity of your asthma as well as a list of your medications (using the generic brand name) and delivery devices. Carry this letter with you at all times in case of an emergency. You may need to present this report to customs in other countries if questioned about carrying medication. ————————————————- ————————————————- Your medications * —————————— ——————-Take extra medication in your luggage. * ————————————————- Keep your normal day-to-day medication with you in your carry-on bag (in case luggage gets lost). * ————————————————- Take prescriptions in case you lose your medication, or to prove it is for your own personal use. ————————————————- ————————————————- Your equipment * ————————————————- A  spacer  device is portable, inexpen sive and is just as effective (and a etter choice for travelling) than anebuliser. * ————————————————- If you do need a nebuliser, remember other countries may have different power points and voltages, so you’ll either need an adaptor, or a battery powered portable version. You’ll also need to talk to the airline before you board if you’re likely to need to use your nebuliser on board the aircraft. * ————————————————- If you normally use a  peak flow meter  take it with you. Before you travel you should know what your normal peak flow is when you are well . ———————————————— —————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Be prepared – plan well! * ————————————————- Carry your mobile phone with you (as well as your reliever puffer) and if you go somewhere on your own, tell someone where you are going. * ————————————————- Make sure you know the emergency phone number for the country you are visiting. * ————————————————- Make sure your travel insurance covers the cost of health care that stems from pre-existing asthma. ————————————————- Travel to high altitudes is okay as long as yo ur asthma is well controlled at sea level. * ————————————————- For your own general health and safety, before going overseas always check your destination onwww. smartraveller. gov. au  Ã‚   ————————————————- Most importantly, enjoy your trip, relax, and don’t let your asthma stop you! Being active with Asthma Are you considering training for a fun run? Endurance running is more likely to trigger asthma symptoms than other more stop-start sports and activities.Many of these events are either held in the cooler months or require training during cooler weather so the cold dry air can be a trigger for many people with asthma. Generally, the colder and drier the air, the more severe the symptoms. If air is warm and moist, asthma symptoms will tend to be less of a problem. It’s always important to be prepared when you’re training and taking part in any form of sport or activity. It’s important to ensure that your day to day asthma is generally well controlled and you have an up to date written Asthma Action Plan.If your asthma is well controlled with preventer medication, you may not experience symptoms during or after the run. There are a few ways you can reduce the risk of an asthma attack when doing a fun run: * Ensure that you take your preventer medication regularly as prescribed; * Make sure you train for the event so you are fit and able; * Warm up:- spend about 15 minutes doing some gentle activity such as a series (6-8) of brief (30 second) sprints; * Carry your blue reliever puffer with you at all times.If advised by your doctor it may be useful to use it 5 -10 minutes before starting to run; * Pace yourself: start out steadily and you’ll get further than if you expend all your energy in the first f ew minutes; * Consider wearing a collar up around your mouth and nose to help warm and moisten the air you breath in and out; * Drink regular water during the run to stay well hydrated; * If you have cold or flu symptoms  do not  taking part – this can increase your risk of having asthma problems whilst you are running or, after the race; * Slowly cool down: – spend about 10 minutes (similar to warm-up) doing lighter activities after the race.Keep in mind that whilst some people experience symptoms during exercise, the airway narrowing induced by exercise classically occurs after exercise. Be aware of this, cool down and use your reliever medication if this occurs. Well controlled asthma shouldn’t stop anyone from taking part in events such as fun runs. Being active is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, so take control of your asthma and get involved. Children and asthma * ————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Young children with asthma ————————————————- ————————————————- Looking for more information about asthma medications for young children? ———————————————— Learn More ————————————————- Asthma in young children is one of the most common causes of hospital admission and visits to the doctor in this age group. ————————————————- However it is not easy to  diagnose asthma in children unde r 5 years old  as there are many reasons for wheezing and coughing at that age. ————————————————- Once diagnosis is decided, often treatment is with trials of different doses of medication. Parents often ask about whether changes to a child’s  bedding  or  diet  is needed. ————————————————-The aim of good asthma management is to ensure that children can lead a normal healthy life, while taking only as much  medication  as is needed to keep them well, and avoid  asthma attacks. ————————————————- Children can also spend periods of time away from home. It is important that the people around your child are aware if they have asthma, a nd know how to recognise symptoms and what to do in an emergency. Parents can provide friends and family with a copy of their child’s  asthma action plan  and  asthma first aid  information to help them be prepared. ————————————————- Children’s services  and  schools  play an important role in supporting children with asthma, and they can also access resources and  training  to help them. Asthma at SchoolAsthma affects around 1 in 9 school aged children. This means that in an average classroom there will be at least 3 students with asthma. Schools and staff can work together with the wider school community to provide a healthy and safe educational environment for students with asthma. Student health and safety are essential in schools to allow all students to achieve their best. How does asthma affect students? Asthma is a leading cause of a bsenteeism in school students, which in severe cases can cause them to fall behind in their work. Asthma symptoms commonly occur overnight, which can mean a lack of sleep for the student, leading to a reduced ability to concentrate in class.Students can also show signs of worsening asthma, especially after vigorous exercise, and may have an asthma attack while at school, which requires an immediate response. Whose responsibility is it? Responsibility for the management of a student’s asthma is shared. Parents should: * Inform the school that their child has asthma * Provide sufficient information and equipment to school staff to allow them to support the child at school * Advise if there has been a change in the child’s health, or in their medical management * Ensure the child has their reliever medication with them each day at school   See  Information for parents of school-aged kids with asthma. Schools should: Encourage parents to provide up to date information about their child with asthma * Enable and encourage staff to attend training and obtain information about asthma and how to manage an asthma emergency * Ensure sufficient equipment is available and accessible for use in an emergency * Have policies that support the staff to act appropriately and effectively in an asthma emergency, including during off-site activities * Allow students to access (or carry with them) their reliever medication at all times, unless the child is too young to be responsible for using their medication appropriately   See  Asthma Friendly Schools  for more information about how schools can support kids with asthma. Teachers and school staff can get free  Asthma Training  and  teaching resources. Students should: * Take their regular  preventer  medication (generally taken at home in the mornings and/or evenings) as advised by their doctor * Know how to recognise when their asthma is getting worse and what to do * Carry reliever medication wi th them at all times * Tell their friends that they have asthma, and what to do if they have an asthma attack *   If you’ve recently been diagnosed with asthma, or you think you or a member of your family might have asthma, then you need to get some basic facts.Find out  what causes asthma, and  what happens  in your airways to cause  asthma symptoms. Get an explanation of the process for  diagnosis, including tests that can be done. Develop an understanding of what  triggers  are around you, and what sort ofseasonal issues  might affect your asthma. It’s also common for people with asthma to have other  related conditions, such asallergies,  hayfever,  eczema  and even  COPD. We also have anasthma dictionary  to explain commonly used asthma terms. * Once you’ve got all that information, you might want to go and have a look the  managing asthma section, where you can find out aboutmedications, and how you can  take control  of your asthma. http://www. asthmafoundation. org. au

Beano Ice Cream

Amanda Dundee BEANO CASE QUESTIONS 1. Harris’s partnership proposal is not fair for Smith. He completely revised the original investment amount and loan deal that they had original discussed. He is asking to raise his share to 49%, which would pose many problems for Smith in the control of the company. Giving Harris that high of a stake in the franchise would be giving him a lot more money, and half of the control. Smith would be dependent on Harris, and if something suddenly happened to him, or the deal didn’t end up going through, then Smith would be out of business.His SCORE counselor recommended that he does not give up more than 20% share to one investor, and this is above and beyond that. He is also asking to be paid back his full loan of $95,000 over the first five years. This is completely unreasonable, since it is a brand new company and they will not be returning high profits in those primary years. With that expectation, Smith is expected to not only pay back his SBA loan, but also an extra $19,000 per year, with an added prime rate of interest, to Harris.With estimated incomes of only $41,000 after their first year in business, his entire salary for the year would be $8,695. Not only that, but Harris would get his loan back in five years, plus an extra $111,867. This is an extra 22 times the amount he put in, while Smith would be left with close to nothing. 2. Even though the estimated net incomes are increasing at a steady pace, it will take him at least five years to get to an average salary point around $60,000. Even then, he will have his SBA loan and Harris’s personal loan to pay back, which would be a huge detriment into his salary.It would be much more rewarding for him if he could come to a negotiation with Harris as an investor, or find a new investor all together. This way he could pay off his loan over a longer period of time, and maybe not give up a lot of his control. With the equity stake and loan that Harris is of fering, Smith would not be getting a great salary or return from all his hard work. This particular franchise seems to be pretty stable with only a 5% failure rate. Once he gets past those first few years, he will start seeing more of a rofit, with some stores even reaching $500,000 in sales, and they are number three in market position in sales. The franchisee program comes with a lot of perks that will make it much easier for Smith to be successful in his ventures, and the company has a solid competitive advantage with specifics that include superior ingredients, new product and market development, and environmentally conscious behavior. 3. I would not recommend Smith to go into a partnership with Harris.He does not seem very fair in his projections of what his is putting into the company, and seems to be attempting to connive Smith into giving up a ton of his control for not a great amount of return. His financials expectations are completely unfair and not warranted. Smith will be left with an extremely low salary, and Harris will be making 22 times the amount of his investment in a short period of time. While Smith wants to get started as soon as possible on this first franchise due to his financial problems, if he chooses to go with Harris he could be getting himself into much deeper trouble.The franchise itself seems to be a decent option, with its great location, franchise support, and competitive advantage, but Smith should wait to find a better partner. This business will not succeed if the two owners do not get along. It would ruin their entire organizational and managerial structure. FINANCIAL APPENDIX | | | 51%| | Cash flow| Distributions| Smith's share| 1997 with loan| $ 17,050 | $ 17,050 | $ 8,695 | 1998 with loan| $ 37,050 | $ 24,350 | $ 12,418 | 1999 with loan| $ 55,650 | $ 41,750 | $ 21,292 | | 1997| 1998| 1999| 2000| 2001|EBT| $ 29,000 | $ 49,000 | $ 67,600 | $ 87,100 | $ 87,800 | Add depreciation| $ 12,000 | $ 12,000 | $ 12,000 | $ 12,000 | $ 12,000 | Cash flow| $ 41,000 | $ 61,000 | $ 79,600 | $ 99,100 | $ 99,800 | Price earning ration (3) | 3| 3| 3| 3| 3| Company value(average of cash flows from previousyears x 3)| $ 123,000 | $ 153,000 | $ 181,600 | 210525| $ 228,300 | Investor ownership| 49%| 49%| 49%| 49%| 49%| Buy out amount| $ 60,270 | $ 74,970 | $ 88,984 | $ 103,157 | $ 111,867 |