Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc - 1216 Words

Executive Summary Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. has been a pioneer in the casino industry by becoming the first company to become publicly trade in the stock market. Also, they have set themselves apart from competitors with their approach to customer service and building lasting relationships. These differentiations from competitors lead them to highly invest on information technology to track customer’s trends and habits. This paper analyses how the Harrah’s benefits from their unique approach to information technology, but at the same time points out how other aspects of the business have been disregarded or they need to be improved. Issues such as, infrastructure compared to competitors, the fact that due to the investment on†¦show more content†¦Another recommendation is to create a partnership with a gaming company like zynga to come up with an online game. If the online game is created, it would be convenient for the reward card holders to be able to use their cards with this game. In addition to the game creation, it would be interesting for the casino to come up with amateurs gambling tournaments. This last one could be a way to bring a new demographic into the casinos. Potential Obstacles/Risks One of the potential obstacle and or risk of applying some of the recommendations like investing on the infrastructure could be difficult to rebuild a 50 plus year old company across the board. Some of the employees could be hesitant to changes. Another possible obstacle and or risk might the laws and regulations for online gambling that may not allow for a casino company to create gambling games and being able to bet and receive profits online. Questions 1. How does the Pareto Principle relate to Harrah’s market situation (theShow MoreRelatedHarrahs Entertainment, Inc. Essay1645 Words   |  7 PagesIndividual Case Assignment: Harrahs Entertainment, Inc. 1. What are the objectives of the various Database marketing (DBM) programs and are they working? There are two main overall objectives of Harrah’s Database marketing (DBM) programs. First, Harrah’s strived to build, increase and retain customers’ loyalty to their brand, similar to the way people tend to be loyal to their mechanic or hair dresser. The strategy to achieve this goal was to ensure that they crafted and sustained a relationshipRead MoreAnalysis Of Harrahs Entertainment Inc2235 Words   |  9 PagesThe Problem/Opportunity Definition Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. is the largest provider of casino branded entertainment with 50 properties under brands; Harrah’s, Bally’s, Planet Hollywood, Caesars, Flamingo and Showboat. As a strong competitor in the casino industry, Harrah’s has maintained a golden standard through their advanced technology leadership and their CRM approach has led them to their core competence in customer loyalty and satisfaction. CEO Gary Loveman knew that focusing on customersRead Moreâ€Å"Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.† by Rajiv Lal1393 Words   |  6 Pages1. What are Harrah’s brand’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? Strengths General - Strong and consistent revenue growth over the past years and reliable stock market performance allowing for Harrah’s to gain a leading market position. - Harrah’s national presence with a network of 26 casino locations in all â€Å"traditional† and most of the new U.S. casino markets across 13 states, including land-based, dockside, riverboat, and Indian casino facilities. - First-mover advantage:Read MoreBenefits Of Gambling And Nevada1674 Words   |  7 PagesGambling has been a form of entertainment since ancient history. Games of skill and chance using an early form of playing cards can be dated as early as 2300 B.C. and for thousands of years has evolved to become one of the most lucrative forms of business. In the year 1931 a bill was introduced to legalize gambling and Nevada s first casino resort, the Meadows opened. By December 1946 brought a new form of casino gaming with the Flamingo Hotel as the first modern casino in Las Vegas offering, luxuriousRead MoreAnalysis Of Harrah Entertainment, Inc.1476 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Harrah Entertainment, Inc. is a multifaceted business with large scope of services. They compete in 23 locations to be viewed as best service-driven and customer-driven organization for their hotel accommodations, gambling experience, entertainment offerings, food and beverage options and quality. In many locations, competition is steep causing tight markets and desire to win an edge. Other competitors focus on outshining and glamorizing their amenities to attract and captivate theRead MoreEssay on Harrahs Business Plan1068 Words   |  5 Pagestheir competition Harrahs Entertainment, Inc has made itself the worlds largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman is a former operations professor who has used information technology to create what people consider the most effective marketing organization in the service industry. Harrah’s operates fifty-three casinos, employing more that eighty five thousand workers on five continents. The secr et to Harrah’s success is data. Through Harrah’s total reward card programRead MoreCase Analysis 2 Harrah Entertaiment Essay1283 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Question 3 Stakeholders The gaming and entertainment industries involve a large amount of individuals. Harrah’s entertainment includes their vendors (major and minor), stakeholders, stockholders, customers and employees. Gambling is big business to those mentioned above, if it’s professional, business, pleasure or something out of the ordinary. Stakeholders ensure companies policies and procedures are followed while investing large amounts of revenue to become successful. Due to the industry becomingRead MoreOrganizational Analysis of Harrahs Entertainment1614 Words   |  7 PagesOrganisational Analysis 1.1 General Description About the company Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., was found on October 30, 1937. It is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates many casinos/hotels primarily under the Harrah’s, Bill’s, Caesars, Horseshoes, Rio, Showboat, Bally’s, Paris, Harveys, Sheraton, Grand Casinos, and Flamingo brand names, as well as six golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the largest gamingRead MoreData Base Marketing3687 Words   |  15 Pageshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Case- Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Questions: 1. What are the objectives of the various Data Base marketing programs and are they working? 2. Why is it important to use the â€Å"customer worth† in the DBM efforts rather than observed level of play? 3. How does Harrah’s integrate the various elements of its marketing strategy to deliver more than the results of Data Base marketing? 4. What is the sustainability of Harrah’s actions and strategy? 5. What are theRead MoreIs Harrah s Entertainment, Inc. Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pages The company that I will be discussing about is Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. This company was founded by Bill Harrah on October 29, 1937 and has its headquarters in Nevada, USA. They own more than 50 casinos and hotels and have approximately 33,000 employees presently working. The company has an annual revenue of $8.6 billion and is currently one of the top casino gaming companies of the world. The reason for their success is good customer service and efficient usage of software development. Customer

Organizational Culture At Lincoln Electric Company Essay

Organizational Culture at Lincoln Electric The Lincoln Electric Company, a manufacturer of welding equipment and supplies, was founded in 1895 by John C. Lincoln as a manufacturer of electric motors. In the early years of the 20th century, James F. Lincoln joined his brother’s company and by 1914 replaced John as the company head, allowing the latter to concentrate his efforts on scientific investigations. In those early years, James F. Lincoln implemented a number of programs and initiatives with served to define a company culture that was unique in its day and which has persisted for a century. Those programs and initiatives grew out of a stated mutual respect between workers and management, based largely on James F. Lincoln’s Christian beliefs and apparent genuine respect for the people who developed, manufactured and sold the company’s products. Among those programs was the creation of an Employee Advisory Board, a production based employee pay structure, and a group insurance program which was a rare benefit in its time. Today, Lincoln Electric continues to thrive and according to its 2014 Annual Report, generated revenues on the order of $2.8 billion resulting in net income of $255 million. The Cleveland, OH-based company now employs 10,000 worldwide where it operates 40 manufacturing facilities in 20 countries. Lincoln distributes its products to 160 countries. Lincoln’s culture can be described as people-oriented, with recognition of the valuable contributions madeShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Culture Of The Lincoln Electric Company1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Culture of a Company, or the Organizational Culture like it is mentioned in Principles of Management, has gotten a new dimension for me in terms of importance to assure the success of a company. This Organizational Culture is based on a series of values that are defined and established by the founder of a company for instance, which has a deep relation with his ethics and moral values. Therefore, the first factor to outline would be what the culture of a company shows, that can describe alreadyRead MoreOrganizational Culture Of The Lincoln Electric Company1439 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The Lincoln Electric Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of welding machines and electrons. Lincoln employs 2,400 workers in two U.S. factories near Cleveland, OH and approximately 600 in three factories located in other countries. (The Lincoln Electric Company p. 1.) The main focus of this paper is to analyze the organizational culture of this company, by doing so, I will point out the different features, the rules and norms, beliefs and philosophies and the systems implementedRead MoreThe Organizational Culture Of The Lincoln Electric Company1035 Words   |  5 Pagesthe story of Lincoln Electric Company I’ve come to the Conclusion that their organizational culture they practicing is People-oriented culture. Because the company values fairness, supportiveness and they respect individual rights. There is a greater emphasis on expectation of treating people with respect and dignity. All the founders of the company had a great deal of continues influence on the positioning of the company today, form John C. Lincoln to James F. Lincoln. John C. Lincoln started itRead MoreThe Organizational Culture Of The Lincoln Electric Company1016 Words   |  5 PagesThe Organizational Culture of the Lincoln Electric Company The Lincoln Electric Company is one of the largest manufacturers of welding machines and electrodes in the world. With about 2,400 employees in the USA and near 600 workers in other countries. The Lincoln management plan is well known for accomplishing the highest worker productivity. His founder Mr. James F. Lincoln died in 1965, leaving a profitable and reliable company. As a president of the business, he invigorated a committee that wasRead MoreThe Impact Of Organizational Culture On The Lincoln Electric Company892 Words   |  4 PagesThrough my reading about LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY I can see that organizational culture played an important important role in success of this company. All main elements that form Oranizational culture represented in THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY, that what made this company prospered and thrived in its activity through the applying The P-O-L-C Framework effectively. I can discern the aspects of influence of oraganizational culture in manging this co mpany towards higher levels in output through theRead MoreOrganizational Culture And The Lincoln Electric Company1212 Words   |  5 PagesORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY The success of a business is intimately tied to the success of its culture. To understand better how organisational culture is created and maintained we will examine one of America’s most successfully managed companies, the Lincoln Electric company. We will examine many aspects of the company that contribute to its culture, such as the influence of the company’s founders, the golden rule, the incentive management plan, the performance appraisalRead MoreOrganizational Culture And The Lincoln Electric Company1303 Words   |  6 PagesORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY The success of a business is intimately tied to the success of its culture. To understand better how organisational culture is created and maintained we will examine one of America’s most successfully managed companies, the Lincoln Electric company. We will examine many aspects of the company that contribute to its culture, such as the influence of the company’s founders, the golden rule, the incentive management plan, the performance appraisalRead MoreAnalysis Of Lincoln Electric Company Of Cleveland Ohio Usa S Organizational Culture877 Words   |  4 PagesLincoln Electric Company of Cleveland Ohio USA`s organizational Culture is exceptional and has earned it the acolade of being the best managed manufacturing company in the whole world. I will explore and attempt to identify culture aspects of Lincoln Electric from several issues such as; the continuing influence of founders of the company, the golden rule, the incentive management plan,the performance appraisal system, how people communicate in the organization, the merit pay plan, the bonus planRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Lincoln Electric Company Essay718 Words   |  3 PagesThe Lincoln Electric Company proves that the right mix of â€Å"organizational culture styles† can achieve profitable business growth over the long haul. The continuing influence, employee benefits/incentives, and management styles initiated by company founder John C. Lincoln and James F. Lincoln have built a profitable business for shareholders and employees alike. Let’s, look at Mr. Author Sharplins Harvard Case study and The Lincoln Electric Company webpage to further delineate the styles of organizationalRead MoreLincoln Electric Company s Impact On Corporate Culture905 Words   |  4 Pagesvalue†; as found within Lincoln Electrics’ Vision Statement (Lincoln Electric 1999-2016). The beliefs and values transferred from company founders and instilled into employees can have an overwhelming impact on corporate culture. By establishing a positive corporate culture one can influence exceptional company performance. This is clearly demonstrated by Lincoln Electric Company, from its early days until its present day. I will present how the Lincoln Electric Company has done just that! Before

Ebenezer Scrooge Analysis free essay sample

At the beginning of A Christmas Carol, abundant evidence is provided to support the conclusion that Ebenezer Scrooge is the protagonist of Dickens tale, who doesnt want to spend any more money than is absolutely essential, and who begrudges spending for what is necessary. A grasping, covetous, flinty old pinchpenny With his pointed nose, shrivelled cheeks, and stiff gait, he is repulsive to all his acquaintances. In his novella, Dickens portrays Scrooge with words that are equally as familiar as his name â€Å"Bah Humbug! . Scrooges character is shaped by the conditioning he experienced as a young child, as our characters as humans always are. He has been suffering psychologically for years from the abuse of neglect he received as a child when he was left alone during Christmas. However, another conflict manifests itself on that Christmas Eve when the do-gooders stop by to ask Scrooge for a donation for charity by mentioning Marleys name which triggers Scrooges memory of friendship, love and benevolence. We will write a custom essay sample on Ebenezer Scrooge Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He sent them off by a gruffly reply It is not my business. Its enough for a man to understand his own business, and not interfere with other peoples. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen! Finally, the day draws to its close and Scrooge must release his clerk, Bob Cratchit, but not before he grumpily says, you dont think me ill-used when I pay a days wages for no work as he must allow the man a holiday on Christmas. Ordering the man to Be here all the earlier the next day, Scrooge reluctantly lets the man go home. Clearly, Ebenezer Scrooge is a misanthrope who shares no warmth with any man. As he dismisses his nephew, Scrooge declares, If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should! The conflict intensifies when Marleys spirit arrives at his own home to warn Scrooge of his demise if he does not heed his warning and accept the three ghosts. Scrooges conflict here is in accepting this revelation, for at first he doesnt believe that Marley is real, for he thinks that Marley is an undigested bit of beef; a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. In other words, Scrooge is trying to convince himself that he is suffering from indigestion. Scrooges encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past reveals Scrooges Christmas past and in accepting what happened to him back then, he begins to give in to the good in his soul, for when he sees himself as a very young boy all alone at this boarding school and his break up with his fiance Belle due to this love for money, he sheds a tear which symbolizes the return of warmth and sympathy in Scrooges cold heart; the ice around his heart is melting, and Scrooge is beginning to resurrect. For when he meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, he has to face the realities of the life that he has created for the Cratchit family, and the wages that Scrooge has been paying Bob are very pitiful that he cannot afford proper medical attention for his son, Tiny Tim. Seeing this causes Scrooge to become even more compassionate. By witnessing the Cratchits, this has had a tremendous effect on his character. Following the visit from the final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge desperately wished to make amends for the sins of his life. When he awoke on Christmas morning and found that the bedpost was his own and the Time before him was his own, Scrooge recognized that he still had another chance to transform himself. His heart was no longer heavy from the fear that things cannot change; instead, he laughed and cried from the joy of the knowledge that his fate was not foresworn: His happiness had made him youthful againas light as a feather.

Product Advancement Trend

Relevant consumption trends The onset of mobile technology has transformed the way of life of the modern day society. Every person out there wants to communicate. A cell phone is a convenient way to communicate due to its portability as well as cost. The information age has demanded more than just communication in the strict sense.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Product Advancement Trend specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The consumer wants an opportunity to derive entertainment information access as well as the actual communication itself. The mobile phone companies have adapted to this demand by developing products that meet the average requirements in a satisfactory manner. The cell phone cuts across all the market demands and therefore offers the customer the benefit of a single gadget with several applications. The cell phone market has been typically subdivided into two main segments. The first is the high e nd segment that comprises of business persons and the professional class. These customers are the most influential in as far as price is concerned since they have a high level of loyalty to the product as long as they develop a sense of trust for such a product. The second segment is the low end consumer class that is made of the blue collar as well as the personal end users. The preferences of these customers greatly depend on the individual’s behavior and preference. However the actual purchase is mostly affected by the financial implication of the product purchased. The high end customers are more likely to purchase the more expensive versions of the black berry that have more features that assist them in their daily professional encounters. Their spending may be motivated by either necessity or actual availability of finances. They are therefore more product-specific. For instance the professionals are more likely to go for a cell phone that has an operating system that w ill allow them undertake the duties that they would otherwise have waited to get to a computer in order to access such features. The general average annual spending among the first segment is higher than that of the second. Customers from both segments have an opportunity to access these products from the certified dealers in selected selling points such as malls and supermarkets. There are also numerous specialized dealers who deal in electronic sale that offer the black berry based products. Customers have the option of also purchasing the product online from the various websites such as E-bay. Online sale has gained credence due to its flexibility convenience and speed as compared to over the counter sale. The products are available on these sites with varying charges depending on the prevailing rates. The most recent statistics suggest that the customers buy more at the end of the month and before festivities. The levels of sales were also very low during cold seasons as most of the customers were indoors.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The preference has been the purchase through online dealers who deliver the product after a given period of time. The percentage of people who ordered the product specifically as a present amounted to 20% of the general consumer base. With these customers the probability of purchasing this product again is quite slim. This would be because they were not actually getting the phone for someone else. They could either be creating an impression on the person or recommending the product. The other percentage either went through the actual product acquisition model that involves gathering information, evaluation of the product, purchase and post purchase procedures. The market is affected by various variables and there can be no specific conclusive explanation of the current or future trend in the consumer’s behav ior. On average however the loyalty of the consumer was motivated by advertisement and word from friends and alternative sources of information. The black berry has been in the black berry phone specifically the touch 9800 mobile is a market leader that has been created to serve the interests of the consumer form both ends. The all too familiar receptiveness of the device to new applications and the removal of old ones give it a dignified prominence in the specialty. The black berry company has made several efforts over the years to ensure that their products subscribe to the demands of the modern day consumer. The product has an inbuilt operating system that supports most document formats (Alba and Hutchinson 2000, p 123). The core proposition of the brand is to ensure that the customer receives quality. The substance of the brand slogan suggests that the product inspires brings together the essential features of the phone to guarantee the user maximum utility. A review of the pro duct has disclosed the salient features that continuously make the product a market leader (Naercio 2003, pp130-135). The shape provides a sense of class that is supplemented by the feel of the touch screen that would otherwise be in traditional landscape shape. The keyboard slides from below the screen to allow the user the convenience of reducing and condensing the size of the phone to fit a smaller space and to fit the grasp of the palm. The screen has an onscreen keyboard that allows the consumer who does not want to use the keyboard to operate the phone. The message writer also has an inbuilt spell checker that allows the user to correct the messages I case they make a mistake. The messaging service also has a predictor service that reduces the time taken typing in the words in the message. It also bars a 12-key alphanumeric keyboard, that allows for the SureType option, which creates a provision for the option of two letters per key.Advertising We will write a custom essa y sample on Product Advancement Trend specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For convenience the phone offers up to ten different ways of performing of performing one task from the basic text message writing to checking of emails. The phone can be likened to the iphone in as far as the touch screen devises is concerned. However the blackberry 9800 is the antithesis of the complexity of the iphone technology as it provides an unchanging home screen icon selection and an extremely basic user interface button setup that is very easy to understand (Alba and Hutchinson 2000, p 123) The continuous use of this product allows the consumer to adjust phones accessibility options within and around the phone to fit the prescriptions and requirements that they find fit. The phone offers a sense of maturity for those users who would rather prefer a complicated interface that is best understood by them. This means that the phone provides a sense of pride among peers who may not be able to use the phones features effectively (Naercio 2003, pp130-135). The brand positioning statement centers on inspiration of the consumer. The product does more than that by securing a complicated safe house of information. The user can zoom in and out of browser pages with the pinch of the finger for better visibility and flexibility in the navigation of the phone. The phone also comes with the company’s latest operating system software the black Berry 6 OS that has numerous improvements for flexibility and convenience. Criticism may have it that the products resolution is much lower than that of the rival touch screen technologies such as the Samsung galaxy s and the iphone 4. The resolution has been supplemented by the slide manual keyboard and the high zoom potential and magnification Marketing Strategy recommendations Need Recognition The product brand is quite new in the market since it is among the latest inventions and improvements of th e black berry technology and has little awareness in its development. The competitor technologies have gained a lot of ground in as far as consumer awareness and therefore leave a great marketing gap. The recommended strategic approach will be one that incorporates aggressive marketing processes embedded in a marketing campaign that will ensure that the existing customer’s are reminded of the existence of the product. As for the new customers the campaign will create a good background that will convince the consumers of the superiority of the production the market. The campaign will utilize all avenues of access to customers such as Facebook,Twitter and YouTube by creating a commanding presence in both in visual and audio reviews and advertisements(Alba and Hutchinson 2000, p 123). The campaign will also incorporate the assistance of the various media houses through promotions that will allow the listeners to acquire a sample of the product. The campaign will also maintain a high level of presence in print media in journals and daily newspapers across the world market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Information Search The products evaluation information will be highly accessible from the output social network sources that will create a database for the effectiveness of the marketing campaign. The comments that will be received on the social networks such as Twitter and Facebook will be used to evaluate the brand strategy as well as the future market campaign. The information available fro these reactions as to the negative and positive aspects of the products will be used to reengineer the products outlook to suit the tastes and preferences in as far as color and shape is concerned. (Dipak and Naufel 1999, pp131-137) The reactions of the retailers and distributors will also be taken into account. The online sales reactions on the product as well as the reactions of those who acquire the product over the counter will also be taken into consideration in the formulation of future strategies. Evaluation Inadvertently the consumer is going to weigh the opportunity cost of forgoing t he other competitor products such as the Samsung galaxies or the iphone 4. Such a consumer will be looking to acquire a product that allows them to use the touch screen technology in the most flexible way. The blackberry 9800 will have an unmatched advantage over all these products because of the additional features that accrue to the phone that are availed by the additional keyboard that allows more convenience and flexibility. As it is the product has a very affordable price quotation that is not likely to change even as the effects of the recession continues to take its toll on the economies around the world (Naercio 2003,pp130-135). For the first few years the product will maintain a stable price that will only vary depending on the mode that the consumer chooses in the purchase since each sales channels has different cost implications. Once the product gains enough market confidence the company will then transfer the prevailing market condition implications to the consumers. Th e consumer will also be thinking of the resolution of the phone as opposed to the competitors provisions of the same feature. They will however be impressed by the flexibility of the product as far as magnification is concerned. The product will supplements the need for a high resolution with the resolution potential that is inbuilt in the product. The product also has a much lesser price compared to the competitor products and will therefore take advantage of the economic recession conditions by stabilizing its price to allow the consumer to acquire it. (Dipak and Naufel 1999, pp131-137) Purchase The product will be mostly marketed among the young generation. This implies that the main clientele will fall within the age bracket of between 18 and 40 years. There is a very high likelihood that two thirds of these individuals have access to the internet or are at least aware of the online modes of purchase. The marketing strategy will therefore ensure that each online selling point ha s a stock of this product. The online stores will also offer a discount for every two phones that are purchased in one go. The products will also be available in the various phone sale points that have worldwide coverage. Examples of these stores within the UK include the UK Car phone Warehouse, dial a phone and mobiles .co.uk. These are known to offer satisfactory services in as far as the delivery of goods is concerned. The product marketing strategy will also partner with the relevant marketing partners in the various countries to facilitate the availability of this product to the customer at affordable prices. The initial price of the product has been  £414.99. This has been quite high for the low end consumer. On the other hand it would be quite hard to maintain a lower price in the face of the prevailing economic conditions. This price however will be reduced by up to  £7 to create a promotion price of  £407 that will be used as a mechanism of attracting customers. The e vidence from the existing market trends indicate that personalized sales and marketing promotion attempts were more effective than all other methods of advertising. The customer is more likely to purchase a product after such a product has been explained to them on a person to person basis. Those who accessed the retail selling points from the online sellers required to be convinced by sales representatives in order to acquire the product. (Dipak and Naufel 1999, pp131-137) Post Purchase The consumer upon acquiring the product did not bother to send feedback. This was the case especially with off the counter sales. However those who acquire the product from an online source were keen enough to leave a comment or two concerning the effectiveness of the product and the areas that were in need of improvement. The product has a year’s warranty and therefore the response from the consumers who returned product that had few defects were contented with the corrections made. The thir d member of the group upon acquiring the products and sending them to his aunt discovered that one of them had a mechanical problem. Upon returning the product the product was satisfactorily repaired (Alba and Hutchinson 2000, p 123). Conclusion The existing variables have a positive and negative effect on the marketing mix adopted for the delivery of this product to the market. As it were the price has a great bearing on the demand of the product. If it is too high then the low end consumers have little chance at acquiring the product. On the other hand if the product is priced lower than the competitor’s prices the market impression is that the product is of an inferior quality and should not be taken seriously. The product in seeks to venture into an already saturated market that is flooded with similar counterfeit cheap products. It is therefore important that the consumer understands the value that comes with the new product. The product however will take advantage of th e already established brand name black berry to maintain a high profile for the consumer who wishes to acquire the product in future. The pricing strategy that will be used to review the products price takes into consideration the prevailing market situation and gives credence to the consumer’s interest. This ensures that the consumers strain in the harsh economic times is supplemented adequately and in a proper and timely manner. References Alba, J. W., and Wesley, H. (2000) Knowledge Calibration: What Consumer Know and What They Think They Know. Journal of Consumer Research, 27, p123 Dipak, J.C., and Vilcassim, N. J. (1999) Pricing Patterns of Cellular Phones and Phonecalls: A Segment-Level Analysis. Market science, 45(2) p131-137 Naercio, M. (2003) Is the Consumer Sector Competitive in the U.K.? A Test Using Household-Level Demand Elasticities and Firm-Level Price Equations. Journal of Business Economic Statistics, 23(3) pp130-135A This essay on Product Advancement Trend was written and submitted by user Mohammed Stark to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Capital Punishment Essays (570 words) - Penology, Criminal Justice

Capital Punishment When turning on the television, radio, or simply reading the local newspaper, one is overwhelmed with news of arrests, murders, homicides, serial killers, and other serious crimes. It is rare not to go through a day in this world and not hear of these things. Still, some government officials in our country seem a bit uncertain about what steps to take in order to minimize the actions of serious or potential offenders. Not only is it committing a crime, but also today, it is ending ones life, either physically or in a prison cell. This is a risk one is taking when he decides to stab someone with a knife or pull a trigger, but is it really up to our justice system to decide one's fate? There are many issues that address this question of capital punishment such as religion, the effect on society, restitution being denied, the possible "wrongly accused", and the rights of the convicted. But how often do these concepts creep into the publics mind when it hears of our "fair and trusty" government taking away someone's breathing rights? The bible states, "Thou shall not kill," and this being a sin should have to be corrected within oneself. On the other hand, it also states, "Don't judge others personal convictions." It is a government's responsibility to punish people that disobey the law to keep the world in order, but is it their right to take their lives away? It is a Christian's responsibility to point out to those who sin that they do so and this country, trusting in God as it says it does, should do just that. Some people think that restitution is granted when one is sentenced to the death penalty. However, if a loved one is murdered and his family feels justice in having the murderer go through the same, is it not considered equally wrong? Forgiving and forgetting are entirely out of the question, but one should consider the concept of regret and remorse. Just as one feels terrible when wrongfully drives through their neighbors yard, surely a murderer may feel the same. One is only human and no one can expect any more. A mistake is a mistake, no matter whom it may harm or what destruction it may cause. There's always the chance of the innocent being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A handful of evidence from a strong lawyer could sentence someone to life in prison, and even the death penalty. One could be spending and ending his life in captivity for simply walking down the wrong street on the wrong day. Should he have to serve the time that's not rightfully his and take the needle that shouldn't prick his skin? It's a small fault in the justice system that is not easy to overcome, but that's someone's life, and not knowing the truth could be devastating. Abraham Lincoln declared, "All men are created equal." This statement of truth has obviously been left out of consideration in the court room. Everyone deserves a second chance because they are all capable of reformation. The offender should have the chance to go back into the world and prove himself honorable. If solving corruption with immorality is the world's remedy for reconciliation, then why not chop off the thief's hand? "An eye for an eye" was the justice of the past. It is now a modern world based on logic and transformation. Should a government commit a crime to justify another? If capital punishment was solely based on punishing the wrongdoers, there would be no one left to inject the needle or pull the lever on.

KUHN Surname Meaning and Family History

KUHN Surname Meaning and Family History The Kuhn surname originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was bold or keen; descendant of KUHN, a pet form of Kunrat, German form of Conrad, meaning bold, counsel. Surname Origin:  German Alternate Surname Spellings:  KUHNE, KUEHN, KUHNS, KIHN, COON, COONS, COEN, COONE, KUNZ, KUNTZ, KUHNE, KOHN, KUEHNE, KÃÅ"HN,  KÃÅ"HNE   Famous People with the KUHNSurname Thomas Kuhn - American historian and physicist; famous for  his 1962 book called The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.Friedrich Adalbert Maximilian Kuhn - German botanistOskar Kuhn - German paleontologistRichard Kuhn -  Austrian biochemist, winner of the 1938 Nobel Prize in ChemistryW. Langdon Kihn -  American painter and illustrator Where is the KUHN Surname Most Common? According to surname distribution from Forebears, the Kuhn  surname is most common in Germany, ranking as the countrys 56th most common surname. It is also fairly common in Switzerland, where it is the 74th most common last name.  WorldNames PublicProfiler  data indicates the Kuhn surname is especially common in southwestern German, particularly the state of Saarland. It is also common in Zurich, Ostschweiz and Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland, as well as in Alsace, France. Surname maps from Verwandt.de indicate the  Kuhn last name is most common in southwestern Germany, especially in the counties or cities of Munich, Neunkirchen, Stadtverband Saarbrucken, Ostalbkreis, Wurzburg, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Esslingen and Offenbach.   Genealogy Resources for the Surname KUHN Meanings of Common German SurnamesUncover the meaning of your German last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common German surnames. Kuhn  Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Kuhn  family crest or coat of arms for the Kuhn surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. Coon DNA Surname ProjectIndividuals with the Coon surname and variations such as Kuhn, Kuehne, Koone, Kohn, Koon, Kuhne, Kuhns, Coontz, and Kuntz, plus dozens of others, have joined together to combine genealogy research with Y-DNA testing to help determine common ancestry. KUHN  Family Genealogy ForumThis free message board is focused on descendants of Kuhn  ancestors around the world. Search or browse the archives for your Kuhn ancestors, or join the group and post your own Kuhn family query. FamilySearch - KUHN  GenealogyExplore over 2.8  million results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Kuhn surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. KUHN  Surname Mailing ListFree mailing list for researchers of the Kuhn surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages. DistantCousin.com - KUHN  Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Kuhn. GeneaNet - Kuhn  RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Kuhn  surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. The Kuhn  Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Kuhn  surname from the website of Genealogy Today.- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back toGlossary of Surname Meanings Origins

The U.S Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The U.S Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) - Essay Example Domestic and Foreign Policy The first phase of occupation which roughly started after the end of the war from 1945 to 1947 involved the most fundamental changes that took place in Japan. America punished Japan due to its past expansion and militarism by convening war crimes in Tokyo. During this time, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) dismantled Japanese army and banned the military officers from taking roles in political roles in the government (Drohan, 2007). During this time, SCAP land reforms that were meant in providing equality in land ownership to the tenants were acquired from the landlords who supported the Japanese expansionism in the 1930s. Demilitarization and Democratization Demilitarization of Japan was a guarantee to the America that Japan would never engage in military activities. In the first two years of occupation, the industrialists and officers blamed for the war were a further hedge against a revanchist threat. Democratization was a process undertaken by Americans in Japan that no other occupation force had done before. The America performed the democratization process through remarking the social, political, cultural and economic fabric Japan and changed them based on their way of thinking (Aldous, n.d.). The tough initiative was in writing the constitution that was to be used in Japan and compelling its acceptance by the Japanese diet. One of the factors that proved the success of the occupation in Japan was the Constitution that was developed by the Americans.

My History about a Guard in the Mall Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

My History about a Guard in the Mall - Essay Example The guard looked like part of the furniture by virtue of his immobility. He was an inch or two shies of six feet and had a ruddy face. However, I could only see an outline of his nose and chin as he was not facing my direction. He had which I thought contrasted to his military style hair cut. On his head, he had blond crossly cropped like soldiers would be. He had on a well-starched blue short sleeved shirt and a pair of pants made of the same material. He had regulation boots, but it was the way he positioned his feet that made my neck snap up from my examination. From where I sat, I could tell his right shoe was clearly more buffed than the right one. I tried to play Sherlock Holmes and looked to see if he held his baton with his left hand. He did his holster was on the same side, so I concluded he was right-handed. He lifted up his face to examine something in the distance somewhere across the door his eyes were blue, and he had exceptionally busy eyebrows, which were not quite as brown as his hair. His eyes had a faraway look like a sailor trying to spy a distance inland from the deep sea. I wondered if he had been in the navy, and he seemed to be staring at a point far in the horizon even in an enclosed mall where there was not much of a horizon. His hands, which had shifted the baton to a peg on his belt, they were big pinkish callused hands which could have seen hard labor in the past. The fingernails on his left hand looked like they had been chewed on rather on rather than clipped. He stood with his feet apart, and this seemed to give him an element of stability as well as size. When he stood there, with his feet aside his hands constantly felt at his pockets area.  

Write about Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Write about Japan - Essay Example The emperor appoints an executive prime minister. Shinzo Abe is the current premier of Japan. The capital city of Japan is Tokyo. This paper explains the economic changes that took place after the Second World War that turned Japan into an economic hub. The Second World War extensively destroyed properties in Japan and thousands of people lost their lives. Industries were not spared either and those that were running lacked industrial inputs. Japan had lost almost 25% of its wealth after the war (Osubo, 4). In 1952, Japan could have been categorized as an underdeveloped state. From 1952 to 1968, Japan adopted strategies that transformed it from a less developed country to an economic powerhouse only behind the United States of America. The availability of dedicated labor is among the factors that led to the growth of Japan to an industrialized nation. The young generation was migrated from the villages to towns to provide the necessary workforce that was required in the industries. The government also invested heavily in private industries and its policy to adopt new technologies from other nations led to the growth of industries such as the automobile industry. The government introduced local banks to offer financial assistance to the local business men to enhance their businesses. The return of Japan into the international stage allowed the international monetary fund to boost its economy. The government also encouraged locals to do savings that provided funds to be invested in the various sectors. The savings allowed Japan not to borrow from other countries with high interests. The education system was changed and modeled to resemble the American system where students were required to attend three years elementary and six years of high school education. When Prime Minister Hayato took office in 1960, he promised to double the economy in ten years. In fact, that was achieved in seven years. Other plans to grow the economy were

EBays Growth Strategies: An Analysis

EBays Growth Strategies: An Analysis To gain market in India, eBay has to change the way it operates. eBay.in has to develop and implement new strategies for the change management. Using the following table the best theory to use is Lippitts Phases of Change Theory. This theory consists of 7 steps and it mainly focuses on change agents roles and responsibilities compared to evolution of change in the organization. Implementing Lippitts phases of change theory on eBay.in The problem: eBay failed to make its impression in India, one main reason is the countrys internet and technology is still developing unlike in USA, where internet and technology growth reached its maturity level. People in India consider eBay as a virtual market, and so they dont believe in it, when compared to retail and wholesale markets. eBay is unable to adapt the different languages and cultures in the country so it is unknown to most of the people. Motivation and capacity for change: eBay has enough capacity for the change, and to localize itself in various states/cultures it needs to appoint local business people/change agents, who are familiar with local markets and the technology. Increase in fuel price, inflation, and recession are forcing people to choose other methods to purchase products they need, so eBay is the choice people have, and the change agent if able to inspire them the organization will grow strong in the market within few months. Change Agent and Resources: Recruiting those individuals who know the local market as well as have good knowledge about the internet and technology can be helpful. To check the motivation and commitment of the agent, he/she will be assessed through few interviews and other psychological tests. As the organization depends mainly on internet and technology, the required resources are available in India, like manpower, transportation, etc. Progressive change objects: Developing action plans and strategies with respect to different cultures and languages needs those language and culture experts, organization should employee those people before they build their strategies. The main goal here is to gain the customers belief and get close to them so they know the organization. Aims of this process are to decrease complexity and achieve operational excellence. Role of Change Agent: organization should define what they are expecting from the change agent, and change should be clear about what his/her duties are and should make it clear for the organization and other employees, and customers, by which no one gets confused in the process of change. Maintaining the Change: developing new strategies for marketing, like campaigns, advertisements about the organization and how the organization operates is very important for the organization. Taking feedbacks and review helps organization to understand how people are reacting and what are the other changes the organization needs to make, to increase belief on the organization? Change Agent: once organization reached a stage where people are believing in the organization and are able to communicate properly without any problem, the role of change agent should be lessened and the change process should be terminated slowly. What would you do differently if undertaking a project of this nature in the future? Following above steps can increase the belief of the people on the organization, but I would like to concentrate on one specific point i.e. existence of the organization in the virtual environment. The main reason, why people dont believe the eBay.in is because of its virtual existence, and I would like to change that in to physical existence. Both buyers and sellers are customers of the organization and they can do it online, but I would like to provide a small place/ business centre where people can come and meet directly and exchange goods or products. By this process people will be more attracted towards the organization and customers belief towards the organization increases. However, this contradicts with the idea of online marketing but, this process should be and will be followed only for few days, until and up to the organization gains the belief of its customers. And we use this business centre only for those customers who are willing to come and for complex situations to reduce complexity. Factors which can influence the change management process Power: many organizations follow hierarchical power i.e. managers take decisions, sometimes with the support of employees and sometimes without the support of employees, about the process and strategies that organization is going to follow. Here management of eBay considers buyers and sellers are equally powerful to make their own decisions. Culture: eBay is a massive community with unique culture. In the site individuals can find articles offering wider information than just auction listing or price lists or web site tools. eBay creates opportunities for people, it cares its customers, and making a difference in the world. It explains us the unique psychology, attitudes, and beliefs and values of the management and founders of eBay. Communication: organizational communication and interpersonal communication plays a vital role in effective change management. Organization communication is leader communicating with the employees through meeting, conferences, or electronic mails. This information in general is for everyone in the organization to explain new strategies or action plans to its employees. Interpersonal communication is communication between management and employees, in general to provide information on what they are expecting from the employees and what organization aims at. It is also useful in taking feedbacks as not all the employees work and learns at same-pace. Interpersonal communication increases relationship between employees and management which is very important for an organization to sustaining change. Conclusion: eBay was able to make a strong impact on the market in USA, UK, etc. because the growth of technology in these countries was too high. eBay inc primarily depend on the internet for its existence and without internet and technology it cannot exists. In countries like India, where internet and technology is still growing and didnt reach its maturity level, it is hard for the organization to grow and make an impact on the market. Education level of the customers also plays an important role in online business, developing new software to make selling and buying process simple also plays a role in the development of the organization. Technology is a macro environmental factor, meaning organizations like eBay cannot control or increase the growth of technology in markets like India. So, developing new strategies like building physical existence rather than virtual existence can make a difference, it is not necessary to start a retail market but proving a business centre, where people can come in case of necessary and delivery issues can increase belief of customers on the organization. Providing local language call centres and customers support centres also helps organization to grow in the developing markets. Change is necessary in the present world, increase in globalization and internationalization is forcing organization to change and develop new strategies to gain the markets and customers. Because of increase in competition organizations are changing their products and markets to gain competitive advantage. In one way or another change is coming into the organizations, and managing change is very important as improper manage of change can destroy organization. An American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang | Analysis An American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang | Analysis According to Chun, who has studied the typical Asian American stereotypes and the myth of their success, Asian American descendants have been pressured into assimilating within an inflexible mold of Americanization to avoid the anti-Oriental stereotypes and prejudices of American society (The Myth). Chuns observation indicates that minority youth in the United States are constantly hard pressed by the biased and unequal educational system that is majorly dominated by those who enjoy white privileges. Shim argues in his article, which introduces the history of yellow stereotypes in America since 1800s, that the entertainment industry plays a critical role to enforce and expand racist practices through the false presentation of Asian stereotypes (From Yellow). Based on the strong influence of the media to young generations, stereotypes are extensively imitated and exercised at schools. In American Born Chinese, a graphic novel written by an Asian American immigrant Gene Luen Yang, the author successfully communicates to the audience of unjustified stereotypes faced by Asian American youth that equally share his cultural background at schools (American). Themes Yangs primary message of the novel is to persuade students to overcome racial adversities and accept their true identities. He effectively utilizes pathos in the scenes where everyone dislikes Chin-Kees abnormal behavior and where Jin constantly has to fight against Asian stereotypes to highlight the hardships of acculturation of young generation in America. On the other hand, the implicit message of the novel is to allow educators to notice and seek for solutions on racial discrimination against non-white groups students that discourage their academic motivation and cultural preservation. In light of Yangs primary and secondary messages, the audience can learn that culture is not static or inherent for anyone. Instead, it is reproduced and learned by young generation as an account of evolving and complex progress through educational experience. Yang appeals to the greatest level of audience with three different genres and demonstrate to them the idea that minority youth culture is s haped and distorted in academic environment through the use of stereotyped behaviors, provocative language and ironic caricatures of Chin-Kee in the novel. Yang adopts three genres to targets audience from the general category of those who endeavor to identify their cultural heritage to the non-white minority groups in the American society. He expresses in an interview that, My Chinese heritage informs the way that I am an American (Youtube). These words indicate that Yang wants to draw the attention of Asian American immigrant specifically through the novel because of his academic experience. Nonetheless, the books increasing popularity successfully brought the attention of educators and critics of American power structures. He is able to reach different levels of audience for the reason that multi-culture education reflects the interaction of each individual pupil with the institutional system as well as the more complex economic-political society. Furthermore, Yang uses the comic book as the main genre, for that he regards comics as an individualistic pursuit that is intimate and reflective (Youtube). He also adopts sub-genres of sup erhero fiction and coming-of-age story in the novel to incorporate two different styles of stories that interrelate to each other. Three characters are portrayed by Yang in each story. All of them similarly feel the age to become Americanized with the expense of their original identity. The central characters include the Monkey King, who represents a superhero from the famous Chinese tale and Jin, who transforms himself into a typical white guy Danny to assimilate into American society. Yangs technique to adapt the old tale of Monkey King with some Catholic Elements proves that he successfully attracts not only Chinese American immigrants but also the audience from the dominant white culture. In addition, his own experience is reflected through the coming-of-age story, which persuades the wide range of audience of the novels credibility under the backdrop. In light of these methods, he inspires audience from various minority groups to discover and respect their cultural heritage. Stereotyped behaviors of Chin-Kee and Jin are depicted in the novel to present the distorted minority youth culture. Such students constantly face the hardships to accommodate and acculturate into American society. In anthropological terms, incommensurability refers to the fact that there are certain aspects of one culture that are hard for people from another culture to comprehend. According to American Born Chinese, Yang exaggerates scenes where Chin-Kee and Jin are constantly teased or excluded for the stereotyped behaviors by their white counterparts at school in order to reflect the incommensurable groups from the dominant culture. For instance, all the white students around Chin-Kee widely discuss about the fact that he eats crispy fried cat gizzards with noodle. Furthermore, the little white boy looks down upon Jin, who is introduced by the teacher on the first day of class. His expression very serious and disdainful, the boy insists that, My momma says Chinese people eat dogs . Yang goes on further to make the teacher respond that she thinks Jins family probably abandoned their old habit because they are eager to become like Americans (American Born Chinese).This two scenes indicates that the white students are unconsciously distinguishing between what we eat and what he eats. They fail to understand that this type of food, which they critically comment on, should not contribute to the reason why they regard their culture as more superior. As I have observed, Germans are frenzied about roasted pork feet. Also, Americans eat spam, a type of canned pork regularly. However, people from Islamic culture developed their eating habits that regard pork as dirty and inedible. Thus, the selection of food by people from different cultural backgrounds is idiosyncratic, and it should not be disrespected by anyone, for that otherwise the person automatically denies a part of his or her own culture. In the second scene, Yang intends to emphasize that educators should c ircumvent inequality and stereotypes while using their cultural power to teach students knowledge and the political structure. He arouses the audiences sympathy by presenting the critical stereotypes that the little boy Jin, who barely started his first day at an elementary school, has to experience. Jin not only encountered biased opinions from the teacher, but also the fellow classmates who spread rumors about his unusual relationship with a Japanese girl, Suzy Nakamura. At this point, the fact that white students concluded that Jin would marry Suzy once again implicates the students inability to notice that there are remarkable distinction between Chinese and Japanese culture although they both share the same Asian root. To a larger extent, the dominant groups falsely regard themselves as the mainstream culture and marked off a line between white society and the rest of others. This belief results in a subtraction process of minority youth culture that causes them to question the value of their original culture. Yang depicts the stereotyped opinions of Jins teachers and classmates to infer how academic environment influences Asian American immigrants like Jin to build their cultural identity. They need to constantly struggle between their original Asian blood and new Asian American citizenship. Also, through creating stereotypes from different angles of students and teachers toward Jin and Chin-Kee, Yang is able to persuade the audience that culture is a process that maintains the larger stratified system in American society. For instance, Jin assumes that he is not accepted by the dominant culture because of his racial identity. As a result of the cultural tension, he goes so far in the story as to transform himself into a white guy, Danny. Ironically, he ends up at a Chinese cafà © drinking Boba tea with Wei-Chen, the monkey, in a similar vein, who symbolically transforms into a human being. Jin abandons the American identity that he dreamed about. In this circumstance, the academic envir onment forced Jin to fight against his Chinese background to assimilate into the American society where white people rule the dominant culture. Yang deliberately set up the ending in which Jin ultimately recognizes that he should learn to appreciate his part of Chinese origin. This allows the minority immigrants under the similar context to understand that each culture encompasses unique practices and knowledge. The incommensurability is the product of students engagement in school activates. As a result, Yang shows how interactions among individuals empower the meaning of culture. He intends to emphasize that educators are responsible to inform the significance of culture and clarify the power structures beyond academic competence. Yang enhances the effect of Asian American stereotypes by applying rhetorical skills such as provocative language and ironic caricatures. Readers and Yang himself consider the language in American Born Chinese as unnecessarily crass (Yang, Kartika Review). Yang utilizes this style of language to transfer the idea that biased interrelationship of different cultures is unhealthy and uncivilized in a similar token. Furthermore, the categorized power structure influences younger generation to shape their notions toward a diversity of experience at school. For instance, Timmy, the white boy from Jins elementary school refers to Jin as bucktooth without any hesitation. He does not care what harm he causes Jin. On the other hand, Timmy changes his tone when he calls the other white friend Pansy Boy to a whisper due to his serious demand. Yangs use of transitional language here reflects Timmys perception of his position in the society. He visions white culture as more powerful and privileged , so that he verbally bullying the inferior races and compromise with the kid from his superior group. Lastly, Yang draws caricatures in the novel to symbolically refer to the exaggerated stereotypes that are placed on Asian American immigrants. For instance, Chin-Kee wears outdated clothing and has a physical appearance that looks like underdeveloped human beings. Also, Chin-Kee never changes his outfit throughout the novel and has long hair that only past ancestors do in China. Thus, through combining the Asian American stereotypes throughout the book with rhetorical devices such as language and caricatures, Yang successfully delivers the message that culture is not inherited but instead a process that is learned and shaped by power structures in the society through educational means. It is also described in the article Culture as Disability, written by McDermott and Varenne, that culture reveals not broken person but identifications neatly tuned to the workings of institutions serving political and economic ends. Yang intends to persuade educators that they should start to notice that it is their responsibility to respect each cultural practice and value. Although racial discrimination is hard to extinguish in the society, it is possible to educate young generation to appreciate their cultural heritage while assimilating into the American society. Most importantly, instructors should clarify the opportunity structure under the socio-economic context and ne atly tuned to explain the process of cultural construction. In this fashion, young generation may obtain different perspectives from It is because we are minority groups to We can make a difference because we are no different than people from the dominant culture. Electrical Stimulus in a Frog Muscle: Experiment Electrical Stimulus in a Frog Muscle: Experiment Frogs are keystone species, an essential organism to aquatic ecosystems. They have both terrestrial and aquatic niches as predators and prey and serve as indicator species to assess the response of ecosystems to environmental change. To execute daily locomotion patterns, frogs use skeletal muscles. We wanted to determine the relationship between the strength of the stimulus and the response of the muscle. We also wanted to measure the amplitude of contraction produced in a muscle that is stimulated with repeated pulses delivered at progressively higher frequencies. We hypothesized that increasing stimulus voltage in the gastrocnemius muscle of a frog will result in an increase in stimulation amplitude and that an increase in stimulation frequency at a constant voltage will result in an increase in force generated by the muscle up until a point where it plateaus. We found that our hypotheses were supported and that muscle regulation was via temporal and spatial recruitment. This study is important because it serves as a model for understanding skeletal muscle mechanisms in other organisms including humans. Frogs are widely distributed terrestrial amphibians that inhabit upland and wetland regions, found on all continents of the world except Antarctica. Many frog species, in both larval and adult stages serve as important prey for larger predators including fish, raccoons, snakes and birds of prey (Chalcraft and Resetarits 2003; Auniola and Kauhala 2001). Additionally frogs serve an important role as indicators of environmental stress (King 2010). A review of complex systems in temporary ponds by Wilbur (1997) makes the argument that frogs have two distinct niches, one terrestrial and one aquatic. Wilbur states all frogs with free-living larvae change at metamorphosis from aquatic omnivorous tadpoles to amphibious carnivorous adults. The role of such connections among food webs is a fruitful area for both theoretical and empirical research because the foraging of animals across ectones may be an important biological mechanism linking elements of the mosaics of habitats that form landsca pes. One trait frogs are most known for is locomotion. Frogs typically display two type of locomotion: jumping and swimming. Though frogs are traditionally presented as jump specialists most species also swim (Navas et al. 1999). Frogs exhibit these locomotive behaviors for a variety of reasons including escaping predators, often times by a short set of quick and powerful jumps (Carvalho, Gomes and Navas 2007). Frog locomotion is dependent on muscles, particularly skeletal muscles, which are muscles connected to the skeleton (Marsh and Olson 1998). Skeletal muscles are organized beginning with units called sarcomeres. A sarcomere consists of two opposing vertical Z-line discs each with actin filaments attached. A myosin filament floats between each horizontal actin section. Sarcomeres are connected to each other by Z-lines. One mechanism of muscle contraction begins with the sliding of the actin and myosin filaments. Parts of the myosin, known as myosin heads, bind to the free end of the actin, the end not attached to the Z-line, and pull it one way toward the center of the mysosin, in an accordian-like mechanism. The muscle shortens or contracts because the sarcomeres shorten. The process by which the myosin binds to the actin is called the Cross-Bridge cycle. The binding of the myosin to actin is the trigger for the myosin head to tilt and release an ADP and a P as well as a powerstroke. ATP binds to the myosin head and the myosin releases the actin, in a softening effect. The ATP is hydrolyzed and delivers energy to moved the mysosin head back and it is ready for the next powerstroke. The sarcomeres move closer together by many of these powerstrokes occurring one after the other. In the Cross-Bridge cycle myosin is normally prevented from binding to the actin. Another protein called tropomyosin, which is wrapped around the actin, is in the way to block the actin-myosin binding site. Another protein, troponin, is attached to the tropomyosin and when triggered, moves the troponin away to allow the binding to occur. But what triggers the tropomyosin to move the troponin? The simple answer is calcium and this occurs in a process called excitation-contraction coupling. In excitation-contraction coupling an action potential or electrical stimulus, runs down a T-tubule in the muscle fiber. The stimulus reaches a ryanodyne receptor which opens ion channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a storage space for calcium in the muscle fibers. Once the ion channels are opened, calcium runs out into the cell. For the muscle to relax or return to its original resting position, calcium must be moved back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum by a SERCA pump. Because calcium is being moved against a concentration gradient, this relaxation requires ATP. The SERCA pump lowers calcium levels in the cytosol or cell and when the calcium is taken up again the muscle relaxes. Since muscles are not contracting all the time muscle contraction must be regulated. Regulating the muscles allows frogs to change aspects of locomotive behavior, such as how far a frog is able to jump. Muscle contraction force can be regulated by calcium in three mechanisms: temporal recruitment, in which the firing rate at which individual motor neurons fire is changed; spatial recruitment, in which the number of active motor units is changed; and the length-tension relationship, in which the sarcomere length is changed to generate tension. This study focuses on the force of muscle contraction via temporal and spatial recruitment. In temporal recruitment, the frequency of the action potential is changed, usually increased, so that more calcium is released into the muscle cell. More calcium in the cell results in more tension generated. Another mechanism for the regulation of muscle contraction force is motor unit recruitment, also known as spatial recruitment. A motor unit is comprised of muscle fibers and a motor neuron. There are different amounts of fibers per motor unit. In spatial recruitment the number of active motor units is increased to increase the strength of muscle contraction. More motor units means that more muscle fibers can be stimulated. If only half of the muscle fibers are stimulated, only half the amount of force will be generated. If all of the muscle fibers are stimulated, the maximum amount of force will be generated. We hypothesized that if we increase voltage of an electrical stimulus in a frog muscle we will see an increase in stimulation amplitude and if we increase stimulation frequency at a constant voltage, we will see an increase in force generated by the muscle up until a point where it plateaus. Materials Methods: We used the gastrocnemius muscle of a frog in two experiments. In the first experiment we used a single stimulus, changing the voltage of the stimulus from 0 volts to 2.0 volts. The force of the muscle was recorded. In the second experiment we stimulated the muscle in series of ten using a constant voltage identified in the first experiment. The frequency of the stimuli was progressively increased starting at 0.5 and ending at 30 Hz. Results: Our results showed that as the stimulus increases the amplitude of the muscle twitches increases up until a point where it plateaus. Our results also showed that as the stimulation frequency increases the passive tension of the muscle increase up until a point where it plateaus. Figure 1 shows a normalized graph for the effects of increasing stimulus on the amplitude of muscle twitches in the gastrocnemius muscle of a frog. The x-axis is the recorded stimulus in volts and the y-axis is the amplitude of the twitches (displayed as a percentage of the maximum). The graph shows that as the stimulus increases the amplitude of the muscle twitches increases up until a point where it plateaus. Table 1 shows a set of group data from the first experiment, in which amplitude and times of muscle twitches were generated by stimulus pulses of different amplitudes. As in Figure 1, Table 1 shows that as the stimulus increases the amplitude of the muscle twitches increases up until a point where it plateaus. The contraction time and latency period remains largely unchanged with changing stimulus amplitude. Figure 2 shows a normalized graph for the effects of increasing stimulation frequency on the passive tension in the gastrocnemius muscle of a frog. The x-axis is the stimulus frequency in hertz and the y-axis is the passive tension in the muscle (displayed as a percentage of the maximum). The graph shows that as the stimulation frequency increases the passive tension of the muscle increase up until a point where it plateaus. Table 2 shows a set of group data from the second experiment, in which the strength of muscle contraction was examined during mechanical summation and tetanus. As in Figure 2, Table 2 shows that as the stimulus increases the amplitude of the muscle twitches increases up until a point where it plateaus. The amplitude of the first twitch remains largely unchanged with changing stimulus amplitude. Discussion: The data shows that the direct electrical stimulation produces contraction of the muscle via motor units. A little bit of force is generated when a few of these motor units are being used and a lot of force is generated when lots of motor units are being used. The muscle does not respond to the low stimulus voltages because the electrical stimulus is not directly touching the muscle, it is touching the surrounding connective tissue. The low stimulus voltages are not strong enough to penetrate the tissue. As noted in Figure 1 and Table 1 the amplitude of the muscle response increases with increasing stimulus voltages. This is so because more and more of the muscle mass is stimulated as the voltages increase. At high stimulus voltages, the muscle response reaches maximum amplitude. The muscle response does not continue to increase with increasing stimulus voltages because the muscle is already functioning at the best of its ability. The muscle cells have reached the point where all the troponins are activated by calcium. Releasing more calcium into the cell will not result in any more tension generated, as the system is already working at its maximum capacity. Latency is the interval between stimulus and a response to the stimulus, here meaning muscle contraction. Over this period, the action potential sweeps across the cell membrane of the muscle cell and the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions. The muscle fiber does not produce tension during the latent period, because the contraction cycle has yet to begin. The latency period in this study was constant at 0.025 seconds.This result been found by anyone else and it seems does not vary among other species, since it is roughly the same for humans (Hamilton and Osborn 1977). Since contraction amplitude is dependent upon the increases in concentration and persistence of intracellular calcium, the question of why the contraction amplitudes of single twitches are the same is raised. This can be explained because the same amount of calcium is being put in for the same repeated event. As noted in Table 2, the amplitude of the first twitch seems to be constant (value). This can be explained because the muscle is utilizing the same amount of calcium and is thus generating the same amount of force. Tetanus is the complete contraction of a muscle. Tetanus requires high stimulus frequencies. This tells us that the calcium re-uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum is slower than the original release. The rate of muscle relaxation is much slower after tetanus than after a single twitch because more calcium needs to be re-taken up and it takes longer to get all the extra added calcium back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. A study on jumping bullfrogs by Marsh and Roberts reveals two points of interest: first, frogs jump farther than they should, considering only the force their muscles are able to generate. Second, muscles are able to do the most work when they contract slowly, however frog jumping involves a very rapid movement. They explain that by separating the performance of muscular work from the application of mechanical work to the body, a catapult-like mechanism, which works by loading elastic elements into the limbs prior to initiating a jump, overcomes the constraints of skeletal muscle function (Marsh and Roberts 2003). Another study by Aerts and Nauwelaerts (2006) indicates that by taking more small jumps as opposed to fewer larger jumps, frogs can increase their flexibility in movement because they would be able to change direction during the forward movement part jumping. Theoretically this means they would spend less time in the same spot during landing and recovery of the jumping cycle, which makes them more likely to be snatched by a predator. Frogs have physiological mechanisms that have enabled their muscles to generate enough force for jumping and swimming locomotion including changing the frequency of the action potential and increasing the number of active motor units. As mentioned before, frogs are a keystone species, meaning other organisms rely on it and not always directly in a predator-prey relationship. Without frogs, food webs would collapse and lead to the demise of many other species and potentially entire ecosystems. This study is important because it serves as a model for understanding skeletal muscle mechanisms in other organisms including humans.

The Effects of Internet Addiction to Lifestyle and Dietary Behavior

Nutrition Research and Practice (Nutr Res Pract) 2010;4(1):51-57 DOI: 10. 4162/nrp. 2010. 4. 1. 51 The effects of Internet addiction on the lifestyle and dietary behavior of Korean adolescents Yeonsoo Kim *, Jin Young Park *, Sung Byuk Kim , In-Kyung Jung , Yun Sook Lim and Jung-Hyun Kim 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 § School of Human Ecology, Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Louisiana Tech University, LA 71272 USA Graduate school of Education, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea 3 Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, Seoul 110-793, Korea 4 Department of Home Economics Education, Chung-Ang University, Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea 5 Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea Abstract We performed this study to examine lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior based on the level of Internet addiction of Korean adolescents. Data were collected from 853 Korean junior high school students. The level of Internet addiction was determined based on the Korean Internet addiction self-scale short form for youth, and students were classified as high-risk Internet users, potential-risk Internet users, and no risk Internet users. The associations between the students’ levels of Internet addiction and lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior were analyzed using a chi-square test. Irregular bedtimes and the use of alcohol and tobacco were higher in high-risk Internet users than no risk Internet users. Moreover, in high-risk Internet users, irregular dietary behavior due to the loss of appetite, a high frequency of skipping meals, and snacking might cause imbalances in nutritional intake. Diet quality in high-risk Internet users was also worse than in potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users. We demonstrated in this study that high-risk Internet users have inappropriate dietary behavior and poor diet quality, which could result in stunted growth and development. Therefore, nutrition education targeting high-risk Internet users should be conducted to ensure proper growth and development. Key Words: Internet addiction, dietary behavior, diet quality, adolescents Introduction8) The Internet has become an important tool for social interaction, information, and entertainment [1]. However, as the Internet has moved into homes, schools, Internet cafes, and businesses, the prevalence of Internet addiction has been increasing rapidly. Internet addiction is characterized as poorly controlled Internet use, and can lead to impulse-control disorders [2]. Recently, Internet addiction, especially among adolescents, has been recognized as an important social issue in various countries because of the high prevalence of depression, aggressive behavior, psychiatric symptoms, and interpersonal problems associated with this addiction [3,4]. The incidence of Internet addiction in adolescents was estimated to be approximately 11% in China [2], 8% in Greece [5], and 18. 4% in Korea [1]. Adolescents are more vulnerable to Internet addiction than adults, and the social performance, psychology, and lifestyle habits of Internet addicts can be affected by this addiction [6]. Numerous cross-sectional studies have shown that Internet addiction has an adverse effect on several lifestyle-related factors in adolescents; it can result in irregular dietary habits, extended periods of time spent on the Internet [7], physical inactivity, short duration of sleep [2], and increased use of alcohol and tobacco [2,8,9]. Some studies have reported that the change in lifestylerelated factors caused by heavy Internet use could have an adverse impact on the growth and development of Internet addicts [2,7]. Nutritional status also plays a crucial role in growth and development during adolescence. Several studies have shown that malnutrition or unbalanced nutritional intake can reduce weight gain and decrease leg length in adolescents [9,10]. Optimal nutrition is therefore important for adolescents to grow and develop properly. Moreover, once dietary habits are formed during childhood, they tend to be carried on throughout adulthood, thus teaching adolescents to develop healthy eating habits is of critical importance [11]. Numerous studies have showed associations between Internet addiction and mental health problems, such as depression and psychiatric symptoms, among adolescents. However, information on the effects of Internet addiction on the dietary behavior of * Yeonsoo Kim and Jin Young Park are Co-first authors.  § Corresponding Author: Jung-Hyun Kim, Tel. 82-2-820-5278, Fax. 82-2-817-7304, Email. [email  protected] ac. kr Received: November 17, 2009, Revised: February 16, 2010, Accepted: February 16, 2010 ? 2010 The Korean Nutrition Society and the Korean Society of Community Nutrition This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons. rg/licenses/by-nc/3. 0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 52 The effect of Internet addiction on dietary behavior adolescents is limited. Therefore, in this study, we examined the dietary behavior of Korean adolescents according to their level of Internet addiction. income per month, and the education level of the parents. A lifestyle habit questionnaire assessed the regularity of bedtime, sleep disturbance, and the use of alcohol and tobacco. Dietary behaviors and diet quality The dietary behavior questionnaire assessed recent changes in meal size, appetite, eating speed, frequency and reasons for skipping meals, and the frequency, type, and reasons for snacking. Diet quality was assessed by a 10-item mini-dietary assessment index. The mini-dietary assessment index was used to assess overall dietary quality based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and Food Tower for Koreans [13]. This index includes four food groups that should be consumed, four food groups that limited amounts of should be consumed, and two items regarding varied and regular diet. Responses to food items of which sufficient amounts should be consumed were reported using a 5-point Likert scale where 1=seldom, 3=sometimes, and 5=always. Responses to food items of which limited quantities should be consumed were also reported using a 5-point Likert scale where 1=always, 3=sometimes, and 5=seldom. The maximum possible score for diet quality is 50. In this study, diet quality was defined as â€Å"good† if the total score was greater than or equal to 30 [14]. Statistical analyses All analyses were performed with a significance level of ? =0. 05 using the SPSS software package version 12. (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Relationships between levels of Internet addiction and socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and dietary behavior were analyzed using the chi-square test. The relationship between dietary quality and level of Internet addiction based on the self-scale rating system were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s mul tiple range test for multiple comparisons. Subjects and Methods Subjects This cross-sectional study included 1,000 adolescents from grades 7 through 9 living in Seoul, Korea. Of 1,000 participants, 800 students were recruited from eight junior high schools. The remaining 200 subjects were recruited from the Korean Youth Counseling Institute (KYCI), where they had been diagnosed and were being treated as Internet addicts. The study was conducted from October 2008 to November 2008. The Institutional Review Board of Chung-Ang University (Seoul, Korea) deemed this study exempt from the requirement for informed consent. Of the 1,000 surveys administered and collected, 147 were excluded due to incomplete responses and difficulty in assessing the level of Internet addiction, thus a total of 853 samples were analyzed in this study. Korean Internet addiction test (KS scale) Internet addiction was evaluated using the Korean version of the Internet addiction self-scale short form (KS scale) for youth, which was developed by the Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion [12]. In brief, the KS scale for adolescents is a 20-item self-report questionnaire, consisting of six core components: disturbance of daily routines, self-esteem, withdrawal, virtual interpersonal relationship, deviant behavior, and tolerance. Response to each question is on 4-point Likert scale where 1 corresponds to â€Å"not at all†, 2 corresponds to â€Å"sometimes†, 3 corresponds to â€Å"frequently†, and 4 corresponds to â€Å"always†. The level of Internet addiction was categorized as either high-risk, potential-risk, or no risk based on the total score and the score for the three components of disturbance of daily routines, withdrawal, and tolerance. Subjects were classified as high-risk Internet users if their total score was the same or greater than 52, and/or if the score for disturbance of daily routine, withdrawal, and tolerance was greater than 16, 10, and 12, respectively. Subjects were classified as potential-risk Internet users if their total score was greater than or equal to 48 and less than 52 and/or if their score for disturbance of daily routine, withdrawal, and tolerance was greater than 14, 9, and 11, respectively. Subjects were classified as no risk Internet users if their total score was less than 48. Subject characteristics and lifestyle patterns The following socio-demographic characteristics of subjects were used in this analysis: age at the time of recruitment, family Results General characteristics of subjects The general characteristics of the participants and the relationships between the level of Internet addiction and general characteristics are provided in Table 1. Subjects were between the ages of 13 and 15 years with a mean age of 14. 0 years. More boys were high-risk Internet users than girls (31. 4% vs. 14. 0%), and more girls were no risk Internet users than boys (74. 7% vs. 58. 9%). Younger adolescents were significantly more likely to be highrisk Internet users than older adolescents (P < 0. 001). Household monthly income was significantly related to the level of Internet addiction; adolescents from households with a low monthly income (< 1,000 K won and 1,000 K-1,999 K won) were more likely to be high-risk Internet users (57. 5% and 31. 7%, respectively) Yeonsoo Kim et al. Table 1. Subject characteristics based on level of Internet addiction High risk (n=186) Gender Boys Girls Age (years) 13 14 15 Monthly income (Korean Won)2) < 1,000K 1,000K-1,999K 2,000K-2,999K 3,000K-3,999K ? 4,000K 53 Potential risk (n=90) 37 (9. 7) 53 (11. 3) 15 (7. 0) 46 (14. 5) 29 (9. 0) 3 (7. 5) 15 (12. 5) 25 (15. 8) 14 (7. 7) 28 (10. ) 28 (9. 7) 37 (10. 5) 17 (15. 2) 1 (4. 8) 41 (10. 4) 31 (10. 1) 9 (17. 3) 3 (13. 1) No risk (n=577) 225 (58. 9) 352 (74. 7) 126 (59. 2) 213 (67. 2) 238 (73. 7) 14 (35. 0) 67 (55. 8) 98 (62. 0) 139 (76. 4) 205 (74. 3) 183 (63. 1) 254 (72. 2) 78 (69. 6) 8 (30. 1) 261 (66. 2) 220 (71. 9) 36 (69. 2) 9 (39. 1) Total (n=853) 382 (100. 0) 471 (100. 0) 213 (100. 0) 317 (100. 0) 323 (100. 0) 40 (100. 0) 120 (100. 0) 158 (100. 0) 182 (100. 0) 276 (100. 0) 290 (100. 0) 352 (100. 0) 112 (100. 0) 21 (100. 0) 394 (100. 0) 306 (100. 0) 52 (100. 0) 23 (100. 0) P-value < 0. 001 120 (31. 4)1) 66 (14. 0) 72 (33. 8) 58 (18. 3) 56 (17. ) 23 (57. 5) 38 (31. 7) 35 (22. 2) 29 (15. 9) 43 (15. 6) 79 (27. 2) 61 (17. 3) 17 (15. 2) 12 (57. 1) 92 (22. 4) 55 (18. 0) 7 (13. 5) 11 (47. 8) < 0. 001 < 0. 001 Father’s education High school graduate & under College graduate Graduate school graduate Others Mother’s education High school graduate & under College graduate Graduate school graduate Others 1) < 0. 001 0. 008 N (%) 2) 1,250 Korean won = 1US dollar Table 2. KS-scale scores based on the level of Internet addiction Components Disturbance of daily routine Self-esteem Withdrawal Virtual interpersonal relationship Deviant behavior Tolerance Total 1) 2) Maximum score 24 4 16 12 8 16 80 High risk (n=186) 14. 97  ± 3. 21 1)a2) a a Potential risk (n=90) 13. 90  ± 3. 25 1. 69  ± 0. 84 4. 56  ± 1. 89 3. 93  ± 1. 46 8. 76  ± 2. 64 5. 22  ± 2. 21 b b c No risk (n=577) 9. 32  ± 2. 21 1. 32  ± 0. 61 5. 49  ± 1. 50 3. 78  ± 1. 41 2. 87  ± 1. 07 5. 90  ± 2. 04 c c Total (n=853) 11. 04  ± 3. 59 1. 60  ± 0. 85 6. 88  ± 2. 82 4. 62  ± 2. 58 3. 48  ± 1. 55 7. 23  ± 3. 07 34. 90  ± 11. 48 2. 41  ± 0. 94 7. 23  ± 2. 54 10. 56  ± 2. 59 5. 16  ± 1. 53 b c c c c a a a a b b b b 10. 61  ± 2. 97 50. 95  ± 8. 41 41. 06  ± 5. 29 28. 69  ± 6. 36 Mean  ± S. D Values with different superscript letters within a row are significantly different after Duncan’s multiple range test (P < 0. 05). than adolescents from households with a higher monthly income. Adolescents from households with high monthly incomes (3,000K-3,999K won and ? 4,000K won) were more likely to be no risk Internet users (76. 4% and 74. 3%, respectively). Parents’ educational status also affected the level of Internet addiction. High-risk Internet users had parents whose highest level of education was high school graduation or less (27. 2% in father and 22. 4% in mother, respectively). In contrast, a high proportion of no risk Internet users had parents who were college graduates (72. 2% in father and 71. 9% in mother, respectively). KS-scale score The total KS-scale score and the scores of the six components of the KS-scale are presented in Table 2. High-risk Internet users had significantly higher total KS-scale scores and scores for the six main components than potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users (P < 0. 05). Lifestyle patterns Lifestyle patterns, including bedtime, sleep disturbance, alcohol use, and tobacco use according to the level of Internet addiction are shown in Table 3. No risk Internet users had regular bedtime patterns (10. 4% always had a regular bedtime and 41. 8% often had a regular bedtime) while high-risk Internet users complained of irregular bedtime patterns (13. 6% reported often irregular bedtimes and 11. 4% reported always irregular bedtimes). Both high- and potential-risk Internet users suffered from sleep disturbances (81. 1% and 76. 7%, respectively). Similarly, 66% of 54 The effect of Internet addiction on dietary behavior Table 5. Snacking patterns based on the level of Internet addiction P-value Skipping breakfast 20 (10. 9)1) 15 (16. ) 49 (26. 6) 60 (10. 4) 95 (11. 2) < 0. 001 Yes No Skipping Lunch Yes No Skipping Dinner Yes No Oversleep No appetite Indigestion Snacking before a meal Weight loss Saving money Lack of time Habit Others ? 3 times/day Table 3. Lifestyle patterns based on the level of Internet addiction High risk (n=186) Bedtime Always regular Often regular 25 (27. 8) 241 (41. 8) 315 (37. 0) 30 (33. 3) 229 (39. 7) 328 (38. 5) 14 (15. 6) 6 (6. 7) 32 (5. 5) 15 (2. 6) 71 (8. 3) 42 (4. 9) Potential risk (n=90) No risk (n=577) Total (n=853) High risk (n=186) Potential risk (n=90) No risk (n=577) Total (n=853) P-value 0. 683 88 (47. 3) 1) 43 (48. 3) 228 (40. 1) 359 (42. 6) 46 (51. 7) 340 (59. 9) 484 (57. 4) 0. 177 6 (6. 8) 34 (6. 0) 56 (6. 7) 0. 049 98 (52. 7) 16 (8. 6) Neither regular or 69 (37. 5) irregular Often irregular Always irregular Sleep disturbance Yes No Alcohol use Yes No Tobacco use Yes No 1) 25 (13. 6) 21 (11. 4) 170 (91. 4) 82 (93. 2) 531 (94. 0) 783 (93. 3) 38 (20. 4) 15 (17. 1) 80 (14. 1) 133 (17. 0) 150 (81. 1) 69 (76. 7) 278 (48. 3) 497 (58. 4) < 0. 001 35 (18. 9) 21 (23. 3) 298 (51. 7) 354 (41. 6) 148 (79. 6) 73 (82. 9) 486 (85. 9) 707 (82. 8) 49 (28. 3) 34 (19. 7) 6 (3. ) 8 (4. 6) 10 (5. 6) 2 (2. 9) 25 (14. 5) 18 (10. 4) 18 (10. 4) 29 (15. 8) 51 (27. 7) 86 (55. 5) 4 (2. 6) 21 (13. 5) 22 (26. 2) 112 (21. 3) 183 (23. 4) 20 (23. 8) 122 (23. 2) 176 (22. 5) 6 (7. 1) 5 (6. 0) 8 (9. 5) 0 (0. 0) 6 (7. 1) 7 (8. 3) 13 (14. 4) 29 (5. 5) 21 (4. 0) 38 (7. 2) 2 (0. 4) 40 (7. 6) 44 (8. 4) 55 (9. 7) 41 (5. 2) 34 (4. 3) 56 (7. 2) 7 (0. 9) 64 (8. 2) 69 (8. 8) 97 (11. 5) 0. 004 0. 026 R easons for meal skipping 123 (66. 5) 58 (64. 4) 252 (43. 7) 433 (50. 8) < 0. 001 62 (33. 5) 97 (52. 4) 88 (47. 6) 32 (35. 6) 325 (56. 3) 419 (49. 2) 28 (31. 1) 90 (15. 6) 215 (25. 2) < 0. 01 62 (68. 9) 897 (84. 4) 637 (74. 8) N (%) Table 4. Recent changes in dietary habits based on the level of Internet addiction High risk (n=186) Changes in meal size Increased Decreased No change Changes in appetite Worse Bad No change Better Do not know Fast Average Slow Irregular 1) 10 (11. 9) 118 (22. 4) 153 (19. 5) Potential risk (n=90) No risk (n=577) Total (n=853) P-value Frequency of snacking 1-2/day 104 (56. 5) 65 (72. 2) 396 (69. 8) 565 (67. 2) 12 (13. 3) 116 (20. 5) 179 (21. 3) 50 (60. 2) 239 (47. 2) 375 (50. 4) 4 (4. 8) 8 (9. 6) 38 (7. 5) 46 (6. 2) 73 (14. 4) 102 (13. 7) 0. 245 4 (29. 0)1) 29 (32. 2) 164 (28. 6) 247 (29. 1) 62 (33. 3) 70 (37. 6) 25 (13. 4) 30 (16. 1) 72 (38. 7) 17 (9. 1) 42 (22. 6) 64 (34. 4) 71 (38. 2) 32 (17. 2) 19 (10. 2) 20 (22. 2) 127 (22. 2) 209 (24. 6) 41 (45. 6) 282 (49. 2) 393 (46. 3) 7 (7. 8) 11 (12. 2) 8 (8. 9) 21 (3. 7) 53 (6. 2) 0. 019 None Snack items Confectionery Soda 0. 001 80 (13. 9) 121 (14. 2) 78 (13. 6) 103 (12. 1) 43 (47. 8) 254 (44. 2) 369 (43. 4) 21 (23. 3) 142 (24. 7) 205 (24. 1) 37 (41. 1) 173 (30. 0) 274 (32. 2) 33 (36. 7) 271 (47. 0) 375 (44. 0) 11 (12. 2) 109 (18. 9) 152 (17. 8) 9 (10. 0) 23 (4. 0) 51 (6. 0) 0. 002 Ttokbokki, rameon, fried foods Fast foods Fruits Milk Others Hunger Lack of time for a meal Habit Boredom Social event Others 1) 12 (7. 7) 14 (9. 0) 15 (9. 7) 3 (1. 9) 86 (46. 7) 10 (5. 4) 28 (15. 2) 33 (17. 9) 17 (9. 2) 10 (5. 4) 3 (3. 6) 9 (10. 8) 8 (9. 6) 1 (1. 2) 26 (5. 1) 61 (12. 1) 55 (10. 9) 14 (2. 8) 41 (5. 5) 84 (11. 3) 78 (10. 5) 18 (2. 4) 0. 057 Changes in eating speed Reasons for snacking 46 (51. 1) 319 (55. 6) 451 (53. 2) 1 (1. 1) 22 (24. 4) 14 (15. 6) 5 (5. 6) 2 (2. 2) 30 (5. 2) 41 (4. 8) N (%) 79 (13. 8) 129 (15. 2) 98 (17. 1) 145 (17. 1) 34 (5. 9) 14 (2. 4) 56 (6. 6) 26 (3. 1) igh-risk Internet users and 64% of potential-risk Internet users had used alcohol. Fifty-two percent of high-risk Internet users had used tobacco while only 15. 6% of no risk Internet users had used tobacco. Dietary behavior and diet quality Recent changes in eating habits among adolescents are provided in Table 4. More of high-risk Internet users answered that their dietary habits had been chan ged to have small meal sizes, a poor appetite, and irregular eating speeds than no risk Internet users (P=0. 019, 0. 001, and 0. 002, respectively). High-risk Internet N (%) users had a high prevalence of skipping dinner (Table 5). High-risk Internet users snacked frequently, often snacking more than three times per day (15. 8% vs. 9. 7 % for no risk Internet users). Favorite snacks and reasons for snacking were not significantly different among adolescents based on levels of Internet addiction. Diet quality based on levels of Internet addiction is shown Yeonsoo Kim et al. Table 6. Diet quality based on the level of Internet addiction High risk (n=186) Potential risk (n=90) No risk (n=577) 3. 40  ± 1. 52b Total (n=853) 3. 25  ± 1. 58 1) 55 I eat more than one 2. 72  ± 1. 722)a3) 3. 36  ± 1. 36b serving of milk or dairy products every day. I eat several servings of meat, fish, egg, bean, or tofu every day. I eat vegetables and Kimchi every meal. I eat one serving of fruit or fruit juice every day. I eat three meals a day on a regular basis. I eat a variety of foods every day. I eat fried or stir-fried foods most of the time. I eat fatty meat most of the time. I add table salt or soy sauce to foods most of the time. I eat ice cream, cake, and/or drink soda between meals. Total 1) 2. 86  ± 1. 50a 3. 04  ± 1. 48a 3. 35  ± 1. 41b 3. 21  ± 1. 44 2. 83  ± 1. 63a 2. 91  ± 1. 69a 3. 11  ± 1. 48ab 3. 43  ± 1. 45b 3. 38  ± 1. 49b 3. 45  ± 1. 55b 3. 26  ± 1. 51 3. 32  ± 1. 9 2. 58  ± 1. 56a 2. 98  ± 1. 63b 3. 32  ± 1. 59c 3. 12  ± 1. 62 2. 86  ± 1. 60a 2. 85  ± 1. 57a 2. 98  ± 1. 48a 2. 78  ± 1. 42a 3. 38  ± 1. 45b 3. 35  ± 1. 45b 3. 16  ± 1. 42 3. 18  ± 1. 49 2. 72  ± 1. 50a 3. 26  ± 1. 67a 2. 73  ± 1. 50a 3. 07  ± 1. 59a 3. 28  ± 1. 56b 3. 53  ± 1. 52b 3. 10  ± 1. 58 3. 42  ± 1. 57 2. 80  ± 1. 72a 2. 80  ± 1. 50a 3. 29  ± 1. 54b 3. 13  ± 1. 59 28. 38  ± 6. 34a 30. 22  ± 6. 79b 33. 75  ± 6. 01c 32. 20  ± 6. 57 Diet quality was assessed by using 10-item mini-dietary assessment index developed by Kim [14]. Mean  ± SD 3) Values with different superscript letters within a row are significantly different (P < 0. 5) after Duncan’s multiple range test. 2) in Table 6. The diet quality of high-risk Internet users was significantly lower than that of potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users, respectively (P < 0. 05). Discussion In this study, we demonstrated that high-risk Internet users eat smaller meals, have less of an appetite, skip meals, and snack more than their potential-risk and normal-risk Internet user counterparts. Moreover, the diet quality of high-risk Internet users is poorer than that of potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users. The frequency of skipping dinner in high-risk Internet users was significantly higher than that in no risk Internet users. This finding is consistent with a study by Kim and Chun that reported a high incidence of meal skipping in Internet addicts [7]. The high frequency of skipping dinner could be related to snacking; more frequent snacking was observed in high-risk Internet users than no risk Internet users. Savige et al. also reported that adolescent heavy snackers skipped dinner more frequently than their non- or light-snacker adolescent counterparts [15]. Moreover, the favorite snacks of our participants were confectionery and fast food, which are nutritionally poor foods with high calories provided by fats and simple sugars but with few other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Thus high-risk Internet users have improper dietary behaviors that could impact their growth and development. The quality of the diet of high-risk Internet users as measured using a mini-dietary assessment index was poor. The mini-dietary assessment index that we used is a Korean version of the Healthy Eating Index in which scores over 30 indicate a good quality diet. In high-risk Internet users, the average total score was 28. 38, which indicates an â€Å"inappropriate† diet quality. High-risk Internet users had the lowest meal regularity score, reflected by a higher rate of skipping dinner in high-risk Internet users than no risk Internet users. Moreover, high-risk Internet users did not consume enough milk and dairy products, meat and fish, and fruits and vegetables compared with no risk Internet users. Proper intake of milk and dairy products as major sources of calcium during childhood is crucial for achieving optimal peak bone mass and maintaining and repairing bone tissue [16]. In addition, low consumption of fruits and vegetables in high-risk Internet users suggests low intake of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in these individuals. Vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in energy production, maintenance of bone health, adequate immune function, and protection against oxidative stress [17,18]. Several studies have shown that proper fruit and vegetable intake can prevent health problems such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases [19-21]. High-risk Internet users not only consumed too little of the recommended food groups; they consumed more than the recommended daily quantities of fatty foods, fried foods, salt, and foods high in simple sugars. High fat and simple sugar intake increase the chance of being overweight or obese. Obese children and adolescents can have various adverse health outcomes, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome [22-24]. Furthermore, obese children have a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality when they reach adulthood [22,23]. The diet of high-risk Internet users, though it may meet their energy requirements, is lacking in nutritional value, and may therefore not support the growth spurt during adolescence and may cause nutrition-related health problems. High-risk Internet users drank and smoked more and had a poorer quality diet and higher frequency of meal skipping than no risk Internet users. Results from two cross-sectional studies on Korean high school students [8] and Taiwanese high school students [2] found a strong association between Internet addiction and high use of alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco companies use the Internet to promote and advertise their products by using themes and icons of youth popular culture, games and contests, and commercially-sponsored websites and homepages [25]. Therefore, because high-risk Internet users are more likely to be exposed to tobacco and alcohol advertisements, 56 The effect of Internet addiction on dietary behavior 4. Seo M, Kang HS, Yom YH. Internet addiction and interpersonal problems in Korean adolescents. Comput Inform Nurs 2009;27: 226-33. 5. Siomos KE, Dafouli ED, Braimiotis DA, Mouzas OD, Angelopoulos NV. Internet addiction among Greek adolescent students. Cyberpsychol Behav 2008;11:653-7. 6. Ha JH, Kim SY, Bae SC, Bae S, Kim H, Sim M, Lyoo IK, Cho SC. Depression and Internet addiction in adolescents. Psychopa thology 2007;40:424-30. 7. Kim JS, Chun BC. Association of Internet addiction with health promotion lifestyle profile and perceived health status in adolescents. J Prev Med Public Health 2005;38:53-60. 8. Choi K, Son H, Park M, Han J, Kim K, Lee B, Gwak H. Internet overuse and excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents. Psychiatry Clin Neuosci 2009;63:455-62. 9. Gunnell DJ, Smith GD, Frankel SJ, Kemp M, Peters TJ. Socioeconomic and dietary influences on leg length and trunk length in childhood: a reanalysis of the Carnegie survey of diet and health in prewar Britain (1937-1939). Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 1998;12:96-113. 10. Sachar RK, Singh H, Soni RK, Singh WP, Bhatia RC, Raizada N, Singh B. A cross-sectional study of growth parameters of rural adolescent girls of Punjab. Indian J Matern Child Health 1997;8:21-5. 11. Vadiveloo M, Zhu L, Quatromoni PA. Diet and physical activity patterns of school-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109: 145-51. 12. Kim DI, Chung YJ, Lee EA, Kim DM, Cho YM. Development of Internet addiction proneness scale-short form (KS scale). The Korean Jounal of Counseling 2008;9:1703-22. 13. The Korean Nutrition Society. Dietary reference intakes for Koreans. Seoul: KokJin Co. ;2005. 14. Kim WY, Cho MS, Lee HS. Development and validation of mini dietary assessment index for Koreans. The Korean Journal of Nutrition 2003;36:83-92. 15. Savige G, Macfarlane A, Ball K, Worsley A, Crawford D. Snacking behaviors of adolescents and their association with skipping meals. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2007;4:36. 16. Petrie HJ, Stover EA, Horswill CA. Nutritional concerns for the child and adolescent competitior. Nutrition 2004;20:620-31. 17. Wardlaw GM, Hampl JS. Perspectives in Nutrition. New York: McGraw-Hill International Co. ; 2007. p. 295-463. 18. Omenn GS. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) as cancerpreventive agents. IARC Sci Publ 1996;139:33-45. 19. Davis EM, Cullen KW, Watson KB, Konarik M, Radcliffe J. A fresh fruit and vegetable program improves high school students’ consumption of fresh produce. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:1227-31. 20. Lorson BA, Melgar-Quinonez HR, Taylor CA. Correlates of fruit and vegetable intakes in US children. J Am Diet Assoc 2009; 109:474-8. 21. Miriran P, Noori N, Zavareh MB, Azizi F. Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Metabolism 2009;58:460-8. 22. Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W, Newman WP, Tracy RE, Wattigney WA. Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. The Bogalusa Heart Study. N Engl J Med 1998;338:1650-6. 23. Freedman DS, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics they are more likely to drink and smoke than other Internet users. Furthermore, high frequency of use of tobacco and alcohol can exacerbate diet-related problems, because smoking and drinking are negatively associated with diet quality and dietary behaviors such as meal regularity [26,27]. High-risk Internet users reported more irregular sleep patterns and more episodes of sleep disturbance than no risk Internet users. This is consistent with a previous study of Korean adolescents that showed that Internet addiction was associated with insomnia, apnea, and nightmare [8]. In addition, sleep disturbance could increase the risk of mental health problems as well as substance abuse [6,28,29,30]. Hence, high-risk Internet users are more likely to experience physical and mental health problems. This study has some limitations. First, this study was a cross-sectional study, therefore we could not confirm causal associations between Internet addiction and dietary behavior. Second, the questionnaire was self-reported. It is therefore possible that some of the adolescents may not have admitted to using alcohol and tobacco due to social restrictions, even though this study was anonymous. High-risk Korean adolescent Internet users had improper dietary behavior and a poorer diet quality than their no risk Internet counterparts. To ensure that the growth and development of high-risk Internet users is not adversely impacted, their diets should be supplemented with the nutrients that they are lacking. Interventions to improve both dietary behavior and treat Internet addiction may have synergistic health benefits. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that children should be educated as to what a balanced diet and optimum physical activity routine is to remain healthy and grow. Furthermore, the government should take an active role in designing and evaluating Internet addiction-related health intervention strategies. 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