Boomtown Girl Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Boomtown Girl - Assignment Example She was also the youngest in the class. Her viewpoint was often unwavering and even though she tended to have a negative view of things, the narrator describes it as a self-defensive mechanism. When they were away from each other, Ma Li and the narrator exchanged letters, as this is how they kept in touch. The narrator pays close attention to Ma Li and appears to have a special interest in her. While working with a jewelry factory in Shenzhen, she registered a positive trend; her salary grew by over 100 %, she entered a serious relationship and her character grew more apprehensive and bold. She is seen standing up to her boss and eventually quitting the job to become an English teacher at the nursery school level. As the plot unfolds, the narrator goes to visit Ma Li at Shenzhen where they bonded for a while. The narrator is seemingly impressed by the progress Ma Li was making especially the fact that ‘she was doing well’ in the narrator’s closing remarks. As the plot unfolds, her character transforms and she becomes more confident. The narrator notes that much of her shyness had faded away as is evident in the way she stands against her boss after breaking curfew for which she was not apologetic at all. Likewise, she was becoming more responsible. She helped her family make ends meet especially by designating a portion of her salary towards paying school fees for one of her siblings. As the narrator writes, the newfound sense of responsibility, as evidenced from her growing obligation towards family, had given Ma Li a novel air of maturity. She was becoming more mature as she entered into a relationship with her boyfriend Gao Ming and started living together. She also felt responsible for her fellow workers and she often spent time with them when they felt lonely. During her college years, the narrator notes that Ma Li was not entirely social with other students (Hessler 3). She often secluded herself and had

Journalists influence the news Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Journalists influence the news - Assignment Example â€Å"The production, presentation, and consumption of visual messages in all manner of media can be justifiably sliced in separate technological, historical, cultural and critical perspectives. The requirements for theory building at each stage are different† (Elliott & Lester, 2002). And while it is recognized that â€Å"Photography is the only ‘language’ understood in all parts of the world, and bridging all nations and cultures† (Helmut Gernsheim cited in Elliott & Lester, 2002), it is also acknowledged that â€Å"photographs supply information without having a language of their own. Photographs quote rather than translate from reality† (John Berger cited in Elliott & Lester, 2002). The difficulty arises from the variety of social, political and cultural approaches that can be taken in the interpretation of an image. Added to this is the greater ability of photographers and photojournalists to manipulate images in many different ways as a means o f achieving the image sought. In determining the ethics involved in the decisions made by photojournalists and their editors regarding whether or not to print a particular image, then, it is necessary to take into consideration the â€Å"intent of the image creator and the not-so-blank canvas of the image consumer† (Elliott & Lester, 2002) as these various approaches come into play. The question of ethics is often confused with other photographic considerations, such as aesthetics or etiquette. â€Å"A question that is truly ethical deserves a response that addresses the human cost† (Elliott & Lester, 2002). The use of a particular image that is likely to cause a great deal of pain, for example, must be justified not on the concept of its beauty or interest level – an aesthetic concern – but rather on whether or not the display of this image is necessary to present

Understanding consumer behaviour attitudes towards advertising

Understanding consumer behaviour attitudes towards advertising Total 2010 UK advertising expenditure amounted to 14.5 billion. Of this, more than 80 per cent was spent on display advertising in the press, broadcast, print and outdoor media. (Source: The Advertising Association) Under the current circumstances, advertising represents one of the major sectors in the economy with millions of workers worldwide. The efficiency of functioning of the economy in general, to a considerable degree, depends on that sector. Advertising accompanies competition between companies and is an essential attribute of the market economy. 1.2 Background Companies need to understand consumer behaviour in order to find the best way on how to shift demand of products in their favour. When companies are able to discover the reasons why consumers make particular purchasing decisions, they can adapt their marketing efforts to better suit the needs of the consumers. Understanding consumer behaviour may result in increased sale and improved profit performance of the organization. Classical microeconomic theories of consumer behaviour have focused on the principles of rational consumer behaviour, which suggests that consumers choice is primarily a matter of personal preferences, whereas utility theory of consumer behaviour maintains that consumer choices reflect their attempt to secure maximum usefulness from their financial resources. Citation! While classical theories still apply in contemporary western societies, the role of mass media, internet and various aspect of modern culture may have fundamentally changed many elements in the understanding of consumer behaviour. Also marketing opportunities available in the digital information age have altered the way how consumer choice is being shaped and used for profit. Advertising is perhaps the first thing that people think about when considering marketing. Companies must do more than make good products they must inform consumers about product benefits and carefully position products in consumers minds. To do this, they must skilfully use the mass-promotion tools of advertising. Advertising strategy consists of two major elements: creating advertising messages and selecting advertising media. Media planners consider many factors when making their media choices. The media habits of target consumers will affect media choice advertisers look for media that reach target consumers effectively. Target audiences are set to focus on different groups: adults, teens, pre-schoolers and other groups. It is essential to become familiar the target market, their habits, behaviours and attitude to advertising in general. It is known that student youth is less conservative in their views and decisions, comparing to others age and social groups. 1.3 Research Aims and Rationale Based on the above information, the main aim of the research is to investigate the extent to which the purchasing decisions of students in the UK are influenced by the advertisement campaigns. During the preparation of the current research paper a questionnaire was carried out among Queen Marys students, which aimed to study their attitude to advertising. Survey sample covered opinions of 20 young people between the ages of 21-24, that is students in their last years of studies. The choice of the audience was not random. The survey had a probing character and could not represent the aggregate of the student youth population or even more general adult audience with statistical precision. However it offers a clear representation of dominating tendencies in preferences and opinions of the chosen audience, which is the main aim of mass advertising. 1.4 Outline of the Project Chapter 2: Literature review Advertising is an important means by which economic enterprises communicate with both their current and potential customers. It is often said that to be effective an advertisement must be read, understood, believed, remembered and acted upon (Adcock, Halborg, Ross, 2001) There are five principal ways in which a company can communicate with its markets: Media advertising (commercial television and radio, the press, posters, cinema and direct mail/internet) Public relations activities Selling Merchandising Packaging (Chisnal, 2001) These promotional activities are at the heart of effective marketing strategies. According to Adcock, Halborg, Ross, (2001) advertising strategy consists of two major elements: creating advertising messages and selecting advertising media. The major steps in media selection are: deciding on reach, frequency and impact; choosing among major media types; selecting specific media vehicles; and deciding on media timing. The current research paper is concerned with determining an appropriate media type (medium) which better suits habits and preferences of the observed population. Media planners consider many factors when making their media choices. The media habits of target consumers will affect media choice advertisers look for media that reach target consumers effectively (Kotler, Armstrong, 1997). For example fashions are best advertised in colour magazines and daily newspapers are a first consideration in advertising real estate. Different types of messages may require different media. Cost is another major factor in media choice. Whereas television is very expensive, for example, newspaper advertising costs much less. Setting the advertising budget is a complex task. Some critics charge that large consumer packaged-goods firms tend to spend too much on advertising, and industrial companies generally underspend on advertising. They claim that the large consumer companies use lots of image advertising without really knowing its effects. They overspend as a form of insurance against not spending enough. (Kotler, Armstrong, 1997) For a long time, television and magazines have dominated in the media mixes of advertisers with other media being neglected (Jobber, 1995). Recently, however, costs of these media have gone up and audiences have dropped. Advertisers are now increasingly turning to alternative media, such as outdoor advertising or internet. The question that concerns companies remains the same: how much advertising spending really has on consumer buying and branding royalty? In order to answer it media impact must be re-examined regularly. As summarized in the table the major media types are newspapers, television, radio, magazines, and outdoor. It is important to list advantages and limitations of mediums, as they will prove to be guidelines in the interpretation of the observed results. Medium Advantages Limitations Newspapers Flexibility; timeliness; good local market coverage; high believability Short life; small pass-long audience Television Good mass market coverage; combines sight, sound, and motion; appealing to the senses High absolute costs; high clutter; fleeting exposure; Less audience selectivity Radio Good local; acceptance, high geographic and demographic selectivity; low cost Audio only, fleeting exposure; low attention; fragmented audiences Magazines High geographic and demographic selectivity; credibility and prestige; long life and good pass-along readership Long ad purchase lead time; high cost; no guarantee of position Outdoor Flexibility; High repeat exposure; low cost; low message competition; good positional selectivity Little audience selectivity; creative limitations Chapter 3: Research Method and Procedure 3.1 Introduction This chapter reviews the research methods which were used in this project. It is necessary for a researcher to choose a suitable method for the problem. To get a full picture a blend of qualitative and quantative research analysis is recommended. This research will take the following procedure: define the research objectives, develop research approach, analyse results and make a conclusion. 3.2 Research Objectives. This research takes into consideration three main objectives. Firstly, to determine respondents attitudes to advertising in general. Secondly, to identify students preferences among different types of media. The final objective of a survey is concerned with evaluating the influence of advertisement campaigns on the purchasing decisions of students in the UK. 3.3 Research Approach and Instruments. There are several methods of collecting data for research. In the current paper the primary data was collected for the first time using questionnaires. This method has proved to be efficient way in getting both quantative and qualitative data. The questionnaire (Appendix 1) incorporated both main types of questions which are commonly used in surveys: open-ended questions and closed questions. Open questions are interesting because of the spontaneity and individual flavour of the replies, but frequently it is difficult to compress free answers into limited number of codings. Findings in closed questions provided the research with statistical evidence, whereas open questions gave to the research depth and range of information. Interviewer was recording all answers verbatim because there is always a danger of interviewer bias through inaccurate recording. 3.4 Reasons for specific questions In giving an answer to the question 1: What is your attitude to advertising in general? respondents had a considerable freedom in phrasing an answer, which may be lengthy and detailed, and in his or her own words. In the question 3 respondents were able to choose from a range of possible answers. The simple follow up question invited to give a more detailed explanation on the subject. Questions 4 to 6 were closed type questions, which call strictly limited responses. The respondents were offered a choice of alternative replies from which he or she was expected to select an answer corresponding to his or her personal views on a particular subject. The research used simple alternative questions: YES/NO. 3.5 Summary The results of this process will appear in the next chapter. Chapter 4: Results 4.1 Introduction The project sought to examine media popularity among students and find out to what extent advertising influences their purchasing decisions. To achieve the research projects aim and rationale, a questionnaire was utilized as stated in the previous chapter. The following section will present and analyse results of this survey. 4.2 Findings. Part 1 As shown in Diagram 1, the vast majority of respondents prefer television, whereas magazines took the second place. The results indicate that the Internet is the third popular media, while newspaper and outdoor advertising share the fourth place. Percentages indicate the proportion of votes students gave to a specific media out of total votes. For instance out of total 37 only 1 vote was given to advertising on the radio. Popularity of television was not a surprise as it combines sight, sound and motion. It was described by respondents as the most effective and the best medium for advertising. It advantage lies in broad mass market coverage. Magazines appeal to students for its credibility and prestige; long life and good pass-along readership. Students explained that it is good for fashion, and pictures of movie stars make it attracting. Outdoor media was described the most creative and eye catching. It is interesting to note that on the contrary (Author) mentioned little creativity as a negative side of this type of media. Newspapers appeal for its timeliness and high believability. It is popular among those respondents who spend a lot of time travelling. Internet advertising is relatively new media type however number of its admirers grows. It can be explained with growing popularity of online shopping. Another advantage is that it has no time limitation and can be viewed day and night. However spam is often mentioned as its negative point. Radio came last, probably due to its disadvantages: audio only, fleeting exposure and low attention. Not the least of the factors was that most of the students live in halls of residence, which lack radio equipment. 4.2 Finding. Part 2 Bar Chart 1 shows responses to questions. The bar chart clearly shows students opinions on specific subjects. Majority of students have positive attitude to advertising and commonly cite its informative function, in other words in creates awareness. Some students see the artistic value in some commercials. Advertising creates awareness, so no wonder that majority prefers advertised product over unadvertised. However there is a strong opinion that quality products do not need advertising. There have been quite a few commercials that state that product of their company is better than competitors product. The results show that vast majority do not believe those commercials. It might be a good idea for companies not to employ such advertising strategies. Just more than a half of respondent believe that commercials help them to make a better purchase. Consumers are better off when exposed to some information about the product before buying it. However 45% prefer to do their own research about the product. Answers to the question 7 clearly show the power of advertising. 85% of students wanted to try something just because they saw its commercial. Most respondents were curious and wanted try it to see whether it was as good as commercial said it to be. It is important to note that 70% respondents sing songs from commercials. This may prove as an indicator for companies adding a catchy tune to a commercial can increase sales. Chapter 5: Conclusion 5.1 Introduction This chapter will summarize findings of this research project, highlight some of the interesting findings, offer practical implications, cite limitations of this project and give suggestions for further research. Summary of Findings and Interesting Findings The purpose of the current study was to identify an advertising media with a largest exposure and find out the effect it has on its target audience. Results were analysed in the previous chapter. Practical implications of this research were also considered. Identifying and understanding target audience is important. The evidence from this study suggests that the television as an advertising medium appealed to the majority of respondents. Magazines and the Internet took the second and the third place respectively. It may help companies to better allocate their advertising space. Students have positive attitude towards advertising in general because it carries an informative function and creates awareness. The results indicate that majority of students prefer advertised products over unadvertised products and believe that commercials help them to make a better purchase. Vast majority wanted to try something just because they saw it in a commercial. Some interesting results were found. An advertising strategy when a company positions their products superior to competitors products proved ineffective as only few students trusted such commercials. Another implication possibility from this study is that commercials with songs appeal to consumers. Companies may consider using this strategy to their advantage. Limitations of the Research The current study was limited for the size of the sample and imbalance concerning the students country of origin. Because all of the respondents who responded within this project were international students, the findings do not necessarily reflect the habits and opinions of all students. This is important since an advertising usually targets the values of the western societies and different cultures may have different attitudes towards advertising. Therefore, it would be important to conduct further research in this area of media influence and involve more respondents from western-culture countries. Recommendations for further studies This research has raised many questions in need of investigation. The designed questions were not perfect so some other aspects may be needed to investigate what contributes to making a purchase decision. Some factors examined in this research influence consumers but not necessarily mean that they will make an actual purchase. For example, further research may investigate what advertising strategies such as verbal or visual elements appeal to consumers. Endnote This project has been concerned with advertisings influence on students purchasing decisions and the research indicates that choosing the correct advertising strategy is a crucial element in an effective marketing strategy.

Seminole Patchwork :: Essays Papers

Seminole Patchwork â€Å"Cross† or â€Å"sacred fire†, â€Å"arrow†, â€Å"zigzag†, â€Å"bird†, â€Å"wave†, â€Å"mountains† and â€Å"diamondback rattlesnake† all have something in common. What do all of these names have in common? They are all names of Seminole patchwork designs. What exactly is patchworking? It can be defined as the process of sewing pieces of solid colored cloth together to make long rows of designs, which are then joined horizontally to other bands of cloth to form a garment (Downs, 1995, 88). This Native American artwork is closely associated with the Florida Seminoles. The history of this tribe and how they came to make patchwork garments is rather interesting. In making patchwork garments, things to be considered include how it is done (process), what elements of design are used, whom the garment is to be made for and who actually makes it. Presently, there are less artists in this craft and the future of patchwork may be at risk. Seminole patchwork has been done for over a century, and it’s beauty and uniqueness needs to be revealed and recognized by Americans. The Seminole Indians were not always located in Florida. In the early 19th Century the Seminoles lived in the cool areas of Georgia. They wore animals hides and furs to keep warm. This all changed in 1830, when President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Policy of 1830, which forced the Seminoles to flee to Florida. In fleeing to Florida they left behind their homes, some relatives who refused to leave and their cool climate. In Florida, there was no longer a need for the warm furs and hides and they turned to the use of cloth. In 1840, they disappeared into the Everglades and lived there in peace, with no influences from other tribes. The Everglades were rich with exotic items that were worth a lot in trade markets. Once a year, the Seminoles would take a voyage on the Miami River to Miami. In Miami they could trade items such as alligator hides and egret plumes for rolls of cotton cloth. The Seminoles would use the cotton to make various pieces of clothing. One ye ar, a voyage could not be made to Miami to attain more cloth and the Seminoles were forced to use scraps of cloth, sewing them together to make a large piece of cloth or garment.

Eggshell Membrane Reduces Joint Pain Essay

All rights reserved. no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. in other words, don’t copy any of our work, sell it for profit, or pass it off as your own. That would be wrong. But you already knew that. however, there is something we would like you to do: Read this book and share it. We want everyone to read and benefit from this book, which is why it’s free. if you like it and think your friends, family, colleagues, customers, subscribers, or neighbours would find value in it, spread the word. This book is free. Print it, share it, link to it, quote it—all we require is that you give us credit by letting people know we’re the authors when you do. a link back to the book or to precisionnutrition. com would be appreciated too. Design Carmelo Galati, SeeSaw Creative Communications, cgalati@seesawcreative. ca Published Precision nutrition inc. , precisionnutrition. com aBSTRaCT Can Eggshell Membrane Reduce Joint Pain? BaCkGRound While many conventional treatments have been used to remedy chronic joint pain, interest continues to grow in the area of alternative, natural treatments. Eggshell membrane (EM) supplementation is a novel treatment for joint health, and has recently been shown to rapidly and continually improve joint pain in patients with osteoarthritis and joint and connective tissue disorders. The current study aimed to observe the effects of one particular eggshell membrane product (fast joint care+; FJC+) supplementation on chronic joint pain in physically active adults. METhodS Sixty adults (40. 2  ± 10. 2 y; 78. 6  ± 10. 2 kg) experiencing chronic joint pain supplemented daily with either 500mg FJC+ or placebo, over the course of 4 weeks. Participants also completed a weekly exercise protocol designed to challenge their irritated joint. Participants then rated their joint pain immediately, and one day after, this exercise challenge. RESulTS Participants in the FJC+ group reported significantly less joint pain post-exercise following FJC+ supplementation (-16. 13  ± 3. 60) when compared to those in the placebo group (–4. 30  ± 2. 84; p=0. 00171). In addition, during the 4 week study, both groups experienced decreases in next day joint pain (p=0. 0015), although there were no significant differences between the two groups (p>0. 05). ConCluSionS In the current study, daily FJC+ supplementation appeared to decrease post-exercise joint pain vs. placebo, although this effect did not persist 24 hours post-exercise. Because eggshell membrane research is in its infancy, further research may be needed to clarify its utility in managing joint pain. 1 Precision Nutrition | www. precisionnutrition. com BaCkGRound Why Study Eggshell Membrane? n the united States, over 20% of adults have reported doctor-diagnosed joint and connective tissue (JCT) disorders; this number has been projected to increase by 40% over the next 25 years [1, 2]. numerous forms of intervention have been used as treatments to improve joint pain. Conventionally, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (nSaids) and analgesics have been used to address joint pain associa ted with JCT disorders; however, their long term use has been associated with diverse and severe side effects including cardiac and gastrointestinal complications [3, 4]. Alternative therapies used to treat joint pain include dietary supplements; the most popular of these supplements being glucosamine, chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). While many turn to these complementary treatments to avoid the side effects associated with NSAIDs and analgesics, there is little evidence to support their effectiveness, and the evidence that does exist is equivocal [5]. Several large-scale human clinical trials [6], including the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, as well as a few additional meta-analyses and reviews [5, 7] have reported limited effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation in reducing joint pain. However, other groups have noted long-term improvements in joint pain from glucosamine supplementation alone [8], and further enhanced effectiveness of combined glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, rather than the separate use of either supplement [5, 9]. The question of their effectiveness in JCT populations is subject to ongoing debate. There has been growing interest in eggshell membrane (EM) supplementation as a treatment for joint pain, as it does not present the side effects of conventional treatments (NSAIDs). Eggshells and their membranes have been extensively analyzed 2 Eggshell Membrane Reduces Joint Pain for their components: the separate layers of the eggshell have been analyzed and found to contain several types of collagen (types X, I, V) [10-12]. Additionally, EM has been found to have notably high concentrations of a number of amino acids [13], collagenlike proteins [14-16], enzymes [17-19] and glycosminoglycans (GAGs). Glycosaminoglycans are of high interest, as they play key roles in connective tissue [20]. Glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and chondritin sulfate are important GAGs in EM (21, 22). With the high protein and enzyme content, and naturally occurring GAGs in EM, scientists and nutritional supplement companies have speculated that it could present a viable alternative to traditional joint disorder and osteoarthritis treatments. Additionally, while the aforementioned elements of EM have been detected, it should be noted that membrane components have not yet been wholly characterized; there are likely a number of compounds that have yet to be identified in the membrane. Some of these yet undetected elements may contribute to benefits or improvements seen in joint health. To date, very few studies have investigated the effects of EM supplementation on joint pain and range of motion. In rats, 4 weeks of EM treatment led to significant reductions in many proinflammatory cytokines (measured in plasma), notably including TNF-? nd IL-1 [23]. Two recent clinical reports [24, 25] investigated the timing and effectiveness of EM supplementation in JCT and osteoarthritis patients experiencing severe pain and limited range of motion. These patients received daily 500mg doses of oral EM for four to eight weeks. Rapid (seven to ten days) and continuous effects were seen in terms of reduced pain and stiffness, as well as im proved flexibility. In both investigations, there were no reports of adverse effects with supplementation. In the present study, we set out to observe the effects of EM (fast joint care+; FJC+) supplementation on joint pain within a physically active adult population experiencing chronic joint pain in one of four joints (ankle, knee, shoulder or elbow). As many adults use exercise to manage joint and connective tissue disorders, this population would likely see great benefit from adjunct therapies designed to reduce pain and increase range of motion. 3 Precision Nutrition | www. precisionnutrition. com METhodS What We Did. And How We Did It. Prior to commencing the study, all participants gave their informed consent. A total of 60 adults between the ages of 18 and 70 (45 men and 15 women; 40. 2  ± 10. 2 y; 78. 6  ± 10. 2 kg; see Table 1) agreed to participate. Each reported chronic pain in one of the following joints: elbow, shoulder, ankle or knee. Participants were recruited online through a popular health and fitness community and data were collected through self reports in a distance-based capacity. Participants were also prescreened to exclude those who had used any additional medications (methotrexate or immunosuppressants), NSAIDs, analgesics, or joint supplements (MSM, glucosamine or chondroitin) two weeks prior to the start of the study. Those with egg allergies, or who were pregnant or breastfeeding, were also excluded. Participants were asked to refrain from use of pain medications throughout the study period. TaBlE 1. dEMoGRaPhiCS of BoTh SuPPlEMEnT and PlaCEBo GRouPS GRouP MalES fEMalES aGE (yRS) WEiGhT (kG) knEE loCaTion of Join Pain ShouldER ElBoW anklE Supplement Placebo 23 22 7 8 41. 0 +/- 10. 0 39. 4 +/- 10. 5 78. 6 +/- 10. 4 78. 6 +/- 10. 1 12 13 10 10 6 5 2 2 Sex, age, weight, and reported joint pain area are shown for each group. In order to participate, individuals had to be exercising regularly, at least three times per week. They were screened for their regular physical activity (reported 4. 8  ± 1. 1 exercise sessions/wk), and asked to ensure that both their exercise and nutritional regimens remained unchanged over the course of the study. After matching for age, sex, and affected joint, participants (n=60) were randomly assigned to receive either the EM supplement (fast joint care+; FJC+), or a placebo supplement for 4 weeks. These groups did not differ significantly in terms of age or weight, contained similar numbers of men and women, and contained similar numbers of individuals with shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle pain (see Table 1). All supplements were provided to subjects in identically marked containers, and all capsules (placebo and FJC+) were identical in appearance (color, flavor, size). All participants were instructed to take their â€Å"supplement† once per day, at the same time of day (i. e. first thing in the morning, with breakfast). 4 Eggshell Membrane Reduces Joint Pain Each capsule of the FJC+ supplement contained 500mg of Gallus gallus (chicken) eggshell membrane extract (a commercial preparation sold as fast joint care+ by Genuine Health, Toronto, Ontario); additional non-medical ingredients included rice flour, magnesium stearate, gelatin, and water. The color and flavor matched placebo capsules contained only rice flour, magnesium stearate, gelatin, and water. The individual components of FJC+ were not quantified in the supplement as the product is intended to be used as a complete eggshell membrane extract, without additional ingredients (ie. additional glucosamine, chondroitin, etc. . In addition to their normal exercise program, participants were asked to complete an additional exercise challenge once per week. This exercise challenge was to be completed on the same day of each week (Monday) and at the same time of day (in the morning, after supplementation and breakfast). The exercise challenge for those with chronic shoulder or elbow pain consisted of pushups. For those with chronic knee or ankle pain, the exercise challenge consisted of jump squats. Each of these sessions involved performing 10 sets of 5 repetitions of the given movement, with 2 minutes of rest between sets. Immediately after each exercise challenge session, participants rated their specific joint pain on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at two time points: within 10 minutes of completing the challenge and 24 hours following the challenge. Compliance to the exercise programming and supplementation schedule was self-reported and logged by participants; those logs were provided to researchers weekly via email. Subjects were also asked to report any side effects during the trial. Joint pain was assessed using a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS), and participants submitted this information via electronic form. A self-assessment was performed at the two time points (post-exercise, and next day after exercise) for each of the 4 weeks. Each subject was asked to â€Å"click on the line below to indicate how severe the pain is on the affected joint with 0 being no pain and 100 being pain as bad as it can be†. Responses were submitted electronically on a weekly basis, after each pair of assessments. VAS scores were then measured in millimeters from the left hand end of the scale to the point marked by the subject. Data were collected across the 4 weeks of supplementation, and analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (i. . MANOVA). In cases of significant interactions (p? 0. 05) post-hoc analysis was performed using Student’s t-test for comparison between groups, and paired t-test for comparison within groups (JMP, SAS Institute Inc. , Cary, NC). The VAS ratings were reported on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 indicating no pain, and 100 representing greatest pain. Where ap propriate, change scores were examined after adjusting absolute scores and then comparing between groups with a one-way analysis. All values are reported as mean  ± SEM, and statistical significance was set at p? 0. 5. To summarize the protocol in brief: During week 1 of the investigation, subjects took their first 500mg dose of FJC+ with breakfast on Monday. After breakfast they immediately performed their first exercise challenge and then rated their joint pain using the VAS described above. In addition, they rated their joint pain on Tuesday, 24h later. During each subsequent week, subjects repeated the same protocol, providing 4 weeks’ worth of joint pain data, with week 1 serving as a baseline. 5 Precision Nutrition | www. precisionnutrition. com RESulTS So What Happened? Following 4 weeks of supplementation, participants in the FJC+ group had a significantly greater decrease in post-exercise joint pain compared to participants in the placebo group (-16. 13  ± 3. 60 in the FJC+ group and –4. 30  ± 2. 84 in the placebo group; p=0. 0171; see Figure 1). Figure 2 illustrates changes in joint pain between groups across the 4 weeks of supplementation: main effects were found for both time (p=0. 0003) and the interaction between group and time (p=0. 0354). 0 Change in Joint Pain Index (VAS) -5 Placebo FJC+ -10 -15 -20 * -25 Figure 1. Mean change in joint pain (measured with VAS) following 4 weeks of supplementation. Participants in the FJC+ group experienced significantly larger decreases in post-exercise joint pain compared to participants in placebo group (p=0. 0171). Note: absolute scores were adjusted into change scores, which were then compared between groups using a one-way analysis. 6 Eggshell Membrane Reduces Joint Pain 50 Joint Pain Index (VAS) 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 Weeks 3 4 FJC+ Placebo * Figure 2. Post-exercise joint pain (measured with VAS) across 4 weeks of supplementation. There was a main effect for time (p=0. 0003), and an interaction between time and group (p=0. 354), indicating greater joint pain decreases in the FJC+ group (-43. 4%) than the placebo group (-30. 6%). Post-hoc analysis showed between group differences from week 1 to week 4 (p=0. 0171). Note: higher VAS values indicate more pain. In accordance with Figure 1, post-exercise joint pain in the FJC+ group decreased by 43. 4% while the placebo group experienced a 30. 6% decrease in pain over the 4 week period. Post-hoc analysis shows a mean difference between groups when comparing overall change in pain from week 1 to week 4 (p=0. 0171). Next day reports of joint pain also decreased over time (p=0. 015; see Figure 3) with next day joint pain decreasing by 46. 7% in the FJC+ group (from 35. 34  ± 4. 33 during week 1 to 18. 82  ± 4. 38 during week 4) and by 40. 9% in the placebo group (from 26. 38  ± 4. 58 during week 1 to 15. 59  ± 4. 01 during week 4). There were no significant differences between the groups’ joint pain scores across the 4 weeks of supplementation (p=0. 1971 for group and time interaction). 7 Precision Nutrition | www. precisionnutrition. com 50 Joint Pain Index (VAS) 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 Weeks 3 4 FJC+ Placebo Figure 3. Next day joint pain (m easured with VAS) across 4 weeks of supplementation. A main effect was seen for time (p=0. 0015). However, there were no significant differences between groups across the 4 weeks (p>0. 05), indicating similar joint pain decreases in both the FJC+ group (-46. 7%) and the placebo group (-40. 9%). Note: higher VAS values indicate more pain. Participants in both placebo and FJC+ supplementation groups did not report any side effects during the study. 8 Eggshell Membrane Reduces Joint Pain diSCuSSion Some Clarifications About Our Work The results of this investigation suggest that four weeks of supplementation with 500mg fJC+ daily improves post-exercise joint pain vs. upplementation with placebo, specifically in physically active adults experiencing pain in the ankles, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Other investigations using EM supplementation have observed similar reductions in joint pain, specifically in populations with osteoarthritis and JCT disorders. In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, daily oral administrat ion of either 500mg placebo or 500mg EM was given to patients with knee osteoarthritis [24]. After 10 days, rapid improvements in both joint pain and stiffness were seen in the EM group. Improvements in pain and stiffness were sustained (and enhanced) following 60 days of administration. A similar study with JCT patients [25] also observed both rapid (7 days) and sustained (30 days) improvements in pain and flexibility following daily administration of 500mg EM. There were no adverse events reported in either study, and the treatments appeared to be well tolerated by the patients. These statistically and clinically significant outcomes suggest that EM supplementation may be a natural and effective alternative therapy for both clinical populations with limited activity levels as well as physically active populations. Many of the various components present in EM have been thoroughly analyzed. Eggshells consist of a number of layers: an inner and outer membrane, a mammillary layer (connecting the eggshell and outer membrane), an outer palisade layer, and an outer cuticle covering the eggshell [10]. The inner and outer shell membranes are the first layers of extracellular matrix covering the egg itself [11]; the outer membrane is predominantly made of type I collagen, whereas the inner membrane consists mainly of type V collagen [12]. In addition, type X collagen has been reported to occur in both of these membrane structures [10]. EM amino acid profiles have also shown high concentrations of arginine, glutamic acid, histidine, cystine and proline [13]. Additionally, a number of collagen-like proteins (including hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, desmosine, and isodesmosine) are primary structural components of the membranes. 9 Precision Nutrition | www. precisionnutrition. com Other components have been quantified in EM including: lysyl oxidase (reported to play a role in the development and repair of connective tissue), ovotransferrin, and lysozyme [17-19]. However, the presence of glycosaminoglycans in EM is of particular interest. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as glucosamine, are composed of repeating hexosamine disasccharides and act as major components of connective tissue [20]. Clearly, there are a number of individual components present in the EM that have known physiological roles in joint and connective tissue; however, EM is novel in that it is a natural extract that provides a combined source of these compounds. The absolute quantity of each component in the EM is not known, and those quantities may likely vary with each extraction in the supplement production process. Additionally, it is plausible that a number of yet unisolated elements, proteins, and enzymes exist in EM, which may also contribute to improved joint and connective tissue health. Therefore, the observed benefits associated with EM supplementation may not be directly attributable to any one specific component of the supplement (ie. lucosamine, chondroitin, etc. ); it may be more appropriate to assume that the combined effects of the known—and unknown—components of EM contribute to the observed improvements in joint health. A number of individual components in EM are known to have important roles in maintaining connective tissue in vivo, though the physiological mechanisms by which those components improve overall joint health through supplementation (flexibility, connective tissue repair and maintenance) have no t been measured in humans. One experiment, however, investigated the effects of EM supplementation on systemic pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in rats [23]. In this study, rats were given oral doses of EM for 7 days. Significant decreases were observed in plasma levels of numerous inflammatory antigens following supplementation; thus, it is possible that the anti-inflammatory effects of oral EM supplements may contribute to the improvements in joint pain ratings seen in human trials. More research is warranted to investigate these effects. Interestingly, the most pronounced effects of FJC+ supplementation in this study were present in post-exercise ratings of joint pain. This may be due to the proposed anti-inflammatory benefits associated with EM. If the exercise challenge used in this investigation led to acute joint inflammation, it stands to reason that the most pronounced impact of EM would be to reduce the pain associated with this postexercise increase in inflammation.

Bullying Essay/Story

Note: This is an essay based on a true story. This was used in a olo provinical exam in the past to help prepare for my English 10 provincials this past summer. Names were changed for identification reasons. Bullying is one of the most common issues in today's society. Bullying occurs in school, work, or our own neighbourhood. Bullying also occurs online. Bullying is one of the hardest things to get over, and this is my story. ~Intro ~ During the years I was bullied in school, I had a time sticking up for myself and did not feel completely about myself.I have been called names, been target for pranks, and I know was physically and sexually harassed by my peers and classmate. The only two people I can trust is my best friend since 8th grade Rue and my grandmother (who is my guardian). When something happen to me during the school day, I try to be silent about it and try not to let it bother me. My way of getting away from bullying is listening to music on my iPod. ~Chapter 1~ Grade 8 was the most emotional, stressful year I had in all of my school years. This is because this one girl named Clove, was ruining my life.She would tell anyone I was trying to get to know that I had some sort of diseases and advice them to stay away from me and forces them to be friends with her. She took one of my good friend from dance in the past. She made everyone of my friends to go against me, except for Rue. She stayed with me until the end. Her and I are still great friends today. We may not go to the same high school now, but we try to see each other whenever we can. ~Chapter 2~ Clove, however, got meaner everyday. One time, her and her friend Glimmer wanted to talk to me after our class made cookies in Home Ec near he end of the day. We were allow to take the cookies home to our family and put them in a bag. Both Glimmer and Clove had one paper bag. I said yes then they took me outside under the huge Oak trees behind the school. Clove asked Glimmer to leave her and I some pri vacy. Glimmer left us after that. Clove asked me if I saw Clove's boyfriend-at-the-time Peeta a couple days ago and kissed him. I already knew that answer to her question because I was doing my homework on that night. So I said no. Clove was assuming that I was lying to her and stared each other for a few minutes.What I didn't know is that Glimmer was sneaky creeping up to me and dumped an entire flag on me. Clove and Glimmer ran away laughing, leaving me shocked and completely covered in flour. I ran to the classroom (and it was also raining that day too) angry and furious. When I walk into my homeroom classroom, everyone was shocked and asked what happen. I told my teacher Ms. Kennedy what happened to me and made Clove and Glimmer stay in the office and sent me to the principal office. ~Chapter 3~ Our principal Mr. Burwell, couldn't believe what he has seen when I walk into his office that day.When I sat on the extra chairs in his office, little traces of flour from the top of my head fell down to the chair as if the flour was snowflakes falling down from the sky. He asked me what happen to me and I told him the story. He was completely stunned. Ms Kennedy walked into Mr. Burwell a few seconds later after I told him what happen. Ms. Kennedy asked me who was picking me up and I sad my grandpa is picking me up. My grandpa's 2009 Hyundai navy Elentra was sitting in drop off zone, waiting for me to come out. Ms. Kennedy then ran outside and the pouring rain and told my grandpa to come inside to the office.He was confused and wondered why he needs to come inside, that's when he saw me in the principal office, covered in flour. My grandpa was shocked and ask what happen. My head started to irritate me and scratched my head as hard as I can until my scalp started to sting and bleed from the flour. The white small snowflakes from head continue to fall into the chair. Mr. Burwell asked Ms. Kennedy to take me to the handicap washroom (which was located by nearby his o ffice) to try to take some flour off of my face while he explains my grandpa why I was covered in flour. When Ms.Kennedy was trying help me to take some of the flour off my face, it irritated my skin. I just want to rip off my skin and let myself bleed to death. ~Chapter 4:~ When my grandpa and I came home from the principal's office, I ran upstairs to my living room and burst into tears. I didn't understand why Clove was doing this to me. I mean, why me? When the last month of school came along, it was the worst month of my life. This is all started when Clove decided to throw a birthday party for Rue. One of the food that was â€Å"suppose† to be provided at the party was a look-a-like oatmeal cookies, but they didn't taste like oatmeal at all.Clove, Glimmer, Cato, and Marvel (or I call Clove's friends the â€Å"Career Tributes†) forced me eat this cookie that was filled with dead insect, dust, dirt, broken eggs shells, you name it. I felt sick for 2 weeks after that incident. ~Chapter 5~ I went to Rue's part a couple days after the cookies incident. I bought a nice, brand new outfit for Rue's party. A blue tank top with lace on the top and on the bottom on the shirt, a dark grey skirt from American Eagle, a light black jacket to go on top of my shirt, and my black Franco Santo wedges I got from my grandma for Easter when she went to Seattle a week before Easter.The party began at an Italian restaurant. I had a terrible time at the restaurant because Cato â€Å"accidentally† split pasta sauce from the meal he ordered onto my brand new top. I knew pasta sauce was hard to remove on clothes. We later went to Clove's house, which it is not far from the restaurant. Clove told everyone that will be a water fight in an open field across the street from Clove's house and told everyone to get change into their swimsuit. I, however, did not know there was going to be a water fight, but I remember Rue told me that the party is going to do something with water.During the water balloon fight, I had a hard time throwing the balloons at everyone because the size of the balloon was so big over my small child-like hands. The Career Tributes, including Clove, enjoyed this fight. Why? Because I was their. Of course, they had to use me as their target. After the fight, I was extremely cold and wet thought that I was going to get a nasty cold the next day. ~Chapter 6~ We then watch Drag Me To Hell, a horror movie. Rue hates horror movie. I gave Rue her birthday present while the movie was on. I got her a journal, and a book call Three Cups Of Tea.I also made her a homemade card, using my grandmother's extra card stock and stamps she collected over the years. Rue loved her present and the card. Meanwhile, while everyone else was watching the movie. There was a killing scene on the TV. Everyone jump, including Cato, who split an entire glass of lemonade on my brand new skirt. I was so close of slapping him on the face. He spilt the lemon ade juice on me on purpose. ~Chapter 7~ After I got home from the party was over, I went home with my Dad, and my sister Prim, angry and upset. I have to take action, but how?School was ending in 2 weeks, so what's the point? Nearly two 2 weeks later, just a day before grade 8 grad, Clove and I got into a fight. She was violent and horrifying, like if she was going turn into a nasty beast. She punched me, scratched me and called me names. All I did was telling her what I thought about her. Telling her that she stole Peeta from me, I tried to fight back. , but I didn't want to because I know that fighting is not a way to solve the problem. Her career tributes were right behind her to defend her. The rest of my classmates went along what Clove told them.Too scared to stick up for themselves. They were afraid of Clove and they did not want to go against her. They just watch me suffer. Rue was trying to break up the fight between me and Clove. The scratch on my left arm, nearby my elbow , turned into a scab. The scab drove me crazy and I couldn't stop scratching it. I decided to turn the scab into a scar. To show people how violent Clove was really was. ~Chapter 8~ Finally, at last, Grad day came along. Unfortunately, though, I had to miss grad practice a couple hours before grad because of Clove.I had to sit in the office for the hour while the my grade 8 class was practicing for the ceremony. I hate the fact that I missed something that was once in a lifetime, but Mr. Burwell was only doing this to protect me. The rest of the day, everyone (except for the Career tributes and Clove) signed my year book. The torture was finally over. No more fear. No more hiding. No feeling like I want to take my own life and cutting myself. I can move from this nightmare and go to high school in peace. The best part of going to high school, is that I wouldn't have to worry about Clove anymore. Epilogue~ In the end, the story is on my mind everyday lie it was grade 8 all over again . One of the thongs I learn is to speak to others. When I talk to someone about things, it makes me feel better. When I left middle school, Clove and her tributes mates left me a lot of damage, physically, mentally, and emotional. When I see my self in the mirror, I don't feel beautiful and sees myself as an ugly person and wishes to have plastic surgery. When I do my hair and make-up, the comments of what Clove and her pack said to me would bother me.When I go clothes shopping, I would hate it because I'm not skinny and fit like Clove and Glimmer. to be honest, it's hard to get over it. It will haunt me for years to come. ~Note~ If you notice on the names of the characters (expect for Mr. Burwell and Ms. Kennedy), you may recognize their names because they are from the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collions I look up to Katiness Everdeen (the main character in the novel) as a role model because she fought what she believed in and got through the worst through out the novel. I also got in troduced the Hunger Games in grade 8 by my learning support teacher, by Mrs. Collions.