ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The theory of operant conditioning According to the theory of operant conditioning, the form and frequency of behavior can be changed through manipulation of consequences, either positive or negative. This hypothesis is partially derived from Ivan Pavlovs experiments. He argued that by providing an incentive (a reward or punishment)) one could turn responses of the subject into habitual actions and skills (Jarvis et al 2003). This idea lies at the core of many teaching and learning approaches. Operant conditioning involves the use of such motivational methods as reinforcement and punishment in order to intensify or weaken a certain type of conduct. Motivational forces There are two kinds of reinforcement: positive and negative. Both of them aim to increase the occurrence of a behavior. The first type (positive reinforcement) can be understood as giving an impetus to the subject immediately after the response, for instance, when a teacher praises a student for successful performance or good answer. Negative reinforcement targets the same goal, but this form of motivation is based on the removal of aversive or unpleasant stimuli (Hergenhahn & Olson, 2008). This technique is widely adopted by parents when they frequently release the teenager from home duties in hope that he or she would concentrate on studies. In sharp contrast, punishment intends to eliminate some kind of conduct or at least reduce it to a minimum. Positive punishment is of one of the most widespread tactics among teachers: each case of misdemeanor is followed by penalty, for example, when a cheating student is given a bad mark or suspended from school. On the whole, negative punishment pursues the same objective, but under such scenario, the experimenter deprives the subject of a pleasant stimulus such as limiting pocket expenses. Assessment of methods It is rather difficult to assess the effectiveness of these methods, because each of them can be used effectively. The outcome strongly depends on the power of stimulus and the personality of the subject. But if we are speaking about education, positive reinforcement appears to be the most prudent strategy because it relies on persuasion rather than compulsion. The child or teenager decides to act in a certain manner on his own accord. Most importantly, he or she does not sense the influence of a teacher and has no fear of penalty. Naturally, there are cases when penalty is the only possible measure, but as a rule it is the last resort which should be normally avoided. A hypothetical scenario Operational conditioning has a vast range of applications and we can construct a hypothetical situation. A child has only entered primary school, and it is necessary to arouse his or her interest in studies. Punishment and prohibition are hardly of any use under such circu
Introduction The objective of this report is to evaluate the properties, limitations, and prospects of future applications of fiber-reinforced concretes and polymer reinforced concretes. Chapter one will focus on Portland cement concrete as a construction material. The microstructure and imperfections of Portland cement concretes will also be examined. Chapter two will focus on the types, properties, imperfections, admixtures, and future prospects of fiber-reinforced concretes. It will also examine how carbon and steel fibers can be used to reinforce conventional cement concretes in order to prevent micro-cracks and other flaws emanating from excess water, heat, shrinkage stress, and external loads. A literature review will be done to evaluate mechanisms of fiber reinforcement in conventional concretes. Different types of admixtures used to improve the corrosion resistance of fiber-reinforced concretes will also be evaluated. Finally, a discussion on the properties of fiber-reinforced concretes and their limitations will be conducted. These properties include compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength. Chapter three will begin with a brief description of polymer concretes and the major types used including polymer concrete (PC), inorganic polymer concrete (IPC), latex-redispersible polymer powder concrete, liquid resin concrete, water-soluble polymer concrete, and monomer-modified concrete. Different types of admixtures and their respective properties will be also be evaluated. Some of the admixtures discussed in this chapter will include styrene-butadiene latex, acrylic latex, epoxy polymer modifiers, and redispersible polymer powders. Finally, a literature review will be conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of PCs, such as compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, and bond stress. Chapter four will focus on the differences between PRCs and FRCs. Special attention will be on the differences between PRCs and FRCs in terms of their mechanical properties, microstructures, and characteristics. Chapter five will focus on the applications of fiber concretes and polymer concretes in the construction industry. The first section of chapter five will discuss the application of FRCs in reducing rebar corrosion caused by carbonation and chloride penetration in conventional concretes. This section will also cover the uses of FRCs in repairing bridge-deck slabs, airport pavements, and tunnel linings. A brief discussion on the future prospect for bio-inspired FRCs will also be undertaken. The second section of this chapter will cover both the current and future applications of PRCs in the construction industry. Among the current uses of PRCs discussed under this section will include its uses as overlays in swimming pools, floors and sewer pipes. The future prospects for using polymer reinforced concretes will entail a discussion on its application in shear wall structures as well as ductile concrete foundations. This chapter will conclude with a discussion on some challenges of using polymer reinforced concretes in the construction of c
Specific environmental changes that Central Michigan Hospital must report Central Michigan Hospital (CMH) is credited for delivering quality Medicare services to patients using the available resources. The hospital focuses its synergies on the provision of cancer care, family birthing, emergency care, and imaging services. However, the exemplary record of service delivery to patients is threatened by diverse environmental changes. The changes include rapid technological advancement, changes in social values, economic and legal issues. In particular, the rapid advancement in the technology sector demands heavy investment in new machines such as health care informatics that most companies cannot sustain. Economic and legal changes also threaten to impede systematic service delivery in the hospital. Economic instability is caused by the global economic crisis and rapid changes in social beliefs about the relevance of modern medication, which is impeding the hospital’s progress. Economically, the global economic crunch has lowered the hospital’s financial capacity, thereby affecting infrastructural expansion. Patients also find it difficult to seek the hospital’s services due to a lack of sufficient funds. Specific constraints CMH faces in dealing with change Indeed, dealing with the structural and policy changes is proving to be difficult due to resource constraints in CMH. First, the employees are not in support of the changes being introduced. The employees who are the drivers of operations in the hospital a
Using forecasting techniques for predicting the changes in sales rates and, therefore, defining further strategies is a common pattern in modern business management (Simkin, Norman and Rose 318). The introduction of information technology tools has opened new horizons for marketers, yet also posed a range of threats in terms of the reliability of the data. Sales per click ratio, which is a comparatively recent addition to the existing marketing strategies, can be considered a rather flimsy factor in determining the company’s sales, yet it does provide sufficient data for analysis and offers ample opportunities in terms of defining the company’s performance. Although the tool in question still needs further testing, it should be incorporated into the Excellent Consulting Group’s strategy as one of the means of locating possible sales rates for the next month. Therefore, it can be assumed that the number of monthly website hits can serve as the basis for making forecasts regarding further sales. However, as the analysis carried out above shows, the correlation between the number of times that people frequent the site in question and the number of sales that the company makes over a month is not necessarily in direct proportion to each other. The relations between the two are much more complicated, as the people, who occasionally find themselves on the company’s site, are comparatively numerous and do not affect the actual number of sales (Drolias 73). Despite the positive tendency in the correlation between sales and clicks, one still has to admit that the variation between the key data is rather high, the standard deviation of the data set in question being approximately 73. Seeing that the measure tool in question allows for “a measure of dispersion that is defined in the same units as the random variable” (Leavenworth 141), it can be assumed that the data under analysis is far too scattered to allow for a clear and precise forecast in terms of the company’s further sales. On the one hand, the trend line displayed in the diagram points to the high possibility of a positive outcome. On the other hand, the inconsistency of the data shows that a sudden drop in the correlation may jeopardize the organization’s success. Nevertheless, the number of clicks per site should still be incorporated into the analysis of the company’s performance in general and the success of its sales in particular. As the diagram shows, there is a positive trend in the correlation between the variables in question. Indeed, a closer look at the chart will show that the increase in hits is typically followed by an increase in the number of clicks and vice versa. For example, the consistent rise in the number of site visitors April to May (1,050 and 1,180) correlated with the rise in the number of sales that were carried out successfully (301 and 510 correspondingly). The specified tendency can be observed throughout the ent
Introduction The relationship between man, fashion and identity has always been intriguing. Man is in a constant search of identify, something that will make him unique and identifiable. A unique tool to enhance a person’s identity is fashion. Fashion industry is driven by creativity and as such results in many designs. The debate in this issue is which of the two has a bigger influence on the other. There are differing opinions on this subject each with sufficient proof on the power and the influences that each has on the other. Werner (n.d.) argues that the search for personal identity is the primary preoccupation of the contemporary generation. The drive towards identifying who a person is comes about due to fear and uncertainty of the person’s purpose in life. Thus identifying a specific persona becomes the key to personal development and growth in life. Werner continues to argue that the contemporary generation is deceived to think that personal identity is determined by the physical attributes in a person. Many people take too much care of their physical looks and would go to great lengths to enhance their outward appearance in the effort to enhance their identity. In this regard, people are concerned with their levels of education and would proceed to acquire educational qualifications. This is intended to improve a person knowledge and intelligence, therefore helping to form their persona identity. Other than education, people take great care how they dress. Dressing is taken as a mode of identifying who a person is. People who see themselves as official tend to dress officially all the times. People dressing style is also a way of trying to enhance ones identity. A man may dress sharply to stand out in a crowd. Women, perceive themselves as beautiful put on make up several and adornment to enhance this perceived identify. Adornments and beautification are a means of enhancing a persons unique attributes and make them look different in a crowd. Werner (n.d.) questions this method of forming and identifying a person and says that it is quit deceptive. A person identity cannot be formed by physical attributes and out wards appearance. Other important factors help to form a person identity. Such things are concerned with a person inner attributes such as the soul and are spiritual. Werner (n.d.) concludes that a person spiritual belief influences person’s attitudes towards life and generally, who a person eventually becomes. MAS (2006) infer that it is impossible to hide a person identity as people are constantly giving out signs of who they are. These arguments purports that a person identity is somewhat inherent. A person’s identity can be identified from the simple things that people do. Such things as email
In many ways, the extreme rationalism of Descartes, its traditional alternative and empiricist aspects and the debate between them, constitute the part of the Enlightenment which had the greatest influence in the nineteenth century. Descartes and other Enlightened thinkers were generally confident in their belief that they could use rational principles to solve problems of social interaction, just as they used rationality to understand and control the natural world. This belief led to the Enlightened faith in social progress and a corresponding optimism that the ideals of the Enlightenment would eventually culminate in a utopian society. Nietzsche opposed this Enlightened faith in progress as naive; however, it was here that he had the most trouble eluding the influence of Enlightenment. It was the Enlightenment’s utopianism that remained with Nietzsche even through his most radical critiques. Often called the father of modern philosophy, Rene Descartes introduced a shift in thinking from the empiricist school of thought in which people believed all knowledge ultimately comes to us through our senses to the rationalist school of thought in which it was believed that human reason was the source for all human knowledge. Through this development in thought, he was also the founder of modern day mathematics and provided the framework for study of the natural sciences. His writings mark the dividing line between the empiricist school of thought and the rationalist school of thought. “Before his time, philosophy had been dominated by the method of Scholasticism, which was entirely based on comparing and contrasting the views of recognized authorities” (Vincent 2003). A great deal of this thought was based on information gleaned from the senses. Descartes felt the only way to obtain true knowledge was to rely solely upon human reason while ignoring the senses. “His philosophy refused to accept the Aristotelian and Scholastic traditions that had dominated philosophical thought throughout the Medieval period; it attempted to fully integrate philosophy with the ‘new sciences’; and Descartes changed the relationship between philosophy and theology. Such new directions of philosophy made Descartes into a revolutionary figure” (Baillet 1693). For this, he is now known as the father of modern philosophy. Through this development in thought, he was also the founder of modern day mathematics and scientific method. In developing his ideas, Descartes wrote several books, including his “Discourse on Method”, first published in 1637, regarding the nature of existence and knowledge. This book is divided into segments Descartes labels meditations. It is in his third meditation that Descartes reflects upon the nature of God and determines that he does indeed exis
Introduction The advertisement picked up by me is that of BMW cars in general, that appears in different magazines and commercials in conveying the message to potential buyers about why a BMW car is the ultimate attraction for those looking forward to an overall excitement as conveyed by the picture. Every aspect of the car buying decision and the later experience of enjoying the car is portrayed in the advertisement, all of which is evident from its detailed analysis as under. Main body Upon seeing the advertisement one is instantly taken to a different state of mind which brings in compelling feelings of excitement and wonder as to what exactly the ad is trying to convey. All viewers of the ad will ponder in their thoughts by associating themselves with the character who is experiencing exciting moments with the creation of sensual desire that is then associated with the BMW car. Immediately there is feeling of credibility about the brand in conveying that here is one car that has the potential in bringing about the much desired excitement as related to sensuality. There are various elements to the ad in portraying different aspects that appeal to the human psyche. The first impression is that of a young and beautiful couple sharing intimate moments, and along with the pictorial depiction of this aspect is the picture of the BMW car staring him right in the face thus implying that what he is enjoying is the car. The early morning rising sun as seen from the window signifies the start of the day meaning that such experience with the car starts first thing in the day. The neat and clean bed on which they are lying conveys the neat interiors of the BMW car, and the perfect bodies of the two characters in the ad clearly indicate similar perfection of the car. The writing on the ad in saying that it is the ultimate attraction gives away the motive in that there is nothing better than the BMW car. Hence the pictures and the copy are perfectly balanced in conveying the desired message. Surely the ad follows a systematic pattern in making every aspect of the picture to be associated with the kind of experience the car can provide in terms of ultimate comfort, excitement and perfection. The arrangement of the ad suggests that the car is perfect in all respects. There has been lot of expertise put into the advertisement in regard to white space. There is very little text written in it which is not too crammed with text and graphics giving clear indication of an excellent design. The ad has lot of white space but it is very much in the context of the reader visualizing his aspirations as being materialized by associating himself with it. The basic function of too much white space in this ad is justified since the element of the advertising design warranted the same. The ad had succeeded in creating an ambience of clean sensuality and class coupled with perfection as depicted from all aspects of the pictures and minimal text used. T
The Two Famous Plays Drama is one of the most spectacular and most appealing forms of art. Such masterpieces as plays by Sophocles and Shakespeare will never become less popular or out-of-date. These plays still appeal to people’s hearts and make them think of such important issues as life and death, love and hatred, duty and passions, wisdom and silliness, etc. Thus, the two plays cannot be regarded as masterpieces of past centuries, but should be seen as writings of wisdom that speak to modernity as modern theatregoers will have a variety of important issues to consider. Romeo and Juliet As far as Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet is concerned, the viewers are exposed to “a bold portrayal of the passions and playfulness of youth” (Cohen 113). The play consists of the sequence of quite short scenes which are full of action and passion. These scenes resemble short memories of something that was lived through long ago or dreams which are only yet to come true. The story is known to everyone, but each viewer inevitably finds something new while watching the play. The language of the play is very appealing and it is understandable for the modern viewer. The viewer is involved in the entire story. Of course, the famous lines can never be forgotten, “For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo” (Shakespeare n.p.). It is necessary to note that the viewer is absorbed by the passions of the two young people who make lots of mistakes but prove that love is even bigger than life. The modern viewer can learn what the real passion is. Young people will feel their story is being told. At the same time, the play will bring back memories of youth to older viewers. In both cases, the play evokes the deepest and most important feelings and thoughts in the contemporary audience. Oedipus Rex As far as Oedipus Rex is concerned, the play is more serious and philosophical than Shakespearean love story. Oedipus Rex is “a play of questions” (Cohen 63). Of course, it is possible to contemplate thoughts and ideas that occurred to Sophocles’ contemporaries (one can hardly understand what those ideas were, though). However, contemporary viewers will also find the play appealing. The play makes people think of fate and freedom of will. One of the most serious issues each viewer will strive to solve is revealed in the following lines, “I was predestined to some awful doom. / So be it.” (Sophocles n.p.). The modern viewer, who is brought up in terms of principles of free will, inevitably thinks whether free will does exist. The play is very philosophical. The contemporary viewers will try to think of specific episodes in their lives to prove that there is no predestination and it
This paper talks about how a business in this instance, a kitchen constructing company, can make use of different skills by effectively combining them to enjoy a profitable business that will benefit in the long run. Significance of Networking The success of a business depends on the person running it. This is where their “people-skills” come in. The way they best approach contacts, how they maintain them and make new ones is very vital to their business. For instance I run a business where we make kitchens, vanities and robes for new and existing houses so my interaction with people is constant. For me to get new contracts it’s very important for me to maintain a good relationship with my vendors, customers and my employees. The friendliness with my vendors allows me to get the best quality materials that I may need and that too very timely at the best rates. My inviting attitude allows my customers to feel comfortable around me and communicate exactly what it is that they want and creates a comfort level whereby I can advise them on what would be best for them and how to do things better keeping their best interests in mind. I also keep a very friendly attitude with my employees, making it a fun environment to work in and acknowledging their achievements, also keeping in mind little details such as birthdays in mind to make them feel important, which results in high productivity and low absenteeism. There are many other skills that also come into play such as negotiation skills. The way to negotiate for best loans, prices, project completion dates and many others utilize this skill. For instance if I decide that I want to expand further I’ll need assistance in the form of a loan from the bank. I’ll have to plan my strategy out before I speak to them and anticipate any questions they might have and come up with satisfactory answers, convincing them to grant me the loan. The construction business is home to many vendors and that too of all types. The best will give you what you need but at a slightly higher price. It’s very important to negotiate a price with them that fits your budget and doesn’t offend them at the same time. When clients want something designed for them they would like it as soon as possible and