ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Beer drinking is an essential component of family, social and professional life for many people living in the United Kingdom. The excessive trend of consumption has frequently been reported in the last two decades. High per capita consumption can be traced back to the middle ages. However, over the last century, beer consumption has varied considerably. According to the UK customs and excise department, per capita consumption of beer in the early 1900s was higher than any other point in time (British Beer and Pub Association, 2007, p. 3). The consumption sharply declined following the First World War and Second World War due to restrictions in the pub operating hours, and other measures, for instance, reduced alcoholic percentage and proscription of “buying in round” for fear that excessive consumption will weaken the combatants. A small decline was also experienced during the Great depression of the 1930s (British Beer and Pub Association, 2007, p. 3). Since 1950s, the per capita consumption of beer has increased exponentially. The per capita consumption reached its apex in 2004. However, the consumption started to decline in 2006 because of the new taxation laws and the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. In the last five years, excise duty on beer has increased to nearly 40 percent. The escalation in excise duty has led to the increase in beer prices and cut-price off-trade trade buying. Strict driving laws, which prohibits excessive alcohol consumption also contributed to the decline. As a result, numerous pubs have been forced out of the business. The aggregate beer production also fell by 22 percent (TCS, 2013, p. 7; British Beer and Pub Association, 2007, p. 3). Figure 1: Per capital consumption of alcohol in the United Kingdom Source: Smith and Foxcroft (2009, p. 9) Despite the dwindling level of per capita consumption, UK is still among the highest beer consumers in Europe with an average per capita consumption of 89 litres. Hence, UK residents are considered to be among the heaviest drinkers in Europe. As a result, UK remains the largest market for beer manufacturers across Europe. As a matter of fact, 67 percent of the UK beer market is dominated by large multinational companies, for instance, Carlsberg and countless local breweries (IAS Facts Sheet, 2013, p. 5; British Beer and Pub Association, 2007, p. 4). There is a rising trend of homes being converted into entertainment hubs among UK consumers. In addition, beer is increasingly being sold in off-trade premises, for instance, supermarkets and other retail outlets. This offsets the amount of pubs and clubs being closed due to the escalation in excise duty. For this reason, the UK beer market i
Introduction Cross-cultural management became an important topic after businessmen realized the impact of globalization to their respective companies (Foster, 2012). Cross-cultural management deals with the implications of human diversity, outsourcing, multinational organizations, expatriates, and knowledge transfer on business organisations. Businessmen could study the impact of cross-cultural management in the workplace by utilizing Hofstede’s The Five Dimensions of Culture. A global project based on Hofstede’s theoretical framework called the Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness (“GLOBE”) was an attempt to understand the impact of culture on business management (Kouzes & Pozner, 2007). The analysis contained in the following pages was an assessment of how cross-cultural management affected Airbus EADS through the insights gleaned from the GLOBE initiative. The critical assessment of the Airbus consortium requires the identification of key cross-cultural issues faced by the enterprise. After the identification of the said cross-cultural issues, the next step is to relate those to the GLOBE project’s clusters of business cultures. Furthermore, the assessment attempts to evaluate the usefulness of GLOBE research project in how business leaders understand the cross-cultural issues involved. The end goal would be to devise viable solutions to the problems identified in the critical assessment of the said issues (Odgers,2005). Thus, leaders would be able to learn valuable lessons when it comes to the start-up of an international project (Steger,2009). Scope and Limitations Before going any further, it is important to point out the scope and limitation of this assessment task. The assessment will focus on the impact of cross-cultural management on Airbus SAS, particularly when the company experienced problems in the construction of Airbus 380. In this regard, the cultural dimensions developed through the GLOBE initiative forms part of the assessment tool. However, the assessment does not include Hofstede’s criticism of GLOBE’s theoretical framework. The assessment covers the impact of cultural dimensions to Airbus SAS as outlined in the GLOBE initiative. However, it is important to point out that the major cause of delays was brought about by miscommunication and internal problems related to European members of the consortium and not countries used by Airbus for their outsourcing needs. The Assessment It is interesting to note that the four members of the Airbus consortium were European countries. At the same time it is also important to note that the cultural dimensions outlined in the GLOBE project can be linked to where the countries are located. In other words most of the countries that were located in the Eastern hemisphere share the same culture as reflected in the cultural dimensions described in the GLOBE research project. The same thing can be said about the countries that were located in the Western hemisphere. Cultural Dimensions In order to identify the key cross-cult
Ensuring that every researcher adheres to the highest standards in their work is critical because the scientific method relies on finding the truth. It is especially true in the case of international relations and global politics because the overall stakes are high, and ramifications can affect entire populations. Therefore, the scientific method must be strictly adhered to by the researchers, where they start by clear and unbiased observations. The next step involves designing a tentative and consistent description and utilizing it to make predictions. These hypotheses must be tested and modified based on the results. The outcome is an explanation that is in tune with real-world occurrences. The researcher’s results of their studies must be reproducible to ensure that they are adhering to a high standard. The main reason is replicability is a key element of any scientific research. One’s results should be duplicated by another if the latter follows the same described protocol of actions. It is stated that reproducible research forms a foundation for further advancements (Begley & Ioannidis, 2015). Therefore, it is important because non-adherence to the highest standards will yield unreliable data, and policies that are based on flawed theories will be dysfunctional and might damage populations. Lastly, it is vital to hold researchers to a high standard because poor research methods will affect the entire scientific community through behavioralism. One should be aware that a consistent lack of adherence to the proper methodological frameworks can gradually become a norm among scientists. It will mean that the issue will become systematic and widespread. It is important to note that all individuals act in a patterned way. Thus, a steady decline in standards will inevitably mean that science is no longer reliable. Reference Begley, C. G., & Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2015). Reproducibility in science: Improving the standard for basic and preclinical research. Circulation Research, 116 (1), 116-126. Web.
Volkswagen Group is the name of the company. Ferdinand Porsche is the founder of the company. The brand’s origin dates back to the early 30s when the German auto industry offered mainly luxury models. To occupy an empty segment, automakers have been developing mass cars available to a wide range of the population. The official countdown of the Volkswagen company’s history dates from May 28, 1937, when the “Limited Liability Company for the Preparation of the German People’s Car” was created, from September 16, 1938, referred to as Volkswagenwerk GmbH. In the 20th century, the company launched a number of iconic models, including the Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Golf, and Volkswagen Passat. The 21st century for the brand was the beginning of the development of electric cars. Like many car companies, Volkswagen’s share price fell when the coronavirus hit. However, it did not take long for the company to recover. Stocks have surged in recent months after Volkswagen outlined its plans to expand its use of electric vehicles. The company has an estimated net worth of $ 500 billion as of 2021. Investing in Volkswagen can be considered a smart and reasonable decision. In addition to the release of new electrically powered models, the group’s global manufacturing network is transforming to expand the company’s presence in the electric vehicle market. It actively invests in developing its business in China, the third-largest automotive market in the world. Accordingly, the quality of products, their cost, the introduction of innovative production technologies, and the overall market success are the reasons why people in business should invest in company shares. The sale of high-tech and environmentally friendly electric vehicles can improve Volkswagen’s economic performance, particularly the profit, which is vital for the shareholders. VW aims to become the global market leader for electric vehicles no later than 2025 (Rauwald, 2021). Significant opportunities underpin Volkswagen’s plans for the electric car industry. Environmental problems that have become especially aggravated in recent years oblige manufacturers to switch to greener technologies. As follows from numerous studies in recent years, electric cars are less harmful to the environment than cars with conventional fuel engines. The electric car industry’s limitless potential will let it maintain premium valuations of the shares of the analyzed company. Electric vehicles entered the market relatively recently; they do not yet have a long market history and, accordingly, impressive statistics on profitability. However, these factors should not be a reason to refuse to invest in a company like Volkswagen. The Volkswagen stock chart from early 2019 to mid-2021 is presented below (Figure 1). Figure 1. VW daily chart with default indicators (StockCharts, 2021). Volkswagen invests in research and development to increase its market share. By the end of 2022, the company will allocate more than 34 billion euros for electric cars, autonomous driving, communications, and new mob
Taxation Carbon tax The carbon tax will increase the cost of production meaning that the supply of those products will reduce from Q 0 to Q 1 ; therefore, the supply curve will shift to the left (shift up) that is from S 0 to S 1 . Conversely, assume that the firm transfers it’s the cost of production forward that is to the consumer, this implies that the price of the good increases from P 0 to P 1 resulting in to decrease in quantity demanded thus leading to an upward movement on the demand curve from y to x due to increase in price as shown below. Thus a new equilibrium point x will be established. New car demand Oil and cars are compliment goods, which are used together; thus if the price of oil per barrel goes up to $200 this means that the demand for new cars will reduce that is a shift to the left from D 0 to D 1 , this reduction in quantity demanded will force the car price to decrease from P 0 to P 1 leading to a new market equilibrium (v) whilst the supply curve S will remain the same because the production cost of the car is not affected by oil prices though there will a movement down the supply curve due to decrease in price to a much lower supply level. If the severe global recession takes place a year after the increase in oil prices, this will lead to an increase in purchase price (P 3 to P 4 ) to the consumer and firm’s cost of production for new cars, which reduces quantity supplied from Q 3 to Q 4 . This implies that the supply curve will move to the left from S 3 to S 4 , establishing a new equilibrium point (w) while the demand curve will remain the same though there will an upward movement on the demand curve as a result of a price increase. Free trade agreement If consumers expect that the price of imported cars will reduce in six months this will lead to shifting of the demand curve to the left from D 0 to D 1 due to reduced demand from Q 0 to Q 1 , and the price will reduce from P 0 to P 1 as a result point b will be the new equilibrium. After the implementation of the policy, the supply curve will shift from S 0 to S 2 due to an increase in demand accordingly there will be a movement on the demand curve to the right from equilibrium point b to c due to an increase in quantity demanded from Q 1 to Q 2 which result to decrease in price from P 1 to P 2 . Profit  1. Normal profits are determined by the product price and the average cost of production where the rise in supply triggers a decrease in cost as a result, the price will equal average cost plus it will change with the economic state in the long run because when the economy is at boom more goods will be demanded which attract new compet
Introduction Access to health care has always been considered as one of the most decisive factors when assessing the overall well-being of a nation. Indeed, according to researchers, inequities in the paradigm of health care serve as a reflection of the bigger socio-economic picture, especially when it comes to the patterns of an expensive and complicated system of US health care (Wheeler & Bryant, 2017). For this reason, over the past years, much attention has been paid to the notion of community health in the context of ethnic and racial minorities across the country. In terms of the present presentation, the community health assessment will be focused on the health state of the Hispanic and Latino community in the state of Florida and Broward County, in particular. The overview of the community’s position will be analyzed through the prism of an interview conducted with a community health nurse in Hollywood, Florida. Community Description According to the statistics, the Hispanic population remains one of the most rapidly growing communities in the US (Pew Research Center, 2020). As a result, this ethnic group accounts for more than half of the total population growth in the US since 2010. Although the state of Florida is not considered as a community with a high Latino share, Broward County’s demographics demonstrate almost 30% Hispanic population (“Demographics,” 2020). However, even despite such statistical evidence and a steadily increasing population, the Hispanic or Latino community remains one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of access to health care and acceptance within the community (Castañeda & Díaz, 2017). Thus, it is vital to dwell on the socio-economic state of the Hispanic population in the US. Regarding the fact that the socio-economic status of the community is inevitably related to the patterns of health care access, it is necessary to dwell on the economic potential of the Hispanic community. According to research, the Hispanic population, although willing to work, experience higher unemployment rates and earn 26% less money for the same workload when compared to non-Hispanic whites (Joint Economic Committee, 2019). The level of education, although experiencing rapid positive development, remains quite unoptimistic, with almost 30% of the population not having a high school degree (Joint Economic Committee, 2019). Such daunting statistics result in lower rates of economic stability and limited access to health care and proper insurance. According to the statistics, the Hispanic population obtains the highest uninsured rate among the US residents (Castañeda & Díaz, 2017). When speaking more in detail, it becomes evident that Hispanic older adults who are expected to have their governmentally covered Medicaid or Medicare insurance are limited in their access to insurance, w
Young children form a significant part of the future generation. The way children are brought up will determine the social and economic status of a country in the future. At a tender age, body systems develop rapidly. To achieve effective development, children must eat appropriate food and maintain good physical health (Reedy & Krebs-Smith, 2010). Although parents should be responsible for their children’s nutrition, the majority of them spend a major part of the day working. Young children spend a major part of the day at school with their teachers. Therefore, parents should ensure they enroll their children in a school where teachers understand nutrition for young children. The brain is an essential body system that should develop effectively. Such development can only be achieved through the right nutrition, sanitation, and regular exercise. The need to have a healthy and brilliant future generation is the principle behind good nutrition for young children (Sorte, Daeschel, & Amador, 2014). Young children are physically active because they are in the process of discovery. Apart from classwork, they play in order to understand their environment. Based on the fifth NAEYC standards, teachers should monitor their physical health and nutrition. It is the duty of teachers to ensure that young children stay in a clean and sanitized environment. Therefore, teachers who handle young children must have the necessary skills, such as pediatric first aid. The PowerPoint focuses on the fundamental aspects of good nutrition for children and the development of a strong immunity system. Children should have a strong immunity to prevent diseases, which might cause retarded growth (NAEYC for Families, n.d.). To ensure effective outcomes, teachers and parents should have a close relationship and frequently communicate about the welfare of young children. As a result, they will promote healthy physical and mental growth for young children.
Summary of the Book and Analysis of Characters’ Relations The Outsiders is a book that narrates about social struggles premised on differences in social outlooks, wealth, and cultural beliefs (Hinton, 2005). The rivalry between the two gangs – the Greasers and the Socs – turns into the struggle in the context of social problems. Thus, the story represents a microcosm in which people with problematic backgrounds confront social challenges. The main protagonist Ponyboy is a 14 years old boy who lives with his elder brothers – 16-year old Sodapop and the eldest brother Darry. The latter takes responsibilities for his brothers because their parents died in a car accident (Hinton, 2005). Ponyboy, along with his friends Johnny and Dally, confronts Bob and Randy, the members of the Socs, after returning from the cinema with Socs’ girlfriends Cherry and Marcia. Later, Bob and Randy decide to revenge on the Greasers and threaten Panyboy to kill him. In a struggle, Johnny kills Bob because the latter attempted to drown Ponyboy. Both Johnny and Ponyboy decide to escape and hide in a church. However, when the church got on fire they rescue a group of children, but both teenagers are seriously wounded. Learning about the rescue of children from church, local newspapers proclaim Johnny and Ponyboy as heroes. In a hospital, Johnny dies because of serious injuries whereas Dally suffers from Johnny’s loss and decides to commit suicide while confronting the police. After the accident and recovery, Ponybody returns home and leads a normal life, but his grades in school leave much to be desired. Then, he writes a term paper based on the story of his life, which later turns into a novel. The book reveals a complex interaction between representatives of different layers of society resulting in rigorous struggles between the rich and the poor. The story is also about complicated family relations, as well as how family background influences teenager’s outlook on social interaction and communication. In this respect, the three brothers – Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry – are left without parents’ attention and, as a result, they have to take on extra duties and responsibilities. Ponyboy is irritated by Darry’s extreme care. He befriends Johnny and shares his outlooks on life. Sodapope is a handsome and carefree high school student who gave up studying. Along with his best friend Steve, he works at the gas station and knows everything about how to steel hubcaps. All these relationships are presented in the context of specific behavioral codes dictated by external constrains. All the members of the gang, therefore, are committed to the idea of honorable actions, which implies re
This reading is part of a book called “Quiet” by Susan Cain. In this book, she explores the dynamics surrounding introverted and extroverted personalities. The first part of the book discusses various subjects that revolve around different forms of personalities. Some of the issues addressed by this book include the myths surrounding the superiority of extroverts. Because of my introverted personality, the book communicated to me in a big way. We live in a world where extroversion is a revered value and introverts are under constant pressure to “change”. The book is a work of research exploring various personalities in different environments. It was also easy for me to relate to most of the examples used by the author. The first part of this book starts by exploring how extroversion became a culturally ideal personality trait. According to the writer, in the period before eighteenth century introversion was more revered than extroversion. After 1900, the country was entering into a new economic era that was highly dependent on sales people. Because extroverts make better salespersons, the demand for people with more outward personalities soared. The writer uses the story of a Dale, a poor farm boy who alters his personality, to illustrate this point. In this story, Dale perfects the art of public speaking and with great results. Personally, I am familiar with public speaking clubs. Those who attend such clubs do so in the hope that they will break barriers. This is a common obsession nowadays. However, in the years before the eighteenth century, people were contented with their inherent traits. The book also covered recent developments in American culture. The self-help culture is one of them. This culture of anything self-help shot to prominence in the turn of the century and continued to gain prominence in the 2000s. Today, it is almost impossible to watch television for a few hours without coming across a self-help themed advertisement. Most of these self-help tips are always encouraging the shift from introversion to extroversion. It is also true that most of these self-help programs target introverts. Currently almost every bookstore you walk into has a whole section on self –help books. There is also a chance that this section features some of the bestselling books. The book attributed this development to changing economic times. The idea in today’s society is that people have to “sell it not to say it” and people have to “say it in order to sell it” (Cain 33). The book also incorporates basic psychology into the subject. It is noted that most psychologists are in favor of extroversion. Some psychological traits such as inferiority complex have at times been attributed to one’s personality. Extroversion has also been used as a marketing tool. Some companies confuse customers into thi