ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Children are more susceptible to media influence than adults as they are not ready to evaluate data critically. Consequently, the media shape their behaviors and even influence food preferences. In case of the same effort to promote healthy and unhealthy foods, children will still choose harmful ones (Coates et al., 2019). This effect leads to childhood obesity and related health problems. The rationale for a topic is the issue of relevance during a pandemic when it is challenging to limit Internet use. PICO Questions In school-age children (P), do the media literacy skills (I) improve nutritional choices (O) compared with no such skills (C)? In school-age children (P), does health education (I) improve nutritional choices (O) compared with no education (C)? Literature review Studies confirm the link between media influence and junk food choices. Mazur et al. (2018), Smith et al. (2019), and Spielvogel et al. (2018) pay particular attention to the methods used in media to convince children and health consequences. Coates et al. (2019) found that advertising healthy foods has no such effect as unhealthy. Scaglioni et al. (2018) emphasize the initial influence of parents in the formation of dietary habits. Austin et al. (2020) found that an intervention that teaches media literacy and promotes parent-child communication can improve eating habits. Thus, the literature focuses on the negative influence of the media on food choices and possible interventions. Background The effect of the media on eating habits is undeniable, and many researchers have paid attention to it. Marketing for unhealthy foods, lifestyle changes due to technology, and their interconnections have negatively affected children’s health. Obesity among the younger generation is becoming more frequent and has adverse health consequences. However, researchers also pay attention to the parents’ influence on habit formation. They can play a crucial role in the development of interventions. Methods A literature review was conducted to evaluate the potential of interventions to educate children and parents about
The United States has historically been praised for being a multicultural nation that hosts people from almost every country in the globe. However, racial discrimination is evident in all facets of society, including educational institutions, corporates, housing, and criminal justice. Street protests and social media campaigns against ethnic intolerance have become more rampant in recent years. Amidst the current chaotic environment, a question arises whether there is an amicable way of ending the enduring racial hatred in the United States. This essay utilizes two articles, one by Day and the other by Swenson, in arguing about the best way of resolving ethnic animosity. Although reacting to incidents can raise awareness, there is a need for a lasting solution, which can be achieved through strategic adjustment of media representation, political leadership, and institutional policies. First, a permanent answer will partially be achieved by changing the media representation of minorities. The Hollywood representation of a black woman is often a magical hero who “is a virtuous black character who serves to better the lives of white people…and asks nothing for herself” (Swenson). The description promotes a slave mentality where the African Americans toiled without reaping any benefit, thus being discouraged. The news reports are also fond of reporting the Black people as the criminals whenever there is conflict. Currently, Ferguson, who is an activist, has noted that there are always contradictions in what is being reported and the reality. For example, “while the TV networks were reporting on incidents of rioting and looting, real-time tweets from protesters…claimed that the police had been firing tear gas and rubber bullets” (Day). The portrayal of the African Americans by the mainstream media as offenders has continued to encourage injustices. Thus, the solution is for the mainstream media to remain neutral. Next, giving leadership positions to the people who will be mindful of the challenges faced by racial minorities is a significant step in ending racial discrimination. This is evident during the Alabama elections where “98 percent of black women voted for Jones,” making her win against Moore (Swenson). The results excited the African American women in the region as they felt that their voices would be heard. The need for representative leadership is evident in Oprah Winfrey’s statement that: “What I’m looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say: This is what we want” (Day). If the minority groups have their leaders, they can advocate for their wellbeing and bring lasting change. In addition, a strategic policy change on different institutions to enhance fairness can be effective in eradicating some of the challenges faced by the Black community. In her article, Day notes that “in almost every area of society, black Americans remain disadvantaged.” She provides statistical facts to show that in schools, prisons, employment, and housing, the blacks remain disadvantaged. One of the effective solutions is contained in this quote: “how about you change the laws making it easier for us to vote, or sing our praises by
Introduction Written by Mathew Arnold (1822-1888), the poem “Dover Beach” attempts to explain the changing nature of faith in Europe, especially after the publishing of evolution theories by Charles Darwin and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in the 19 th century. In addition, the impact of industrial revolution changed the people’s Christian faith. A religious person, Arnold was worried of the deteriorating faith among the people in Europe, which threatened the existence of Christianity. In this poem, it is quite difficult to understand the actual meaning that Arnold wanted to express. However, it requires an in-depth analysis of imagery to understand the poet’s themes. According to Culler (17), imagery is a literary technique that involves the use of vivid language to create or evoke mental images or generate ideas of sensation, emotion and visual sense. According to Honan (23), images of sight and sound have a great contribution to the effectiveness of poems since they give the poet the freedom to express ideas and thoughts clearly, evoke some form of emotions in the reader and thus connect with the reader/audience. An in-depth analysis of the poem “Dover Beach” by Mathew Arnold reveals that sight and sound are two major imageries used to explain the poet’s ideas and feelings due to the threatened existence of Christianity in the 19 th century Europe. Imagery of sight and sound as it applies in “Dover Beach” Almost every line of the poem “Dover Beach” has some evidence of imagery, which makes the piece not only interesting, but also one that challenges the reader. At the beginning of the poem, Arnold has used the sight of sea scenery, where the reader is introduced to a ‘calm and relaxing sea’. Here, the poet says that in that particular night, the sea was calm, the tide full and the moon was fair. It shows that the poet’s scene is on a bay near the cliffs of England overlooking the French Coast. This is actually a sound imagery that invokes that at the beginning, everything seems to be Okay. The reader is able to see from this imagery that there is a possibility that the poet is talking about the situation in England and France since they share the Straight. However, the use of the word “today” in developing this imagery of sight suggests that things might change sometime in the future of that the situation might be changing. This imagery gives an insight into a possibility of change, just like the changes in conditions at sea scenery. The poet seems to suggest that the “gleaming light” he sees when looking towards the coast of France is a sign of hope. The reader can understand that hope in the region is fast disappearing. Arnold seems to suggest that the disappearance of hope will create hopelessness among the Europeans. In fact, this was the situation in Europe’s religion at the time, especially due to an increasing appreciation of scientific postulates by Darwin, Larmarck and Wallace. As the poem continues, he seems to be changing the tone, as shown in the last few lines of the first stanza. Here, Arnold says “…from the long line of spray… there is a grating roar… of pebbles as the waves are drawing back… and brings down sadness forev
Introduction George Washington is a celebrated hero due to his personalized need to make a difference. George Washington remained consistent throughout his leadership dispensation. This presentation explores the heroic deeds of George Washington. The presentation draws a lot from Washington’s autobiography. The presentation will explain his achievements in democracy, local and foreign policy, and the independence of the United States. Washington’s Achievements Democracy and rule of law The most admired qualities of George Washington include courage, confidence, and statesmanship. Washington was at the forefront of creating and institutionalizing a strong, well-organized, and steadily financed government. George Washington’s government was very successful in suppressing rebellion and established a very firm united America (Grizzard 21). Continuation George Washington is accredited for having initiated different government rituals. The inaugural speech and cabinet system of governance were the creation of George Washington. The cabinet system has survived the test of time and has been adopted by several governments across the world. Washington was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army when the revolutionary combat was in progress. The success of this war led to the establishment of the current United States of America. Washington’s Achievements Peace and Economic Independence The current transitional process was first implemented by George Washington. George Washington facilitated a peaceful and structured transition to John Adams. Due to the peaceful transition, Washington earned the title of the ‘Father of America’. Washington’s government established the first national bank and taxation on commodities such as Whisky. Continuation Washington’s economic policies led to the establishment of financially stable that did not depend on foreign aid. Washington’s financial policies have remained relevant and have placed the US ahead of many countries (Cornwell 4). Washington preserved the United States’ government during a period of continuous demand for secession during the Whisky protests. Washington quelled the rebellion that threatened to destroy the foundation of the United States of America. Washington’s Achievements Social and Political Policies and Acts As a president, George Washington is accredited for having established and implemented the first Resident Act and the Bill of Rights. These acts were instrumental towards the authorization of the sitting president to have an exclusive mandate in running the government. This action still empow
Introduction “The Bell Jar” is the only novel by Sylvia Plath, the American author. It was first published in 1963 under Plath’s pseudonym “Victoria Lucas.” However, it was not accepted by the publishers at first and became a best-seller after the author’s death. It owes its inclusion to classics to the feminist movement which was in search of the literature to help in defeating patriarchal tradition. The novel is considered autobiographical but the real facts are veiled among the invented (McCann 75). This piece of writing reveals the concept of gender in general and “the role of female protagonists in a largely patriarchal world” in particular (McCann 75). In the novel, the author’s life facts are fictionalized. For example, Plath herself stayed in a psychiatric hospital and so did Esther, the main character of the story. Her last name, Greenwood, refers to the family name on Plath’s grandmother’s side thus bringing in more autobiography (McCann 75). Another common feature of the author and Esther Greenwood includes working for a magazine in New York City during summer, an attempt of suicide, and finally institutionalization (McCann 75). Wagner-Martin (qtd. in McCann 75) calls Esther “a stand-in for Plath: the golden girl, or star, who suffers and rises again”. The story is rich in symbols, themes, and stylistic features. The metaphor of the “bell jar” is worthy of a separate discussion. The Image of the Bell Jar Sylvia Plath herself commented on the story in the following way. “I’ve tried to picture my world and the people in it as seen through the distorting lens of a bell jar” (qtd. in McCann 75). The bell jar is symbolic of the novel. The dictionary defines a bell jar as “a bell-shaped usually glass vessel designed to cover objects or to contain gases or a vacuum” (“Bell Jar”). In Plath’s novel, the bell jar is a metaphor used to refer to the society which surrounds the main character. In the narrower context, the bell jar can be treated as a metaphor for the life experiences of Esther Greenwood, the protagonist of Sylvia Plath. The image of the bell jar pervades the novel. The main character believes she is under this jar. Esther does not think there is a possibility to change anything in her life. She mentions, “wherever I sat – on the deck of a ship or at a street cafe in Paris or Bangkok–I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my sour air” (Plath 184). Her feelings could be probably explained by the position of women in general in the society of that time. The young woman feels lonely and alienated. Her feelings are conditioned by discrepancies between the expectations put on any young girl living in 1950s America and her desires. She is supposed to be an obedient girl and marry an appropriate man. Her dreams of writing, successes in education, and winning awards by her talent are not resp
Introduction The topic selected for the press effect research is the set of news taken from the New York Times, dedicated to the foreign politics of the USA and decisions taken by the US administration. To be more particular in the definitions, the occasion took for the regard is the Iraq campaign and the retuning of the natives to their homes. The news itself states that: the tide of migration has reversed: the buses and GMC Suburban vans filled with people heading to Damascus infrequently run, while those coming from the border appear every day. Iraqi families who fled their homes in the past two years are returning to Baghdad. Analysis of the sources The news is claimed to emphasize that the situation in Iraq is stabilizing and the soon returning home of the American military contingent. It is shown in the phrase that the description of the scope of the return, however, appears to have been massaged by politics. Returnees have essentially become a currency of progress . As for the other sources denoting these facts, The Washington Post delivers these materials in the context that the homesick Iraqi refugees return to Iraq. “There is nothing sweeter than being in Iraq. I will not leave again,” says 70-year-old grandmother Saadiya Tawfik, whose family struggled to make ends meet after fleeing to neighboring Syria with more than a million other Iraqis. The fact is that the same event is described in various contexts. Thus, it may be seen that The New York Times represents it as the peaceful returning of the families after the war events. The correspondents of The Washington Post see the problem as the returning of the refugees. The contextual backgrounds of these two meanings differ. The returning home may denote the returning of peaceful citizens, soldiers, partisans, or even Shakhids, who have already put down their weapons. But the “returning of the refugees to their homes” clearly shows the situation, as it is clearly understood who the refugees are, and their retuning means either the stabilization of the political situation in the county or just the changes for the best. According to Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Paul Waldman in “The press effect,” the definition of the problem defines the issues of publicity, i.e., what people are talking about. As the readers are attracted by the headings, the necessity of a bright one is evident. Thus, the heading that refugees are returning home would be more attractive, as the whole world is anxious with the matters of refugees in the context of increasing the number of democratic states and the spread of the concept of “the democratic world.” Moreover, the article by The Washington Post offers some statistical data by the International Organization of Migration, which states the volumes of the migration flows. On the other hand, The New York times references the survey held by the United Nations Organization: A United Nations survey released last week of 110 Iraqi families leaving Syria also seemed to dispute the contentions of officials in Iraq that people are returning primarily because they feel safer. The survey foun
Modern technology has invented measures that can be used by project managers to evaluate the progress of work assigned. It has made it possible for managers to electronically determine rate at which the project is being done and amount of resources that may be required. The need came due to rising number of customers in IT industry each with varying needs. The work load is distributed among the team members who will be responsible to report various developments of their project. This has enhanced quality production and customer satisfaction. Metrics are measures used by an organization to gauge performance. Performance is measured by this method using elements such as inputs, outputs and activities. They are process based and therefore used by any organization that engages in production at different stages such as marketing, manufacturing, operations, research and finance. Metrics may be classified into different categories depending on what they are related to (Abramowicz, 2007). People metrics as the name suggests are used to measure the number and kind of people in an organization (Eusgeld, 2008). Records are kept on their availability and the kind of activities they are engaged in. They show the person involved in handling a certain responsibility in the project and his or her general role. Process metrics gives measurements of the different projects in the organization. It indicates time used to complete a certain project, resources used to facilitate completion of such process, risks that the organization undertook in a project. Process metrics is generally concerned with maturity period of a project. Project metrics is a kind of metric used to assess facts and trends that underlie a certain project. They provide information on the kind of project being dealt with, resources invested, period taken to finish the project and projects total cost. Performance metrics are used to show variance in performance of a certain project. It mainly measures the cost value of a certain performance (Phelps, 2004). These metrics provide a summarized view of performance at any given stage. They show variance in calculating cost of a project and shows whether the trend is positive or negative. Quality metrics measure the quality of work done; it helps the organization realize if there is any value for the projects being undertaken. This is done by determining the number of cancellations, deviations and defects. Metrics and their associated systems are usually designed into programs that are controlled by a specific person. The data is reviewed regularly depending on the metric; some organizations prefer to update them weekly while others on monthly basis. Metrics will show whether an organization is either improving on its quality
Introduction Research shows that performance management is one key function of management through which companies seek to attain a highly competitive position within industries and in the larger market. Most companies are shifting attention from personnel management, which embraces centralized structures of organizations, to strategic human resource management which centers on processes and systems of managing people and other organizational resources for the sake of improved organizational performance. Performance management is a comprehensive exercise that involves the alignment of the needs and demands of organizational employees to their delivery and organizational performance. Employee compensation, which often goes hand in hand with benefits, is one of the critical functions that are rooted in performance management. One way through which the needs and demands of the employees can be managed is through the paying of attention to the monetary and other benefits. Employee work because of the monetary benefits, thus organizations that pay a considerable amount of attention to crafting an environment that embraces compensation are bound to attain a higher level of competitiveness in the market. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is one of the most competitive companies in the United Arab Emirates. The company manages to thrive in a competitive oil and gas industry through the embrace of best practices of performance management. This paper argues that the intense focus of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on catering for the needs of its employee through intense benefits and allowances helps the company to motivate and retain its employees. This paper is divided into four main parts. This part begins by presenting the company. Here, the paper puts the company into the picture by expounding on the history and background of the company. The second part of the paper presents an overview of the human resource policies and practices in the company. This part is critical in bringing out the pointers of best practices in the management of the employees of the company. This is followed by the second and, perhaps, the most critical part,