ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Adolescence is the transitional period of development between childhood and adulthood. It is also called the teenage years. This stage of development is an emotional assault course for all concerned. Teenagers are neither children nor adults. It is the most turbulent time for them. During the period of adolescence a person experiences a great variety of rapid physical changes and encounters a lot of deep emotional issues. For every culture the age that is considered to be part of the teenage years is different. It can range from pre-teens to nineteens years. The World Health Organization establishes that adolescence covers the span of life between ten and twenty years of age. As well as becoming taller, starting to shave or having periods young people on this stage start to think and feel differently. They are making rather close relationships outside the family, with friends of their own age. At this time the question of adolescent sexuality arises. Every teenager’s objectives are to be healthy but at the same time to become sexually active. Teenagers’ sexuality concerns some aspects of life that no longer make part of only of the adult world. On the one hand there are young people forming up their personality features, a pot of stimuli and commotions. On the other hand, there’s hormonal excitation related to adolescent sexuality, which can be called sexual realization. Main text More than half of teenagers in the USA will have had their first experience of sex before the sixteen years age and so the risk of early pregnancy is an essential part of adolescent life (Cobb Nancy J., 1998). Nevertheless most adolescents try to choose their partners rather carefully. Risky unprotected intercourse and sleeping around are often signs of underlying emotional problems. They may also be the signs of a risk-taking way of life. Adolescents, who take risks in one way tend to take risks in other ways as well. So, those young people, who start having sex early are at greater risk of serious health problems. It concerns not only pregnancy but first of all sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs). STDs are very common all around the world especially nowadays. They are caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites. Many teenagers think that only others can get STDs and they have no risk of picking up an infection. But practically everyone who is sexua
Introduction Indonesia is one of the emerging market economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The country has a large population with a strong purchasing power. In addition, the government has focused on implementing economic reforms to attract foreign capital. In this respect, this paper will provide a comprehensive analysis of the risks associated with doing business in Indonesia. The analysis will focus on political, economic, legal, and technological risks. Social and environmental risks will also be analyzed. Based on the analysis, recommendations concerning the attractiveness of the Indonesian market will be made. Political Risks Indonesia realized a major political achievement in 2004 when it successfully adopted a democratic system of governance. Democracy has created a favorable business environment by protecting basic human rights and preventing violent political confrontations (MarketLine, 2013). Nonetheless, corruption in the public and private sectors is still a major risk in Indonesia. Generally, businesses incur high costs because they have to bribe government officials to secure contracts and licenses. Red-tapism is another major risk that investors face in Indonesia. It takes nearly ten complicated procedures and 48 days to start a business in the country (MarketLine, 2013). However, in the ASEAN region it takes only 7 procedures and approximately 37 days to start a business. Red-tapism promotes corruption and increases the cost of doing business in the country. Indonesia has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thereby enabling its traders to avoid trade barriers in the international market (IHS, 2014). For instance, table 1 shows that major economies such as Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the US are Indonesia’s major export destinations. However, Indonesia’s worsening foreign relations is likely to prevent access to external markets in future. For instance, Indonesia’s relations with Australia have worsened since 2013. This is likely to have a negative effect on trade between the two countries. Economic Risks Indonesia achieved an impressive average annual GDP growth rate of 5.4% between 2000 and 2012 (MarketLine, 2013). Figure 1 shows that the country’s GDP growth rate is likely to remain above 5% in the next four years. Growth will be sustained by favorable factor endowment, which includes huge oil and gas deposits. Generally, improved economic growth will boost domestic demand, thereby increasing the profitability of local firms. Indonesia’s financial system is very stable since it had a capital adequacy of 18.48% and a return on assets rate of 3% in 2013 (MarketLine, 2013). Thus, the risk of a financial crisis in the country is low. However, Indonesia’s headline inflation rose to 8.8% in the third quarter of 2014. The inflation rate is expected to worsen due to import restrictions and elimination of subsidies in the medium term. The resulting reduction in demand will expose businesses to the risk of making losses. Indonesia has a huge current account deficit, which is expected to persist in the next four years (MarketLine, 2013). The deficit will increa
Basic Principles Assessment is the overall analysis of the performance of individuals based on the skill and knowledge one has acquired through the learning process. The process of assessing the learner’s development throughout the learning activity is often emphasized. Accordingly, there are several types of assessments which aim at measuring and improving the standards of the learner’s learning activity. In other words, assessment is important for the evaluation of the learner’s achievement or learning as well as for the presentation of more effective instruction in the learning process. Therefore, there are several basic principles which help in the large scale as well as classroom based assessment. The principles which are fundamental for effective understanding and application through assessment include the principles of reliability, validity, relevance and transferability etc. There are also other principles which guide the quality of assessment. Thus, an effective assessment, which is inclusive of all learners, offers means for the learners to utilize feedback from the evaluation and prepares them to take up the responsibility for their own learning. Further, such an effective assessment “emphasizes the interactions between learning and manageable assessment strategies that promote learning… clearly expresses for the student and teacher the goals of the learning activity… reflects a view of learning in which assessment helps students learn better, rather than just achieve a better mark.” (Principles of Assessment for Learning). The chief principles that are fundamental in assessment are the principle of reliability, validity, and relevance and transferability. These are common criteria which make an assessment process effective and useful to the learner. When an assessment is reliable, valid, and relevant, it can be immensely useful to the learner in his future improvement. Through a reliable assessment, same judgment and evaluation about the learning content will be arrived at by the different assessors acting autonomously using the same criteria and mark scheme. The question of validity is also considered to be crucial in assessment and it is measured in terms of the extent to whic
What I have learned about my teamwork skills From the analysis carried out on my teamwork skills, I noticed that I am reasonably good as an encourager because I scored 8 out of the possible 12 points. I am an enthusiastic and humorous person. I often use these qualities to motivate members of my team. In most cases, I prefer confronting emerging issues by clarifying and suggesting ideas. I also scored 9 points out of 12 as a compromiser (the University of Kent, n.d). Although this type of teamwork skill may be harmful when used in the wrong context, it has really helped me in strengthening my relationship with other team members. I have the ability to make my team members feel comfortable, bearing in mind that I am a sociable character. In some instances, I am easily influenced by a group decision at the expense of my personal choices. My comprising name has also enabled me to blend well with group members in spite of their diverse characteristics. I am generally sensitive and diplomatic towards when relating with other people (the University of Kent, n.d). My score as a summarizer was 7. This is slightly above average. I am not very good at summarizing group meetings, even though my fellow group members often think that I perform reasonably well in this area. Nonetheless, I can e
Solid waste has become a major upshot of development and modernization in many countries across the world, and its management continues to present many challenges to the developed nations as well as the developing countries. However, the greatest challenge of solid waste management is felt in third world countries (Thomas-Hope, 1998), where the existing frameworks of solid waste management coupled with weak or inadequate policies regarding the same and population pressures have aggravated the issue to a point of attracting international attention. This does not imply that developed countries have won the battle of solid waste management; on the contrary, countries such as China and India often stand accused of implementing improper solid waste disposal practices, thus endangering the health of the community and contributing to environmental degradation. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the issue of improper trash disposal practices and the human health problems that such practices may cause in the community. A multiplicity of actions that we engage in on daily basis may in actual sense constitute improper trash disposal practices by the fact that we do not follow the proper procedures to discard the trash, mostly generated from our interactions with the environment (Thomas-Hope, 1998). At the most basic level, we often drop banana peels in places not designated for garbage disposal, in the process endangering the lives of passersby, who may step on the peel and slip, causing injury. This in itself constitutes an improper trash disposal practice. At a more specific level, some companies are known to drain chemical byproducts from their manufacturing processes into the nearby rivers, in the process generating a situation which can have far-reaching ramifications for the environment, the aquatic life, and for the public who may end up using such water for domestic purposes (Leach, 2010). Other waste management practices end up mixing trash that can decompose with others that cannot decompose, resulting in an escalation of the waste disposal problem as seen in most Asian countries that are struggling to clear man-made ‘mountains’ of garbage generated by employing improper trash disposal practices (Thomas-Hope, 1998). As such, it can be argued that methods and techniques of waste disposal that end up occasioning negative consequences for the environment, natural vegetation, inhabitants (people and animals), and the public health constitutes improper trash disposal practices. Improper trash disposal practices may lead to a number of human health problems. Indeed, a meta-analysis of several environmental studies done by Thomas-Hope (1998) demonstrates that the consequences of improper dispo
Introduction In the contemporary business environment, countries have realized the advantages of opening their economy for foreign investors, and the initiatives taken by most countries are purposely to improve their economies (Bhasa 2004) However, with increase in the level of globalization, capital transfer from one country to the other, and increase in corporate scandals, analysts have called for a common goal in which the business owners can reach common objectives through corporate governance. Evidence reveals that there have been rooted problems for the corporate organisation to reach a common goal in the adoption of unified corporate governance across borders (Waring 2006). The next line of this essay focuses on the problems facing regulators in establishing consistency in corporate governance practices across borders. The essay argues whether consistency is necessary in the governance practice across border. Problems facing regulators in establishing consistency in corporate governance practices across borders Corporate governance has been widely defined by different scholars. Warring (2005) defines corporate governance as the methods the corporate organizations are directed and run by the management (Waring 2006). It is essential to note that corporate governance is to achieve the overall shareholders’ value and the running of an organization is to ensure that both international and local investors receive returns on their investment (Davies and Schlitzer 2008). Dennis and McConnell (2003) defines corporate governance as a set of mechanism in which both institutional and company controllers use to maximise the value of an orgaorganization should be noted that overall objective of corporate governance is the way in which a corporate organisation is able to realise returns from their investment. As being pointed out by Warring (2006) “ Good corporate governance is an essential to prerequisite for the integrity and credibility of financial institution, stock exchange, individual companies, and indeed the whole market economy … “ However, for the corporate organisation to achieve its primary objectives there is need for transparency, and accountability to ensure greater prosperity for all investors. The increase in corporate scandals couple with the natures of international investments lead firms and investors to call for consistency of corporate governance across borders. These initiatives come because of the advantages that could be realised from the consistent corporate governance such as enhancement of shareholders’ right and efficient international capital market (Warring 2006). These initiatives taken by different organisations to achieve common goal of uniform corporate governance are resulted to failures over the years. For example, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) set up a taskforce to produce a common framework for the acceptability of global corporate governance. Moreover, other organisations such International Monetary Fund (IMF), The Bank for International Settlements, and World Bank set up guideline to achieve common regulatory system to ac
Human resource managers of successful business organizations incorporate proven methods and techniques in training and appraising employees as motivational performance enhancement tools to reap the best benefits. According to Techniques of Performance Appraisal (2007), various methods and techniques, old and new, exist in pursuing and reaching the desired goals. This is evident with the European pharmaceuticals-distribution group Alliance Unichem. In its distribution channels, Unichem has used a 360 Degree Feedback to establish strong relationship with its employees. This is manifested in employee development and the organization’s excellent change management initiatives incorporated by the organization’s Human Resource Managers (HRM) in driving change and employee development. According to Techniques of Performance Appraisal (2007), methods are identified as specific tools that perform specific tasks while techniques are ways of working with methods. Techniques are said to comprise a variety of methods. Appraisal Methods The most important asset a business organization can posses is its human resources. These resources must develop and grow. Therefore training and development needs must be identified and appropriate training techniques and methods used to reach that goal. Old and modern methods are two approaches to methods and techniques for employee training and development. The article, 11 Performance Appraisal Methods (2005) identifies one of the old methods as essay appraisal. This is a non-quantitative approach for managers to straight ranking where employees are ranked in order of performance i.e. best to worst. Other techniques and methods include, Paired comparison, Critical Incident method, Field Review, Checklist method, Graphic Ratings scale where a manager reports on observed employee performance, and Forced distribution methods (11 Performance Appraisal Methods, 2005) Modern methods include Management by objectives (MBO), 360 Degree Appraisal, Assessment centers, behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales, and Human Resource Accounting (11 Performance Appraisal Methods, 2005). Unichem’s procedure and 360 Degree Appraisal Business executives who talk about successful organizational HRM initiatives, development, growth and sustainability are actually talking about excellent employee development methods and techniques in achieving the above objectives. This is evident with Unichem. This pharmaceutical company has integrated components of Human Resource Appraisal in its 360 Degree Appraisal methods in carrying out the change that has transformed it to its current position. Appraisal in this case i
Introduction The United States government is putting virtually all security strategies and machinery on alert due to the continual threats of the terrorists to attack the country and its citizens all over the world. Following claims of responsibility on attacks and threats from the Islamic extremists such as Al Qaeda and Al shabaab, Islamic countries and their citizens have been labeled as terrorists or potential terrorists hence they are under great surveillance worldwide. Although, the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 has passed almost a decade ago, Saudi students in United States of America are living under pressure of hard surveillance and discrimination and that would affect their education in bad ways and sometimes in a good ways. Surveillance Society September 11, 2001 attacks and subsequent threats transformed United States of America into a society full of vigilance and surveillance in fear of potential terrorists attacks. Due to the stereotypes that Saudi students are potential terrorists, they experience hard surveillance and discrimination that make them feel isolated from other students (Staples Para. 2). The government surveillance is highly coordinated due to the use of modern surveillance technologies that permeate every aspect in the society in terms of phones, internet, cameras, biochips, electronic transactions, drug testing, genetic testing and perceived integrity tests when tracking crime suspects or watching ordinary people. The culture of surveillance is developing in the society, as modern technologies are becoming an integral part of the community: schools, colleges, workplace and even our homes. Constant surveillance in the society means that we no longer have privacy and this is going to shape the society in terms of our practices and attitudes towards our safety and privacy. Staples argues that “surveillance rituals constitute the building blocks of a rapidly emerging society of discipline, one increasingly stripped of personal privacy, individual trust, and a viable public life that supports and maintains democratic values and practices” (Para. 1). This is of much benefit to the society. However, hard surveillance and discrimination of Saudi students have negative effects on their performance since they lose confidence and trust of the government, lecturers and their fellow students. Although it seems that Saudi students are stripped of their privacy through constant hard surveillance, this is done for the sake of their safety and the Americans, as surveillance is the only way to assure safety to everyone from the unknown terror. Interpretative principle The September 11, 2001 attacks had residual and cumulative effect on the minds of Americans due to the acceptance of the great loss of lives and cultural responses experienced. Rendell argue that writers resort to allegorical mode in times of great losses and enormous cultural changes to explain realities that are too hard to comprehend (Para. 1-2). The writers use comics to describe complex circumstances that are too disturbing if presented in their reality. In the McCloud comics, Bl
Introduction Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan is one of the largest airports in the world located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay. The airport serves over 13 million international passengers in one year and it handles over 100,000 flights in one year. The airport is managed by the Kansai International Airport Company which was established in 1994 to oversee the construction and maintenance of the airport. The total amount used to construct the airport amounted to 15 billion dollars because of the various technicalities that had to be considered when constructing an international airport on an artificial island. The airport’s main designer was world-renowned architectural designer Renzo Piano from Genoa, Italy whose architectural design was viewed to be both transformational and unique (Mahwhinney 2001). The concept of building an airport in the Kansai region of Osaka emerged when the area began losing a lot of its trade business to Tokyo and Yokohama. The planners in Kansai proposed the introduction of a new airport that would boost the trade levels in the region thereby improving the economy of Kansai. This idea was supported by the Japanese government and many investors as Osaka International Airport could not be expanded any further given that the location where it was based was densely populated. The construction of Kansai Airport was also supported by a majority of the public as well as foreign investors who saw the airport as a gateway to improving the economic development of Osaka and Kansai. Because the residents of Kobe rejected the idea of having an airport built within their city, the investors of the project opted to build Kansai Airport on an artificial or manmade island that was located in the southern parts of Osaka (Dempsey 2000). Architectural Design of the Airport As identified in the introductory part of this essay, the main designer of Kansai International Airport was Renzo Piano who first visited the manmade island on a boat. He gained his inspiration when designing the airport’s terminal from the wings of a plane where the terminal’s corridors would resemble the stretched wings of an airplane. The whole design for the main building stretched out nearly 700 meters from either side of the main building which made the terminal to be the longest in the world. While Piano had con