ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction A test is an item that is administered to determine how much of a content an individual has understood for comparison purposes. There are many other purposes for testing, including instructional purposes, guidance and counseling, administration and research. There are two ways of interpreting the scores obtained from testing, namely the norm-referenced tests and the criterion referenced tests. This essay discusses the abovementioned tests and seeks to distinguish between them. Norm-referenced Tests and Criterion-referenced Tests Norm-referenced tests are administered to learners in groups known as the norm groups, whereby the learners are of the same age and grade. The performance of an individual learner is interpreted in relation to the performance of other learners of the norm group. Norm-referenced tests tend to be general as they are constructed to measure the difference between the mastery of specific and general skills by individual learners in the norm groups. Unlike the criterion-referenced tests, it does not show the mastery of an individual skill. It provides the estimate understanding of general and individual skills in the norm groups (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2009). Criterion-referenced tests are administered to individual students of various education levels. The tests’ results are used to determine what skills the individual learner has mastered. Unlike the norm-referenced tests, the performance of the learner in the criterion-referenced group is not compared to that of other learners at the same level (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2009). The examiner sets a standard to compare the performance of different learners in order to determine mastery or non mastery of the content. One morning, when I was a student of the eighth grade, our teacher of mathematics, administered a norm-referenced test to us. She told us that the results of the test would be compared to those of learners of the eighth grade in the district. There was to be a reward for the best performing school and the best student in our school. She explained that the measurement and rubrics were standard for all participating schools to promote the reliability and fairness of the results. One day during the English lesson, our teacher demanded to know if we had understood the previous topic, concluded in the previous lesson. She welcomed everybody to ask any questions that we had on the topic, and told us to give the main points of the topic. She then announced that she was going to administer a test on that last topic to measure how much of the content and skills we had mastered. As such, the test was criterion-referenced. In both cases, I felt that the tests were helpful to my academic progress and understanding of the materials. The norm-referenced test helped me to realize that there was a room for better perform
Abstract Endometriosis is a debilitating condition whose pathophysiology includes hormonal, genetic, anatomic, and immune factors. The disease’s risk factors alter the frequency and duration of retrograde menstruation, and enhance the growth of endometrial tissue. Risk factors include environment, genetics, history of pelvic infection, uterine abnormalities, family history, medical conditions that thwart the normal passage of menstrual flow, age, nullipara, and diet. Few modifiable risk factors have been identified even though strategies to manage the disease are numerous. Introduction Endometriosis is a chronic disorder that involves the growth of the endometrium outside the uterus and affects various areas in the body including the bowel, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the pelvic region (Price & Thomas, 2015). The disease affects more than 6 million females in the United States alone. The misplaced tissue develops, grows, breaks down and sheds every month in a manner similar to the menstrual cycle (Juarez & Tomas, 2013). Symptoms of the disorder include infertility, pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria, and gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea and nausea (Juarez & Tomas, 2013). The precise etiology of endometriosis remains unknown. However, scientists have developed some theories to explain its development. For example, the retrograde menstruation theory suggests that the disease results from the growth of menstrual tissue that backs up during menstruation, moves to the abdomen, and grows (Juarez & Tomas, 2013 Risk factors There are several risk factors that predispose women and girls to the development of endometriosis. They include environment, genetics, menstrual history, family history, age, nullipara, lifestyle, and diet (Juarez & Tomas, 2013). These risk factors can be grouped into modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Modifiable risk factors include environment, lifestyle, and diet. Non-modifiable factors include genetics, family history, not having children, and menstrual history. Environment In the medical field, several theories have been postulated to explain the probable cause or factors that could put women at risk of developing the disease. One theory suggests that endometriosis is an environmental disease while the other suggests that it is a genetic disease (Juarez & Tomas, 2013). The major risk factors for endometriosis are environment and genetics. The theory on environment as a risk factor was developed based on the findings of a 1993 seminal study. The results of the study established a relationship between endometriosis and environmental toxins. The study found out that dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contribute to the development of the disease (Juarez & Tomas, 2013). The toxins weaken the body’s immune system rendering it unable to resist the growth of wayward endometrial tissu
Abstract This paper is a report on the external analysis of a hospitality organization which is currently in business. In the context of this paper, Hilton Worldwide will be chosen as the case study subject. In the paper, all contexts of external analysis will be looked at. They include external factors which influence the marketing environment like social changes, competition and the inflow of customers. The paper will start by briefly discussing the organization’s background, performance and business strategy. A detailed competitor analysis will then be conducted. After this it will evaluate the position of the chosen organization in the marketplace and lastly check into some of the contemporary trends in the macro environment and also how the task environment might tend to affect the organization in general. Organization background Hilton Worldwide is an evolution from the former “Hilton Hotels Corporation”. The organization is a globally acclaimed hospitality company that is owned by a private entity known as the Blackstone Group. The company has over 3000 hotels with over 500,000 rooms spread across 77 countries. Due to its wide nature the company is involved in the management and franchising of quite a variety of brands like the Hilton and Conrad hotels, embassy suites hotels , the Waldorf-Astoria collection among other brands. The diagram below shows a standard Hilton hotel bedroom. The company was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton, in Cisco, Texas. It’s headquarter since then to the year 2009 has been in Beverly Hills, California. It moved to Virginia in august 2009. Owing to its diverse nature, this paper will only be limited to the Hilton Hotels brand. This group has about 500 hotels which are franchised, managed or owned by independent operators through the “Hilton Hotel Corporation” (Gibbs 1997). The hotel chain almost came to an end during the great depression but efforts from Conrad Hilton thereafter made him buy more hotels including one in New York thus becoming the first coast to coast chain of hotels in the county. In the expansion of the business empire, the hotel ventured into the online business in 1987 by launching of the website www.hilton.com which was involved in advertising, reservations, offers, programs about the hotel and disbursement of general information about the hotel. The hotel’s management bought other property other than hotels which included Bally Entertainment which eventually made Hilton the largest company in the United States which was involved with Casino gaming. This was later put aside as a different group. The company has over the years been involved with buying and management of a variety of other properties like the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii among others (Goldgaber 1997). This is one of the business strategy that the hotel chain has used to maintain its diverse business interest including taking advantage of the big name that the company boasts. The following are photos of the prestigious Hilton Waikoloa village in Hawaii. In some recent years, Hilton developed a different strategy which was to affect the standards of the
Introduction Surveys from Sanford C. Bernstein revealed that Tiffany & Co. generated sales of $2,666 per square foot annually. That’s a stunning revelation. But what is more stunning is that Apple Stores generated $4,032 per square foot in that same survey, according to Jerry Useem’s article ‘Simply Irresistible’. Apple is one of the leading innovators in computer and emerging technologies. Awarded the Guinness world record for being the most popular technology marketplace in the world, the Apple Store is one of the most unique technology innovations in the twenty-first century. Another award was bestowed on App Store’s video game store with catalogs such as ‘Beating Android, Xbox Live Indie Arcade, Steam and Wii Virtual Console’. (International Business Times) Steve Jobs, one of Apple’s founders, said, “The trouble with Apple is it succeeded beyond its wildest dreams. We succeeded so well, we got everyone else to dream the same dream. The rest of the world became just like it.” Steve Jobs was ousted by the board many years after he helped found Apple, but later came back to resurrect it. Whatever happened and what went wrong along the way is part of any success experience. This is in fact a success story of a technology only sci-fi movies would dare venture some years back. In 2007, Apple was Number 1, 3 rd year in a row, in the Top 50 Innovative companies in the world. Google Inc. was Number 2, while Toyota was Number 3. (Dalal, 2007, p. 1) Apple retail stores have been very successful. Its retail stores have contributed about 20% of its total revenues, and this includes most of its other products like iTunes, iPod, and iPhones. Non-iTune revenues were attributed by the stores. (Bernstein Research 93) In 2009, Apple’s 275 stores around the world had a net operating income of $1.4 billion. The Apple Store has become the best place for anyone to experience what a computer can offer whether music, games, or video. The technology of the Mac universe ignores viruses, and problems are handled by the Genius Bar. (Copeland) When Apple Computer started its vision, everything then referred to technology. But its makers and founders realized that it has to be more than just technology. Apple has to survive as an organization to meet the needs of its customers and its many stakeholders. It changed its name to Apple Inc., a more accurate and competing name. Apple started its humble beginnings in a garage, met ‘turbulences’ and tests along the way as an organization, and now it is a leader in the marketing of PCs, iPods, iPhones, the latest iPad, and other high-technology tools of the new century; the most successful are mobile technologies. It started as a computer-selling company until it grew into a large global organization specializing in multi-media products and services. Apple’s marketing of its various technology products involves integration or the use of the Internet to market emerging
Introduction Human beings take food in order to obtain nutrients and energy. The food includes proteins, carbohydrates, as well as lipids. Proteins are the main structural building blocks of the body that are used in building and repair of worn out tissues. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy while lipids are involved in a variety of functions that include tissue building, transport and storage. Nutrients are small sub-units obtained from a large mass of ingested food that is continually broken down as the food moves from a mouth to the intestines. This breakdown involves a number of enzymes that are protein in nature, and is generally known as digestion. This essay is on the process of digestion, absorption and assembly of proteins in cells. The first section discusses how digestion of proteins takes place in the stomach. The second section looks at how proteins are absorbed across the intestinal wall. Before drawing a conclusion, attention is given to the assembly of amino acids in cells during the process of protein formation Digestion of proteins Structure and source of proteins Proteins are essential for life. Proteins are involved in tissue formation in the body, speeding body reactions, transportation of macromolecules, and formation of hormones, to mention just a few. The main sources of proteins are animals and plants. Examples of protein-rich foodstuff include cheese, chicken, bacon, beef, cod, herring, milk, soya flour, peanuts, as well as peas. Structurally, proteins are long chains of sub-units called amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Although there are hundreds of proteins in existence in plants and animals, all of them are derived from 20 different amino acids. These are further classified as essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids have to be supplied from diet as the body cannot make them, while non-essential ones do no need to be supplied in diet as the body can make them (Open University). Essential amino acids include lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), threonine (Thr), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), valine (Val), phenyalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Try), histidine (His),Arginine (Arg), tyrosine (Tyr),as well as cysteine (Cys). Non-essential amino acids are glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), serine (Ser), proline (Pro), glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), aspartate (Asp) and asparagine (Asn). Amino acids Amino acids are the basic building units of proteins. Amino acids are made up of a central carbon bonded to a Hydrogen ( + H) ion, a carboxyl group (COO – ), an amino group ( – NH 2 ) and an all-important side chain(R-group). The R-group is the most important as it determines the chemical properties of an amino acid and ultimately, its interaction with other amino acids in a protein. Figure 1. Some exampl
Different scientific, philosophical, and cultural notions were created to help people understand their inner worlds and better identify themselves in societies. Many studies are dedicated to personality as a set of permanent traits and characteristics that significantly affect life choices (Feist et al., 2018). This paper aims to define the five dimensions of humanity’s concept and analyze my self-perception in each. Personality is an integral element of every individual, and it contains a unique combination of traits and characteristics gained through life experiences or existed since birth. A person can evaluate themselves by applying the five dimensions theory to determine their values and personal concepts. The first one is related to determinism and free choice – two opposite terms where the first one means that human behavior is predefined, and the second promotes the unpredictable nature of actions (Feist et al., 2018). I believe in the freedom concept because I often make uncommon choices that can not be determined by my personality type. The second dimension of humanity’s concept is pessimism and optimism in a person’s world perception. People with different life backgrounds and traits might oppositely react on occasions regardless of their objectively good or bad nature (Feist et al., 2018). I have always identified myself as an optimist because I firmly believe that every life event has a beneficial side. The third dimension is related to the personal perception of causality or teleology of actions and results. Some people tend to assess happenings by defining the reasons and causes, while others value the impact (Feist et al., 2018). I support the teleological theory because the outcomes are more comfortable recognizing and understanding, while reasons for an event might be missed. The fourth dimension of humanity’s conception identifies the conscious and unconscious determinants of behavior. Some philosophers believe that a person’s unconsciousness is the primary motivator to their actions, while others support the human mind’s full responsibility (Feist et al., 2018). I am a 50% fit to the first opinion and 50% to the second as I am not well acknowledged about my unconscious part. The last dimension defines if the personality is more influenced by biology, and an individual was born with a set of traits, and if society develops people’s characteristics (Feist et al., 2018). Based on my life experiences, half of the personal attributes are inborn, while the other half is developed by society, culture, and education Reference Feist, J., Feist, G.J., & Roberts, T. (2018). Theories of personality (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Summary of the main findings Such company as SuperGroup specializes in retailing of youth fashion clothes; at the moment it comprises the following brands: SurfCo California, 77Breed, and Superdry (SuperGroup, unpaged). The management of this firm strives to achieve the following strategic objectives:  1. To increase the number of standalone stores in the United Kingdom;  2. To broaden the variety of the products;  3. To develop new methods of distribution, in particular, the management wants to make online offerings;  4. To enter new markets, namely, the Far and Middle East (Regulatory News Service, unpaged). The management does not set the exact timelines for achieving these objectives, yet, we can suppose that these policies will be implemented within the next five or ten years. This organization focuses on a few target markets, mostly young people of both sexes, whose age ranges from fifteen to twenty five (Supergroup, 14). During the last five years, SuperGroup has become one of the most popular brands in the United Kingdom; in part, it can be explained by successful advertising strategies. The major competitors of this enterprise are Primark, Mexx, and S’Oliver; these companies are particularly dangerous to SuperGroup, because they also target adolescents and young adults (Grant, unpaged). In fact, SuperGroup has already had legal dispute with Primark due to copyright infringement (Grant, unpaged). Yet, SuperGroup has several strengths, allowing them to get completive advantage over other firms:  1. Increasing popularity of the brands;  2. The broad range of their products that includes jeans, sweaters, T-shorts, polo shirts and so forth;  3. Efficient operations (Regulatory News Service, unpaged). We can add to this list such competencies as experience in the field, excellent knowledge of a specific target audience, and already-established reputation at least in the UK. These are the qualities that would help the company in the future. Judging from PESTLE analysis, we can conclude that the company may be influenced by several factors. First, we need to mention economic and political changes in Turkey, China and Peru because the majority of their suppliers are located in these countries (Regulatory News Service, unpaged). This dependence on forei
In the poem Africa, and in the first stanza, the character that is being addressed is the Woman. She is being described by different metaphors that are the landmarks in Africa. The poet uses physical features, such as the Nile River, deserts, and mountains, to vividly describe the physical appearance of the Woman. For instance, the line “Two Nile her tears” compares how the Nile flows to the manner in which the Woman shed tears. Angelou uses “rime” and “cold” to refer to strangers who came to Africa and wanted to exploit them by taking their land. Consequently, the line “took her young daughters” or rather “sold her strong sons” introduces the aspect of slavery. The whites had come to Africa, and their arrival caused the onset of the slave trade. “Thus, she has lain” clearly depicts how the white man was unfairly treating the Woman. However, the persona overcomes the pain through endurance. This also shows her rising from all the unfortunate things.
Introduction Much has been said about imperialism especially over the 19 th and 20 th centuries by scholars from virtually all human sciences. However, the most intensive research on imperialism has been carried out by historians and experts in political studies. So what is Imperialism? Social Studies School Service (503) defines imperialism as “the policy by a stronger nation to attempt to create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, and culturally or militarily.” Note that it is a policy and more specifically a foreign policy through which a nation seeks to extend its powers beyond her territorial boundaries over weaker alien peoples. It is also worth noting that imperialism is synonymous with colonialism, with the only prime difference in that colonial powers physically settles over those they gain dominance, while imperial powers control from their specific nations, Social Studies School Service (503). Economic, Political and Cultural Dimensions of Imperialism Imperialism as an ideology of the period popularly known as the Age of Imperialism in European history had economic, political and cultural dimensions. In other words there were economic, political and social factors operating within the boundaries of the European countries that inevitably drove them outside their frontiers in the pursuit of new territories to conquer and dominate. Ninkovich (7) asserts that imperialism is a phenomenon with many sides and that these sides are a function of “the inequalities of size, power, wealth and national resources” found in the international system. Economically, the 19 th century imperialism was inspired largely by the Industrial Revolution taking place in the European nations. Social Studies School Service (503) states that the emergence of new industrial economies in the1700s and 1800s brought up the need to obtain raw materials and thus formed the yearning to gain control over overseas markets among the European nations USA included. The above mentioned source further provides that “by 1900 Europe and the United States controlled more than 90 % of Africa, more than 50% of Asia, and nearly all of Polynesia”, Social Studies School Service (503).In short, the need for raw materials and new markets for the surplus manufactured goods as well as new places for investing surplus capital by Europe and USA was one of the major driving forces of imperialism. From a political point of view, Hobson (4) argues that a genuine nationalism characterized by possession of a national history and collective pride by the European nations in the19th century marked the passage from traditional nationalism into colonialism on the one hand and imperialism on the other. This particular period was marked by a surge of nationalistic consciousness in the industrializing Europe that saw Europeans from all walks of life calling upon their governments to join the race for overseas possessions in manner that Europe had not experienced before. Politically, possession of over seas territories was a pr