ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Every schoolchild knows that in the past, people believed that the Sun is a planet rotating around Earth. The geocentric model existed for ages, and only a long time after was replaced by the correct heliocentric one. However, I have always asked myself what could have deluded the ancients for such a long time. It seems to me that the short version of this story does not demonstrate all the intricacies behind it. Besides, we know that Ptolemy tried to account for the fact that the orbits of the planets deviate from perfect circles and even decided to introduce two small shifts into his model. This could mean that the precision of his guesses was relatively high, which might have been the reason for postponing the disclaimer of the model. I decided that this issue deserves close attention and exploration. Search Log First, I decided to investigate what Google can offer on the topic. I typed “Ptolemaic Model” in the search engine, and the first link directed me to the Polaris Project of Iowa State University. There I read a brief overview of Ptolemy’s activities and the description of his model in comparison with that created by Copernicus. I inspected the site further but found no academic materials or links to the original works. I presumed that the site was created for educational purposes in order to provide students with a summary of basic facts. The second link google offered was Wikipedia. It is rather useful if you want to get a general idea of some object, person, or phenomenon, but being a secondary source, it could not give me the specific information I was looking for. In the search for peer-reviewed articles I resorted to the assistance of google scholar. I indicated in the settings that the search results had to be published not earlier than in 2012 because I wanted to get the most recent data possible. However, it gave me so many irrelevant articles, that I had to use the strategy “allintitle: Ptolemaic model” – this considerably limited the search. I chose the article called Optimizing the Ptolemaic Model of Planetary and Solar Motion by Ilia Rushkin, submitted and revised in 2015. The title attracted my attention, so I checked the name of the author on LinkedIn and found out that he is a Research Scientist at Harvard University, who published a lot of articles in mathematics and astronomy. Thus, the source seemed to be reliable and I downloaded the pdf version. Conclusion Having read the article I discovered that my previous knowledge about the models of the universe was indeed very sketchy. For instance, I had never known before that there existed combined models with the Sun going around the Earth and the planets rotating around the Sun (Rushkin 11). However, the most surprising thing I have learnt was that if Ptolemy had made the ratio of both shifts 5/3, the model could have achieved the highest level of precision being totally wrong in its basic assumption. It means that the model’s deficiencies would not have led Kepler to refute it (Rushkin 11). These modifications would have made the model compatible with observations
As a new airline company with high development in the China civil aviation, Hainan Airlines (HNA) group is facing both internal and international competition in the economic globalism. It is thus very vital for HNA group to assess its environment so as to draw up a development strategic plan that will enable it to strengthen its competitive ability. In this paper I will: discuss one factor from the general environment that is relevant to the case; make an assessment of HNA group competitive environment using Porter’s five forces model; discuss the strategy of the firm; explore HNA group competitive advantages over its main competitors; assess the company core competency; identify the main alternatives for HNA group and give the pros and cons of each alternative; and conclude with an opinionated recommendation. External Environment One factor from the general environment that is relevant to the case of HNA group is political influence. China’s State Council, in 2008, approved that the domestic civil aviation industry was among the most strategic corporations in the state and that it would retain a more sheer control over nation-owned industries. Some of the impacts that this regulation may have on HNA group being a privately administered venture include: restrictions in terms of flight rates, routes of entry and pricing; ability to form alliances; and strong rivalry with home carriers. An Assessment of HNA Group Competitive Environment Porter’s five forces model of competition enlarges the ground for competitive analysis and takes in the threat of novel entrants, the negotiating power of buyers, the negotiating power of suppliers, the risk of alternate products and the power of competition among rivals. The key rivals of HNA group are: Air China, China Southern Airline and China Eastern Airline. Some substitutes for HNA group include: Shenzhen Airline and Shanghai Airline. Shanghai Airline was the earliest limited liability airline in China which was instituted in 1985. Originally, it functioned out of both Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong, before extending its routes to incorporate cities in South East Asia, Northeast Asia and Europe. Conversely, Shenzhen Airline was instituted in 1995 and its airline focused chiefly on home passengers’ routes with a number of flights to Southeast Asia and North East Asia together with a few global freight operations. Furthermore, there are new entrants who joined the market in 2005, after the liberalization of the industry. United Eagle, located in Chengdu, Okay Airways, located in Tianjin, and Spring
Revision of a Problem Exists According to an American Academy of Arts & Sciences report (Mitchell, 2017), the United States, where the majority of people are monolingual, can appear to be less competitive in comparison with other countries in terms of social and economic development. The American children’s education is crucial for the country’s future since it depends on the current generation. The present and the future are inevitably connected with interaction with other countries that demands second-language skills. While children from other countries speak at least two languages – their native and English – children in America know only English. Moreover, Mitchell (2017) claims that only one in five students are enrolled in a foreign language course; it is equivalent to 10.6 million only. The distribution of the studied languages is also unequal. The majority of students prefer Romance languages, where Spanish takes first place (46% of all foreign language classes), and then French (21%) (Mitchell, 2017). Other languages such as German, Chinese, Latin, Japanese, Arabic, and Russian hardly achieve 5 percent. The problem is that American children do not really learn these languages; there is no standardized test to assess the reference level, students forget what they learned after graduation from school. It all results in the fact that children do no longer stay competitive in comparison with children from other countries. Only seven percent of students in America study foreign languages, and less than one percent of the adult population “are proficient in a foreign language that they studied in a U.S. classroom” (Friedman, 2015, para. 5-6). In 2010 Arne Dunkan, American Secretary of Education stated (Skorton & Altschuler, 2012) that if Americans want their country to succeed economically and develop relations with other countries, they should learn and understand foreign languages. “Languages are a need-to-have” (Friedman, 2015, para. 18). To make the United States prosper, children need to be able to run a business, cope with military issues, and understand foreign countries’ policies and culture. They should be taught about American culture and history from the perspective of foreign languages. Nowadays, having a huge diversity inside the country and volatile relations with some other countries, the need for funding for foreign language courses is in high demand. During the period from 1997 to 2008 the percentage of public and private elementary schools, which offered foreign language learning, decreased from 31 to 25 percent (Skorton & Altschuler, 2012). The number of middle schools offering foreign language education dropped from 75 to 58 percent (Skorton & Altschuler, 2012). In Europe, it is mandatory to study a second foreign language for at least one year. Just 18 percent of the American population speak a foreign language in comparison with 53 percent of Europeans (Skorton & Altschuler, 2012). Such a situation puts American children at a huge disadvantage. For example, Hispanic children start to study a second foreign language at the age o
Introduction Dell Computers Company operates in the computer industry of the US. The Company engages in development, sales and support of computer services. Michael Dell founded the company in 1984. Dell’s strategy of making sales directly to its clients has enabled it to acquire the position of the market leader in the US computer industry. Reasons for low average profitability in HP/Compaq PC division The product life cycle of the HP/Compaq PC division is measured in years instead of months. Unlike Dell Company which comes out with a new model every three months, it takes longer for the HP/Compaq PC division to develop interactive products that supports its computers. The need for customized, rapidly updatable databases of information and courseware elements for re-skilling is necessary to restore consumer confidence in the HP/Compaq PC division products. The HP/Compaq PC division has not endeavored to offer affordable support services to their customers as compared to Dell. For instance, through insurance of products on transit, Dell customers are more protected from loss before receiving what they have bought. This is not the case at the HP/Compaq PC division. Most of the HP/Compaq PC division’s products are not properly tailored in their market segmentation strategies. Besides, there is a need to make the HP/Compaq PC division’s products available to customers when needed. At present, the products are not properly tailored to meet the demands of their clients. The keys to the success of Dell Despite communication being rated as a high corporate strategy, action planning of communication method is of essence to create solution oriented task and strategy implementation secession. The main success parameters of the Dell Company include customer acquisition, customer retention, quality services, and proactive response to different business situations. For instance, direct engagement with the customers has ensured fast growth since customized products delivered to the customers have created confidence and loyalty in the US market. Dell’s competitive advantage Dell Company has an active presence in the US and has an expanding presence in emerging markets such as China, Japan, and Europe. The company’s vulnerability to risk is generally lower since it has endeavored to offer high quality computers that are customized to meet the demands of its clients. Dell offers competitive price tag and discounts as long term strategies. In order to stay afloat, Dell’s competitive pricing has ensured that it remains the choice for middle class income earners yearning for qua
This paper seeks to identify three financial ratios that might be especially important for a stock investor and a bank. This paper will also defend the selection by describing the position of each party such that it justified the selection. In other words, this will discuss what is unique about each party such that the financial analysis of each varies. The three financial ratios that might be especially important to a stock investor include the return on investment, current ratio, and debt to equity ratio. In the case of a bank as a creditor, the most important would be the current ratio, followed by times interest earned and debt to equity ratio. A stock investor may be looking for a short-term investment or a long-term investment and in both cases, profitability will be important. However in the stock investor will be looking for a long-term capital gain, the equity debt becomes more important since the stability of the company would be more important than the current liquidity. If the short-term investment is the purpose, liquidity ratio or current ratio may be given more importance than the debt to equity ratio. Stability is measured by solvency ratios like the debt to equity ratio. Solvency like liquidity measures the ability of an enterprise to meet its debts obligations but the capacity for the first must be viewed long term (Brigham and Houston, 2002). In the case of the bank as a creditor, liquidity is very important thus the need to look at the current ratio or quick asset ratio since the said ratios indicate the capacity to repay loans in the short term. Although profitability is important for a bank, liquidity takes more precedence than profitability since a profitable entity may be unable to pay his/her periodic amortization if the same is not liquid. In determining liquidity, there is a need to know the assets of the company about liabilities. Company assets are either current or non-current. The company’s current assets are more liquid compared to its non-current assets. The former is used to pay maturing obligations while the latter is used to have long-term returns from the business. Current assets consist of cash, receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, and other current assets. The other current assets other than cash are used by the company as part of its working capital. When total current assets are reduced by current liabilities, working capital is produced which is used to maintain short-term requirements like salaries and accounts with suppliers as well as banks and current liabilities (Bernstein, 1993). To conclude what causes the difference of the positions taken by the parties is the nature of their business. It could still be asserted that what would sustain a company to continue giving dividends to stockholders and debtor to be able to pay its debt amortization to creditor banks will still be dependent primarily on operations of the company-investee and creditor-bank which must produce profitability
Clinical social work is tailored to provide healthcare support to people with psychological, psychosocial or bio-psychosocial disorders. A case of psychosocial symptoms of ill children may include sorrow over the illness, fearing to die and fear of being alienated. Also, the effort invested in unraveling the physical status and results of illness. At higher levels of the professional work has resulted to expertise referred to as the advanced clinical social workers. The scope of work coupled with code of ethics demands high levels of confidentiality and privacy as the right of the clients have to be protected and respected. Prior understanding of the skills and role in the social work fraternity is fundamental; mainstream physicians may not immediately appreciate their psychosocial importance for patients at the hospital. This can further extend to the family members of the patient. This means their services may stay withdrawn even in cases where they are much needed unknowingly. The scope of professional practice for advanced social workers entails: providing interventions based on founded diagnosis. Due to diversity of knowledge base there is a call for specialization in a certain field. Cases handled may be intrapersonal or of family dynamics; abnormal growth and behavioral disorders; trauma, illness as well as cultural impacts. This requires high level of adept in case assessment and management, treatment planning, analysis and evaluation of results, diagnosis precision and in depth knowledge and skill in social work. Summers and Barber (2003) and Betan et al., (2005) have from there different perspectives shown that therapeutic relationship between patients and therapists would prevail primarily because of training and years of professional practice. Whether or not a patient struggles with variations of culture, class, ethnicity, race, age,
Introduction In the recent past, international trade has grown over to become an integral part of economy of any country. Imports and exports constitute the international trade. A country that has more imports than exports is referred to as a net importer while one that has more exports than imports is referred to as a net exporter (Colander, 2010). This paper answers some questions about surplus imports in the US, effects of international trade on GDP, effects of government actions on tariffs on international trade and relations, and foreign exchange. Import surplus in the United States of America have several effects, both on the economy as a whole and on the businesses in the country. Imports surplus in the US means that there are fewer jobs for the American citizens since their domestic production is less due to more imports than exports. This also means that the country is entering into debt in order to have a surplus imports. The countries trading with the US usually lend it money whenever the imports are higher than the exports and this is detrimental to the US economy. Some of the products that the US runs a surplus imports are oil, motor vehicles, and consumer products and electronics. The excess of the production by the GDP will be exported to the international market (Colander, 2010). However, if a country is a net importer, international trade may be detrimental to it, since it will make the country borrow in order to trade and this has a negative effect on the economy. If a country is a net exporter, the domestic markets will be boosted to produce more and import less while the vice versa is true. International trade has also beneficial effects to the university students. This is because most university students see an opportunity to export their skills once they graduate from university. International trade therefore provides employment and innovation avenues to the university students who may otherwise lack jobs within their native countries. Government choices in terms of tariffs and quotas In order to manage their economies, governments will enact some rules and regulations aimed at protecting their country’s GDP if it’s a net importer, or enhancing its GNP if it’s a net exporter. In achieving this, most governments enact some policies and guidelines in form of tariffs and import quotas (Wendy & Colin, 2003). Trade tariffs are put in place in order to safeguard the domestic markets from the would-be exporters from other countries. This is done mainly to protect domestic products through ensuring that they are consumed locally. Trade tariffs and quotas therefore put stringent requirements for importing some products that it becomes almost impossible for a country to export a product into the other country. In doing so, it boosts the GDP since local products are consumed locally. Th
The Apology by Plato is mainly an account of Socrates speech at trial where he was defending himself against all the accusations put on him by Athenian leaders. Socrates was charged for corrupting the minds of the youths in Athens, for inventing many divinities in Athens and also for not recognizing and believing in the gods of Athens. However, he did not succeed in defending himself which led to his death. For the most part of his life in Athens, Socrates used simple words to converse with Athenians until that day when Delphic oracle proclaimed him as the wisest man in Athens simply because he knew that he knew nothing (Plato 21d). This paper explains the meaning of this statement and whether this famous statement is a contradiction or an apparent one. It also analyses Socrates’ wisdom or knowledge and his practice of questioning people. Lastly it addresses Socrates non-conventional and problematic relation with the divinities of his city. Socrates changed the way he conversed with Athenians after Delphic oracle proclaimed him as the wisest of all men in Athens because he knew that he knew nothing . Immediately after this, Socrates assumed his stance of acknowledging and admitting his ignorance. He began to show that those who discussed him or talked ill about him were more ignorant than he was. This is because they were not aware that they did not know anything and that is why Socrates questioned them but not out of self interests but out of concern. Socrates stated that “ great wisdom turns out, contrary to expectation, to reside in a humble acknowledgment of ignorance (Plato 20e).” Socrates believed that the fact that he humbled himself and acknowledged his ignorant made him recognize how much wise he was. After Socrates acknowledged his ignorance, he decided to pass his “wisdom” to those who could hear him out. Socrates greatest funs were the youths in Athens. This brings out the contradiction in Socrates’ famous sentence knowing that he knows nothing . After knowing that he is ignorant, Socrates decided to go ahead with his mission of passing his ignorance to other people. He distinguished his ignorance in different affairs and concluded that his wisdom surpassed all human understanding since he was well aware that he did not know anything. According to Socrates virtue and wisdom are connected in some way and that is why his efforts were mainly to improve the society he was living in by impacting people with different knowledge based on what he knows best. According to Socrates, human wisdom is having moral values. He believes that someone who is wise has morals and that is why they cannot do wrong. Such kinds of people are aware of who they are which leads them to living healthy and happy lives. Human wisdom entails acting in honesty and directness (Plato 20c). The main reason why Socrates questioned people’s knowledge and wisdom was because he wanted to improve the society by questioning their actions and what drove them to act in a particular way. His practice of questioning people do not re