ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Abstract Memory is a term used in cognitive psychology to describe the process by which information is coded, stored and retrieved. Encoding involves the conversion of sensory stimuli into forms that can be stored. Storage is the process of forming long term mental records of the information. Retrieval is the process of extracting information from memory. Memory can be classified into sensory memory, short term memory, and long term memory. Memory can be enhanced using techniques such as rehearsal, paying attention, use of mnemonics, and active participation. Active participation is thought to be better than rehearsal. Memory can be tested using techniques such as operant conditioning, recognition, free recall, and detection paradigm. Memory Memory is a mental function that enables humans to keep information for later use. It can also be described as a term used in cognitive psychology to describe how people encode, store and retrieve information about the environment (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 1998). This essay will begin with a discussion about memory processes. This will be followed by a section on classification of memory into sensory, short term, and long term memory. The various types of memory will be discussed in detail. Methods of studying memory will also be examined in this paper. Finally, it will end in a section on personal reflection. The stages of memory formation include encoding, storage, and retrieval. Information passes the three stages sequentially. Encoding generates information that can stored. Stimuli reaching the brain are received and processed into forms that can be used to represent the stimuli. Encoding generates verbal, acoustic, and image codes. These codes provide avenues by which information can be retrieved. Therefore, it can be said that retrieval relies on encoding. Interpretation of the codes is a function of memory. Storage Storage can be described as creation of a long term record in the brain. Storage is a complex stage of memory formation that involves other sub-stages. At this level, the coded information is received and packaged in a manner that will allow its retrieval later. Information may be stored in a hierarchical manner. For example, skills that are frequently used may be moved to the subconscious portion of the mind. Depending on how long information has been in storage, memory can be classified into sensory memory, short term memory, and long term memory. Sensory memory Sensory memory is a part of memory that holds information from the environment for a short time. The information is stored for a period of time ranging from a fraction of a second to about a minute. It provides temporary storage for information generated by the sensory organs. It stores the information in the original sensory form. Examples of sensory memory include iconic memory and echoic memory. Iconic memory carries visual information and lasts for almost 25 seconds. It is a temporary storage for visual information. Echoic memory is a temporary storage for informati
Introduction The abuse of drugs and alcohol among the adolescent is a major problem in the United States and other developed nations. Even though statistics indicate a decline in drug and alcohol among adolescents, this group is still at risk of committing serious crimes and engaging in risky sexual behavior as result of drug use. Without effective preventive and treatment measures, drug abuse will adversely affect the youth and the society at large. This paper explores the topic of substance abuse, addiction, and dependency among the adolescents and its applicability in real life situation. Discussion of the Research Topic There is a distinction between drug use, drug abuse, and dependency. There are a number of factors influencing adolescents’ experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Adolescents may use drugs for alleviating depression or anxiety, improving their output in games, and identifying with their peers who are drug abusers. They may also use drugs and alcohol as an enjoyment or out of curiosity. It should be noted that drug use does not always translate to drug abuse. The aforementioned factors mainly apply to drug use, a casual aspect of interaction with drugs which may not necessarily cause any problem. However, drug abuse and addiction are mainly defined by the impacts of drug use among the individuals rather than the magnitude or rate of consumption. According to Sussman, Dent, and Leu, drug abuse and addiction is defined is “the accumulation of negative consequences resulting from drug use” (373). Therefore, irrespective of the frequency or amount consumed, if drug use is seriously affecting an individual’s functionality, then that individual is having a problem of drug abuse or dependency. Nonetheless, the probability of developing drug or alcohol addiction among adolescents or any other age group depend on a number of factors such as history of drug use, underlying psychosocial disorders such as anxiety and depression, means of administering the drug (addiction is highly likely among smokers or injecting drug users), and an individual’s family background of drug abuse/addiction. The Applicable Situations Between 1991 and 1999 alcohol use among adolescents was stable. In 2009 it alcohol consumption was at 42 percent, a decrease from 50 percent in 1999. Also, about 24 percent of teenagers reportedly engaged in heavy consumption of alcohol in 2009. Between 1999 and 2009, cannabis use decreased from 27% to 21 percent. There was a 2 percent increase in cocaine use between 1991 and 2001. This later decreased to 3 percent in 2009 from 4 percent in 2001. Cigarette smoking among the 12 th graders decreased from 43.6 percent in 2009 to 42.2 percent in 2010 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, paras. 3-5). There are varying levels of risk involved for different types of drug users. These risks depend on the usage of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Cannabis is one of the illicit drugs frequently used by adolescents. Other illicit drugs include methamphetamine, ecstas
Introduction Contemporary business practices are aimed at not only the profitability of a company but also at promoting ethical business processes. Management of ethical aspects at the workplace has become an integral part of business conduct on a global scale, promoting a healthy business environment. This essay will analyze the ethical aspects in business, referring to the example of Fatlubsy Ventures, Inc, a company in Nigeria with 50 employees dealing with trading on essential commodities. The three aspects regarded in this essay are dealing with gender inequality, sexual harassment, and operating on the Corporate Social Responsibility principle. Promoting Gender Equality in the Workplace Doing business in the context of Nigeria presents a number of ethical challenges that companies have to face. The first issue that needs addressing is gender inequality in the workplace. Sharma (2016) underlines that maintaining workplace balance is a key factor in increasing productivity in organizations. With Nigeria being a traditional patriarchal society, the proportion of women in business management is significantly lower in comparison to men representation (Ironkwe, 2015). Due to the globalization processes and involvement in international business activities, many businesses in Nigeria try to adopt a Western model of ethical business practice promoting gender equality. As a result, companies have been making active efforts to balance the gender representation at the workplace. In the case of Fatlubsy Ventures, Inc, the company actively encourages women’s participation in business by addressing the two major issues concerning gender inequality. The first problem to be solved is the underrepresentation of women in the workplace. Fatlubsy Ventures, Inc aims at equalizing the proportion of male and female workers at all levels, including top management positions in the company. At the moment, the proportion of male and female employees is 29 to 21 out of 50 accordingly, compared with 22 to 4 out of 26 at the beginning of the company’s operations. The company seeks to further equalize the gender proportion at the workplace. It is vital to emphasize that the male and female employees work on equal condi
Introduction Impressions that appear to students during their first day in school or class are very important. This is because these “first-time impressions” tend to be long-lasting and, therefore, play a critical role in the student’s life for the rest of the time that they will be in that school or class (Partin 2009). It is, therefore, very important for teachers and lecturers to ensure that the right impressions are portrayed during the first day. There are several things that a teacher can do to create a positive impression during the first day. Below, there is a sample outline of the activities that I take my students through during their first day in class. Prior preparation of the class arrangement I will ensure that the class is neatly and well organized before the students enter for their first time. The seats will be well aligned in rows and columns. In response, the students will appreciate the seating arrangement and are likely to maintain the same in the future. I will also make an effort to place books and other reading materials on the tables. This will create a positive learning impression for the students and they are, therefore, likely to take a shorter time to integrate into the learning system (Snowman & Biehler, 2012). Formal Welcome and Introduction Once the students are settled down, I will formally welcome them to the school if they have just been admitted, or to the class in case, they are continuing students. I will congratulate them for making it to that level, and assure them that they will also make it in their new academic level. I will then introduce myself by telling them my name, a brief history of my life and my professional expertise. Afterward, I will then allow the students to introduce themselves by saying their names, background and their expectations in the new class or school (Partin, 2009). This will serve to create a better understanding and relationship among the students and relieve them of the burden of feeling in a strange environment. Introduce them to school/class Rules and Regulations I will then provide each student with a copy of the rules and regulations that will dictate and guide their conduct during their stay in the school or class. Once every student has got a copy, we shall then go through the rules and regulations together. Each student will be required to keep a copy of the rules and regulations to read, understand and observe them. This will help them to understand what they are expected to do as students. It will also make them aware of the rights and privileges that they are entitled to as members of that class or institution (Snowman & Biehler, 2012). Sharing School or Class profile I will then tell them some facts about the school or class. I will inform them about the achievements that the school or class has attained in the past. I will give them practical examples of other students who went through the same program and ended up becoming successful in life. I will also introduce them to other programs that
The article under consideration dwells upon the importance of the use of graphing calculators while math lessons Much is said about the integration of computer technologies into the math class, but scant attention is paid to graphing calculators. The main idea of the research presented in the article is the change in the methodology of teaching mathematics after acquiring knowledge about graphing calculators. Attention is paid to Linda Espinoza Edmonds and her experiment devoted to teaching students with graphing calculators. As the research results show, the use of graphing calculators is successful while math lessons. According to the research results, students understand the relations between different variables, graphs, and experimental design better when they use graphing calculators. This tool also helps teach students constructively. The methodology of the research devoted to the use of graphing calculators in class consists of several interviews and observation of the teaching students during a year. A teacher, an above-average, an average and a student who suffers from deficit hyperactivity disorder were interviewed at the end of the year. Moreover, the questionnaire was provided to the whole class. All the data was recorded analyzed and described in the article. All students have a positive opinion about the use of graphing
Brief History With nearly 1.5 billion people, China has the biggest percentage of the world population based on country terms. The vast majority of the country’s citizens is largely rural, as around eight hundred million people reside in rural areas while the rest, roughly 35 percent reside in urban areas. Since the introduction of new family planning laws took effect, the population growth rate considerably slowed down (Murphey 10). Family values are very important to Chinese culture. Today, the family harmony still plays a very significant role in the hearts of Chinese people. Most families, even when they are busy, will spend their weekends with each other, doing whole families can get together to eat, chat, and enjoy lives. The role of family values remains relevant in the Chinese society. In this regard, family harmony is viewed as being pivotal towards attaining success within families. Towards achieving this goal, families make efforts to meet and spend weekends together. Apart from holding talks on family issues, members drink, eat, and enjoy in such parties (Sang 21). Social life is a function of economic wellness. As a result, the income due to a family influences the levels of consumption. Just as it is the case in almost all countries, the urban population is always better off, and thus able to spend more since they earn relatively higher incomes in comparison to the rural people. Geography China is situated in the eastern part of Asia. The country stretches around three thousand four hundred miles from the North to the South while stretching approximately three thousand two hundred miles from the East to West. Fourteen countries border the Chinese Republic; they include Vietnam, Burma, Lao, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, North Korea, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. The country also borderes with the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. China is rich in deserts, deltas, plains in the western part while its eastern part is predominantly hilly. Finally, it is important to mention that the country’s cover is largely covered with high plateaus and mountains. The country’s climate is reflected by changing temperatures as one moves from the south to the north. The temperatures are higher in the south in comparison to the north. A yearly range of approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit between the two poles corroborates this fact (Sang 23). Social Institutions Family The Chinese way of life revolves around living together as a family. It is hence little surpris
Although the game of golf developed rapidly and became an important part of the American life between1950s and 2000s, it is worth noting that the nature, strength and performance of the national economy have been major factors determining the rate of growth of the game. Between 2006 and 2009, the economic crisis in the US had a major impact on several fields. The game of golf is perhaps one of the sectors that was mostly affected by the economic decline. The evidence collected from companies dealing with golfing equipment and tools indicates the slow growth in the industry, but a surge in the competition between these companies. In particular, the number of players was stalling, causing a decline in the volume of equipment sales between 2006 and 2009. It was especially evident that the economic recession and the start of regulations by the USGA and Ancient Society brought a negative impact on the industry, which increased competition between the involved companies. This reviews the competition in the industry in 2009 with a focus on the Porter’s Five Forces Model. Application of the Porter’s Five Forces Model in this case is likely to reveal adequate and important information significant for providing an explanation of the phenomenon. The golf equipment industry has been a major beneficiary of the growth and expansion of the game over the last six decades, which also has been a subject of the expanding economy. Nevertheless, an economic crisis is likely to affect the industry in a negative way since the fall in people’s purchasing power is likely to drive more players from the game and hinder the appearance of new players. Potential entrants: It is worth noting that the American golf industry has been dominated by large corporations, which have invested heavily in the field. In fact, most of the manufacturers of golfing equipment are some of the major corporations that also sponsor major golfing events in the US and the world. This means that the investment in the sector has been relatively big and that it has been difficult for new companies to enter the market, thus protecting the dominating companies from the threat of new entrants. Secondly, new companies were required to cope with high costs of technology that dominating companies have been using to develop equipment. Bargaining power: The golf equipment industry in the US is characterized by high bargaining power for the buyers, which allows the consumers to switch to another brand. In addition, the market was on the decline. The threat of substitute products was also high because golfers had an opportunity to join other sporting activities such as Hunting, Running, Tennis and Riding for their increasing popularity, while their costs remained relatively low. In addition, movies, games and other activities are becoming popular among the American middle class, wh
In recent times, the American car industry has been experiencing an unprecedented shift from the traditional locations which are home to numerous assembly lines towards the southern states. This has become a concern for authorities as the trend is proving to be a real threat to the economies of the Midwestern as well as eastern states while the southern states like Mississippi towards South Carolina (Barclay, 2007, par6). According to experts, the car industry is moving in an attempt to do away with a myriad of hiccups in conducting business in the northern part of the country (Corbett, 2002, p6). In the north the industry is weighed down by logistical nightmares, powerful unions, higher tax regimes, high land values and low government backed incentives. Northern states have been struggling to retain the car industry. The East Coast of North America is the worst hit as several assembly lines have been closed since late 1980s. As mentioned above, there are many explanations for the auto industry shifting to the southern states. According to experts, labor is the most important factor. Despite the fact that the car industry is highly capital intensive, it is true that labor remains a critical component of inputs accounting for a significant portion of the costs in the industry. The high standard of living in the north necessitates higher wages as compared to the southern region which has a relatively lower cost of living. The implication of higher costs is the reduction of returns generated by the business. Consequently, movement southwards amounts to cost cutting leading to better returns (Leposky, 2008, par5). On the same note, over 30% of the workforces in the Northeastern and Midwestern states are unionized. This is in comparison to just about 4% for the southern states. Powerful unions have the muscle to bargain for better pay, improved health and other benefits as well as job satisfaction. This implies that the manufacturers are faced with the threat of increased costs at a much faster rate than in the southern states where unionizable workers are very few and unions are much weaker. This is a huge attraction especially for foreign companies (Hyland, 2002, p5). Demography is another critical determinant of location of firms. It is clear that the southern states have a significantly higher proportion of young people than the northern states. This implies that the larger pool of workforce is not only available today but also in the foreseeable future. Consequently, firms have higher confidence investing in such areas where supply of labor is expected to remain high for a long period. Utility costs especially the cost of electricity is also an important factor influencing the movement southwards. In the south, the cost o
Introduction To say that masculinity was more prominent as a concept in the Reagan Era than it is now or earlier, would not be entirely true. All through the ages, there have been men (and women as well) whose perceptions of the male body have been influenced by the physical attributes of public figures. Masculinity and femininity are two basic concepts that are likely to create a debate in any kind of society. Whether the discussion takes place in a society that lives below the poverty line or whether it is taken up in a very high and affluent society, there is no doubt that there will be more than one view on the subject. To understand what these terms mean to different people, it would be essential to look at the political scene that has been referred to – the Reagan era. Historical background No study would be complete without a thorough background study. From 1980 to 1992, which is referred to as the Reagan Era, the views of this Republican were both praised as well as made fun of. There was a general tendency among his people to push things under the carpet for reasons best known to them. There was always an underlying thought that most Americans had during his tenure: practically everything was fine and there was nothing much to worry about. They were given the impression that everything was also under control and that nothing was very wrong with the politics or economy of the US. His introduction of “ Reaganomics ” seemed to put people at rest at least temporarily. Masculinity – an issue? It is very important to understand why masculinity is an issue that people have to debate so much. All through civilization, there has been a kind of pattern that has evolved. It would usually be the males in any society who would try to show their maleness and their manliness by taking part in all sorts of fights, competitions, and anything to prove that they were physically a lot more powerful than females. This was done, whether or not the person was rich or poor, black or white. It was necessary to show their superiority over others. Therefore, the males in all societies tried to make their mark either by killing other people or by taking over villages and sometimes even countries. Also, masculinity came to be considered an important thing from the very beginning because, the men who wanted a particular woman as his wife or bride could do so, by proving their masculinity or in other words power as a man. He would try to impress her with acts of bravery and courage and try to overcome all sorts of problems and obstacles all for his sake. This is probably one of the most debatable points that have been raised by people right through the ages. To understand how and why masculinity is so important, it would be good to go back to our descent from the apes. There are quite a few a