ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
People have always been attracted to the supernatural, be it the secrets of the Egyptian Pharaohs’ tombs, or your corny Friday night horror film. Traditionally, there is a wide range of creatures to choose from: werewolves, witches, or simply a monster in one’s closet. There is, however, one craze that seems to have been persistent over the past few years, namely, people’s fascination with zombies, which the recent 2013 movie, World War Z (Forster, Gardner, Kleiner, & Bryce, & Forster, 2013), has proven well enough. Despite the fact that the idea of being haunted by a supernatural force that craves for nothing but human flesh might seem rather worn-out, it causes a legitimate fear even nowadays, since it presupposes that in the war against human-killing creatures that look exactly like people, there is no one to trust but yourself. Much to the movie’s advantage, though, it makes a very efficient use of its audience’s deepest fears by creating the characters that hit the right note on the Uncanny Valley score sheet (Misselhorn, 2009). Of course, the movie has its flaws, the main one being the lack of character development and the overuse of the standard apocalyptic movie tropes. It would be unreasonable to blame the director, though – with the task that stood before him, i.e., the need to capture the horror of the chase scenes, as well as the atmosphere of despair that shot the entire world through, developing complex characters seems like an unnecessary task; these characters would have shifted the emphasis from the zombie apocalypse to the relationships between the characters; thus, the audience would have lost the focus of what was important. Therefore, personal dramas were understandably kept to the minimum. An intriguing and tense movie, the World War Z is definitely worth checking out at least for the sake of the special effects that, much to the audience’s surprise, were pretty well integrated, even though the character development could have been better. These effects, though, align with the demands of the film genre (Bordwell & Thompson, 2010, Chapter 9). Reference List Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2010). Film art: an introduction (10th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Forster, M., Gardner, D., Kleiner, J. & Bryce, I. (Prod.), & Forster, M. (Dir.). (2013). World War Z . USA: Paramount Pictures. Misselhorn,C. ( 2009). Empathy with Inanimate Objects and the Uncanny Valley. Minds & Machines, 19 (3), pp. 345–359.
About DEC Every child is unique, and many young students need special approach in teaching. Today the society pays significant attention to adjustment of the educational system to the requirements of children who have peculiar psychological, physical and learning abilities. DEC, the Division for Early Childhood, is the division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). The effort of the Council is directed at students who have exceptional learning needs or exceptional talents. CEC works in several dimensions, such as governmental policies, professional education and training, and development of professional standards. The specialization of the Division for Early Childhood is contribution to the effective organization and adjustment of the learning process for children with special needs from their birth to age eight, as well as informational and professional support for their families (About DEC). DEC conducts its operation in several directions (DEC Strategic Plan):  1. development and implementation of governmental policies for teaching children with special needs;  2. professional development and training of the specialists involved into education of children under 8 with disabilities or at their risk;  3. contribution to positive outcome for the children and their families;  4. providing membership opportunities for individuals willing to advance education for children with special needs. Chosen Disposition and Practices DEC’s statement papers outline the organization’s position and actions in different fields of its operation. The statement papers reflect the organization’s view of the given issues and provides the practical guidelines developed by its members. Two directions chosen by me are Promoting Positive Outcomes and Prevention of Disabilities/Promotion of Health . Promoting Positive Outcomes Within this paper, DEC focuses its effort on three components of the educational process: curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation. These factors are crucial for children’s effective learning and positive outcomes for them, which requires particular attention of the workforce involved into education of s
When the former colony of the British Empire rose up in rebellion, the ragtag army led by General Washington defeated the battle-scarred war machine of the English army. The founding fathers of the United States of America declared that all men are equal and proceeded to build a great nation. But less than a century later, the words uttered in the Declaration of Independence became the bone of contention between North and South. The former wanted to abolish slavery while the latter desperately wanted to perpetuate an institution that they desperately needed to sustain their way of life. The Southern states believed that it is their right to own and utilize slaves and then declared that they do not want any part of the Union. The government was forced to go to war to preserve the Union. In the aftermath of the bloody war, the South was devastated by the scorch earth policy of the North. Looking back it would have been better if diplomacy prevailed and that guns, cannons and bayonets were never used to settle an issue. Introduction In the 19 th century the United States went through a tumultuous per
Title: The Lottery Author: Shirley Jackson Year of Publication: 1948 Foreshadowing I cannot say that I was surprised by the ending of this story. While there were some attempts by the author to divert the attention from the overall nervousness, such as the depiction of the casual conversations among the gathering crowd, the atmosphere was depressing (Jackson, 1948). Jackson uses the images of carefree children playing around and wives gossiping as distractions. However, it was possible to guess the worst starting from the second paragraph when there was a hint towards some repressed negative emotions. Setting The story takes place in a small town, where everybody appears to know each other closely. This location makes the process even more surrealistic, as these people are willingly following the traditions that lead to pointless manslaughter. Moreover, in this setting, many other towns nearby the one from the sto
Summary Authored by Jodi Picoult, The Pact is a must-read fascinating chef-d’oeuvre giving an account of three friends: Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt who met at Magnet high school where they were learning in their home town of Newark. The three make their pact while in the high school concerning how they can find a way to a medical school to pursue their career in medicine. The masterwork provides an inspirational account of young high school children who face challenges in life as they grow up. The three narrate their episodes as they grew ranging from how they overcame challenges of crimes, drugs, and poverty to attain their success by taking their educational route to a better life (Baily 13). They have now become role models in their residences by inspiring kids to abscond engaging in drugs and joining criminal gangs but rather pursuing their education for a bright future. However, Sam seems to doubt his ability to succeed. Sam’s Doubts Sam has various doubts on his ability to succeed because of the minimal hopes in terms of financial availability to enable him attend the medical college (Goldsmith 147). He does not have a glimpse of where the finances to cater for his school fees will come from. This therefore makes him doubt whether his dream will ever become a reality. Furthermore, the negative perception accorded to the black Americans diminishes his self-confidence of achieving his dream of becoming a practitioner. The surroundings also contribute to his self-doubt as he looks down upon himself and therefore cannot see him to succeed in his study of medicine. On the other hand, Rameck repeatedly makes choices that are not in his best interest despite his getting into college. Why the Choices Rameck makes choices that do not conform to his own interests because of the circumstances that surround him. Although he seems clever and witty, he seems cloned with many problems emanating from his family background and the surroundings. Further, he seems affected by the environment from which he comes. For instance, he even passes for jail because of associating himself with drugs and criminal acts (Jones 50). Therefore, the episodes he passes through forms a basis of the decisions he makes. He makes decisions because of his current situations despite having different interests. On the contrary, George encounters fewer distractions in relation to Sam and Rameck. Why the Fewer Distractions George has fewer distractions while in college compared to
Introduction Prison gangs have become a serious threat to the safety of prisoners and the public at large in California. This paper will develop a comprehensive program aimed at disrupting or ideally dismantling California’s big four prison gangs. Besides, the treatise proposes anti-gang strategies. Moreover, the treatise reviews violence and TV series on prison gangs. Disrupting and dismantling prison gangs Measures for testing the effectiveness of the existing prison gang correction and rehabilitation systems should be put in place. This would help in the evaluation of the ability of the programs to reform the gangs by preventing them from rejoining. This would also evaluate the effectiveness of the programs in reintegrating the individual back into society by the elimination of stigmatization of the gang members. The above can be achieved through a program that aims at strengthening the existing social institutions such as the family and schools. This would restore the ability to control the behavior of young peo
Introduction Wealth creation can be achieved through different strategies. Developing an investment portfolio is one of the most effective wealth creation strategies. According to Khan and Jain (2007), the investment decision entails the selection of different assets in which investors decide to commit their funds. The investment decision can either entail investing in long-term or short-term assets. Uwajeh (2011) supports this view in his assertion that the “majority of investors seek to invest their money in an investment vehicle to generate a higher value” (p. 23). Individuals and organizations must define clearly their goals and expectations concerning their finances. Uwajeh (2011) contends that some investors are motivated to invest to derive periodic income flows either quarterly or annually from the initial investment. Thus, investors should formulate reasonable investment goals. According to Doroghazi (2012), it is imperative for investors to determine the minimum investment goal, for example, a 10% return on their total investment. However, investors must appreciate the fact that the annual returns are likely to fluctuate due to market changes. Earning dividends constitutes one of the core drivers that motivate individuals to invest in different stocks or shares. Baker and Powell (2005) assert that investing in-stock products that pay dividends on an increasing basis should be a key consideration amongst investors to maximize the return from their portfolio. In their investment decision, an investor must develop an optimal understanding of the interplay between dividend payout and the level of investment. Sebabole (2014) corroborates that an organization’s cash flows have a significant impact on the dividend payout capacity. This essay entails an evaluation of the impact of dividends on investment decisions. Analysis In the course of their operations, organizations have the discretion to issue dividends to investors. Khan and Jain (2007) assert that organizational managers may consider two main sources of dividends. These sources include the organization’s earnings and its capital. However, paying shareholders’ dividends out of capital might be limited by legal constraints. In addition to the above aspects, the dividends might be paid in two main forms, which include cash or capitalization into shares, which are commonly referred to as bonus shares. Individuals have an opportunity to invest for income by selecting stocks that earn dividend yields. In the course of making investment decisions, it is essential for investors to develop an adequate understanding of the target organization’s dividend policy decision. Khan and Jain (2007) affirm that the analysis of an organization’s dividend policy should be undertaken by assessing the financing decision. Organizational managers are faced with two main alternatives in dealing with the profits earned. The profit can be retained in order t
Microorganisms have evolved to contribute to various infectious diseases in human beings especially by developing an ability to withstand the routine protection offered by the body’s defense mechanisms. One of the pathogens that belong to this category is multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Its severe epidemiology was reported to be associated with pandemics for over a decade (Gould, 2007). This has led to a sharp rise in S. aureus bacteraemia with over 50% in many countries (Gould, 2007). In the recent period, this microbe has emerged to cause infections in children worldwide. Research has revealed 446 episodes of community-acquired S. aureus infections and among them, 134 (30%) were caused by MRSA. Here, an increase of 40 % was much confined to children with skin and soft tissue infections indicating that CA-MRSA (community-acquired MRSA) strains might have become endemic within pediatric health care facilities (Zaoutis et al., 2006). This pathogen has evolved to withstand potential antibiotics. This is due to the presence of mec A gene present on a mobile genetic element, the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) (Deurenberg et al., 2007). There is a total of five different SCC mec types (I-V) and variants of these SCCmec types reported to exist whose genes confer resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, as well as genes for the regulation of expression of mecA (Deurenberg et al., 2007). However, recent studies have revealed that there were seven main SCCmec types of I to VII (Deurenberg et al., 2009). The mechanisms that contribute to resistance are a mutation of a bacterial gene on the chromosome or transfer of a resistance gene from other organisms by the exchange of genetic information by conjugation, transduction, or transformation (Ito et al., 2003). The presence of plasmids in Staphylococcus such as 4.5 kb chloramphenicol resistance plasmids, pSK2, and the pSK1 family of multiresistance plasmids, which range in size from 20 to 42 kb was reported to confer resistance to antiseptics and disinfectants, trimethoprim (Tpr), penicillin (Pcr) and the aminoglycosides gentamicin, tobramycin and kanamycin (Gmr Tmr Kmr) (Skurray et al., 1988). Further, the evolution of a multiresistant chromosome in Staph aureus is due to transposition and genetic rearrangement (Skurray et al., 1988). The treatments options for the infections specific to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are parenteral antimicrobials such as vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline as they have been proved to be effective in randomized, prospective, double-blind trials (Moellering, 2008). The other microorganism to be given importance in this part of the description is Pneumococci, more specifically, Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is considered the main agent of community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in children including adults (Lynch & Zhanel, 2009). Young children are the prime targets for Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) with case fatality rates of less than 3 %. The serotypes of IPD cases are limited in number and
The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 led to the crisis in Dubai’s real estate market because the value of properties and developed projects reduced significantly, and investments in many projects were ceased. Projects Stopped during the Financial Crisis The 2008 financial crisis made developers and investors stop or postpone a range of projects because the unexpected changes in the real estate and financial markets affected the development of new projects significantly. Abdulla Mohammed Rafia as Assistant Director General for Engineering & Planning at Dubai Municipality mentioned Dubailand, the Lagoons, and the Arabian canal among the largest projects that were stopped during the period of 2008-2009 because of problems with investments (A. M. Rafia, personal communication, March 10, 2015). The construction processes related to these projects as well as to Dubai Exhibition City and Dubai Towers were planned to be started again in 2010-2011 (Naini, 2011, p. 129). Such projects as Burj Al Alam, Jumeirah Gardens City, Palm Islands, Pentominium, and Al Salam City were also stopped in 2008 because of the lack of investment and resources. The problem was in the fact that developers had no opportunity to continue construction because of the lack of electricity, water, and materials. The full recovery from the damage caused by the changes in the market was observed only in five years. Thus, in 2013, the economic growth in Dubai allowed focusing on the postponed construction and infrastructure projects because of new involved sources of funding and revised approaches to regulating the construction and building processes in the Emirate ( Government of Dubai Land Department , 2015). From this point, the full economic recovery in the real estate area was observed only in 2013, after investors had received the opportunity to get refunds from developers and proposed new plans for projects’ completion. The recovery of stopped projects was a result of the overall stabilization in the real estate market and recommencement of investing into the sphere . In addition to the private investment, the projects were recovered because of the governmental support and renewed residential transactions. Regulations Working during the Financial Crisis In order to address the collapse in the real estate market observed in Dubai in 2008, the Emirate’s authorities focused on elaborating stricter regulations on developers of the housing projects and on the buyers. The problem was in the fact that the lack of strict regulations and the focus on the free market principles led to the situation when property buyers needed to pay to developers in advance, but projects were not developed appropriately, and the construction progress was low. As a result, there was a risk of losing money for investors who did not see any guarantees for t
The Impact of Institutionalized Racism on People’s Health Institutionalized racism is the discrimination of people on the basis of race by political and social institutions. Its detrimental effect on the social and financial standings of people is often the topic of conversation. However, not many consider the impact racism has on an individual’s health, both physical and mental. The purpose of this paper is to analyze what effects discrimination based on race has on people’s health. The Effect of Racism on Mental Health Mental health has only recently become a topic of conversation with concepts like therapy and getting a diagnosis becoming more normalized. However, the psychological problems people of color experience are often not part of the discussion. These troubles start at an early age with «overt bullying at school, or the less obvious day-to-day toll of social exclusion and economic disadvantage, underpinning many of these children’s health issues” (Boyd-Barrett, 2019, p. 3). Many people of color feel distant from both their ethnic heritage and their national identity, which is strengthened by the current social climate. These individuals can experience internalized racism, where they perceive white people as better than people of color. This, in turn, can cause other mental issues like anxiety or depression. The Effect of Racism on Physical Health The impact institutionalized racism can have on one’s physical health can be due to underlying mental issues. However, it can also be more specific, as with internalized racism in effect, people of color can equate getting lighter skin with having a better life. A possible solution is skin lightening bleach that generally has mercury “the prolonged use of which is linked to poisoning, skin damage and liver and kidney malfunction” (Khan, 2018, p. 2). Therefore, most of the damage to physical health is caused by mental issues. Conclusion The topic of the effect institutionalized racism can have on an individual’s health should be brought up more often as the discrimination can cause damage to both physical and mental health. Many people of color experience internalized racism, which can lead to anxiety and depression that can b
Introduction The need for an incident command system (ICS) came into the limelight after the wildfires that rocked south California in late 1970. The fire caused sixteen deaths, 600000 acres of vegetation and more than 700 structures were completely burned. According to Heide, Incident Command System is the organizational structure comprising personnel, procedures, policies, and equipment that are integrated to be able to manage the response operations of any form of emergencies and disasters, irrespective of the magnitude. The incident command system was designed to improve interagency communication and hence offer a platform of joint planning (Irwin 23). Its development was to address the disorganization in planning and operational witnessed at inter agencies level, inadequacy in intelligence, mismanagement of resources, and limitation in the prediction of fire occurrences. This essay will discuss the incident command system, reasons for its establishment, and its various levels of command and devise an appropriate risk assessment and action plan that would have been implemented at Buncefield. The essay will also explore the role of effective liaison with the media in a disaster situation. According to the National Response Team (NRT), ICS is usually governed by five key functionalities. These functional areas are operations, command, planning, logistics, and financial management. The NRT notes that intelligence must be integrated into the organization depending on the kind of complexity of the disaster or emergency. In the United Kingdom, the incident command system is widely used by the disaster response units in responding to fire tragedies. During the Buncefield fire tragedy, the ICS was widely utilized by the police and the fire brigades drawn up from all over the UK. According to the HPA press, the fire was caused by a succession of explosions in fuel storage tanks in the Hertfordshire oil storage terminal. The facility had a capacity of 275 million liters of oil products which were owned by Total UK limited (BBC). The fire that ensued lasted for several days before it was eventually put off by a contingent of fire brigades and the metropolitan police with the ICS being commanded from the Hertfordshire constabulary (National Environment Research Council par.4). The command structure employed during the operation was the gold –silver- bronze command structure which is commonly used by the UK emergency services. The London metropolitan services developed a manual on the management of disasters where the titles represent the roles but not the ranks. The gold has the overall command of the response including resources. The silver is the one who devises the ta