ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Carbon tax is a type of tax levied on the amount of carbon emitted during the burning of fuel (hydrocarbon fuel). It an environmental tax that puts a price on the amount of carbon produced in order to reduce the impact it has on the environment. When fuel burns, the carbon in the fuel mixes with air and forms carbon dioxide that is released in the atmosphere as a waste product. This type of greenhouse gas has the ability to trap heat within the atmosphere and cause climatic changes. Governments have thought it wise to put in place measures to try to reduce the negative effects of carbon by using the carbon tax (Prof and Skou, 2010). Australia also introduced this legislation and it has had both negative and positive effects. Advantages of carbon tax in Australia Reduction of the effects of global warming The levying of tax on the amount of carbon dioxide produced is an important step towards the reduction of the effects of global warming. This is because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has been determined to cause global warming (Hansen et al. , 2000). Carbon dioxide has a blanketing effect on the atmosphere and it traps and reflects heat back to the surface. This translates to the increase in temperature of the oceans and atmosphere. This can generally cause climatic changes that may be unsuitable. One of the effects is the change in the precipitation patterns. This is due to the changes in sea temperatures. This might also have an effect on the level of the sea as it rises. There is also a possibility of the subtropical deserts expanding. The Australian government decided to levy tax on the amount of carbon emitted through any process in order to combat climate change (BBC, 2011). This legislation mainly affected the biggest polluters of the environment and these were mostly the producers. They were forced to pay for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted. However, the huge costs imposed on the producers also translated a substantial cost on the consumers. This is because the producers increased the prices of their commodities in order to subsidize the costs imposed on them. In the long run, the costs imposed on both the producers and the consumers would work well to reduce the effects of global warming. This is because the producers would try their best to avoid coal as a form of energy and start to use other cleaner fuels that have less harmful effects on the environment. This would make coal a less competitive fuel type and people would prefer other sources. This would translate into less carbon dioxide emissions and consequently, the protection of the environment from the harmful effects of greenhouse gases. The consumer, on the other hand, would also help in the realization of the same goal of reducing the effects of global warming by making some changes in their everyday lives. For example, in order to reduce the costs incurred while driving fuel-guzzling vehicles, one might be forced to exchange it for one that is more fuel-efficient. This would m
Fertilizer Plant Explosion Executive Summary After Action Assessment of the explosion at Bulk Processing Plant showed that no safety measures were in place to prevent the explosion. The company had failed to report and comply with regulations. At the same time, no government agencies responsible for hazardous chemical safety and regulations had ensured compliance at the plant. Hence, this explosion was large preventable and therefore could have never been witnessed. It is therefore imperative for all government agencies to formulate new regulations and effectively implement them to ensure high standards of safety and security at fertilizer plants and other industries. Voluntary compliance will not work in any industry. Introduction This is an assessment report of the fire, which involved the seed and fertilizer building known as the Bulk Processing Plant. This After Action Assessment explored whether all safety precautions were taken to avert the explosion. A brief account of the explosion The plant explosion occurred on April 17, 2013 at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas. It killed 15 people, injured more than 200 and destroyed 350 nearby homes (StateImpact, n.d). Investigation reports from the Texas Department of Insurance and State Fire Marshall’s Office showed that ammonium nitrate was responsible for the explosion. They also revealed that the “fire first started in fertilizer and seed section and the cause of the fire was yet to be established” (StateImpact, n.d). Many people killed during the explosion were mainly volunteer firefighters and first responders (Henry, 2014). In May 2013, the investigators announced that they were unable to “determine exactly what started the fire that was responsible for the explosion of ammonium nitrate at the store” (StateImpact, n.d). Consequently, they provided possible causes of the explosion such as “faulty electrical system, golf cart or an act of arsonists” (StateImpact, n.d). The report ruled out “natural cases, weather, anhydrous ammonia, railcar with ammonium nitrate or fire within the bin containing ammonium nitrate” (StateImpact, n.d) as possible causes of the fire. Moreover, investigators clarified that water used in firefighting was not responsible for the fire or the explosion. The plant has operated since 1962 and regulated under OSHA, EPA and TCEQ. Available information shows that the company had 270 tons of ammonium nitrate in the year 2012. Safety Assessment One year after the tragic explosion at the West Fertilizer Company, investigators released their report showing that the explosion was preventable and it should never have occurred . Hence, no safety measurements were in place to prevent a potential explosion (State Fire Marshal’s Office, n.d). It was established that the plant had been storing 1,350 times the quantity of ammonium nitrate that could have attracted the attention of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) based on s
There should not be homeless people anywhere in the twenty-first century. However, the scenario is different across the world. Countries suffer different magnitudes of homelessness depending on their economic development levels. The worst-hit is the so-called third world. This may be more complicated by political upheavals. The problem still persists in the developed world. The United States of America has a fair share of the homeless. Surveys that have been conducted government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over a period of 30 years indicate that a good number of Americans are homeless. Although there is an improvement in percentages compared to the entire population, the statistics remain high (Quigley, Raphael, and Smolensky 1). Taking a comparison between Sweden and America based on the homeless numbers, the latter leads. Sweden has come up with strategies for tackling homelessness. There is strong welfare that caters to the needy and the less privileged. These are the people that are affected by homelessness and helping them could only mean fewer problems. Sweden has made the cost of owning homes affordable. The government has also been subsidizing housing for the poor who would otherwise remain on the streets. If Sweden being a small country could do it, then America ought to do better. In America, homelessness is caused by many factors but the main ones are unavailability of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment. The cost of owning a home in America is quite high (Quigley, Raphael, and Smolensky 1). This also has far reaching implications on the cost of renting houses. The poor cannot own homes or afford to rent hence they remain on the streets. Housing and poverty are inseparable. In the absence of poverty, the population would afford decent housing and avoid residing on the streets. The levels of unemployment have been sky rocketing for some time now. This was worsened by the slackened economic growth which was witnessed across America recently. The depression did not spare even the employed and many people were retrenched. This further compounded the problem of the homeless population. The homeless in America could be categorized into three groups. The first one comprises of the veterans. The veterans are the people who for generations have not known any decent shelter. The majority of the veterans have become used to this kind of life and very few make efforts to change their situation (Rollinson and Pardeck 2). Of the total numb
HIPPA is committed to maintaining the privacy of any patient’s personal information. In this case, healthcare professionals need to ensure that any medical information that can be used to identify a patient is not disclosed to third parties without consent ( What is considered protected , n.d). Medical professionals have access to any information that can be used to provide medical services to a patient. Therefore, it is legitimate to use the data to continue treatment and to ensure patient safety. I can use the patient’s medical data to communicate and transmit the necessary prescriptions and instructions since the quality of the services provided by the hospital depends on this. I can correct this error and send copies of the documents to the patient by email or other technically reliable communication channels, having previously obtained his consent. The patient can also visit the hospital to receive written prescriptions and instructions for recovery. Hospitals can use a variety of methods to enhance and maintain the privacy of reception or waiting room information. First, it is necessary to strictly monitor all documents so that they do not appear in the hands of visitors or other patients. Second, it is necessary to plan the space so that patients and visitors do not have direct visual contact with any personal data. Third, it is important to separate the area for communication between medical workers from the reception itself so that information cannot be accidentally overheard. The breach in confidentiality leads to the legal responsibility of the medical professional to the patient since the disclosure of personal data can cause significant harm. Additionally, the healthcare professional can face fines, disciplinary penalties, including dismissal, as such episodes damage the reputation of the healthcare facility. There are exceptions to the confidentiality rules that exist to prevent any dangerous or unfavorable situation. For example, a court may require the disclosure of personal medical information in case of proceedings or in the investigation of crimes as evidence. HIPPA also emphasizes that data that cannot be used to identify a patient is not private, which also makes it possible to use them for statistics or research ( What is considered protected , n.d). However, in this case, it is necessary to observe all precautions to conceal the specific individuals who own the data. Reference What is considered protected health information under HIPAA? (n.d). HIPPA Journal. Web.
Abstract The mergers and acquisitions are common business practices in highly competitive industries and have both benefits and disadvantages organizations. Essentially, mergers and acquisitions are often perceived as expansionist strategies employed by firms to ensure increased market share and capabilities. Firms merge and acquire others for various reasons. However, increased competencies and capabilities lead to augmented competitive advantage and market share to form the main basis for mergers and acquisitions. The large firms acquire smaller ones to reduce the intense competition. Equally, firms merge with other companies of equal sizes to form a formidable force against any form of competition within the industry. The merger between American airlines and US commercial airline was attributed to various reasons particularly countering intense competition and increase capabilities in several fronts. Introduction The US Airways and American Airlines officially merged in December 9, 2013 to become an, Inc. The publicly traded holding firm has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. With the combination, the American Airline Group has been touted as the largest airline company with over three hundred destination hubs around the orb with operations in over fifty republics. The American Airlines Group is one of the most successful, but with mixed reactions concerning the possibilities of creating an airline monopoly. However, the practice has presented opportunities and benefits to both the firms and the airline industry (Shlleifer & Vishny, 2006). The American Airline Group Inc. has increased market
Introduction Crime is an ever-present and an ever-developing sphere of society, both the source of constant unrest and the greatest signifier of structural issues. Used to describe a range of activities that fall outside the standards set by the law, most crime is detrimental to society on both the individual and global level. It can be different in scale and in its impact on the broader community, but the existence of crime always presents a danger to innocent people. Crime has been studied on a theoretical level for more than a decade, and its influence on various spheres of life is heavily debated. Criminology is an area of study that concerns itself with studying crime, its roots, possible solutions, and preventive measures to stopping it. The relationship between crime and the media is especially interesting, as the two have been deeply interconnected since the inception of the latter. All forms of media, both offline and online concern themselves with reporting crime. The way crime is reported has a significant impact on public perceptions and the opinions people hold regarding the importance and frequency of crime (Romer et al, 2003). Media, most importantly, encourages fearmongering and spreads speculation about crime, which influences the way people perceive it in a negative manner (R
Cheating is one of the major problems that exists in the academic environment and is presently the most important issues at tertiary level education. Research has shown that a significantly large number of undergraduates cheat and this number has increased in the past thirty years (McCabe et al., 2001). In addition even graduate students tend to cheat as much as the undergraduate students. Nonis & Swift, (2001) in their research have found that there are links between dishonesty as a student and dishonesty in their subsequent careers. Thus the impact of dishonesty like cheating in academic life may have far-reaching consequences. Partly this increase in cheating plagiarism is associated with students understanding of the Information technology, the internet, online student guides and research papers and the simplicity in how information can be downloaded and used. And this kind of cheating has become common knowledge as it has also gained public attention. Easy access to the internet is one of the reason why there has been a drop in academic honesty and responsibility specifically in the case of plagiarism as there are indications of extensive plagiarism in universities and colleges. According to one report:”officials at some colleges say that in recent years they have seen a sharp increase in students cutting and pasting material into papers from Web sites without attribution, or purchasing term papers from online term-paper mills” (Young, 2001, A26). There are several ways through which students cheat using internet.   * First are all the research papers and existing research done by scholars and other articles and e-books, students in this case take information from these sources and fail to attribute it to the original writers trying to pass it off as their own.   * Secondly they use the different websites like cliff-notes which provide information on different subjects and directly cut and paste the information.   * Third instead of writing their own assignments and papers they either use pre-written papers that are being sold on the paper mills or order customized papers spending large amounts of money and getting their work done by others. In the first two cases they may be directly copying or rewording the original text without citing proper references while in the third case they use the help of the papers mills to do their work for them, all three cases are of cheating. The advent of information technology has aggravated the problem of plagiarism which has existing for many years on university campuses. In addition internet plagiarism also leads to the questions of academic honesty as many of the online sources are used not only by the students but also by the teachers and professors and leads to the issue of correct referencing and usage of online resourc
Introduction Politics has a great influence on individuals because it has enough power to affect almost all spheres of life, shaping them and defining people’s behavior. However, various social groups/classes can also attempt to influence or shape politics through such mechanisms as interest groups, elections, and social movements. Interest groups and social movements represent the thought of the public. Politicians are able to find out the preferences of the populations if they focus on the people’s opinion. However, it is significant for these mechanisms to remember the fact that they tend to ignore broad ideas that exceed country’s interests. Elections provide the representatives of the representatives of the general public with the opportunity to affect the government. They seem to ensure a touchstone of democracy and allow people to indicate their preferences for change. They also make politicians meet the interests of the population as well as their aspirations. Main Body Interest groups represent one of those mechanisms that are able to affect the government and their decisions. They are represented by different agents except for political parties. Among them, one can find business corporations and professional organizations. Trade associations and individual communities can also be perceived as interest groups. The very interest plays a great role in this perspective because it makes people feel closer to one another, which strengthens their cooperation and increases chances to achieve success. In general, interest groups attract attention to those issues that the government would not otherwise hear. They focus on a small range of narrow issues, defining all details that should be considered. It is a well-known fact that social movements are maintained in order to bring some critical changes that the representatives of the general public are willing to observe. These are loose coal
Introduction Every hotel has a different guest demographic that they are targeting, with some catering to guests seeking affordability while others cater to guests seeking luxury. The main difference lies in what the hotel in question is actually capable of doing, in terms of available resources, operational capacity and type of services available. Hotel chains such as the Marriott, Hilton and Shangri-la obviously have higher operational capacities and types of services available as such they cater to a higher class of consumer. Other smaller hotel chains do not have the same level of operational capacity and types of service available, as such; they usually cater to consumer demographics that desire affordability and convenience over services and luxury. Such distinctions are important to take note of since how hotels attract customers is directly related to what their level of operations and services are capable of doing. While the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi is practically symbolic of the epitome of luxury within the city, the fact remains that it has a considerable degree of competition from similarly luxurious hotels within its general vicinity such as the Emirates Palace Hotel, the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, the Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi and many others. It is based on this that an additional form of marketing is necessary in order to better entice consumers to utilize the Fairmont as compared to the other luxurious hotels within Abu Dhabi especially when taking into consideration the upcoming New Year which is sure to attract thousands of possible guests from around the region into the city. Marketing Strategy Proposal The concept of going green is based off the process of altering approaches towards the consumption and utilization of resources so as to ensure a more environmentally friendly method of using and consuming resources (Radwan, Jones & Minoli, 2012). The basis behind this is the assumption that since the Earth is a closed off ecosystem with a finite amount of resources if nothing is done to conserve and ensure these resources stay replenishable in the long run there may come a time when the Earth will no longer be able to support human civilization. Such an assumption is not without merit, as the human population continues to expand so too does th
Introduction Over the years, how both male and female detainees, inmates, and parolees have been treated in correction stations in Slovenia has been wanting. Lack of in-depth understanding of the best mechanisms to employ in enhancing justice is a major issue of concern. Concerns have also been raised on the appropriate treatment for both male and female detainees and whether or not there should be a compromise between the existing punishments, policies, and mechanisms of enhancing law and order. Proper planning for the future improvement of the Slovenia Department of Corrections is of utmost importance. It is argued that gender-based biases exist in Slovenian correction facilities (Smith & Cole, 2009). Planning for theFuture While the Slovenian prison system is organized in line with the country’s health system, to achieve appropriate treatment of both male and female detainees, the current state of the justice system should be restructured. The diverse operations of the courts of law should be assessed to bolster sobriety, dynamism, and winning public trust in the country’s justice system. Though not directly related to the management of correction facilities, such an approach would create a sense of accountability, responsibility, and the desire by law enforcers to work within the jurisdiction of the law (Singer, Das, & Ahlin, 2012). For effective management of correction facilities and ensuring that detainees are accorded the fairest and appropriate treatment, structural change is very crucial in enhancing effectual and fair treatment of people in the Slovenian correction facilities. The existence of open, semi-open, and closed systems of operations of the correction facilities is very important. Adoption of a streamlined and lean operational structure of the correctional facilities in Slovenia is crucial. This would help in minimizing bureaucracy and thus be in a position to quickly address the concerns of all stakeholders in the Slovenia Department of Corrections. Consequently, the rights and privileges of both male and female detainees would be accorded utmost attention in line with the existing constitutional provisions. Minimization of bureaucracy is necessary as it helps to eliminate undue delays in decision-making processes (Smith & Cole, 2009). It is also important for departmentalization and specialization of duties and responsibilities of the various correction centers. This should be done based on the gender of detainees and the staff in question. Rather than vesting all powers in a single section of the existing correction facility, the Slovenia