ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
One of the quickest ways of identifying the social issues of a particular generation is by looking at the films produced in that generation. This paper looks at a documentary by Fisk Tire Company titled, “America’s Safest Tires”. Wilding Pictures Production Inc. produced this film. The focus of this paper is the relationship between film grammar used in “America’s Safest Tire” and the social and historical issues of that time. The film was a marketing tool for the company. It wanted to educate the public on the benefits of using their tires, which they termed as the safest tires in America. Synopsis of the Film The film starts with a short introduction by a narrator. The narrator sets the stage by introducing Hollywood, which he calls “the glamour and film capital of the world” (Yarbrough, 1930). The narrator then introduces the main character of the film. He is a Hollywood stuntman who does dangerous stunts for films in Hollywood. The motion pictures accompanying the narration include short clips of fast moving vehicles that end up crashing or rolling, a low flying plane that makes acrobatic turns in the air, and a speedboat rushing in the waves. After the introduction, the first scene shows the stunt man arriving in his office in the morning. His blonde secretary, whom he addresses as “Goldilocks” greets him gleefully and starts discussing his diary. She informs him that a tire company wants him to carry out a test for them. His secretary tells him that the tire company wants him to drive a car that has new test tires on one side, and normal tires on the other side. After attaining some speed, he should slam on the brakes. This test is the main theme of the film. The stuntman feels that the test is too simple and he happily agrees to take the job. In the next scene, the stunt man arrives in the test yard and meets an official from the tire company. After some explanations, he gets into the test car and after slamming on the brakes, the car rolls. This surprises the stunt man. The company official then explains to him why this happened. This section is the informational part of the film. The stunt man is very impressed by the tires that he orders a set for his stunt car. In the final scene, he uses the car in a daring stunt where he drives the car onto a ramp and then successfully flies over a row of cars. A close up shot of the tires shows that he had used the new tires developed by the Fich Tire Company. Objective of the Film The main objective of the film was to demonstrate that the new tire made by the Fich Tire Company was superior to other tires in the market. The company official explained the features of the new tire, which made it superior to the tires in the market. The tire had better grip hence it led to better braking. In addition, it gave the driver better control because of better grip of the road. Sub-Themes A ca
Introduction: The Technology The automobile (a horseless carriage) is a relatively new invention that used to be nothing more than a simple novelty. While it may seem to be an ingenious device, the fact remains that the cost of its production limited it as a mere fanciful curiosity for the wealthy with many among the masses simply opting to purchase a horse if they needed a means of personal transport. However, within the past year, an entrepreneur by the name of Henry Ford actually came up with an ingenious method of utilizing the industrial assembly line and incorporated it into the production of automobiles that he named “Model Ts” 1 . This has made the production of the vehicles far cheaper and, as a result, made it more accessible to the common man. Senator, I believe that this is an ideal opportunity for you to throw your support behind Henry Ford and his Model Ts as a prelude towards your plans in running for the presidency. While this may seem strange to support a relatively unknown piece of technology that has yet to be tested, I believe that this is an ideal opportunity for you given the potential that this particular technology has in changing not only the U.S. but the world itself! All I ask is that you hear me out with this suggestion and be open minded about it. In this report, I will present some valid arguments that you can take into consideration before you make your final decision regarding my recommendation. Strengths and Limitations One of the first strengths behind throwing your support for the automobile is because, at the present, transit between different communities is limited to 10 to 15 miles per day due to the inherent limitations of horse/wagon based travel. Simply put, while horses are a great way to travel, they do need to rest, eat, and drink water every once in a while. This slows down travel considerably and limits the ability of a person to travel from one area to another. With the speed and endurance of automobiles, such distances are no longer an issue and people living in locations 10 to 15 miles away or longer from towns are no longer as cut off as they used to be. All an automobile would need is enough gas to get to a location and it would be quite simple for someone to use it for a prolonged period of time since, as an inanimate object, it is not subject to the same level of fatigue that affects animals. Since it does not need to be fed and can be stored outside a house with no problems, this makes it an ideal method of transportation for people who live within various cities wherein due to inherent space limitations, people are at times unable to have their own horse. Not only that, an automobile can be used in a variety of weather conditions without it getting sick, the same cannot be said when it comes to a horse since, as an animal, it is affected by the weather 2 . The last and most useful aspect of an automobile is that it runs on gasoline and only expels gas as a direct result. Aside from minor maintenance that would be needed, homeowners do not need to worry about keeping bales of hay in their home, hiring a veterinarian t
The story is about a young man at the University whose intention is to obtain a girl by the name Polly Epsy from his friend, Petey Burch. Petey is in dire need of a raccoon coat and he reaches an agreement with the narrator to exchange his girlfriend Polly for a raccoon coat that was at the time highly valued. The Stutz Bearcat car seems to have been the ‘in-thing’ during his father’s time in 1925. It was a popular and expensive sports car in the 1920s. The Charleston dance was a popular trend in the earlier years. However, it was once again gaining popularity and Petey regrets that he did not realize that the raccoon coats could as well resurface as a trend. All these terms signify fads and trends in a particular time when most people tend to identify with them (Shulman 1-4). The raccoon coat seems to have been the trend associated particularly with the college male student at the time that the writer is in college. The coats had last been in fashion in the 1920s but were once again resurfacing. The coats signified the trend at that moment in time and anyone having them would be deemed as being of a higher social class. This signifies how trends and fashions tend to be linked to one’s social class in society. The Stutz Bearcat Cars seem to be the trend in the days of the writer’s father. These were well known sports cars in the 1920s. The model was expensive at that time and was mostly associated with members of a higher social class. The car offered all weather protection and was light yet with much power hence giving it excellent speed. It was a symbol of a wealthy status at that time. Given that his father who had a raccoon coat and a Stutz Bearcat car, this signifies that he was of a higher social class (Shulman 1-4). This is symbolic of how society tends to view trends, fashions and motor vehicles, among other trends. Society tends to classify people according to what they wear and drive and those who go by the trends of the time are perceived as being of a higher social class. The Charleston dance is another symbol of status. The dance was started by the African-American communities that were living near Charleston. The dance has been popularized into becoming the current trend and every dancer wants to associate with it. This is significant as it indicates how people tend to popularize a trend and associate it with greatness. The dance seemed to have become a trend once more during the writer’s time. This shows how trends tend to be recycled and people go for them as though they were something new. The raccoon coat can be compared to the three piece suit in our times which is perceived as the ‘in-thing’. It is expensive and preferred especially during official meetings, weddings or while on official trips. The fash
The subject addressed by this essay is very relevant to today’s world. This is because the Western ideologies are constantly clashing with Islam. I, therefore, agree with this essay, that the underlying cause of this strife is because Islam is more tradition-oriented. Western ideologies on the other hand tend to be shaped by modernism and secularism. In most scenarios, those in the west do not understand why followers of Islam cannot change their beliefs to incorporate modernism. This is because western culture has undergone tremendous changes. This essay states that modernism is closely related to a worldview. This is a very relevant observation. Another interesting thing about these readings is the story of Maulana Ashraf. As a religious scholar, he managed to accomplish a lot. His significant contribution to Islamic literature is amazing. It is estimated that his writings were found in almost every Muslim household in India during the nineteenth century. Also, his works continue to be relevant up to this day. His message also remained steadfast for the over fifty years he was an Islamic scholar. He was able to advocate for the traditional form of Islamic intellect and oppose modernism for all these years. Most people would have lost their focus. The factors these readings attribute to the rise of modernism are not very clear. According to the readings, the British rule in India was a major contributor to the rise of modernism. Logically, the only religion the British were interested in spreading was Christianity. These readings indicate that the British were intent on destroying Islam. However, their motivation is not well explained in the readings. This is because there were already two other religions that were closely related to Islam at the time. The readings should have explained in more detail why the British favored the Hindus and the Sikh over the Muslims. Maulana’s answer to modernism was that Muslims go back to the earlier teachings of Islam. According to these readings, Maulana was against rationalism and scientism. Instead, he advocated for the use of theosophy and philosophy in understanding the traditional concepts of Islam. For example, he takes issue with those calling for a new dialectical theology. This part of the readings is a bit confusing. This is because Maulana’s argument is itself modern. He opposes dialectical theology and yet his argument seems to rely on its principles. He is also opposed to rationalism and scientism. Still, after reading his arguments it is quite clear they employ rationalism. The other confusing issue is the possibility of an ardent scholar fighting the urge to embrace progression and modernism. Scholars are known for coming up with new and updated forms of knowledge. Therefore, contrary to Maulana’s teachings, it would be almost impossible for them to escape modernism. In my view, Maulana’s teachings about how to conserve Islam’s intellectual tradition are a bit farfetched. This is because modernism affects all other spheres of life. For instance, the education system is heavily affected by modernism. When the education syst
Introduction Management as a business concept refers to the “on going process that evaluates and controls the business and the industries in which the company operates”. This means that management is undertaken by both the government and the industries or firms operating in a given economy in order to ensure overall economic growth or success. At the firm level, the managers must evaluate their ability to compete existing and potential competitors. They must also set achievable goals, given their resources and potentials. At the government level, management involves planning for economic development, regulation of industries and supporting emerging industries in order to ensure success. The management decisions made by both the government and individual firms have a great impact on international business strategy development. This paper is a reflection on the course on management with a focus on international business strategy. Learning Outcomes Management is an integral part of developing international business strategy since it determines the approaches used to make decisions, allocation of resources and the ability to achieve the organizational goals and objectives. In regard to the course, learning about the significance of globalization, integration of emerging markets and industrial distributions and their significance on firms was the most appealing aspect of the course. In particular, the knowledge I gained from the course can be explained as follows. To begin with, globalization has become a key aspect of business environment and will continue to influence critical decisions made by businesses. As the world economy develops, the decisions made by individuals are highly influenced by global trends. For example, as free trade and open market systems emerge, firms must focus on producing products that meet international standards in order to maintain their competitiveness. One of the major factors that have contributed to globalization is the rapid integration of emerging markets. As countries integrate their markets in order to maximize their synergies, opportunities arise for individual firms. Such opportunities include a large market, access to cheap labor and raw materials as well as limited regulation. However, integration of markets is also associated with challenges such as high competition and unpredictable business environment. This means that firms must understand the dynamics of the international markets and evaluate their ability to compete in such markets effectively in order to succeed. Globalization and market integration has led to the rapid growth of multinational c
Ca2+ is a flexible signaling molecule that regulates various physiological functions (Genovese et al. 6; Jacobson et al. 213; Clapham 1047; Courjaret et al. 2; Gautier 2; Alvarez et al. 204; Duchen 57). Separate signaling pathways permit tight Ca2+ control, which, when combined with the elastic machinery’s unique Ca2+ receptivity, allows for even more perfect VSM contractility (Ghosh et al. 50; Feiteiro et al. 580). Calcium modulates cytoskeleton proteins including actomyosin and tubulin, and at high doses, it can even trigger microtubule depolymerization (Umemoto et al. 2098; Nicholls 1373; Giorgi et al. 37). Ca2+ is involved in several critical biochemical elements that influence the survival and death of cells, particularly resistance and regulated pathways of cell death, including cell autophagy, necrosis, and cell cycle (Giorgi 258; Pinton et al. 6407; Orrenius et al. 552). In several tissues, mitochondria may function as a regional Ca2+ buffer, modulating the transient Ca2+ concentration in the cell micro-domain (Duchen 57). This process controls functions that rely on local cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations such as Ca2+ flow across the -gated channels (Duchen 57). Chondrosomes utilize calcium ions as well as ions from the surrounding protoplasm (Irannejad and Zastrow 109). If the presence of calcium in the chondrosome rises excessively, the chondrosomal membrane becomes more porous, increasing absorption in a positive feedback mechanism (Irannejad and Zastrow 109). Increased chondrosomal porosity can result in a necrotic overload mechanism, which prevents ATP generation and, if left uncontrolled, can culminate in the complete collapse of the chondrosome (Irannejad and Zastrow 109). When the ligand attaches to the GPCR, the q component of G-protein is triggered, which then triggers phospholipase C (PLC), a cell membrane protein (Dhyani et al. 3). PLC converts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a phosphatide component of the plasma membrane, to IP3 and diacylglycerol once active (DAG) (Dhyani et al. 3). Because IP3 is permeable in the protoplasm, it disperses throughout the cell and attaches to the IP3-receptor (IP3R) on the outside of the ER or SR, causing Ca2+ to be transported from the ER or SR to the protoplasm (Dhyani et al. 3). Cells use several elements of the Ca2+ signaling toolbox, such as Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ ejection mechanisms, to appropriately regulate intracellular Ca2+ impulses in a timing and space-dependent approach (Schwaller 1; McMahon et al. 244). Ca2+ absorbers, a group of cytosolic Ca2+-binding polypeptides, play the role of oscillators, mainly close to the end Ca2+ impulses (Schwaller 1; Nicho
Introduction The article written by Andra Gumbus and Lussier shows (2006) how different companies uses balanced scorecards in order to measure their performance and track the implementation of their strategies. This paper is aimed at discussing the way in which these businesses studied the perspective of clients. First of all, one can mention such a company as Hyde Park Electronics that attaches much importance to customers’ satisfaction and retention. It should be noted that this organization evaluates satisfaction by looking at such parameters as sales rates, the number of returned customers, and the ability of a company to meet the deadlines set by clients (Gumbus & Robert, 2006, p. 413). In the opinion of business administrators, these metrics can throw light on the experiences of customers and their assessment of the company’s performance. Additionally, it is important to look at such a company as Futura Industries. The managers of this organization also want to understand how clients perceive this company and its products, especially the degree of their satisfaction (Gumbus & Robert, 2006, p, 416). In particular, they pay attention to such indicators as customer hassle index, on-time delivery, and the quality of the product. Apart from that, the representatives of this organization carry out surveys of clients and ask them about their experiences with the company (Gumbus & Robert, 2006, p, 416). These are the main techniques adopted in Futura Industries and one can argue that this business genuinely tries to understand the opinions of clients. Finally, one should speak about the activities of Southern Gardens Citrus. This organization also relies on balanced scorecards in order to understand their views of buyers, especially, their perception of customer service. Business administrators in this company attach importance to such measurements as the percent of shipment within specifications and loading cycle time (Gumbus & Robert, 2006, p. 421). These examples demonstrate that businesses can apply balance scorecards in different ways. However, it is necessary to determine whether their measurements are really helpful for understanding the behavior of clients. Analysis Certainly, one can argue that the attempts of these businesses are beneficial because they can throw some light on the views of clients; nevertheless, one should bear in mind that some of the measures described in the previous section are not necessarily customer-centric. For example, the managers of Hyde Park Electronics look at sales rates as an indicator of client’s satisfaction (Gumbus & Robert, 2006, p. 413). It seems that this approach does not help to understand clients’ opinions and attitudes because these measurements do not reflect the experiences of buyers and their reasons for buying goods or services. The problem is that customers can purchase a certain product just because it best suits them in t
Introduction Overtime, individuals have evolved and initiated pronounced changes in their social settings. Some of the changes instigated by people especially in several western countries comprise the idea of accepting women and appreciating their roles in the society. Presently, several people in various countries around the globe understand that women and men are equal and share a similar set of thoughts, ideas, and opinions. As a result, women have enjoyed the autonomy of sharing their ideas, suggestions, and perspectives with their male counterparts. During the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, women were discriminated and despised by men, who dominated and limited their movements within homesteads. At the time, several women were compelled to behave in strange ways in an attempt to achieve their goals and fight the pronounced male dominance and oppression. Female deceit or pretence was one of the ways that women used to achieve their objectives and present their ideas in the male dominated society. Therefore, the essay assesses feminist deceit using short stories which are the ‘ Trifles’ and ‘ The Revolt of Mother’ . Gender Disparity The short stories ‘ Trifles’ and ‘ The Revolt of Mother , represent late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, a period when gender discrimination was a common phenomenon. At the time, men despised women and looked at them as lesser beings that played a major role in kitchen and around the homestead. Conversely, men involved themselves in outdoor activities and practiced self-rule and dominance. In essence, the presence of women in the society was not felt since they were passive and undertook most of their chores in silence. According to Freeman, women played most of their activities in the kitchen and rarely objected the opinions of their male counterparts (3). The assertion explains the fact that the society looked at women as objects that were there to help the men achieve their goals, which in most cases undermined their feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Overview of the Short Stories Trifles ‘ Trifles’ is a short story that involves a woman, Minnie, who murders her husband, John Wright, and lies that someone executed the murder at night when they were sleeping. In the story, the woman explains that an unknown assailant, who flees after undertaking the heinous act, strangled the husband at night. According to Ben-Zvi, during the interrogation, the woman gives explanations that mislead the people, who are investigating the murder (150). When the people enter the house of the murdered man, the wife explains that she does not know the murderer because the act took place at night. Since the wife provides misleading and false explanations, the men fail to identify the murderer or find any lead associated with the murder. Imperatively, act of despising and downplaying femal