ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Currently, infrastructure has become paramount in our daily lives. In every country, infrastructure determines the growth of its economic and social sectors. Over the last century, improvements in infrastructure have resulted in better standards of living. In spite of these benefits, environmental researchers suggest that the future advancements in infrastructure would result in numerous challenges. Currently, several countries are planning to invest massive resources in infrastructural developments. In this regard, environmentalists assert that all the relevant stakeholders should address the future infrastructural challenges. By focusing on the future land-based transportation issues, this paper seeks to highlight challenges that would be faced by human beings in the year 2050. At the present, the effects of climate change are widespread. According to environmentalists, by the year 2050 climate change will have increased in its intensity and occurrence. As such, climate change will ultimately have an effect on our land-based transport sectors. The increase in temperatures will affect transportation in a number of ways. Higher temperatures will lead to an expansion in the metals used in the railway lines and bridges. As a result, bridges’ joints and the efficiency of our railway transport will be compromised. If the government fails to reconstruct our transport facilities to suit the current changes in climate, delays and accidents in the industry will be rampant by the year 2050. It is estimated that the world population in the year 2050 would be 9 billion. Owing to this factor, many individuals would be negatively affected by the situation. Equally, recurring floods will affect both land-based transportation system and water infrastructures. In the coastal and lowland regions, climate change will result in unprecedented floods leading to an interruption in the flow of traffics. The flooding will not only interrupt traffic, but will also result in frequent infrastructure repairs and delays in construction. Similarly, bridges and motorway safety will be threatened by the consequences of climate change in the coming decades. Personally, disruption in land-based transport systems will lead to delays, increase in the cost of travelling, and increase chances of being involved in disasters. Considering the fact that the world population would have increased significantly by the year 2050, implies that more time will be wasted travelling back and forth to the workplace. Since a significant amount of time will be spent on travelling, my production will be negatively affected leading to a decrease in my returns. With the thoughts of future infrast
The Only God You’ll Ever See: Case Study This case study revolves around group leadership where charisma of the leader and devotion of the followers lead to self-destruction. Jim Jones is the group leader of a religious group in Guyana. Jones influences his group to accepting that the world outside their temple hates and segregates them. Due to indoctrination by the leadership style that Jones exhibits, the followers are unwilling to see the grave that their leader has ‘dug for them’. Charisma of Jones to the group is overwhelming. The entire group becomes devoted to his leadership and it is willing to do anything that he asks them. Indeed, Ciulla (2003) explicates that his close associates within the group cover up for his shortfalls and lies that he preaches. Through his charismatic leadership traits, the members become convinced that the world is against them to the extents that they begin to romanticize death. In one of his sermons, Jones asserts that the world outside the realms of death is ‘shit’. The whole group in Guyana begins to follow his teachings and is proud of his commitment. Eventually, Jones is able to influence his group to commit suicide in the name of God. He tells them that the only way their unity could remain is through death. He is so influential to the members that everyone commits mass suicide. They do it together in the same mass grave to express their disgust of the world. Ciulla (2003) articulates that the entire group became a victim of emotional leadership typical of trust and charisma. They see Jones as a ‘superhuman’ who would lead them to the achievement of their aspirations. Although they end up committing suicide, they do it without any form of remorse and are happy that they will become heroes for their actions. Throughout the case, Jones sways the group to believing that a mass suicide was the only way to remain relevant to the world. Standpoints held by different Critical Thinkers Marx Weber   * Weber attributes charisma as an astounding aspect of leadership in which the leader evokes devotion and followership owing to his ability to convince the followers.   * In nature, Weber says that the aspect of charisma is very rare and only few people possess such traits.   * Charisma leads to undivided devotion as members are already convinced by the influence of the leader.   * Finally, Weber’s conception of charisma is that people require it especially in the context of a group in order for them to remain committed to its objectives. Robert Solomon   * The major aspects of ethical leadership that Solomon explores concern emotional behavior that a group can exhibit especially when leadership is trustworthy.   * Solomon says that charisma comes about mainly because of wh
In discussion one, the paper describes how proximity between objects affects the conduction of heat in the matter. The assertion that conduction occurs when objects are in contact is a very clear explanation of the process; it is also crucial to note that conduction does not occur in gases or liquids. It is admirable how the work defines heat conduction using a very simple approach; I like the fact that the definition of conduction in the discussion is concise. In addition, the work has outlined the relationship between convection as a method of heat transfer and the motion of objects. For the reader, this aspect of relating phenomena leads to clarity of the information that is intended for the audience. Electromagnetic radiation may be a new term to the reader of the paper, but the writer has gone a step further to note down the examples of these electromagnetic radiations. This is quite impressive in the work. It practically synthesizes the scientific jargon contained in the paper into very simple terms that can be understood by nonprofessionals. While discussing the scientific fact behind the process of radiation, the paper mentions that during the process of radiation, there is no requirement of matter between the objects in question. This is a very convenient style of reporting, it focuses on details so that the reader is given plenty of details to assist in understanding the concept under discussion. The work has fully embraced the pedagogical model of teaching from k
The five models of public opinion described as mechanisms of popular control Public opinion is defined as “those opinions that are held by private persons which government does not find it prudent to heed” (Erikson and Tedin 7). It is the summation of people’s attitudes on different selected topics which are considered vital to the public. There are several models of public opinion, these are the rational-activist model, political parties model, interest group model, delegate model, and the sharing model. The Rational-Activist model This model is defined based on the degree of citizen participation in democracy. The core principle of this model is voting and it is only practical in a political environment where the citizens are well informed and play an active role in the political process. Voting in this process should be based on individuals’ preference and information about the candidates and the victorious candidate should be the one who garners majority votes. This model of public opinion bestows an immense burden on the citizens which they exercise through voting and gives the citizen an opportunity to influence public opinion on government policy. This model does not, however, guarantee measures for holding public officials accountable. Political parties’ model This model reduces the demands that are placed on the citizens and it only factors in the desire of political parties to win elections as an instrument to influence popular control. Unlike the Rational-Activist model where the key players are the
Existentialism and the Denial of Death In Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych, Peter Ivanovich experiences a chilling moment as he contemplates his own mortality in light of the long and painful period of torture and agony that befell his colleague Ivan Ilych before his eventual demise. “Three days of frightful suffering and the death! Why, that might suddenly, at any time, happen to me,” he thought, and for a moment felt terrified. But – he did not himself know how – the customary reflection at once occurred to him that this had happened to Ivan Ilych and not to him, and that it should not and could not happen to him, and that to think that it could would be yielding to depression which he ought not to do…After which reflection Peter Ivanovich felt reassured, and began to ask with interest about the details of Ivan Ilych’s death, as though death was an accident natural to Ivan Ilych but certainly not to himself” (Tolstoy 24). In this passage Tolstoy illuminates a dilemma central to the experience of being human – how to live with the understanding that death can happen at any moment. The answer, for many people, is to do as Peter Ivanovich has done here: repress it. The reality of death and the yin yang relationship it holds with life is rarely viewed as such. Rather, the perspective on death is as an unfortunate circumstance that befalls others. The individual’s experience of death as somehow unexpected, accidental or independent of his or her life affects the quality of life, since the repression requires so much effort to maintain. This essay examines the treatment of death in most Western cultures and highlights some of the means in which it is denied, hidden, sanitized, covered up, and, most importantly, deprived of its existential import. As evidenced by the reaction of Peter Ivanovich, awareness of mortality comes in flashes which manifest as moments of sheer, unadulterated terror, quickly rationalized and then suppressed again with renewed vigor. Among the Western cultures death remains denied and camouflaged by numerous secular contemporary practices including plastic surgery, euthanasia, homes for seniors, funeral homes and life insurance commercials that tout the advantages of leaving money to loved ones if “the unexpected” happens. This essay takes as its main thesis the idea put forth by Heidegger in Being and Time that even the person who is dying cannot experience death, because he cannot view it in its proper context – i.e. as part of life. In Heidegger
Introduction This presentation not only develops a community health nursing intervention and evaluation tool for the diabetes problem affecting Country Walk community, but also identifies the various elements of the nursing process as the apply to this particular community. Country Walk, an urban neighborhood located in Miami-Dade County (MDC), contains a unique mix of occupational and cultural groups. An analysis of demographic, epidemiological and windshield survey assessment data revealed that diabetes is a serious health nursing problem in the community that warrants to be prioritized. The high incidence of diabetes in the community is due to its mainly Hispanic population: 26.4% South American; 26.1% Cuban; and 4.7% Mexican ( About Country Walk , 2016). Findings of the assessment shows diabetes to be a problem in the community due to:   * Entrenched racial beliefs;   * Obesity (23.9% are obese);   * Poor diet choices (e.g., low intake of fruits and vegetables);   * Lack of physical activity (21% are inactive);   * High blood pressure (24.2% of the population);   * High cholesterol levels. Proposed Intervention Intervention The outreach intervention will be used to address the obesity issues and poor diet choices related to the incidence of diabetes in the community. The outreach intervention “locates populations-of-interest and provides information about the nature of the concern, what can be done about it, and how services can be obtained” ( Public Health Interventions , 2001, p. 41). The outreach intervention fits well in the public health intervention wheel , particularly in terms of “describing the scope of practice by what is similar across settings and describing the work of public health nursing at the community and systems practice levels as well the conventional individual/family level” ( Public Health Interventions , 2001, p. 1). “Outreach is one of 17 interventions in the Public Health Intervention Wheel (above figure), which provides a model for understanding the work of PHNs” (Tembreull & Schaffer, 2005, p. 347). “The interventions on the Intervention Wheel were initially developed through a grounded theory process and then critiqued by public health nursing experts, resulting in basic steps and best practices for 17 interventions” (Tembreull & Schaffer, 2005, p. 347) Target Population and Target Methods Intervention will be community based, and will target Hispanic adolescents (13-19 years) most at risk for becoming obese and developing associated health concerns due to poor dietary habits. Intervention will target schools, churches and local media outlets. Aim is to repeat the intervention several times (at least thrice per month for six months)
Does Sigma Six Work in Service Industries? This article analyzes the possibilities for implementation of Sigma Six tenets in service industries. Sigma Six is a set of methodologies and measurement-based strategies aimed at eliminating possible defects and improving the production processes through optimization and higher quality control. It is a direct evolution of the Total Quality Control strategy that is also popular in the manufacturing industries. The author makes an argument that all companies offer services, while some of them manufacture products as well, and builds his case around the statement that manufacturing companies do not strictly provide products to their customers, but rather services that could be facilitated by the use of such products. He then proceeds to demonstrate his case by using several large companies as examples of Sigma Six. After doing so, he analyzes the reasons why Sigma Six is not as widely implemented as it should be and highlights the complexity, time, and expenses required to implement the system as some of the strongest reasons why many companies opt to avoid it. The author makes a good summary of why Sigma Six is an efficient system by providing good and relatable examples of its implementation in different companies, the most notable ones being Sony Boeing, and Walmart. The latter serves as an example of how using SIPOC can help with achieving greater value by reducing costs and improving quality. Walmart is known in the USA as the prime chain of supermarkets that provides acceptable goods at very low prices due to importing goods from low-cost manufacturers. Its SIPOC chain is relatively simple: Low-cost manufacturers – Distributors – Walmart – Merchandise sold – Consumers, which helps save money on more elaborate chains. While the author does a good job of outlining the complications that follow the implementation of Sigma Six and TQM techniques, he does not mention an important flaw in introducing such into the company. One of the recurring themes following Sigma Six optimizations is employee downsizing. This makes the employees view any initiative taken under the Sigma Six as a potential threat to them, resulting in lower levels of commitment and engagement, which could potentially harm the business in the long run. It must also be noted that the alleviation of the standards of work is often done at the employees’ expense, meaning that the increased efforts spent on quality improvement are rarely compensated. Lastly, I disagree with the author using Walmart as a prime example of Sigma
Consolidation strategies Most organizations including healthcare organizations at some points may need to strengthen their businesses especially when developing marketing strategies. There are four main ways through which business organizations can strategize their marketing consolidation. One way through which organizations can achieve this is through sale off of a business or a certain product line which is referred to as divestment. Divestment may include complete cessation or just reduction of investments from an organization. This move is usually taken when an organization realizes that a particular line of product is negatively affecting the organizations main objectives. This could be caused by lack of efficient resources by the management or due to lack of a common market for the core business and the product line. Basically, divestment results from a failed diversification strategy on growth. For instance, the Hospital Corporation of America divested its psychiatric department to allow it to focus its efforts on acute care services. Another way of consolidation is pruning which involves reduction of products or services offered by an organization to the markets. The business therefore continues supplying its products or services but at lower volumes. This move may be useful where the markets involved are too small to service. The third strategy involves retrenchment where an organization stops servicing certain markets which is the exact opposite of growth development strategies. This approach is used where the markets do not perform well enough. For example, a healthcare facility may withdraw its services from a local community. Finally, an organization may strategize consolidation by harvesting where it decreases its support for a certain product until the product loses demand then it withdraws completely. This strategy is important where the product is a little profitable to the business (Berkowitz 1). Structural forms of competition There are four structural forms of competition. All business organizations are faced with pure competition which occurs when different businesses have similar products. For instance, primary care practitioners in a small community are more likely to face competition from the community members especially if they are closely located. Competitors may deal with the competition by improving their services may be by extending working hours or locating the business premises close to the customers. Another form of competition is the monopolistic competition where different organizations have substitute products. Differently managed healthcare facilities in the same community may be faced with competition. Price changes in such cases are the b
Introduction In many schools, gifted female students are ignored by teachers. Such ignorance emanates from lack of knowledge on what constitutes giftedness in female students. Furthermore, girls are socialized differently from boys in that they are taught to refrain from self expression as well as conveying special skills, abilities and opinions. This discourages the girls from expressing themselves so as to fit into the social description of normal girl. This amounts to social discrimination. The purpose of this essay is to highlight the need for a curriculum plan for gifted female students. In this regard the essay is divided into two main parts. The first part synthesizes existing literature concurrent with this topic. The second part documents the findings that teaching gifted female student requires a special curriculum. Furthermore, implementing the curriculum is all encompassing activity which requires the involvement of teachers, both gifted and non gifted students, parents, the local community as well as the state authorities. Curriculum plan for gifted students Numerous researches suggest that there are a number of challenges that face gifted students and their ability to utilize their special skills. According to Badolato (1998) research by educational experts, such as Joseph Renzulli suggest that gifted female students face many challenges than gifted male students. In his research, Renzulli (1998) documents that gifted female under perform in both middle and high school as a result of being ignored. Furthermore, Renzulli‘s research reveals that gifted female students do not pursue careers concurrent with their abilities due to the effects of social discrimination in school. Renzulli‘s research seem to have necessitated extensive research on the causes for under-performance by gifted female students. Smutny and Blocksom (1990) explain that numerous research findings identify insidious gender stereotypes and discrimination as one of the major causes for poor performance by gifted female students, especially in low income areas such as Salem, Oregon. Peer pressure and inconsistent and contradictory messages from teachers, r
Introduction Public limited companies refer to companies which are limited by shares. In United Kingdom, they are abbreviated as and PLC while in United States as LLC and they are often listed in a country’s stock exchange with the exception of certain public companies that are incorporated under special legislation are exempted by law from bearing such abbreviations. Corporations that can be transformed into plc in the UK include private limited as well as unlimited ones, which have share capital. However, unlimited companies without share capital cannot be registered as public limited companies. The process of registration involves passing of a special resolution and filling in an application form to the company register. In United Kingdom, it is not compulsory for public limited companies to offer their shares to the public. However, most of the firms prefer to do so through the (London) Stock Exchange and ‘Alternative Investment Market.’ Upon registration as a public limited company, the company is required to adjust its memorandum to indicate that it is a limited company and to further increase its share capital to a value exceeding five hundred thousand pounds as per the statutory requirement. Its new memorandum and articles of association should conform to the requirements of a public limited company. BT Group plc BT Group plc is a public limited company based in London, United Kingdom. It provides telecommunication services to over one hundred and seventy countries across the globe. Its shares are listed in both the London Stock exchange and New York stock Exchange. The company, which was initially owned by the British government, was privatized in 1982 when the government issued out 51% of the shares to private investors. In 1984, the company was transformed into a public limited company with more than 50% of its shares being sold out to the public (BT Group 2011). This move positively impacted on the overall performance of the organization. The plc was able to compete effectively in UK and the rest of the world which enabled it to expand its operations globally. Further the company gained increased commercial freedom which enabled it to enter into new strategic ventures and to further enhance its operations. In the early 90s, the government sold 46.7% of its remaining shares and in 1993 the government further sold its remaining shares which introduced over seven hundred thousand share holders in the market (BT Group 2011). The company’s transformation into a public limited com