ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction: William Hinton and His Vision of the Long Bow Reform It is certainly hard to believe that an American man, even the American man who had been living in China for a considerable amount of time, could depict certain changes in the Chinese society and analyze the factors that contributed to a specific implementation of a certain reform. Weirdly enough, William Hinton did; in his analysis of the Long Bow Reform, the author gives credit to where it belongs, at the same time outlining the obstacles that the reformers faced. Thesis statement Despite the fact that originally, the economical reform that was carried out in the Long Bow Village, was intended for the fair distribution of the land resources, some of the aspects of the procedure were more than contradictory and quite controversial, which, therefore, discredited the very idea of the Long Bow Village reform. It must be admitted that the reform itself pursued rather noble goals. According to the previous records, China needed a more fair land distribution: “Social scientists, reformers, and revolutionaries were all attuned to the problem of unequal land distribution, seeing landlessness as the force that drove impoverished peasants into the cities and absentee landlordism as an inefficient way to manage land production” (Bossen 86). However, mainly because the reform did not take into account the specifics of certain settlements, the available human resources were used unreasonably, which led to rather deplorable effects in certain parts of China, such as the Long Bow Village. Following the Track of Hinton’s Notes: The Original Intentions It is worth mentioning, however, that the land reform that was carried out in the Long Bow Village, was supposed to help solve the problems related to land ownership and grant peasants the land that they had been deprived of for so long. Turning over the old system of land use As it has been explained above, landlordism led to a number of undesirable outcomes, such as the fact that the state had very little regulation over the land, and that the land was sold to the people who offered the landlords the greatest amounts of money instead of the people who could actually make the land prosperous and fruitful, etc. As Bossen noted, “Many farmers were impoverished by the drop in commodity prices and the loss of markets for textiles” (Bossen 86). Offering that the land belonged to peasants, the reform allowed for a better control of the land. Therefore, it can be concluded that the original meaning of the reform was to minimize the impact of private businesses on the land and to let the government take control over it. When urban intell
Introduction Consumer behaviour is the study of how, when, why, and where people do or do not source for goods or services (Baker & Hart, 1999, p. 46). It attempts to assess the influence on the consumers from external factors such as high salaries and income, growth of urban lifestyle and many others. It is a common practice for consumers to purchase goods and services for a number of reasons. These reasons may include: reinforcing self-concepts, maintaining a given lifestyle, becoming part of a particular group or gaining acceptance in a group they already belong, and or expressing cultural identity. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Abraham Maslow (1943, p. 372) developed the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and suggested that people have desires and want that affect their behaviour. Since there are many needs, they are categorized according to the importance, and the person advances to the next level of needs only after he or she achieves the lower needs. The higher the hierarchy of needs, the more psychologically healthier a person becomes (Maslow, 1943, p.372). The five needs are physiologi
Budget analysis is vital for governments to realize the sources of income and expenditures during a fiscal year. While budgets are evaluated annually, the assessment of trends throughout several years may be ignored. The absence of such an analysis may lead to a failure to recognize internal and external opportunities and challenges. The present report evaluates the past three years of the income distribution of Floyd counties and offers suggestions about possible improvements. Trends in Revenue Sources and Balances The city of Rome’s government managed to keep a balanced budget during the previous three years with no debt. According to Figure 1, the primary income sources of the city during the three years were Ad Valorem Tax and Local Option Sales Tax, which are attributed to more than 50% of the government’s annual income. At the same time, intergovernmental income and interest are secondary sources of revenue. The yearly income surpluses the expenditures by more than $1.5 million yearly (Governments of Floyd County and City of Rome, GA., 2019); therefore, the government experiences no shortages in funds and gradually increases its revenues from the bank deposits. The income from all the sources is growing steadily, with the most significant increase in charges and services revenues. At the same time, the income from fines and forfeitures is decreasing, especially if compared to the years before 2016 (Governments of Floyd County, 2019). In short, the analysis demonstrates that the government executes a long-term budgeting strategy that helps the city avoid loans, increase the income from deposits, and save money for future unexpected expenditures. Figure 1. Income Trends (Governments of Floyd, 2019). Ethical Practices The government of the city of Rome ensures that all the financial policies on taxes, fees, and charges adhere to ethical standards. First, the government discloses all the financial information and reasoning for changes in taxation (City Commission, 2019). Second, the government makes sure to diversify its sources of income in order to prevent the citizens from being overburdened by taxes (City Commission, 2019). Third, the city has set a cap on several taxes in order to avoid exploitation (City Commission, 2019). In short, the adopted policies ensure accountability and openness. Opportunities and Challenges of Revenue Sources While the budgeting strategy is adequate, there are several opportunities to improve the outcomes. First, the city can increase liquor and wine tax since the policy can increase the income and decrease the amount of alcohol consumed by citizens. Second, the city can benefit from intergovernmental revenues by offering police and fire departmen
The literature regarding the quality of child care is constantly growing (Burchinal, Roberts, Nabors, & Bryant, 1996), and in that regard, one of the reasons can be seen in the entrance of mothers into the labor force. Accordingly, with such growth, the number of infants receiving child care in center-based settings is also growing. This paper analyzes the influence of the quality of child care centers on cognitive and language development in infants, based on the case study of Sean, a 17 month old infant, whose behavior changed with changing the day care center. One aspect that should be outlined in the case of Sean is his stage of development. The stage that corresponds to his age is stage five, new means through active experimentation (Berger, 2009, p. 108). Such stage is characterized by expansive, purposeful and creative actions. In terms of language, the development of communicative skills, corresponding to this age, includes expressive jargon, where shortly after the appearance of the first words. Simple sentences begin to appear between 16-24 months of age. In that regard, it should be noted that as stated by Berger, the intent of the child is to communicate, rather than to use the language. Thus, it can be stated that the expansion of the vocabulary was related to the natural development, corresponding to Sean’s age, as well as the occurrence of the need to communicate. With such aspects separated, the focus can shifted toward the quality of the day care center. In Burchinal, Roberts, Nabors, and Bryant (1996), a study was conducted in order to investigate the relation between the quality of the day care center and infant language and cognitive development. The findings of the study indicated that language and cognitive development positively correlated with the quality of the day care centers (Burchinal, et al., 1996). These findings corresponded to previous studies related to the development of toddlers and preschoolers (Burchinal, et al., 1996). The quality of the centers, in that regard, can be assessed using structural and process indicators. In the first case, structural indicators imply such characteristic as staff-child ratio, group size, etc. Process indicators include such characteristics as the nature of the care that children experience, the warmth, sensitivity, and responsiveness of the caregivers, etc (Marshall, 2004, p. 166). In that regard, it can be stated that the change of the day care center in Sean’s case might imply changes in both types of indicators, i.e. the structural and the process. The studies specifically outline the impact of the process indicators of quality, showing to “greater language and cognitive competence, fewer behavior problems, and more social skills” (M
Competition and the desire to win at any price are among the key topics that attract the attention of modern fiction writers. Using this topic, many authors manage to kill two birds with one stone. Thus, the stories devoted to people’s willpower are not only interesting, they help to motivate people of different ages and, therefore, make them understand that the majority of things that they consider to be the setbacks to their ambition can be eliminated, and their importance is overstated. The unique combination of rivalry and friendship that is shown by Cleave (2012) in his novel can be listed among the key things that make Gold different from other books. The book under consideration tells about the life of two female athletes who take part in Olympic Games. Being the protagonists of the story, both Zoe and Kate are shown as extremely strong people who are conscious enough to be friends despite the competition. Describing the events that gradually change the lives of the protagonists and their families, the author introduces a wide range of themes such as friendship, competition, sacrifice, rivalry, parenthood, grief, family, despair, and the will to live. The given analysis focuses on the role of bike that presents the key symbol related to the themes of competition, overcoming difficulties, sacrifice, and character changes. The chosen motif is depicted as a symbol of sacrifice, fear, and popularity, and it helps the readers to keep track of Zoe’s character changes. Before the race, Zoe has to try hard to calm down and psych herself up for success; even though she understands that her current physical condition is good enough, she understands that she needs more time to prepare mentally. The crowd continues yelling her name, and it makes her even more excited. The burden of waiting feeds her fear, and Zoe suddenly understands that she is extremely uncomfortable due to the deci
Introduction The problem of the relationship between races, the interaction of different nations in a complicated multicultural and multiracial society has always attracted the attention of scientists and ordinary people. The issue is so important to understand because it not only concerns relations in the international community but touches every human being in particular. I mean that everyone can be involved in a racially-based conflict if he or she does not know the basic principles of human ethics and respect towards others. Lots of armed conflicts around the world are consequences of the lack of such knowledge and reluctance to go into details of the issue. Especially vividly this is illustrated by the conflicts in the countries where, historically or because of other reasons, several nations happen to live together. For instance, today’s Pakistan-Indian conflicts, clashes inside of Iraq community between Sunnis and Shiahs, and war between Israel and Palestine. All these grievous examples prove the thought of the necessity of interracial understanding. And what can be a better way to acquire the needed knowledge for future use than the study and critical analysis of historical events related to the problem of international development and interracial relationships. The paper is going to examine the course of adjusting one culture to another, speculate on the points which were problematic during this adjustment and analyze today’s results of the process. Historical circumstances The emancipation of black slaves in the Caribbean caused a labor shortage in sugar plantations as well as the hardship in India contributed to the143, 000 East Indian indentured laborers to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917. This paper will explore the difficulties East Indians faced in coming to terms, politically and culturally, with the legacies they had inherited from the colonial past as they attempt to create a national identity in the post-colonial era in Trinidad. The history of India, if we take a look at it, gives us a clear view of the reasons for the process of migration and indentureship of Indians to Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. There were various reasons, including political, social, cultural, and natural ones, for the process we are to study in this paper. And in further passages, these reasons will be examined to understand the essence of the “creolization” phenomenon. The first point attracti
Abstract This report entails an analysis of the business excellence model. The report has focused on two main companies, which operate in Dubai. The two companies, viz. Emirates Gas and ENOC Lubricants & Grease Manufacturing Plant (ELOMP) are well-established companies operating as subsidiary firms to ENOC. Since their inception, the two firms have managed to achieve optimal operational efficiency as evidenced by their recognition during the recent Dubai Excellence Awards. The report evaluates the challenges encountered by the two firms in their quest to achieve business excellence. Some of the challenges identified relate to the lack of cooperation amongst internal stakeholders, employee resistance, poor group dynamics, information overload, and financial constraints. However, the commitments of the firms’ management teams towards achieving business excellence have enabled the firms to overcome these barriers. The report further recommends what the firms’ management teams should consider in order to sustain their level of business excellence. Introduction Background to the study Emirates Gas (EMGAS) is a subsidiary of ENOC, which is a government-owned entity. ENOC has vast interests in the economy of Dubai that ranges from an exploration of oil to the marketing and distribution of oil products. The company ranks as the market leader with regard to the supply of liquefied petroleum gases. The firm has been in existence for over 30 years, and it has managed to develop a high level of customer loyalty. The Dubai government recognises EMGAS as a key contributor to the Dubai economy (Bitar, 2013). The firm specialises in the distribution of natural gas, which is sold locally and regionally in the gulf region. EMGAS has established an extensive distribution network as evidenced by a fleet of road tankers. Moreover, EMGAS also plays a significant role in the development and marketing of specialised gas products such as aerosol propellants, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The company also produces gas used in welding. The firm intends to venture into the international market in an effort to improve its market reach. The firm holds a number of internationally accredited certifications such as OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 (EMS), ISO 9001 (QMS), and 10002 Customer Care System. In 2013, EMGAS won the Dubai Quality Award for its excellence in business, which is a business excellence award. The Dubai Quality Award is similar to the European Foundation for Quality Management [EFQM]. Its success has arisen from the integration of effective strategic and operating management practices such as employee training, safety, and environment protection. The firm intends to position itself as a dynamic and reliable supplier of petroleum gas in the world. In a b
Ever since the phenomenon of rap’s popularity came to public prominence, the actual significance of this musical genre has been discussed from a variety of different socio-political, cultural and aesthetic perspectives. For example, according to Bohlman (1993), rap allows representatives of racial minorities to channel their frustration with their underprivileged social status: “Black music (rap) had become a simulacrum for the contestation of public space by groups forced to compete for the limited resources they offered” (412). Sullivan (2003), on the other hand, suggests that rap is being regarded by its fans as the tool of undermining euro-centric cultural oppression: “Rap music and the styles of dance associated with it serve as forms of resistance to the dominant culture” (611). Nevertheless, even though earlier mentioned conceptualizations of rap do provide us with a partial insight onto rap’s socio-political implications, they nevertheless remain quite ignorant of rap’s music-related discursive connotations. In this paper, we will aim to show that, even though, as of today, rap cannot be considered a fully legitimate musical genre, such situation will not last for much longer. Moreover, we will also strive to prove that there are good reasons to think of rap in terms of a ‘breeding ground’, out of which qualitatively new musical conventions will eventually emerge. The brief analysis of what used to traditionally account for musical pieces’ ability to end up being referred to as masterpieces, will reveal an undeniable correlation between such pieces’ perceptional greatness and the sheer intensity of an aesthetic message, conveyed by them. In Bach’s toccatas, for example, the extent of such intensity is being reflective of particulars of these works’ technical composition: “(In Bach’s toccatas) The dissipation of counter-stress through tonal and durational enlargement on a hypermetric scale is a major compositional issue” (Willner 1989, 289). While composing his toccatas, Bach would often go as far as violating a variety of early 18 th century’s musical conventions, which in its turn, can be explained by his unwavering possession of a strong will-power (ego). As the result, Bach was able to go down in the history of music as genius. The same can be said about another major European composer, which is now being often referred to as musical genius – Ludwig van Beethoven. Even though, at the end of his life, Beethoven started to become increasingly deaf, it never prevented him fr
Aim and importance of the proposal This research proposal is critical in the sense that it seeks to highlight the reasons behind China’s military transformation in the recent past. The meteoric rise of China’s military might affect the equation for the US on whether the country will maintain its military presence in East Asia, despite traditionally using its military prowess to enhance its foreign affairs policy. This paper also largely analyses the driving force behind China’s hard power and how Asia and Pacific’s balance of power have been affected as a result of China’s military might. Theoretical Framework Modernisation of China’s military has been spurred by domestic reforms in the country. The reforms have freed the economy of China from the traditional centralised control of economy (Tellis, 2012, para 50). The domestic reforms have resulted in China achieving an average double-digit growth for close to 30 years. This has consequently catapulted the country into becoming the second largest economy globally (Tellis, 2012, para 51). Modernisation of China’s defence forces is particularly driven by the need for the country to emerge as a major global power and outdo the influence enjoyed by the US. The US is currently the only superpower in the world and it uses its military might to influence its foreign policy and relations. China is already exerting its power and might by engaging in regional matters. For instance, China is already engaging in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) (Chen & Feffer, 2009, p. 47). China’s use of hard power is aimed at solving the territorial disputes that it is engaged in. The country has engaged in a series of territorial disputes in both East China Sea and South China Sea (Weissmann, 2010, p. 35). China is depending on its modernised military to help solve the conflicts. China realises that it has to match or outdo the US in military prowess for it to succeed in its mission as a global power. This is the main reason behind the country’s employment of hard power. For instance, China’s conflict with Taiwan has been exacerbated by the involvement of the US and the insistence of the US that Taiwan is an independent territory. The balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region has been influenced by China’s modernisation of its military. There are regional military realignments that are currently taking place as a result of these changes (Lee, 2002, p. 549). Although the US remains as the region’s preeminent power, China is creating challenges as a result of its powerful position. Taiwan remains to be a strong ally of the US by virtue of its territorial conflict with
Introduction The use of modern technologies in the field of business is a relevant practice that is promoted in various enterprises and different markets. Today, when visual perception and the opinions of the majority play a significant role in sales, effective advertising campaigns are the driving force of marketing as a separate sector with its unique approaches and concepts. One of the platforms that are fruitful for promoting various types of products, including both material goods ​​and popular services, is the area of social media. A large number of Internet users spend much time communicating with one another, and the possibility of selling certain brands or products through specialized communities or direct advertising is a good solution in case of its competent implementation. At the same time, in the modern digital environment, there are many strategies and practices based on engaging audiences and retaining potential customers. Therefore, the analysis of the existing principles that marketers use in social media can help identify those factors that affect consumer interest and the conditions that sellers need to follow to create stable demand. This work is aimed at describing social media marketing strategies, the characteristics of this environment, the concepts of trust and trust management in this area, the objectives of promotional activities, as well as those tools that contribute to improving sales. The stud