ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction On April 19, 1995, a federal building in Oklahoma City was attacked using a homemade truck bomb. This attack “killed almost 3,000 people, wounded hundreds, and caused $10 billion in property damage” (Corman, 2016, p. 9). It was the deadliest and most notorious terrorist act on the U.S. ground before the September 11 attacks of 2001 (Sloan, 2016). Timothy McVeigh, the primary perpetrator of the attack, was a decorated American Gulf War veteran who became radicalized after his service. McVeigh and his few accomplices aligned themselves with the far-right Patriot Movement, which believed that the U.S. government had usurped power contrary to the Constitution (Corman, 2016). They were spurred to act by the Ruby Ridge incident of 1992 and the Waco Siege of 1993, in which government attempts to confiscate firearms resulted in civilian deaths (Hofmann, 2020). In a parallel to later Al Qaeda terrorists, the attackers justified their resort to terror through reference to incorrigible government violence ( The Al Qaeda manual , 2002; Simon, 2016). The bombing occurred within the terrorists’ framework of revolutionary warfare against oppressive state authority. Target, Tactics, and Tools Multiple factors informed McVeigh’s decision to target the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Having decided to strike back against the government, he considered several options, including assassinations against elected officials (Simon, 2016). However, attacking a federal building seemed to offer a more substantial propaganda impact due to its visuals. The specific complex was a prominent symbol of federal authority (Sloan, 2016). Although McVeigh later expressed regret for the “collateral damage” (Simon, 2016, p. 47) he inflicted, including the deaths of children, it seems implausible that he was unaware of the likely damage. High civilian casualties served his purposes by drawing more attention to his message. The federal building housed the offices of various government agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, which was directly involved in the Waco debacle. McVeigh believed that the order to invade the Branch Davidian compound at Waco came from the facility (Hamm & Spaaij, 2017). The Turner Diaries , a far-right novel that described a similar attack, may have also influenced his choice (Hamm & Spaaij, 2017). Thus, McVeigh picked his target based on considerations of symbolism, propaganda, and revenge. The Oklahoma City bombing is regarded as a classic example of a lone wolf terrorist attack. Although McVeigh recruited acquaintances Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier as his accomplices, he did not operate as part of a larger organization (Hofmann, 2020). His small, loose personal network helped him research his target, plan his approach, and steal or buy the necessary materials. In another touch possibly inspired by The Turner Diaries , McVeigh’s weapon of choice was a homemade bomb made of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil placed in a rented Ryder truck (Hamm & Spaaij, 2017). At around 9 AM, McVeigh parked the vehicle in front of the building, lit two fuses, and left in another car. The e
Most historians describe Africa as the oldest continent on Earth. Anthropologists also believe that human life originated from this massive continent. Africa is regarded as one of the backward countries that are far from civilization. However, before A.D. 1880, African communities were organized into states. Although the nations were not as big as those presently seen, they had governments that controlled their jurisdiction activities. Even though several reasons led to the states’ formation, they were formed due to cultural homogeneity, political organization, trade and commerce, and military body. Cultural homogeneity is one reason that led to the formation of states in Africa before A.D. 1880. Similarities in ideologies brought people together; hence they needed to be organized to practice their beliefs in harmony. Cultural homogeneity promoted common hatred of other practices, thus attracting people of the same culture. For instance, the Oman kingdom was formed due to the cultural homogeneity of the Oyoko clan and the shared hatred of Denkyira. In other words, they united and formed a kingdom because they despised other rulers who imposed laws on them. Political organization is another reason that led to the formation of states in Africa. As the villages’ population was increasing, and there was a need to control resources, people began grouping into political formations that could make them have better bargaining power with the neighboring society. Most communities could be seen as strong only if they were well established politically. Therefore, individuals become organized into groups to control resources and have a political say on how such resources could be distributed. For instance, pastoral communities began forming states to have large and fertile grazing places and watering points. Trade and commerce also led to the formation of states in Africa. As trade activities intensified, people began settling in places where the exchange of goods and services was taking place (Boahen 57). As a result, they started associating themselves with that location. For instance, the Tuareg community acted as guides during the Trans-African trade. Moreover, they began to unite to improve their negotiating power with their trading partners. Commodities could only attain high value if people were united and had a common say about their products. Finally, the formation of the military promoted the formation of states in Africa. The military provided security for the residents and, in most cases, protected the community from external attacks. In Africa, many groups were fighting over the control of resources and show supremacy. As a result, people had to protect their territory from external invaders who often interfered with peace and at times led to the death of many innocent individuals. For example, the Ashanti empire, founded by Osei Tutu, mainly depended on military strength to establish the
Application of learning curve The essay aims at explaining the six sigma tools and techniques. Six-sigma is used in performing cost-benefit-analysis (CBA) and in quantification of important deliverables to a firm such as quality improvement, cycle time, quantity, cycle time and safety improvement. Six-sigma identifies obstacles and helps to go ahead in time, within budget limits and operational constraints (Learning curve strategy, 2009). Learning curve Whenever an activity is in progress for the first time, workers and operating procedures are untried, hence they use a lot of time and resources. As the activity progresses, workers become familiar with the work and processes such that less time is required. This phenomenon is the learning curve concept, which is an essential concept in profitability and efficiency of the firm. The theory has three assumptions;  1. The expected time of completing an activity decreases as the activity is repeated a number of times.  2. Additional units produced leads to a corresponding decrease in percentage of improvement.  3. Improvement rate is predictable over time. “In general, there will be an increase in terms of performance such that the units produced doubles in a reduced time span after the implementation of the activity” (Learning curve strategy, 2009). The simulation states the process used by Mario to open a Pizza store in Palm Springs in 1950. The store is inside a mall where they have a potential for profit and ability to attract customers. However, Mario is facing a challenge of unsatisfied customers. The situation was worse when clients left the Pizza store without purchasing the products due to long wait time. Mario should focus on customer retention, satisfaction, and getting new customers. To get these changes, he needs to institute a change process that would reduce the total wait time per customer. The average wait time per customer is between seven to nine minutes and he needs to reduce this wait time. They have to provide first class service to their customers and balance their customer’s demands to get the business back to profitability. Mario’s customers come in pairs or in fours. Optimization of peak hours, lunchtime and supper, is essential for the Pizza store. The currently peak time of 6-10:00 PM has a turnover of one table per fifty-three minutes from the progress report. The store has a capacity of 14 tables with four customers each. The learning curve concept is of help to Mario since he has a small business. According to Learning curve strategy, “The process they undertake can use learning curve concept in a number of ways (Learning curve strategy, 2009)”. “The concept of learning curve is from a historical observation whereby individuals who performing repetitive tasks show a considerable improvement in conduct of their job as the job are done repeatedly” (2009). In the simulation of Mario Pizza, the following performance data was available. I made a decision on whether or not to change the current serving cooks, staff and the amount of 2 person and 4 person tables to
It would be reasonable to say that the modern world provides women with the opportunities to get involved in practically every sphere of human activities on an equal basis with men. However, there is evidence that today, quite a considerable number of contradictive gender issues exist. In particular, a relevant point is whether to mention a woman’s accomplishments outside work or not. On the one hand, it should be admitted that for females, many kinds of work are more exhaustive and pressing from the physical perspective in comparison with males. The latter ones – in most cases – have stronger bodies and mental resistance, given that these aspects are interrelated. On the other hand, nowadays’ conditions within the given scope are founded on equality. The major part of employment opportunities lies within spheres in which gender differences are diminished in various ways (automatization, gender-equality provisions, statutes, etc.). Hence, if to accept such a reality, the state of affairs in which a woman should be praised at work just for the fact that she is a woman is not appropriate. Moreover, when it comes to the field of science, emphasizing a prominent scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a woman, wife, or mother does not seem to align with the current principle of gender equality. Given the fact that this is a whole intellectual sphere, the capabilities of males and females are equilibrated to the greatest extent. Nevertheless, it might be assumed that gender peculiarities, indeed, should be taken into account. For example, women should have the opportunity for maternity leave. Still, this is related to the general conditions – that are to be based on respect and adequacy – in which females work. When it comes to the recognition of their scientific accomplishments, the focus must be on the latter but not on various gender characteristics and stereotypes. Here, it seems rational to note that there have been some cases that draw attention to the described issue. For instance, in her New York Times obituary, Yvonne Brill’s scientific attainments were blurred due to the detailed depiction of her domestic life as a mother and wife (Sullivan). Such an approach was not accepted by the readers, and it was criticized significantly. Indeed, numerous publications on the related themes confirm that the problem “is that when you emphasize a woman’s sex, you inevitably end up dismissing her science” (Aschwanden). It is visible that the issue cannot be neglected, and the scientific community should take appropriate measures constantly. Thus, the inertia of attitudes towards women still persists; to a large extent, this is facilitated by gender stereotypes or the maintenance of traditional roles in the family. Then, there is the maintenance of the phenomenon of “double burden”, when a woman does two to three times more household work in the house than a man. Also, traditionally, a woman is entrusted with all the respons
Firm based trade theories hinge on the concept that multinational companies drive international trade (Anderson 95). Trade between nations can, therefore, be explained according to a complex relationship of parameters that touch on the operation of multinational companies (Feenstra 80). Here, economists have incorporated areas that refer to brand strength, quality of service, market availability, and customer loyalty in their trade inflow models (Kemp 102). The country similarity theory was proposed by Linder in 1961 (Anderson 95). Here, Linder argues that trade for manufactured produce is likely to be high between countries which have the same per capita income. Firms will first produce products for the local market (Feenstra 80). As companies seek for expansion opportunities, they are likely to invest in areas where consumers have a similar liking of their produce as their local consumers (Neary 430) The product life cycle theory proposes a three stage development process for manufactured products. A product will first undergo a new product stage followed by a maturing stage, and then a standardization stage (Krugman 194). Countries that have consumers who have a continued demand for improved products will produce products that are highly competitive, hence, highly marketable on the global market (Bernard 1290). Once a product has surpassed the maturing stage, transfer to a manufacturing location can start due to factors like cheap production costs, available technology and market opportunities, as the production process is standardized to maintain desired quality (Bernard 1290). The transfer of many production plants from western countries to some developing countries like China and India can be explained by the product life cycle theory. Another modern firm based theory is the global competitive theory. Here, there is a proposal that firms will invest in areas where they are likely to obtain a strategic advantage over their rivals (Melitz 1721). Among the most important areas that contribute to the competitive advantage of firms are entry barriers (Melitz 1721). Entry barriers include factors like research and growth opportunities, production costs, market opportunities, copyright laws and availability of raw materials (Bernhofen 50). According to developing theories that attempt to understand the phenomenon of global trade, the national competitive advantage theory was proposed by Michael Porter in 1990 (Eaton 1760). Here, Porter stated that the competitiveness of a given country in a specific industry was based on the capacity of that country to innovation and improvement in the given industry (Eaton 1760). Porter attempted to understand why some countries were more competitive in given industries (Bernhofen 50). Porter identified four interdependent parameters that were cruc
With the impending energy crisis, mankind sought the perfect solution that will solve the problem of overdependence on fossil fuel. There is no need to elaborate the fact that petroleum products derived from fossil fuel is very expensive and at the same time create noxious fumes that pollute the environment. But the most pressing concern is the realization that someday fossil fuel will be depleted. As a result numerous alternative energy solutions were created and utilized by different countries all over the world. One of the most promising is wind energy, specifically the use of wind turbines to produce clean and renewable energy. One can just imagine the potential of wind energy. It is virtually inexhaustible because it seems to be available on a regular basis. As a result wind turbines are being installed from California to Sweden and even in Asia. But do not be deceived because wind energy is not as practical solution to the energy problem of this country. Background In the scientific revolution that swept modern history, mankind discovered the use of fossil fuel. He was able to harness the fuel from the ground and utilized it with cost-efficient methods of extraction, delivery, and application. As a consequence of successful application of scientific knowledge, mankind was able to experience progress never before known since the history of the world. Cities were created virtually overnight as factories were built around locomotive stations that carry people and raw materials needed by manufacturing facilities. Towns and suburbs were established to accommodate the number of workers that migrated from the rural areas to the cities. They are attracted to the idea of stable salaries as opposed to unpredictable nature of farm work. As cities expand the solution to the problem of mobility was the automobile that enable workers to live outside the city and commute back and forth to work. Transportation costs include not only the value of the automobile but the fuel needed to transport people and goods. Houses require more than a kitchen, bedroom and dining room. The modern home requires electricity to power the numerous gadgets it contains. It did not take long before industrialized countries like the United States needed to import petroleum products from petroleum producing countries like those that can be found in the Middle East. One day, everyone realized that they can no longer afford the cost of gasoline. But the most problematic issue is the idea that someday there will be no fossil fuel to power cars, homes and electronic gadgets that 21 st century people cannot live without (Satterlee 1). Wind Energy Aside from being expensive and the unreliability of supply, there is another problematic aspect of burning fossil fuel and it is the environmental impact that degrades the environment and human life. Thus, it is not enough t
Introduction Neil Armstrong was a famous astronaut because of his expedition to the moon during the cold war period. Armstrong was the first person to physically walk on the Moon followed by a successful trip to space in Apollo 11. He was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in 1930 and went through traditional education before launching his career at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Armstrong was used to flying since childhood as his family moved from city to city. After a trip on the Tin Goose with his father in 1936, Armstrong developed strong interests in aviation (Burgess 89). Armstrong education He attended the Blume High School, and it pushed him to take aviation lessons in early age. The school organized flight lessons within the Wapakoneta Airfield. Armstrong graduated from the school at the age of 16 with a student’s flight certificate. During his first days at school, Armstrong was engaged in Eagle Scout activities and recognized by the Boys’ Scout of America. He was a holder of the distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his contribution to the association during his days at elementary and high school (Delahunty and
Throughout the history of humankind, women have been facing the necessity to fight for their rights, namely, the right to be seen as equal human beings and receive related opportunities. While the problem of sex-based oppression has doubtlessly been the source of continuous suffering and oppression of the women belonging to the lower and middle class, the position of female monarchs could arguably be seen as more favorable. Namely, given the opportunities that the royal power provided, one might argue that women belonging to the royal family could enjoy greater freedom. However, the threat of demonization and objectification was not completely erased from the specified setting, either. Namely, women in the position of royal power in the Early modern Era were regarded either goddesses or monsters based on the strategy that they chose to rule the land, yet these women were rarely seen as equal to their male counterparts. Addressing the issue of female members of the royalty, one might presume that women ruling a country were not considered monsters and, instead, lauded as the members of the superior caste, yet the nature of the specified mindset was far from egalitarian. The nature of the specified attitude was not rooted in the idea that women were equal to men but, instead, rested on the premise that the royal family was above the mere mortals (Abate 18). The idea above can be supported by the fact that the source of the royal power in most of Europe at the time was considered to be divine and could not be possibly debated. Consequently, even the rule of women was seen as the manifestation of the divine power and will, which suggested that the decisions and resolutions of female rulers were not for debate as well as the ones provided by male ones (Levin 57). Overall, the fact that female rulers were seen on par with goddesses in Europe at the time should not be attributed to the advanced points of view on the issue of equality but, instead, should be seen as the direct effect of misguided beliefs. Arguably, the progress made over centuries has affected how women belonging to the royalty were perceived by general audiences. Namely, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment defined the tendency toward a more liberal perception of the gender issue. With the discoveries that the Scientific Revolution gave to humankind, as well as the progressive ideas and the related philosophies that the Enlightenment entailed, the concept of gender roles and the perception of sexes shifted significantly toward a more liberal one (Abate 22). Multiple discoveries in the domain of biology and physiology along with the focus on the p
Introduction Successful design and implementation of a healthcare facility project inevitably leads to the higher quality of provided services as well as contributes to staff and patient satisfaction. Since the report deals with the Middle Eastern region, it was chosen to evaluate design and safety measures at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The facility started operating in 2012 and is classified as the city’s largest private hospital that provides tertiary care. Also, Burjeel Hospital is a part of the VPS Healthcare Group. Currently, the facility is led by Mr. Amir Firdaus. Hospital Infrastructure Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi encompasses an area of sixty-five thousand square meters and can provide beds to two hundred and ninety-three patients. The facility is privately owned by Burjeel Hospital LLC and is valued at AED 400,000,000 (“Burjeel Hospital – Abu Dhabi”). The construction project for developing the hospital implied converting the existing building into a state-of-the-art hospital. Therefore, the philosophy of the design was avoiding the destruction of the previous structure and upscaling it through restorative and new construction to end up with a prestigious facility that will provide high-quality services to customers. Through the use of the latest technologies, the designers and constructors of the building wanted to take into account a large variety of needs concerning the provision of care. Unfortunately, there is no construction sched