ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Nowadays, in the age of overall migration, it is particularly critical to examine the mechanisms of such processes as assimilation and pluralism. The paper at hand is, thereby, aimed at analyzing the relevant concepts on the basis of the two readings elucidating these problems. Body of text First and foremost, it is essential to note that such phenomena as assimilation and pluralism are closely interconnected as they both deal with the aspects of ethnicity and its integration into a new environment. Marger notes that both concepts have a similar dimension structure regardless of their opposite character. Thus, according to the author, pluralism, as well as assimilation, has cultural and structural dimensions (Marger 172). One might, consequently, assume that a successful assimilation reduces the expression of pluralism. The analysis of the readings makes one suggest that the process of assimilation is more beneficial for the host society. Hence, the minority groups adopt the norms and the traditions of the locals so that the latter are enabled to preserve the habitual environment. Meanwhile, from the migrants’ perspective, the process of assimilation might be regarded as destructive. Thus, for example, Waters and Ueda point out that one of the principal traits of the US assimilation policy is “the absence of a positive role for the ethnic or racial group” (130). The unwillingness of the locals to get acquainted with the cultural traditions of the minority groups leaves the former no other choice but to neglect their roots and begin the lives from scratch. One believes that the underestimation of the cultural significance of the “outside” communities results in the extension of pluralism. Whereas some ethnic groups willingly adopt the new rules and mentality, other minorities show reluctance in giving up their background. Hence, Marger provides an example of Euro-Americans and racial-ethnical groups. According to the author, the first group is not likely to experience any problems with adaptation, while the latter tends to struggle for the preservation of their ethnic traditions (Marger 173). As a result, more and more minority groups tend to express resistance to the complete adaptation of new rules. Waters and Ueda support this idea saying that immigrant groups are “no longer exclusively focused on assimilation” (135). Thereby, one might suppose that the minorities are likely to strengthen their community ties and relations in the future perspective. Finally, it is essential to note that another reason for ethnical groups to prefer pluralism to
Intelligence Oversight The establishment and existence of several committees on intelligence should not necessarily dilute the functions of the oversight and congressional organs. Perhaps, poor coordination between the individual committees and oversight bodies is a major challenge. Worse still, it is apparent that congressional control and the senior intelligence oversight bodies have been demeaning and undermining the roles of the committees. If all the different organs can work in a more coordinated manner, then attaining the goals of the national Intelligence Community cannot be a hurdle (Moran 2011, 678). Besides, focusing on financial control of the committees, the congressional wing, and the oversight body might still fail to yield the expected results. It is indeed factual that finance plays a very important role in ensuring the effective delivery of intelligence services to the nation. Nonetheless, most of the agencies are not within the control of the federal government. As a result, coordinating their activities becomes a major challenge, and failure on the part of the Intelligence Community. Pointing an accusing finger to small local intelligence agencies might not be the solution. It is agreeable that most of the localized agencies lack adequate power or authority to discharge their duties. Hence, the resounding challenge facing the Intelligence Community is the lack of democratization of local agencies. Why is it that the media is playing such a momentous role in researching and sharing intelligence information more than some local agencies? According to Matei, “Democratic civilian control (DCC) is conceptualized in terms of authority over the following: institutional control mechanisms, oversight, and the inculcation of professional norms, although these norms can also contribute to effectiveness” (2011, 76). This implies that even the local agencies require additional democratic authority to function well. It is indeed true that streamlining the operations of the Intelligence Community may offer a much-needed solution. However, the size of the community may not accommodate single-handed leadership. The large size of the Intelligence Community is an advantage on its own because intelligence information can be gathered from diverse sources. A major setback arises when some of the agencies duplicate their roles in the course of gathering and analyzing intelligence data. Moreover, there is the risk of delayed processing of intelligence information from the lower to higher levels. In some instances, information that can be processed and acted upon within one month may take several months before it is completed (Puyvelde 2013, 146). In regards to covert hearings and meetings that are not known to the public, it is common knowledge that intelligence information should not be made public especially before requisite action has been taken and the pending threats managed successfully. Perhaps, the Intel
Admittedly, the major reason for the development of violent non-state agents (VNSA) is weakening of state power (Singer 2001-2002). These agents can operate on territories which are not controlled by a state. Therefore, the term “non-state” can become inappropriate since VNSA operate on areas where state is not represented by any force. However, nowadays many states (and the United States is among them) have to face the necessity to resist VNSAs. The development of technology and globalization contributed greatly to the spread of VNSAs. There are many types of such agents, and some of them have gained considerable power nowadays. Williams points out several major types of VNSAs which can be dangerous for the state power. Thus, the first type of VNSAs to be considered is warlords, charismatic leaders who usually have military background, and who oppose some policies of a state (Williams 2008, 9-15). Another type of VNSA is militia, a military formation which operates in a state where state power is weak. Another type of VNSA singled out by Williams is paramilitary force. These forces usually originate from state military formations or even established by the government. In this way, some states try to acquire cheaper military force. It is necessary to note that the existence of this type of VNSA also raises a question about the appropriateness of the term “non-state” since the state forms the violent agent, apart from (or even instead) of conventional state military force. Another type of VNSA is insurgencies, military formations which try to overthrow the government. Terrorist organizations are now the VNSAs which attract much attention at present. These agents are usually a threat for countries where state power is properly established, e.g. the USA. Finally, one more type of VNSAs, which are dangerous for a weaken state, are criminal organizations and youth gangs. Of course, these VNSAs jeopardized order in any country (on every level), but if the state power is well established such agents are usually neutralized. As has been mentioned earlier globalization, technology development and media are playing crucial role in VNSAs empowering. Thus, Kramer et al. claim that the development of electronics and information systems has put the problem of VNSAs on global scale (Kramer et al. 2009, 4). At present such agents can easily interact with other agents: buy and sell armament, join military groups in different countries, provide technological, financial and other help to each other in order to reach certain aims (Singer 2001-2002). Basically, VNSAs have entered global market place which enables them to compete more successfully with state power. As far as empowerment of VNSAs, especially when it deals with terroristic groups, it is necessary to emphasize that media “play an integral part” in the process (Zanini and Edwards 2001, 42). For instance, terroristic acts are aimed at attracting attention and news media help them to achieve their goals in quite an easy way. In fact, the power of media is already acknowledged by VNSAs and many such gro
Introduction In the context of interreligious conflicts today, it is important to understand the influence of religion on society. At different stages of the formation of creeds, various religious and cultural traditions were formed from ideas dictated by faith. Freedom of choice for a person is one of the main criteria for his existence. Someone sees the purpose of their life path in observing religious norms, and someone is skeptical about everything supernatural. The topic of the study – the influence of religion on a person – is relevant for discussion in the modern world, as it appears in many spheres of society. Quantitative Methodology The use of the quantitative method in this study was expedient since it was oriented on understanding the problem of the social institution of religion. The study aimed to explain them, to formulate them in the form of categories. Hence the emphasis on given hypotheses, the study of certain variables (religiosity, emotions, culture) and the search for connections between them. The chosen quantitative method was a questionnaire of the Q&A Session type. The content of the questionnaire was highly standardized – the questions asked and the answers allowed by the topic of the survey were completely predetermined. The research procedure based on closed questionnaire questions turned out to be well adapted to the need for obtaining scientific knowledge in the socio-religious sphere. It touched upon various topics of dynamics of social subjects that are not amenable to direct scientific control from the point of view of the classical system of concepts of status and role. Consequently, a more precise definition of the corresponding influence of religion on social subjects was assumed. The form of quantitative research chosen for this purpose – a highly standardized questionnaire – was useful in answering my RQs. Survey Results The study involved men (22%) and women (78%) aged 23 years (62%) and younger (38%). Among the survey respondents, the majority (78%) belonged to the Caucasian race, and the remaining 22% of respondents belonged to other races (including Asians). Most of the participants noted their religious affiliation as Christians (62%). 31% of respondents answ
Abstract Cancer is the rapid proliferation of abnormal body cells caused by mutation as a result of biological, environmental and dietary factors. Oesophageal cancer is of global health concern due to the advanced stage of the disease during diagnosis and the associated high mortality rate. Oesophageal cancer presents itself either as squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) or adenocarcinoma. Dysplasia precedes oesophageal squamous cell cancer while Barrett’s oesophagus is present at the onset of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Early screening is deemed a cost effective approach compared to curative treatment. Unfortunately, most of the devices for screening are not adequately available in some regions and especially in Third World countries. Efforts are underway to create awareness and educate people on preventive measures to be used for keeping oesophageal cancer at bay. The incidence of oesophageal cancer is high in various parts of the world, but for the purposes of this paper, China will be the region of focus. Introduction Oesophageal cancer is a lethal human malignancy associated with a high mortality rate. It is ranked the eighth cancer in relation to prevalence and sixth with regard to death rate. More than 480,000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. Out of these number, 400, 000 people die (Hagen et al., 2012). There has been good progress towards adequate staging of this disease, but 25% of patients who undergone primary surgery have a poor 5 year survival rate. In the recent times when lifestyle diseases are such a menace and rapidly rising, the same is happening for oesophageal cancer and especially oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma, however, has remained stagnant. This insinuates that more scientific research is required to come up with more innovative ways to deal with oesophageal cancer and related lifestyle illnesses. According to Hagen et al. (2012), the 5 year survival rate does not go beyond 40%. Lao-Sirieix & Fitzgerald (2012) advocate the use of screening procedures to increase it. Other programmes used to address the issue of oesophageal cancer are curative and palliative programmes. The objective of curative programmes is to heal and prevent future recurrences while palliative care aims at prolongation of life. This paper discusses the pathogenesis of oesophageal cancer in relation to the population affected, the effects of disease and therapy, and prevailing interventions. Community or Aggregate Some studies show variation in the survival rate of oesophageal cancer attributed to ethnicity. However, the delineation of this has not been adequately presented. China is the region that has the highest incidences of oesophageal since it acc
Introduction Available scholarship underscores the need for players in the air transport industry to always ensure safe, secure, competent and ecologically sustainable operations as they engage in the business of transporting passengers and cargo within and outside the boundaries of their respective countries (International Civil Aviation Organization, 2014). In the United States, all safety, security and customer protection issues within the air transport sector are overseen by several constitutionally-formulated institutions such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Transportation (Weensveen, 2012). This paper reviews and discusses one safety recommendation by the NTSB and one consumer protection by the Department of Transportation, with the view to demonstrating how safety and consumer protection issues are entrenched within the United States airline industry. NTSB’s Safety Recommendation The NTSB routinely releases safety recommendations that are usually expected to address specific issues or challenges raised in the course of undertaking a study or discovered upon successful completion of an investigation involving an air transportation catastrophe (Weensveen, 2012). Upon successfully investigating the 2013 accident involving a Boeing 777-200ER operating as Asiana Airlines flight 214, the NTSB came up with the Safety Recommendation A-14-037 with the view to not only ensure that all safety concerns relating to the accident were addressed, but also to avoid future recurrence of such accidents. The accident, which led to several fatalities and life-threatening injuries among passengers and crew, was likely caused by lack of adherence to standard operating procedures, lack of adequate training on the airplane’s autoflight system, compromised design complexity, as well as other operational and airplane design deficiencies (National Transport Safety Board, 2014). The recommendation made to FAA by the NTSB upon successful completion of the investigation required Boeing, the manufacturer of the airplane, to consider developing “enhanced 777 training that will improve flight crew understanding of autothrottle modes and automatic activation system logic through improved documentation, courseware, and instructor training” (National Transport Safety Board, 2014, para. 1). Other recommendations arising from the accident include (1) developing design requirements for context-reliant low alerting systems for commercial airplanes, (2) undertaking research with the view to investigating the
Introduction The success of a given business firm depends on various functions such as accounting, leadership, marketing, financial management, and planning. Each of these tasks must be undertaken by ethical and competent professionals who understand the importance of promoting positive business practices. Failure to engage in acceptable practices can result in numerous challenges and affect a company’s profitability. Different firms have engaged in specific malpractices that have led to significant problems. A good example is the ethical dilemma that faced California Micro Devices Corporation in the early 1990s. This company was a leading producer and marketer of mixed signal and analog semiconductors for different devices such as mobile phones and consumer electronics. The firm had expanded its production line to include “high brightness light emitting diodes (HBLEDs) and mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs) for mobile displays” (Clikeman, 2013, p. 45). This research digs deeper into the accounting malpractices that were orchestrated by the firm’s topmost leaders. The ethical dilemma arises from the use of deceitful financial reporting and accounting practices, thereby amounting to fraud at California Micro Devices. Analysis of the Ethical Dilemma The ethical predicament facing California Micro Devices began towards the end of the 1980s. In 1989, Price Waterhouse, the firm’s chief auditor, observed that the company was engaging in questionable accounting practices and business dealings. The auditing company asked the corporation to reaffirm its financial records to expose the loss of three million dollars (Clikeman, 2013). The occurrence compelled the topmost managers at California Micro Devices to switch its auditor. This led to a new agreement with Coopers and Lybrand (which would later become PriceWaterhouseCoopers). This auditing company walked out in the year 1994. This development led to the appointment of Ernst and Young as the new auditor. The corporation wanted to determine if it was engaging in any form of financial malpractices. The auditing firm exposed numerous irregularities and accounting malpractices that had been committed over the years. This led to the firm’s restatement of a profit of $5.1 million to a loss of over $15 million (Clikeman, 2013). These observations forced the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the corporations accounting procedures and business malpractices. This was something necessary because it was quite clear that it was engaging in illegal practices. In 1995, the company was delisted for failing to comply with the procedures for filing financial documents and statements. Ron Romito, the company’s accounting officer, would later plead guilty to various business
Organ donation is one of the medical wonders of the late 20th and early 21st century. The word is used to define the process by which regenerative (as in the case of bone marrow and blood) or non regenerative ( e.g. kidney, liver) are taken from either compatible cadaveric or live human donors in order to prolong the life of a severely ill or dying human being. Although organ donations are seen by the medical community and society at large as a method of saving a life, it is not a procedure that is without moral and ethical dilemmas. An example of an ethical dilemma surrounding the procedure is the case of rich man vs. poor man, or rather, the case of a person who can afford to buy an organ on the black market for his use, as opposed to the situation of a person who has been on the waiting list of a hospital for over 3 years already and no matching donor has been found. Would it be right for a person who can afford to order an organ from a poor nation to get an organ and have the life saving procedure while somebody who needs the donation badly sits on a waiting list for years with no donor in sight? Or, how about the case of a prisoner who, because he is a charge of the state, gets onto a waiting list because he has ready funds available rather than a person who has no insurance but needs the same organ donation? Since the prisoner is being punished, should his health not be included in the punishment scenario? After all, he is being punished and taught a lesson. I do not believe it is proper for my tax dollars to be spent on saving the life of a prisoner with a major operation. After all, jail is not supposed to be easy, neither is it a free ride through life and the medical hazards it poses. Another ethical issue has to do with the age of the patient. Should an old patient who is say 80 years old still be put on a waiting list ahead of an 18 year old who has more potential in life? In my opinion, the young should go ahead of the elderly in the list. After all, the elderly are already in the pre departure area of life and no amount of medical care will extend what is left of their lives. Due to the scarcity of organ donors, a problem regarding the process of organ donation has occurred. Medical science has tried to counter the problem by developing other scientific methods to regenerate organs. The most widely debated of these procedures has to do with Xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in humans. Although man and beast share some genetic traits, this is not a safe procedure to use as there is no telling how a human system will react to an animal organ in the system. Then, there is the option of extracting necessary cells from stem cells or umbilical cord blood. But the most questionable of these procedures has to be the creation of a another baby using discarded embryos in order to donate to a sibling. I believe that this procedure is not only unethical, but also has countless moral violations as well. Nobody should be conceived and brought into this world for the sole purpose of saving a sibling or another person. If you have seen the Ewan McGregor mov