ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Vivian Chang is the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network in Oakland California. Through APEN, Vivian works directly with underprivileged Asian and Pacific Islander communities, many of which are comprised largely of recent refugees to the U.S. (AEOE, 2006) APEN currently works on three levels: Direct Organizing in local communities, building a Network of API organizations and working in multiracial Alliances to affect regional and national social change. Of these, direct organizing is at the center of APEN’s vision of environmental and social justice. APEN’s two local San Francisco Bay Area projects are the 11-year old Laotian Organizing Project (LOP) in Richmond and the 6-year old Power in Asians Organizing (PAO) in Oakland. As the Executive Director of APEN, Vivian supports and provides leadership for many APEN projects (AEOE, 2006). Laotian Organizing Project: The Laotian community in Contra Costa County, CA lives in one of the most polluted regions in the nation. Contra Costa County is surrounded by more than 350 industrial sites and toxic hazards and homes, schools, and work environments are exposed to toxic levels of lead, pesticides, and other chemicals daily. As refugees who entered the U.S. in the 1970s, the Laotian community is still a relatively new population with little voice about the policies affecting their lives. LOP was started in 1995 to bring together the diverse Laotian ethnic and tribal groups and give them a voice in their government. A long-term community-based Environmental Justice agenda for Richmond has been designed with LOP members. LOP is focusing presently on housing justice as it strongly affirms what environmental justice is all about: fighting for basic rights to protect communities where individuals live, work, and play. In the Just Cause Campaign for tenants’ rights and protections, LOP leaders and members work together with Richmond Vision 2000, a coalition of faith-based, labor, and community groups working together to promote a progressive environmental and social justice agenda (APEN, 2008a). PAO: Launched in March 2002, PAO is another APEN project lead by Vivian Change, for the diverse Asian ethnic communities of Oakland. In the San Antonio and Chinatown neighborhoods of Oakland, there are large numbers of Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotians, Cambodians, and Filipinos, many of whom are recent immigrants and low-income. Similar to the Laotian community in Richmond, APIs in East Oakland have limited access to culturally appropriate services, bear higher rates of toxic exposure at work and at home, and lack access to decision-makers to impact change. Through PAO, it was found that the urgent need of the hour was affordable housing. With language capacity in Mand
Company Background This company was established in 1977 to offer oilfield services to organisations and individuals that specialise in drilling this commodity. Its main offices are located in Abu Dhabi even though it has other branches in different countries in the United Arab Emirates region. It is headed by His Excellency Mr. Sultan Al Mansoori who focuses on developing this company to be the best in the Middle East in offering oilfield products, services and staff to other organisations. Al Mansoori Group has expanded and diversified its products and services to include engineering, marketing, staffing and supplying oilfield products to consumers and companies. It continues to register excellent performance and it was awarded two awards in 2011 in the Oil and Gas Middle East ceremony. The outstanding performance was achieved through its robust organisational culture that highlights various issues about its employees, products, services, environment and the public. This discussion explores issues of organisational culture in Al Mansoori Group. Analysis: Video and Corporate Pages Quality, safety and excellence are the main aspects that define the organisational culture of Al Mansoori. This company highlights the need to ensure all practices and procedures used in the production of its products or services are of high standards. This means that its employees are recruited according to the required qualifications (academic and work experience) to promote professional performance in this company. Those that do not have adequate experience or knowledge are sponsored and trained to ensure they acquire the relevant skills to boost the performance of this company. The quality of services offered by this company is outstanding because it uses modern technology and innovative means of production. Al Mansoori is amongst the Middle East’s most technology based companies and this puts it in a better position to compete in the local and international market. It continues to invest in researching, networking and re-branding to ensure it offers products and services that are relevant in the market. Therefore, this means that its quality assurance department is always busy evaluating and comparing the quality of its products with that of others to ensure it is a step ahead of its competitors (Hofstede 31). This culture ensures this company offers quality products that cannot compare with its competitors. Secondly, this company specia
Introduction Stoics and Epicureans postulated their philosophies regarding life to enhance people’s understanding of various strategies that they can deploy to boost their happiness or manage diverse challenging circumstances. Ancient scholars such as Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Epicurus authored various texts addressing different dimensions of life. Hence, it is crucial to not only examine Stoic and Epicurean philosophies of life in detail but also debate the role of pleasure, emotions, and desire in shaping a person’s overall well-being. The Stoic Philosophy of Life The Stoic philosophy of life is concerned with the attainment of inner peace by overpowering adverse situations, exercising self-control, gaining consciousness of an individual’s impulses, and realizing various goals within the allocated short time. Stoicism emphasizes the idea of leading a fulfilling life and the determination to become a better human being. In their respective teachings, namely, Enchiridion and Meditations, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius provide insightful thoughts regarding the philosophy of life as depicted in the course of people’s search for happiness and improved livelihood. In the text Enchiridion, Epictetus teaches about the importance of mastering the art of self-control, especially when one experiences adverse circumstances. For instance, Epictetus asserts, “Work, therefore to be able to say to every harsh appearance, ‘You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be” (29). Embracing Epictetus’ response during devastating situations caused by others or adverse circumstances is appropriate because it ensures that an individual does not take unnecessary actions out of anger. Hence, in line with this philosopher’s perspectives, it is vital for people to appreciate the need for overlooking some circumstances, especially when one does not have a suitable way of directly controlling them. Developing the perception that some appearances do not reflect the reality of life helps to reinforce one’s ability to cope with adverse situations. However, the question of facing realism in particular circumstances also arises, regardless of whether individuals are in control or not. For instance, in the case of the appearance of an earthquake, salvaging oneself from the unpleasant manifestation is instinctual. This situation presents Epictetus’ idea of responding to adverse circumstances as considerably questionable. Nonetheless, since it is impossible to completely avoid unpleasant situations in life, bearing such experiences without demonstrating a significant degree of disturbance is necessary. Meditations , which forms part of Marcus Aurelius’ work, provides further exemplifications of the Stoic philosophy of life. This philosopher was a student of the Great Epictetus. Specifically, Aurelius emphasizes the need for understandi
Literature Review In their research, Miller et al. (2012) dwelled on the application of ultrasound in therapeutic treatments and discussed the best ways to minimize side-effect risks and help patients as much as possible. They mentioned that ultrasound had several definite benefits supported by evidence and could be used to increase patient safety when the clinician dealt with chronic pains (Miller et al., 2012). Throughout the research process, the investigators found that the amount of safety information is either insufficient or confusing. Research on the subject of ultrasound therapy revealed that even commercial conflicts might arise throughout the implementation of this kind of treatment. Miller et al. (2012) also highlighted the significance of communicating the safety principles to the patients that were subject to being treated using ultrasound. Their qualitative meta-analysis of the effects of ultrasound on the quality of therapeutic approaches to chronic pains helped find numerous ultrasound methods that can be utilized in different situations. Overall, Miller et al. (2012) proved that the clinical use of ultrasound bears a positive connotation to patient outcomes, and the safety of this method is one of the biggest advantages. Another research project intended to support the use of ultrasound therapy was conducted by Ulus et al. (2012). In that study, they addressed the short-term impact of ultrasound therapy in the cases where it was necessary to ease the pain or restore physical functions of the patients. Ulus et al.’s (2012) study involved several patients (42) with knee osteoarthritis. A researcher that was not involved in the evaluation of the outcomes randomized the sample, and two groups were formed – continuous ultrasound therapy and sham ultrasound therapy. All of the participants of the study (patients) were subject to receiving 20 minutes of hot packs and at least 15 minutes of specific knee-focused isometric exercises in addition to ten minutes of interferential current (Ulus et al., 2012). The treatment was received throughout three weeks straight (five times per week). The researchers evaluated the data based on the baseline information and the end date. To measure the outcomes, Ulus et al. (2012) used a visual analog scale, a specific osteoarthritis index, Lequesne index, and depression scale. Nonetheless, the study outcomes showed that the application of ultrasound in association with conventional physiotherapy does not have any significant effects on patients with knee osteoarthritis. Instead, it was recommended to apply ultrasound therapy exclusively. The Gap in Scientific Knowledge The gap in scientific knowledge is accurately addressed by the authors of the reviewed research study. Their research points at sev
Introduction The Qing Dynasty lasted between 1644 and 1912. Before the beginning of the Dynasty, there was the Ming Dynasty that had governed the country for years. The end of the Qing Dynasty was a result of an abortive restoration resulting to the development of the Republic of China. The most astonishing thing is that the dynasty was not founded by the majority Han Chinese, but by the Jurchen, a semi-sedentary tribe that lived in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. This essay will explore the history of the Qing Dynasty by comparing and contrasting the state and the Chinese society during this dynasty to the earlier periods in the history of the country. The Extent to Which Qing was a Chinese Dynasty At the age of 38, Emperor Shunzhi became the first leader of the dynasty. The Manchus took over 20 years to fight and defeat the forces of the Ming Dynasty who had very strongholds in the country’s south. Very many aspects define the dynasty as purely Chinese. For example, the dynasty embraced a unique culture practiced this day (Bary & Bloom 781). The dynasty also managed to promote the temple rituals and the Confucian courts commonly presided by the emperors. During the same period, the dynasty supported most of the country’s historical and literary projects. Many people acknowledge that the Qing Dynasty was purely Chinese because it embraced the culture of the people. The dynasty also preserved the beliefs and practices of the Chinese people. It is necessary to state that the Qing monarchy promoted different works of art and culture. The nature of martial arts and architectural designs in the society became common during the period thereby making the dynasty purely Chinese. Having begun somewhere in the North, the rulers of the dynasty assimilated the people from the south while retaining the cultural attributes and aspects that define the Chinese tradition and culture (Ebrey 140). Different aspects of the Chinese society including religion, sports, martial arts, art, architecture, and societal norms dev
American imperialism is an expression that is basically used to denote political, economic, military and cultural influence of the United States. This term is often used in reference to the urge by which the USA undertakes its expansionary ideas with an oblivious attitude as to what consequences might result from such expansion. In David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly, this imperialism has been depicted in various dimensions. David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly is a post colonial drama that is a rewritten version of Puccini’s opera, ‘Madame Butterfly’. Aime Cesaire’s play, ‘A Tempest’ is a similar post colonial play that was originally written by Shakespeare. Both of these plays have been rewritten but they have nevertheless retained the same characters and basic plot elements. The original versions of the two plays had created symbols of other cultures which became household stereotypes. For instance, Puccini’s opera, ‘Madame Butterfly’ had attempted to symbolize the oriental woman as a butterfly, insinuating that they are indeed beautiful but of a fragile nature. The use of the term ‘butterfly’ in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly is a clear depiction of American cultural imperialism. I feel that also the invocation of such terms as ‘The Orient’ results to a symbolization of the Far East culture. By giving it such an endearing terminology, it prepares the USA citizenry to eventually view colonialism as a positive endeavor. The constant use of such terminologies in the realms of literal works is aimed at solidifying this imperialist notion even in the minds of the future generations. Throughout the play, the American way of life has been depicted as most ideal. It has been depicted as a culture that upholds high moral standards while the other cultures have been found to lack in this. For example when Gallimard begins an illicit affair with Song, his perception of her is that one of a butterfly. This is a stereotype that Puccini had created in the eyes of the Western world in reference to women from the Far East. It was supposed to depict these women as possessing physical beauty but on the other hand being weak. The weakness here is more to do with personality and character. This would want to imply that they are loose morally and men could have their way with them with little or no resistance. Aime Cesaire has also clearly depicted how the colonialist’s view of the colonized people’s way of life is narrow minded often lacking proper understanding. For instance, his characterization of Prospero who was a foreign ruler of a certain Island and Caliban the only native of the said Island who resided there. We see Prospero referring to Caliban as an ‘ugly ape’. This play highlights the manner in which imperialist carry out their dominance over the indigenous communities without really taking into consideration the feeling, aspirations and general welfare of the colonized. This lack of empathy prevents any sense of guilt from surfacing hence maintaining the status quo. This insensitivity attitude towards the occupied people’s culture by the imperialists is misleading.
Context On entering college, one of the more significant and exciting triggers of life cycle change is that one is now of legal drinking age, which is currently 18 years in the country. And yet the Rudd government has now tabled proposals to return the MDA to 21 years owing to evidence from other countries or states (cited by researchers at Deakin University and Drug-Free Australia) that doing so has brought about a 15% reduction in death or injury related to alcohol. Besides showing that they are perfectly capable of coping with the first drinking bout “rite of passage” (presuming they have not already consumed alcohol illicitly in high school), college students expose themselves to risks of binge drinking, get hungover and miss class, engage in juvenile crimes and have other run-in’s with the police, are more prone to smoke or use drugs, and (for females) bear pronounced risks of incapacitated sexual assault. Emotionally, moderate and heavy drinkers are also liable to depression. Objectives and Research Questions In general, the purpose of the research was to arrive at evidence-based recommendations for university policy and guidance programs that could more holistically help students avoid binge drinking or alcoholism and systematically cope with the attendant emotional and substance abuse risks. Since a comprehensive analysis of such behaviors and emotional effects is beyond the scope of this project, the group focused on a general research objective of defining how men and women differed on such correlates of drinking as:  1. Wanting to “feel high”.  2. Reporting depressive symptoms.  3. The propensity for substance abuse. Methodology The study group solicited participation from a total of 10 classes in two universities proximate to QUT. Owing to the nature of the student population, the convenience sample broke out as follows:   * 266 women and 140 men (total n = 406);   * An age range of 17 to 26 years with a mean of 19.1;   * The student body was preponderantly White/Caucasian (89.2%) while Asians comprised 10.8%. The study instrument comprised a structured, self-administered online questionnaire with the following core items:  1. Alcohol consumption: overall frequency (a pre-defined scale over the past 30 days), frequency of binge drinking (defined as “five or more drinks in one sitting), and incidence of drinking-related problems (dichotomous “yes” or “no” responses to 14 types of adverse consequences).  2. Coping through substance abuse: this is the f
The author’s main claims relating to the review question Two studies under consideration differ in the main claims made by the authors, methodology used, and their findings. Chesser-Smyth’s study supports the idea that first clinical placement often changes the students’ views on the world (Levett-Jones and Bourgeois 2007; Gray and Smith 2000); the second one, performed by Corlett, Palfreyman, Staines, and Marr is dedicated to the one of the most debatable issues in nursing, the theory-practice gap (Kenney 2002; Basford and Slevin 2003; Carey 2000). Since the research questions of two studies are different, the main claims made also differ. Chesser-Smyth (2005) claims that clinical placement can be stressful and challenging for nursing students (Levett-Jones and Bourgeois 2007; Jeffreys 2004). Corlett et al. (2003), in their turn, claim that there is much difference between the theoretical and practical aspects of nursing (Rafferty and Traynor 2001) and that three factors may affect these aspects. Moreover, these two studies differ in methodology. Chesser-Smyth’s uses a suiting method for her study, descriptive phenomenology, which is believed to be “particularly important in qualitative inquiry because of the intensely personal nature of the data collection and analysis experience” (Loiselle, Profetto-McGrath, Polit and Beck 2010, p. 178), while Corlett et al. (2003) chose experimental research, one of the most common methods of research in quantitative studies (Ary, Jacobs and Sorensen 2009). The second study, however, was more successful in the use of data collection tools. The first study used only personal interviews as a method of data collection, while the second one used a variety of tools including a multiple choice item test that is one of the most objective assessment methods (Morrison, Ross, Kemp and Kelman 2009), discussions, and an observation schedule; the latter tool, however, if often regarded as highly subjective (Cohen, Manion and Morrison 2007) In terms of the findings, both the articles mostly achieved the desirable, but only the first researcher reached the desired conclusions. Thus, Chesser-Smyth (2005) has discovered that most of the students have positive emotions with regards to their first clinical placing and that these emotions are further sustained by the favorable clinical learning environment (Spouse 2001; Chan 2001; Randle 2003). Evaluation of the authors’ main claims relating to the review question Evaluating these two studies, it is necessary to discuss their fitness for purpose, strengths, limitations, and the convincingness of their main claims. In terms of fitness for purpose, Chesser-Smyth’s study can be called exemplary. The author has clearly identified the purposes of her paper and then addressed them one-by-one. She also greatly supported her findings by the excerpts from the interviews, which made the study more realistic, as it is always the case with narratives (Holloway and Freshwater 2007; Rosiek and Atkinson 2007; Frid, Ohlen and Bergbom 2000). In contrast, the second group of resear