ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
In recent years, cars have become a more affordable mode of transport, and their number is growing rapidly. Traffic congestion is increasing and, along with this, traffic accidents are becoming more frequent. The causes of accidents are different, but in many cases, the human factor is triggered. In conditions of heavy traffic, it can be difficult for a person to navigate in a critical situation because he or she loses their temper and can make fatal mistakes. Given these circumstances, it becomes relevant to use self-driving cars, which could be controlled by special information and intelligent systems. However, the process of switching to self-driving vehicles is time-consuming and not fast for many reasons. To successfully set up and run a business of self-driving cars, it is important to overview the potential problems. The control unit processors in automobiles still cannot handle the processing of large amounts of data necessary for the correct solution. There is no single large-scale information and transport system that combines all the vehicles, transport infrastructure, and information centers. To release self-driving cars on the road, changes are needed in the situation regarding traffic, which states that the driver must drive the vehicle. Before starting mass production of vehicles with a self-driving type of control, it takes a lot of time to develop, manufacture, and test prototypes. The decommissioning and disposal of existing cars will also take time and financial resources. Since self-driving cars are likely to be launched on the road gradually, it is required to incorporate the function of responding to the inadequate behavior of ordinary car drivers on the road in the intelligent control system. It is necessary to create a state program, the purpose of which will be to support manufacturers and stimulate the population to switch to self-driving vehicles. Therefore, the business and its innovative technology should be integrated with a small segment of the automobile industry. For example, the program can be implemented in vehicles with a fixed route and driving time, such as delivery trucks. The latter sector is worth $740 billion annually, which means it is a prospective sector (Viscelli, 2018). I would set up the organizational structure in such a way that it thoroughly supports the truck owners. In addition, to avoid controversies of unemployment among truck drivers and have an assurance for potential accidents, I believe that the drivers can be transitioned to become truck operators or monitoring employees. I also think that the support team department, in conjunction with the IT department, should be the largest division, and this dual component should the core of the organization. The human resources department and marketing team will be smaller components but will be critical in advancing the company’s interests. The main reason why Uber went public seems to be based on the fact that the company is not profitable. It was gradually losing money, and at the end of 2018, its deficit reached $8 billion (Hawkins, 2019). Thus, going publi
Over the recent past, there has been an emergence of various infectious diseases that issue a threat to the overall population despite their age, sex or lifestyle (Cockburn 1963). According to a research study by (Jernigan, Raghunathan& Bell, 2002), some of the emerging diseases are either caused by infectious methods that had not been discovered; hence, spreading of these agents to other locations, or the return of agents that had previously disappeared. The infections that return after they had previously disappeared are referred to as re-emerging diseases. The study further states that the emergence of these infections is also caused by deliberate development by humans for terrorism. Some of the emerging infections over the recent past include SARS, Swine flu, avian flu, Ebola and HIV / AIDS (Cockburn 1963). A study by Hirschberg, Montagne & Fauci (2004) indicates that one of the factors that cause the emergence of these diseases include processes that occur in nature. Nevertheless, most of these illnesses are due to human activities and daily interactions. Some of these human activities include an increase in population, relocation from rural to urban areas, conflicts, terrorism and destructive use of natural resources. The emerging disease is first introduced to the susceptible population then through interaction, the disease is spread amongst individuals, thus it is easily sustained in the population infecting more and more people (Yang & Kim 2005). Some of the diseases are spread when the agents are passed on from animals to humans through a process referred to as zoonosis. Zoonosis mainly occurs when the human population increases and in turn occupies new environments, thus increasing the contact between humans and animals. This factor acts as a serious threat to humans being infected. According to the study by Ungchusak, Auewarakul & Dowell (2005), one of the infectious diseases whose spreading and transmission has been caused by human activities through close interactions with chimpanzees is HIV/ AIDS. This was through the hunting of bushmeat in Africa. The infectious disease was then further spread across the world through sexual transmission, blood transfer, breastfeeding and infectious drug use. An emerging disease that emerged due to natural and human activities is influenza (flu). This infection is frequently transferred between humans and agricultural animals. These animals which include ducks and pigs mostly act as the host for the influenza virus. The avian flu emerged more than 10 years ago in birds (Ungchusak, Auewarakul & Dowell 2005). However, it has not been directly passed to humans as the H1N1 (swine flu) which is transmitted to humans from pigs in 2009. Another cause of the re-emergence of this disease is the use of antibiotic drugs to resist pathogens. As the patient uses these antibiotics, the bacteria and viruses causing the disease frequently change and become resistant to the antibiotics. As a result, the antibiotic becomes ineffective in treating the disease (Yang & Kim 2005). The climatic factor also contributes to the emerg
Current macroeconomic situation The United States boasts of being a leading economic power in the world, and as a result, the recent economic recession in the country led to the repercussions being felt in almost all the parts of the world. Recovery from the global recession has generally been slow but consistent; therefore, a return to the economic situation as it was during 2008 and 2009 recession period is highly unlikely if not impossible. The US economic recession, which triggered the global recession, was triggered by the sub prime mortgage market that had accumulated great debts. This later led to the collapse of some financial institutions that had investments in the mortgage market. Capital and lending Lack of repaying mortgages has resulted in many of the financial institutions having capital impairment, hence making the companies unable to acquire and give more loans to the public. This capital impairment has mainly been brought up by the defaulting in the repayment of loans by members of the public due to various economic problems the citizens are facing. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding inflation levels in the future. However, the government has been able to control the inflation to a level that is not very high (OECD, 2010, p. 47). Unemployment The economic recession resulted in loss of many jobs due to the collapse of various companies. This loss of jobs was also necessitated by the fact that companies were trying to reduce their operational expenses. The high unemployment rate has resulted into reduced spending by the citizens, the result of which is the reduction in aggregate demand. This has in effect resulted into a considerable reduction in the gross domestic product of the US, as private consumption accounts for 70 % of the GDP of the USA (Economic Research and Performance Analysis, 2011, p.4). However, the private consumption is recovering slowly and steadily from the effects of the recession. Data from the fourth quarter of 2010 shows that there has been an increase in the private demand and hence leading to a slow but steady increase in the Gross Domestic Product. During the fourth quarter, unemployment rate reduced to 9.4 %; and though still high, the unemployment rate is expected to reduce even further in 2011 as the economy stabilizes (Economic Research and Performance Analysis, 2011, p. 5 – 6). However, the unemployment rate is
Introduction Lisa.j.Scheinkopf’s book,’ Thinking for a change starts with synopsis of the constraint-based outlook on organized systems. The work gives an insight into the ideals and procedures which form the moral fiber of the thinking route and also gives guidelines for onward thinking plans. This book serves as a channel for supplying healthy solutions for overcoming organizational tribulations. The entire advantage is that it not only assists in relating the accepted wisdom, but also supplies the necessary points to expand perception and merge reason and gives room for intuition while thinking about a planning process. The author asserts that the managers who carry out the theory of constraints have an implausible talent which they express by seizing out of a crisis and straightforwardly recognize the basis of that hitch. Thus they can determine baffling things on time much better than those who are unacquainted with theory of constraints (Scheinkopf). Preamble to the thinking process Lisa
The image that the news, media, politics, fashion design, corporate world, film, and television industry’s portray of women is analyzed from the viewpoints of cultural and political economy studies, and it is important to understand because it has an enormous impact in the society, particularly on women. Image is very valuable because it is through our perception that we are able to brand, group, judge, or categorize people at first encounter. It is said that it takes very little time to form in our minds a permanent impression of a person from his image. The portrayal of women in the news, media, fashion, and film industry is usually not the reality, but a “ stereotype based on the attitudes and intentions of the producers, targeted audience and their culture” (Grover and Hundal 29). For example, the media and fashion industry have tended to portray women as sexy and seductive in order to attract their audiences. Women who are featured are young, beautiful, and slim. The film industry has a similar scenario with most of the female participants under 30 years. Age limitation is not strict on their male counterparts. Action movies, for instance, depict women as weak beings who pose no danger and are therefore rarely killed. Gender stereotype also appears, especially where men appear in movies doing certain chores different from those of women along the traditional gender role demarcations. In the journalism industry, the number of female staff is far less than that of males. This is in spite of the fact that “female media graduates usually outnumber their male equals” (Scodari 206). The trend is similar in politics and business. Obviously, under-representation of women in these facets bears negatively on the content of American news, on economic and political decision making and empowerment processes, and the general society stance on women. Women have suffered from under-representation in important sectors of life and negative publicity in the media for a long time. However, the civil movements of women’s groups have demanded more recognition, empowerment, and positive portrayal. Vijender reports that economic and political empowerment has enabled women to stand and fight for positive portrayal in the society (431). According to Coleman, the number of economically viable women has increased to 47% as of 2015 (1117). Given that women received full recognition as voters in 1965 and “currently women holding seats in parliament are 29,017”, it is reasonable to argue that a lot has been done to ensure fair representation in the political arena (Wallace, Sharon and Carla 45). The gender development index (GDI)
Reciting the Quran in part or whole (Recitative Quran), forms an integral part of the Muslim culture. The author argues that the oral character of the Quran is perceptible in every aspect of the Muslim culture, today as in any previous age of the Islamic history. The author points out that the recitative function of the Quran has been paramount especially in public ritual and private devotional lives of Muslims over the centuries. This chapter examines the importance of recitative Quran in Muslim communal and personal life. The discussion begins by exploring how Muslims have sustained recitative tradition: namely, the cultivation amongst Muslims of Quranic recitation as an art and a science in traditional Islamic scholarship and education. The chapter further illustrates the personal and communal circumstances under which the application of recitative Quran plays a significant role. The chapter gives a comprehensive illustration of the history, application and significance of recitative Quran. Graham notes that “Anyone who has lived in a Muslim society will appreciate the degree to which the lilting refrain of Quranic recitation occupies a prominent place in the public sphere, forming a significant part of the auditory background of everyday life” (p. 106). Most Muslims cling to traditional piety and strive to preserve the lilting strains of the chanted Quran as a prominent element in the foreground of their lives. Muslims usually recite Quran during public gatherings like worship (Salat) and during the holy month of Ramadhan. Muslims also chant the Quran during ‘ tilawah and dhikr’ sessions. The above statement emphasizes the strict adherence to recitative Quran by Muslims. From birth to death, every action that a Muslim makes
Introduction There has been a dramatic fall in oil prices across the world in the recent past beginning in mid-2014. The decline in oil prices will have impacts on the economies of the world. One of the economies that have already begun experiencing economic effects of the declining oil prices is the United Kingdom (UK). The fall in oil prices has been described as either a big tax cut or a contributor to potential deflation in the UK. However, these two arguments are subjective since they will vary in terms of consistency and industry. It is expected that the drop in oil prices will boost employment and investment and hence raise revenues in the UK. It is also projected that the drop in oil charges will negatively affect the oil and gas extraction industry. However, the cost of the input will fall to counter the negative effects. Oil-consuming industries such as the transport sector will also benefit since people will relocate their capital, especially from less oil-dependent sectors. Household income will also increase with a decline in oil prices. The overall outcome will be a rise in consumer spending. Household income will go up due to two major factors that are pegged to oil prices. First, prices of consumer goods will fall with the falling oil prices in the UK. However, the reduced prices of goods and services will result in devaluation of the UK economy. Inflation rates will also decrease to the extent of forcing the UK banks to reconsider their lending rates (Bloomberg 2015). Secondly, the real wages will also rise with the falling oil prices. In fact, Lincoln (2015) addresses the issue of inflation in the UK. In fact, the Bank of England tabled a written document to a British government official demanding answers concerning the witnessed deviations (Lincoln (2015). This outcome will be attributable to the fact that a fall in oil prices will result in a fast growth of various sectors of the economy. As a result, these sectors will highly require labour. Competition for the available labour will result in an increase in wages. This paper seeks to explore the assumption that a fall in oil prices is either a big tax cut or a contributor to potential deflation in the UK. Oil Decline and its Impacts Inflation The argument that a decline in oil prices has resulted in tax cut in the UK is a misplaced projection. On the contrary, a fall in world oil prices has resulted in increased revenue and tax collection by the government of the UK. Since a fall in oil prices increases economic activities in the UK, the amount of government tax revenue has also been on the rise. The amount of tax to be collected from personal income by the government has also increased with the increased employment and spendable income. Moreover, tax collection from the corporate sector also increases with a fall in oil prices since many companies intensify their manufacturing activities with reduced cost of production. The trade deficit has been narrowly affected by the fall in oil prices. A low cost of oil prices translates to a decline in the cost o
Background Arab spring revolutions The Arab Spring has been the most significant event that has swept over some of the countries in North Africa and the Middle East in the course of this decade. These events have had monumental implications for the politics of the Arab world. Because of this revolution, governments in the region have been toppled over by protestors or forced to engage in reforms to end autocratic rule. Regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya have fallen because of the Arab Spring while the Syrian government is struggling to maintain its hold on power amid violent opposition from a large section of the country. While the Arab Spring Revolutions were initiated by the self-immolation action of the Tunisia street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, deep-seated political discontent and economic grievances made this revolution widespread. AbuZayyad states that the Arab Spring was bound to happen due to the various social, political, and economic grievances that the citizens of the Arab world faced for many decades (127). Oppression The rule in the countries where the revolutions occurred was characterized by a gross violation of human rights and a lack of individual freedoms for the citizens. In most of the countries, the government did not respect the rule of law and the people whom the government deemed as threats could be arrested and imprisoned without due process. In Libya, Gaddafi was notorious for torturing dissidents and political activists in the country. The disposed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak is accused of engaging in widespread corruption and stifling any opposition using the police force (Blanche 26). The oppression of the regimes is evident from the excessive force used against peaceful protests and civil disobedience by rulers in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. The citizens of these countries were inspired to revolt against these oppressive governments and advocate for better governance. Lack of democracy In addition to the oppression by the government, the lack of democracy also triggered the Arab Spring in most of the countries. AbuZayyad notes that Arab dictators in Yemen, Egypt and Libya ruled with an iron fist and denied their citizens a political voice (127). The citizens had put up with these authoritative governments for many years and they were at last ready for a change. Salem demonstrates the political causes of the Arab Spring by noting that the citizens of the affected nations were tired of the lack of democracy in their country and they r
Business Ethics Morality Morality entails the application of opinion, principles and laws of good behavior in any specific society. Although morality is hinged on the intrinsic aspects of society, some principles are applicable in a universal manner. Permissibility of conduct is dependent on the moral standing of the parties involved in judging the conduct, the timing and other factors. As a result, what is morally acceptable in one location may be unacceptable elsewhere. Poulton (2006) observed that morals are determined on a limited geographical, social, political and cultural setting, thereby inculcating the uniqueness of the standards. Pup (2010) morality is fundamental to human existence, considering that moral dilemmas rarely exist. The intrinsic nature of humanity confers a clear understanding what is morally acceptable and solutions are automatically identifiable. According to Gini (1996), “John Dewey argued that at the pre-critical, pre-rational, pre-autonomous level, morality starts as a set of culturally defined goals and rules which are external to the individual and are imposed or inculcated as habits”. Human beings form a major component in the business, and every entity is part of business. As a result, morality still remains a major concern for any business place, since it is impossible to separate the three elements. Ethics As a branch of philosophy, ethics is concerned with the conceptual, logical and rational determination of right from wrong. Ethics play a major role in determination of good from bad, morality from immorality and justice from injustices. In most cases, ethical conduct is intrinsic, with the outcome of judgments founded on the conduct of the subject of the actions. As a result, ethical conduct is mostly hinged on ‘preaching and drinking water’ and walking the talk. The underlying motives for ethical conduct are what determine the morality of the conclusions by the individuals. Over the past, standard codes of ethics have been developed, with these standards playing a major role in guiding decisions (Poulton, 2005). There are an amorphous number of dimensions of ethics, based on normative, descriptive and comparative foundations. With regard to the business place, ethics are the applicable and moral principles which guide conduct in the business place. Due to the pluralistic and ultra-egoist nature of ethics, the fact that it relates to the conduct of one person with regard to others elevates its importance in the business place. According to Poulton (2005, p. 1), “Business ethics, pertains to human in­teractions when sourcing, producing and marketing goods and services for profit, and include the relationships between bu