ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The parable of the cave is a philosophical argument by Plato depicting the dilemma what human life is and what it means. In his vivid presentation, human beings live imprisoned in a cave throughout their lives, unable to see the world around them as they are chained in such a way as to prevent them from turning round. There is a distant fire above and behind them, so they cannot move up or backwards. Furthermore, ahead of them, there is a wall that blocks their path. The bottom line is that movement is very limited in this cave. Occasionally, the carriers of the objects speak to one another, but their voices reach the prisoners in form of echoes from the wall ahead of them. Since they are not able to see who is speaking, they are convinced that the echoed voices are from shadows they see ahead of them. With time, the prisoners begin to interpret the images and sounds they see and hear as constituting reality. The more they become accustomed to this world of illusion, the more it gets difficult to dissuade them to see what reality actually is. After observing the shadows keenly for a while, they get used to the pattern of movement, and whoever correctly predicts the shape that will pass next is applauded as being knowledgeable (Plato 90). The analogy of the cave explains why many humans find the world of fantasy too comfortable for them to contemplate leaving it. They would rather live in illusions than face the truth, which is too much to bear. The cave idea is born of the fact that we go through cultural assimilations, and our characters are shaped by the environment we live in. Therefore, it becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get out of such conditioning and adopt a broad mind that can appreciate other dynamics of life. This is what creates the “shadow people” who cannot move their head around and appreciate the outside world in totality (Plato 90). The only way a prisoner can get out of the cave is through an emancipation of the mind from such mental slavery. This is a herculean task because their path is constrained by the fire behind them, the wall all around the cave and the chain to their limbs. The prisoners who are set free to explore the world will find themselves in a culture shock. They will find most of the practices and beliefs of their fellow human beings from other socializations too strange and unacceptable (Benjamin, 67). If they are shown the objects that cast the shadows, they would believe the objects are a fictional creations of some very great mind. Their reality is the shadows and nothing else. Things are much worse when the prisoner is actually taken out of the cave to sunlight. This is a move to greater levels of intellectual capability where one can distinguish between objects of reality and fiction with utmost clarity. According to Fullerton, “the eye is unus
Harold Krushner wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, a 1981 book that focuses on answering the oft-puzzling question of why there is so much pain and suffering in a world that was created and is ruled by a God who is kind and loving. He wrote this book after he saw his son Aaron, who was diagnosed with progeria when he was just 4 years old, deal with life and die as his condition got worse. The unavoidable question is, “Why,” it is often asked, “did God let this or that happen to me?” (p. 6). In this book, however, Krushner not only deals with this question but also the more profound question of, “Now that bad things have happened to me, how will I respond?” (p. 147). Man’s Search for Meaning is a 1946 book written by Viktor Frankl, in which he has used his horrific experiences as an inmate in Nazi concentration camps and derived from these experiences a psychotherapeutic method of fulfilling the need for meaning in life. The book is divided into two parts, in the first one he recounts and analyses his experiences in the concentration camps while in Part Two he discusses logotherapy, a form of therapy based on the premise that the fundamental driver behind man’s actions is his search for meaning. Both books can be compared in the ways they are similar as well as different because both discuss human suffering, Krushner does so from the point of view of the reasons people ask for when they experience suffering and then goes on to tell them how they can overcome suffering by having the right attitude towards it. Frankl on the other hand talks about his horrifying experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, and how it was only when he and the other survivors sought a meaning to their life were they able to cope with the despair around them. While the approach can be contrasted, the point both authors try to drive home is the same, as will be discussed now. Krushner openly dismisses the commonly held belief that when humans endure suffering, it is God’s way of punishing them for their misdeeds. He also rejects the notion that putting people through suffering is His way of teaching people how to be humble and gather strength through spiritual means. Instead, Krushner, as he learned through years of pastoral counseling and from his personal experience of losing his son to a disease, believes that while God always wants good things for people, he can not control everything and bad things happen for many reasons, beyond his power. Human suffering is an inevitable part of the universe God has created and the people who undergo it are not chosen by God, in fact, it is the nature of the element of randomness in the universe that bad things happen to them. Their suffering is not willed by God. God did not choose to inflict them with pain and suffering, according to Krushner, this is the way of the world. People suffer, not becaus
Viewing movies over the Internet is steadily gaining popularity, as people have become more technology savvy and digital content providers have streamlined their approach. Downloading movies through the Internet has raised the bar for home entertainment as it provides more choice and complete control to the consumer; the absence of advertisements also enhances the viewing experience. Amazon’s Video on Demand, CinemaNow, Movieflix, Vongo, and Apple’s iTunes Movie store are some of the popular legitimate movies download services (Muchmore 2007). The video quality, convenience, and purchasing options would differ according to the service and opted plan. Viewing movies through the Internet, albeit needing the user to acquire computer skills and harboring piracy concerns, has the potential to become the preferred mode of entertainment once high-speed Internet connectivity becomes widespread and the costs are worked out between the film studios and service providers . Piracy Concerns The rampant availability of movie content online through illegal sources cannot be overlooked, while there is an impending need for the consumer to learn to differentiate between legal and illegal downloads. If a service offers premium content for ‘free’, it should serve as the first alarm of piracy. Consumers have to keep their eyes open for pirated digital content that they may stumble upon involuntarily. As the Internet crosses geopolitical borders, copyright-protected content is abundantly available online. Piracy is both illegal and unethical, as it gives unauthorized access to intellectual property and violates copyright laws. This lowers profits on the movie for the film studio, which in turn reduces the income of film artists and movie technicians (Ahrens 2006). The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) believes that this would eventually lower the standard of the film industry in the long run. Thus, the MPAA has started a campaign to combat piracy by using file-shares and the services that enable file-sharing. The sharing of copyrighted content through any means such as BitTorrent, Peer-to-Peer applications, and UseNet Newsgroups is strongly discouraged. Downloading a file containing copyrighted content, voluntarily or by oversight, can make a user liable for legal action since they are constantly monitored by MPAA outfits (Internet Piracy). Cost Factor – Buying vs. Renting One has to understand that the pirated movies available online are from file-sharers ripping off DVDs and other such sources. However, legitimate websites that sell or rent out movies have put in place “enough security to send out movies digitally without worrying about piracy” (Bruce 2006). Regular mainstream movies that are perceived to be time killers are usually rented; renting a movie entitles a user to store and view the movie for a specified timeframe. On the other hand, movies that are deemed to be worthy of multiple viewings are purchased by consumers. While renting a movie may cost anything from $3 to $6, purchasing a movie could cost up anywhere between $5 and $18 depending upon the popularity, recentness and av
Definition and causes of Angelman syndrome Angelman syndrome is a disarray of the genes that affects the development of human beings. The disorder has an adverse effect to the brain and communication of the affected person becomes a problem. People suffering from this disorder show a unique behavior when communicating. Rough movements, regular smiling and a jovial mood are some of the common characteristics exhibited by the patients suffering from this disorder. There are several causes of this disorder. First, it is caused by inheriting an interrupted chromosome 15 from the mother. This occurs through deletion of part of the chromosome 15 during DNA replication. The alteration takes place in the region of chromosome 15 where the chromosomes donated by both parents are inherited. Angelman syndrome develops when chromosome 15 from the mother is misplaced as a result of gene replication. Secondly, AS can also be caused by gene mutation. The mutation occurs in the UBE3A gene. This gene is found on both parents chromosome 15. However, it differs in its arrangement of methylation. The UBE3A gene is expressed in the brain region of hippocampus and cerebellum. The maternal UBE3A is more active than the paternal gene during expression. Angelman syndrome occurs when the 4 mega base of the maternal UBE3A gene is deleted leading to failure of the gene expressing itself in the brain region. Incidence estimate of Angelman syndrome among children in the US There are no exact data that show the frequency and incidence estimates of AS among children in the US. However, available information shows that the disorder is more common in children in between the ages 6-13 years old. Different studies have shown that the incidence estimate range from 0- 4.8%. This translates to an estimate of about 1/20,000. Additionally, the incidence estimates among the newborns is not given although there are reported cases. The results of the incidence estimates do not reflect the exact value because they ignore the longevity of the disorder and number of undiagnosed patients. It follows therefore that a more accurate incidence estimate is the median of 1/20,000 and 1/10,000. The frequency estimate projections can be obtained from the incidence rates compared to the birth rates in the US. Behavioral manifestations of Angelman syndrome The behavioral manifestation of AS adaptive skills of the patients is reduced. Behavioral manifestations are caused by poor cognitive and communication skills of the affected people. Coordination of psychomotor skills is affected and the patients cannot perform their normal routine proper. The common daily routine affected by the manifestation includes excreting, eating and wearing clothes. This calls for constant supervision of the patients whether they are adults or children. However, in some cases the patients were able to carry out some routine after management training of the routines. The danger of this group of AS patients is that they have a poor anticipation of danger, can become deadly and occasionally lose focus on their activity they are performing. On the other hand, the behavioral manifestation mak
Introduction The deterioration of water resources is a significant social, economic, and environmental problem in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Thus, water supplies are of the critical importance for these arid countries because of their role in meeting the populations’ demands for the fresh water, development of agriculture and irrigation systems, and the growth of industries in the region. Still, the level of deterioration of water resources in the GCC countries is extremely high, and this situation prevents the public from using all available water resources efficiently. The quality of water in the GCC countries decreases because of such factors as the overexploitation of ground waters, the ineffective work of desalination systems and plants, the soil pollution, and the discharge of the wastewater and industrial waters in the subsurface (AlRukaibi 2010; Al-Zubari 2009). Thus, the problem is in the inadequate control of water deterioration processes and the inability to manage the exploitation of water with the focus on increasing its quality. This paper aims to analyze the current status of water resources in the GCC Countries, discuss future challenges in this region focusing on consequences of the water deterioration processes, present the SWOT analysis, and provide the recommendations to address negative outcomes of the water resources deterioration. The GCC Countries Profile and Status of Water Resources Countries that are included in the Gulf Cooperation Council are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These drought territories are characterized by the shortage of water resources to cover the populations’ needs in the fresh water and the agricultural and industrial water (Kannan 2012, p. 10). According to Dawoud, “natural water scarcity is further worsened by rapidly growing demands, unsustainable use patterns, increased water pollution and weak management institutions and regulations” (Dawoud 2006, p. 189). Rare rainfalls, long summers, and extremely high temperatures are causes of the high level of evaporation, and the GCC region authorities need to find new approaches to address the demands of the growing population. Thus, the highest levels of the fresh water consumption are observed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar (more than 0.400 billion m 3 annually) because of actively developing agricultural and industrial sectors along with the constant increase in domestic demands (Al-Rashed & Akber 2015, p. 119; International Monetary Fund 2015, p. 24). Therefore, the population of the UAE consumes more than 500 liters of water a day (Ramzi 2011, para. 4). The minimal water consumption is typical for Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait (about 0.170 billion m 3 annually) (Al-Zubari 2009). The surface water resources are minimal in these countries, and the lack of the renewable water is a typical problem. In addition, the quality of those water resources that are used for agricultural and industrial purposes is often very low because these resources are results of seawater desalination processes. However, desalination is necessary because more
Choral music entails the music sung by a choir. In this case, a choir is a musical assembly of singers. The size of the choir varies from a dozen of singers to a considerably large number of individuals as long as they can sing. Two or more voices sing each musical part to create a set of musical tunes. The origin of this form of music is the traditional music that people sung in groups across multiple traditional cultures. This form of music dates back to 2 nd century BC in the ancient Greece. With time, there have been improvements in this art with the refinement of standards and ways of approaching it. Example of ancient Greece music includes Delphic hymns and Mesomedes (Paine 12). Nevertheless, other ancient cultures such as the ancient Persia, China, India, and Rome had choral music. With the passage of time, medieval and renaissance music were developed. Medieval music entailed the music led by a choirmaster through singing of the verses while the choir sang the refrain. This mainly occurred during the 14 th and 15 th century when there was the need to improve the performance. The renaissance music entailed the sacred choral music performed across the Western Europe. Repeatedly, hundreds of masses and motets were composed for choirs that were either cappella or not. From this era, choral music has evolved and continued to become popular with numerous choirs across the world. Because of the variation in the sizes of choral music singers, a conductor or a choirmaster leads them. Often, the choirs consist of four sections aimed at being sung
I agree that diet and relevant physical activity are crucial in preventing diabetes. Regular consumption of functional foods, like vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, and nuts, might be related to enhanced anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, insulin sensitivity, and anti-cholesterol functions, which are viewed as integral to preventing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) (Alkhatib et al., 2017). Another step that is generally seen as crucial to take is reconsidering consumed drinks. Polyphenols within metabolic diseases (MD) and polyphenol-rich herbs, such as coffee, green tea, or black tea, have shown clinically significant benefits. They influence metabolic and microvascular activities, cholesterol, fasting glucose-lowering, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation in high-risk and T2DM patients (Alkhatib et al., 2017). Moreover, patients should supply themselves with devices that are intended to monitor their glucose levels. Flash glucose monitors (FGMs) and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are the available devices that can help patients manage their disease more effectively (Fagherazzi & Ravaud, 2019). All the approaches mentioned above will help patients prevent and manage diabetes. I support the idea that Urinary Incontinence treatment depends on the water consumption schedule. Fluid-management strategies promote frequent intake of small amounts of fluid, for instance, 4-5 oz/hour, up to 2 L a day of predominantly water instead of large, episodic fluid intakes (Lukacz et al., 2017). A timed water schedule may help to reduce the involuntary loss of urine. In addition, losing extra weight may help as well. A randomized clinical trial of a 6-month structured weight loss program vs. education alone in 338 obese women reported a 47% reduction in mean incontinence episodes compared with a 28% reduction in the control group (Lukacz et al., 2017). Moreover, physicians should not ignore the importance of providing psychological support to patients. Most recent reports indicate that a physiotherapy procedure gives a positive result in up to 80% of patients with stage I or SUI and mixed form and 50% of patients with stage II SUI (Kołodyńska et al., 2019). Timely consultation with a doctor can help prevent serious consequences.
Holborn Viaduct The statues that can be seen on Holborn Viaduct, while bearing the symbols of greed and the sins that come along with it, also embody the era of commerce in Britain. First and most obvious, the fact that the viaduct bridges the financial district of London to its other areas needs to be mentioned. Thus, the viaduct can be viewed as a metaphorical element that connects the suburban life of the city with its business-related activities. 1 Furthermore, the viaduct can be interpreted as an economic improvement for the state infrastructure. Apart from connecting the business part of the city and that which is suburban metaphorically, it also provides a physical link between the two parts of the city. Thus, the viaduct can be considered an essential element of the microeconomic relationships between the representatives of the city. Also, the bridge increased the rate of development of the city infrastructure to a considerable extent. While the road used to be flooded with carriages before the bridge was constructed, the viaduct incorporated an over- and an underpass, thus providing a flyover for the railroad. The names are given the statues upon which the bridge rests, with such titles as the Statue of Agriculture, the Statue of Commerce, and more in a similar vein, cement the idea of the bridge as the representation of the economic growth that the city has been witnessing over the past few decades. 2 There is no need to stress that the development of the city infrastructure caused an increase in the intensity of trade relationships. After the viaduct had been designed, different mechanisms of London’s business environment were finally connected, allowing the supply chain to emerge and evolve successfully. Corner of Cock Lane and Giltspur Street The Golden Boy of Pye Corner is, perhaps, one of the most iconic elements of the city. The statue is typically associated with the Great Fire that engulfed London in 1666, causing economic devastation. Although the statue is typically viewed as the embodiment of a general cautionary message about the threat of carelessness it is supposed to point out a very specific sin. According to the inscription on the statue, the latter is supposed to signify a warning and a protest against gluttony. 3 The reasoning behind the assumption that the Great Fire was caused by the greed and the gluttony of the London residents is quite peculiar. The people advocating for this explanation of the fire drew parallels between possible locations and the sins that might have caused the damage. For instance, it was deduced that, if the fire had been started on Drury Lane, lechery would have been to blame for the tragic event. If the accident had occurred in halls of Westminster or within the City, hypocrisy and lies would have been the main reasons for the fire to start. 4 Therefore, since the accident happened in the area between Pudding Lane and Pye Corner, gluttony and greed were said to have been the factors that triggered the fire. Thus, the link between the negative and unethical characteristics of capitalism, such as p