ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Mass extinction theory attributes the extinction of living organism to collision of extraterrestrial objects such as asteroids with the Earth. The collision results into drastic climatic change due to suspended clouds of dusts that affects radiation from the sun. Drastic and intermittent occurrence of meteors and asteroid resulted to a gradual loss of living organisms during the course of the Earth’s history. The most credible example giving plausible explanation regarding mass extinction is the dinosaur extinction, which occurred approximately 65 million years ago. Rogers claims that, “…basic experiments have been done, and it seems clear that the iridium came from an extraterrestrial source within the solar system” (25). However, debate concerning dinosaur extinction still rages. The massive impact of extraterrestrial objects did not cause mass extinction of dinosaurs. The extinction of dinosaur may not have occurred due to drastic impact of meteors and asteroids since the probability of extraterrestrial objects to occur in future is quite negligible. “Astronomers theorized that the Oort cloud of comets could cross the path of our solar system every 26 million years, and would possibly rain comets on our planet for a few million years” (Waldner 19). This prediction has not happened and it seems it will never happen. Dinosaur basis of mass extinction theory do not give plausible explanation for extraterrestrial bodies since they occurred only once during the period of dinosaurs and there is no possibility of future occurrence. If there was subsequent occurrence of extraterrestrial bodies and concomitant loss of living organism, then this theory would be valid, but since the occurrence is indefinite, extraterrestrial bodies did not cause extinction of dinosaurs. Selective extinction is another line of evidence that disapproves the dominant theory of dinosaur extinction. If the great impact of extraterrestrial bodies’ collision with Earth resulted into drastic climatic change, then under what mechanism did selective extinction occur? There is no credible explanation of the mechanisms surrounding extinction and survival of organisms. The theory concentrates on extinction without giving plausible explanation of the survival mechanism of the other organisms. Moreover, extinction studies focus on dinosaur extinction alone and extrapolated findings,
Introduction Currently, environmental protection and minimization of global warming have been contemporary issues around the world. People and institutions have been formulating ways to produce clean and renewable energy that can be used for domestic consumption (Akbari et al., 2020). Currently, individuals and some organizations are using the technology to harness winds and convert them into power. To facilitate large-scale and maximum energy production, companies have opted to locate their sites along the coastal regions. This research paper will analyze the development of offshore wind farms (OWFs) and their contribution to the sustainable environment. OWFs plants are well equipped with facilities capable of capturing wind power, transforming it into electrical energy, and then supplying it to the main station for distribution. They are mainly located in water bodies along with coastal areas (Díaz & Soares, 2020). The farms rely on the winds from the oceans to produce the required thrust because of their flow speed. Furthermore, the choice of location is to enhance reliability due to the presence of both onshore and offshore winds. According to the current statistics, wind technology generates about 0.3 percent of the world’s electricity. The focus is to achieve a sustainable energy system with limited greenhouse gases. Offshore Wind Farm Design When designing OWFs, the main objective is to produce more electrical energy at a minimal cost. In addition, the operations are aimed to stay within the site constraints. The process involves the establishment of the limiting factors like site boundary, the maximum number of facilities to be installed, identification of dwellings that rotor blade shadows may affect, and a minimum spacing of the turbines. Once all the possible risks have been assessed and identified, then the initial design of the OWFs can be launched. The stage involves determining the required size of the wind turbines (Feng & Shen, 2017). The considerations are based on the diameter range of the rotor blade and the hub heights. A wind farm may consist of a single machine or many like over hundreds. Irrespective of the number of facilities, the construction method remains the same across the site. Two main factors that determine the cost of developing the plant include site complexity and extreme loads (Draycott et al., 2019). Complex location can be a result of difficult access, hard rocks, or even boggy grounds. Similarly, extreme loads are caused by strong winds flowing across the place, therefore, requiring a specified type of turbine. Upon completion, commissioning takes place, followed by routine inspection of the operations. Strategic Planning of Wind Farms The planning process starts with defining the mission and vision of the project on which other stages will be based. The phase involves combining both empirical and proactive str
Meaning of ‘keystone species’ in Traditional Ecology In the field of ecology, key stone species refer to special species within an ecological system. This species are responsible for ecological balance within their ecology in such a way that their removal produces a “disproportionate effect” on the ecology not commensurate to their relative availability (Bond, 1994, p. 237). This concept led to the understanding of the relative importance of each species in an ecosystem. Conservationists now determine the impact of the loss of a single species from an ecosystem based on this concept. The term has found wide usage in many fields, which exhibit ecological characteristics. This includes law, computer science, and library science. This means that disciplines with units that interact in such a way that they influence one another can use the term ecology. It is also possible to identify a ‘keystone species’ within such an ecological environment. In IT, the term refers to the interconnected nature of information sources describable as information ecology. Generic ‘keystone species’ Equivalent in All Information Ecologies All natural ecologies have ‘keystone species’. The very comparison of the information management process to natural ecological systems presupposes the presence of ‘keystone species’ in information ecologies. Natural ecological balance does not rely on the influence of single species. It is the result of a comprehensive balance of influence from all species present. This applies to information ecologies. The species in the information ecology live with significant tension in relation to each other (Hasenyager, 1996). As the system develops, there is no external influence to ensure balanced influence from each component of the ecology. Rather, there is a natural tension, where each species vies for and commands a certain degree of influence. This process of establishing a natural order ends up producing ‘keystone species’. Application of the Concept in Relation to Particular Information Ecologies Nardi and O’Day (1999) identify five aspects of information ecology. They are the system, diversity, co-evolution, ‘keystone species’, and locality. This is a useful criterion for identifying information ecologies. To demonstrate this phenomenon, we will use the example of a supermarket. A supermarket as an information ecology provides a place where different actors meet to transact business. Suppliers bring their products to the supermarket while consumers come to purchase them. The supermarket offers a dynamic environment for the exchange to take place. They key identifier of a system are, “strong interrelationships and dependencies among different its parts” (Nardi & O’Day, 1999). The relationship between the suppliers and the supermarket is contractual, monetary and involves trust. On the other
The development of a child is a gradual process that starts at conception in a woman’s womb. After a child is born the physical and mental growth commences. But most people focus on physical development and ignore the mental growth which is equally important. Various theorists have come up with theories that explain the logic behind a child’s development. One of the most famous theorists is Albert Bandura, whose theory states that a child learns by observation. This paper reviews the facts presented by Bandura’s theory and tries to identify the application of the same facts in the early childhood inclusive classroom setting. Life would be a living hell if our knowledge was limited to personal experiences. Take the children for example when they are born they can’t speak. So, learning for them is based on what they see others do. This argument is supported by Bandura’s theory. Social learning advocates for attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation as the essential conditions for learning (Learning Theories, 2008). This kind of learning is important for kids because if they were to learn by experimenting on their own some would die in the process of learning. This is because children are surrounded by diverse objects some of which could be dangerous like fire and water. The argument pointed out by Bandura’s theory is very true because if you watched the way children behave you will notice that their actions are imitations of their parents or the people with whom they spend most of their time with. Bandura’s theory argues that children also use the same words that they hear others using in their speech even when they don’t know the meaning of those words. The theory states that for observational learning to be a success the learner must concentrate on the activity of interest because having divided attention can hinder the learning process. Another aspect that is highlighted in Bandura’s theory is that of redoing the activity that one has seen others do. This is called reproduction and most of the time it has to be done several times before perfection is attained. Observational learning also emphasizes on motivation because it enhances learning. In an inclusive classroom setting a child cannot acquire the required knowledge if he/she is carried away by other events that are taking place in the learning environment (McCartney & Philips, 2006). Such events include discrimination due to physical or mental disabilities and interference from his/her peers. Special education students need to be included in the classroom activities with their peers. This promotes team work and capacity building because the teachers and other non-special education students can assist students with disability in various situations. Bandura’s theory can be applied in early childhood inclusive class, but its success is determined by the dedication of the educators in helping the child discover his/her full potential. Children with special needs also learn like their counterparts but their
Understanding the Threat of Al Qaeda and various Insurgency groups in northwest Pakistan While Pakistan cannot be considered a completely lawless state, large sections of its territory, particularly those bordering Afghanistan, are under the control of various insurgency groups particularly the Taliban and Al Qaida which have been labeled an international threat by the U.S. and numerous other foreign governments. Not only that the mountainous region along the northern mountains in Pakistan contains the largest illegal arms market in the world where guns, bullets, and ammunition are made, bought, and sold on an almost daily basis. With Pakistan invariably having little military strength to effectively control its borders as well as various parts of the country this creates a situation where the country could act as a base of operations where insurgency groups can train, stock up on weapons and ammunition and effectively cause bloodshed on various states connected to Pakistan. The extent of the Security Challenge What must be understood is that the current pro-democratic uprisings that are engulfing the Middle East have the potential of rapidly spiraling out of control should extremist groups suddenly insert themselves into the various protesting populations. While the regimes that are currently in place are somewhat friendly to various international business interests it cannot be said that the new regimes that will come into power via uprisings will be just as friendly. There is the potential that certain uprisings would themselves be a method by which members of Al Qaeda insert themselves into powerful government positions by which they could dictate the foreign policy of the Arab world. It has already been established that organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban have access to various automatic, semi-automatic, and RPG’s all of which are supplied by Pakistan’s illegal arm’s market. All uprisings require some form of military backing and should members of Al Qaeda pose themselves as members of the uprising with access to weapons it is highly plausible that such individuals would rise quickly to become leaders of the uprisings and thus become part of the new regime once the dust settles and the old regime is no longer in power. While it may be true that Al Qaeda and various insurgency groups are not concentrated primarily in the northwestern region in Pakistan the fact remains that enough individuals are there that the region becomes a haven for various Al Qaeda and Taliban group leaders. During the invasion of Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. military stated that they would attempt to hunt and destroy every single leader of Al Qaeda a
Introduction Google is a leading search engine and provider of online advertising services. The main focus of Google is in the search platforms, operating systems, advertising and mobile phone products. The company has a wide of products that serve as the factors of customer attraction. In 2013, Google enjoyed a market share of 67% in searches conducted at home and place of work computers. In relation to searches in mobile devices, it had a 97% market share. Google’s mission is to organize “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. In order to attain the mission, the company has employed wide range strategic initiatives. The strategies employed by Google are both generic and grand strategies. The strategies have credited with its fast growth and the current market share. The generic strategies used by Google entail differentiation. This is based on a broad market scope in which Google has a variety of products for its target customers across the globe. In addition, the strategy entails development of capabilities that act as the key competitive strategy. On the other hand, the grand strategies employed by the firm include innovations, acquisitions offensive moves, collaborative partnerships, and strategic partners. The other strategy, which has been critical in the growth of the company, is its unique business model that is designed in a manner to appeal its customers. For instance, Google’s business model allows advertisers to bid on search items. The bid is based cost per click (CPC) or cost per impression (CPI). The online adverts have remained to be the main source of revenue of Google. For example, in 2012 the search based adverts generated more than $43.6 billion in revenue. Other sources of revenue in the same year included license fees levied on businesses that intended to install search appliances on their intranets. Strategic Issue The strategy and business model of a company plays a critical role in determining the approach adopted to ensure that that there are superior products for the customers. For a company to have a substantial impact on the minds of the customers, it needs to have a strategy and business model that produces a competitive edge. As outlined, Google has both generic and grand strategies that have enabled it to penetrate the market. The company’s business model has ensured diversified sources of revenues. For example, licensing fees and charges from corporations that intend to use company intranet and websites have been the main sources of revenues. In the endeavor to penetrate the market, Goggle has had to overcome stiff competition. These challenges curtail the capability of Google to realize its full potential. Despite the competition challenges and the competitive rivalry in the industry, the prospects for Google are good. Bearing in mind the challenges and the environment of operation the strategic issue for Google is: Will Google be
Introduction International arbitrage deals with taking advantage of variation in prices of commodities. It is popular among business people but different from other business practices because the practice of buying and selling takes place relatively at the same time. Arbitrage is a process of buying and selling which takes place almost at the same time but in different markets. The people involved in this practice normally aim at getting their benefits in terms of profit from the variation in prices of commodities in different markets (Investopedia, 2012). Arbitrage totally depends on market inequality in prices therefore investors will focus on those markets where they are likely to reap more profits from the sales they make. This practice is greatly considered safe by many investors since to them it is a shield from incurring losses. This is because buying of a commodity never takes place until the prospective buyer becomes certain that a profit is available. It is however important to note that international arbitrage is normally affected in cases where communication breakdown is experienced. This is because the process entirely relies on a good communication network. Arbitrage After putting money in business, arbitrage guarantees an investor zero exposure to loss and the same investor is guaranteed handsome benefits in terms of profit. Arbitrage practiced in the business world is divided into three: “pure arbitrage, near arbitrage, and speculative arbitrage” (Damodaran, n.d., p. 2). Pure arbitrage involves little or no risk at all and the investor gets a lot of profit. Near arbitrage involves a situation where an investor is in possession of commodities whose value is similar or relatively similar and there is little indication that the difference is to be achieved. Speculative arbitrage is a practice of selling commodities which are not well priced but almost perform same purpose. The investors here normally buy the assets which are relatively cheaper and sell those that are more expensive ( Arbitration Associates , n.d.). Among the three categories, two of them are easily practiced in the business world. Pure arbitrage is not easily practiced mainly because; “identical assets are not common in the real world, especially if you are an equity investor” (Damodaran, n.d., p. 3). Benefits and Advantages of Arbitrage One of the main benefits of arbitrage is the fact that it examines the misunderstandings affecting investors with an aim of solving them. This is because arbitrage does this without being bias to any of the parties involved. This ensures that the investors are not scared of any inequities in case a dispute arises between two or more investors. The solving of these disputes is made easier by the fact that it is conducted by locally internal judicial system. This idea is legally supported by agencies such as the United Nations thus making it more promising to business people (Bradgate & White, 2011). It is also easy to monitor variation of prices of commodities in different markets because arbitrage is highly computerized. The benefit here is that investors are able to avoid making purchases which will e
Introduction The concept of foreign direct investment has been avoided by many for the claim that it is more often than not expensive and risky if weighed against the alternative of export and licensing. The introduction of a new plant or branch whichever the case it may be causes serious cost concerns since the company begins from scratch. The case is more serious if the company is beginning from scratch and not merely expanding. This state of affairs therefore suggests that it is only multinational companies that can successfully undertake this process. This however involves substantial analysis and consideration of the investment opportunity from a political social economic and structural stand. The process requires a lot of knowledge on the market, capital, expertise and strategic partnerships to facilitate the inception of a company into a foreign market. As far as criticisms go foreign direct investment is perceived as threat to the parent country’s sovereignty especially if the countries have had an unpleasant history in trade politics or social arenas. This is because they are said to present unfair competition to the local market and are conceived by the general public to be exploiting the local taxpayer to benefit other countries [1] . They have been perceived as capitalist attempts to exploit the available resource in a state only to abandon it once the resource has been depleted. The truth of this criticism is subject to thorough proof. There is no doubt that china and India presents a perfect arena for the analysis of the similarities opportunities and challenges that are evident in these markets in as far as foreign direct investment is concerned. China has historically been known for its continued openness to investment. The country presents a positive ground for international investment by providing the essential factors of production such as labor materials and capital [2] . Chinas populates growth rate offers a sustained labor force. Twenty years ago the country’s annual net worth in economic terms was a mere 19 million dollars in foreign investment. This figure furiously grew within the next ten years to over $300 billion in the first 10 years. There has been a positive effort by the Chinese administrative regime in e