ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Reverse logistics encompasses planning, implementing, and controlling efficient flow of raw materials from their stage of consumption to the point of origin with the intentions of regaining value or ensuring appropriate disposal (Pokharel and Mutha 179). The raw materials might take the form of inventory or finished goods. Reverse logistics entails all management processes that occur after the sale of the product. Singapore is a leader in the logistics and supply chain management. The country was ranked first in Asia by a World Bank study on logistics conducted in 2014. The Singaporean logistic companies offer varying services through sophisticated processes like vendor managed inventory and reverse logistics (“International Enterprise Singapore” 9). This paper will focus on the reverse logistics in Singapore. Current trends overview of recent reverse logistics in Singapore Reverse logistics is a relatively new field in the management of supply chain in Singapore. The business is growing in the Asia-pacific region and Singapore is thus a major hub of reverse logistics in Asia. The chart below illustrates the current trends of reverse logistics are depicted below. Fig. 1: The current reverse logistics status quo regarding electronics and medical equipment (Blumberg par.2) Additional statistics indicates that the supply-chain market progress is estimated at 15% in Asia, 10% in North America, and 7% in Europe. Further, Asian shipping companies have outsourced a mere 2.5% of their logistical function in comparison to at least 25% recorded by their European and the US counterparts. A typical product lifecycle All the goods and services provided by any organization have a lifecycle. The cycle refers to the duration between the initial conceptualization of the product and the period when the product is removed from the market. The product lifecycle is characterized by four distinct sequential stages, which include “introduction, growth, maturity, and decline” (“International Enterprise Singapore” 6). During the introduction, the product is injected into the market through initial launching. The company creates awareness about the new product to the potential consumers through investing in advertisement and promotion activities. At this stage, the sales and competition are low due to the small market size. The company spends huge amounts of money on the product due to expenses associated with research and development, marketing, and consumer testing. The second stage is the growth stage that follows after the product has been noticed in the market. Sales increase due to the more shares in the market, thus taking advantage of economies of scale. Competition at this stage keeps on rising as the awareness of the
Unethical Accounting Practices Accounting is best described as a mechanism that measures the economic performance of organizations and provides information about the financial position of such organizations to a number of users such as the government, investors, and shareholders (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010). The information provided is critical to users as it helps them determine whether to invest or not, whether to approach creditors or not. Therefore, based on its import, it common to find behaviors in the field of accounting that are not ethical as they usually come in varied ways. In accounting, there are situations that result in unethical practices. Some of these include misleading financial information for personal gains, exaggerating revenue, especially when an underperforming company wants to attract investors. Other situations include misuse of funds, corruption, and manipulation of financial markets, intentionally providing wrong information about expenses, assets, and liabilities (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010). Although in some cases, some of these practices are permitted, they are still unethical. They are unethical practices as their main aim is to evade paying taxes or compliance or simply to mislead the general public or investors about the performance of the company. A number of cases of unethical practices in the field of accounting can be deduced. In 2002, two major companies (Enron and WorldCom) in the United States were involved in unethical practices. Specifically, Enron was involved in underhand dealings by selfishly pursuing economic benefits in the short term while concealing debts, evading regulatory rules, and use of political influence were just some of the practices employed by the company. On the other hand, the accounting malpractices of WorldCom comprised inflating assets by about $ 12 billion, costing both workers and investors (Rogalski & Lin, 2003). It was these scandals as well as unethical accounting practices that prompted the United States government to enact laws that aim to curb the occurrence of such behavior in the future. These laws were contained in the Sarbanes – Oxley Act . The impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act The Sarbanes-Oxley Act or SOX Act wanted to achieve is to have all companies adhere to accounting standards when preparing their financial statements. Mainly, it sought to have companies use the GAAP in reporting their financial statements to shareholders (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010). To begin with, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act ended the self-regulation of the United States public accounting sector. In order to achieve this, the Act established an autonomous organization known as the Oversight Board. The authority derives from the power
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that alters brain functioning of the patients. In a study carried out in Washington, researchers tried to find out prevalence of treated bipolar disorder in the region. It was carried out in a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). This essay summarizes the study, which focused on mental health issues. Method of Study A group of 294,284 patients who had been treated by HMO health care providers, and others, who had registered as health maintenance organization members, formed the basis of the study. Automated data was used to find out the total number of patients who had been treated for bipolar disorder between 1995 and 1996. Computerized diagnosis of outpatient and inpatient visits and use of mood stabilizers was used to identify individuals who showed signs of bipolar disorder. A review of outpatient records was later conducted randomly in order to confirm validity of the procedure used to identify patients with bipolar disorder (Simon & Katon, 1998). Results The study showed that prevalence of treated bipolar disorder was at 42 percent. It was discovered that rates of treated bipolar disorder were higher in women, young people and families that were HMO members. In addition, women who were enrolled in individual plans that were part of HMO and Basic Health Plan programs for poor families exhibited higher rates of treated bipolar prevalence. The total number of patients who were treated for bipolar disorder was 1,236. Out of this number, at least 93 percent had visited specialized mental health institutions. On the other hand, 86 percent had been given medication to stabilize their moods. The percentage that was treated with antidepressants, benzodiazepine or antipsychotic was small. Importance of the Study The study was important because bipolar disorder was a common mental condition that affected many people. It was therefore crucial to find out its prevalence since it affected a large number of women immediately they gave birth, something that exposed them to other illnesses. Despite the fact that a lot of wo
Introduction Both sides of the abortion issue contain legal, ethical and social considerations that provoke great emotions. Thus far at least, man’s law has judged abortion legal and by extension ethical because laws are generally considered the measure of society’s moral standard. God’s law, as interpreted by some from the Holy Bible, has ruled abortion unacceptable. It is no surprise to anyone that others draw different conclusions from the pages of the Bible. Some believe abortion to not only have legal merit but it morally preferable to the restriction of abortion rights. This faction adeptly justifies their stance in man’s law the U.S. Constitution and God’s law, the Bible. Of course Man’s law can change with a slight adjustment in the Supreme Court and Fundamentalist Christians argue no such justification exists in the Bible. This discussion examines the differing interpretations of God’s and Man’s laws as it applies to abortion. God’s Law Permits Abortion God’s commands are more clearly defined for the ‘orthodox’ Christian. ‘Thou shall not kill’ is straightforward and non-ambiguous i.e. don’t kill babies. The reason society has allowed abortions to be semi-accepted within the culture is that for some Christians, the implications of God’s commands are not as obvious. Some extend this Commandment to include the death penalty, others do not. Some believe life begins at conception and others when a baby takes their first breath therefore abortions are not taking a life and God’s command is not violated. The Bible is progressively becoming viewed as a moral guideline by a growing number of parishioners and the Ten Commandments as the Ten Suggestions. According to The Divine Command theory (DCT), God’s words are the basis of morality and should be followed to the letter. Still, even for the most conservative Christian, the command not to kill is somewhat subject to interpretation. Can people kill animals for the pure sport of it or only as a food source? It is not difficult to understand how God’s words can be considered open to analysis but the difficulty of the abortion issue is that the breadth of the interpretation is very wide. The DCT is clear and non-negotiable for some but for others, its tenets remain subjective and vague. If a person rejects the DCT,
Abstract Medical professionals face many challenges in their attempts to provide quality health care services, especially disease prevention. This article addresses the problem of diseases that are not easily preventable. It is a problem that gives doctors a lot of work since it is their responsibility to ensure that people are free from diseases. The approach used to propose a solution is based on research that has been conducted on technology adoption in hospitals such as barcode technology and computerized scans. Doctors should make use of barcode technology to collect specimen, identify surgical instruments and manage medication. They care about the use of barcode technology and computerized scans because they prioritize health of their patients. Introduction Technology adoption in hospitals involves use of computerized disease diagnosis and prevention. Instead of using traditional and inefficient methods to diagnose and prevent diseases, doctors should use computerized methods such as CT scans to detect heart diseases. In addition, barcode technology is used to increase efficiency of doctors in identification and management of diseases (Weinfurt 20). A lot of research has been conducted with the aim of establishing how computerized disease diagnosis can be used in hospitals to prevent certain diseases. Researchers have discovered that medical experts focus on the use of technology to treat diseases but ignore its preventive ability. The research has shown that computerized tomography can be used to detect heart diseases before their symptoms become more pronounced. The contribution of this article is provision of important information on how doctors can use technology in hospitals to diagnose and prevent diseases. This is important information that can improve provision of health care services if doctors follow the proposed technology. The main points of the article include use of computerized tomography, popularly known as CT scans to detect heart diseases. The article has also highlighted how barcode technology is used to manage diseases, collect specimen and identify surgical equipment. It addresses use of traditional and inefficient disease diagnosis methods that doctors have been using for a long period of time. From the information provided, this gap would be filled after doctors adopt computerized disease diagnosis methods such as CT scans and use of barcode technology (Russell 109). Technology is important in hospitals for various reasons. The first one is that it helps medical professionals to administer quality health care services to patients. The second one is that it makes it possible for many patients to receive treatment at the same time while the third reason
The essential nature of human action has been one important issue that scientists and philosophers have been keen to determine. The question on whether or not true altruism exists is by far and large, theoretical and abstract. In order to answer this question, it is imperative to note that an individual understands whether certain actions of an individual are aimed at personal gain, are egoistic and driven by human motives or are simple and genuinely selfless. Altruism, which refers to the act of unselfishly offering help to others, is a commonplace behavior among many philanthropists who apparently offer helping hand, put their lives at risk and donate charities without ulterior motives. However, a section of social psychologists argue that there might be other factors motivating the actions of philanthropists. This essay will examine and pose the fundamental question on whether true altruism exists. Supporting arguments As Daniel Batson argues in the article “ Taking Sides Clashing Views in Social Psychology” (2006), the force behind altruistic behavior by an individual who offer help to others is termed as empathy (Nier, 2006). It is what causes one person to feel the intrinsic experience of another person. This is evident especially if another person is in a troublesome situation. It is this feeling, as Batson further explains, that provokes altruistic reasons which are considered to be genuine concerns for helping others. It is imperative to note that reducing or ending another person’s distress is an end-state goal of a truly altruistic behavior. It is driven by a feeling of empathy and not by an instrumental response that has been caused by ego. Research studies indicate that distinguishing the motivational concepts between altruism and egoism is difficult. However, Batson provides a clear contrast that enables individuals to appreciate true altruism. Additionally, true altruism focuses only on behavior and not motivation. An egoistic person offering help is motivated by personal gains such as the desire to avoid pain, shame and guilt, or for self-esteem, to receive praise or material rewards. On the contrary, true altruism is concerned with increasing the welfare of others as an end-state goal of offering help. This forms a clear contrast between altruism and egoism. In true altruism, the end-state goal of a philanthropist demonstrates unselfish desire towards increasing the welfare of others. Since it is not egoistically motivated, the response given to helping others is not instrumental and intermediate towards an agent’s own good. Based on some of the observations made by Batson and his colleagues, even though relief or personal satisfaction may be felt by a philanthropist after offering help, the goal of altruistic behavior is purely unselfish concern. Opposing arguments As already mentioned, ph
Introduction The series “2001 Documentary on 80s Pop and Birth of MTV Music Videos” explores the history of MTV and the shift from radio towards video-based music consumption. After cable television became available to people, and MTV started playing first music videos, the world of pop music was changed forever. This essay discusses three topics from the documentary – the influence of foreign musicians, the role of dancing in music videos, and the exploration of gender by popular artists. Main body One of the significant events that affected charts in the United States was the entrance of British and European bands. Before the 1980s, few foreign musicians were famous in the US, and their records were not sold at the same rate as American ones. However, as they were accustomed to music videos, their popularity soon exploded with the help of MTV, and pop music was influenced by such genres as art pop, punk, and new wave. The visual nature of music videos demanded the presentation of each composition to be exciting and memorable. Thus, many artists began using dance as a means of attracting an audience. One of the artists who redefined the quality of dance-based videos was Michael Jackson. His video for “Thriller” was a hit that made it clear that to succeed, musicians had to dance. Thus, later music videos started featuring dance routines with intricate moves and multiple performers. The medium of video was also a chance for artists to explore such topics as gender and sexuality. While many popular songs in the previous decades did not challenge listeners in any way, the music of the 1980s put the musicians’ faces and fashion in the foreground. Performers such as Boy George and Annie Lennox of Eurythmics introduced the concept of androgyny to the public, questioning the limits of femininity and masculinity. Arguably, these and other artists started a discussion of beauty standards and gender roles among listeners and the music industry as a whole. Conclusion To sum up, the introduction of a new medium changed the music industry in the span of a decade. In the 1980s, the shift towards visuals influenced how people listened to and thought about music. Cable television allowed European performers to seek popularity abroad. Dancing became inseparable from music, and audiences wanted to be entertained by musicians. Finally, such topics as gender and sexuality entered the minds of the public.
Introduction The term spa still remains an ambiguous and somewhat unclear term, especially within the context of a business model. Nonetheless, mention of the term elicits connotations of health and wellness (Cohen & Bodeker 2008). The spa industry has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, thanks in large part to the contribution made by the mature market in the west. In addition, the industry has also embraced the concept of globalization and his has helped to increase its revenue. Like the other industries, the spa industry was also affected by the recent global recession that saw it take a 19 % drop in revenue. Trends in the spa industry The global spa industry is estimated to be worth $ 1.9 trillion. The spa market has already reached its maturity stage and in order to maintain growth, industry players need to consider other markets, such as India and China (Schack 2011). The spa industry is divided into three customer segments. First, we have peripheral customers who are easy to please and price sensitive. They view spa services as a source of pleasure and beauty, as opposed to health and wellness. Secondly, there are the midlevel customers who are seeking massages, facials, and relaxation experience, as opposed to alternative medical treatments (Johnson & Redman 2008). These customers are less likely to seek unusual treatments. Finally, we have the core customers who are seeking health and wellness, and lifestyle. They are price insensitive and as such, they demand exceptional experience and services (Crebbin-Bailey, Harcup & Harrington 2005). Besides, they tend to have a lot of experience in the spa industry. Men only spas constitutes 31% market share (Schack 2011). Services include male focused activities such as outdoor adventure, golf, and male cosmetic treatments. Young couples are on the lookout for mainly spa treatment. Because they are likely to have children, these couples need educative aspects on health and wealth. Impact of globalization on the spa industry Globalization has had a huge impact on the spa industry. For example, the recent global recession had a huge impact on the industry, resulting in a 19% drop in revenue (Tabacchi 2010). Even when hotels provided discounted rates in a bid to woe customers, this did little to improve the situation. The hospitality industry was forced to embark on a deep discounting strategy. In addition, the industry also launched E marketing services and aggressive PR. New products were also developed (for example, salt therapy) in an attempt to further extend the product line. There has also been a change in the trend of the spa industry, with most businesses opting for franchising as a strategy to expand the market. This strategy is also intended to
Summary The article The Problem of Social Cost by Coase is summarized. As for the first, thesis statement, it could be said that the author focuses on the fact that whether who is guilty of the possible harm and what damage is allowed by the legislation (Coase 2). Moreover, the author suggests that both participants of the situation might benefit their production processes. This position will help both members of the conflict maximize their production costs and improve their economic situation (Coase 8). Additionally, the author evaluates legal factors, which might have an individual contribution to the result of the situation. It could be said that the primary purpose of the article is to summarize and evaluate the current situation regarding the nuisance and propose a potential approach to improve the current state. Main body It could be said the all of the thesis statements are evaluated and discussed with the help of the particular examples, as it helps see the image in detail. As for the support of the first thesis statement, one of the examples is the fact that the initial damage was caused by rabbits (Coase 38). Other examples are also provided, but it is the most memorable one. As for the second claim, it could be said that it is also supported with the help of real cases. One of them is the situation, which occurred between the doctor and a producer of sweets (Coase 8). Another example is related to the conflict between a farmer and a cattle-raiser (Coase 2). The author claims that both of the participants in the conflict can benefit from the situation, and the allocation of their resources does not have a significant impact on the outcome of the case. With the help of these examples, the author proves the fact that the pricing system with liability for damage and a pricing system with no liability have the same outcomes (Coase 8). However, the author discovers examples, in which not transactional costs exist. It could be said that the last theme discussed in the article plays an essential role regarding the idea of the formation of this matter. Sometimes the decisions made in the court could be considered irrelevant since they do not improve the economic situation of both participants. The author provides several examples of judicial decisions and in the end evaluates them to find the solution to this issue. One of the aspects, which the court systems lack is the fact that it is impossible to estimate the exact damage caused by a particular nuisance (Coase 42). Conclusion In conclusion, the author suggests the possibilities to change the approach to reach better results. Firstly, the differences between the perceptions of lawyers and economists are rather dissimilar regarding this matter, as economists use the opportunity cost for the evaluation (Coase 43). The author suggests if legal institutions were discovering the term in the broader context, this fact would help improve the conditions of the current situation. Secondly, the misconception can be reduced with the assistance of the introduction of a different approach, such as the ability to discover the business property, not as a physical location. However, the legal s