ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The art period of Baroque has Italy as the place of its birth and the timeframe between 1600 and 1750 as the years of its existence. The 17th century saw the spread of this art style to the other countries of Europe, including France, Germany, Netherlands, etc. The topics depicted by the Baroque artists vary from still life and landscape pictures to portraits and religious topics. The latter constitute probably the largest share of Baroque as the period during which the Reformation and struggle between the Catholics and Protestants took place (The Humanities, 1993). Thus, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Michelangelo Caravaggio are the prominent representatives of the Baroque fine arts, in whose works religious topics were skillfully disclosed. To begin with, Michelangelo Caravaggio (1573 – 1610) was the first, according to the chronological order, to create his masterpieces in Baroque Italy. John the Baptist is one of his first works, which reflects the features typical of Caravaggio’s art: Art History. (2009). Baroque. Web. Created in 1598 using the oil in canvas technique, this painting is remarkable for the author’s use of light and shadow to emphasize the emotional state of the painting’s main character. John the Baptist is placed in the center of the painting, and his critical attitude to life is seen from the expression on his face. This expression also explains the pessimistic attitude Caravaggio had towards this world (The Humanities, 1993). Further on, the famous Dutch painter Peter Paul Rubens managed to combine the religious topics in his art with his own philosophy or art and life. The painting Christ and St. John with Angels is one of his masterpieces that reflects the features of Baroque and the personal philosophy of the painter: Art History. (2009). Baroque. Web. The picture presents four children playing together on the background of the dark sky. These children symbolize the beginning of the new life that the Christianity awaits, while the dark sky is the symbol of the harsh reality of the actual life. In this, Ruben’s critical philosophy and the hope for the best can be observed. The religious topics were also explored by Rembrandt in his art. Created in 1668 – 1669, The Return of the Prodigal Son is the piece of art depicting one of the biblical myths and a group of its participants: Art History. (2009). Baroque. Web. Thus, the painting displays the images of five people, among whom the prodigal son and his father are in the spotlight, while the rest of the characters are placed in the shadow to stress the major roles of the first two people. The playing of light and shadow is a remarkable feature of Rembrandt’s works, while the biblical topics reflect the reality of the Baroque epoch when the Catholic Ch
American author Jonathan Harr was catapulted into literary fame because of his compelling non-fiction work, A Civil Action. Chronicling the deliberate/negligent toxic contamination of the Woburn, Massachusetts water system during the 1970’s and 80’s, A Civil Action was a 1996 number one best seller as well as a recipient of the National Book Critics Award. Harr invested seven and a half years of intense research/writing and he strictly relied on official court records and personal interviews to reconstruct events. The fruit of his labors resulted in a searing depiction of a true and tragic event of which the Cleveland Plain Dealer described as “ the legal thriller of the decade (front cover).” Spanning 501 pages, the book contains fourteen chapters (with a concluding Sources and Acknowledgments section. The book went on to become an acclaimed 1998 film directed by Steven Zaillian and staring John Travolta along with Robert Duvall (Academy Award Nomination/Best Supporting Actor). Discovering Woburn children, inclusive of her own child, have been diagnosed with leukemia, resident Ann Anderson and other affected families hire personal injury/toxic tort lawyer Jan Schlichtmann to investigate and file a class action lawsuit. Their allegations were further substantiated and fueled by a five year mortality study conducted by two University of Massachusetts professors chronicling cancer deaths in Woburn which had increased by 17% (Ryan, 1979). Filed May 14, 1982, Anderson vs. Cryovac ( Anne Anderson et al. v. Cryovac Inc. W.R. Grace Inc., John J. Riley Company Inc., Beatrice Inc. – C.A. No. 82-1672-S – D. Mass) was milestone civil action suit. Initially Schlichtmann accepts for prestige and financial success purposes. Evidence surfaces, however, alleging Riley Tannery, a subsidiary of Beatrice Foods, W.R. Grace (a chemical company) and Unifirst deliberately contaminated the town’s water supply with the industrial solvent/chlorinated hydrocarbon TCE (trichloroethylene). TCE is a chemical compound, a chlorinated hydrocarbon. A sweet smelling clear liquid, TCE is non-flammable. It is used in organic/edible materials such as vegetable oils, etc. and for industrial purposes (dry cleaning solvents, metal parts degreaser, rocket cleaner, etc.). Excessive consumption is carcinogenic in animals and humans resulting in central nervous systems depression as well as high proclivity to leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma . The discovery of this heinous evidence marks a turning point for Schlictmann personally as well as the case. Sparring against Beatrice Foods’ condescending defense attorney – Jerome Facher, sensitizes Schlichtmann. Committed to helping the families with a successful win, Schlichtmann invests everything he has to the point of putting his firm at financial risk. He assembles a team of expert lawyers to assist thereby exhausting his resources an
Introduction The concepts of responsibility and controllability are vital in the decision-making and handling of different scenarios in a plant such as the case of the Anderson Forklift Company. Basically, the aspect of responsibility refers to the act of accepting the authority assigned to an agent or office within the confines of the law of a company. The obligation to accept the roles assigned is often controlled by the imputed authority on an office-bearer in a hierarchal order of control in an organization. The specific role is often attached to an individual who is responsible for decisions and actions within the level of responsibility. On the other hand, the concept of controllability defines the “degree of influence that a specific manager has over costs, revenues, and related items for which he or she is responsible” (Drury, 2012, p. 389). This analytical paper attempts to explore the above concepts in the Anderson Forklift case study and propose solutions to the current problems facing the company. Case Study Analysis From the Anderson Forklift case, the purchasing manager has full power over the aspects of cost to the point that she or he is directly carrying out the purchasing duty. Besides, the purchasing manager is empowered to seek the most cost-effective contract. In the ideal, it is expected of the purchasing manager to establish the most cost-effective purchasing combination for the engines at the most friendly market price than the current deal the office has been pursuing. The current cost of the outsourced engines is not sustainable as reflected in the increasing costs. The purchasing manager should take the responsibility for the inability to get the engines at the best possible price that would not result in runaway costs to the company (Stone, 2008). Besides, it is the responsibility of the production manager to work closely with the purchasing manager within the warehouse environment in the best interest of the company. As a team, the purchasing manager and production manager should be able to seek a contract that is not only sustainable in purchasing engines but also profitable to the company since they have control over cost aspects in the production cycle (Drury, 2012). As indicated in the Anderson Forklift case, the overall overhead costs incurred within the manufacturing plant for the month of June was way above the initial budget. From the investigations, the probable cause was a hike in the utility rate by a higher magnitude that was previously predicted in the June budget. In this case of a hike in the rate of utility within the manufacturing plan, the agent of the Anderson Forklift Company who should take full responsibility for the rising costs is the production manager. Despite the fact that controlling rising cost is a difficult venture, the production manager should have tried to arrest the situation in the month of May before it got out of hand (Drury, 2012). Although the utility rates are often fixed in most companies, the production manager still ha
There is no doubt that a state leader enjoys impressive power. With political, economical, financial and even social issues under control, a political leader can possibly turn into a dictator [1] . Despite the fact that in the resent-day world, the leader of a state controls every single sphere of the life of the state, the restrictions imposed on the leader by qualified exceptionalism principle allows for making sure that no power abuse is taking place. In his article, David Rudenstine explains where the power abuse that can be currently observed in a number of states stems from. According to Rudenstine, the seeds of constitutional dictatorship were planted in a governmental system since Ancient Rome. As Rudenstine explains, the principle in accordance with which the leader of a stat might consider authoritarian regime as a means to lead the state out of a crisis “is rooted in the Roman Republic.” [2] In their turn, Owens and Loomes analyze the work of the U.S. Congress without the references to earlier political practices, as well as without analyzing a particular political situation. According to Owens and Loomes, as long as the policy of qualified expectations persists in the U.S. government and the Congress has its impact on the President’s actions, democracy is safe. [3] Despite the work of the Congress, however, power abuse can possibly take place unless strong moral principles are established, which will help coordinate the steps of the government [4] . The aforementioned Congress does not necessarily speak from the perspective of people. Rather, Congress considers what will be most favorable for the state. After all, the members of the Congress often dispute and rarely come to terms: “American voters can become frustrated by the inability of their leaders to move forward.” [5] However, it cannot be denied that the Congress controls the actions of the President, thus, preventing him/her from making the steps that conflict with the interests of the U.S. population: “Even today, Congress limits the President’s powers.” [6] In addition, the way in which the Congress limits presidential power also leaves much room for thoughts. Stacey Kaper gives a very graphic example of the failure of the Congress to voice the opinion of the nation by explaining that the Congress should “provide the president with explicit self-defense authorization to address specific emerging threats,” [7] yet it never does. Perhaps, one of the key reasons for this is that “we expect too much of government”; however, it is the duty of the state representatives to take care of people, and it is necessary to make sure that they attend to their duties. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that for an average person, connecting with the Congress for the latter to translate their demands into reforms is extremely hard. As Independence Hall Associations explains, USA is “far too large a country to operate effectively as a direct democracy.” [8] With that being said, it can be assumed that the existence of Congress is justified, especially when such issues as waging war are at stake: “The implication
Introduction Different products in the market serve different purposes to a varied clientele. When a product is being introduced in the market, a comprehensive survey by the respective company introducing it is required. The survey entails the kind of target market that the company aims at serving, this may be done through the use of questionnaires so as to have a comprehensive feedback about how people think or perceive your product. For instance if you are introducing a product such as men’s suit, one will be required to conduct a survey on the type of suit mostly preferred by most men, the frequency of them wearing suits. Such kind of market surveys enables the company to have a clear line specification and a good plot on how to approach the market and win the customers loyalty while still having a competitive edge over the
The history of Medicare Since 1965, the United States’ government has been controlling Medicare (a social health insurance program). Medicare was established to ensure that older people are entitled to viable health insurance provisions. Additionally, people with renal diseases and acute disabilities also benefit from the program. Before the invention of Medicare, aged individuals and other vulnerable groups hardly accessed viable health insurance covers. Additionally, they could barely afford it (Aaron, Lambrew & Healy, 2008). Through Medicare, many Americans have been insured health wisely. Basically, Medicare differs considerably from other private insurers who run their organizations profitably. Medicare is structured in four parts; part A, B, C, and D. Part A is strategized to cover the health of those who stay in the hospitals and part B is for the outpatients’ medical cover. In part C (Medicare advantage), it is the responsibility of the United States federal government to compensate those who are under private health cover. However, many people (nearly 70 percent) who have enrolled for the Medical insurance cover are under the traditional Medicare. The remaining thirty percent are enrolled in the ‘Medicare advantage’. Conversely, the prescription of drugs to those patients who do not reside in the hospitals is covered in part D and is majorly carried out through private provisions and Medicare advantage plans (Aaron, Lambrew & Healy, 2008). Besides, this health insurance cover is beneficial to many old people and the sick. Additionally, poor people who cannot afford healthcare are now able to receive treatment freely or at a cheaper cost. Those who have registered for the Medicare pay half of the healthcare costs while the remaining half is taken care of by the insurance cover. Financially, Medicare is funded through revenue tax imposed on workers as well as employers. This revenue tax collection majorly funds part A of the Medicare (Aaron, Lambrew & Healy, 2008). Premiums obtained from those who have registered for the Medicare and income from general funds are used in part B and part D of the Medicare. Medicare spending has significantly increased over the years and is still projected to rise. Conversely, the increase in healthcare costs has led to a financial constrains. This has triggered the policy makers to come up with suggestions on how to cut down the Medicare costs. It is important to understand the provisions of Medicare for it effective utilization. Legislative attempts to control Medicare costs The federal government of the United States has established several legislative reforms in an attempt to control the Medicare costs. In this context, legislators have suggested a premium support scheme. This system will reduce the cost (Medicare cost) by regulating the value of the receipts and connecting its increase to the inflation. Conversely, people expect the value of the receipts to be low compared to other associated health costs. The other premium support proposed would alternatively retain traditional Medicare and would not be pegged on inflation (Andersen, Rice & Kominski, 2007). C
Introduction Just Falafel’s success can be attributed to its broadly differentiated products and its best-cost strategy. Just Falafel is a fast food firm that specializes in falafel sandwiches. It offers the best-cost to its customers through focused differentiation and offering the best customer service. It supports its franchises to maintain health and professional standards. Falafel is also considered a healthier product compared to other fast food meals because it is made from multiple ingredients. Its value chain is managed properly by the general administration that reduces nonessential costs. Just Falafel recognizes that there are different segments that cannot be targeted using a single standardized product. The firm targets high concentration areas with a high visibility, which reduces the need for advertizing. The high concentration areas also increase the number of units sold per outlet. It helps to spread general administrative costs over many units. It reduces cost per unit. It is the best-cost provider because it offers a broadly differentiated product at a reasonable price. The UAE macro-environment also favors the expansion of the firm. There is a favorable political environment that led to the establishment of the firm. The physical environment also supports the expansion of the firm through road networks and real estate. The GCC countries’ demographics indicate that there is a high concentration of young people in urban areas, which supports sales in the fast food industry. Just Falafel will find expansion in GCC countries easier because of their social culture and a high purchasing power. The Porter’s Five Forces indicate that there is intense rivalry among firms. However, the degree of intensity is reduced because major firms offer broadly differentiated products. The difficulty that faces firms to withdraw from the industry intensifies rivalry. The bargaining power of buyers has been lessened through focused differentiation. One of the problems that the firm may face is varying standards across franchised outlets. There is the threat of a major Western brand targeting the market with similar products. The main firm can act as a regulator to maintain Just Falafel standards in all outlets through collaboration. The firm already offers professional support to franchised outlets. Its focused differentiation strategy may discourage other firms from launching similar products. Just Falafel’s planned expansion into other countries is likely to succeed because it offers a unique fast food, which is considered healthy and nutritious. Brief Background to the case Just Falafel is a fast food firm that specializes in falafel sandwiches. Falafel is part of the Arabic food culture. Just Falafel was established in 2007, in the UAE. The firm has expanded rapidly through capturing a large market share in the UAE and other GCC countries. Globally, it has been using franchises to expand. The firm has approximately 700 franchises across six countries. The UAE fast food industry grew by 7% in 2011 (Jabeen & Ka
Overview Company name: No Parking Solutions. Vision: to be a leader in affordable and reliable security service for energy delivery systems. Problem: Security service for energy delivery systems in the energy-intensive urban environment of New York City and Westchester County. With the high load of the energy delivery grid and aging utility infrastructure, both accidents and planned repair works are possible. Consequently, there is a need to provide security and safety of the site that can be located above ground or underground in the sewer system. Product: Security service for energy delivery systems that are provided by teams of professionals located in different places to guarantee quick arrival and high-quality service. An innovative feature is the use of cybersecurity technologies for energy delivery systems. Founders: Bill Smith and John Johnson (college graduates, majored in security systems). Place relevant information here! Early Hires: 8 people for 4 teams of 2 people each, with 1-3 years of work experience in the field of security service for energy delivery systems. Market: The market for this startup is that of security service for energy delivery systems. Apart from providing security, the company is involved in traffic control and flagging. Business: The business that the company is expected to enter is security services for energy delivery systems. Risk Analysis: The major risk in this field is related to competitors that have been already working for years in this market and proved their reliability. Therefore, there can be difficulties in entering the market. Another risk is the inability to satisfy consumer needs. Providing service for Con Edison, the largest energy company in New York, implies a high level of responsibility and quality. Consequently, this risk is related to calculating the volume of staff necessary to function effectively at the beginning of work. Team History and Motivation: The team of No Parking Solutions is a union of college friends who decided to unite their ideas and knowledge in a startup. The choice of business is not accidental. Uncle of one of the founders, has been working for a big ene
Summary With objectives like a means of renewing national health service (NHS) and adequate maintenance of health facilities in the long-term, the private finance initiative (PFI), a public-private partnership (PPP) model has been highly controversial. With research literature focusing on PFI’s long-term financial characteristics, especially on health service operators, the article establishes the relationship between healthcare infrastructure design and PFI towards enabling it in PFI’s future adaptability in NHI. Analysis The PFI was not responsible in the delivery of stakeholder benefits by stimulating innovation. From the study, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) resulted in an increased focus on project risk analysis and focus on the same. Moreover, through PFI, the levels of distrust in the stakeholders were undoubtedly increased based on longer demands for risks, which manifested among the clients. Additionally, despite the intention by the government to impact changes in future service demands in NHS, the level of innovativeness with the model was little (James & Martina, 2009). The lack of stimulating innovation among stakeholders was coupled with the desire to incorporate a degree of scheme’s adaptability relative to new design solutions. Due to the lack of support in the ability to innovate, SPV became more of an actor in the promotion of more collaborative working ways and an integrator. Moreover, from the findings, the study shows the roles and responsibilities of the SPV appeared to be fragmented between clinical operational and project delivery sides of the schemes. The responsibilities of hospital stakeholders were to maintain trust to the facilities and to the users. That was the case despite being employed by SPV’s contractors. The need of the stakeholders was to feed the process in a way that was performance-oriented and methodical, which was never realized by the integration of the P