Remote Sensing Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Remote Sensing Report - Essay Example The NDVI varies from -1.0 to 1.0 for every pixel in a representation and is vital in discovering regions of ranging levels of plant biomass/dynamism. This means that higher values symbolize high biomass/dynamism. The vegetation indices normally depend on the actuality that green vegetation indicates an authentic combination of low reflectance at perceptible red wavelengths and elevated reflectance at near infrared wavelengths. In similar manner, a ratio of close to infrared (NIR) by red  ® light will issue out an approximation (RVI) of the amount of green vegetation present in every pixel. These therefore may be computed as follows: RVI=NIR/R This ratio is well known as the â€Å"Ratio Vegetation Index† thus the notion RVI. The ultimate aim of this report is to examine how the ratio vegetation index is computed using Lake Nakuru in Kenya as example. It also looks at the unsupervised and supervised classification and examines their advantages and disadvantages. Part 1: Vegeta tion Indices Methodology The methodology used in this research is a fieldwork quantitative analysis carried out on the vegetation structure of Lake Nakuru. The ratio vegetation index is calculated where all the steps involved are indicated. Quantitative analysis is one of the best fieldwork methodologies that provide accurate results that are reliable in conclusions and decision-making processes. Analytical Steps The steps for calculating the ration vegetation index are as follows The first step is calculating a ration vegetation index from Landsat TM Data This means that the computed ratio vegetation index (RVI) for the Nakuru Thematic Mapper (TM) representation. For Landsat Thematic Mapper data, the band 3 gauges red, light as TM band 4 gauges near infrared. Lake Nakuru is a little shallow alkaline lake situated south of Nakuru town in Kenya. It is a small lake but it is the world’s most famous place where the greatest bird sight on earth. It is where more than one million pink flamingos gather to the lake to eat the excessive algae, which flourishes in the warm waters of the lake (Jones, Settle and Wyatt, 2006). Scientific scholars have approximated that the population of the flamingos at Lake Nakuru uses about 250, 000 kg of algae per hectare of surface area every year. However, it is not only the flamingos found at Lake Nakuru although they are the most abundant; Pelicans and cormorants are also present in large numbers. In reality, Lake Nakuru is actually a home for more than 400 different species of birds, which means that it is the leading place with variety of bird species than any other place in the country. The second step is adding color to the Ratio Vegetation Index representation (Bonner, Rohde and Miller, 2001). This is done through reloading the Nakuru image although this time one clicks on the raster options tab to add dialog and show as a pseudo color image. Then select raster/Attributes on the viewer menu bar for Nakuru-rvi.img. The f ollowing raster editor should be displayed Select edit/colors from the Attribute Editor Menu. The following color Editor should be displayed: From this color tab, try changing different colors at the start and end colors, and choose the Apply button. The Nakuru-rvi.img representation has to change color. Try

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture Essay

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture - Essay Example As for the authors’ credentials, Dr. Primack is a faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. He is also a faculty of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and therefore he has an authority regarding adolescent behavior in the context of medical science, for adolescent behavior is the main subject of this particular study. Moreover, he is also a recipient of the Physician Faculty Scholar Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The other author, Dr. Douglas is another faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Dr. Kraemer is a third faculty member of the same medical school. Dr. Douglas and Dr. Kraemer are affiliated with the Center for Research on Health Care of the same educational institution, and so it implies that they already have considerable background on how to conduct research on health care. The authors, being experts in their fields, with their medical degrees, with Primack’s expertise with adole scent medicine, and with Douglas’ and Kraemer’s experience with research on health care, make up a team of researchers that possess full credibility. The study is published by the National Institutes of Health, particularly PubMed Central and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This is a reputable institution when it comes to research on health. This source is barely 3 years old and is certainly not that old for it to be considered unreliable or obsolete. The thesis advanced by the authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents†. ... authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents† (Primack et al.). The objectivity of the presentation and analysis of data lies in three facts. First, the sample size of 1198 American and African-American students is large enough to become representative of the group of adolescents exposed to popular music with cannabis content. Secondly, the researchers used statistical analytical tools like multivariable regression, bivariate analysis, and additional analysis in the form of finding out whether there was a correlation between cannabis use and alcohol, but of which the researchers have not found any significant relationship. Thirdly, the study is objective and credible because the methods used in the study had been preapproved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board prior to the execution of the study (Primack et al.). If the procedure had not been approved by the board, it would not have been published by the NIH and it would not have been considered credible and objective. On the support to its claims, On the subject of comprehensiveness, the study was actually able to find the differences when it comes to various variables vis-a-vis the degree of correlation between exposure to popular music and cannabis use among the respondents: â€Å"Current use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in music, having a favorite artist with a higher number of songs with cannabis references, older age, lower grades, less demanding parenting, less supportive parenting, higher sensation seeking, and higher rebelliousness [while] ever use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in

Why open-source software will (or will not) soon dominate the field of Essay

Why open-source software will (or will not) soon dominate the field of database management tools - Essay Example Open source software, unlike the proprietary software such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL, is free with only costs coming in for maintenance. This has far reaching implications that many people may not see. For instance, the fact that open source software are free means that newer and upcoming businesses will not likely opt this option be4caseu they are not able to buy the highly expensive products such as Oracle. Buying proprietary database management systems such as oracle requires businesses to write very big checks and this is a hindrance. As the new businesses adopt open source software, they end up being so used to it by the time they have enough money to invest in a proprietary DBMS such as oracle. In such a case, the cost of transferring from open source software can be prohibitive to such businesses and they opt to stay with this option. Opponents of the argument for open source software may argue that in the long run the open source software is not as free (or cheap) as it promises. But as much as this is true, the truth is that it is very affordable in the introduction part and many startup businesses find it easier to use this as opposed to using the proprietary software. A good example is facebook.com which in its original days was just an online social site developed by a university student. Needless to say, in its original days, facebook.com could not have managed to buy DBMS from a big vendor such as Microsoft or Oracle but had to use MySQL which it uses up to today. While facebook.com is now a multibillion firm which can easily buy a DBMS from a reputable vendor, the cost of transferring is almost prohibitive, and since the MySQL platform is also a relatively good one, the firm has proudly stayed on. This is just one example and many small firms will continue to use open source and stay with it even after th ey grow big. The other thing which will make open source to continue reigning is the issue of bugs.

Brief report Government and not for Profit Accounting Case Study

Brief report Government and not for Profit Accounting - Case Study Example Some governments set up independent bodies to formulate guidelines that are followed in the process of financial reporting. These bodies come up with rules and regulations that are followed by these entities. These independent bodies also determine which institutions are supposed to submit financial reports. This paper aims at illustrating a good understanding of the need for financial reporting by the government and private entities. This is going to be achieved by discussing the importance of regulation of financial reporting by government and not-for-profit entities. The regulation of financial reporting serves the purpose of acting as a check and balances system. The system is meant to limit the powers of the government on spending public finances, raising taxes to cover government spending. Regulation on financial reporting also helps shed light on government plans of public money expenditure (Ruppel, 2009 p201). This requires the government to state the amount of finances it ho lds and the nature of its intended expenditure. The purpose of government financial reporting is to provide information that facilitates decision making by different institutions. These institutions are citizens of that country, citizen representatives and private business entities. Intergovernmental agencies can also be described as parties that benefit from government financial reporting. ... The purpose of these objectives is to give information that facilitates decision making by various institutions with stakes (Earnst & Young, 2011 p 523). Accountability is the main objective of government financial reporting because it transfers responsibility from citizens to another body. The analysis of accountability is met when financial reporting facilitates the use of financial data in determining the extent of current expenditure supported by current income. There are two basic types of budgets that are used by both governments and corporate entities. These include capital budgets and annual operating budgets. Government annual operating budgets are expenditure appropriations for a specific fiscal year and estimated revenues. Capital budgets constitute the expenses incurred in fixed asset acquisition and government construction projects like laying down of infrastructure. Governments record these budgets as a means of compliance or control (Hussey, 2010 p174). Not-for-profit entities are those organizations or institutions whose activities are focused on other objectives other than making a profit. They include non-governmental organizations involved in charity work and other community based projects that the government cannot fulfill adequately. Not-for-profit entities face a challenge when it comes to financial reporting as laid down by ASSB. This is because they lack the same financial structure and background like the government. Not-for-profit entities do not have revenue-generating sources like the government, which means they cannot adopt the same budgetary procedures like the government. Their main source of operating funds comes from grants and donations, from charitable

Correctional philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Correctional philosophy - Essay Example Clearly, the war on drugs has dramatically increased the influx of inmates to the correctional system. Admittedly, stiffer sentences for drug offenders are not an effective way to deal with the problem. Had it been so, the picture would have been different by now. In addition, it is quite expensive to detain all the drug offenders. At present 59% of the jail inmates are drug offenders. Despite all these efforts and expenditure, the amount of drug captured is just 10%, and most of the people arrested on drug charges are just drug users, not drug dealers. That means the dealers and the real culprits manage to evade punishment even now, and government spends lots of money on keeping the drug users in jails. Thus, it is clear that stiffer sentences will not deter drug use in any way. Instead, what is more useful is to focus on education programs through schools and health services. As far as people feel to use drugs, they will find them at any cost and as far as people want them, drug dealers will continue their supply, and no closing up of border will help. So, the best way out is to ca tch people young through schools and other awareness programs, which are less expensive and more

Learning Experiences 1 (Personal Training) Essay

Learning Experiences 1 (Personal Training) - Essay Example Its insertion is olecranon process of ulna. Intended action is long head, and exercise is skull crushers. Fourth is Biceps Brachii. Origin is scapula. Its insertion is tuberosity of radius and bicipital aponeurosis. Intended action is flexion of elbow and dumbbell biceps curl as exercise. Fifth is Anterior Deltoid, with the origin as anterior lateral third of the clavicle. Insertion is deltoid tuberosity on lateral humerus, intended action is abduction and flexion and exercise is dumbbell anterior deltoid raise. Sixth is Medial Deltoid. Origin is scapula, insertion is deltoid tuberosity on lateral humerus, intended action is abduction of the shoulder joint, and exercise is dumbbell lateral raise. Seventh is Posterior Deltoid with the origin as scapula, insertion is deltoid tuberosity on lateral humerus, intended action is abduction, extension and rotation while exercise is dumbbell posterior deltoid raise (Alcamo & Bergdahl, 2003, p.68). The eighth muscle is Trapezius, origin is the base of skull, insertion is the base of the scapular spine, intended action is elevation and depression, exercise is barbell shrugs. The ninth is Rectus Abdominis, origin is superior surface of pubis, insertion is costal cartilages, and intended action is depresses ribs, and exercise is crunches. Tenth is the External Oblique, origin is ribs, insertion is linear alba and iliac crest, intended action is flexes and depresses ribs, exercise is standing side twists. Eleventh is Gluteus Maximus, origin is illium and sacrum, insertion is the oblique ridge of the greater trochanter, intended action is the extension and rotation of hip, exercise is standing. Twelfth muscle involves Rectus Femoris, origin is anterior iliac spine of the illeum, insertion is patella, intended action is the flexion of hip, and exercise is leg extensions. The thirteen is the Biceps Femoris, origin is ischial tuberosity, insertion is lateral condoyle of tibia, intende d action is flexion

Homeland Security HLSS311 Forum 5 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Homeland Security HLSS311 Forum 5 - Assignment Example Sometimes, immigrants are not those good people you expected to be. In the case whereby the immigrants have some unfinished business with the host nation, they might come and cause insecurity in the host nation. They come expecting to kill and perform acts of terrorism. In such cases, illegal immigration should be made a priority in dealing with a countrys security. Sometimes, when the illegal immigrants are running away from their country because of certain contagious and infectious diseases, they will pose the host country at a risk of spreading the diseases. This will not auger well with the welfare of this country (Peter, 2000). The enemy is that person who comes illegally into another country with the intention of doing some arm there. The enemy might come to conduct illegal business, cause insecurity or cause war. We are, therefore, supposed to protect our borders from such illegal immigrants who come in the form of an enemy. Through protecting our borders, we will be able to control spread of diseases, prevent illegal trade, prevent human trafficking and other illegal activities that immigrants might want to perform in the new country. A terrorist is one of the enemies that were protecting our boarders from. Therefore, being an enemy cannot be categorized as being more than terrorism since all cause us harm as a country. Terrorism, therefore, causes destruction just the same way enemies can cause destruction (David, 2008). Border enforcement enhances health concerns. This is to say, when we take good care of our boarders, we can prevent transmission and spread of some transnational diseases, hence making a country remain safe from such kind of diseases. Therefore, it is important to improve border enforcement in order to improve public health and safety concerns (Marc, Jerome, & Kristin,