Esl Program Analysis Essay free essay sample

Understudies likewise have the chance to go to the Phelps Center for Gifted Education and an Early Childhood Center. Springfield Public Schools (SPS) takes into account the assorted variety of its numerous understudies by including such projects as the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at the basic, center and secondary school levels, Wonder of the Ozarks Learning Facility (WOLF) and the Middle College Program. Each of the five of their secondary schools are assigned Missouri A+ schools, which permits a secondary school understudy to graduate and have their initial two years of school paid for by an A+ grant. www. springfieldpublicschoolsmo. organization). The Springfield Public Schools English Language Learner (ELL) program has been a piece of their region since the 1980s, per Rhonda Hittenberger-Ortiz, ELL Liaison. At the program’s beginning all understudies were overhauled either at Central High School or through nomad educators who went around the locale seeing unde rstudies once or more every week. Over the most recent multi year their ELL populace has developed rapidly and a full-time facilitator was recruited in 2011. At present, they have eight ELL â€Å"site schools† where ELL understudies are grouped to get customary language support from an on location ELL educator. These schools incorporate four elementaries, one halfway, two center schools and one secondary school. Guardians are given the decision to move their youngsters to these schools or to leave them at their self-teach. For understudies who are not at the site schools, the area has an instructional mentor who works with the standard instructors of the ELL understudies. At present the area has 850 understudies in the ELL program. Program Details Springfield Public Schools utilizes various strategies in their program. The Elementary destinations for the most part actualize the push-in or synergistic showing strategy in which ELL and standard instructors cooperate inside the study hall, sharing substance and language objectives for every exercise. The draw out strategy is utilized for the most minimal English capable understudies. Optional destinations plan understudies into English-guidance classes and the instructors likewise go into content study halls to work with ELLs separately or in little gatherings. Evaluations Understudies take similar appraisals that every other understudy in the area take yet with specific lodging, for example, translators, additional time, and so on. Springfield R-12 uses the accompanying evaluations: DRA2 (grades K-2), Scantron Performance Series Assessment for Reading, Language Arts and Math (grades 3-12), the Missouri Assessment Program (grades 3-8) and End-of-Course tests (grades 9-12). Moreover, ELL understudies take a yearly advancement test to give information to the province of Missouri. The yearly tests shows progress in English capability and what number of understudies are accomplishing English capability. Springfield Public Schools normally meets the state-built up objectives. The desire for arriving at English capability changes generally and relies upon numerous components. State Guidelines The State of Missouri’s English Language Proficiency Standards and Grade Level Expectations depend on World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA). WIDA builds up, for teachers, top notch guidelines, evaluations, exploration and expert turn of events. These assistance instructors with language improvement and to help increment scholarly accomplishment for their English Language Learners (http://wida. s/file. aspx). English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is the showing approach of decision in Missouri. Regularly ESOL programs are built up on the grounds that a certified educator who is conversant in English and the student’s local language isn't accessible. In different circumstances there just might be an excessive number of dialects spoke to in an area that makes having bilingual instructors not viable. Missouri utilizes three ESOL approaches: Structured ESOL Immersion, Content-based ESOL and Pull-Out ESOL. They just utilize the Pull-Out ESOL approach in their most reduced students. The province of Missouri endeavors to create instructional goals that lead understudies to high accomplishment by depending on both state and national norms that can be found at www. tesol. edu. The Show-Me Standards speak to Missouri’s instructive desires for all understudies. Neighborhood schools are answerable for guaranteeing that LEP (Limited English Proficient) understudies create Communication Arts aptitudes as well as that they accomplish significant levels in the entirety of the Knowledge and Performance principles. All school locale in Missouri must build up an arrangement that fuses LEP understudy needs into the whole school’s instructive program (http://dese. o. gov/qs/me/reports/definstructmodel. pdf). Instructional Practices for ELL Students Researchers consistently fight with regards to whether the ELL student’s local language ought to be a piece of their educating. Most school areas tend to not have an adequate measure of educators that communicat e in the local dialects of their understudies and in this way actualize ESL programs which are shown uniquely in English. Government strategies keep on confining the measure of time that can be spent showing youngsters in their local language. Approaches, for example, â€Å"No Child Left Behind† and the proceeded with diminishment of financing makes it illogical for nearby instructive offices and school areas to help local language guidance (Calderon, M. , Slavin, R. , amp; Sanchez, M. 2011). A contextual analysis performed by the Alliance for Excellent Education in December 2005 advances six key systems that educators of English language students can utilize. They advance: 1. Jargon and Language Development 2. Guided Interaction 3. Metacognition and Authentic Assessment 4. Unequivocal Instruction 5. Which means Based Context and Universal Themes 6. Displaying, Graphic Organizers and Visuals The idea driving these six methodologies is that they not just assist understudies with creating English as their second language it encourages them learn words that are not part of the regular English language, for example, calculation, purposeful anecdote, speculation, and delay (http://uteach. utexas. edu/destinations/default/documents/records/SixKeyStrategiesELL. pdf). These systems work in an ELL domain as well as great methodologies for all students in every branch of knowledge. A look inside the entryway of any homeroom in the United States would show these procedures at work with ELL and non-ELL understudies. Different contentions that surface in the ELL world are that as the quantity of ELL understudies develops in our nation, instructors and instructive organizations should be take a gander at â€Å"Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE). Creators Zulmara Cline and Juan Necochea of the College of Education, California State University San Marcos investigated the eight key segments of SDAIE that can improve the instructional program of schools and give access to main subjects to ELLs. The eight segments of SDAIE are: 1. Essential Language Support 2. Associate with Previous Learning 3. Visuals and Manipulatives . Okay and Safe Environment 5. Various Access Points 6. Agreeable and Interactive 7. Piecing and Webbing 8. Deferential Learning These parts need to persistently be working with one another and not on a free premise. Educators ought to make associations with past learning, use visuals and manipulatives at whatever point conceivable, make a sheltered, generally safe condition for their understudies, and so forth. Constantly utilizing these parts with an English Language Learner in a fundamental spilled homeroom will assist them with developing in the English language and as understudies in every single scholastic territory (Cline, Z. amp; Necochea, J. 2003). These speculations in regards to ELL/ESL guidance all have solid focuses concerning how they can profit the English Language Learner by making situations that permit non-English talking understudies the advantages of English guidance even with instructors who may not be familiar with their local language. Springfield Public Schools has a completely submerged ESL program that places their ELL understudies in study halls with English talking educators that work connected at the hip with ESOL teachers. I eel that Springfield Public Schools is giving the proper guidance to their ELL understudies, which makes up around 3% of their absolute understudy populace, as they consistently fulfill s tate necessities and guidelines. Albeit one may contend that one shortcoming we have may be that they don’t require their ELL understudies to go to one of their ELL site schools yet can just prescribe it to the guardians. This may make learning English for an understudy that decides to remain at their self-teach, despite the fact that it isn’t an ELL site, increasingly troublesome since their association with a guaranteed ESOL teacher might be progressively restricted. Springfield R-12 predicts that they will see an expansion of 115 understudies area wide every year for the following 10 years. It will be fascinating to check whether their ELL populace develops proportionately and if that will modify their strategies. Generally speaking I would at present fight that the Springfield R-12 School District situated in Springfield, Missouri is giving amazing instruction to their ELL understudies as well as all understudies and that they exploit the assets accessible to them. Assets Calderon, M. Slavin, R. , amp; Sanchez, M. (2011). Successful Instruction for English Learners. Eventual fate Of Children, 21(1), 103-127 Cline, Z. , amp; Necochea, J. (2003). Extraordinarily Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE): More Than Just Good Instruction. Multicultural Perspectives, 5(1), 18 http://dese. mo. gov/qs/me/archives/definstructmodel. pdf http://uteach. utexas. edu/locales/default/records/documents/SixKeyStrategiesELL. pdf http://wida. us/record. a spx www. springfieldpublicschoolsmo. organization www. tesol. edu

Thailand Financial Crisis free essay sample

Looks at the smaller scale and full scale monetary, political and social factors that added to the Thai money related emergency of 1997-8. Talks about trade rates, size and receptiveness, expansion, wage rates, budgetary segment improvement, national bank and versatility of ca Presentation: Situation Overview On June 27, 1997, the money service of Thailand, alongside the Bank of Thailand, that countries national bank, declared that exercises of sixteen monetary and protections firms were to be suspended for thirty days, and guided the pained firms to discover merger accomplices. After five days a further and emotional advance was taken: Finance Minister Tanong Bhidaya proclaimed that the Thai national bank would no longer help the baht, the Thai money, at its fixed swapping scale of 24.45 bahts to the dollar. The underlying response of universal budgetary spectators was sure. On July 10, the regarded Far Eastern Economic Review detailed these improvements under the feature Free finally, with a caption announcing that Thailand coasts the baht, starts money related segment tidy up (Vatikiotis, 1997a, 70). We will compose a custom exposition test on Thailand Financial Crisis or then again any comparative theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page As indicated by

Five Steps Toward a More Meaningful Holiday Season

Five Steps Toward a More Meaningful Holiday Season The room is full, a bit cramped, the crowd filling their seats. It’s snowing lightly outside the half-windows behind the stage, just a few flurries coating the sidewalks above this basement. Its December 2012. The windows weep from the indoor heat. I turn on the microphone and look over the crowd, avoiding eye contact, which’ll just make me more nervous than I already am. I begin my speech by telling a story about a child on Christmas morning: “Fast forward a few weeks from now, Christmas Day, as little Andy unwraps Optimus Prime. A grin breaks across his features when the large toy lights up and comes to life, flashing and beeping and driving Andy’s parents crazy. “But in a few moments, Andy discards the toy and begins unwrapping the rest of his presents, extracting each box from under the tree, one by oneâ€"some long, some tall, some heavy, some light. Each box reveals a new toy. Each shred of green-and-red wrapping paper a flash of happiness. “An hour later, though, little Andy is crying hysterically. Based on his fits, this has undoubtedly been the worst Christmas ever. Sure, Andy received many of the things on his list, but he’s far more concerned with what he didn’t receive: that Power Ranger he wanted, that video game system he was secretly hoping for, that new computer all his friends are getting. The toys in front of him simply remind him of what he doesn’t have. “This sounds childish, I know, but don’t we do the same thing? Don’t we often look at the things around us and wish we had more? Don’t we covet that new car, those new clothes, that new iPhone?” Several people in the crowd nod with identification. “What if Andy was happy with the toys in front of him? And what if we were, too?” I ask rhetorically. After a brief pause, Ryan jumps in: “We are clearly in the throes of the holiday shopping season,” he says, speaking through his handheld microphone. “Take a look around. Malls are packed with herds of consumers. Storefronts are decorated in green and red. The jingly commercials are running nonstop. The holiday season has officially peeked its gigantic, mass-mediated noggin around the corner. It’s here, and if we rely solely on billboards and store signage, then we might believe we must participate. “Retailers prepare months in advance for thisâ€"preparation that’s meant to stimulate your insatiable desire to consume: Doorbuster sales. New products. Gigantic two-page ads. TV, radio, print, billboards. Sale, sale, sale! Early bird specials. One day only! Get the best deal. Act now! While supplies last. “Joshua and I want, however, to shed some light on this shoppingâ€"ahem, holidayâ€"season. Each year around this time, we all feel that warm-‘n’-fuzzy Christmastime nostalgia associated with the onset of winter. We break out the scarves, the gloves, and the winter coats. We go ice skating, sledding, and eat hearty meals with our extended families. We take days off from work, spend time with our loved ones, and give thanks for the gift of life. “The problem is we’ve been conditioned to associate this joyous time of yearâ€"the mittens, the decorations, the family activitiesâ€"with purchasing material items. We’ve trained ourselves to believe buying stuff is an inextricable part of Christmas. We all know, however, the holidays needn’t require gifts to be meaningful; rather, this time of year is meaningful because of its true meaningâ€"not the wrapped boxes we place under the tree. I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong or bad about gift-giving during this time of year. However, when purchasing gifts becomes the focal point of the season, we lose focus on what’s truly important. “Instead of concentrating on holiday shopping,” Ryan continues, “I’d like to encourage you to take five steps toward a more meaningful Christmas together: “Step one. Avoid holiday doorbuster sales. Whether it’s Black Friday or any of the subsequent big shopping weekends, it’s best to stay inside. It’s important to understand that consumption is an unquenchable thirst. Retailers, advertisers, and manufacturers know this too well, and these sales are designed to take advantage of our insatiable desire to consume. Instead, support your local businesses: support the people in your community who are making a difference. “Step two. Gift your time. If you could receive only one Christmas present this year, what would it be? The answer for me is simple: time. The best present is presence. You see, the people I care about mean much more to me than a new pair of shoes or a shiny new gadget or even a certified pre-owned luxury car with a huge bow on top. And yet, many of us attempt to give material items to make up for the time we don’t spend with the people we love. I knowâ€"I did it for years. But possessions can’t make up for lost time. The next time someone asks you what you want for Christmas, consider responding, ‘Your presence is the best present you can give me.’ “Step three. Gift experiences, not stuff. Here’s an idea: what if you decided to gift only experiences this year? How much more memorable would your holidays be? Your experiences build and strengthen the bond between you and the people you care about. Some experiences worth gifting might include tickets to a concert or play, a home-cooked meal, breakfast in bed, a foot rub, a vacation together, watching a wintertime sunset sink into the horizon. Don’t you think you’ll find more value in these experiences than in material gifts? Don’t you think your loved ones will find more value, too? “Step four. Ask for better Christmas gifts. I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss the gift of giving: the gift of contribution. The age-old apothegm is true: ’tis better to give than to receive. A few months ago, I gave my birthday to Charity Water, and we raised more than five thousand dollars from friends and family to gift clean water to more than two hundred and fifty people who didn’t previously have access to it. Perhaps you can do the same this Christmas: instead of gifts, you can ask people to donate to your favorite charity in your name. Won’t that feel better than a new necktie, a pair of shoes, or a piece of jewelry? “Step five. We call this step ‘Soup-Kitchen Christmas.’ You can do what we’re doing this year [2012] and donate your time to a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, food bank, or any place that needs volunteers. This year, Joshua and I will be in Vancouver during Christmas, where we and a local group of our readers will donate part of our Christmas Day to a soup kitchen who’ll be able to really use our help during the holidays. You see, sometimes we have to contribute to help other people, but sometimes we need to contribute to help ourselves. When we step into our discomfort zones and contribute beyond ourselves, we grow: we experience the world in a different way, and we gain new perspectives from which to be thankful.” Ryan pauses for a moment to let it all sink in. Two-thirds of the crowd is nodding with vigor, the other third looks skeptical. Ryan blinks hard from the stage lights and continues, “If this all sounds a little preachy, I’m sorry; I’m not here to preach to you. I’m not saying you must doâ€"or that you should doâ€"anything. I know many of you are just like me: you’re unhappy with the status quo, unhappy with what you’re supposed to do with your lifeâ€"just unhappy with the way things are. And so was I. But then I chose to circumvent the status quo. And so can you.” “Meaningful Holiday” is an excerpt from Everything That Remains.

A Research On Computer System - 1035 Words

Mason (2002) points finding a focus and knowing where you stand will be the deciding factor of what a research will unfold. Research is a process to discover new knowledge for either personal or professional to solve a problem. Unconsciously, most people are researchers most of the time with no define or formal process. I believe people do not necessarily think of themselves as researchers but research is about collecting information that tells us about something and helps to make informed decisions. As one go about their daily routine, research done whether it is reading a newspaper, listening to a radio or having general conversation to seek information awareness. Seek information to solve either a problem or awareness such as to†¦show more content†¦The process then becomes a clear structure that evolves into a methodology and then develops into a paradigm (Glesne, 2011). The paradigm is the framework in which a process perceived, understood, and interprets the worl d that lies at the intersection of ontology, methodology and epistemology (Glesne, 2011). Research methods that will be comparing and contrasting are qualitative, quantitative, and mixed. Qualitative Method According to Mason (2002), qualitative method is concerned with understanding human behavior or thought process from the participant’s perspective whether it is positive or negative. This type of method goes beyond the numbers. The qualitative data is descriptive data and challenging to analyze then quantitative data. Analysis of qualitative data requires an accurate description of the participant’s response, for example, sorting the participant’s response to open questions and interview into broad subject (Mason, 2002). The paradigm, interpretivism, establishes the meaning of an experience from the view of the participant. The methodological process includes data collection through participant’s observation and interviews (Mason, 2002).The most common types are face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Several qualitative designs include case studies, ethnographic studies, grounded theory, and phenomenological studies (Mason, 2002). Case study exp lores a single entity or phenomenon bounded by

Funny Mothers Day Quotes

A touch of humor goes a long way in making relationships work. And when that relationship is a mother-child one, laughter can be a great stress alleviator. Think about it. A mother has to ensure her childs well-being, happiness, and safety every single day. She never gets to take the load off of her shoulders. Its not that she doesnt like to laugh, its just that she was so much to worry about. Why not give her the gift of humor this Mothers Day? Does your mother like jokes and funny movies? If humor is her thing, give her the joy of laughter on Mothers Day. Use these funny Mothers Day quotes in cards and on presents. A touch of humor will make the occasion memorable.   Funny Quotes Rita Rudner My mother is such a lousy cook that Thanksgiving at her house is a time of sorrow. Mark Twain My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. Dan Quayle Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child. Phyllis Diller It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder, and violence every single day should be avoided entirely. But the desire to beget children is a natural urge. Kin Hubbard The worst feature of a new baby is its mothers singing. Louie Anderson My mom was a garage sale person, save money. Come on into the garage sale, you might find a shirt. Shed get in that garage sale and point stuff out to you. Theres a good fork for a nickel. Yeah, thats beautiful. Its a little high. If it were three cents Id snap it up. Oscar Wilde All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. Thats his. Paula Poundstone My mom said she learned how to swim. Someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. Thats how she learned how to swim. I said, Mom, they werent trying to teach you how to swim. Tim Allen My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar My mother had to send me to the movies with my birth certificate  so that I wouldnt have to pay the extra fifty cents that the adults had to pay. Dame Edna Everage My mother used to say that there are no strangers, only friends you havent met yet. Shes now in a maximum security twilight home in Australia. Rita Rudner Neurotics build castles in the air; psychotics live in them. My mother cleans them. Pamela Anderson Im a mother with two small children, so I dont take as much crap as I used to.

Spatial Filtering Fundamentals Free Essays

string(35) " determined by the ranking result\." 4/28/2008 Spatial filtering fundamentals by  Gleb  V. Tcheslavski:  gleb@ee. lamar. We will write a custom essay sample on Spatial Filtering Fundamentals or any similar topic only for you Order Now edu http://ee. lamar. edu/gleb/dip/index. htm Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 1 Mechanics of spatial filtering Considering frequency domain filtering, the effect of LPF applied to an image is to blur (smooth) it. Similar smoothing effect can be achieved by using spatial filters (spatial masks, kernels, templates, or windows). We discussed that a spatial filter consists of a neighborhood and a pre-defined operation performed on the image pixels defining the neighborhood. The result of filtering – a new pixel with coordinated of the neighborhood’s center and the value defined by the operation. g y p If the operation is linear, the filter is said to be a linear spatial filter. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 2 1 4/28/2008 Mechanics of spatial filtering Assuming a 3 x 3 neighborhood, at any point (x,y) in the image, the response of the spatial filter is g ( x, y ) = w(? 1, ? 1) f ( x ? 1, y ? 1) + w(? 1, 0) f ( x ? 1, y ) + †¦ + w(0, 0) f ( x, y ) + †¦ + w(1,1) f ( x + 1, y + 1) Filter coefficient Pixel intensity In general: g ( x, y ) = s =? a t =? b ? ? w(s, t ) f ( x + s, y + t ) a b Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 3 Mechanics of spatial filtering Here a mask size is m x n. m = 2a + 1 n = 2b + 1 Where a and b are some integers. For a 3 x 3 mask Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 4 2 4/28/2008 Spatial correlation and convolution Correlation is a process of moving the filter mask over the image and computing the sum of products at each location as previously described. Convolution is the same except that the filter is first rotated by 1800. For a 1D case, we first zeropad f by m-1 zeros on each size. We compute a sum of products in both cases†¦ Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 5 Spatial correlation and convolution Correlation is a function of displacement of the filter. A function containing a single 1 with the rest being zeros is g g g called a discrete unit impulse. Correlation of a function with a discrete unit impulse yields a rotated version of a function at the location of the impulse. To perform a convolution, we need to pre-rotate the filter by 1800 and perform the same operation as in correlation. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 6 3 4/28/2008 Spatial correlation and convolution In a 2D case, for a filter of size m x n, we pad the image with m-1 rows of zeros at the top and bottom and n-1 columns of zeros on the left and right. For convolution, we pre-rotate the mask and perform the sliding sum of products. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 7 Spatial correlation and convolution Correlation of a filter w(x,y) of size m x n with an image f(x,y) is w( x, y ) f ( x, y ) = s =? a t =? b ? ? w(s, t ) f ( x + s, y + t ) ? ? w(s, t ) f ( x ? s, y ? t ) a b a b Convolution of a filter w(x,y) of size m x n with an image f(x,y) is w( x, y ) ? f ( x, y) = s =? a t =? b Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 8 4 4/28/2008 Vector representation of linear filtering It is convenient sometimes to represent a sum of products as R = ? wk zk = w T z k =1 Filter coeffs Image intensities mn For example, for a 3 x 3 filter: p , R = ? wk zk = w T z k =1 Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 9 9 Generating spatial filter masks Generating an m x n linear spatial filter requires specification of mn mask coefficients. These coefficients are selected based on what the filter is supposed to do keeping in mind that all we can do with linear filtering is to implement a sum of products. Assuming that we need to replace the pixels in an image with the average pixel intensities of a 3Ãâ€"3 neighborhood centered on those pixels. If zi are the intensities, the average is R= 9 1 9 ? zi 9 i =1 Which is: R = ? wi zi = w T z; i =1 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP wi = 1 9 10 Spring 2008 5 4/28/2008 Smoothing spatial filters Smoothing filters are used for blurring and noise reduction. Blurring may be implemented in preprocessing tasks to remove small details from an image prior to large object extraction. The output of a smoothing (averaging or lowpass) linear spatial filter is the average of the pixels contained in the neighborhood of the filter mask. By replacing the value of every pixel in an image by the average of the intensity levels in the neighborhood defined by a filter mask, the resulting image will have reduced â€Å"sharp† transitions in intensities. Since random noise typically corresponds to such transitions, we can achieve denoising. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 11 Smoothing spatial filters However, edges (characterized by sharp intensity transitions) will be blurred. Examples of such masks: 1) A box filter – spatial averaging filter 3Ãâ€"3; 2) Weighted average filter – attempt to reduce blurring: g a g ( x, y ) = s =? a t =? b ? ? (s, t ) f ( x + s, y + t ) s =? a t =? b b ? ? w(s, t ) 12 a b Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 6 4/28/2008 Smoothing spatial filters The effect of filter size. The original 500Ãâ€"500 image And the results of smoothing with a square averaging filter of sizes m = 3, 5, 9, 15, 25, and 35 pixels. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 13 Smoothing spatial filters Frequently, b lurring is desired for ease of object detection: an original Hubble image, the result of applying a 15Ãâ€"15 averaging mask to it and the result of thresholding with a threshold of 25% of the highest intensity. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 14 7 4/28/2008 Order-statistic (nonlinear) filters Order-statistic filter are nonlinear spatial filters whose response is based on ordering (Ranking) the pixels in the neighborhood and then replacing the value of the center pixel by the value determined by the ranking result. You read "Spatial Filtering Fundamentals" in category "Papers" The median filters are quite effective against the impulse noise (salt-and-pepper noise). The median of a set of values is such that half the values in the set are greater than the median and half is lesser than it: Ex: the 3Ãâ€"3 neighborhood has values (10, 20, 20, 20,15, 20, 100, 25, 20). These values are ranked as (10, 15, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 25, 100). The median will be 20. There are also max and min filters. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 15 Order-statistic (nonlinear) filters Original image with salt-andpepper noise Spring 2008 Noise reduction with a 3Ãâ€"3 averaging mask ELEN 4304/5365 DIP Noise reduction with a 3Ãâ€"3 median mask 16 8 4/28/2008 Sharpening spatial filters: foundations The main objective of sharpening is to highlight transitions in intensity. Since averaging is analogous to spatial integration, we y g g g p g can assume that sharpening is analogous to differentiation in space. The derivatives of a digital function are defined in differences. The first derivative must be: 1) Zero in areas of constant intensity; 2) Non-zero at the onset and end of an intensity step or ramp; 3) Non-zero along ramps of constant slope. The second derivative must be: 1) Zero in areas of constant intensity; 2) Non-zero at the onset and end of an intensity step or ramp; 3) Zero along ramps of constant slope. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 17 Sharpening spatial filters: foundations The first-order derivative: ?f = f ( x + 1) ? f ( x) ? x The second-order derivative: ?2 f = f ( x + 1) + f ( x ? 1) ? 2 f ( x) ? x 2 It can be verified that these definitions satisfy the conditions for derivatives. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 18 9 4/28/2008 Sharpening spatial filters: foundations The circles indicate the onset or end of intensity transitions. The sign of the second derivative changes at the onset and end of a step of ramp. The second derivative enhances fine details much better than the first derivative. This is suitable for sharpening. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 19 Using the second derivative for image sharpening – the Laplacian We consider isotropic filters – the response is independent of the direction of the discontinuity in the image Such filters are image. rotation invariant. The simplest isotropic derivative operator is the Laplacian: ?2 f ? 2 f ? f = 2 + 2 ? x ? y 2 Therefore: ? 2 f = f ( x + 1, y ) + f ( x ? 1, y ) + f ( x, y + 1) + f ( x, y ? 1) ? 4 f ( x, y ) The Laplacian is a linear operator since derivatives are linear operators. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 20 10 4/28/2008 Using the second derivative for image sharpening – the Laplacian The Laplacian can be implemented by these filter masks Since the Laplacian is a derivative operator, its use highlights intensity discontinuities in the image and deemphasize regions with slow varying intensity levels levels. It tends to produce images having grayish edge lines and other discontinuities, and a dark, feature-less background. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 21 Using the second derivative for image sharpening – the Laplacian Background features can be preserved together with the sharpening effect of the Laplacian by adding the Laplacian image to the original. If the definition of the Laplacian has a negative central coefficient, the Laplacian image must be subtracted rather than added to obtain a sharpening result. In general: g ( x, y ) = f ( x, y ) + c 2 f ( x, y ) ? ? ? Output intensity Input intensity -1 – if the center is negative; +1 otherwise Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 22 11 4/28/2008 Using the second derivative for image sharpening – the Laplacian The Laplacian Laplacian with scaling The original (blurred) image The image sharpened with mask 2 The image sharpened with mask 1 Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 23 Unsharp masking and highboost filtering An approach used for many years to sharpen images is: 1. Blur the original image; 2. Subtract the blurred image from the original (the result is called the mask): g mask ( x, y ) = f ( x, y ) ? f ( x, y ) Original Blurred image 3. Add the mask to the original: g ( x, y ) = f ( x, y ) + k ? g mask ( x, y ) Here k is a weight. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 24 12 4/28/2008 Unsharp masking and highboost filtering When k = 1 – unsharp masking; k 1 – highboost filtering; k 1 – de-emphasize the contribution of a mask. The shown intensity profile can be viewed as a horizontal scan through a vertical edge transition from a dark to li ht t a light region. i This approach is similar to Laplacian method. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 25 Unsharp masking and highboost filtering Original ( slightly blurred) image Smoothed with a Gaussian smoothing filter 5Ãâ€"5 Unsharp mask Result of using unshapr mask (k = 1) Result of using highboost filtering with k = 4. 5 Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 26 13 4/28/2008 Gradient method First derivatives can be implemented for nonlinear image sharpening using the magnitude of the gradient: ? ? f ? g x ? ? ? x ? ? ? f ? grad ( f ) ? ? ? = ? ? ? g y ? ? ? f ? ? ? y ? ? ? The gradient vector points in the direction of the greatest rate of g (x,y). g (length) gradient change of f at location ( y) The magnitude ( g ) of g 2 2 M ( x, y ) = ? f = g x + g y Is the value of rate of change at (x,y) in the direction of gradient. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 27 Gradient method M(x,y) is an image of the same size as the original and is called the gradient image. Magnitude makes M(x,y) non-linear. It is more s itable in some applications to use: suitable se M ( x, y ) ? g x + g y For an image where z5 represent the pixel f(x,y) and z1 represent the pixel f(x-1,y-1), the simplest (Roberts) definitions for gradients are: M ( x, y ) = ( z9 ? z5 ) + ( z8 ? z6 ) 2 2 M ( x, y ) ? z9 ? z5 + z8 ? z6 However, Roberts cross-gradient operators lead to masks of even sizes, which is inconvenient. ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 28 Spring 2008 14 4/28/2008 Gradient method The smallest masks with central symmetry (ones we are interested in) are 3Ãâ€"3. The gradient can be approximated for such masks as following: ?f = ( z7 + 2 z8 + z9 ) ? ( z1 + 2 z2 + z3 ) ? x ? f gy = = ( z3 + 2 z6 + z9 ) ? ( z1 + 2 z4 + z7 ) ? y Therefore, the mask could be: gx = M ( x, y ) ? ( z7 + 2 z8 + z9 ) ? ( z1 + 2 z2 + z3 ) + ( z3 + 2 z6 + z9 ) ? ( z1 + 2 z4 + z7 ) Roberts operators They are Sobel operators. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 29 Gradient method The coefficients in all masks shown sum to zero. This indicates that mask will give a zero response in an area of constant intensity as expected of a derivative operator operator. Original image of contact lens Sobel gradient Defect Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 30 15 4/28/2008 Combining spatial enhancement techniques Frequently, Frequently a combination of several methods is used to enhance an image†¦ 1) Original image – 2) Laplacian – 3) image sharpened by Laplacian – 4) Sobel gradient of the original image – 5) Sobel image smoothed with a 5Ãâ€"5 averaging filter – 6) product of Sobel image with its smoothed version – 7) sharpened image (a sum of the original and 6) – 8) power-law transformation. Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 31 Spring 2008 ELEN 4304/5365 DIP 32 16 How to cite Spatial Filtering Fundamentals, Papers

Environmental Activism Essay Example For Students

Environmental Activism Essay Environmental Activism Essay 1. The large mainstream environmentalism groups started to compromise too much with regulatory agencies and bureaus, starting with the Glen Canyon Dam project. This began an estrangement with the mainstreams that culminated in the rise of more militant groups like Earth First! Glen Canyon represented what was fundamentally wrong with the countrys conservation policies: arrogant government officials motivated by a quasireligious zeal to industrialize the natural world, and a diffident bureaucratic leadership in the mainstream environmental organizations that more or less willingly collaborated in this process. The mainstream environmental groups and government held the premise that mankind should control and manage the natural world. The radicals held that our technological culture with its intrusions on natural world had to be curtailed, perhaps even undone, to keep the ecology of this planet and our role in it viable. It marked a shift from a rearguard strategy (mainstream) to protect wilderness to an affirmative attempt to roll back the artifacts of civilization, to restore the world to the point where natural processes such as the flow of rivers could continue. The mainstream environmental movement is now perceived by many as out of touch with peoples deep concern about environmental degradation, has become systematized. The activists use approaches such as industrial vandalism or ecotage to foster dramatic results. Some other methods employed are tree spiking, tree sitting, road blockading, demonstrations, tree pinning, ship sinking, dam breaking and outright terrorist-type sabotage (bombing power stations, bridges, power line, etc.) There may be some complimentary results of the efforts of both mainstream and radical groups. The large environmental organizations, while denouncing the radicals confrontational activities, have then been able to use their ample finances to take the campaign to Congress or the courts with the impetus of public support the radicals generated. 2. With Soules quote, including Vertebrate evolution may be at an end it means that the civilization complex has lost its reference point by overwhelming the natural processes it has always used to define itself. The otherness of nature is disappearing into the artificial world of technology. As the environmental crisis worsens, we can expect increased attention directed at the ecological sciences, resource management, pollution control, and technological supervision of the reproduction of valued species, including man. Toynbee writes that the ecological scarcity of the future will be so severe that the within each of the beleaguered developed countries there will be a bitter struggle for control of their diminished resources. This conflict will inevitably lead to the imposition of authoritarian regimes. There is already evidence of ecological elites where power and status are increasingly measured not merely by economic control, but by control over the ecology. Access to clean water, fresh air, open wild spaces, and natural products is competing with ownership of German autos and Swiss watches. It is becoming the main preoccupation of political debate. As an example, even when a corporation decides to create a item through genetic or non-genetic engineering, it is often indirectly determining what species will be exterminated to increase profits, which habitats will be sacrificed for economic growth, and whose children will be allocated the toxic water, poisoned food, and radioactive living space. If the environmental crisis is causing us to reexamine and reject the accepted values of the civilization complex in its entirety, a unique event is taking place: the passing of civilization into history. 2. Societal breakdown in the face of a continually deteriorating physical world may face many problems. As stated above by historian Toynbee, a conflict may lead to the imposition of authoritarian regimes. Atomic bomb EssayEarth First! represents the rage and reaction that radical environmentalists feel toward the destruction of the natural world. They are not only acting out their rage, on the contrary, the theory and practice of ecotage are as well thought out as the politics of reform. Formans notion of monkeywrenching, based on the belief that if profit brings the resource industry into the wilderness, loss of profit due to continuing equipment damage, production delays, and increased security will drive it out. The cost of repairs, production delays, and increased security will drive it out. It may be too much for the bureaucrats and exploiters to accept if there is a widely-dispersed, unorganized, strategic movement of resistance across the land. Such a movement has developed, though not on the scale radical environmentalists would wish. Ecotage probably costs the resource industry and government agencies between $20 and $25 million annually. One can only speculate as to the ef ! fect that has had on decisions made in corporate boardrooms. Most Earth First!ers do not believe ecotage is a substitute for major social changes; rather, it is a stopgap measure damage control to protect as much of the natural world as possible until such change is brought about, one way or another. 7. It tells us that society values property and the higher standard of living through technology over the natural world and any rights the natural world may be entitled to even though the majority of society on a personal level is sympathetic to the cause of radical environmentalists in theory. The American people are not accustomed to thinking of such nonhuman entities as mountain lions, forests, and rivers as exploited groups whose 9th amendments rights can be violated. From the perspective of the radical environmentalists movement, this state of affairs is exactly the problem. In the ante-bellum South, people were not accustomed the thinking of slaves as human beings who had any claim to the protection of the law. We now find this position both repugnant and ridiculous. In the future, so goes the biocentric argument, we will feel the same toward contemporary societys refusal to extend legal and ethical standing to the deer people and the tree people. Radical environmentalism is best understood as an attempt to enlarge the circle of legal and ethical standing (9th amendment rights) to include other species and even entire ecosystems. Using this theory as a 9th amendment weapon to extend the rights to the natural world can only, in my opinion, happen when society as whole, i.e. in large numbers, gets behind the biocentric movement to the magnitude it got behind the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 60s and 70s.8. Much of the breakdown of civilization is that we seem to rely on a totalization of values, values represented as universal, applicable to everyone, at all times. Through totalized values, organized societies have at their command a medium through which to dictate the kind of human behavior that enhances the power of those in control. Whether those values result in people plowing a field, working in a factory, or dropping an atomic bomb on helpless civilians, the discourse of civilization can find a justification i n Gods commandments, progress, national security, or humanism. Social power shapes the most intimate and quotidian acts of civilizations citizens. Industrial man and the industrial society may be the most deleterious and unsustainable economic system the world has ever seen, since it constantly eats into the ecological systems on which it depends. We are beginning to realize just how costly a system it is as the health and cleanup bills from years of environmental abuse come due. Not surprisingly, those who benefited most from the extravagant rise of the industrial economy have done their best to pass the burden on to others: the poor, the unwary, or the next generation. Industrialism is perhaps the greatest pyramid scheme in history. The role that industrial man must take for the ultimate survival of the natural world is that he must take the action to slow and reverse human population growth . There are ecological limits to how many people can live in dignity on this planet; to quibble over whether that line has yet been crossed is to invite a game of ecological brinkmanship that there is no need to play. And if human population has not exceeded carrying capacity, the arguments of the humanist critics leave out the whole question of the effect present population levels have on the nonhuman world.