Enhanced Graphics Adapter Research Articles

Chopper-Modulated Locked in Amplified Gas Chromatography—Electroantennography Part II: Signal Processing and Performance Comparisons

A new method that improves gas-chromatography-electroantennographic detection through lock-in amplification is demonstrated. Here, measurements of antennal responses to major pheromone component, <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$Z11$</tex></formula> -16:Ald, are performed under more optimal conditions, using saline electrical connections to excise antennae from male H. subflexa. Matched filtering in colored noise is applied to traditional enhanced graphics adapter recordings, allowing the signal to noise ratio of to be increased by about 6.1 dB (uncertainty is dependent on dosage). A dose-response model, including model parameter uncertainties is then used to estimate and compare performance in terms of naïve error rates involved in the detection of insect responses to GC peaks. Results indicate that relative performance is dosage dependent. Without a visible flame ionization detector (FID) reference peak for determining elution time, the model predicts the detection limit (placed at 5.0% expected naïve error rate) to be approximately 12 times lower using chopper modulation than when using traditional methods. At the highest traditional dosage tested, 10 pg, the equivalent chopper modulated dosage is estimated to be about 92 times lower. When a reference FID peak is clearly visible, the predicted detection limit (at 5.0% expected naïve error rate) is expected to be approximately 7 times lower using chopper modulation than when using traditional methods. At the traditional dosage of 10 pg, the predicted equivalent chopped dosage is estimated to be about 66 times lower.

A computer utility for automated retrieval of radiology reports.

Many radiology information systems (RISs) installed during the 1980s have a user interface that is crude by today's standards. We explored improving this user interface by using the local processing power of the personal computer. In this article we describe a computer program that significantly enhances the ease of report retrieval by automating much of the interaction with our RIS, which is IDXrad. The program, named DERVISH, runs under DOS on International Business Machines-compatible personal computers having an 80286 or faster processor, an enhanced graphics adapter or video gate array display, two serial ports, a mouse, and a bar code wand. It is written in the C++ programming language. Input may be keyboard, mouse, or bar code wand, and reports may be displayed singly or multiply and printed to a local printer or an RIS printer or copied to a disk file. DERVISH not only performs many of the routine tasks of an RIS session such a logging on and off but also provides a menu-driven environment for report display, including optional restriction of the report list to related prior reports. Keyboard use is minimized in favor of a mouse and a bar code wand. DERVISH emulates a standard RIS terminal for functions other than report retrieval. Originally intended to help retrieve the prior radiology reports of a patient at hand, DERVISH has found use in our quality management effort as well, simplifying comparison of reports from related radiologic techniques. An early version suffered poor acceptance because of its nonstandard interface and frequent malfunctions. The current version is presently in use in our emergency radiology department. DERVISH serves not only as a useful utility in itself but also as a demonstration of the ability of the local processing power of a desktop computer to improve the user interface of an aging RIS and to extend its functional life.

Enhanced differential chain coding fortransmission of high quality line graphics

An enhanced differential chain coding (EDCC) scheme is developed for transmission of high-quality line graphics. Experiments showed that, compared to DCC with a resolution of the enhanced graphics adapter (EGA: 640×350 pixels), EDCC with a resolution of 2100×1536 pixels gives a much higher quality with a modest extension in storage and transmission capacity.

Graphics based PC analysis of alpha spectra

New personal computer (PC) software which performs interactive analysis of alpha spectra using enhanced graphics adapter graphics is described. Spectra are collected with a commercial MCA (multichannel pulse height analyzer) board and analyzed using the software described. The operator is required to approve each peak integration area before analysis proceeds. Sample analysis can use detector efficiencies or spike yields or both. Background corrections are made and upper limit values are calculated when specified. Nuclide identification uses a library of up to four nuclides with up to eight alpha lines for each nuclide. Any of 32 subset libraries can be used in an analysis. Analysis time is short and is limited by interaction with the operator, not only by calculation time. Utilities include nuclide library editing, library subset editing, energy calibration and background update. >

Three-dimensional computer graphics using EGA or VGA card

An upper-level undergraduate 3-D computer graphics course using the IBM PC with an enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) or video graphics array (VGA) card was developed. Topics discussed in this course include three-dimensional viewing transformations, geometric transformations, animation, hidden line and surface removal, interpolations, and shading techniques. A broad coverage of computer graphics techniques and the easy accessibility of the IBM PC to a large number of students are the major features of the course.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Quantization of color images for display/printing on limited color output devices

A large number of output devices in use today are either bilevel or can produce only a limited number of display levels (gray-scale or color). Most color graphics terminals conforming to Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), Professional Graphics Adapter (PGA), or Video Graphics Array (VGA) standards can display from 16–256 colors, whereas real-world (externally acquired) images constitute typically 16M colors. In this paper, a new color quantization algorithm has been proposed which maps an original image into an output image with a limited number of colors, while still preserving the image quality. The algorithm itself is based on the concepts of vector quantization where a color vector is defined by red, green, and blue components and, based on a random sampling of the input image, a color mapping table is generated. The random sampling provides an estimate of the color distribution of the input image, which is then further combined by a clustering technique to derive the desired number of output colors. A mapping process results in a limited-color output image which is optionally preprocessed (in cases where the number of output colors is very small) by a pseudo-random dithering algorithm rendering a high-quality output. This postprocessing step is particularly useful in images with very few output colors, e.g., 16. Through examples, it is shown that input images with over 16M colors can be easily displayed in as few as 16 colors, with negligible degradation in quality.

Analytical groundwater modeling: flow and contaminant migration

This new book includes four analytical microcomputer programs -on two diskettes-for quick easy simulation and graphing of uncomplicated two-dimensional groundwater flow and containment migration situations. Program operation, concepts, techniques, and methods are described in detail. The basic programs feature simulations of the following features: containment source areas and plumes, production and injection wells, drains, and mines. A graphics subprogram displays drawdown and concentration graphs and contour maps. Basic requirements are an IBM-PC or compatible computer with 256K RAM; a high resolution (640 x 200) monitor (monochrome mode); an IBM Color Graphics Adapter (CGA), IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), IBM Video Graphics Array (VGA) or IBM Multi-Color Graphics Array (MCGA), Hercules Color card (not Hercules Graphics card-though there are inexpensive CGA emulation programs on the market for the Hercules Graphics card) or equivalent; a dot-matrix printer; and IBM-PC DOS Version 2.1 or compatible.

Teaching introductory and advanced computer graphics using micro-computers

In the past few years there have been significant advances in both the computational and graphics capabilities of micro-computers. In graphics the standard (for the IBM compatible world) has advanced from the Computer Graphics Adapter (CGA) through the Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) to the present Video Graphics Array (VGA). With the multiple color capability of the VGA, images can be constructed which use graphics shading algorithms. This allows us to teach more advanced concepts in introductory courses and even to teach some topics in advanced courses using these machines. In this paper I will discuss how these hardware improvements have allowed for changes in our introductory graphics course and also our experience in teaching an advanced course using these machines.

Microcomputer-assisted drawing of geologic cross sections

Microcomputer graphics should be an essential tool for geologists. The CROSSX program serves as a computer-assisted drafting tool for geologic cross sections on microcomputers running the MS-DOS operating system with an Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA). CROSSX combines two inputs: digital elevation model, available already digitized; and local stratigraphic column. The user can create templates for final hand drafting of sections, and include folds, faults, and uniformly dipping stratigraphy. CROSSX automates tedious parts of cross section preparation by drawing the topographic profile, calculating apparent dip in the line of section, and scaling each unit for the chosen scale. Although the computer cannot replace the geologist's judgment, it can handle details and perform many checks to help the geologist better spend time on interpretation.

NETWORds

OCLC Terminal Software (version 4.0) ran only on machines with monochrome display adapters—computers that can produce no color and no graphics. A computer with an Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) ran the software only with a monochrome monitor and couldn't display the OCLC character set. The Cataloging Micro Enhancer (version 3.0) couldn't work at all with an EGA system, so it couldn't work on the M310 Workstation.

VGA—sign choices for a new video subsystem

The VGA (Video Graphics Array) video subsystem is provided as standard on the system boards of the IBM Personal System/2® Models 50 and above. VGA was designed to meet the objectives set for these new systems and to support compatibility with older IBM offerings, while at the same time providing greater performance and increased function. The IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) was chosen as the compatibility base for VGA, since EGA had become the video standard for IBM-compatible computer systems. Six new modes of operation were designed to meet the needs of new business and consumer applications and to improve the ergonomics of the systems. Higher-performance video presents several design problems, including electromagnetic interference, physical design size, and cost. These design problems were contained by implementing the VGA function in a single-gate array and by using an analog display interface. The use of a video digital-to-analog converter (DAC) allows the VGA subsystem to show any color from a choice of 256K colors when a color display is used, or 64 gray shades when a monochrome display is used. The VGA subsystem was designed to provide a uniform interface for color and monochrome that allows a color mode to be selected when a monochrome display is used, or a monochrome mode to be used on a color display. A color-summing algorithm was designed and implemented in the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) software that will allow colors to be shown as shades of gray on the monochrome display.

Connecting an IBM enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) to a video projector (Sony VPH-722QM/VPH-1020QM)

A single terminal or video monitor is very often not convenient for a computer based presentation in front of a large group. For this one can use video projectors (beamers) or LCD screens in combination with overhead projectors. Since computer video ‘standards’ and projector inputs often do not fit together, it is necessary to find an interface which is not too expensive. This report shows how we adapted Sony beamers (type VPH-722QM and VPH-1020QM) to work with an IBM EGA. We achieved this without internal modifications of the beamer or display adapter.