Low Intensity Images Research Articles

Emotion, Presidential Communication, and Traumatic News

During traumatic national events, attention to the news and scrutiny of leader communication becomes particularly acute. The terrorist actions of September 11, 2001, and ensuing U.S. response focused public attention on the president to an extent unknown before the attacks. This article reports on an experimental study of audience responses to televised news coverage of the World Trade Center attacks. As the coverage of the attacks and compelling images featured on television illustrate, news can be regarded as a type of survival-relevant information with immediate consequences for viewers. Within this framework, the study examines how, in the after-math and ongoing processing of this traumatic event, a political leader's televised behavior evokes emotional and evaluative responses in viewers. For the experiment, adult and student participants were shown a series of news reports featuring negative compelling images of the attacks followed by close-up reactions and statements by President Bush. The news images varied in their intensity, while the presidential reactions varied in their potency. Results indicate that varying degrees of image intensity and communicator potency significantly influenced emotional responses to the crisis and viewer feelings of self-control. When paired with low-intensity images of traumatic news, potent presidential communication had the effect of allaying viewer anxiety; in contrast, potent appearances appeared to lose this influence when shown in conjunction with high-intensity images.

Nonlinear morphological correlation: optoelectronic implementation

An optoelectronic implementation of the nonlinear morphological correlation by use of a threshold-decomposition technique and a joint transform correlator architecture is presented. This nonlinear morphological correlation provides improved image detection compared with standard linear optical pattern-recognition correlation methods. It also offers a more robust detection of low-intensity images in the presence of high-intensity patterns to be rejected.

Image Light Amplifier (ILA) Technology for Large-Screen Projection

The paper describes the configuration and performance of Image Light Amplifier (ILA <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> ) projectors. The ILA projector combines the advantages of a CRT-type projector with the high brightness capability of a xenon arc lamp projection light source. The projector has no defined pixel structure such as that found on liquid crystal display (LCD) and digital mirror device (DMD) projectors. Thus, dynamic video images with continuous edges and a highly realistic image quality are projected. The ILA projector will directly accept all standard video and computer formats from PAL/NTSC at 15.625/15.750 kHz horizontal scan frequencies to work station formats at 90 kHz. The enabling technology of the projector is the Hughes-JVC ILA modulator, which accepts a low-intensity image from a cathode ray tube (CRT) and replicates the image on a high-intensity white xenon arc light beam. The ILA uses solid-state thin film and liquid crystal technology to create a compact, rugged, image light modulator. The ILA projector incorporates three ILA modulators for the RGB channels. Projectors with up to 12,000 lumens output, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and a resolution of 2800 × 1500 TV lines are available. Two series of models, with one or three projection lenses, are available. Besides single-projector applications, such as electronic cinema, ILA projectors also are used in installations requiring high levels of raster shaping and the one-and two-dimensional seamless blending of multiple projector images.

Orbitocranial wooden foreign body diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Dry wood can be isodense with air and orbital fat by computed tomography

In computed tomographic (CT) scans, a wooden foreign body can appear as a lucency with nearly the same density as air or fat, and it can be indistinguishable from orbital adipose tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can localize these wooden foreign bodies in the orbit. We studied a case in which a wooden golf tee lodged in the right optic canal of a nine-year-old boy. The head portion lodged in the orbital apex and the tip entered the interpeduncular fossa. Clinical examination revealed a right paranasal laceration; the right eye had no light perception and a peripapillary hemorrhage, but was otherwise normal. Surgical exploration and evaluation by CT failed to locate the foreign body. However, the golf tee was demonstrated by MRI as a low intensity image. Although it was removed by craniotomy with good neurological results, bacterial panophthalmitis led to enucleation of the eye. This case emphasizes the diagnostic value of MRI and the hazards of retained wooden foreign bodies.

New image-processing system for analysis, display and measurement of static and dynamic foot pressures

A new image-processing system, using a video digitiser with an IBM-compatible PC/AT, is developed for acquisition and processing of low-contrast, low-intensity barographic images of both feet for assessment of pressure distribution during standing and walking. Data displays, in the form of centres of pressures, isopressures contours, perspective views of pressures, grey scale image and walking pressure patterns, combined image of walking pressures, paths of centres of pressures and pressure variations with time, are developed. These have provided very useful and early information regarding the internal structural changes in the bones of the foot and sites at risk of ulcer development in leprosy subjects and enable suitable corrective orthopaedic procedures to be adopted.

Recovery of very low intensity CCD images from noise

A scheme for detecting low-intensity images with a CCD (charge coupled device) camera is described in which successive images are digitized at fast frame rates and averaged to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The results demonstrate that a dynamic range in excess of 10000:1 can be obtained using an uncooled device and averaging times of 100 s, a sensitivity comparable to that obtained with cooled devices. The technique is illustrated by imaging the weak fluorescence produced by an ethidium bromide stained DNA electrophoresis gel. >

Real-Time X-Ray Diffraction For Materials Process Control

As useful as classical x-ray diffraction techniques have been, the ability to obtain x-ray diffraction images with extremely short exposure rimes opens up new opportunities for materials scientists, including real-time materials process control. This article briefly describes state-of-the-art systems for obtaining extremely rapid and real-time x-ray diffraction images and gives several examples of their applications for materials process control.Two generic electro-optical methods permit real-time viewing and recording of x-ray diffraction images. The first uses a low-intensity conventional x-ray tube source leading to a low-intensity diffraction image, which requires a high-gain electro-optical imaging system. The second uses either a high-intensity rotating anode, synchrotron, or flash x-ray source. Such a high-intensity source produces a high-intensity diffraction image, permitting use of a low-gain high-resolution electro-optical imaging system.Figure 1 schematically shows two types of image intensifier tubes which have been most often used to view x-ray diffraction images. By cascading three individual first generation image tube stages (Figure 1a), light gains as high as several million can be obtained. The second generation microchannel-plate image intensifier tube (Figure 1b) is similar to a single-stage first generation device except for the extremely important addition of a microchannel plate.

Transorbital Intracranial Penetration by Chopstick

A 38-year-old female was struck in the eye with a wooden chopstick during a quarrel with her husband. The chopstick penetrated and lodged in her brain. Neurological examination revealed left hemiparesis and hemihypesthesia and right cranial nerve palsy of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th nerves and the 1st branch of the 5th nerve. Computed tomography revealed a narrow, straight, low-density extending from the right orbit via the right parasellar region to the pons. A right carotid angiogram revealed a traumatic low flow/low pressure carotid-cavernous fistula. Magnetic resonance imaging yielded a low signal intensity image passing through the orbit and extending to the pons. A craniotomy was performed by the pterional approach. So that the pons and neighboring structures would not be damaged, the chopstick was first gently divided into two portions at the prepontine cistern by a high-speed airdrill and then resected piece by piece. The intraorbital portion of the chopstick was lodged firmly in the bony structure of the superior orbital fissure and could not be removed. The authors discuss the characteristics of transorbital intracranial foreign bodies, with particular emphasis on diagnostic procedures and the indications for and timing of their surgical removal.