• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2001

For the head and neck radiotherapy, the technique of half beam using independent collimator is very useful to avoid overlapping of fields particularly when the lateral neck fields are placed adjacent to anterior supraclavicular field. Also abutting photon field with electron field is frequently used for the irradiation of posterior neck when tolerable dose on spinal cord has been reached. Using 6 MV X-ray and 9 MeV electron beams of Clinac1800(Varian, USA) linear accelerator, we performed film dosimetry by the X-OMAT V film of Kodak in solid water phantom and the dose distribution at beam center of 2 half beams further examined according to depths(0 cm, 1.5 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm) for single anterior half beam and anterior/posterior half beam. The dose distribution to the junction line between photon and electron fields was also measured. For the single anterior half beam, the absorption doses at 0.3 cm, 0.5 cm and 1 cm distances from beam center were 88%, 93% and 95% of open beam, respectively. In the anterior/posterior half beams, the absorption doses at 0.3 cm, 0.5 cm and 1 cm distances from beam center were 92%, 93% and 95% of open beam, respectively At the junction line between photon and electron fields, hot spot was developed on the side of the photon field and a cold spot was developed on that of the electron field. The hot spot in the photon side was developed at depth 1.5 cm with 7 mm width. The maximum dose of hot spot was increased to 6% of reference doses in the photon field. The cold spot in the electron side was developed at all measured depths(0.5 cm-3 cm) with 1-12.5 mm widths. The decreased dose in the cold spot was 4.5-30% of reference dose in the electron field. With above results, we concluded that when using electron beam or independent jaw for head and neck radiotherapy, the hot and cold dose area should be considered as critical point.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.371-376
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• 1996

Au films with a thickness around 1600 $\AA$ were deposited onto glass at room temperature by ion beam sputtering with a 5 cm cold-hollow ion gun at pressure $1\times 10^{-6}-1\times 10^{-5}$ Torr. Irradiation of the Au deposited samples was carried out at pressure of $7\times 10^{-6}$ Torr. For the sputter depositions, $Ar^+$ ion energy was 1 keV, and the current density at the substrate surface was 15 $\mu$A/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Effects of 1 keV $Ar^+$ ion dose($I_d$) between $1\times 10^{16}\; and\;2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$on properties such as crystallinity, surface roughness and adhesion, etc. of the films have been investigated. The Au films sputtered by $Ar^+$ ion beam had only (111) plane and the X-ray intensity of the films decreased with increase of $I_d$. The thickness of Au films reduced with Id. $R_{ms}$ surface roughness of the films increased from 16 $\AA$ at as-deposited to 1118 $\AA$ at ion dose= $2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$. Adhesion of Au film on sputtered at $I_d$= $2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$ was 9 times greater than that of Au film with untreated, as determined by a scratch test.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

A parallel plate detector containing PTFE films in FEP film for relative dosimetry was designed to measure the response of detectors to S and 10 MV X-rays from a medical linear accelerator through different thicknesses of lead. The dielectric materials were 100 m thick. The set-up conditions for measurements with this detector were as follows: SSD=100 cm the test detector was at a depth of 5 cm and the reference chamber was at a depth of 10 cm from the phantom surface for 6 and 10 MV X-rays. Lead blocks were designed to cover the irradiated field. They were added to the tray to increase thickness sequentially. We found that the detector response decreased exponentially with the thickness of lead added. The linear attenuation coefficients of the test detector and reference chamber were 0.1414 and 0.541, respectively, for 6 MV X-rays and 0.1358 and 0.5279 for 10 MV X-rays. The test detector response was greater than that of the reference chamber. The response function was calculated from the measured values of the test detector and reference chamber using optimization. These optimized constants for the detector response function were independent of theenergy. As a result of optimizing the response function between detectors, the use of a relative dosimeter was validated, because the response of the test detector was 1% for 6 MV X-rays and 4% for 10 MV X-rays.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

The aim of this work is to verify the self-quality assurances in medical institutions in Korea through the external audits by the group of experts and have a mutual discussion of the systematic problems. In order to validate the external audits 30 of 80 medical institutions across the nation were picked out considering the regional distribution and the final 25 institutions applied voluntarily to take part in this work. The basic rules were setup that any information of the participants be kept secrete and the measurements be performed with the dosimetry system already verified through intercomparision. The outputs for 2 or more photon beams, the accuracy of gantry rotation and collimator rotation and the poistional accuracy of MLC movement were measured. The findings for the output measurement showed the differences of -0.8%~4.5%, -0.79%~3.01%, and -0.7%~0.07% with respect to that of the verified dosimetry system for the 6MV, 10MV, and 15MV, respectively. For the reference absorbed dose 8 (16%) of 50 photon beams in 25 medical institutions differed 2.0% or greater from the reference value. The coincidences of Field size with x-ray beam and radiation isocenters of Gantry roration and collimator rotation gave the results of within ${\pm}2$ mm for every institute except 2 institutions. The positional accuracy of MLC movement agreed to within ${\pm}1$ mm for every institute. For the beam qualities of 6 MV photon beams kQ values showed the distribution within 0.4% between maximum and minimum. For the protocols 21 institutions (84%) used absorbed dose to water based protocol while 4 insitutions (16%) used air kerma based one. 22 institutions employed the SSD technique while 3 institutions did the SAD one. External audit plays an important role in discovering the systematic problems of self-performing Quality Assurances and having in depth discussion for mutual complementation. Training experts of international level as well as national support system are required so that both the group of experts of medical physicists and government laboratory could perform together periodical and constant external audits.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2001

Prupose : We analyzed setup errors induced by using air-vacuum cushion as immobilization device in patients with rectal cancer. Materials and methods : We had treated the twenty patients with rectal cancer by 6 MV, 10 MV X-ray from Aug. 1998 to Aug. 1999 at Chungnam National University Hospital. All patients were treated at prone position. They were separated to two groups, control group, 10 patients using styrofoam, and test group, 10 patients using styrofoam and air-vacuum cushion. We measured errors of posterior field for x, y axis and lateral field for z, y axis with simulation film and EPID image using a matching technique. Results : In control group, the mean displacement values of pelvic bone landmark for x axis and y axis were 0.02 mm. 0.78 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 2.13 mm, 2.40 mm, respectively and the standard deviation of random error were 1.46 mm. 1.51 mm, respectively. In test group, the mean displacement values of x axis and y axis were -0.33 mm. 0.81 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 1.71 mm, 3.08 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of random errors were 1.40 mm. 1.88 mm, respectively. The mean displacement values of z axis and y axis were 2.98 mm. 0.74 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 4.75 mm, 2.65 mm, respectively and standard deviations of random error were 2.69 mm. 1.86 mm, respectively. The statistical difference of field size by using air vacuum cushion between two groups in posterior direction and lateral direction was not shown. Conclusion : We think that use of air-vacuum cushion may not be an advantage for improving setup accuracy in rectal cancer patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2016

Aflatoxin M₁ can be produced in cow’s milk when cows eat contaminated produce. Milk is a major source of food for infants and for children who have a weak level of immunity, and the detection of Aflatoxin M₁ for risk assessment is necessary in order to reduce the amount of it in milk. In this study, the Aflatoxin M₁ level was monitored for one year in raw milk samples obtained from Chungnam Province, Korea. The milk samples were divided into three categories: 1. milk samples from a standard general farm, 2. milk samples from a HACCP controlled farm, and 3. milk samples from the supply of Aflatoxin M₁ reduced fodder. The average concentrations of Aflatoxin M₁ in milk were 0.023±0.005 ug/l for the standard general farm, 0.017±0.004 ug/l for the HACCP controlled farm, and 0.013±0.003 ug/l for the supply of Aflatoxin M₁ reduction fodder. Milk collected from the supply of Aflatoxin M₁ reduction fodder had the lowest level of Aflatoxin M₁. However, when efficiency and economic aspects are considered the most effective way of reducting Aflatoxin M₁, could be taking milk from the HACCP controlled farm and implementing good feed management. Institutional support from the government, careful management of dairy farming, and a strict farm sanitation program are required in order to lower the level of Aflatoxin M₁ in milk.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the recent age distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in patients with respiratory infections and the differences in diagnostic usefulness according to the methods used in these patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged ≤18 years with respiratory infectious diseases who underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or a specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) test between July 2016 and February 2019. The diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed by a positive result in the PCR or IgM test. Results: Of the 2,721 patients tested for M. pneumoniae, 2,197 underwent IgM, and 1,144 underwent PCR, with positivity rates of 17% and 20%, respectively. Among the 620 patients tested for both IgM and PCR tests simultaneously, 35% had M. pneumoniae infection, with 14% under 1 year old and 13% under 1-2 years old. The positive rate increased with age in both tests. Higher positive rates were observed in the IgM test before 3 years of age and in the PCR test after 3 years of age. The agreement rate between the two tests was 77.9% (Cohen's kappa 0.402). Conclusions: As age increased, the rates of M. pneumoniae infection also increased. In patients under 2 years of age, 4¬-14% of infections were confirmed depending on the method used. The moderate agreement between the PCR and IgM tests suggests that the simultaneous use of PCR and the IgM test for the early diagnosis should be approached with caution.

• Sim-seong Yeon-gu
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.105-159
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• 2021

The Red Book is a personal record that contains Jung's psychological self-experiment and describes his own experiences of the individuation process. Throughout The Red Book, Jung describes how he got caught by the spirit of the depths and dethroned the spirit of this time, how he regained his lost soul by getting to the bottom of inner processes, how he differentiated the soul upon encountering the various aspects of his soul, and finally how he confronted God approaching Jung in the form of the divine opposites. The spirit of the depths as a personification of the collective unconscious caught up with Jung and launched him into the individuation process. The spirit of the depths was "the God yet to come". Jung realized that he had been driven by the collective spirit of his time and then set off on a journey into a new territory of life under the guidance of the spirit of the depths. Jung first encountered his lost soul, afterwards experiencing various aspects of the soul-spirit duo such as Salome-Elijah, Helena-Simon, and Baucis-Philemon. In the process of individuation, the initial experience of the soul can appear to the ego as a Satanic force which darkens the consciousness. The Red Book describes how Jung consciously integrated the Satanic force and came to realize the meaning of it. Jung's experience of emotionally gripping aspects of the soul led him to the awareness of the dark side of God, Satan, while the insights he gained from that Satanic emotionality led him to the awareness of the bright side of God, Christ. Through this process, he finally encountered the opposites in God. Jung also referred to the Self as an image of God which manifests itself in the psyche. Jung later discovered God as a phenomenal psychic reality which incarnates itself from the unconscious into the conscious. He did it in terms of strict empirical science. Although the incarnation process of the deity is the main cause of psychological conflict and distress of a human being, if accepted consciously, we come to realize that the incarnation process of the deity in the psyche is the ultimate teleology and meaning of our life as well.