• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2013

Purpose: High-energy radiotherapy with 10 MV or higher develops photoneutron through photonuclear reaction. Photoneutron has higher radiation weighting factor than X-ray, thus low dose can greatly affect the human body. An accurate dosimetric calculation and consultation are needed. This study compared and analyzed the dose change of photoneutron in terms of space according to the size of photon beam energy and treatment methods. Materials and Methods: To measure the dose change of photoneutron by the size of photon beam energy, patients with the same therapy area were recruited and conventional plans with 10 MV and 15 MV were each made. To measure the difference between the two treatment methods, 10 MV conventional plan and 10 MV IMRT plan was made. A detector was placed at the point which was 100 cm away from the photon beam isocenter, which was placed in the center of $^3He$ proportional counter, and the photoneutron dose was measured. $^3He$ proportional counter was placed 50 cm longitudinally superior to and inferior to the couch with the central point as the standard to measure the dose change by position changes. A commercial program was used for dose change analysis. Results: The average integral dose by energy size was $220.27{\mu}Sv$ and $526.61{\mu}Sv$ in 10 MV and 15 MV conventional RT, respectively. The average dose increased 2.39 times in 15 MV conventional RT. The average photoneutron integral dose in conventional RT and IMRT with the same energy was $220.27{\mu}Sv$ and $308.27{\mu}Sv$ each; the dose in IMRT increased 1.40 times. The average photoneutron integral dose by measurement location resulted significantly higher in point 2 than 3 in conventional RT, 7.1% higher in 10 MV, and 3.0% higher in 15 MV. Conclusion: When high energy radiotherapy, it should consider energy selection, treatment method and patient position to reduce unnecessary dose by photoneutron. Also, the dose data of photoneutron needs to be systematized to find methods to apply computerization programs. This is considered to decrease secondary cancer probabilities and side effects due to radiation therapy and to minimize unnecessary dose for the patients.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1159-1166
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• 2009

The use of cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT) has been proposed for guiding the delivery of radiation therapy. A kilovoltage imaging system capable of radiography, fluoroscopy, and cone-beam computed tomography(CT) has been integrated with a medical linear accelerator. A standard clinical linear accelerator, operating in arc therapy mode, and an amorphous-silicon (a-Si) with an on-board electronic portal imager can be used to treat palliative patient and verify the patient's position prior to treatment. On-board CBCT images are used to generate patient geometric models to assist patient setup. The image data can also, potentially, be used for dose reconstruction in combination with the fluence maps from treatment plan. In this study, the accuracy of Hounsfield Units of CBCT images as well as the accuracy of dose calculations based on CBCT images of a phantom and compared the results with those of using CT simulator images. Phantom and patient studies were carried out to evaluate the achievable accuracy in using CBCT and CT stimulator for dose calculation. Relative electron density as a function of HU was obtained for both planning CT stimulator and CBCT using a Catphan-600 (The Phantom Laboratory, USA) calibration phantom. A clinical treatment planning system was employed for CT stimulator and CBCT based dose calculations and subsequent comparisons. The dosimetric consequence as the result of HU variation in CBCT was evaluated by comparing MU/cCy. The differences were about 2.7% (3-4MU/100cGy) in phantom and 2.5% (1-3MU/100cGy) in patients. The difference in HU values in Catphan was small. However, the magnitude of scatter and artifacts in CBCT images are affected by limitation of detector's FOV and patient's involuntary motions. CBCT images included scatters and artifacts due to In addition to guide the patient setup process, CBCT data acquired prior to the treatment be used to recalculate or verify the treatment plan based on the patient anatomy of the treatment area. And the CBCT has potential to become a very useful tool for on-line ART.)

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2005

Purpose : It is known that the neutron is generally generated from the photon, its energy is larger than 10 MV. The neutron is leaked in the container inspection system installed at the customs though its energy is below 9 MV. It is needed that the spacial effect of the neutrons released from radiation treatment machine, linac, installed in the medical canter. Materials and Methods : The medical linear accelerator(Clinac 1800, varian, USA) was used in the experiment. Measuring neutron was used bubble detector(Bubble detector, BDPND type, BTI, Canada) which was created bubble by neutron. The bubble detector is located on the medical linear accelerator outskirt in three different distance, 30, 50, 120 cm and upper, lower four point from the iso-center. In addition, for effect on protect material we have measured eight points which are 50 cm distance from iso-center. The SAD(source-axis-distance), distance from photon source to iso-center, is adjusted to 100 cm and the field size is adjusted to $15{\times}15cm^2$. Irradiate 20 MU and calculate the dose rate in mrem/MU by measuring the number of bubble. Results : The neutron is more detected at 5 position in 30, 50 cm, 7 position in 120 cm and with wedge, and 2 position without mount. Conclusion : Though detection position is laid in the same distance in neutron measurement, the different value is shown in measuring results. Also, neutron dose is affected by the additional structure, the different value is obtained in each measurement positions. So, it is needed to measure and evaluate the neutron dose in the whole space considering the effect of the distance, angular distribution and additional structure.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2015

In this study, we aim to design the architecture of the kV imaging system for tumor tracking in the dual-head gantry system and analyze its accuracy by simulations. We established mathematical formulas and algorithms to track the tumor position with the two-pair kV imaging systems when they are in the non-orthogonal positions. The algorithms have been designed in the homogeneous coordinate framework and the position of the source and the detector coordinates are used to estimate the tumor position. 4D XCAT (4D extended cardiac-torso) software was used in the simulation to identify the influence of the angle between the two-pair kV imaging systems and the resolution of the detectors to the accuracy in the position estimation. A metal marker fiducial has been inserted in a numerical human phantom of XCAT and the kV projections were acquired at various angles and resolutions using CT projection software of the XCAT. As a result, a positional accuracy of less than about 1mm was achieved when the resolution of the detector is higher than 1.5 mm/pixel and the angle between the kV imaging systems is approximately between $90^{\circ}$ and $50^{\circ}$. When the resolution is lower than 1.5 mm/pixel, the positional errors were higher than 1mm and the error fluctuation by the angles was greater. The resolution of the detector was critical in the positional accuracy for the tumor tracking and determines the range for the acceptable angle range between the kV imaging systems. Also, we found that the positional accuracy analysis method using XCAT developed in this study is highly useful and will be a invaluable tool for further refined design of the kV imaging systems for tumor tracking systems.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.5 s.116
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• pp.527-544
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• 2006

This study provides a definition of heat waves, which indicate the conditions of strong sultriness in summer, appropriate to Korea and intends to clarify long term(1973-2006) averaged spatial and temporal patterns of annual frequency of heat waves with respect to their intensity. Based on examination of the Korean mortality rate changes due to increase of apparent temperature under hot and humid summer conditions, three consecutive days with at least $32.5^{\circ}C,\;35.5^{\circ}C,\;38.5^{\circ}C,\;and\;41.5^{\circ}C$ of daily maximum Heat Index are defined as the Hot Spell(HS), the Heat Wave(HW), the Strong Heat Wave(SHW), and the Extreme Heat Wave(EHW), respectively. The annual frequency of all categories of heat waves is relatively low in high-elevated regions or on islands adjacent to seas. In contrast, the maximum annual frequency of heat waves during the study period as well as annual average frequency are highest in interior, low-elevated regions along major rivers in South Korea, particularly during the Changma Break period(between late July and mid-August). There is no obvious increasing or decreasing trend in the annual total frequency of all categories of heat waves for the study period However, the maximum annual frequencies of HS days at each weather station were recorded mainly in the 1970s, while most of maximum frequency records of both the HW and the SHW at individual weather stations were observed in the 1990s. It is also revealed that when heat waves occur in South Korea high humidity as well as high temperature contributes to increasing the heat wave intensity by $4.3-9.5^{\circ}C$. These results provide a useful basis to help develop a heat wave warning system appropriate to Korea.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2015

In radiation therapy fields, a brachytherapy is a treatment that kills lesion of cells by inserting a radioisotope that keeps emitting radiation into the body. We currently verify the consistency of radiation treatment plan and dose distribution through film/screen system (F/S system), provide therapy after checking dose. When we check dose distribution, F/S systems have radiation signal distortion because there is low resolution by penumbra depending on the condition of film developed. In this study, We fabricated a $HgI_2$ Semiconductor radiation sensor for base study in order that we verify the real dose distribution weather it's same as plans or not in brachytherapy. Also, we attempt to evaluate the feasibility of QA system by utilizing and evaluating the sensor to brachytherapy source. As shown in the result of detected signal with various source-to-detector distance (SDD), we quantitatively verified the real range of treatment which is also equivalent to treatment plans because only the low signal estimated as scatters was measured beyond the range of treatment. And the result of experiment that we access reproducibility on the same condition of ${\gamma}$-ray, we have made sure that the CV (coefficient of variation) is within 1.5 percent so we consider that the $HgI_2$ sensor is available at QA of brachytherapy based on the result.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

Liquid ionization chamber is filled with liquid equivalent material unlike air filled ionization chamber. The high density material allow very small-volume chamber to be constructed that still have a sufficiently high sensitivity. However liquid ionization chamber should be considered for both initial recombination and general recombination. We, therefore, studied using the Co-60 beam as the continuous beam and the microLion chamber (PTW) for comparing the ion collection efficiency by Greening theory, two-dose rate method and our experiment method. The measurements were carried out using Theratron 780 as the cobalt machine and water phantom and 0.6 cc Farmer type ionization chamber was used with microLion chamber in same condition for measuring the charge of microLion chamber according to the dose rates. Dose rate was in 0.125~0.746 Gy/min and voltages applied to the microLion chamber were +400, +600 and +800 V. As the result, the collection efficiency by three method was generally less than 1%. In particular, our experimental collection efficiency was in good agreement within 0.3% with Greening theory except the lowest two dose rates. The collection efficiency by two-dose rate method also agreed with Greening theory generally less than 1%, but the difference was about 4% when the difference of two dose rates were lower. The ion recombination correction factors by Greening theory, two-dose rate method and our experiment were 1.0233, 1.0239 and 1.0316, respectively, in SSD 80 cm, depth 5 cm recommended by TRS-398 protocol. Therefore we confirmed that the loss by ion recombination was about 3% in this condition. We think that our experiment method for ion recombination correction will be useful tool for radiation dosimetry in continuous beam.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.403-408
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• 2013

This study made a tentative estimation of the shielding rate of barium compound by thickness through monte carlo simulation to apply medical radiation shielding products that can replace existing lead. Barium sulfate($BaSO_4$) was used for the shielding material, and thickness of the shielding material specimen was simulated from 0.1 mm to 5 mm by applying $15{\times}15cm^2$ of specimen area, $4.5g/cm^3$ of density of barium sulfate, and $11.34g/cm^3$ density of lead. Entered source was simulated with 10kVp Step in consecutive X-ray energy spectrum(40 kVp ~ 120 kVp). Absorption probability in 40 kVp ~ 60 kVp showed same shielding rate with lead in 3 mm ~ 5 mm of thickness, but it was identified that under 2 mm, the shielding rate was a bit lower than the existing lead shielding material. Also, the shielding rate in 70 kVp ~ 120 kVp energy band showed similar performance as the existing lead shielding material, but it was tentatively estimated as fairly low shielding rate below 0.5 mm. This study estimated the shielding rate of barium compound as the thickness function of x-ray energy band for medical radiation through monte carlo simulation, and made comparative analysis with existing lead. Also, this study intended to verify application validity of the x-ray shielding material for medical radiation of pure barium sulfate. As a result, it was estimated that the shielding effect was 95% higher than the existing lead 1.5 mm in at least 2 mm thickness of barium compound in medical radiation energy band 70 kVp ~ 120 kVp, and this result is considered valid to be provided as a base data in weight lightening production of radiation shielding product for medical radiation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.338-343
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a small animal PET using dual layer phoswich detector to minimize parallax error that degrades spatial resolution at the outer part of field-of-view (FOV). Materials and Methods: A simulation tool GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) was used to derive optimal parameters of small PET, and PET was developed employing the parameters. Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) and Lutetium-Yttrium Aluminate-Perovskite(LuYAP) was used to construct dual layer phoswitch crystal. $8{\times}8$ arrays of LSO and LuYAP pixels, $2mm{\times}2mm{\times}8mm$ in size, were coupled to a 64-channel position sensitive photomultiplier tube. The system consisted of 16 detector modules arranged to one ring configuration (ring inner diameter 10 cm, FOV of 8 cm). The data from phoswich detector modules were fed into an ADC board in the data acquisition and preprocessing PC via sockets, decoder block, FPGA board, and bus board. These were linked to the master PC that stored the events data on hard disk. Results: In a preliminary test of the system, reconstructed images were obtained by using a pair of detectors and sensitivity and spatial resolution were measured. Spatial resolution was 2.3 mm FWHM and sensitivity was 10.9 $cps/{\mu}Ci$ at the center of FOV. Conclusion: The radioactivity distribution patterns were accurately represented in sinograms and images obtained by PET with a pair of detectors. These preliminary results indicate that it is promising to develop a high performance small animal PET.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2016

After the Sewol Ferry accident, the importance of maritime safety has been emphasized in Korea. In particular, educational and experience training are not only being conducted for maritime personnel but also in schools and at maritime-related organizations in order to broadly instill maritime safety awareness. Based on SOLAS regulations, safety education for sailors conducted every 10 days passenger boats, and fire-fighting drills and abandon-ship training should be conducted once a month on merchant ships. After the Sewol Ferry accident, the maximum number of trainees was reduced from 40 to 20 in order to improve the effectiveness of these training sessions by requiring all trainees to participate in the actual training. The current training process consists of two steps: textbook-based theoretical training and actual practice. Current training environment provides limited capability from human and facility recourses which limit the numbers of trainee participated and system operation time. By introducing the simulation training, it will improve the trainee skill and performance prior to the on-site training and allow the more effective and rapid progress on actual practice. Therefore, it will be proposed the three-step training method in order to improve the effectiveness on fire-fighting drill in Maritime Safety Education on this study. This study suggests a three step training method that would increase the efficiency of maritime safety education. An image-training step to enhance individual task awareness and equipment usage via simulation techniques after theoretical training has been added. To implement this simulation, a virtual training session will be conducted before actual training, based on knowledge obtained from theoretical training, which is expected to increase the speed with which trainees can adapt during the practical training session. In addition, due to the characteristics of the simulation, repeated training is possible for reaction drills in emergency circumstances and other various scenarios that are difficult to replicate in actual training. The efficiency of training is expected to improve because trainees will have practiced before practical training takes place, which will decrease the time needed for practical training and increase the number of training sessions that can be executed, increasing the efficiency of training overall. This study considers development methods for fire-fighting drill simulations using virtual reality techniques.