• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2012

Purpose : To compare the enhancement pattern of normal facial nerves on 3D-FLAIR and 3D-T1-FFE-F) sequences at 3.0 T MR units. Materials and Methods: We assessed 20 consecutive subjects without a history of facial nerve abnormalities who underwent temporal bone MRI with contrast enhancement between January 2008 and March 2009. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed pre-/post-enhanced 3D-T1-FFE-FS and 3D-FLAIR images respectively with 2-week interval to assess the enhancement of normal facial nerves divided into five anatomical segments. The degree of enhancement in each segment was graded as none, mild or strong, and the results of 3D-FLAIR and 3D-T1-FFE-FS image sets were compared. Results: On 3D-FLAIR images, one of the two reviewers observed mild enhancement of the genu segment in two (10%) subjects. On 3D-T1-FFE-FS images, at least one segment of the facial nerve was enhanced in 13 (65%) subjects. At least one reviewer found that 17 of the 100 segments showed enhancement on 3D-T1-FFE-FS images, with the mastoid segment being the most commonly enhanced. Interobserver agreement on 3D-T1-FFE-FS images was good for enhancement of the normal facial nerve (${\kappa}$= 0.589). Conclusion: In contrast to 3D-T1-FFE-FS, normal facial nerve segments rarely showed enhancement on 3D-FLAIR images.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.331-340
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• 2000

The existing two-phase biological fluidized bed has some problems such as limit of oxygen transfer and blockade of fluidized distributor. In this study, three-phase swirl flow biological fluidized bed has designed to solve the problems and to investigate its running characteristics. TOC of influent synthetic wastewater was approximately $70mg/{\ell}$. HRT of reactor was 1.6 hours. Mean particle size of sand, as packing media, was 0.397mm and packing volume was varied from $200m{\ell}/{\ell}$ to $600m{\ell}/{\ell}$ by stages in the bed. The amount of biomass and effluent water quality was throughly investigated in the bed. Showing experiment results from the above conditions, it was possible to solve the problems of existing fluidized bed and to keep DO of $3mg/{\ell}$ or more. And it was also TOC removal rate of 91 to 94 %, MLVSS of 2,360 to $3,860mg/{\ell}$, MLVSS per g-media of 8.4 to 17.3 mg/g, F/M ratio of 0.59 to $1.04kg-TOC/kg-MLVSS{\cdot}day$, biofilm thickness of $35{\sim}71{\mu}m$ and sludge productivity of 1.03 to $2.35kg-SS/m^3{\cdot}day$. Optimal conditions in this experimental were as follows.; those were biofilm thickness of approximately $54{\mu}m$. MLVSS per g-media of 13 mg and media packing volume of 350 to $400m{\ell}/{\ell}$ when F/M ratio was low, treatment efficiency was high and sludge productivity was low. Showing the media with optics microscope in this optimal condition, attached microbes such as Epistylis sp. were observed. From SEM photographs, it showed that Coccus adhere to and grow on the media surface.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.6 s.101
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• pp.437-451
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to measure maximum bite force and to investigate its relationship with anteroposterior, vertical, and transverse facial skeletal measurements. From among the dental students at the College of Dentistry, forty subjects (26 male and 14 female) were selected. With two sets of strain gauge, maximum bite force at the right and left first molars and anterior teeth was measured in the morning and afternoon. After taking lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms, fifty and nineteen variables were evaluated, respectively Paired t-tests and an independent t-test were done and correlation coefficients were obtained. 1. The maximum bite force at the first molars was $68.0\pm13.9kg$. in males and $55.6\pm10.5kg$ in females (p<0.05) while the force at the anterior teeth was $8.4\pm4.9kg\;and\;1.1\pm3.4kg$ respectively (p<0.05). 2. Some tendency for a greater value of maximum bite force at the preferred side was observed but not statistically significant (p>0.05). 3. Significant difference was observed between the strong bite force group and the weak bite force group in some cephalometric and other measurements (p<0.05). N-S-Ar, S-Ar-Go, FH-Hl, IMPA and MMO showed a significant difference in posterior maximum bite force (P). N-S-Ar and FH-H1 also showed a significant difference in anterior maximum bite force (A). 4. Several cephalometric variables showed some correlation with maximum bite force (p<0.05). N-S-Ar, S-Ar-Go, UGA, FH-H6, FH-H1, body weight and MMO were significantly correlated with posterior maximum bite force (P). Go-Me, P-1 and IMPA were significantly correlated with anterior maximum bite force (A).

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

Purpose : A parallel imaging method provides us to improve temporal resolution to obtain three-dimensional (3D) MR images. The objective of this study was to optimize three 3D MRI techniques by adjusting 2D SESNE factors of the parallel imaging method in phantom and human brain. Materials and Methods : With a 3 Tesla MRI system and an 8-channel phase-array sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) coil, three 3D MRI techniques of 3D T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI), 3D T2-weighted imaging (3D T2WI) and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR) imaging were optimized with adjusting SESNE factors in a water phantom and three human brains. The 2D SENSE factor was applied on the phase-encoding and the slice-encoding directions. Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), percent signal reduction rate(%R), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were calculated by using signal intensities obtained in specific regions-of-interest (ROI). Results : In the phantom study, SENSE factor = 3 was provided in 0.2% reduction of signals against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T1WI. SENSE factor = 2 was provided in 0.98% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T2WI. SENSE factor = 4 was provided in 0.2% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging around 6 minutes for 3D FLAIR. In the human brain study, SNR and CNR were higher with SENSE factors = 3 than 4 for all three imaging techniques. Conclusion : This study was performed to optimize 2D SENSE factors in the three 3D MRI techniques that can be scanned in clinical time limitations with minimizing SNR reductions. Without compromising SNR and CNR, the optimum 2D SENSE factors were 3 and 4, yielding the scan time of about 5 to 6 minutes. Further studies are necessary to optimize 3D MRI techniques in other areas in human body.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.5 s.70
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• pp.877-891
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• 1998

This study was designed to observe the effects of various concentration of polyacrylic acid containing different concentration of sulfate ion on the crystal formation on the enamel surface. Experimental crystal growth solutions were made of $10\%,\;20\%,\;30\%\;and\;40\%$ polyacrylic acid(molecular weight,5,000) solutions which containing 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.5M, and 1.0M sulfate ion respectively. The extracted human first bicuspid enamel surface was contacted for n seconds with these solutions, washed for 15 seconds, dried, and then the crystal topography on the enamel surface was observed under the scanning electron microscope. The crystal topography were evaluated on the SEM photographs by degree of crystal coverage, crystal length, and consistency of crystal morphology, and conclusions were as the follows. 1. Polyacrylic acid solution etched slightly the enamel surface, and the difference of etching effect by its concentration was not observed. 2. The effect of concentration of polyacrylic acid on the crystal formation was less, especially that of $20\%\~40\%$ polyacrylic acid was almost not different. 3. Concentration of the sulfate ion was a determinant factor in precipitating crystals on the enamel. The experimental crystal growth solutions containing 0.1 M sulfate ion did not make crystal formation but those containing over 0.2 M sulfate ion did. 4. The degree of crystal coverage showed a tendency to increase and then decrease according to the concentration of sulfate ion in the $20\%-40\%$ polyacrylic acid. The experimental solutions containing 0.5 M sulfate ion showed the peak of degree of crystal coverage. 5. The crystal length showed a tendency to decrease by increment of sulfate ion in the polyacrylic acid solution. 6. There was a tendency to increase the frequency of random arragement of short crystals when increasing the concentration of sulfate ion in the polyacrylic acid solution. The lower concentration of sulfate ion in the polyacrylic acid solutions tended to make spherulitic arrangement of crystals, the higher concentration of sulfate ion, the more random arrangement of crystals. The experimental solutions containing 0.5M sulfate ion showed more spherulitic arrangement than random arrangement of crystals. 7. The best one of these experimental crystal growth solutions was $30\%$ polyacrylic acid solution containing 0.5M sulfate ion.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.202-213
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the cephalometric measurements of obese and non-obese Korean male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). Methods: Eighty-seven adults who had visited the Sleep Disorder Clinic Center in Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea were examined and evaluated with polysomnography (PSG) and lateral cephalogram. They were divided into 4 groups (non-obese simple snorers, obese simple snorers, non-obese OSA patients, obese OSA patients) according to AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) and BMI (Body Mass Index). Results: The obese OSA group had the highest AHI among the 4 groups. The non-obese OSA group had a significantly steeper mandibular angle and shorter tongue length than the obese OSA group. The hyoid bone of the obese OSA group was positioned anterior and inferior as compared with the non-obese OSA group. Multiple regression analysis showed that tongue length in the obese OSA group and retroposition of hyoid bone in the non-obese OSA group were significant determinants for the severity of AHI. Conclusions: From a cephalometric point of view, the obese and non-obese pateints with OSA may be characterized by different pathogeneses. Therefore, they have to be managed by individualized treatment. For the obese OSA patients, weight control must be advised as a first choice and for the non-obese OSA patients, oral appliance, nasal CPAP, UPPP and others could be chosen according to the obstructive sites.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.445-455
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• 2005

Purpose: We developed an animal SPECT system using clinical Philips ARGUS scintillation camera and pinhole collimator with specially manufactured small apertures. In this study, we evaluated the physical characteristics of this system and biological feasibility for animal experiments. Materials and Methods: Rotating station for small animals using a step motor and operating software were developed. Pinhole inserts with small apertures (diameter of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm) were manufactured and physical parameters including planar spatial resolution and sensitivity and reconstructed resolution were measured for some apertures. In order to measure the size of the usable field of view according to the distance from the focal point, manufactured multiple line sources separated with the same distance were scanned and numbers of lines within the field of view were counted. Using a Tc-99m line source with 0.5 mm diameter and 12 mm length placed in the exact center of field of view, planar spatial resolution according to the distance was measured. Calibration factor to obtain FWHM values in 'mm' unit was calculated from the planar image of two separated line sources. Te-99m point source with i mm diameter was used for the measurement of system sensitivity. In addition, SPECT data of micro phantom with cold and hot line inserts and rat brain after intravenous injection of [I-123]FP-CIT were acquired and reconstructed using filtered back protection reconstruction algorithm for pinhole collimator. Results: Size of usable field of view was proportional to the distance from the focal point and their relationship could be fitted into a linear equation (y=1.4x+0.5, x: distance). System sensitivity and planar spatial resolution at 3 cm measured using 1.0 mm aperture was 71 cps/MBq and 1.24 mm, respectively. In the SPECT image of rat brain with [I-123]FP-CIT acquired using 1.0 mm aperture, the distribution of dopamine transporter in the striatum was well identified in each hemisphere. Conclusion: We verified that this new animal SPECT system with the Phlilps ARGUS scanner and small apertures had sufficient performance for small animal imaging.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2012

Purpose: It is essential to minimize the respiratory-induced motion of involved organs in the Tomotherapy for tumor located in the chest and abdominal region. However, the application of breathing control system to Tomotherapy is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the possible application of the ABCHES system and its efficacy as a means of breathing control in the tomotherapy treatment. Materials and Methods: Five subjects who were treated with a Hi-Art Tomotherapy system for lung, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic tumors. All patients undertook trained on two breathing methodes using an ABCHES, free breathing methode and shallow breathing methode. When the patients could carry out the breathing control, 4D-CT scan was a total of 10 4D tomographic images were acquired. A radiologist resident manually drew the tumor region, including surrounding nomal organs, on each of CT images at the inhalation phase, the exhalation phase and the 40% phase (mid-inhalation) and average CT image. Those CT images were then exported to the Tomotherapy planning station. Data exported from the Tomotherapy planning station was analyzed to quantify characteristics of dose-volume histograms and motion of tumors. Organ motions under free breathing and shallow breathing were examined six directions, respectively. Radiation exposure to the surrounding organs were also measured and compared. Results: Organ motion is in the six directions with more than a 5 mm displacement. A total of 12 Organ motions occurred during free breathing while organ motions decreased to 2 times during shallow breathing under the use of Abches. Based on the quantitative analysis of the dose-volume histograms shallow breathing showed lower resulting values, compared to free breathing, in every measure. That is, treatment volume, the dose of radiation to the tumor and two surrounding normal organs (mean doses), the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation were lower at the shallow breathing state. Conclusion: This study proposes that the use of ABCHES is effective for the Tomotherapy treatment as it makes shortness of breathing easy for patients. Respiratory-induced tumor motion is minimized, and radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues is also reduced as a result.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of a commercial ion chamber array for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) was performed IMRT patient-specific QA Materials and Methods: A use of IMRT patient-specific QA was examined for nasopharyngeal patient by using 6MV photon beams. The MatriXX (Wellhofer Dosimetrie, Germany) was used for IMRT QA. The case of nasopharyngeal cancer was performed inverse treatment planning. A hybrid dose distribution made on the CT data of MatriXX and solid phantom all of the same gantry angle (0$^\circ$). The measurement was acquired with geometrical condition that equal to hybrid treatment planning. The $\gamma$-index (dose difference 3%, DTA 3 mm) histogram was used for quantitative analysis of dose discrepancies. An absolute dose was compared at the high dose low gradient region. Results: The dose distribution was shown a good agreement by gamma evaluation. A proportion of acceptance criteria was 95.8%, 97.52%, 96.28%, 98.20%, 97.78%, 96.64% and 92.70% for gantry angles were 0$^\circ$, 55$^\circ$, 110$^\circ$, 140$^\circ$, 220$^\circ$, 250$^\circ$ and 305$^\circ$, respectively. The absolute dose in high dose low gradient region was shown reasonable agreement with the RTP calculation within $\pm$3%. Conclusion: The MatriXX offers the dosimetric characteristics required for performing both relative and absolute measurements. If MatriXX use in the clinic, it could be simplified and reduced the IMRT patient-specific QA workload. Therefore, the MatriXX is evaluated as a reliable and convenient dosimeter for IMRT patient-specific QA.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

With recent advancement of the medical imaging systems and picture archiving and communication system (PACS), installation of digital radiography has been accelerated over past few years. Moreover, Computed Radiography (CR) which was well established for the foundation of digital x-ray imaging systems at low cost was widely used for clinical applications. This study analyzes imaging characteristics for two systems with different pixel sizes through the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE). In addition, influence of radiation dose to the imaging characteristics was also measured by quantitative assessment. A standard beam quality RQA5 based on an international electro-technical commission (IEC) standard was used to perform the x-ray imaging studies. For the results, the spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Agfa CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.9 cycles/mm and 2.8 cycles/mm, respectively. The spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Fuji CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.4 cycles/mm and 3.2 cycles/mm, respectively. There was difference in the spatial resolution for $14{\times}17$ inches, although radiation dose does not effect to the MTF. The NPS of the Agfa CR system shows similar results for different pixel size between $100{\mu}m$ for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $150{\mu}m$ for $14{\times}17$ inch I.P. For both systems, the results show better NPS for increased radiation dose due to increasing number of photons. DQE of the Agfa CR system for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $14{\times}17$ inch I.P resulted in 11% and 8.8% at 1.5 cycles/mm, respectively. Both systems show that the higher level of radiation dose would lead to the worse DQE efficiency. Measuring DQE for multiple factors of imaging characteristics plays very important role in determining efficiency of equipment and reducing radiation dose for the patients. In conclusion, the results of this study could be used as a baseline to optimize imaging systems and their imaging characteristics by measuring MTF, NPS, and DQE for different level of radiation dose.