• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2012

Purpose : Presently, hardwares and softwares for reducing radiation exposure are continually developed for PET/CT examination. Purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of reducing radiation exposure dose of CT and SUV changes of PET when applied each kernel to ACCT (Attenuation Correction Computed Tomography) according to adopted IRIS (Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space) software. Materials and Methods : Biograph mCT (Siemens, Germany) was used as a PET/CT scanner. Using AAPM CT performance phantom, from standard (120 kVp, 100 mAs), 7 scans were conducted by reducing 15 mAs each. After image reconstruction by FBP (Filtered Back Projection) and IRIS, noise and spatial resolution were evaluated. The same method was applied to anthropomorphic chest phantom and acquired images were compared. NEMA IEC body phantom was used for SUV evaluation. Injected dose rate for hot sphere (hot) and background cylinder (BKG) were 1:8. CT dose condition (120 kVp, 50 mAs) was the same for each scan and PET scan durations were 1, 2, 3 and 4min. After scanning, each kernel of IRIS was applied to ACCT. And PET images were reconstructed by ACCT adopted IRIS for comparing SUV changes. Results : AAPM phantom test for noise evaluation, SD for FBP 100 mAs, IRIS 55 mAs were 8.8 and 8.9. FBP 85 mAs, IRIS 40 mAs were 9.5 and 9.7. FBP 70 mAs, IRIS 25 mAs were 11.9 and 11.1. Above mAs condition for FBP and IRIS, SD showed similar values. And for spatial resolution test, there was no significant difference. For chest phantom test, when applied the same mAs and kernel to both of FBP and IRIS, every applied kernels showed reduced noise. Lower mAs and higher kernel value showed higher noise reduction. There was no considerable difference only except for I70 very sharp kernel for SUV comparison using NEMA IEC body phantom. Conclusion : In this study, low mAs (55 mAs) applied IRIS and standard mAs (100 mAs) applied FBP showed similar noise. And only except for I70 kernel, there was no significant SUV changes. It is possible to reduce needless radiation exposure and acquire better image quality than FBP's through applying appropriate kernel of IRIS to PET/CT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 2000

Purpose: We characterized the signals obtained from the components of a small gamma camera using Nal(Tl)-position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) and optimized the parameters employed in the modules of the system. Materials and Methods: The small gamma camera system consists of a Nal(Tl) crystal ($60{\times}60{\times}6mm^3$) coupled with a Hamamatsu R3941 PSPMT, a resister chain circuit, preamplifiers, nuclear instrument modules (NIMs), an analog to digital converter and a personal computer for control and display. The PSPMT was read out using a resistive charge division circuit which multiplexes the 34 cross wire anode channels into 4 signals (X+, X-, Y+, Y -). Those signals were individually amplified by four preamplifiers and then, shaped and amplified by amplifiers. The signals were discriminated and digitized via triggering signal and used to localize the position of an event by applying the Anger logic. The gamma camera control and image display was performed by a program implemented using a graphic software. Results: The characteristics of signal and the parameters employed in each module of the system were presented. The intrinsic sensitivity of the system was approximately $8{\times}10^3$ counts/sec/${\mu}Ci$. The intrinsic energy resolution of the system was 18% FWHM at 140 keV. The spatial resolution obtained using a line-slit mask and $^{99m}Tc$ point source were, respectively, 2.2 and 2.3 mm FWHM in X and Y directions. Breast phantom containing $2{\sim}7mm$ diameter spheres was successfully imaged with a parallel hole collimator. The image displayed accurate size and activity distribution over the imaging field of view Conclusion: We proposed a simple method for development of a small gamma camera and presented the characteristics of the signals from the system and the optimized parameters used in the modules of the small gamma camera.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2007

Purpose: In this study we propose a block-iterative method for reconstructing Compton scattered data. This study shows that the well-known expectation maximization (EM) approach along with its accelerated version based on the ordered subsets principle can be applied to the problem of image reconstruction for Compton camera. This study also compares several methods of constructing subsets for optimal performance of our algorithms. Materials and Methods: Three reconstruction algorithms were implemented; simple backprojection (SBP), EM, and ordered subset EM (OSEM). For OSEM, the projection data were grouped into subsets in a predefined order. Three different schemes for choosing nonoverlapping subsets were considered; scatter angle-based subsets, detector position-based subsets, and both scatter angle- and detector position-based subsets. EM and OSEM with 16 subsets were performed with 64 and 4 iterations, respectively. The performance of each algorithm was evaluated in terms of computation time and normalized mean-squared error. Results: Both EM and OSEM clearly outperformed SBP in all aspects of accuracy. The OSEM with 16 subsets and 4 iterations, which is equivalent to the standard EM with 64 iterations, was approximately 14 times faster in computation time than the standard EM. In OSEM, all of the three schemes for choosing subsets yielded similar results in computation time as well as normalized mean-squared error. Conclusion: Our results show that the OSEM algorithm, which have proven useful in emission tomography, can also be applied to the problem of image reconstruction for Compton camera. With properly chosen subset construction methods and moderate numbers of subsets, our OSEM algorithm significantly improves the computational efficiency while keeping the original quality of the standard EM reconstruction. The OSEM algorithm with scatter angle- and detector position-based subsets is most available.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1992

Background: The prognosis of lung cancer remains poor and early detection and curative surgery is still the most effective treatment for many. In the early detection of lung cancer, sputum cytology and simple chest x-ray are used, but both of these tests are far from being perfect. So we studied the characteristics of patients diagnosed as lung cancer without demonstrable mass lesion on simple chest x-ray to help in the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 11 subjects who were diagnosed as lung cancer at Seoul National University Hospital between August 1986 and June 1989 and had no demonstrable mass lesion on simple chest x-rays. Results: Ten of 11 patients were male, 8 had a history of smoking, most frequent symptoms were sputum, cough, and hemoptysis, and 3 patients either had wheezing or stridor. In 3 of the cases, although there were no mass lesion, there were ill-defined infiltration, major fissure thickening, and fibrostreaky density mimiking tuberculosis where the tumor was eventually found and in one patient tumor was masked by a rib shadow. Also in one case, lateral chest film demonstrated a retrocardiac mass. Both bronchoscopy and computed tomogram were useful in the localization of the tumor. Seven of 11 had relatively early disease (less than StageII). Four of 11 are still alive without any evidence of recurrence between 2 and a half and 4 years after the operation. Conclusion: We conclude that in patients with respiratory symtoms in whom cancer cannot be ruled out, sputum cytology and lateral chest x-rays should be taken and that if necessary further studies like computed tomogram and bronchoscopy should be done to aid in the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2004

Purpose : To investigate the signal enhancement ratio by NOE effect on in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS in human heart muscle and liver. we also evaluated the enhancement ratios of different phosphorus metabolites, which are important in 31P MRS for each organ. Materials and Methods : Ten normal subjects (M:F = 8:2, age range = 24-32 yrs) were included for in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS measurements on a 1.5 T whole-body MRI/MRS system using $^1H-^{31}P$ dual tuned surface coil. Two-dimensional Chemical Shift Imaging (2D CSI) pulse sequence for $^{31}P$ MRS was employed in all $^{31}P$ MRS measurements. First, $^{31}P$ MRS performed without NOE effect and then the same 2D CSI data acquisitions were repeated with NOE effect. After postprocessing the MRS raw data in the time domain, the signal enhancements in percent were estimated from the major metabolites. Results : The calculated NOE enhancement for liver $^{31}P$ MRS were $\alpha-ATP\;(7\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(9\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(17\%),\;Pi\;(1\%),\;PDE\;(19\%)$ and $PME\;(31\%)$. Because there is no creatine kinase activity in liver, PCr signal is absent. For cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS, whole body coil gave better scout images and thus better localization than surface coil. In $^{31}P$cardiac multi-voxel spectra, DPG signal increased from left to right according to the amount of blood included. The calculated enhancement for cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS were : $\alpha-ATP\;(12\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(19\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(30\%),\;PCr\;(34\%),\;Pi\;(20\%),\;(PDE)\;(51\%),\;and\;DPG\;(72\%)$. Conclusion : Our results revealed that the NOE effect was more pronounced in heart muscle than in liver with different coupling to 1H spin system and thus different heteronuclear cross-relaxation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.162-170
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• 2013

Dedicated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems based on pixelated semiconductors are being developed for studying small animal models of human disease. To clarify the possibility of using a SPECT system with CdTe for a high resolution low-dose small animal imaging, we compared the quality of reconstructed images from pixelated CdTe detector to those from a small SPECT system with NaI(Tl). The CdTe detector was $44.8{\times}44.8$ mm and the pixels were $0.35{\times}0.35{\times}5$ mm. The intrinsic resolution of the detector was 0.35 mm, which is equal to the pixel size. GATE simulations were performed to assess the image quality of both SPECT systems. The spatial resolutions and sensitivities for both systems were evaluated using a 10 MBq $^{99m}Tc$ point source. The quantitative comparison with different injected dose was performed using a voxelized MOBY phantom, and the absorbed doses for each organ were evaluated. The spatial resolution of the SPECT with NaI(Tl) was about 1.54 mm FWHM, while that of the SPECT with a CdTe detector was about 1.32 mm FWHM at 30 mm. The sensitivity of NaI(Tl) based SPECT was 83 cps/MBq, while that of the CdTe detector based SPECT was 116 cps/MBq at 30 mm. The image statistics were evaluated by calculating the CNR of the image from both systems. When the injected activity for the striatum in the mouse brain was 160 Bq/voxel, the CNR of CdTe based SPECT was 2.30 while that of NaI(Tl) based SPECT was 1.85. The CNR of SPECT with CdTe was overall higher than that of the NaI(Tl) based SPECT. In addition, the absorbed dose was higher from SPECT with CdTe than those from NaI(Tl) based SPECT to acquire the same quantitative values. Our simulation results indicated that the SPECT with CdTe detector showed overall high performance compared to the SPECT with NaI(Tl). Even though the validation study is needed, the SPECT system with CdTe detector appeared to be feasible for high resolution low-dose small animal imaging.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.242-251
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• 2011

A curriculum of study demands a change as period of time and society evolve. Therefore, at this point where changes are required, this study is to analyze and evaluate the curriculums which will enhance and improve current studies as a preceding stage. The research was based on the survey by groups of education experts and 19 universities with current curriculum of study in radiologic science, and their references. The study was focused on the scope of work by radiologic technologist, change of college systems, academic research about radiologic science, and the improvement and the future of radiologic science field in perspective to globalization and the digital era. In terms of work scope, angiography and interventional radiology at 6 to 8 schools, fluoroscopy at 4 schools, ultrasound and practices at 6 schools, magnetic resonance image at 2 schools were found to be unestablished. The basic medical subjects, humuan physiology, human anatomy and practices, medical terminology courses were set up at most schools; however, pathology at 5 schools, image anatomy at 6 schools, clinical medicine at 11 schools were yet opened. Among the basic science and engineering subjects, general biology and its practices at 11 schools, general physics and its practices at 14 schools, and general chemistry and its practices at 8 schools were established which is about a half from a total number of schools. Only 4-5 schools established digital subjects such as, health computer, computer programming, PACS which are the basic major subjects. In order to provide academic improvement in radiologic science, digitalized education and globalization, and basis for future-oriented education for the field of radiologic science, including expanded scope of work, it is acknowledged that curriculums that are opened and run at each school need to be standardized. Therefore, the need for introduction of certificate for the radiologic science education courses are suggested.

• 대한공업교육학회지
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.72-93
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data needed to establish a system of career education which can offer necessary information for middle school students to select vocational high schools suiting to their talent and aptitude. For this, the study formulated research questions: how middle school students in Gyeonggi-do could acquire information related with entering high school; their level of understanding about general high school and vocational high school and their level of information requirement; real state and effect (level of helping them choose future school) of assistance activity for career education as provided by vocational high schools. For the analysis, the study developed a questionnaire and conducted survey for 4,459 3rd graders from 627 middle schools at Gyeonggi-do. Findings were as follows. First, methods of middle school students getting information related with entering high school turned out in the order of internet search (42.0%), consultation with family and friends (25.5%), consultation with teachers (24.0%). While, their methods of getting information related with entering vocational high school turned out in the order of briefing session by vocational high schools (39.4%), field trip to vocational high schools (24.9%), consultation with teachers from vocational high schools (15.7%). Second, the level of understanding (five points full marks) of Gyeonggi-do middle school students about high school by the type they wished to enter, and the level of information requirement (five points full marks) turned out 3.65 and 3.67 respectively for students who wished to enter general high schools, with the difference being 0.02. On the other hand, the level of understanding and that of information requirement turned out 2.92 and 3.25 respectively with the difference being 0.33, for students who wished to enter vocational high schools. Third, looking at the real state of participation of Gyeonggi-do middle school students in assistance activities for career education provided by vocational high schools, 79.4% of all students were participating. Activity with high participation ratio out of these turned out to be in the order of PR and guide book (booklet, brochure, etc.) for vocational high schools at 90.3%, briefing session prepared by vocational high schools on visit at 87.8% and video of vocational high school PR and introduction at 85.9%. The level of how these activities helped middle school students choose their high school was 3.45, showing more effect by 0.13 on students wishing to enter vocational high schools compared to those wishing to enter general high schools.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5148-5154
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematic characteristics of the thrower's center of mass (COM) and the shot that her performance hits record high for the 29th National Athletic Competition. Two S-VHS video cameras were used to visualize. The Direct Linear Transformation technique was employed to paint a clear picture in the three dimensional coordination. Kwon3D was used to analyze the data. The results showed that release velocity and height were 13.73 m/s and 198.6 cm(119% by height ratio), respectively, which is considered as peak performance comparing an extensive review of previous literature on the shot put. Release angle was $34^{\circ}$, which is lower than the previous studies. The path of thrower's center of mass is needed to travel in a release direction during the flight phase. The vertical movement of the thrower's center of mass during the driving should be controlled. At release, the perfact timing is required without vertical and horizontal movements of the thrower's center of mass.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.154-160
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• 2013

Ceramium boydenii belongs to euphorbia humitusa of red algae, and is distributed along the coast of Jeju island. This study was conducted to examine the anti-inflammatory effect and action mechanism of C. boydenii in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. The 80% EtOH extract of C. boydenii inhibits the production of MDC (macrophage derived chemokine), an inflammatory chemokine, induced by IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in a concentration dependent manner. It also suppressed the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1, a key transcription factor in IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ signaling pathway, at the effective concentrations. These results suggest that C. boydenii demonstrates the anti-inflammatory activity via the suppression of STAT1 activation and has the significant value as an anti-inflammatory source.