• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1251-1259
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• 2022

Objective: T1 mapping provides valuable information regarding cardiomyopathies. Manual drawing is time consuming and prone to subjective errors. Therefore, this study aimed to test a DL algorithm for the automated measurement of native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) fractions in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with a temporally separated dataset. Materials and Methods: CMR images obtained for 95 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 54.5 ± 15.2 years), including 36 left ventricular hypertrophy (12 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 12 Fabry disease, and 12 amyloidosis), 32 dilated cardiomyopathy, and 27 healthy volunteers, were included. A commercial deep learning (DL) algorithm based on 2D U-net (Myomics-T1 software, version 1.0.0) was used for the automated analysis of T1 maps. Four radiologists, as study readers, performed manual analysis. The reference standard was the consensus result of the manual analysis by two additional expert readers. The segmentation performance of the DL algorithm and the correlation and agreement between the automated measurement and the reference standard were assessed. Interobserver agreement among the four radiologists was analyzed. Results: DL successfully segmented the myocardium in 99.3% of slices in the native T1 map and 89.8% of slices in the post-T1 map with Dice similarity coefficients of 0.86 ± 0.05 and 0.74 ± 0.17, respectively. Native T1 and ECV showed strong correlation and agreement between DL and the reference: for T1, r = 0.967 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.951-0.978) and bias of 9.5 msec (95% limits of agreement [LOA], -23.6-42.6 msec); for ECV, r = 0.987 (95% CI, 0.980-0.991) and bias of 0.7% (95% LOA, -2.8%-4.2%) on per-subject basis. Agreements between DL and each of the four radiologists were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] of 0.98-0.99 for both native T1 and ECV), comparable to the pairwise agreement between the radiologists (ICC of 0.97-1.00 and 0.99-1.00 for native T1 and ECV, respectively). Conclusion: The DL algorithm allowed automated T1 and ECV measurements comparable to those of radiologists.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.847-858
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• 2016

An overview is given on the work of the Laboratory of Nuclear Energy Systems at ETH, Zurich (ETHZ) and of the Laboratory of Thermal Hydraulics at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland on tight-lattice bundles. Two-phase flow in subchannels of a tight triangular lattice was studied experimentally and by computational fluid dynamics simulations. Two adiabatic facilities were used: (1) a vertical channel modeling a pair of neighboring sub-channels; and (2) an arrangement of four subchannels with one subchannel in the center. The first geometry was equipped with two electrical film sensors placed on opposing rod surfaces forming the subchannel gap. They recorded 2D liquid film thickness distributions on a domain of $16{\times}64$ measuring points each, with a time resolution of 10 kHz. In the bubbly and slug flow regime, information on the bubble size, shape, and velocity and the residual liquid film thickness underneath the bubbles were obtained. The second channel was investigated using cold neutron tomography, which allowed the measurement of average liquid film profiles showing the effect of spacer grids with vanes. The results were reproduced by large eddy simulation + volume of fluid. In the outlook, a novel nonadiabatic subchannel experiment is introduced that can be driven to steady-state dryout. A refrigerant is heated by a heavy water circuit, which allows the application of cold neutron tomography.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2004

We purified and characterized a crude polysaccharide from Spirodela polyrhiza with anti-complement activities. The crude polysaccharide fraction (SP-0) which had potential anti-complement activity was extracted in hot water for 4 hrs at 10$0^{\circ}C$. The ethanol-precipitate, the crude polysaccharide traction (SP-1), showed a potent anti-complement activity. Further purification of the crude polysaccharide (SP-1) was carried out by cetavlon, ion exchange chromatography and gel column chromatography. Among cetavlon fractions, SP-4 showed the most potent anti-complement activity. When 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of SP-4 was incubated with an equal volume of normal human serum (NHS), the TCH$_{50}$ was reduced by about 78%. When the SP-4 fraction was further purified by DEAE-Sepharose (Cl$^{[-10]}$ ), the SP-4IIa, SP-4IIb and SP-4IIc, absorbed fractions, were almost the same as the anti-complement activities of SP-4. SP-4IIc, having the greatest potential activation and the highest yield by ion exchange chromatography, was further purified by gel column chromatography on a Sepharose CL-6B column. Four polysaccharide fractions of SP-4IIc-1, SP-4IIc-2, SP-4IIc-3 and SP-4IIc-4 were obtained, consisting mainly of arabinose, rhamnose, galactose and glucose, with approximate molecular weights of about 305,000, 132,000, 64,000 and 12,000, respectively. Among these subfractions, SP-4IIc-1 had the most potent anti-complement activity. When the SP-4IIc-1 aggregate was applied to a gel column chromatography in 10 mM and 50 mM NaCl solution, the position of the peak fractions shifted to a low molecular weight region, and the molecular weight of SP-4IIc-1 decreased with increased NaCl concentration in the gel column chromatography. It was found that the self-aggregation formed spontaneously in void volume by gel column chromatography using Sepharose CL-6B in water and the self-aggregation significantly affected the anti-complement function.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 1987

For measurement of ventricular performance, ejection fraction (EF) has gained wide acceptance. But EF is influenced not only by changes in muscle function but also by changes in cardiac loading conditions. In case of valvular heart disease which is variable in loading conditions, EF cannot be reliable as an index of myocardial contractility. The end systolic pressure (ESP)-end systolic volume (ESV) relation, howver, is known to represent myocardial contractility, independent of changes in loading conditions. Similar results can be obtained by using peak-systolic pressure (PSP) instead of ESP. To evaluate the utility of the peak systolic pressure-end systolic volume index (PSP-ESVI) relation as an index of myocardial function, we measured $PSP&ESVI$ in 19 partents with coronary artery disease before $(PSP_1\;&\;ESVI_1)$ and after $(PSP_2\;&\;ESVI_2)$ sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. PSP was measured with standard mercury sphygmomanometer during gated blood pool scintigraphic study. ESVI was measured by count derived method after attenuation correction. $PSP_2\;&\;ESVI_2$ measurement was started when the fall of PSP was greater than 5 mmHg after 7-14 minutes post-administration of nitroglycerin. Mean values $({\pm}S.D.)$ of $PSP_1\;&\;ESVI_1$ was $124.9({\pm}20.7)mmHg\;&\;59.4({\pm}39.9)ml/M^2$. Mean values $({\pm}S.D)$ of $PSP_2\;&\;ESVI_2$, was $113.2({\pm}19.9)mmHg\;&\;37.5({\pm}26.1)ml/M^2$. There was a significant difference between mean values of $PSP_1\;&\;PSP_2$, (p<0.01), and mean values of $ESVI_1\;&\;ESVI_2$, (p<0.01). $PSP_1-PSP_2/ESV_1-ESVI_2,\;PSP_1/ESVI_1$ and EF were in the range of 0.14-5.19 mmHg/ml/$M^2$, 0.67-7.68 mmHg/ml/$M^2$ and 10.8%-74.5% respectively. $PSP_1-PSP_2/ESVI_1-ESVI_2$, and EF showed exponential correlation (r=0.85, P<0.01). The correlation coefficient between $PSP_1/ESVI_1$ and EF was 0.73(p<0.01). With the above results, we suggest that $PSP_1-PSP_2/ESVI_1-ESVI_2$, and $PSP_1/ESVI_1$, can be used as an index of myocardial function.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.45-50
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• 2021

In this study, the effect of the size of B powder on the critical current density (J_c) of MgB₂ prepared by an in situ reaction process was investigated. Various combinations of B powders were made using a micron B, ball-milled B and nano B powders. Micron B powder was reduced by ball milling and the milled B powder was mixed with the micron B or nano B powder. The mixing ratios of the milled B and micron or nano B were 100:0, 50:50 and 0:100. Non-milled micron B powder was also mixed with nano powder in the same ratios. Pellets of (2B+Mg) prepared with various B mixing ratios were heat-treated to form MgB₂. T_c of MgB₂ decreased slightly when the milled B was used, whereas the J_c of MgB₂ increased with increasing amount of the milled B or the nano powder. The used of the milled B and nano B power promoted the formation MgB₂ during heat treatment. In addition to the enhanced formation of MgB₂, the use of the powders reduced the grain size of MgB₂. The use of the milled and nano B powder increased the J_c of MgB₂. The highest J_c was achieved when 100% nano B powder was used. The J_c enhancement is attributed to the high volume fraction of the superconducting phase (MgB₂) and the large grain boundaries, which induces the flux pinning at the magnetic fields.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.7-15
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• 2020

The high-temperature stability of Mg-8.0Zn-1.6Y (wt.%) alloys upon the addition of Ca has been investigated by characterizing the ignition temperature, microstructure, tensile and creep properties. The ignition temperature increases with an increase in the Ca content, indicating that an addition of Ca enhances the ignition resistance of the Mg-Zn-Y alloy. The as-cast microstructures of all tested alloys mainly consisted of the dendritic α-Mg matrix and I-phase (Mg₃Zn₆Y) at the grain boundaries. In the Ca-added Mg-8.0Zn-1.6Y alloys, the Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phase forms, with this phase fraction increasing with an increase in the Ca contents. However, a high volume fraction of the Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phase rather deteriorates the mechanical properties. Therefore, a moderate amount of Ca element in Mg-8.0Zn-1.6Y alloys is effective for improving the tensile and creep properties of the Mg-Zn-Y alloy. The Mg-8.0Zn-1.6Y-0.3Ca alloy exhibits the highest tensile strength and the lowest creep strain among the alloys investigated in the present study. The creep resistance of Mg-Zn-Y-Ca alloys depends on the selection of the secondary solidification phase; i.e., when Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ forms in an alloy containing a high level of Ca, the creep resistance deteriorates because Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ is less stable than the I-phase at a high temperature.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.2068-2076
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• 2005

The influence of oxygen concentration and CO$_{2}$ as diluent in oxidizer side on soot characteristics was studied by Laser Induced Incandescence, Time Resolved LII and Transmission Electron Microscopy photography in non-premixed co flowing flames. Through the comparison of TEM photographs and the decay rate of LII signal, suitable two delay times of TIRE-LII method and signal sensitivity ($\Delta$S$_{TIRE-LII/) were determined. The effects of O$_{2}$ and CO$_{2}$ as diluent in oxidizer side on soot formation are investigated with these calibrated techniques. The O$_{2}$+CO$_{2}$, N$_{2}$, and [Ar+CO$_{2}$] mixture in co-flow were used to isolate CO2 effects systematically. The number concentration of primary particle and soot volume fraction abruptly decrease by the addition of CO$_{2}$ to the co-flow. This suppression is resulted from the short residence time in inception region because of the late nucleation and the decrease of surface growth distance by the low flame temperature due to the higher thermal capacity and the chemical change of CO$_{2}$ including thermal dissociation. As the oxygen concentration increases, the number concentration of soot particles at the inception region increases and thus this increase of nucleation enhances the growth of soot particle.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze fracture behavior and failure mechanism of porous titanium for dental implant fabricated by space holder process. Method: Three porous titanium specimens with a specific volume fraction of open pore were test by 3 point bending and compression stress condition, respectively. Fracture appearance was observed by scanning electron microscope and discussed in relation with oxygen content. Results: For compression-tested specimens, two specimen showed brittle failure, while the other one showed normal failure after deformation. High oxygen content was detected in the brittle-fractured specimen. Several micro-cracks initiated at the struts propagated down to the bottom of the specimen resulting in normal failure. Conclusion: Oxygen contamination during the fabrication process can leads brittle premature failure, and hence quality problem of the porous titanium for dental implant.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.559-564
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• 2008

A prediction of binary droplets collision is important in the formation of falling drops and the evolution of sprays. The droplet velocity, impact parameter and drop-size ratio have influence on the interaction of the droplets. By the effect of these parameter, the collision processes are generated with the complicated phenomena. The droplet collision can be classified into four interactions such as the bouncing, coalescence, reflexive separation and stretching separation. In this study, the two-phase flow of the droplet collision was simulated numerically by using the Level Set method. 2D axi-symmetric simulations on the head-on collisions in the coalescence and reflexive separation, and 3D simulation on the off-center collisions in the coalescence and stretching separation were performed. These numerical results showed good agreements with the experimental and analytical results. For tracking the identity of droplets after the collision, transport equation for the volume fraction of the each initial droplet were used. From this, the identities of droplets were analyzed on the collision of droplets having different size.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.205-215
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• 2019

A flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite prototype with high piezoelectricity and force sensitivity was constructed, and its huge potential for applications such as biomechanical energy harvesting, self-powered health monitoring system, and pressure sensors was proved. The crystallization, piezoelectric, and electrical properties of the composites were characterized using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiment and customized experimental setups. The composite can sustain up to 100% strain, which is a huge improvement over monolithic PVDF fibers and other PVDF-based composites in the literature. The Young's modulus is 1.64 MPa, which is closely matched with the flexibility of the human skin, and shows the possibility for integrating PVDF/PDMS composites into wearable devices and implantable medical devices. The $300{\mu}m$ thick composite has a 14% volume fraction of PVDF fibers and produces high piezoelectricity with piezoelectric charge constants $d_{31}=19pC/N$ and $d_{33}=34pC/N$, and piezoelectric voltage constants $g_{31}=33.9mV/N$ and $g_{33}=61.2mV/N$. Under a 10 Hz actuation, the output voltage was measured at 190 mVpp, which is the largest output signal generated from a PVDF fiber-based prototype.