• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2016

Acoustic noise during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the main source for patient discomfort. we report our preliminary experience with this technique in neuroimaging with regard to subjective and objective noise levels and image quality. 60 patients(29 males, 31 females, average age of 60.1) underwent routine brain MRI with 3.0 Tesla (MAGNETOM Tim Trio; Siemens, Germany) system and 12-channel head coil. Q-$T_2$ and $T_2$ sequence were performed. Measurement of sound pressure levels (SPL) and heart rate on Q-$T_2$ and $T_2$ was performed respectively. Quantitative analysis was carried out by measuring the SNR, CNR, and SIR values of Q-$T_2$, $T_2$ and a statistical analysis was performed using independent sample T-test. Qualitative analysis was evaluated by the eyes for the overall quality image of Q-$T_2$ and $T_2$. A 5-point evaluation scale was used, including excellent(5), good(4), fair(3), poor(2), and unacceptable(1). The average noise and peak noise decreased by $15dB_A$ and $10dB_A$ on $T_2$ and Q-$T_2$ test. Also, the average value of heartbeat rate was lower in Q-$T_2$ for 120 seconds in each test, but there was no statistical significance. The quantitative analysis showed that there was no significant difference between CNR and SIR, and there was a significant difference (p<0.05) as SNR had a lower average value on Q-$T_2$. According to the qualitative analysis, the overall quality image of 59 case $T_2$ and Q-$T_2$ was evaluated as excellent at 5 points, and 1 case was evaluated as good at 4 points due to a motion artifact. Q-$T_2$ is a promising technique for acoustic noise reduction and improved patient comfort.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute pulmonary toxicity of metallic silver nanoparticles (MSNPs, 20.30 nm in diameter). Acute pulmonary toxicity and body distribution of inhaled MSNPs in mice were evaluated using a nose-only exposure chamber (NOEC) system. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis, Western blotting, histopathological changes, and silver burdens in various organs were determined in mice. Mice were exposed to MSNPs for 6 hrs. The mean concentration, total surface area, volume and mass concentrations in the NOEC were maintained at $1.93{\times}10^7$ particles/$cm^3$, $1.09{\times}10^{10}\;nm^2/cm^3$, $2.72{\times}10^{11}\;nm^3/cm^3$, and 2854.62 ${\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Inhalation of MSPNs caused mild pulmonary toxicity with distribution of silver in various organs but the silver burdens decreased rapidly at 24-hrs post-exposure in the lung. Furthermore, inhaled MSNPs induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in the lung. In summary, single inhaled MSNPs caused mild pulmonary toxicity, which was associated with activated MAPK signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that the inhalation toxicity of MSNPs should be carefully considered at the molecular level.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2008

Aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of 2D ion chamber array as a substitute of the water phantom system in a periodic Linac QA. For the feasibility study, a commercial ion chamber matrix was used as a substitute of the water phantom in the measurement for a routine QA beam properties. The device used in this study was the I'm RT MatriXX (Wellhofer Dosimetrie, Germany). The MatriXX consists of a 1,020 vented ion chamber array, arranged in $24{\times}24\;cm^2$ matrix. Each ion chamber has a volume of $0.08\;cm^3$, spacing of 0.762 cm. We investigated dosimetric parameters such as dose symmetry, energy ($TPR_{20,10}$), and absolute dose for comparing with the water phantom data with a Farmer-type ionization chamber (FC65G, Wellhofer Dosimetrie, Germany). For the MatriXX measurements, we used the white polystyrene phantom (${\rho}:\;1.18\;g/cm^3$) and also considered the intrinsic layer (${\rho}:\;1.06\;g/cm^3$, t: 0.36 cm) of MatriXX to be equivalent to water depth. In the preliminary study of geometrical QA using MatriXX, the rotation axis of collimator and half beam junction test were included and compared with film measurements. Regarding the dosimetrical QA, the MatriXX has shown good agreements within ${\pm}1%$ compared to the water phantom measurements. In the geometrical test, the data from MatriXX were comparable with those from the films. In conclusion, the MatriXX is a good substitute for water phantom system and film measurements. In addition, the results indicate that the MatriXX as a cost-effective novel QA tool to reduce time and personnel power.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

A commercial ion chamber matrix was examined the characteristics and its performance for radiotherapy qualify assurance. The device was the I'mRT 2D-MatriXX (Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany). The 2D-MatriXX device consists of a 1020 vented ion chamber array, arranged in $24{\times}24cm^2$ matrix. Each ion chamber has a volume of $0.08cm^3$, spacing of 0.762 cm and minimum sampling time of 20 ms. For the investigation of the characteristics, dose linearity, output factor, short-term reproducibility and dose rate dependency were tested. In the testing of dose linearity. It has shown a good signal linearity within 1% in the range of $1{\sim}800$cGy. Dose rate dependency was found to be lower than 0.4% (Range: 100-600 Mu/min) relative to a dose rate of 300 Mu/min as a reference. Output factors matched very well within 0.5% compared with commissioned beam data using a ionization chamber (CC01, Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) in the range of field sizes $3{\times}3{\sim}24{\times}24cm^2$. Short-term reproducibility (6 times with a interval of 15 minute) was also shown a good agreement within 0.5%, when the temperature and the pressure were corrected by each time of measurement. in addition, we compared enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW, Varian, Palo Alto, USA) profiles from calculated values in the radiation planning system with those from measurements of the MatriXX. Furthermore, anon-uniform IMRT dose fluence was tested. All the comparison studies have shown good agreements. In this study, the MatriXX was evaluated as a reliable dosimeter, and it could be used as a simplistic and convenient tool for radiotherapy qualify assurance.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2007

The polarimetric backscattering coefficients of a wet-land rice field which is an experimental plot belong to National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology in Suwon are measured using ground-based polarimetric scatterometers at 1.8 and 5.3 GHz throughout a growth year from transplanting period to harvest period (May to October in 2006). The polarimetric scatterometers consist of a vector network analyzer with time-gating function and polarimetric antenna set, and are well calibrated to get VV-, HV-, VH-, HH-polarized backscattering coefficients from the measurements, based on single target calibration technique using a trihedral corner reflector. The polarimetric backscattering coefficients are measured at $30^{\circ},\;40^{\circ},\;50^{\circ}\;and\;60^{\circ}$ with 30 independent samples for each incidence angle at each frequency. In the measurement periods the ground truth data including fresh and dry biomass, plant height, stem density, leaf area, specific leaf area, and moisture contents are also collected for each measurement. The temporal variations of the measured backscattering coefficients as well as the measured plant height, LAI (leaf area index) and biomass are analyzed. Then, the measured polarimetric backscattering coefficients are compared with the rice growth parameters. The measured plant height increases monotonically while the measured LAI increases only till the ripening period and decreases after the ripening period. The measured backscattering coefficientsare fitted with polynomial expressions as functions of growth age, plant LAI and plant height for each polarization, frequency, and incidence angle. As the incidence angle is bigger, correlations of L band signature to the rice growth was higher than that of C band signatures. It is found that the HH-polarized backscattering coefficients are more sensitive than the VV-polarized backscattering coefficients to growth age and other input parameters. It is necessary to divide the data according to the growth period which shows the qualitative changes of growth such as panicale initiation, flowering or heading to derive functions to estimate rice growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.176-177
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• 2013

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have attracted the attention of scientists and engineers involved in a wide area of research, microscopy, diagnostics and sensing. SPPs are waves that propagate along the surface of a conductor, usually metals. These are essentially light waves that are trapped on the surface because of their interaction with the free electrons of conductor. In this interaction, the free electrons respond collectively by oscillating in resonance with the light wave. The resonant interaction between the surface charge oscillation and the electromagnetic field of the light constitutes the SPPs and gives rise to its unique properties. In this papers, we studied theoretical and experimental extraordinary transmittance (T) and reflectance (R) of 2 dimensional metal hole array (2D-MHA) on GaAs in consideration of the diffraction orders. The 2d-MHAs was fabricated using ultra-violet photolithography, electron-beam evaporation and standard lift-off process with pitches ranging from 1.8 to $3.2{\mu}m$ and diameter of half of pitch, and was deposited 5-nm thick layer of titanium (Ti) as an adhesion layer and 50-nm thick layer of gold (Au) on the semiinsulating GaAs substrate. We employed both the commercial software (CST Microwave Studio: Computer Simulation Technology GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany) based on a finite integration technique (FIT) and a rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) to calculate transmittance and reflectance. The transmittance was measured at a normal incident, and the reflectance was measured at variable incident angle of range between $30^{\circ}{\sim}80^{\circ}$ with a Nicolet Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with a KBr beam splitter and a MCT detector. For MHAs of pitch (P), the peaks ${\lambda}$ max in the normal incidence transmittance spectra can be indentified approximately from SP dispersion relation, that is frequency-dependent SP wave vector (ksp). Shown in Fig. 1 is the transmission of P=2.2 um sample at normal incidence. We attribute the observation to be a result of FTIR system may be able to collect the transmitted light with higher diffraction order than 0th order. This is confirmed by calculations: for the MHAs, diffraction efficiency in (0, 0) diffracted orders is lower than in the (${\pm}x$, ${\pm}y$) diffracted orders. To further investigate the result, we calculated the angular dependent transmission of P=2.2 um sample (Fig. 2). The incident angle varies from 30o to 70o with a 10o increment. We also found the splitting character on reflectance measurement. The splitting effect is considered a results of SPPs assisted diffraction process by oblique incidence.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2007

As a part of basic studies on monitoring of landslides and slope stability using SP measurements, micro-electric potentials of rock samples were measured accompanied with the rock failure by a uniaxial loading test were measured. The measurement system consists of a 8 channel A/D converter with 24 bit resolution, uniaxial loading tester, strain gages and 4 sets of electrode attached to a rock sample. Rock samples of granite, limestone, and sandstone were tested. Also, mortar samples were tested in order to monitor electric-potentials of a uniform sample. Micro-electric potentials were detected in all saturated samples and the strength of them increased as the loading force increased. Sandstone samples showed the largest strength of micro-electric potential and it followed limestone and granite samples, which indicates a positive relationship with porosity of rocks. The mechanism generating these micro-electric potential can be explained in terms of electro-kinetics. In case of dry samples, micro-electric potential could be observed only in sandstone samples, where piezoelectric effect played main role due to high contents of quartz in sandstone samples. We found that biggest micro-electric potentials were observed at the electrodes near the crack surface of rock samples. This is very encouraging result that SP monitoring can be applied to predicting landsliding or to estimate collapsing position combining with monitoring of acoustic emissions.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.636-645
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• 2022

Purpose: This study intends to suggest alternatives for improving the level of safety culture by measuring/analyzing safety culture targeting employees of national core-based highway operating organizations. Method: Using the 'Safety Awareness Level Diagnosis Tool' of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 16 sub-factor measurement tools reflecting 4 safety culture areas and 4 safety culture activities were evaluated for a total of 144 items. were surveyed/analyzed by online questionnaire. Result: As for the results by safety culture area, "safe operation" was the highest, and "safe communication" was the lowest. As for the results of each safety culture activity, "safe execution (D)", which evaluates whether the plan was implemented, was high. The lowest level of safety culture is "Safety Improvement (A)" Conclusion: When establishing a company's safety and health management measures, the most important aspect of management is the level of safety culture. The ultimate goal is to improve the level of safety culture. In this study, it was possible to confirm the safety culture level of the national core-based expressway operating institution. In the future, we intend to conduct a study on how safety culture affects business continuity management system (BCMS).

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2014

In this study we have examined the health risk factors and analyzing data of laborers working at the welding operation at large-sized casting process. In order to improve the working environment of workplace, an effective ventilation method was proposed after performing CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling and measurement of pollutants. As a result of examining the health risk factors of workers, oxidized steel dust is the main pollution source in the company A, welding fume in the companies B and C, and welding fume and oxidized steel dust in the company D. The fume concentration in the workers' breathing zone was $0.05{\sim}4.37mg/m^3$, and the fume concentration in the indoor air at the welding process was $0.13{\sim}7.54mg/m^3$. From a result of CFD, a local exhaust with an exhaust duct adjacent to welding point was found to be most effective in case of the exhaust process. In case of air supply, we found that a desired location of air supply fan would be at the end of the opening. If a standardizing the ventilation system for tunnel-type semi-enclosed space at a large-sized casting process is introduced in welding work places in the future, it would be more effective to protect the health of welding workers working at the casting industry and shipbuilding industry and improve the work environment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dosimetric characteristics of Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLD) for dosimetry Materials and Methods: InLight/OSL $NanoDot^{TM}$ dosimeters was used including $Inlight^{TM}MicroStar$ Reader, Solid Water Phantom, and Linear accelerator ($TRYLOGY^{(R)}$) OSLDs were placed at a Dmax in a solid water phantom and were irradiated with 100 cGy of 6 MV X-rays. Most irradiations were carried out using an SSD set up 100 cm, $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ field and 300 MU/min. The time dependence were measured at 10 minute intervals. The dose dependence were measured from 50 cGy to 600 cGy. The energy dependence was measured for nominal photon beam energies of 6, 15 MV and electron beam energies of 4-20 MeV. The dose rate dependence were also measured for dose rates of 100-1,000 MU/min. Finally, the PDD was measured by OSLDs and Ion-chamber. Results: The reproducibility of OSLD according to the Time flow was evaluated within ${\pm}2.5%$. The result of Linearity of OSLD, the dose was increased linearly up to about the 300 cGy and increased supralinearly above the 300 cGy. Energy and dose rate dependence of the response of OSL detectors were evaluated within ${\pm}2%$ and ${\pm}3%$. $PDD_{10}$ and PDD20 which were measured by OSLD was 66.7%, 38.4% and $PDD_{10}$ and $PDD_{20}$ which were measured by Ion-chamber was 66.6%, 38.3% Conclusion: As a result of analyzing characteration of OSLD, OSLD was evaluated within ${\pm}3%$ according to the change of the time, enregy and dose rate. The $PDD_{10}$ and $PDD_{20}$ are measured by OSLD and ion-chamber were evaluated within 0.3%. The OSL response is linear with a dose in the range 50~300 cGy. It was possible to repeat measurement many times and progress of the measurement of reading is easy. So the stability of the system and linear dose response relationship make it a good for dosimetry.