• 핵의학기술
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2023

Purpose PET-CT imaging require an appropriate quality assurance system to achieve high efficiency and reliability. Quality control is essential for improving the quality of care and patient safety. Currently, there are performance evaluation methods of UN2-1994 and UN2-2001 proposed by NEMA and IEC for PET-CT image evaluation. In this study, we compare phantom images with the same experiments before and after PET-CT 3D normalization and well counter correction and evaluate the usefulness of quality control. Materials and methods Discovery 690 (General Electric Healthcare, USA) PET-CT equiptment was used to perform 3D normalization and well counter correction as recommended by GE Healthcare. Based on the recovery coefficients for the six spheres of the NEMA IEC Body Phantom recommended by the EARL. 20kBq/㎖ of ¹⁸F was injected into the sphere of the phantom and 2kBq/㎖ of ¹⁸F was injected into the body of phantom. PET-CT scan was performed with a radioacitivity ratio of 10:1. Images were reconstructed by appliying TOF+PSF+TOF, OSEM+PSF, OSEM and Gaussian filter 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6,5 mm with matrix size 128×128, slice thickness 3.75 mm, iteration 2, subset 16 conditions. The PET image was attenuation corrected using the CT images and analyzed using software program AW 4.7 (General Electric Healthcare, USA). The ROI was set to fit 6 spheres in the CT image, RC (Recovery Coefficient) was measured after fusion of PET and CT. Statistical analysis was performed wilcoxon signed rank test using R. Results Overall, after the quality control items were performed, the recovery coefficient of the phantom image increased and measured. Recovery coefficient according to the image reconstruction increased in the order TOF+PSF, TOF, OSEM+PSF, before and after quality control, RCmax increased by OSEM 0.13, OSEM+PSF 0.16, TOF 0.16, TOF+PSF 0.15 and RCmean increased by OSEM 0.09, OSEM+PSF 0.09, TOF 0.106, TOF+PSF 0.10. Both groups showed a statistically significant difference in Wilcoxon signed rank test results (P value<0.001). Conclusion PET-CT system require quality assurance to achieve high efficiency and reliability. Standardized intervals and procedures should be followed for quality control. We hope that this study will be a good opportunity to think about the importance of quality control in PET-CT

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제28권spc호
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• pp.40-54
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• 2023

산업혁명 이후 화석연료의 광범위한 사용, 삼림 벌채, 토지사용의 변화 등과 같은 인위적 활동은 대기 중 온실가스(GHGs, greenhouse gases) 농도를 지속적으로 증가시켜 지구의 기후위기를 유발하였다. 우리나라의 경우 최근 30년 사이 평균 온도가 1.4℃ 상승하였으며, 국제사회의 일원으로 책임을 다하기 위해 2016년 11월 3일 파리협정을 비준하였다. 이에 파리협정의 목표인 산업화 이전 대비 지구 평균온도 상승을 2℃ 아래, 가능한 1.5℃ 아래로 억제하기 위해 2050년까지 CO₂ 순배출량을 0으로 만들어야 하며, 이를 위해 다양한 정책 마련과 함께 경제 및 사회 전반에 걸쳐 많은 노력이 경주되고 있는 실정이다. 탄소중립을 달성하기 위해서는 첫 번째로 GHGs 배출을 줄이고, 두번째로 대기에서 CO₂ 포집을 촉진하기 위해 현재 가동되는 다양한 산업분야의 생산 시스템을 개혁하는 것이 가장 중요한 과제로 고려되고 있다. 그동안 지하수토양 관련 연구분야에서는 지속가능성(sustainability), 복원성(resilience), 녹색성장(green growth) 등과 같은 사회적 요구에 부응하여, 녹색정화(green remediation), 자연 저감(natural attenuation), 탄소포집저장(carbon capture and sequestration), 지열발전등의 기술이 초기단계로 개발이 되고 연구가 되어 왔다. 이러한 기존 연구들은 탄소중립2050의 달성을 위해 고도화되어야하며, 추가적으로 자연 및 인위기원 탄소배출 연구, 토양의 역할을 고려한 저탄소 토지이용 기술, 광물탄산화 등의 연구 및 기술개발이 필요하다고 판단된다. 본 논문에서는 탄소중립2050의 간단한 내용과 함께, 이를 달성하기 위한 지하수토양 분야의 혁신기술 및 선도연구를 소개하였다.

• 대한토목학회논문집
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• 제30권1B호
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• pp.89-100
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 고파랑의 단주기파랑과 고립파를 동시에 저감시키기 위한 저감공으로 단주기파랑에 대해 기연구개발된 공진장치를 기설의 방파제 항구부에 부착하는 공법을 검토하였다. 이와 같은 저감공은 공진현상으로부터 단주기파랑의 입사에너지를 포획하여 기설의 방파제 배후로 전달되는 파랑에너지를 저감시키는 특성을 갖는다. 수치해석에 있어서 단주기파랑에 대해서는 연직선Green함수에 기초한 특이점분포법을, 고립파에 대해서는 3차원수치파동수로를 이용하는 3차원혼상류해석법을 각각 적용하였고, 기존의 수치해석결과 및 실험결과와 비교 분석하여 본 수치해석법의 타당성을 검증하였다. 이로부터 공진장치가 없는 경우와 대비 검토하여 단주기파랑 및 고립파의 제어에 대한 공진장치의 제어능을 다각도로 검토한 결과, 그의 유효성을 충분히 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고, 제어대상의 고립파에 대해 공진장치의 최적치수가 존재한다는 사실을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.167-174
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• 2023

Background: A nondestructive test is commonly used to inspect the surface defects and internal structure of an object without any physical damage. X-rays generated from an electron accelerator or a tube are one of the methods used for nondestructive testing. The high penetration of X-rays through materials with low atomic numbers makes it difficult to discriminate between these materials using X-ray imaging. The interaction characteristics of neutrons with materials can supplement the limitations of X-ray imaging in material discrimination. Materials and Methods: The radiation image acquisition process for air-cargo security inspection equipment using X-rays and neutrons was simulated using a GEometry ANd Tracking (Geant4) simulation toolkit. Radiation images of phantoms composed of 13 materials were obtained, and the R-value, representing the attenuation ratio of neutrons and gamma rays in a material, was calculated from these images. Results and Discussion: The R-values were calculated from the simulated X-ray and neutron images for each phantom and compared with those obtained in the experiments. The R-values obtained from the experiments were higher than those obtained from the simulations. The difference can be due to the following two causes. The first reason is that there are various facilities or equipment in the experimental environment that scatter neutrons, unlike the simulation. The other is the difference in the neutron signal processing. In the simulation, the neutron signal is the sum of the number of neutrons entering the detector. However, in the experiment, the neutron signal was obtained by superimposing the intensities of the neutron signals. Neutron detectors also detect gamma rays, and the neutron signal cannot be clearly distinguished in the process of separating the two types of radiation. Despite these differences, the two results showed similar trends and the viability of using simulation-based radiation images, particularly in the field of security screening. With further research, the simulation-based radiation images can replace ones from experiments and be used in the related fields. Conclusion: The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed air-cargo security inspection equipment using neutrons and X-rays. Using this equipment, radiation images and R-values for various materials were obtained. The equipment was reconstructed, and the R-values were obtained for 13 materials using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The R-values calculated by experiment and simulation show similar trends. Therefore, we confirmed the feasibility of using the simulation-based radiation image.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• 제23권10호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

This paper proposes a method to extend Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) canceling Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receivers for 5G mobile systems to spatial multiplexing 2×2 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) systems to support high-speed ground transportation services by linear motor cars traveling at 500 km/h. In Japan, linear-motor high-speed ground transportation service is scheduled to begin in 2027. To expand the coverage area of base stations, 5G mobile systems in high-speed moving trains will have multiple base station antennas transmitting the same downlink (DL) signal, forming an expanded cell size along the train rails. 5G terminals in a fast-moving train can cause the forward and backward antenna signals to be Doppler-shifted in opposite directions, so the receiver in the train may have trouble estimating the exact channel transfer function (CTF) for demodulation. A receiver in such high-speed train sees the transmission channel which is composed of multiple Doppler-shifted propagation paths. Then, a loss of sub-carrier orthogonality due to Doppler-spread channels causes ICI. The ICI Canceller is realized by the following three steps. First, using the Demodulation Reference Symbol (DMRS) pilot signals, it analyzes three parameters such as attenuation, relative delay, and Doppler-shift of each multi-path component. Secondly, based on the sets of three parameters, Channel Transfer Function (CTF) of sender sub-carrier number n to receiver sub-carrier number l is generated. In case of n≠l, the CTF corresponds to ICI factor. Thirdly, since ICI factor is obtained, by applying ICI reverse operation by Multi-Tap Equalizer, ICI canceling can be realized. ICI canceling performance has been simulated assuming severe channel condition such as 500 km/h, 8 path reverse Doppler Shift for QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM and 256QAM modulations. In particular, 2×2MIMO QPSK and 16QAM modulation schemes, BER (Bit Error Rate) improvement was observed when the number of taps in the multi-tap equalizer was set to 31 or more taps, at a moving speed of 500 km/h and in an 8-pass reverse doppler shift environment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권10호
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• pp.592-610
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• 2023

The Hippo kinase cascade functions as a central hub that relays input from the "outside world" of the cell and translates it into specific cellular responses by regulating the activity of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). How Hippo translates input from the extracellular signals into specific intracellular responses remains unclear. Here, we show that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-activated TAK1 activates LATS1/2, which then phosphorylates YAP1. Phosphorylated YAP1 (p-YAP1) associates with RUNX3, but not with TEAD4, to form a TGFβ-stimulated restriction (R)-point-associated complex which activates target chromatin loci in the nucleus. Soon after, p-YAP1 is exported to the cytoplasm. Attenuation of TGFβ signaling results in re-localization of unphosphorylated YAP1 to the nucleus, where it forms a YAP1/TEAD4/SMAD3/AP1/p300 complex. The TGFβ-stimulated spatiotemporal dynamics of YAP1 are abrogated in many cancer cells. These results identify a new pathway that integrates TGFβ signals and the Hippo pathway (TGFβ→TAK1→LATS1/2→YAP1 cascade) with a novel dynamic nuclear role for p-YAP1.

• Composites Research
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.435-440
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• 2023

본 연구에서는 기존 사용후핵연료(Spent nuclear fuel) 운반/저장 용기에 사용되는 중성자 흡수용 B₄C/Al 복합소재의 열전도도를 개선하기 위해 탄화붕소(B₄C)와 입방정 질화붕소(cBN)를 동시에 강화재로 사용한 알루미늄(Al) 기지 복합소재를 제조하고 평가를 진행하였다. 이를 위해서 교반주조 공정을 통해 복합재 잉곳을 제조하고 이를 압연하여 중성자 흡수용 소재를 성공적으로 제조하였다. 제조된 소재의 평가를 위해 cBN 첨가에 따른 열전도도와 중성자 흡수능 변화를 관찰하였다. 열전도도 측정 결과, B₄C 단일 입자만을 사용한 복합소재 대비 B₄C, cBN을 함께 사용한 복합소재가 동일 체적률 조건 하에서 약 3%의 열전도도 증가가 발생하는 것을 확인하였으며 중성자 흡수 단면적 계산을 통해 중성자 흡수능이 무시할 수 있는 수준으로 저하가 발생하는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구의 결과를 바탕으로, 중성자 흡수 소재의 새로운 설계 방안을 제시하고 고성능 운반/저장 용기의 개발에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.624-633
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of CT measurements of muscle quantity and quality using variable CT parameters. Materials and Methods: A phantom, simulating the L2-4 vertebral levels, was used for this study. CT images were repeatedly acquired with modulation of tube voltage, tube current, slice thickness, and the image reconstruction algorithm. Reference standard muscle compartments were obtained from the reference maps of the phantom. Cross-sectional area based on the Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of muscle and its components, and the mean density of the reference standard muscle compartment, were used to measure the muscle quantity and quality using different CT protocols. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated in the images acquired with different settings. Results: The skeletal muscle area (threshold, -29 to 150 HU) was constant, regardless of the protocol, occupying at least 91.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. Conversely, normal attenuation muscle area (30-150 HU) was not constant in the different protocols, varying between 59.7% and 81.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. The mean density was lower than the target density stated by the manufacturer (45 HU) in all cases (range, 39.0-44.9 HU). The SNR decreased with low tube voltage, low tube current, and in sections with thin slices, whereas it increased when the iterative reconstruction algorithm was used. Conclusion: Measurement of muscle quantity using HU threshold was reliable, regardless of the CT protocol used. Conversely, the measurement of muscle quality using the mean density and narrow HU thresholds were inconsistent and inaccurate across different CT protocols. Therefore, further studies are warranted in future to determine the optimal CT protocols for reliable measurements of muscle quality.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.688-698
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the lumen parameters measured by the location-adaptive threshold method (LATM), in which the inter- and intra-scan attenuation variabilities of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) were corrected, and the scan-adaptive threshold method (SATM), in which only the inter-scan variability was corrected, with the reference standard measurement by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS). Materials and Methods: The Hounsfield unit (HU) values of whole voxels and the centerline in each of the cross-sections of the 22 target coronary artery segments were obtained from 15 patients between March 2009 and June 2010, in addition to the corresponding voxel size. Lumen volume was calculated mathematically as the voxel volume multiplied by the number of voxels with HU within a given range, defined as the lumen for each method, and compared with the IVUS-derived reference standard. Subgroup analysis of the lumen area was performed to investigate the effect of lumen size on the studied methods. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between the measurements. Results: Lumen volumes measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by IVUS (mean difference, 14.6 mm³; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9-24.3 mm³); the lumen volumes measured by LATM and IVUS were not significantly different (mean difference, -0.7 mm³; 95% CI, -9.1-7.7 mm³). The lumen area measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by LATM in the smaller lumen area group (mean of difference, 1.07 mm²; 95% CI, 0.89-1.25 mm²) but not in the larger lumen area group (mean of difference, -0.07 mm²; 95% CI, -0.22-0.08 mm²). In the smaller lumen group, the mean difference was lower in the Bland-Altman plot of IVUS and LATM (0.46 mm²; 95% CI, 0.27-0.65 mm²) than in that of IVUS and SATM (1.53 mm²; 95% CI, 1.27-1.79 mm²). Conclusion: SATM underestimated the lumen parameters for computed lumen segmentation in CCTA, and this may be overcome by using LATM.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2021

Objective: Iterative reconstruction degrades image quality. Thus, further advances in image reconstruction are necessary to overcome some limitations of this technique in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan of the chest. Deep-learning image reconstruction (DLIR) is a new method used to reduce dose while maintaining image quality. The purposes of this study was to evaluate image quality and noise of LDCT scan images reconstructed with DLIR and compare with those of images reconstructed with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo at a level of 30% (ASiR-V 30%). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 58 patients who underwent LDCT scan for lung cancer screening. Datasets were reconstructed with ASiR-V 30% and DLIR at medium and high levels (DLIR-M and DLIR-H, respectively). The objective image signal and noise, which represented mean attenuation value and standard deviation in Hounsfield units for the lungs, mediastinum, liver, and background air, and subjective image contrast, image noise, and conspicuity of structures were evaluated. The differences between CT scan images subjected to ASiR-V 30%, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H were evaluated. Results: Based on the objective analysis, the image signals did not significantly differ among ASiR-V 30%, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H (p = 0.949, 0.737, 0.366, and 0.358 in the lungs, mediastinum, liver, and background air, respectively). However, the noise was significantly lower in DLIR-M and DLIR-H than in ASiR-V 30% (all p < 0.001). DLIR had higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) than ASiR-V 30% (p = 0.027, < 0.001, and < 0.001 in the SNR of the lungs, mediastinum, and liver, respectively; all p < 0.001 in the CNR). According to the subjective analysis, DLIR had higher image contrast and lower image noise than ASiR-V 30% (all p < 0.001). DLIR was superior to ASiR-V 30% in identifying the pulmonary arteries and veins, trachea and bronchi, lymph nodes, and pleura and pericardium (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: DLIR significantly reduced the image noise in chest LDCT scan images compared with ASiR-V 30% while maintaining superior image quality.