• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.414-424
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• 1998

Purpose: Cross-modality coregistration of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) could enhance the clinical information. In this study we propose a refined technique to improve the robustness of registration, and to implement more realistic visualization of the coregistered images. Materials and Methods: Using the sinogram of PET emission scan, we extracted the robust head boundary and used boundary-enhanced PET to coregister PET with MR. The pixels having 10% of maximum pixel value were considered as the boundary of sinogram. Boundary pixel values were exchanged with maximum value of sinogram. One hundred eighty boundary points were extracted at intervals of about 2 degree using simple threshold method from each slice of MR images. Best affined transformation between the two point sets was performed using least square fitting which should minimize the sum of Euclidean distance between the point sets. We reduced calculation time using pre-defined distance map. Finally we developed an automatic coregistration program using this boundary detection and surface matching technique. We designed a new weighted normalization technique to display the coregistered PET and MR images simultaneously. Results: Using our newly developed method, robust extraction of head boundary was possible and spatial registration was successfully performed. Mean displacement error was less than 2.0 mm. In visualization of coregistered images using weighted normalization method, structures shown in MR image could be realistically represented. Conclusion: Our refined technique could practically enhance the performance of automated three dimensional coregistration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.825-830
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• 2007

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery appears to offer certain advantages such as earlier postoperative recovery and a greater cosmetic effect than that achieved through conventional sternotomy. However, this approach has not yet been widely adopted in Korea to replace complex open heart surgery such as mitral valve reconstruction. This study compared the results of robot assisted minimally invasive mitral valve repair with those results of conventional sternotomy. Material and Method: From December 1993 to December 2005, 520 consecutive patients underwent mitral valve reconstruction for mitral regurgitation in our institution. These patients were subdivided according to those whose surgery used the conventional sternotomy approach (Group S, n=432) and those who underwent minimally invasive right anterior thoracotomy (Group M, n=88); we then compared the clinical results of both groups. When we performed minimally invasive right thoracotomy, we used a robot (AESOP 3000) and made an incision less than 5 cm. Result: Our study patients in both groups were similar for their age, gender and preoperative ejection fraction. There were two hospital mortalities in group S. but there was no mortality in the group M patients. Significant reductions in the ICU stay and the postoperative hospital stay were observed in the group M patients compared with the group S patients. However, both the bypass time and the aortic cross-clamp time were significantly longer in the group M patients. In spite of the confined incision in the group M patients, there were no limitations on the mitral valve repair techniques. There was a similar frequency of postoperative significant residual mitral regurgitation in both groups. Conclusion: In this study, the minimally invasive mitral valve repair showed comparable early results with the conventional sternotomy patients. We will now need long-term follow-up of these patients who underwent minimally invasive mitral valve repair, but we anticipate that based on the results of this study, we will begin to routinely perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery as out primary approach for mitral valve reconstruction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• autumn
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• pp.180-185
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• 2003

The increase of traffic over a bridge has been emerged as one of the most severe problems in view of bridge maintenance, since the load effect caused by the vehicle passage over the bridge has brought out a long-term damage to bridge structure, and it is nearly impossible to maintain operational serviceability of bridge to user's satisfactory level without any concern on bridge maintenance at the phase of completion. Moreover, bridge maintenance operation should be performed by regular inspection over the bridge to prevent structural malfunction or unexpected accidents front breaking out by monitoring on cracks or deformations during service. Therefore, technical breakthrough related to this uninterested field of bridge maintenance leading the public to the turning point of recognition is desperately needed. This study has the aim of development on automated inspection system to lower surface of bridge superstructures to replace the conventional system of bridge inspection with the naked eye, where the monitoring staff is directly on board to refractive or other type of maintenance .vehicles, with which it is expected that we can solve the problems essentially where the results of inspection are varied to change with subjective manlier from monitoring staff, increase stabilities in safety during the inspection, and make contribution to construct data base by providing objective and quantitative data and materials through image processing method over data captured by cameras. By this system it is also expected that objective estimation over the right time of maintenance and reinforcement work will lead enormous decrease in maintenance cost.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.549-560
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• 2019

The effects of the coal-fired power plant emissions, as the biggest point source of air pollutants, on spatiotemporal surface air pollution over the remote area are investigated in this study, based on a set of date selection and statistical technique to consider meteorological and geographical effects in the emission-concentration (source-receptor) relationship. We here proposed the sophisticated technique of data processing to separate and quantify the effects. The data technique comprises a set of data selection and statistical analysis procedure that include data selection criteria depending on meteorological conditions and statistical methods such as Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filter (K-Z filter) and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The data selection procedure is important for filtering measurement data to consider the meteorological and geographical effects on the emission-concentration relationship. Together with meteorological data from the new high resolution ECMWF reanalysis 5 (ERA5) and the Korea Meteorological Administration automated surface observing system, air pollutant emission data from the telemonitoring system (TMS) of Dangjin and Taean power plants as well as spatio-temporal air pollutant concentrations from the air quality monitoring system are used for 4 years period of 2014-2017. Since all the data used in this study have the temporal resolution of 1 hour, the first EOF mode of spatio-temporal changes in air pollutant concentrations over the Seoul metropolitan area (SMA) due to power plant emission have been analyzed to explain over 97% of total variability under favorable meteorological conditions. It is concluded that SO₂, NO₂, and PM₁₀ concentrations over the SMA would be decreased by 0.468, 1.050 ppb, and 2.045 ㎍ m^-3 respectively if SO₂, NO₂, and TSP emissions from Dangjin power plant were reduced by 10%. In the same way, the 10% emission reduction in Taean power plant emissions would cause SO₂, NO₂, and PM₁₀ decreased by 0.284, 0.842 ppb, and 1.230 ㎍ m^-3 over the SMA respectively. Emissions from Dangjin power plant affect air pollution over the SMA in higher amount, but with lower R value, than those of Taean under the same meteorological condition.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.315-328
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• 2017

Even though assessment using information and communication technology will most likely lead the future of educational assessment, there is little domestic research on this topic. Computerized assessment will not only cut costs but also measure students' performance in ways not possible before. In this context, this study introduces a tool which can overcome the problems of multiple choice tests, which are most widely used type of assessment in current Korean educational setting. Multiple-choice tests, in which options are presented with the questions, are efficient in that grading can be automated; however, they allow for students who don't know the answer, to find the correct answer from the options. Park(2005) has developed a modified multiple-choice testing system (CMMT) using the interactivity of computers, that presents questions first, and options later for a short time when the student requests for them. The present study was conducted to find out if penalizing wrong answers could lower the possibility of students choosing an answer among the options when they don't know the correct answer. 116 students were tested with the directions that they will be penalized for wrong answers, but not for no response. There were 4 experimental conditions: 2 conditions of high or low percentage of penalizing, each in traditional multiple-choice or CMMT format. The results were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA for the number of no response, the test score and self-report score. Analysis showed that the number of no response was significantly higher for the CMMT format and that test scores were significantly lower when the penalizing percentage was high. The possibility of applying CMMT format tests while penalizing wrong answers in actual testing settings was addressed. In addition, the need for further research in the cognitive sciences to develop computerized assessment tools, was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.439-450
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• 2018

The lineament is a linear or curved terrain element to discriminate adjacent geological structures in each other. It has been widely used for analysis of geology, mineral exploration, natural disasters, and earthquake, etc. In the past, the lineament has been extracted using cartographic map or field survey. However, it is possible to extract more efficiently the lineament for a very wide area thanks to development of remote sensing technique. Remotely sensed observation by aircraft, satellite, or digital elevation model (DEM) has been used for visual recognition for manual lineament extraction. Automatic approaches using computer science have been proposed to extract lineament more objectively. In this study, we evaluate the characteristics of lineament which is automatically extracted with respect to difference of spatial resolution of DEM. We utilized two types of DEM: one is Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) with spatial resolution of about 90 m (3 arc sec), and the other is the latest world DEM of TerraSAR-X add-on for Global DEM with 12 m spatial resolution. In addition, a global DEM was resampled to produce a DEM with a spatial resolution of 30 m (1 arc sec). The shaded relief map was constructed considering various sun elevation and solar azimuth angle. In order to extract lineament automatically, we used the LINE module in PCI Geomatica software. We found that predominant direction of the extracted lineament is about $N15-25^{\circ}E$ (NNE), regardless of spatial resolution of DEM. However, more fine and detailed lineament were extracted using higher spatial resolution of DEM. The result shows that the lineament density is proportional to the spatial resolution of DEM. Thus, the DEM with appropriate spatial resolution should be selected according to the purpose of the study.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.71-90
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• 1996

There is considerable current interest in the effect of regular vigorous exercise and in particular endurance-running as a possible measure in improving myocardial function. Some data indicate that the aging heart may actually suffer from vigorous endurance exercise. On the contrary appropriate exercise in aged animals improves myocardial function and aerobic energy metabolism. So far there is relatively little data to indicate that endurance exercise is in fact beneficial in improving myocardial function or damaging to heart of aged animals. The present investigation aimed to study the possible effect of a long range treadmill training program on the heart in aging rats. Male rats aged 3, 10, and 20 months were divided at random into a control (sedentary) and an exercise group. The training group was exercised for 5 days a week on an automated treadmill for 20minutes at 18m/min over a period of 5 months. The exercise regimen of our experiments did not cause any significant changes in the tissues and ultrastructural as com-pared with sedentary age-matched control. Tissues and ultrastructures of myocardial cells in trained group aged 8 months are intact and well organized as well as sedentary control group. Age associated tissue and ultrastructural changes of trained group aged 15 months included : an increase in transformed mitochondria, vacuoles, lysosomes, lipid droplets and early lipofuscin. But the trained heart did not show significant difference in tissue and ultrastructural properties from those of sedentary controls. Endurance-trained group aged 25 months showed significant qualitative tissue and ultrastructural difference as compared with age-matched controls. In addition to those found in 25 months control group, focal necrosis, myofibril fraying, hypercontraction band, seperation of intercalated discs, degenerating nucleus and infiltration of collagenous fiber into myocyte were noted in trained 25 months group. The stereological examination of the mi-crographs disclosed no significant difference in the myoflbril, mitochondrion, sarcotubule and in-terstitium volume density and surface density of mitochondrial cristae and numerical density of mitochondria between trained and control group aged 8 and 15 months. In the trained 25 months group, significant increase in volume density of interstitium, lipofucsin granule were shown as compared to untrained age-matched control. On the other hand, significant decrease in mitochondrion volume density was shown. The myofibril volume density did not differ between trained and control group although trained group showed slight increase. From the data obtained a reduced mitochondria/myofibrils ratio was found in trained rat heart aged 25 months and there was no difference between trained and control rat aged 15 months. But a slight but not significant increase was found in the trained group aged 8 months as compared with same age control group. Such increase in the ratio in young animals is considered to be of great importance to cardiac pumping and adaptability. Whereas such adaptations don't seem to occur in aged heart muscle. This study proposed that repeated endurance exercise do not cause any significant qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural change of heart muscle in young(3months) and adult (10months) suggesting that the heart is able to adapt to the exercise. On the contrary, the repeated endurance exercise stress may actually induce degenerative changes in the aged heart muscle(20months).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2014

A pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) core has 380 fuel channels contained and supported by a horizontal cylindrical vessel known as the calandria, whereas a pressurized water reactor (PWR) has only a single reactor vessel. The pressure tube, which is a pressure-retaining component, has a 103.4 mm inside diameter ${\times}$ 4.19 mm wall thickness, and is 6.36 m long, made of a zirconium alloy (Zr-2.5 wt% Nb). This provides support for the fuel while transporting the $D_2O$ heat-transfer fluid. The simple tubular geometry invites highly automated inspection, and good approach for all inspection. Similar to all nuclear heat-transfer pressure boundaries, the PHWR pressure tube requires a rigorous, periodic inspection to assess the reactor integrity in accordance with the Korea Nuclear Safety Committee law. Volumetric-based nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques utilizing ultrasonic and eddy current testing have been adopted for use in the periodic inspection of the fuel channel. The eddy current testing, as a supplemental NDE method to ultrasonic testing, is used to confirm the flaws primarily detected through ultrasonic testing, however, eddy current testing offers a significant advantage in that its ability to detect surface flaws is superior to that of ultrasonic testing. In this paper, effectiveness of flaw detection and the depth sizing capability by eddy current testing for the inside surface of a pressure tube, will be introduced. As a result of this examination, the ET technique is found to be useful only as a detection technique for defects because it can detect fine defects on the surface with high resolution. However, the ET technique is not recommended for use as a depth sizing method because it has a large degree of error for depth sizing.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 1997

A microbiological nitrate determination method by E. coli is modified in Korea, using K12 wildtype, KCTC 1116, for the quantitative reduction of $NO_3{^-}$ to $NO_2{^-}$. The nitrate in plant, soil or water sample is determined spectrophotometrically after being diazotized with sulfaniamide and N-(1-naphthl)-ethlenediamine. The modified E. coli cell method and principle for nitrate determination using Korean wildtype E. coli strain is described, and cell culture and preparation of stock suspension for E. coli as well. This modified E. coli cell method can be managed simply and fast, it is suitable for the investigation of the large serials, it can be also automated and has a high degree of sensitivity up to 0.01ppm $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the sample solution. The applicability of the modified E. coli cell method has been tested for plant, soil and water analysis on a wide range of different samples. Recovery rates of added nitrate have been determined and comparisons with other standard nitrate analytical procedures have been carried out. The results with the modified E. coli cell method show high correlation ($r^2=0.98$) with those gained by the standard analytical procedures. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are also discussed to other nitrate determination methods.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2009

Purpose: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) using an on board imager (OBI) can check the movement and setup error in patient position and target volume by comparing with the image of computer simulation treatment in real.time during patient treatment. Thus, this study purposed to check the change and movement of patient position and target volume using CBCT in IMRT and calculate difference from the treatment plan, and then to correct the position using an automated match system and to test the accuracy of position correction using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and examine the usefulness of CBCT in IMRT and the accuracy of the automatic match system. Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study were 3 head and neck patients and 1 pelvis patient sampled from IMRT patients treated in our hospital. In order to investigate the movement of treatment position and resultant displacement of irradiated volume, we took CBCT using OBI mounted on the linear accelerator. Before each IMRT treatment, we took CBCT and checked difference from the treatment plan by coordinate by comparing it with the image of CT simulation. Then, we made correction through the automatic match system of 3D/3D match to match the treatment plan, and verified and evaluated using electronic portal imaging device. Results: When CBCT was compared with the image of CT simulation before treatment, the average difference by coordinate in the head and neck was 0.99 mm vertically, 1.14 mm longitudinally, 4.91 mm laterally, and 1.07o in the rotational direction, showing somewhat insignificant differences by part. In testing after correction, when the image from the electronic portal imaging device was compared with DRR image, it was found that correction had been made accurately with error less than 0.5 mm. Conclusion: By comparing a CBCT image before treatment with a 3D image reconstructed into a volume instead of a 2D image for the patient's setup error and change in the position of the organs and the target, we could measure and correct the change of position and target volume and treat more accurately, and could calculate and compare the errors. The results of this study show that CBCT was useful to deliver accurate treatment according to the treatment plan and to increase the reproducibility of repeated treatment, and satisfactory results were obtained. Accuracy enhanced through CBCT is highly required in IMRT, in which the shape of the target volume is complex and the change of dose distribution is radical. In addition, further research is required on the criteria for match focus by treatment site and treatment purpose.