• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 2017

Purpose Recently, the performance of PET/CT scanner has been improved and various techniques have been developed to increase the image quality such as Sensitivity and Resolution. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Q.Clear (a fully convergent iterative reconstruction) technique of GE Discovery IQ equipment to enhance the image quality. Materials and Methods All scans were acquired by Discovery IQ (GE Healthcare, MI, USA). In NEMA IEC Body Phantom test, Background to Hot-sphere (10 mm, 13 mm, 17 mm, 22 mm) ratio was 1:4 and scan time was 3 minutes. The images were reconstructed by VPHDs (VUE Point High-Definition + SharpIR) and Q.Clear to evaluate each Contrast. We injected 18F-FDG 187 M㏃ to PET/SPECT Performance Phantom. And then it was scanned for 4 minutes to evaluate Resolution and Uniformity. T-test statistical analysis was performed on SUVmax of small lesions less than 2 cm in 100 clinical patients regardless of disease type. Results In the NEMA IEC Body Phantom, the Contrast was $63.6{\pm}5.7%$ (VPHDs) and $75{\pm}4.8%$ (Q.Clear). In the PET/SPECT Performance Phantom, the Resolution was 9.2 mm (VPHDs) and 7.3 mm (Q.Clear). Uniformity of Q.Clear was 10.8% better than VPHDs. T-test statistic of the clinical patients showed a significant difference of p value of 0.021. Conclusion Both the phantom test and the clinical results showed that the quality of the image was improved in Q.Clear was applied. The SUVmax was highly measured in Q.Clear and the lesions were clearly distinguished visually. Therefore Q.Clear can be useful in various aspects such as dose-reduction, patients evaluation and image analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2019

Purpose DMIDR(Discovery Molecular Imaging Digital Ready, General Electric Healthcare, USA) is a PET/CT scanner designed to allow application of PSF(Point Spread Function), TOF(Time of Flight) and Q.Clear algorithm. Especially, Q.Clear is a reconstruction algorithm which can overcome the limitation of OSEM(Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) and reduce the image noise based on voxel unit. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of reconstruction algorithms and optimize the algorithm combination to improve the accurate SUV(Standardized Uptake Value) measurement and lesion detectability. Materials and Methods PET phantom was filled with $^{18}F-FDG$ radioactivity concentration ratio of hot to background was in a ratio of 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1. Scan was performed using the NEMA protocols. Scan data was reconstructed using combination of (1)VPFX(VUE point FX(TOF)), (2)VPHD-S(VUE Point HD+PSF), (3)VPFX-S (TOF+PSF), (4)QCHD-S-400((VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (5)QCFX-S-400(TOF +Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (6)QCHD-S-50(VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF) and (7)QCFX-S-50(TOF+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF). CR(Contrast Recovery) and BV(Background Variability) were compared. Also, SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) and RC(Recovery Coefficient) of counts and SUV were compared respectively. Results VPFX-S showed the highest CR value in sphere size of 10 and 13 mm, and QCFX-S-50 showed the highest value in spheres greater than 17 mm. In comparison of BV and SNR, QCFX-S-400 and QCHD-S-400 showed good results. The results of SUV measurement were proportional to the H/B ratio. RC for SUV is in inverse proportion to the H/B ratio and QCFX-S-50 showed highest value. In addition, reconstruction algorithm of Q.Clear using 400 of ${\beta}-strength$ showed lower value. Conclusion When higher ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed better image quality by reducing the noise. On the contrary, lower ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed that sharpness increase and PVE(Partial Volume Effect) decrease, so it is possible to measure SUV based on high RC comparing to conventional reconstruction conditions. An appropriate choice of these reconstruction algorithm can improve the accuracy and lesion detectability. In this reason, it is necessary to optimize the algorithm parameter according to the purpose.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1075-1083
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cutting types on microclimate and growth characteristics of afforested tree in Quercus acutissima stand after different types of cutting. The difference in temperature reaching $5.2^{\circ}C$ was shown in between clear cutting and selective cutting treatments. On July and August days with temperatures more than $35^{\circ}C$ often appeared in clear cutting stand. The values of VPD in July and August were higher than those in other months. Maximum VPD of 3.99 kPa was shown in clear cutting stand on May 23 as a prolonged rainless days appeared. However, VPD in selective cutting stand always stayed under 3.0 kPa throughout growing season. A higher intensity was shown in clear cutting and strip clear cutting stands, reaching to more than $1,600{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ at midday on early August, while that in selective cutting stand stayed about 1,500. In relative growth rate selective cutting stand showed a significantly higher relative growth rate in plant height than those in other cutting stands (p<0.05). The number of leaf in current-year branches significantly increased in selective cutting stand, whereas no increase was shown in clear cutting and strip clear cutting stands (p<0.05). In addition, relative elongation rate of current year branch also showed higher values in selective cutting stand compared with that in strip clear cutting stand (p<0.05). However, leaf mass per unit area (LMA) was higher in order of strip clear cutting, clear cutting, and selective cutting stands. From these results it is concluded that environmental conditions in clear cutting and strip clear cutting stands during growing season are more stressful to afforested tree species, resulting in lower relative growth in plant height, elongation of current-year branches, and leaf number per branch compared with those in selective cutting stand. Consequently, more data must be accumulated in the field to find out best cutting type in plantation considering the adaptational characteristic of each tree species varies with species and life span of tree is long.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2012

Background: The purpose of this study was to differentiate chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma on helical CT. Methods: The CT images of 9 patients histopathologically proven to have chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and 20 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma were reviewed. The tumor sizes, margins, enhancement degrees and patterns, presence or absence of calcification, and tumor spread patterns (including perinephric changes, venous invasion, lymphadenopathy, and distant metastasis) were compared. Results: All the chromophobe renal cell carcinomas showed well-demarcated margins. Thechromophobe renal cell carcinomas showed milder enhancements than the clear cell renal cell carcinomas. The sensitivity and specificity for differentiating the chromophobe renal cell carcinoma from the clear cell renal cell carcinoma were 100 and 88%, respectively, when 101 Hounsfield units was used as the cut-off value in the corticomedullary phase, and 95 and 100% when a less-than-three-time enhancement change was used as a cut-off value in the corticomedullary phase (p<0.05). The chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (67%) tended to show a homogeneous enhancement whereas the clear cell renal cell carcinomas (85%) usually showed a heterogeneous enhancement (p<0.05). Statistical analysis revealed that the frequencies of the tumor spread pattern and calcification in the two subtypes didnot differ significantly (p>0.05). Conclusion: The CT findings of the chromophobe renal cell carcinomascompared to those of the clear cell renal cell carcinomas showed that there were mild enhancements in the corticomedullary phase, homogeneous enhancements, and well-demarcated margins.

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.101-104
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• 2006

The present study examined two acoustic characteristics(duration and intensity) of vowels produced by 4 cerebral palsic adults and 4 nondisabled adults in conversational and clear speech. In this study, clear speech means: (1) slow one's speech rate just a little, (2) articulate all phonemes accurately and increase vocal volume. Speech material included 10 bisyllabic real words in the frame sentences. Temporal-acoustic analysis showed that vowels produced by two speaker groups in clear speech(in this case, more accurate and louder speech) were significantly longer than vowels in conversational speech. In addition, intensity of vowels produced by cerebral palsic speakers in clear speech(in this case, more accurate and louder speech) was higher than in conversational speech.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 1998

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is a rare malignant tumor of the renal origin in childhood, distinguished from Wilms tumor by its pathologic and clinical features. Bone metastasis is one of the characteristic clinical features. The common site of metastasis of the clear cell Sarcoma of the kidney is axial skeleton including skull, spines, ribs and femur. A cases of clear cell Sarcoma of the kidney presented to us, which solely metastasized to the hand bones without metastasizing to any other tissues including axial skeleton. We report this case with review of literatures.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 2010

Conceptions about functions of large & small intestine[LI & SI] were focused on the vermiculation in "Somun(素問) Yeongranbijeonron(靈蘭秘典論)". However, functions of large & small intestine includes more. In Oriental Medicine, there are sentences in "Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經)" "LI manages Fluid [津] and SI manages Humor[液]" It means that LI & SI have an each role in digestion besides vermiculation. In that reason, we try to find out the meaning of the functions of LI and SI in digestion through bibliographic review. As a result, LI and SI have a digestic function by Separating the Clear which includes Fluids and Humor and the Turbid which is relatively useless to the Clear.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Microcystin-LR, one of algal toxins induced by the eutrophication of a reservoir, is known to be harmful to human by adversely affecting our liver and brain. Hypochlorous acid is very efficient to remove Microcystin-LR in a clear well. The previous researches showed that CT, pH and temperature affected removal rate in batch tests. It was noted that hydrodynamic properties of clear well could also influence its removal rate. A mathematical model was built using an axial dispersion reactor model and software was used to simulate the removal rate. The model consisted of the second order differential equations including dispersion, convection, Microcystin-LR reaction with chlorine. Kinetic constants were obtained through batch tests with chlorine. They were $0.430{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ and $0.143{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ for pH 7.0 and 8.1, respectively. The axial dispersion reactor model was shown to be useful for the numerical model through conservative tracer tests. The numerical model successfully estimated the removal rate of Microcyctin-LR in a clear well. Numerical simulations showed that a small dispersion number, low pH and long hydraulic retention time were critical for higher removal rate with same chlorine dosage. This model could be used to optimize the operation of a clear well during an eutrophication season.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytomorphologic features of histologically confirmed clear cell carcinoma of the ovary and to evaluate the applicability of scrape or fine-needle aspiration cytology in making an intraoperative diagnosis. We reviewed scrape or fine-needle aspiration cytology findings in tissues taken from 6 patients with clear cell carcinoma of the ovary. The cytologic diagnosis was based primarily on findings in alcohol-fixed, hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) stained smears. The formation of material resembling a basement membrane was a characteristic finding in these smears. This extracellular hyaline material was stained light pink with H-E and was frequently found within tumor cell clusters as well as in the background material. Multinucleated giant cells were found occasionally. Each tumor cell had an abundant, clear, or granular cytoplasm with a distinct cellular membrane. Scrape cytology is a simple and rapid supportive method and could be helpful in diagnosing clear cell carcinoma of the ovary, especially when marked artifacts appear in the frozen section.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.539-545
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the knowledge and self care behaviors of orthodontic patients using clear aligner. Methods : A total of 181 orthodontic patients using clear aligner in Daegu filled out the self-reported questionnaire from September 6 to October 18, 2010. and 162 subjects completed orthodontic treatment. Results : There existed a significant difference in knowledge and self care behaviors between gender and wearing duration of clear aligner(p<0.01). Treatment duration influenced significantly on the score of self care behaviors(p<0.01) and the high score of self care behavior showed in short duration of treatment. Conclusions : Self care behaviors were closely correlated with treatment duration. An information for the clear aligner will be helpful to improve the knowledge and self care behaviors.