• Title/Summary/Keyword: Contrast ratio

Search Result 1,515, Processing Time 0.039 seconds

Prediction of Late Rectal Complication Following High-dose-rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy in Cancer of the Uterine Cervix (자궁경부암 환자의 고선량률 강내치료 시행 시 직장합병증의 예측)

  • Lee, Jeung-Eun;Huh, Seung-Jae;Park, Won;Lim, Do-Hoon;Ahn, Yong-Chan
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
    • /
    • v.21 no.4
    • /
    • pp.276-282
    • /
    • 2003
  • Purpose: Although high-dose-rate intracavitary radiotherapy (HDR ICR) has been used in the treatment of cervical cancer, the potential for increased risk of late complication, most commonly in the rectum, is a major concern. We have previously reported on 136 patients treated with HDR brachytherapy between 1995 and 1999. The purpose of this study is to upgrade the previous data and confirm the correlation between late rectal complication and rectal dose in cervix cancer patients treated with HDR ICR. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was peformed for 222 patients with cevix cancer who were treated for curative intent with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and HDR ICR from July 1995 to December 2001. The median dose of EBRT was 50.4 (30.6$\~$56.4) Gy with a daily fraction size 1.8 Gy. A total of six fractions of HDR ICR were given twice weekly with fraction size of 4 (3$\~$5.5) Gy to A point by Iridium-192 source. The rectal dose was calculated at the rectal reference point using the barium contrast criteria. in vivo measurement of the rectal dose was peformed with thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) during HDR ICR. The median follow-up period was 39 months, ranging from 6 to 90 months. Results: Twenty-one patients (9.5$\%$) experienced late rectal bleeding, from 3 to 44 months (median, 13 months) after the completion of RT. The calculated rectal doses were not different between the patients with rectal bleeding and those without, but the measured rectal doses were higher in the complicated patients. The differences of the measured ICR rectal fractional dose, ICR total rectal dose, and total rectal biologically equivalent dose (BED) were statistically significant. When the measured ICR total rectal dose was beyond 16 Gy, when the ratio of the measured rectal dose to A point dose was beyond 70$\%$, or when the measured rectal BED was over 110 Gy$_{3}$, a high possibility of late rectal complication was found. Conclusion: Late rectal complication was closely correlated with measured rectal dose by in vivo dosimetry using TLD during HDR ICR. If data from in vivo dosimetry shows any possibility of rectal bleeding, efforts should be made to reduce the rectal dose.

Occurrences and Physicochemical Properties of Japanese Bentonite Deposits (일본 벤토나이트 광상의 부존특성 및 광석의 물리화학적 특성)

  • Song Min-Sub;Koh Sang-Mo;Takagi Tetsuichi
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.245-265
    • /
    • 2004
  • This study was to compare the geological occurrences and geneses of the Myogi, Tsukinuno, Dobuyama and Kawasaki bentonite deposits distributed in the Tertiary sedimentary basins of NE Japan, and to compare the mineralogical and physicochemical properties of their bentonites. The Japanese bentonite deposits are mainly distributed in the Green-tuff region which was formed in Neogene. The shape of ore body of the Myogi, Tsukinuno and Kawasaki deposits formed by the diagenesis are layered and stratiform. In contrast to this, the Dobuyama deposit formed by hydrothermal alteration shows the cone shape. The mineralization age of four deposits are 1.8 ~ 21 Ha from Early Miocene to Pliocene. The Dobuyama bentonite with the highest montmorillonite content shows the highest surface area, CEC, MB adsorption, and strengths. The Tsukinuno bentonite with a little high montmorillonite content is characterized by strong alkalinity, high viscosity and swelling. The Kawasaki bentonite, the Na-Ca mixed type, shows higher viscosity and swelling than the Ca-type Dobuyama bentonite. The Myogi bentonite with the lowest montmorillonite content shows the properties of low viscosity, In adsorption, strengths and a little high CEC and surface area. The high CEC and surface area of this deposit is due to the sufficient occurrence of zeolite. A strong dispersion in the Na-type bentonite and a strong flocculation in the Ca-type bentonite took place, and both the types show a slow flocculation with time. The physicochemical properties of the bentonite are mainly controlled by the montmorillonite content, interlayer cations, and impurity minerals such as zeolite. But bentonites inconsistent to this factors are sometimes occurred. This is maybe due to the crystal chemistry such as layer charge of montmorillonite and crystal morphology of montmorillonite such as aspect ratio.

Changes In Protein and Its Components of High and Low Protein Varieties during Seed Development and Maturation of Soybeans (대두(大豆) 고저단백질(高低蛋白質) 품종(品種)의 성숙중(成熟中) 종실(種實)의 발육(發育)과 단백질(蛋白質) 및 그 구성분(構成分)의 변화(變化))

  • Lee, Jong Suk
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.56-67
    • /
    • 1978
  • This study was conducted to characterize comparatively the accumulative patterns of protein and oil, temporal changes in electrophoretic components of proteins during seed development and maturation for the soybean varieties with high, medium and low protein contents. 1. The dry matter of the developing seed increases slowly for the first 22 days after flowering, followed by rapid linear increase for 20 to 30 days and further slow increase for 5 to 15 days attaining its maximum. During the period 12 to 27 days after flowering the protein content of seed increases rapidly while oil content increases rapidly. Following this period of rapid changes, there was period of slow increase until 40 to 47 days after flowering and no seizable further change in the content of both protein and oil. 2. The high protein variety, Saikai # 20, was characterized by shorter period and lower rate of decrease in protein content during the early period, followed by longer period and higher rate of increase in protein content, with earlier stop of oil accumlation during the seed development. 3. The low protein and high oil variety, Shelby, was characterized by longer period of decrease in protein content and shorter period of increase in protein content in contrast to the longer period of slow oil increase during seed development. 4. The temporal pattern of protein component accumulation during seed development was distinctly different among varieties differing in protein content. The time of distinct appearance of all the protein components identifiable in the matured seeds was in accordance with the end of d crease in the protein content of seed. A component having Rm of 0.03 which was absent in the matured seeds was identifiable during the first 17 days after flowering. 5. The high protein variety, Saikai # 20, had much higher compositioral ratio of the component a from the early days of seed development and it continued to increase until 47 days after flowering, while the increase in the composition of the component a stopped as early as 27 days after flowering in the other lower protein varieties. 6. The composition of the component b increased during the period from 17 to 42 days after flowering in all the varieties tested, but the rate of increase during the period was lowest in the high protein variety, Saikai # 20.

  • PDF

Retrospective Evaluation of Discrepancies between Radiological and Pathological Size of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Masses

  • Tian, Fei;Wu, Jian-Xiong;Rong, Wei-Qi;Wang, Li-Ming;Wu, Fan;Yu, Wei-Bo;An, Song-Lin;Liu, Fa-Qiang;Feng, Li;Liu, Yun-He
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.21
    • /
    • pp.9487-9494
    • /
    • 2014
  • Background: The size of a hepatic neoplasm is critical for staging, prognosis and selection of appropriate treatment. Our study aimed to compare the radiological size of solid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) masses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the pathological size in a Chinese population, and to elucidate discrepancies. Materials and Methods: A total of 178 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection after enhanced MRI between July 2010 and October 2013 were retrospectively identified and analyzed. Pathological data of the whole removed tumors wereassessed and differences between radiological and pathological tumor size were identified. All patients were restaged using a modified Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system postoperatively according to the maximum diameter alteration. The lesions were classified as hypo-staged, iso-staged or hyper-staged for qualitative assessment. In the quantitative analysis, the relative pre and postoperative tumor size contrast ratio ($%{\Delta}size$) was also computed according to size intervals. In addition, the relationship between radiological and pathological tumor diameter variation and histologic grade was analyzed. Results: Pathological examination showed 85 (47.8%) patients were overestimated, 82 (46.1%) patients underestimated, while accurate measurement by MRI was found in 11 (6.2%) patients. Among the total subjects, 14 (7.9%) patients were hypo-staged and 15 (8.4%) were hyper-staged post-operatively. Accuracy of MRI for calculation and characterized staging was related to the lesion size, ranging from 83.1% to 87.4% (<2cm to ${\geq}5cm$, p=0.328) and from 62.5% to 89.1% (cT1 to cT4, p=0.006), respectively. Overall, MRI misjudged pathological size by 6.0 mm (p=0.588 ), and the greatest difference was observed in tumors <2cm (3.6 mm, $%{\Delta}size=16.9%$, p=0.028). No statistically significant difference was observed for moderately differentiated HCC (5.5mm, p=0.781). However, for well differentiated and poorly differentiated cases, radiographic tumor maximum diameter was significantly larger than the pathological maximum diameter by 3.15 mm and underestimated by 4.51 mm, respectively (p=0.034 and 0.020). Conclusions: A preoperative HCC tumor size measurement using MRI can provide relatively acceptable accuracy but may give rise to discrepancy in tumors in a certain size range or histologic grade. In pathological well differentiated subjects, the pathological tumor size was significantly overestimated, but underestimated in poorly differentiated HCC. The difference between radiological and pathological tumor size was greatest for tumors <2 cm. For some HCC patients, the size difference may have implications for the decision of resection, transplantation, ablation, or arterially directed therapy, and should be considered in staging or selecting the appropriate treatment tactics.

Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities of Cookies Supplemented with Aronia Powder (아로니아 분말을 첨가한 쿠키의 품질 특성과 항산화 활성)

  • Lee, Jun Ho;Choi, Ji Eun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.45 no.7
    • /
    • pp.1071-1076
    • /
    • 2016
  • The feasibility of incorporating aronia powder (AP) as a value-added food ingredient into convenient food products was investigated using cookie as a model system. AP was incorporated into cookies at amounts of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% (w/w) based on total weight of wheat flour. The pH level of cookie dough decreased significantly with increasing levels of AP (P<0.05), whereas moisture content and density were not directly affected by levels of AP incorporation. The spread ratio increased significantly upon addition of AP; however, it was not significantly affected by level of AP incorporation. The loss rate of cookies decreased significantly with increasing levels of AP (P<0.05). In terms of color, lightness and yellowness decreased while redness increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of AP. Use of AP significantly decreased hardness of cookies (P<0.05), but no significant differences were found between control and 1% sample, 1% and 2% sample, 2% and 3% sample, and 3% and 4% sample (P>0.05). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were significantly elevated by AP addition, and they increased significantly as AP concentration increased in the formulation (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that acceptances of color and chewiness were negatively correlated well with the level of AP incorporation, density and moisture content of cookie dough, and cookie redness, whereas they were positively correlated with pH of cookie dough, loss rate, and hardness (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Finally, consumer acceptance test indicated that the highest levels of AP incorporation (4%) had an adverse effect on general consumer preferences. In contrast, cookies with moderate levels of AP (2%) are recommended based on overall scores to take advantage of the antioxidant properties of AP without sacrificing consumer acceptability.

Radiation Exposure on Radiation Workers of Nuclear Power Plants in Korea : 2009-2013 (국내 원전 종사자의 방사선량 : 2009-2013)

  • Lim, Young-khi
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
    • /
    • v.40 no.3
    • /
    • pp.162-167
    • /
    • 2015
  • Although the perfomance indicators of the nuclear power plants in Korea show optimal, it requires detailed analysis and discussion centered on the radiation dose. As analysis methods, analysis on the radiation dose of nuclear power plants over the past five years was assessed by comparing the relevant radiation dose of radiation workers and per capita average annual radiation dose of the world's major nuclear power stations was also analyzed. The radiation workers over the annual radiation dose limit of 50 mSv were not. The contrast ratio of the radiation exposure according to the reactor type was the normal operation of PHWR was 6.2% higher than those of the PWR. This shows the radiation work of PHWR during normal driving operation is much more than those of PWR. According to the Performance Indicators of the World Association of Nuclear Operator, the annual radiation dose per unit in 2013 showed 527 man-mSv of Korea is the best country among the major nuclear power generating states, the world average was 725 man-mSv. The annual per capita radiation dose is about 80% less than 1 mSv of the public dose limit and also the average per capita dose showed a very low level as 0.82 mSv. Workers in related organizations showed 1.07 mSv, the non-destructive inspection agency workers showed 3.87 mSv. The remarkable results were due to radiation reduced program such as development of radiation shielding and radiation protection. In conclusion, the radiation exposured dose of nuclear power plants workers in Korea showed a trend which is ideally reduced. But more are expected to be difficul and the psychological insecurity against the operation of the nuclear power plants is existed to the residents near the nuclear power plants. So the radiation dose reduction policy and radiation dose follow up study of nuclear power plants will be continously excuted.

Dependence Potential of the Synthetic Cannabinoids JWH-073, JWH-081, and JWH-210: In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches

  • Cha, Hye Jin;Lee, Kwang-Wook;Song, Min-Ji;Hyeon, Yang-Jin;Hwang, Ji-Young;Jang, Choon-Gon;Ahn, Joon-Ik;Jeon, Seol-Hee;Kim, Hyun-Uk;Kim, Young-Hoon;Seong, Won-Keun;Kang, Hoil;Yoo, Han Sang;Jeong, Ho-Sang
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
    • /
    • v.22 no.4
    • /
    • pp.363-369
    • /
    • 2014
  • Synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) such as the JWH series have caused social problems concerning their abuse liability. Because the JWH series produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects, they have been distributed illegally under street names such as "Spice" and "Smoke". Many countries including Korea have started to schedule some of the JWH series compounds as controlled substances, but there are a number of JWH series chemicals that remain uncontrolled by law. In this study, three synthetic CBs with different binding affinities to the $CB_1$ receptor (JWH-073, 081, and 210) and ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}^9$-THC) were evaluated for their potential for psychological dependence. The conditioned place preference test (unbiased method) and self-administration test (fixed ratio of 1) using rodents were conducted. $K_i$ values of the three synthetic cannabinoids were calculated as supplementary data using a receptor binding assay and overexpressed $CB_1$ protein membranes to compare dependence potential with $CB_1$ receptor binding affinity. All mice administered JWH-073, 081, or 210 showed significantly increased time spent at unpreferred space in a dose-dependence manner in the conditioned place preference test. In contrast, all tested substances except ${\Delta}^9$-THC showed aversion phenomenon at high doses in the conditioned place preference test. The order of affinity to the $CB_1$ receptor in the receptor binding assay was JWH-210 > JWH-081 >> JWH-073, which was in agreement with the results from the conditioned place preference test. However, no change in self-administration was observed. These findings suggest the possibility to predict dependence potential of synthetic CBs through a receptor binding assay at the screening level.

Mesozoic Granitoids and Associated Gold-Silver Mineralization in Korea (한국 중생대 화강암류와 이에 수반된 금-은광화작용)

  • 최선규;박상준;최상훈;신홍자
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.34 no.1
    • /
    • pp.25-38
    • /
    • 2001
  • Contrasts in the style of the gold-silver mineralization in geologic and tectonic settings in Korea, together with radiometric age data, reflect the genetically different nature of hydrothermal activities, coinciding with the emplacement age and depth of Mesozoic magmatic activities. It represents a clear distinction between the plutonic settings of the Jurassic Daebo orogeny and the subvolcanic environments of the Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activities. During the Daebo igneous activities (about 200-130 Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between 197 and 127 Ma. The Jurassic deposits commonly show several characteristics: prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/Au ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich eIectrum. pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities (120-60 Ma), the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AgiAu ratios in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, Ag sulfides, native silver, Ag sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature (about 300 to 450$^{\circ}$C) and deep-crustal level (>3.0 kb) from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters (3180; 5-10 %0). It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as CO2 boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo/mesothermal environments. In contrast, mineralization of the Cretaceous Au-Ag type (108-71 Ma) and Agdominant type (98-71 Ma) occurred at relatively low temperature (about 200 to 350$^{\circ}$C) and shallow-crustal level «1.0 kb) from the ore-fonning fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters (15180; -10-5%0). These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epilmesothermal environments. Therefore, the differences of the emplacement depth between the Daebo and the Bulgugsa igneous activities directly influence the unique temporal and spatial association of the deposit type.

  • PDF

Water Quality Variation Dynamics between Artificial Reservoir and the Effected Downstream Watershed: the Case Study (인공댐과 그 영향을 받는 하류하천의 수질변동 역동성 : 사례 연구)

  • Han, Jung-Ho;An, Kwang-Guk
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
    • /
    • v.41 no.3
    • /
    • pp.382-394
    • /
    • 2008
  • The objective of this study was to analyze temporal trends of water chemistry and spatial heterogeneity between the dam site (Daecheong Reservoir, S1) and the downstream (S2$\sim$S4) using water quality dataset (obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea) during 2000$\sim$2007. Water quality, based on eight physical and chemical parameters, varied largely depending on the years, sampling sites, and the discharge volume. Conductivity and nutrients (TN and TP) showed a decreasing trend in the downstream (S4) rather than the dam site during the monsoon. Spatial variation increased toward downstream (S4) from Daecheong Reservoir (S1). Also, BOD and COD increased toward downstream. Because of input of nutrient and pollutant nearby S1, lentic ecosystem in monsoon, BOD and COD were slightly increased. whereas relatively decreased in S4, lotic ecosystem in monsoon, by dilution effect of nutrient and pollutant by discharge from upper dam, S1. Spatial variation of SS increased toward downstream (S4) by the side of Daecheong Reservoir (S1). Based on the dataset, efficient water quality management in the point source tributary streams is required for better water quality of downstream. Monthly characteristics of DO showed the lowest value in the monsoon that tend to increase water temperature. DO was lowest in October at S1 because turbid water, input to the Daecheong Reservoir in the monsoon affect to the postmonsoon period. In contrast, water temperature increased toward summer monsoon, in spite of some differences showed between S1 and S4 environment. Overall, the characteristics of water quality in downstream region have close correlation with discharge amount of Daecheong Reservoir. Thus, those characteristics can explain that discharge control of upper dam mainly affect to the water quality variation in downstream reach.

Reservoir Trophic State and Empirical Model Analysis, Based on Nutrients, Transparency, and Chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ Along with Their Relations Among the Parameters (영양염류, 투명도 및 엽록소를 이용한 인공호 영양상태, 경험적 모델 분석 및 변수들 간의 상호관계)

  • An, Kwang-Guk;Kim, Jae-Kyeng;Lee, Sang-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.252-263
    • /
    • 2008
  • The purpose of this study was to determine trophic state, based on nutrients (TN, TP), transparency (SD), and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (Chl) and identify their empirical relations of TN-Chl, TP-Chl and Chl-SD depending on the dataset used along with dynamics of conductivity and suspended solids. Analysis of trophic states showed that more than half of 36 reservoirs were judged as eutrophic-hypertrophic conditions depending on the trophic variables. Seasonal values of TP varied by nearly 500% and showed greater in August than any other months. In contrast, TN varied within less than 90% and all monthly mean values of TN were never fall less than 1.2 mg L$^{-1}$ indicating low seasonal variations and high ambient concentrations (eutrophic-hypertrophic state). Analysis of empirical relations in the trophic variables showed that transparency had greater functional relations with Chl (R$^2$=0.31, p<0.001) than TP (R$^2$=0.15, p<0.001) and TN (R$^2$=0.20, p<0.001). Ratios of TN : TP in the ambient water indicated that most reservoirs showed a potential phosphorous limitation on the algal growth. Thus, algal biomass, based on Chl values, was more regulated by phosphorous than nitrogen. Analysis of linear regression model, based on log-transformed annual mean values, showed that only 30% in the variation of Chl was explained by TP (R$^2$=0.295, p=0.001, n=36) and 15% by TN (R$^2$=0.151, p=0.019, n=36). However, linear regression model, based on individual system, showed that Chl-TP model had strong positive relations (R$^2$=0.62, p=0.002, n=12), whereas the model had no any relations (p=0.892, n=12). Overall, our data suggested that averaging effect in the empirical model developments may influence the significance in the statistical analysis.