• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.52-57
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• 2024

Purpose: The use of two adjacent radiation beams to treat a lesion that is larger than the maximum field of a machine may lead to higher or lower dose distribution at the junction than expected. Therefore, evaluation of the junction dose is crucial for radiotherapy. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) can effectively protect surrounding normal tissues by implementing a complex dose distribution; therefore, two adjacent VMAT fields can effectively treat large lesions. However, VMAT can lead to significant errors in the junction dose between fields if setup errors occur due to its highly complex dose distributions. Methods: In this study, setup errors of ±1, ±3, and ±5 mm were assumed during radiotherapy for treating large lesions in the lower abdomen, and their effects on the treatment dose distribution and target coverage were analyzed using gamma pass rate (GP) and homogeneity index (HI). All studies were performed using a computational simulation method based on our radiation treatment planning software. Results: Consequently, when the setup error was more than ±3 mm, most GP values using a 3%/3-mm criterion decreased by <90%. GP was independent of the direction of the field gap (FG), whereas HI values were relatively more affected by negative values for FG. Conclusions: Therefore, the size and direction of setup errors should be carefully managed when performing dual-isocentric VMATs for large targets.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.201-216
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• 2017

Objective: This research aimed to understand patients' perceptions of Korean medicine treatment for osteoporosis in a clinical trial setting. Methods: Ten patients participating in a clinical trial of a herbal medicine drug for osteoporosis were invited to an interview. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and patient observations. This qualitative study adopted the case study research method, and within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted. Results: A model of the patients' osteoporosis management planning was derived from the study. The results showed that the patients' perceptions of osteoporosis were derived from their knowledge and experience during diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Two groups of patients were recognized: those who overlooked the importance of osteoporosis and those who recognized the importance of osteoporosis. Before making treatment decisions about osteoporosis, the patients evaluated the treatment options and weighed the advantages and disadvantages of each option. When evaluating their treatment, the patients combined their knowledge and experience of Korean and western medicine treatments. Their experience of participating in the clinical trial influenced the management planning of osteoporosis. Two major reasons for low compliance with osteoporosis treatment were ignorance of the disease and insufficient information provided by doctors. Conclusion: The results of this qualitative study pointed to four strategies that could be employed to improve accessibility to Korean medicine treatment for osteoporosis: the dissemination of comprehensive information on osteoporosis in the clinic and mass media, promotion of Korean medicine therapies for osteoporosis, management of clinical trial participants, and insurance coverage for Korean medicine.

• Journal of Cadastre & Land InformatiX
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.5-25
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• 2016

The purpose of this study develops the methodology to extract the poor deprived districts using the data from the national spatial data infrastructure portal. Particularly this study tries to select more acute indicators and to test the operability of such indicators. Also this study is focused on the versatile methodology that can be adjusted to incorporate alternative indicators that might be appropriate according to the hierarchy of the spatial unit. The indicator sets are composed of three dimensions: the poor class, the poor old housing, and poor residential neighborhood environment. Each representative indicator is selected based on the characteristics of the poor deprived districts. As a result, at the level of administrative Dong, key indicators for extracting the poor deprived districts are number of recipients of national basic living security per thousand persons and ratio of households living at old detached house. At the level of the national based zip code district, the ratio of buildings built on parcels located at roads below 4m in width, the ratio of small parcels below $60m^2$ and the ratio of poor old buildings are very important indicators. The result of grid analysis by overlaying the coverage of multiple indicators shows that relatively more vulnerable and deprived districts can be extracted at the small sub-district level. This study suggests the possibility to create the high value-added information, using the data from the national spatial data infrastructure portal. This methodology enables policymakers to select the priority target districts of poor deprived district more effectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7785-7788
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• 2015

Utilization of high energy photons (>10MV) with an optimal weight using a mixed energy technique is a practical way to generate a homogenous dose distribution while maintaining adequate target coverage in intact breast radiotherapy. This study represents a model for estimation of this optimal weight for day to day clinical usage. For this purpose, treatment planning computed tomography scans of thirty-three consecutive early stage breast cancer patients following breast conservation surgery were analyzed. After delineation of the breast clinical target volume (CTV) and placing opposed wedge paired isocenteric tangential portals, dosimeteric calculations were conducted and dose volume histograms (DVHs) were generated, first with pure 6MV photons and then these calculations were repeated ten times with incorporating 18MV photons (ten percent increase in weight per step) in each individual patient. For each calculation two indexes including maximum dose in the breast CTV ($D_{max}$) and the volume of CTV which covered with 95% Isodose line ($V_{CTV,95%IDL}$) were measured according to the DVH data and then normalized values were plotted in a graph. The optimal weight of 18MV photons was defined as the intersection point of $D_{max}$ and $V_{CTV,95%IDL}$ graphs. For creating a model to predict this optimal weight multiple linear regression analysis was used based on some of the breast and tangential field parameters. The best fitting model for prediction of 18MV photons optimal weight in breast radiotherapy using mixed energy technique, incorporated chest wall separation plus central lung distance (Adjusted R2=0.776). In conclusion, this study represents a model for the estimation of optimal beam weighting in breast radiotherapy using mixed photon energy technique for routine day to day clinical usage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.9033-9038
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) based volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for locally advanced left sided breast cancer patients undergoing radical mastectomy. DIBH immobilizes the tumor bed providing dosimetric benefits over free breathing (FB). Materials and Methods: Ten left sided post mastectomy patients were immobilized in a supine position with both the arms lifted above the head on a hemi-body vaclock. Two thermoplastic masks were prepared for each patient, one for normal free breathing and a second made with breath-hold to maintain reproducibility. DIBH CT scans were performed in the prospective mode of the Varian real time position management (RPM) system. The planning target volume (PTV) included the left chest wall and supraclavicular nodes and PTV prescription dose was 5000cGy in 25 fractions. DIBH-3DCRT planning was performed with the single iso-centre technique using a 6MV photon beam and the field-in-field technique. VMAT plans for FB and DIBH contained two partial arcs ($179^{\circ}-300^{\circ}CCW/CW$). Dose volume histograms of PTV and OAR's were analyzed for DIBH-VMAT, FB-VMAT and DIBH-3DCRT. In DIBH mode daily orthogonal ($0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$) KV images were taken to determine the setup variability and weekly twice CBCT to verify gating threshold level reproducibility. Results: DIBH-VMAT reduced the lung and heart dose compared to FB-VMAT, while maintaining similar PTV coverage. The mean heart $V_{30Gy}$ was $2.3%{\pm}2.7$, $5.1%{\pm}3.2$ and $3.3%{\pm}7.2$ and for left lung $V_{20Gy}$ was $18.57%{\pm}2.9$, $21.7%{\pm}3.9$ and $23.5%{\pm}5.1$ for DIBH-VMAT, FB-VMAT and DIBH-3DCRT respectively. Conclusions: DIBH-VMAT significantly reduced the heart and lung dose for left side chest wall patients compared to FB-VMAT. PTV conformity index, homogeneity index, ipsilateral lung dose and heart dose were better for DIBH-VMAT compared to DIBH-3DCRT. However, contralateral lung and breast volumes exposed to low doses were increased with DIBH-VMAT.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 1999

This paper analyzed vegetation and land use classification, slope and permanent preservation and legal reserves on the farm Jangada and Jamaica-Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, using satellite image for assisting the planning of planting Eucalyptus spp. This part of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul represents an important geopolitcal area, since it is located on the borders of Bolivia and Paraguay. Also exportation of goods can be achieved through hydrovias extending to Buenos Aires, Argentina-through the Paraguay River. Also there are road and railroad connection which link the soutreastern part of Brazil to the Andean countries. The vegetation map from sheet SF 21-Campo Grande of the RADAMBRASIL Project was used as the basis for the preliminary interpretation of coverage, and complemented by a visit of the field. After the initial interpretation of the image, definition of classes of use and land occupation were made, and files of spectral signatures were created. On the farms Jamaica and Jangada Open Arboreal Savanna and Grass Savanna are the predominant physiognomies occupying 68% of total area. In spite of the results being satisfactory at the present moment, the development of this project should be revised and adjusted based on the evaluations already made, including a greater detailing of environmental components, principally with respect to soil and topography.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the practice patterns of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) doctors and the acceptance of payment model in order to develop a new TKM health insurance payment model linked with TKM clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Methods : Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) and idiopathic facial palsy (IFP) were selected as a test diseases to develop a new TKM payment model. The level of benefit coverage in the National Health Insurance (NHI) was designed. The survey asked 228 TKM doctors about their practice patterns in HIVD and IFP patients and acceptance of new payment model. Results : Mean of medical cost for treatment of HIVD was 441,000 KW, mean of treatment period ranged from 4.9 to 17.5 weeks, and mean of number of treatment ranged from 14.6 to 50.4 HIVD patients. In the case of IFP, mean of medical cost for treatment of IFP was 468,000 KW, mean of treatment period was at least 4.2 and up to 15.9 weeks and mean of number of treatment ranged from 14.2 to 52 IFP patients. Conclusions : Current study suggests that mixed payment model of per-visit and episode-based model seem to be proper. The model 1 bundles both items which were covered and not covered by NHI in a rational way. The model 2 is based on the development and application of critical pathway. Lastly, model 3 suggests bundling of items covered by current NHI. Acceptance of TKM doctors is expected to be highest in the model 3.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.293-297
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• 2016

For mastectomy patients, sufficient doses of radiation should be delivered to the surface of the chest wall to prevent recurrence. A bolus is used to increase the surface dose on the chest wall, whereby the surface dose is confirmed with the use of a virtual bolus during the computerized treatment-planning process. The purpose of this study is an examination of the difference between the dose of the computerized treatment plan and the dose that is measured on the bolus. Part of the left breast of an Anderson Rando phantom was removed, followed by the attainment of computed tomography (CT) images that were used as the basis for computerized treatment plans that were established with no bolus, a 3 mm-thick bolus, a 5 mm-thick bolus, and a 10 mm-thick bolus. For the computerized treatment plan, a prescribed dose regimen was dispensed daily and planning target volume (PTV) coverage was applied according to the RTOG 1304 guidelines. Using each of the established computerized treatment plans, chest-wall doses of 5 points were measured; this chest-wall dose was used as the standard for the analysis of this study, while the level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The measurement of the chest-wall dose with no bolus is 1.6 % to 10.3 % higher, and the differences of the minimum average and the maximum average of the five measurement points are -13.8 and -1.9, respectively (P < 0.05); however, when the bolus was used, the dosage was measured as 3.7 % to 9.2 % lower, and the differences of the minimum average and the maximum average are 7.4 and 9.0, -1.2 and 17.4, and 8.1 and 19.8 for 3 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm, respectively (P < 0.05). As the thickness of the bolus is increased, the differences of the average surface dose are further increased. There are a variety of factors that affect the surface dose on the chest wall during post-mastectomy radiation therapy, for which verification is required; in particular, a consideration of the appropriate thickness and the number of uses when a bolus is used, and which has the greatest effect on the surface dose on the chest wall, is considered necessary.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2016

Purpose: To compare the dose distribution between carotid sparing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and opposed lateral field technique (LAFT), and to determine the effects of carotid sparing IMRT in early glottic cancer patients who have risk factors for atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods: Ten early glottic cancer patients were treated with carotid sparing IMRT. For each patient, the conventional LAFT plan was developed for comparison. IMRT and LAFT plans were compared in terms of planning target volume (PTV) coverage, conformity index, homogeneity index, and the doses to planning organ at risk volume (PRV) for carotid arteries, spinal cord and pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Results: Recurrence was not observed in any patients during the follow-up period. $V_{95%}$ for PTV showed no significant difference between IMRT and LAFT plans, while $V_{100%}$ was significantly higher in the IMRT plan (95.5% vs. 94.6%, p = 0.005). The homogeneity index (11.6%) and conformity index (1.4) in the IMRT plan were significantly better than those in the LAFT plans (8.5% and 5.1, respectively) (p = 0.005). The median $V_{5Gy}$ (90.0%), $V_{25Gy}$ (13.5%), and $V_{50Gy}$ (0%) for carotid artery PRV in the IMRT plan were significantly lower than those in the LAFT plan (99.1%, 89.0%, and 77.3%, respectively) (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Our study suggests that carotid sparing IMRT can significantly decrease the dose to carotid arteries compared to LAFT, and it would be considered for early glottic cancer patient with high risk of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2004

The iSTMS is a web-based integrated information system supporting Pre-Service and In-Service Inspection(PSI/ISI) processes for the nuclear power plants of KHNP(Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Ltd.). The system provides a full spectrum coverage of the inspection processes from the planning stage to the final report of examination in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. The major functions of the system includes the inspection planning, examination, reporting, project control and status reporting, resource management as well as objects search and navigation. The system also provides two dimensional or three dimensional visualization interface to identify the location and geometry of components and weld areas subject to examination in collaboration with database applications. The iSIMS is implemented with commercial software packages such as database management system, 2-D and 3-D visualization tool, etc., which provide open, updated and verified foundations. This paper describes the key functions and the technologies for the implementation of the iSIMS.