• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 1993

The role of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the evaluation of thoracic disease has been limited Nontheless, MR has inherent properties of better contrast resolution than CT allowing tissue-specific diagnosis. MR has capability of direct imaging in sagittal, coronal, and oblique planes which provide better anatomic information than axial images of CT such as lesions in the pulmonary apex, aorticopulmonary window, peridiaphragmatic region, and subcarinal region. MR is sensitive to blood flow making it an ideal imaging modality for the evaluation of cardiovascular system of the thorax without the need for intravenous contrast media. Technical developments and better control of motion artifacts have resulted in improved image quality, and clinical applications of MR imaging in thoracic diseases have been expanded. Although MR imaging is considered as a problem-solving tool in patients with equivocal CT findings, MR should be used as the primary imaging modality in the following situations: 1) Evaluation of the cardiovascular abnormalities of the thorax 2) Evaluation of the superior sulcus tumors 3) Evaluation of the chest wall invasion or mediastinal invasion by tumor 4) Evaluation of the posterior mediastinal mass, especially neurogenic tumor 5) Differentiation of fibrosis and residual or recurrent tumor, especially in lymphoma 6) Evaluation of brachial plexopathy With technical developments and fast scan capabilities, clinical indications for MR imaging in thorax will increase in the area of pulmonary parenchymal and pulmonary vascular imaging.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 2010

In this study, in order to overcome the weakness of acoustic field analysis which is generally used for ultrasonic probe performance evaluation, automatic acoustic field measurement system and evaluation parameters were proposed. The comparisons between acoustic field simulation and measured acoustic distribution data of normal and abnormal channels were conducted to evaluate the availability of proposed system and evaluation parameters. First, the impulse response characteristic of sample probe was investigated to classify the normal elements and abnormal elements. And then, normal channels and abnormal channels with abnormal element were chosen. The suggested 12 evaluation parameters were calculated using the acoustic fields of these channels. The availability of proposed automatic acoustic field measurement system and evaluation parameters was confirmed. And the performance evaluation of ultrasonic probe using acoustic field analysis could be easier and faster.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.07d
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• pp.1977-1979
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• 1999

This work characterized in terms of the physical properties of heavy elements as reduction filter in the diagnostic radiology. From the results of experimental evaluation, it was founded that in the case of the Ho filter, the variety of X-ray property with kVp was less than those of Ba, Cu and Al. And the ratio of transit-dose to surface and the load of X-ray tube were increased in the order of Al, Ba, Cu and Ho. The contrast of X-ray image showed the higher value in the order of Cu, Al, Ba and Ho.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2014

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods have been used extensively in clinical steroid analyses. Evaluating the metabolic ratios of precursors to products by accurate quantification of individual steroid levels in biological samples can reveal the activities of enzymes associated with steroid metabolism. This review article discusses the impact of GC-MS-based steroid profiling on our understanding of the biochemical role of steroids and their metabolic enzymes in hormone-dependent diseases, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), cortisol-mediated hypertension, apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), male-pattern baldness, and breast and thyroid cancers. Steroid profiling is a comprehensive analytical technique that can be applied whenever the highest specificity is required and may be a reasonable initial diagnostic approach.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.116-130
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• 2003

The gap-based SERVQUAL model is a popular service quality determinant due to its superior diagnostic capacity over alternative explanatory frameworks. However, some researchers criticize the performance of the SERVQUAL model and propose alternative service Quality measurement constructs. Nevertheless, it is argued that the superior diagnostic capacity of SERVQUAL is its key strength; and that any criticism made of it when making comparison with alternative models does not reflect the differing nature of scales of statistical analysis. Arguably, the only limitation of a gap-based model is misinterpretation of customers' evaluation and perception of a service. In this research, the gap score is transformed into a ratio score. Also, empirical tests and implications are presented to support this alternative contribution to the body of knowledge.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Soluble antigens from an axenic culture of Entamoeba histolytica were used to develop a commercial ELISA kit to quantify anti-E. histolytica antibodies in sera of patients with extraintestinal amebiasis in non-endemic settings. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the test were assessed retrospectively using 131 human serum samples with amoebic serologic status available. They were selected according to their results in immunofluorescence (IFAT) and were separated in 2 sample categories: 64 sera with positive results by IFAT and 67 with negative results by IFAT. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA kit were assessed at 95.0% and 94.0% compared to the IFAT. The test can be useful to exclude a potential diagnosis of amebiasis and could be used as a screening method since ELISA is an automated technique.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2011

The persistence of jaundice beyond the first 2 weeks of life require further investigation and this can be determined if the conjugated bilirubin levels are greater than 1.5 mg/dL or greater than 20% of the total bilirubin level. There is a diverse differential diagnosis for the cause of neonatal cholestasis due to hepatobiliary disease including biliary atresia, which eventually leads to liver cirrhosis if uncorrected before 60~80 days of life. Long-established initial studies include abdominal ultrasonography, hepatobiliary scintigraphy and liver biopsy, but better diagnostic methods are needed. Promising new options are described including MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiography), ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiography), and PCC (percutaneous cholecysto-cholangiography). Though no single test can differentiate biliary atresia from other neonatal cholestasis with confidence, a combination of diagnostic methods is usually consistently beneficial. By excluding biliary atresia as early as possible, the risk of unnecessary explolaparotomy with intraoperative cholangiography is decreased. Further evaluation would be required for the diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis after excluding biliary atresia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.522-530
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• 1984

During a 12-month period, 31 patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy for previously undiagnosed thoracic diseases. In all patient, the diagnosis had been unobtainable by the usual diagnostic modalities of thoracentesis, closed pleural biopsy, bronchoscopy, or mediastinoscopy. The patients ranged from 4 years to 84 years old. One procedure was performed for mediastinal mass, 8 for parenchymal lesions, 21 for pleural diseases, and 1 for diaphragmatic disease. A correct diagnosis was obtained by thoracoscopy in 31 procedures for a 90% overall accuracy rate. There was no clinically significant morbidity in this series and no procedure-related mortality. Thoracoscopy, performed under intercostal nerve block and regional anesthesia, has proved to be a very attractive method of the diagnosis of thoracic disease.

• IE interfaces
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.422-430
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• 2012

In this article, we introduced the estimation method by 'Safety Integrity Level'(SIL) for the criterion of safety assurance and performed a case study on a flame scanner. SIL requires probabilistic evaluation of each set of equipment used to reduce risk in a safety related system. FMEDA(Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic Analysis) method is widely used to evaluate the safety levels and provides information on the failure rates and failure mode distributions necessary to calculate a diagnostic coverage factor for a part or a component. Basically, two parameters resulting from FMEDA are used for SIL classification of the device : SFF(Safe Failure Fraction) and PFD(Probability of Failure on Demand). In this case study, it is concluded that the flame scanner is designed to fulfill the condition of SIL 3 in the aspect of SFF and PFD.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.553-560
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• 2003

On-site diagnosis of chiller performance is an essential step fur energy saving business. The main purpose of the on-site diagnosis is to predict the COP of a target chiller. Many models based on thermodynamics background have been proposed for this purpose. However, they have to be modified from chiller to chiller and require deep insight into thermodynamics that most of field engineers are often lacking in. This study focuses on developing an easy-to-use diagnostic technique that is based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Quality of the training data for ANFIS, sampled over June through September, is assessed by checking COP prediction errors. The architecture of the ANFIS, its error bounds, and collection of training data are described in detail.