• Title/Summary/Keyword: Energy Function

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Impact of Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography on Image Quality and Radiation Dose in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

  • Alexander Rau;Jakob Neubauer;Laetitia Taleb;Thomas Stein;Till Schuermann;Stephan Rau;Sebastian Faby;Sina Wenger;Monika Engelhardt;Fabian Bamberg;Jakob Weiss
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
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    • v.24 no.10
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    • pp.1006-1016
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    • 2023
  • Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is an established method for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of multiple myeloma. Here, we investigated the potential of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in terms of image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose compared with energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients with known multiple myeloma underwent clinically indicated whole-body PCD-CT. The image quality of PCD-CT was assessed qualitatively by three independent radiologists for overall image quality, edge sharpness, image noise, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence using a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent), and quantitatively for signal homogeneity using the coefficient of variation (CV) of Hounsfield Units (HU) values and modulation transfer function (MTF) via the full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the frequency space. The results were compared with those of the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols as controls. Additionally, the radiation dose (CTDIvol) was determined. Results: We enrolled 35 patients with multiple myeloma (mean age 69.8 ± 9.1 years; 18 [51%] males). Qualitative image analysis revealed superior scores (median [interquartile range]) for PCD-CT regarding overall image quality (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), edge sharpness (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), image noise (4.0 [4.0-4.0] vs. 3.0 [3.0-4.0]), lesion conspicuity (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), and diagnostic confidence (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]) compared with EID-CT (P ≤ 0.004). In quantitative image analyses, PCD-CT compared with EID-CT revealed a substantially lower FWHM (2.89 vs. 25.68 cy/pixel) and a significantly more homogeneous signal (mean CV ± standard deviation [SD], 0.99 ± 0.65 vs. 1.66 ± 0.5; P < 0.001) at a significantly lower radiation dose (mean CTDIvol ± SD, 3.33 ± 0.82 vs. 7.19 ± 3.57 mGy; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Whole-body PCD-CT provides significantly higher subjective and objective image quality at significantly reduced radiation doses than the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols, along with readily available multi-spectral data, facilitating the potential for further advanced post-processing.

The effects of synbiotics-glyconutrients on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gas emission, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finishing pigs

  • Olivier Munezero;Sungbo Cho;In Ho Kim
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.66 no.2
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    • pp.310-325
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    • 2024
  • Glyconutrients help in the body's cell communication. Glyconutrients and synbiotics are promising options for improving immune function. Therefore, we hypothesized that combining synbiotics and glyconutrients will enhance pig nutrient utilization. 150 pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), initially weighing 58.85 ± 3.30 kg of live body weight (BW) were utilized to determine the effects of synbiotics-glyconutrients (SGN) on the pigs' performance, feed efficiency, gas emission, pork traits, and composition of fatty acids. The pigs were matched by BW and sex and chosen at random to 1 of 3 diet treatments: control = Basal diet; TRT1 = Basal diet + SGN 0.15%; TRT2 = Basal diet + SGN 0.30%%. The trials were conducted in two phases (weeks 1-5 and weeks 5-10). The average daily gain was increased in pigs fed a basal diet with SGN (p = 0.036) in weeks 5-10. However, the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy did not differ among the treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary treatments had no effect on NH3, H2S, methyl mercaptans, acetic acids, and CO2 emissions (p > 0.05). Improvement in drip loss on day 7 (p = 0.053) and tendency in the cooking loss were observed (p = 0.070) in a group fed basal diets and SGN at 0.30% inclusion level. The group supplemented with 0.30% of SGN had higher levels of palmitoleic acid (C16:1), margaric acid (C17:0), omega-3 fatty acid, omega-6 fatty acid, and ω-6: ω-3 ratio (p = 0.034, 0.020, 0.025, 0.007, and 0.003, respectively) in the fat of finishing pigs. Furthermore, group supplemented with 0.30% of SGN improved margaric acid (C17:0), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), arachidic acid (C20:0), omega 6 fatty acid, omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, unsaturated fatty acid, and monounsaturated fatty acid (p = 0.037, 0.05, 0.0142, 0.036, 0.033, 0.020, and 0.045, respectively) in the lean tissues of finishing pigs compared to pigs fed with the control diets. In conclusion, the combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and glyconutrients led to higher average daily gain, improved the quality of pork, and more favorable fatty acid composition. Therefore, these results contributed to a better understanding of the potential of SGN combinations as a feed additive for pigs.

Research on the role of Smart Public Facilities -Focusing on public design policy- (스마트 공공시설물의 역할에 관한 연구 -공공디자인 정책을 중심으로-)

  • Son, Dong Joo
    • Journal of Service Research and Studies
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.206-230
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    • 2024
  • Background: The advancement of information and communication technology acts as a key driver in the implementation of smart cities. Smart Public Facilities leverage this technological progress to innovate urban operations, optimizing various city functions, enhancing the quality of public services, and improving citizens' accessibility and convenience. These Smart Public Facilities are introduced for the sustainable development of cities and the enhancement of citizens' quality of life. Method: This study systematically analyzed the public design policies of local governments and examined the use cases of Smart Public Facilities domestically and internationally to evaluate their functions and roles. Through this, the effectiveness and sustainability of public design policies were comprehensively reviewed, and the impact of Smart Public Facilities on urban operations and citizens' lives was analyzed from multiple perspectives. Results: The introduction of Smart Public Facilities significantly enhances the implementation and efficiency of public design policies, playing a crucial role in sustainable urban development and improving citizens' quality of life. Furthermore, positive impacts were observed in various areas such as energy management, transportation systems, and environmental monitoring. Major challenges included managing technological changes, ensuring data privacy and cybersecurity, and strengthening citizen participation. Conclusion: Smart Public Facilities serve as essential infrastructure for improving urban efficiency, sustainability, and citizens' quality of life. Successful implementation and operation require systematic management and citizen participation. Through this, Smart Public Facilities will support sustainable urban development and play a critical role in responding to environmental changes. To ensure that Smart Public Facilities function effectively as urban infrastructure, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate their impact on the efficiency of public design policies, sustainability, citizens' quality of life, and the local economy, and to suggest concrete measures for their introduction and operation.

Establishment of a Buddhist Arboretum through a Survey of Temple Managers and Laypersons (사찰림 관리자와 일반인의 인식조사를 통한 불교수목원 조성방안)

  • Yi, Young-Kyoung;Yi, Pyong-In
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.104-114
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    • 2014
  • Nowadays, forests have been recognized as valuable resources for biological diversity and tourism/recreation. Temple forests occupy 1.3% of all the Korean forest and are under weak management although their ecological states are very good. Currently in the Buddhist society, the concern for the Buddhist arboretum has been raised as a good alternative for the practical use of temple forests to secure the sustainability of the temple forests as well as to actively meet the demand of the times for forests. This study aims to suggest establishment measures of Buddhist arboretum. This survey was performed on 105 temple forest managers and 130 laypersons. To summarize the results, the two groups differ in opinion. The temple forest managers more concerned for advertizing Buddhist culture and enhancing the image of the temple, while the laypersons had higher expectations for relaxation and education. However, they are similar in putting more emphasis on the conserving the heritage value of the temple and managing the temple forest. Above all, both groups evaluated the needs higher than the urgency and perceived managing temple forest as the most crucial function of a Buddhist arboretum. They also thought that a Buddhist arboretum should be planned to respond to the ecological characteristics of the temple area as well as to be non-exclusive to its users. Based on the important findings, five suggestions for a Buddhist arboretum were proposed. First, a Buddhist arboretum should be carried forward from a long-term point of view, developing a bond of sympathy between members of Buddhist society as well as conducting promotion and education to the general public. Second, the most significant function of a Buddhist arboretum should be preserving the temple forest, with the emphasis on relaxation and education. Third, in order to provide nonexclusive use, a Buddhist arboretum should provide mixed programs applicable to diverse user groups for high user satisfaction and educational effects. Fourth, the Buddhistic identification could be obtained through variety of plants closely associated with Buddhist culture. Lastly, in the process of collecting plants, it is also crucial to reflect the image of the temple and resource property so as to contribute itself in conservation and management of original temple forests. Thereby all Buddhist Arboretum can be classified into two types; preservation/collection and display/education/rest.

Evaluation of Image Qualities for a Digital X-ray Imaging System Based on Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) Scintillator and Photosensor Array by Using a Monte Carlo Imaging Simulation Code (몬테카를로 영상모의실험 코드를 이용한 Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) 섬광체 및 광센서 어레이 기반 디지털 X-선 영상시스템의 화질평가)

  • Jung, Man-Hee;Jung, In-Bum;Park, Ju-Hee;Oh, Ji-Eun;Cho, Hyo-Sung;Han, Bong-Soo;Kim, Sin;Lee, Bong-Soo;Kim, Ho-Kyung
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.253-259
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    • 2004
  • in this study, we developed a Monte Carlo imaging simulation code written by the visual C$\^$++/ programing language for design optimization of a digital X-ray imaging system. As a digital X-ray imaging system, we considered a Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) scintillator and a photosensor array, and included a 2D parallel grid to simulate general test renditions. The interactions between X-ray beams and the system structure, the behavior of lights generated in the scintillator, and their collection in the photosensor array were simulated by using the Monte Carlo method. The scintillator thickness and the photosensor array pitch were assumed to 66$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 48$\mu\textrm{m}$, respertively, and the pixel format was set to 256 x 256. Using the code, we obtained X-ray images under various simulation conditions, and evaluated their image qualities through the calculations of SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), MTF (modulation transfer function), NPS (noise power spectrum), DQE (detective quantum efficiency). The image simulation code developed in this study can be applied effectively for a variety of digital X-ray imaging systems for their design optimization on various design parameters.

Assessment of the Value and Distribution of Geological Heritages in Korea: Jeolla Province (한국의 지질유산 분포와 가치평가: 전라권)

  • Cho, Hyeongseong;Kang, Hee-Cheol;Kim, Jong-Sun;Cheong, Daekyo;Paik, In Sung;Lim, Hyoun Soo;Choi, Taejin;Kim, Hyun Joo;Roh, Yul;Cho, Kyu-Seong;Huh, Min;Shin, Seungwon
    • The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.319-345
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    • 2019
  • Recently planification and effort for management, assessment and discovery of geological heritagesare being increasingly demanded with institutional strategies such as geopark, as their preservation is asked socially. In this study, we discovered geological heritages in the Jeolla Province and then performed assessment of the value and grading of them and finally suggested a promising and suitable site for the National Geopark. A total of 325 geological heritages are listed on literature review and then detailed description in field and assessment of the value for selected 158 geoheritages are completed. The assessment items are categorized into intrinsic value, subsidiary value, and preservation/management part. The intrinsic value is subdivided into scientific/educational value, composed of representativeness, rarity, geodiversity, typicality, reproducibility, and particularity, and geomorphological/landscape value composed of scale, naturality (integrity), scenery (aesthetic value). Also, subsidiary value consist of 7 subsections of soil function, ecological function, tourism value, geological resource, historical value, folk tale or legend and symbolic value, and accessibility, convenient facility (infrastructure), management condition (legal protection) is evaluated in preservation/management part. The heritages in the Jeolla Province subdivided into three types: 73 geological heritages, 42 geomorphological heritages, and 42 composite heritages. Based on points acquired in intrinsic value, all geological heritages are graded Class-I to -V. As a result, numbers of geoheritage belong to Class-I (protection at world level), -II (protection at national level), -III (nationdesignated management), -IV (involved management list), -V (candidate management list) are 12, 39, 52, 34, 21, respectively. Finally, we construct database based on Arc-GIS with all informations for each geological heritage and suggest three promising and suitable sites, 'Jirisan-Seomjingang Area' and 'south coast area of Jeolla Province', for the National Geopark.

Expression of CsRCI2s by NaCl stress reduces water and sodium ion permeation through CsPIP2;1 in Camelina sativa L.

  • Kim, Hyun-Sung;Lim, Hyun-Gyu;Ahn, Sung-Ju
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2017.06a
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    • pp.194-194
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    • 2017
  • Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) is a potential bio-energy crop that has short life cycle about 90 days and contains high amount of unsaturated fatty acid which is adequate to bio-diesel production. Enhancing environmental stress tolerance is a main issue to increase not only crop productivity but also big mass production. CsRCI2s (Rare Cold Inducible 2) are cold and salt stress related protein that localized at plasma membrane (PM) and assume to be membrane potential regulation factor. These proteins can be divide into C-terminal tail (CsRCI2D/E/F/G) or no-tail group (CsRCI2A/B/C/H). However, function of CsRCI2s are less understood. In this study, physiological responses and functional characterization of CsRCI2s of Camelina under salt stress were analyzed. Full-length CsRCI2s (A/B/E/F) and CsPIP2;1 sequences were confirmed from Camelina genome browser. Physiological investigations were carried out using one- or four-week-old Camelina under NaCl stress with dose and time dependent manner. Transcriptional changes of CsRCI2A/B/E/F and CsPIP2;1 were determined using qRT-PCR in one-week-old Camelina seedlings treated with NaCl. Translational changes of CsRCI2E and CsPIP2;1 were confirmed with western-blot using the antibodies. Water transport activity and membrane potential measurement were observed by cRNA injected Xenopus laevis oocyte. As results, root growth rate and physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and electrolyte leakage showed significant inhibition in 100 and 150 mM NaCl. Transcriptional level of CsPIP2;1 did not changed but CsRCI2s were significantly increased by NaCl concentration, however, no-tail type CsRCI2A and CsRCI2B increased earlier than tail type CsRCI2E and CsRCI2F. Translational changes of CsPIP2;1 was constitutively maintained under NaCl stress. But, accumulation of CsRCI2E significantly increased by NaCl stress. CsPIP2;1 and CsRCI2A/B/E/F co-expressed Xenopus laevis oocyte showed decreased water transport activity as 61.84, 60.30, 62.91 and 76.51 % at CsRCI2A, CsRCI2B, CsRCI2E and CsRCI2F co-expression when compare with single expression of CsPIP2;1, respectively. Moreover, oocyte membrane potential was significantly hyperpolarized by co-expression of CsRCI2s. However, higher hyperpolarized level was observed in tail-type CsRCI2E and CsRCI2F than others, especially, CsRCI2E showed highest level. It means transport of $Na^+$ ion into cell is negatively regulated by expression of CsRCI2s, and, function of C-terminal tail is might be related with $Na^+$ ion influx. In conclusion, accumulation of NaCl-induced CsRCI2 proteins are related with $Na^+$ ion exclusion and prevent water loss by CsPIP2;1 under NaCl stress.

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${\ll}$황제내경(黃帝內經)${\gg}$ 의 심(心)의 개념(槪念)과 장상(藏象)에 대한 연구(硏究)

  • Lee Yong-Beom;Bang Jeong-Gyun
    • Journal of Korean Medical classics
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.269-303
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    • 2000
  • The xin(心) has various meanings in ${\ll}$Huangdineijing(黃帝內經)${\gg}$ but they sometimes contradict each other. This thesis divided the xin into the meaning and the Zang-xiang(藏象), and then analyzed the xin's notion in detail. The concept of the xin in ${\ll}$Huangdineijing(黃帝內經)${\gg}$ is sorted out into : the notion of space, yin-yang five elements(陰陽五行) and shen(神) The xin is the upper part of body and it possesses the character of yang(陽). So the concept of the breast has originated from this character and it rightly belonged to the top. The xin is assigned to fire among five elements, 'chang(長)', which has the energy of moving forward, noon at a day when yang-qi(陽氣) is properous and shows 'gu(鉤)' & 'keo(矩)' in pulse condition. The xin possesses the character, 'Taiyang of the yang(陽中之太陽)' along with the notion of space combined with five elements. That is, the notion of upper space means 'of the yang(陽中)', and, fire in five elements means 'yang'. This is similar to '=(Taiyang)' of Sasang(四象) at ${\ll}$the Book of Changes(周易)${\gg}$ Since the xin puts shen(神) in order, actions of spirit have effect on the xin. And it depends whether the sense of vitality is broad or narrow. The xin related with broad sense of spirit is 'monarch of the organs(君主之官)'. Therefore it has control over the human body. As it also directly effects the life or death, Pericardium(心句) substitutes the xin and protects the external invasion. In Shi-er-won(十二原) and Bonsu(本輸), instead of the Xin Channel the Pericardium Channel was used in healing patients. The xin can be interpretable as the mind, because the xin includes spirit. The mind can be distinguished into 'desire' and 'state of profound reason'. In ${\ll}$Huangdineijing(黃帝內徑)${\gg}$, the disease of the xin caused by emotion was mentioned many times. This emotion is 'desire' which resorted to the sentiment. The reason one mind has both character is; man preserves given principle (reason) and emotion reveals via the reason exercised. The above is about the xin related with the broad sense of vitality. Concerning the narrow sense of vitality, one of the five vitalities is stored with the others away in the five solid organs. Then it takes part in the operation of five body constituents and it is linked with the personified description of five solid organs. The xin, spleen, stomach and kidney are 'the ground of life'. Spleen and stomach are the origin of making qi and blood, which 'means the ground after birth'. Kidney keeps the essence of life, and manages the growing and generative function of human body. The xin keeps 'Shin-myung(神明)', in other words, it has control over and supervise whole activity of body. Therefore xin's role is needed for the appropriate working of spleen, stomach and kidney. And 'Shin-myung' is its motive power. In ${\ll}$Huangdineijing(黃帝內經)${\gg}$, the reason why xin was assigned to September and October is that yang-qi of the human body goes to the inner part, with xin at the same time. This explains that yang-qi of the human body is adapted to change of season and goes into xin-fire(心火) in order to get away from the cold. In this case, heart means more inner part than liver, spleen and lung. Mengzi(孟子), philosopher of the China's turbulent ages emphasized the thinking function of xin. Sunzi(荀子) asserted that xin is 'heaven monarch(天君)' and the other organs are 'heaven rninisters(天官)'. This conception is similar to 'monarch of the organs' of ${\ll}$Huangdineijing(黃帝內經)${\gg}$. After the Ming Dynasty, commentators of Huangdineijing(黃帝內經) explained the heart, as 'monarch of the organs', or 'the master of body(一身之主)'. This was due to the influence of Sung Confucianism.

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Persistence of Fungicide Pencycuron in Soils (토양 중 살균제 Pencycuron의 잔류 특성)

  • An, Xue-Hua;An, Wen-Hao;Im, Il-Bin;Lee, Sang-Bok;Kang, Jong-Gook
    • The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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    • v.10 no.4
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    • pp.296-305
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    • 2006
  • The adsorption and persistence of pencycuron {1-(4-chlorobenzyl) cyclopentyl-3-phenylurea} in soils were investigated under laboratory and field conditions to in order to assess the safety use and environmental impact. In the adsorption rate experiments, a significant power function of relation was found between the adsorbed amount of pencycuron and the shaking time. Within one hour following the shaking, the adsorption amounts in the SCL and the SiCL were 60 and 65% of the maximum adsorption amounts, respectively. The adsorption reached a quasi-equilibrium 12 hours after shaking. The adsorption isotherms followed the Freundlich equation. The coefficient (1/n) indicating adsorption strength and degree of nonlinearity was 1.45 for SCL and 1.68 to SiCL. The adsorption coefficients ($K_d$) were 2.31 for SCL and 2.92 to SiCL, and the organic carbon partition coefficient, $K_{oc}$, was 292.9 in SCL and 200.5 inSiCL. In the laboratory study, the degradation rate of pencycuron in soils followed a first-order kinetic model. The degradation rate was greatly affected by soil temperature. As soil incubation temperature was increased from 12 to $28^{\circ}C$, the residual half life was decreased from 95 to 20 days. Arrhenius activation energy was 57.8 kJ $mol^{-1}$. Furthermore, the soil moisture content affected the degradation rate. The half life in soil with 30 to 70% of field moisture capacity was ranged from 21 to 38 days. The moisture dependence coefficient, B value in the empirical equation was 0.65. In field experiments, the half-life were 26 and 23 days, respectively. The duration for period of 90% degradation was 57 days. The difference between SCL and SiCL soils varied to pencycuron degradation rates were very limited, particularly under the field conditions, even though the characteristics of both soils are varied.

Development of Dose Planning System for Brachytherapy with High Dose Rate Using Ir-192 Source (고선량률 강내조사선원을 이용한 근접조사선량계획전산화 개발)

  • Choi Tae Jin;Yei Ji Won;Kim Jin Hee;Kim OK;Lee Ho Joon;Han Hyun Soo
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.283-293
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    • 2002
  • Purpose : A PC based brachytherapy planning system was developed to display dose distributions on simulation images by 2D isodose curve including the dose profiles, dose-volume histogram and 30 dose distributions. Materials and Methods : Brachytherapy dose planning software was developed especially for the Ir-192 source, which had been developed by KAERI as a substitute for the Co-60 source. The dose computation was achieved by searching for a pre-computed dose matrix which was tabulated as a function of radial and axial distance from a source. In the computation process, the effects of the tissue scattering correction factor and anisotropic dose distributions were included. The computed dose distributions were displayed in 2D film image including the profile dose, 3D isodose curves with wire frame forms and dosevolume histogram. Results : The brachytherapy dose plan was initiated by obtaining source positions on the principal plane of the source axis. The dose distributions in tissue were computed on a $200\times200\;(mm^2)$ plane on which the source axis was located at the center of the plane. The point doses along the longitudinal axis of the source were $4.5\~9.0\%$ smaller than those on the radial axis of the plane, due to the anisotropy created by the cylindrical shape of the source. When compared to manual calculation, the point doses showed $1\~5\%$ discrepancies from the benchmarking plan. The 2D dose distributions of different planes were matched to the same administered isodose level in order to analyze the shape of the optimized dose level. The accumulated dose-volume histogram, displayed as a function of the percentage volume of administered minimum dose level, was used to guide the volume analysis. Conclusion : This study evaluated the developed computerized dose planning system of brachytherapy. The dose distribution was displayed on the coronal, sagittal and axial planes with the dose histogram. The accumulated DVH and 3D dose distributions provided by the developed system may be useful tools for dose analysis in comparison with orthogonal dose planning.