• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.356-364
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• 2017

Composite lattice structures are tried to be used in various fields because of its benefit in physical properties. With increase of demand of the composite lattice structure, nondestructive testing technology is also required to certificate the quality of the manufactured structures. Recently, research on the development of the composite lattice structure in Republic of Korea was started and accordingly, fast and accurate non-destructive evaluation technology was needed to finalize the manufacturing process. This paper studied non-destructive testing methods for composite lattice structure using laser ultrasonic propagation imaging systems. Pulse-echo ultrasonic propagation imaging system was able to inspect a rib structure wrapped with a skin structure. To reduce the time of inspection, a band divider, which can get signal in different frequency bands at once, was developed. Its performance was proved in an aluminum sandwich panel. In addition, to increase a quality of results, curvature compensating algorithm was developed. On the other hand, guided wave ultrasonic propagation imaging system was applied to inspect delamination in a rib structure. To increase an area of inspection, multi-source ultrasonic wave propagation image was applied, and defects were successfully highlighted with variable time window amplitude mapping algorithm. These imply that ultrasonic propagation imaging systems provides fast and accurate non-destructive testing results for composite lattice structure in a stage of the manufacturing process.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.55-56
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• 1998

The 3-D Fast Gradient Echo (Turbo FLASH, Turbo Fast Low Angle Shot) sequence is optimized to achieve a good T1 contrast using variable excitation flip angles. In Turbo FLASH sequence, depending on the contrast preparation scheme, various types of image contrast can be established. While proton density contrast is obtained when using a short repetition time with a short echo time and small flip angles, T1 or T2 weighting can be obtained with proper contrast preparation sequences applied before the above proton density Turbo FLASH sequence. To maximize the contrast to noise ratio while retaining a sharp impulse response (smooth frequency domain response), the excitation flip-angle pattern is optimized through simulation and experiments. The TI (the delay after the preparation sequence which is a 180 degree inversion RF pulse in the IR T1 weighted imaging case), TD (the delay time between the Turbo FLASH sequence and the next preparation), and TR are also optimized fur the best image quality. The proposed 3-D Turbo FLASH provides $1mm\times1mm\times1.5mm$ high resolution images within a reasonable 5-8 minutes of imaging time. The proposed imaging sequence has been implemented in a Medison's Magnum 1.0T system and verified through simulations as well as human volunteer imaging. The experimental results show the utility of the proposed method.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2015

A 17-year-old girl presented with complaints of headache and decreasing vision of one month's duration, without any history of fever, weight loss, or any evidence of an immuno-compromised state. Her neurological examination was normal, except for papilledema. Laboratory investigations were within normal limits, except for a slightly increased Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). Non-contrast computerized tomography of her head revealed complex mass in left frontal lobe with a concentric, slightly hyperdense, thickened wall, and moderate perilesional edema with mass effect. Differential diagnoses considered in this case were pilocytic astrocytoma, metastasis and abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained in 3.0 Tesla (3.0T) scanner revealed a lobulated outline cystic mass in the left frontal lobe with two concentric layers of T2 hypointense wall, with T2 hyperintensity between the concentric ring. Moderate perilesional edema and mass effect were seen. Post gadolinium study showed a markedly enhancing irregular wall with some enhancing nodular solid component. No restricted diffusion was seen in this mass in diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) showed increased lactate and lipid peaks in the central part of this mass, although some areas at the wall and perilesional T2 hyperintensity showed an increased choline peak without significant decrease in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) level. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) enhanced perfusion study showed decrease in relative cerebral blood volume at this region. These features in MRI were suggestive of brain abscess. The patient underwent craniotomy with excision of a grayish nodular lesion. Abundant acid fast bacilli (AFB) in acid fast staining, and epithelioid cell granulomas, caseation necrosis and Langhans giant cells in histopathology, were conclusive of tubercular abscess. Tubercular brain abscess is a rare manifestation that simulates malignancy and cause diagnostic dilemma. MRI along with MRS and magnetic resonance perfusion studies, are powerful tools to differentiate lesions in such equivocal cases.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.403-416
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• 2003

There are common features, in both imaging surveys and image processing, between astronomical observations and remote sensing. Handling large amounts of data, in an easy and fast way, has become a common issue. Implementing pipeline software can be a solution to the problem, one which allows the processing of various kinds of data automatically. As a case study, the development of pipeline software for the EIS (European Southern Observatory Imaging Survey) is introduced. The EIS team has been conducting a sky survey to provide candidate targets to the 250 VLTs (Very Large Telescopes) observations. The survey data have been processed in a sequence of five major data corrections and reductions, i.e. preprocessing, flat fielding, photometric and astrometric corrections, source extraction, and coaddition. The processed data are eventually distributed to the users. In order to provide automatic processing of the vast volume of observed data, pipeline software has been developed. Because of the complexity of objects and different characteristic of each process, it was necessary to analyze the whole works of the EIS survey program. The overall tasks of the EIS are identified, and the scheme of the EIS pipeline software is defined. The system structure and the processes are presented, and in-depth flow charts are analyzed. During the analyses, it was revealed that handling the data flow and managing the database are important for the data processing. These analyses may also be applied to many other fields which require image processing.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2014

This paper describes a method to estimate the noise power using the minimum statistics approach, which was originally proposed for audio processing. The proposed minimum statistics-based method separates a noisy image into multiple frequency bands using the three-level discrete wavelet transform. By assuming that the output of the high-pass filter contains both signal detail and noise, the proposed algorithm extracts the region of pure noise from the high frequency band using an appropriate threshold. The region of pure noise, which is free from the signal detail part and the DC component, is well suited for minimum statistics condition, where the noise power can be extracted easily. The proposed algorithm reduces the computational load significantly through the use of a simple processing architecture without iteration with an estimation accuracy greater than 90% for strong noise at 0 to 40dB SNR of the input image. Furthermore, the well restored image can be obtained using the estimated noise power information in parametric image restoration algorithms, such as the classical parametric Wiener or ForWaRD image restoration filters. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can estimate the noise power accurately, and is particularly suitable for fast, low-cost image restoration or enhancement applications.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 1994

In the conventional Fourier imaging method in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), intramotion such as pulsatile flow makes zipper-like artifact along the phase encoding direction. On the other hand, line-integral projection reconstruction (LPR) method has advantages such as imaging of short T2, object and reduction of the flow artifact by elimination of the flow-induced phase fluctuation. The LPR, however, necessarily requires time consuming filtering and back-projection processes, so that the reconstruction takes long time. To overcome the long reconstruction time of the LPR and to obtain the flow artifact reduction effect, we adopted phase corrected concentric square raster sampling (CSRS) method and improved its imaging performance. The CSRS is a fast reconstruction method which has the same properties with the LPR. In this paper, we proposed a new method of flow artifact reduction using the CSRS method. Through computer simulations and experiments, we verified that the proposed method can eliminate phase fluctuations, thereby reducing the flow artifact and re- markably shorten the reconstruction time which required long time in the LPR.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.1-1
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• 2011

We developed a new generalized synthetic procedure, called as "heat-up process," to produce uniform-sized nanocrystals of many transition metals and oxides without a size selection process. We were able to synthesize uniform magnetite nanocrystals as much as 1 kilogram-scale from the thermolysis of Fe-oleate complex. Clever combination of different nanoscale materials will lead to the development of multifunctional nano-biomedical platforms for simultaneous targeted delivery, fast diagnosis, and efficient therapy. In this presentation, I would like to present some of our group's recent results on the designed fabrication of multifunctional nanostructured materials based on uniform-sized magnetite nanoparticles and their medical applications. Uniform ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles of <3 nm were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron-oleate complex in the presence of oleyl alcohol. These ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles exhibited good T1 contrast effect. In in vivo T1 weighted blood pool magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), iron oxide nanoparticles showed longer circulation time than commercial gadolinium complex, enabling high resolution imaging. We used 80 nm-sized ferrimagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals for T2 MRI contrast agent for tracking transplanted pancreatic islet cells and single-cell MR imaging. We reported on the fabrication of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles immobilized with uniform pore-sized mesoporous silica spheres for simultaneous MRI, fluorescence imaging, and drug delivery. We synthesized hollow magnetite nanocapsules and used them for both the MRI contrast agent and magnetic guided drug delivery vehicle.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2016

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) has been considered an effective technique to investigate chemical properties of the specimens, especially of biological samples. Despite of this advantageous trait, researchers in this field have had difficulties applying FLIM to their systems because acquiring an image using FLIM consumes too much time. Although analog mean-delay (AMD) method was introduced to enhance the imaging speed of commonly used FLIM based on time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), a real-time image reconstruction using AMD method has not been implemented due to its data processing obstacles. In this paper, we introduce a real-time image restoration of AMD-FLIM through fast parallel data processing by using Threading Building Blocks (TBB; Intel) and octa-core processor (i7-5960x; Intel). Frame rate of 3.8 frames per second was achieved in $1,024{\times}1,024$ resolution with over 4 million lifetime determinations per second and measurement error within 10%. This image acquisition speed is 184 times faster than that of single-channel TCSPC and 9.2 times faster than that of 8-channel TCSPC (state-of-art photon counting rate of 80 million counts per second) with the same lifetime accuracy of 10% and the same pixel resolution.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

In modern times, X-ray imaging has become a necessary tool for early diagnosis, quality control, nondestructive testing, and security screening. X-ray imaging equipment generally comprises an X-ray generator and an image sensor. Most commercially available X-ray generators employ filament-thermionic electron-based X-ray tubes, thus demonstrating typical analog behavior, such as slow response and large stray X-rays. Furthermore, digital X-ray sources, which have been studied extensively using field electron emitters manufactured from nanometer-scale materials, provide fast and accurately controlled ultra-shot X-rays. This could usher in a new era of X-ray imaging in medical diagnosis and nondestructive inspections. Specifically, digital X-ray sources, with reduced X-ray dose, can significantly improve the temporal and spatial resolution of fluoroscopy and computed tomography. Recently, digital X-ray tube technologies based on carbon nanotubes, developed by Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, have been transferred to several companies and commercialized for dental imaging for the first time.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2012

In medical ultrasound imaging, elasticity imaging helps to diagnose tumors such as cancer. This paper is concerned with the application of acoustic radiation force to soft tissue of interest to implement elasticity imaging. In order to reduce the data acquisition time, instead of relying on transmit focusing, a plane wave of burst type is transmitted to apply the acoustic radiation force simultaneously to an entire imaging region to be observed. A homogeneous phantom experiment confirms that increasing the transmit excitation duration instead of employing transmit focusing generates a high enough acoustic radiation force to obtain elasticity images. It is found, however, that a different displacement versus time characteristic is observed unlike the case of using a conventional focused acoustic radiation force. Experimental results obtained through the use of an ultrasound phantom and a bovine liver show that lesions can be correctly differentiated.