• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2010

Exposure during childhood results in higher risk for certain detrimental cancers than exposure during adulthood. We measured entrance skin dose (ESD) under 7-year children undergoing chest imaging and compared the relationship between ESD and age, height, weight, chest thickness. Though it is important to measure chest thickness for setting up the exposure condition of chest examination, it is difficult to measure chest thickness of children. We set up exposure parameters according to age because chest thickness of children has correlation with age. In the exposure parameters, for chest A-P examination under 2 year-children, tube voltage (kVp) in hospital A was higher than that in hospital B while tube current (mAs) was higher in hospital B, thus the ESD values were about 1.7 times higher in hospital B. However, for chest P-A examination over 4 year-children, the tube voltage was 7 kVp higher in hospital B, the tube current were same in all two systems, and focus to image receptor distance (FID) in hospital B (180 cm) was longer than that in hospital A (130 cm), thus the ESD values were 1.4 times higher in hospital A. For same ages, the ESD values for chest A-P examinations were higher than those for chest P-A examinations. Comparing ESD according to age, ESD values were $154{\mu}Gy$, $194{\mu}Gy$ and $138{\mu}Gy$ for children under 1 year, 1 to under 4 years and 4 to under 7 years of age, respectively. These values were lower than reference level ($200{\mu}Gy$) recommended in JART (japan association of radiological technologists), however these were higher than reference values recommended by EC (european commission), NRPB (national radiological protection board) and NIFDS (national institute of food & drug safety evaluation). In conclusion, the values of ESD were affected by exposure parameters from radiographer's past experience more than x-ray system. ESD values for older children were not always higher than those for younger children. Therefore we need to establish our own DRLs (diagnostic reference levels) according to age of the children in order to optimize pediatric patient protection.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Currently, commercially available phantom can reproduce and evaluate only a static situation, the study is incomplete research on phantom and system which is can confirmed functional situation in the kidney by time through dynamic phantom and blood flow velocity, various difference according to the amount of radioactive. Therefore, through this study, it has produced the dynamic kidney phantom to reproduce images through the dynamic flow of the kidney, it desires to evaluate the usefulness of nuclear medicine imaging. The production of the kidney phantom was fabricated based on the normal adult kidney, in order to reproduce the dynamic situation based on the fabricated kidney phantom, in this study, it was applied the volume pump that can adjust the speed of blood flow, so it can be integrated continuously radioactive isotopes in the kidney by using $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnate. Used the radioactive isotope was supplied through the two pump. It was confirmed the changes according to the infusion rate, radioactive isotopes and the different injection speeds on the left and right, analysis of the acquired images was done by drawn five times ROI in order to check the reproducibility of each on the front and rear of the kidney and bladder. Depending on the speed of injection, radioisotope was a lot of integrated and emissions up when adjusting the pressure of the pump as 30 stroke, it was the least integrated and emissions up when adjusting as 40 stroke. The integration of the left & right kidney was not reached in the amount of the highest when adjusting as 10 stroke. In the changes according to the amount of the radioactive isotope, 0.6 mCi(22.2 MBq), 0.8 mCi (29.6 MBq)was showed up similar tendency but, in the result of the different injection 0.8 mCi, it was showed up counts close to double of 0.6 mCi. In the result of the differently injection speed of the left & right kidney, as a result of different conditions that injection speed was 20 stroke through left kidney phantom, the injection speed was 30 stroke through right kidney phantom, it was enough difference in the resulting image can be easily distinguished with the naked eye. Through this study, the results showed that the dynamic kidney phantom system is able to similarly reproduce renogram in the actual clinical practice. Especially, the depicted over time for the flow to be excreted through the kidney into the bladder was adequately reproduce, it is expected to be utilized as basic data to check the quality of the dynamic images. In addition, it is considered to help in the field of functional imaging and quality control.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2016

The noise power spectrum (NPS) is one of the most general methods for measuring the noise amplitude and the quality of an image acquired from a uniform radiation field. The purpose of this study was to compare different NPS methodologies by using megavoltage X-ray energies. The NPS evaluation methods in diagnostic radiation were applied to therapy using the International Electro-technical Commission standard (IEC 62220-1). Various radiation therapy (RT) devices such as TrueBeam$^{TM}$(Varian), BEAMVIEW$^{PLUS}$(Siemens), iViewGT(Elekta) and Clinac$^R$ iX (Varian) were used. In order to measure the region of interest (ROI) of the NPS, we used the following four factors: the overlapping impact, the non-overlapping impact, the flatness and penumbra. As for NPS results, iViewGT(Elekta) had the higher amplitude of noise, compared to BEAMVIEW$^{PLUS}$ (Siemens), TrueBeam$^{TM}$(Varian) flattening filter, Clinac$^{R}$iXaS1000(Varian) and TrueBeam$^{TM}$(Varian) flattening filter free. The present study revealed that various factors could be employed to produce megavoltage imaging (MVI) of the NPS and as a baseline standard for NPS methodologies control in MVI.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.567-573
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not there was artifact when the upper limb could not be lifted to the top of the head during multi-detector computed tomography(MDCT) scans of the chest and abdomen. Contrast radiography of the human and chest phantom was performed with 128channal MDCT. Under the same conditions(120 kVp, 110 mAs, standard algorithm)both hands lifted up and put down each time in the human experiment. In the chest phantom experiment, the radiography was carried out when the upper limb phantom was adjusted at a certain distance(0, 3, 7 cm) from the chest phantom. Subsequently, the values of Noise, CT number, SNR, and CNR were measured in the field of concern. The noise value of fat, rib, and muscle increased when the arm was lifted in humans(0.79, 47.8, 27%). Furthermore, when the upper limb was lowered, the noise value of muscle and lung increased in the phantom(31.2, 9.4%). In addition, the noise value of the muscles and lung decreased by 5, 25.12% and 5.6, 15.35% as the upper limb moved about 0,3,7cm away from the chest. When the chest and abdominal radiography were performed, in the case of the presence of other parts outside the inspection area, the probability of artifact was minimal while the distance was more than 3cm away from the upper limb to the chest and abdomen.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2001

Prupose : We analyzed setup errors induced by using air-vacuum cushion as immobilization device in patients with rectal cancer. Materials and methods : We had treated the twenty patients with rectal cancer by 6 MV, 10 MV X-ray from Aug. 1998 to Aug. 1999 at Chungnam National University Hospital. All patients were treated at prone position. They were separated to two groups, control group, 10 patients using styrofoam, and test group, 10 patients using styrofoam and air-vacuum cushion. We measured errors of posterior field for x, y axis and lateral field for z, y axis with simulation film and EPID image using a matching technique. Results : In control group, the mean displacement values of pelvic bone landmark for x axis and y axis were 0.02 mm. 0.78 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 2.13 mm, 2.40 mm, respectively and the standard deviation of random error were 1.46 mm. 1.51 mm, respectively. In test group, the mean displacement values of x axis and y axis were -0.33 mm. 0.81 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 1.71 mm, 3.08 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of random errors were 1.40 mm. 1.88 mm, respectively. The mean displacement values of z axis and y axis were 2.98 mm. 0.74 mm, respectively and the standard deviations of systematic error were 4.75 mm, 2.65 mm, respectively and standard deviations of random error were 2.69 mm. 1.86 mm, respectively. The statistical difference of field size by using air vacuum cushion between two groups in posterior direction and lateral direction was not shown. Conclusion : We think that use of air-vacuum cushion may not be an advantage for improving setup accuracy in rectal cancer patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2015

The aim of the study was to assess the in vitro effect of 808-nm InGaAs diode laser on rabbit articular chondrocyte proliferation and sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis in alginate bead. Previous studies revealed either positive or negative stimulatory effects of laser on different types of cells. A 808-nm InGaAs diode laser at 1.0W power output was used to irradiate the rabbit chondrocytes in alginate beads with energy densities of $31J/cm^2$ (G 1) and $62J/cm^2$ (G 2) corresponding to the experimental groups for 10 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after seeding. Control group was left untreated. MTT assay was performed at 1 week and 2 weeks after the $1^{st}$ laser irradiation in alginate beads. sGAG synthesis in alginate beads at 1 week and 2 weeks were determined by DMMB assay. Histological evaluation for cellular distribution and sGAG deposition around the cells were performed by alcian blue stain. MTT assay revealed no positive stimulatory effect in cell proliferation in alginate bead. DMMB assay results showed significantly increased sGAG production in G 2 chondrocytes at 2 weeks. Image analysis of alcian blue stained slides also showed significantly higher percentage of positive alcian blue stain in G 2 chondrocytes. This result suggests that 808-nm InGaAs diode laser with 1.0 W power output although cannot stimulate cell proliferation it can increase the cell secretion activity and sGAG deposition in alginate beads.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1641-1648
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• 2007

Yippee-like proteins, which have been identified as the homolog of Drosophila yippee protein containing a zinc-finger domain, are known to be highly conserved among eukaryotes. However, their functional roles are still poorly understood. Recently we initiated ordered differential display (ODD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate genes of which expressions are altered following activation of human T cells. On the ODD-PCR image, one PCR-product detected in unstimulated T cells was not detectable at the time when the activated T cells traversed near $G_1/S$ boundary following activation by immobilized anti-CD3. Cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the PCR-product was yippee-like 5 (YPEL5) gene, which was known as a human homolog of the Drosophila yippee gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed the amount of ${\sim}2.2$ kb YPEL5 mRNA expression detectable in unstimulated T cells was sustained until 1.5 hr after activation and then rapidly declined to undetectable level by 5 hr. Ectopic expression of YPEL5 gene in human cervix epitheloid carcinoma HeLa cells caused a significant reduction in cell proliferation to the level of 47% of the control. Expression of GFP-YPEL5 fusion protein in HeLa cells showed its nuclear localization. These results demonstrated that the expression level of human YPEL5 mRNA was negatively regulated in the early stage of T cell activation, and suggested that YPEL5 might exert an inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation as a nuclear protein.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2008

Purpose: Transient neurological deterioration (TND) is one of the complications after extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery, and it has been assumed to be caused by postoperative transient hyperperfusion. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between TND and preoperative and postoperative cerebral perfusion status on brain perfusion SPECT following superficial temporal artery - middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 STA-MCA anastomosis surgeries of 56 patients (mean age: $50{\pm}16$ yrs; M:F=29:27; atherosclerotic disease: 33, moyamoya disease: 27) which were done between September 2003 and July 2006 were enrolled. The resting cerebral perfusion and cerebral vascular reserve (CVR) after acetazolamide challenge were measured before and 10 days after surgery using 99mTc-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) SPECT. Moreover, the cerebral perfusion was measured on the third postoperative day. With the use of the statistical parametric mapping and probabilistic brain atlas, the counts for the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory were calculated for each image, and statistical analyses were performed. Results: In 6 of 60 cases (10%), TND occurred after surgery. In all patients, the preoperative cerebral perfusion of affected MCA territory was significantly lower than that of contralateral side (p=0.002). The cerebral perfusion on the third and tenth day after surgery was significantly higher than preoperative cerebral perfusion (p=0.001, p=0.02). In TND patients, basal cerebral perfusion and CVR on preoperative SPECT were significantly lower than those of non-TND patients (p=0.01, p=0.05). Further, the increases in cerebral perfusion on the third day after surgery were significant higher than those in other patients (p=0.008). In patients with TND, the cerebral perfusion ratio of affected side to contralateral side on third postoperative day was significantly higher than that of other patients (p=0.002). However, there was no significant difference of the cerebral perfusion ratio on preoperative and tenth postoperative day between patients with TND and other patients. Conclusion: In patients with TND, relative and moderate hyperperfusion was observed in affected side after bypass surgery. These finding may help to understand the pathophysiology of TND.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

The measurement of total fresh weight of plants provides an essential indicator of crop growth for monitoring production. To measure fresh weight without damaging the vegetation, image-based methods have been developed, but they have limitations. In addition, the total plant fresh weight is difficult to measure directly in hydroponic cultivation systems because of the amount of nutrient solution. This study aimed to develop a real-time, precise method to measure the total fresh weight of Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) with growth stage in a plant factory using a nutrient film technique. The total weight of the channel, amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel, and fresh shoot and root weights of the plants were measured every 7 days after transplanting. The initial weight of the channel during nutrient solution supply (Wi) and its weight change per second just after the nutrient solution supply stopped were also measured. When no more draining occurred, the final weight of the channel (Ws) and the amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel were measured. The time constant (${\tau}$) was calculated by considering the transient values of Wi and Ws. The relationship of Wi, Ws, ${\tau}$, and fresh weight was quantitatively analyzed. After the nutrient solution supply stopped, the change in the channel weight exponentially decreased. The nutrient solution in the channel slowly drained as the root weight in the channel increased. Large differences were observed between the actual fresh weight of the plant and the predicted value because the channel included residual nutrient solution. These differences were difficult to predict with growth stage but a model with the time constant showed the highest accuracy. The real-time fresh weight could be calculated from Wi, Ws, and ${\tau}$ with growth stage.