• Applied Microscopy
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.218-222
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• 2012

Modern aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope (TEM) with appropriate electron beam energy is able to achieve atomic resolution imaging of single and bilayer graphene sheets. Especially, atomic configuration of bilayer graphene with a rotation angle can be identified from the direct imaging and phase reconstructed imaging since atomic resolution Moir$\acute{e}$ pattern can be obtained successfully at atomic scale using an aberration-corrected TEM. This study boosts a reliable stacking order analysis, which is required for synthesized or artificially prepared multilayer graphene, and lets graphene researchers utilize the information of atomic configuration of stacked graphene layers readily.

• 대한수학회보
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.1291-1302
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• 2012

In this paper, we introduce a new elliptic PDE: $$\{{\nabla}{\cdot}\(\frac{|{\gamma}^{\omega}(r)|^2}{\sigma}{\nabla}v_{\omega}(r)\)=0,\;r{\in}{\Omega},\\v_{\omega}(r)=f(r),\;r{\in}{\partial}{\Omega},$$ where ${\gamma}^{\omega}={\sigma}+i{\omega}{\epsilon}$ is the admittivity distribution of the conducting material ${\Omega}$ and it is shown that the introduced elliptic PDE can replace the standard elliptic PDE with conductivity coefficient in EIT imaging. Indeed, letting $v_0$ be the solution to the standard elliptic PDE with conductivity coefficient, the solution $v_{\omega}$ is quite close to the solution $v_0$ and can show spectroscopic properties of the conducting object ${\Omega}$ unlike $v_0$. In particular, the potential $v_{\omega}$ can be used in detecting a thin low-conducting anomaly located in ${\Omega}$ since the spectroscopic change of the Neumann data of $v_{\omega}$ is inversely proportional to thickness of the thin anomaly.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to compare the effective doses from low-dose and standard-dose multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanning protocols and evaluate the image quality and the spatial resolution of the low-dose MDCT protocols for clinical use. Materials and Methods : 6-channel MDCT scanner (Siemens Medical System, Forschheim, Germany), was used for this study. Protocol of the standard-dose MDCT for the orthodontic analysis was 130 kV, 35 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.8 pitch. Those of the low-dose MDCT for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery were 110 kV, 30 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch and 110 kV, 45 mAs, 2.5 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed at 31 sites throughout the levels of adult female ART head and neck phantom. Effective doses were calculated according to ICRP 1990 and 2007 recommendations. A formalin-fixed cadaver and AAPM CT performance phantom were scanned for the evaluation of subjective image quality and spatial resolution. Results : Effective doses in ${\mu}Sv$ ($E_{2007}$) were 699.1, 429.4 and 603.1 for standard-dose CT of orthodontic treatment, low-dose CT of orthodontic analysis, and low-dose CT of orthodontic surgery, respectively. The image quality from the low-dose protocol were not worse than those from the standard-dose protocol. The spatial resolutions of both standard-dose and low-dose CT images were acceptable. Conclusion : From the above results, it can be concluded that the low-dose MDCT protocol is preferable in obtaining CT images for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2011년도 제40회 동계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.350-350
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• 2011

The spin structure of Fe over layers on Cu (001), especially in region II is one of the unsolved problem for many years. We study the out - of - plane (OP) Fermi surfaces (FSs) of 7 monolayer Fe/Cu (001) films using angle resolved photo emission spectroscopy (ARPES). Ultrathin Fe was grown on Cu (001) substrate at room temperature and the experimental measurements were carried out at room temperature and low temperature. Fermi surfaces measured about $\frac{1}{4}$ of the Brillouin Zone (BZ) using photon energies ranging from 170 eV to 280 eV. Our results confirmed that ferromagnetic signal at 7 ML Fe on Cu (001) is nearly zero. These results are consistent with our recent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and surface magneto - optic Kerr effect (SMOKE) experiments. Based on our observations we have made a simple model of this system, which explains all the experimental results.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.108-115
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: Minimizing contrast dose and radiation exposure while maintaining image quality during computed tomography angiography (CTA) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is desirable, but not well established. This systematic review compares image quality for low contrast and low kV CTA versus conventional CTA in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review to identify clinical studies comparing imaging strategies for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning. The primary outcomes of image quality as assessed by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were reported as random effects mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: We included 6 studies reporting on 353 patients. There was no difference in cardiac SNR (mean difference, -1.42; 95% CI, -5.71 to 2.88; p = 0.52), cardiac CNR (mean difference, -3.83; 95% CI, -9.98 to 2.32; p = 0.22), aortic SNR (mean difference, -0.23; 95% CI, -7.83 to 7.37; p = 0.95), aortic CNR (mean difference, -3.95; 95% CI, -12.03 to 4.13; p = 0.34), and ileofemoral SNR (mean difference, -6.09; 95% CI, -13.80 to 1.62; p = 0.12) between the low dose and conventional protocols. There was a difference in ileofemoral CNR between the low dose and conventional protocols with a mean difference of -9.26 (95% CI, -15.06 to -3.46; p = 0.002). Overall, subjective image quality was similar between the 2 protocols. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggests that low contrast and low kV CTA for TAVR planning provides similar image quality to conventional CTA.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Background: In this study, we investigate the image quality of virtual monochromatic images synthesized from dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) at voltages of 80/140 kV and 100/140 kV. Materials and Methods: Virtual monochromatic images of a phantom are synthesized from DECT scans from 40 to 70 keV in steps of 1 keV under the two combinations of tube voltages. The dose allocation of dual-energy (DE) scan is 50% for both low- and high-energy tubes. The virtual monochromatic images are compared to single-energy (SE) images at the same radiation dose. In the DE images, noise is reduced using the 100/140 kV scan at the optimal monochromatic energy. Virtual monochromatic images are reconstructed from 40 to 70 keV in 1-keV increments and analyzed using two quality indexes: noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Results and Discussion: The DE scan mode with the 100/140 kV protocol achieved a better maximum CNR compared to the 80/140 kV protocol for various materials, except for adipose and brain. Image noise is reduced with the 100/140 kV protocol. The CNR values of DE with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of SE at 120 kV at the same radiation dose. Furthermore, the maximum CNR with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of the SE scan at 120 kV. Conclusion: It was found that the CNR achieved with the 100/140 kV protocol was better than that with the 80/140 kV protocol at optimal monochromatic energies. Virtual monochromatic imaging using the 100/140 kV protocol could be considered for application in breast, brain, lung, liver, and bone CT in accordance with the CNR results.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2009

With the recent development of diagnosis using radiation and increasing demand of the medical treatment, we need to minimize radiation exposure dose. So, This is the method which reduce patient dose by measuring surface dose of radiographic change factor and by comparing theoretical and actual dose, when we take an X-ray which is generally used. By changing the factor of kV, mAs, FSD, whose range is 60 to 120 kV, 20 to 100 mAs, 80 to 180 cm, we compared theoretical surface dose with actual surface dose calculated by the simple calculation program, Bit system, and NDD-M method As a result, when kV and mAs were higher, theoretical surface dose and actual surface dose were more increased. but the higher FSD was, the more decreased surface dose was. According to this, the error were measured about 0.1 to 0.2 mGy in low dose part and about 0.7 to 1.5 mGy in high dose part. Therefore, this shows that theoretical surface dose calculation method is more correct in low dose part than in high dose part. In conclusion, we will have to make constant efforts which can reduce patient and radiographer's exposure dose, studying methods which can predict patient's radiation exposure dose more exactly.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.205-211
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• 2015

최근 의료영상기술에서 유방암 엑스선 진단기술의 주요 이슈는 정확한 조기암 진단과 환자의 피폭선량의 감소에 있다. 엑스선 영상대비도를 높이고 피폭선량을 줄이는 기술 중 하나로써 다층박막거울을 이용한 단색 엑스선을 획득하는 연구가 선행되어 왔다. 그러나 기존의 Uniform 다층박막거울은 거울면의 일부 반사영역에서만 원하는 파장대역의 단색 엑스선을 얻을 수 있어서 엑스선 영상기술 응용에 한계가 있다. 본 연구에서는 다층박막거울의 전 영역에 걸쳐 동일한 단색엑스선을 얻기 위해 거울에 입사하는 백색 엑스선의 입사각에 상응하는 선형적 기울기의 박막두께를 갖는 Graded 다층박막거울을 설계하였고, 기존 이온빔 스퍼터링 장치에 마스크 제어 장치를 추가 제작하여 $100{\times}100mm^2$ 크기로 제작하였다. 제작된 Graded 다층박막거울은 17.5keV의 단색 엑스선을 획득할 수 있도록 설계하였으며 박막두께주기는 2.88nm~4.62nm(Center 3.87nm)이다. 엑스선 반사율은 60% 이상이며, 단색 엑스선의 FWHM은 1.4keV 이하이고 엑스선 빔 폭은 3mm정도이다. 유방촬영에 적합한 몰리브덴 특성엑스선에 해당하는 17.5keV의 단색 엑스선을 얻음으로써 저선량 고감도 유방암 진단장치 개발에 응용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제11권7호
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• pp.663-669
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• 2017

진단목적의 방사선 의료 영상의 활용의 증가에 따라 환자의 피폭 선량 증가와 의료영상의 진단적 가치 저하에 기여하는 산란선의 관리 및 저감을 위한 연구는 필수적이라 할 수 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 관전압 증가에 따른 산란선의 증감이 영상 화질에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 이를 위해 ANSI 흉부 팬텀을 이용하여, 관전압 변화에 따른 산란선 발생 비율을 측정하고, 산란선의 발생에 따른 화질 영향을 RMS(Root Mean Square) 입상성 평가, RSD(Relative Standard Deviation) 및 NPS(Noise Power Spectrum) 분석을 통해 고찰하였다. 관전압 증가에 따른 산란선 발생비율은 73 kV 관전압에서 48.8%, 93 kV 관전압 인가시 80.1%로 점차 증가하는 것으로 확인되었다. 관전압 증가에 따른 산란선 증가의 화질 영향을 분석하기 위한 RMS 분석 결과, 관전압 증가에 따른 RMS 값이 증가하는 것으로 나타나 영상의 입상성이 떨어지는 결과로 도출되었다. 공간주파수 2.5 lp/mm에서의 NPS 값 또한 관전압 73 kV 인가에 비해 93kV 관전압 증가시 20% 정도 영상의 잡음이 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구를 통하여 관전압 변화에 따른 산란선 발생이 화질에 미치는 영향을 확인할 수 있었으며, 이러한 연구 결과는 의료영상 품질 개선을 위한 연구의 기초 자료로서 활용 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10057-10059
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• 2015

Positron emission tomography (PET) as the functional component of current hybrid imaging (like PET/CT or PET/MRI) seems to dominate the horizon of medical imaging in coming decades. $^{18}$Flourodeoxyglucose ($^{18}FDG$) is the most commonly used probe in oncology and also in cardiology and neurology around the globe. However, the major capital cost and exorbitant running expenditure of low to medium energy cyclotrons (about 20 MeV) and radiochemistry units are the seminal reasons of low number of cyclotrons but mushroom growth pattern of PET scanners. This fact and longer half-life of $^{18}F$ (110 minutes) have paved the path of a centralized model in which $^{18}FDG$ is produced by commercial PET radiopharmacies and the finished product (multi-dose vial with tungsten shielding) is dispensed to customers having only PET scanners. This indeed reduced the cost but has limitations of dependence upon timely arrival of daily shipments as delay caused by any reason results in cancellation or rescheduling of the PET procedures. In recent years, industry and academia have taken a step forward by producing low energy, table top cyclotrons with compact and automated radiochemistry units (Lab-on-Chip). This decentralized strategy enables the users to produce on-demand doses of PET probe themselves at reasonably low cost using an automated and user-friendly technology. This technological development would indeed provide a real impetus to the availability of complete set up of PET based molecular imaging at an affordable cost to the developing countries.