• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2007

Purpose: $^{13}N$-ammonia is a well known radiopharmaceutical for the measurement of a myocardial blood flow (MBF) non-invasively using PET-CT. In this study, we investigated a correlation between MBF obtained from dynamic imaging and myocardial perfusion score (MPS) obtained from static imaging for usefulness of cardiac PET study. Methods: Twelve patients (11 males, 1 female, $57.9{\pm}8.6$ years old) with suspicious coronary artery disease underwent PET-CT scan. Dynamic scans (6 min: $5\;sec\;{\times}\;12,\;10\;sec\;{\times}\;6,\;20\;sec\;{\times}\;3,\;and\;30\;sec\;{\times}\;6$) were initiated simultaneously with bolus injection of 11 MBq/kg $^{13}N-ammonia$ to acquire rest and stress image. Gating image was acquired during 13 minutes continuously. Nine-segment model (4 basal walls, 4 mid walls, and apex) was used for a measurement of MBF. Time activity curve of input function and myocardium was extracted from ROI methods in 9 regions for quantification. The MPS were evaluated using quantitative analysis software. To compare between 20-segment model and 9-segment model, 6 basal segments were excluded and averaged segmental scores were used. Results: There are weak correlation between MBF (rest, 0.18-2.38 ml/min/g; stress, 0.40-4.95 ml/min/g) and MPS (rest 22-91%, stress, 14-90%), however the correlation coefficient between corrected MBF and MPS in rest state was higher than stress state (rest r=0.59; stress r=0.80). As a thickening increased, correlation between MBF and MPS also showed good correlation at each segments. Conclusions: Corrected and translated MPS as its characteristics using $^{13}N$-ammonia showed good correlation with absolute MBF measured by dynamic image in this study. Therefore, we showed MPS is one of good indices which reflect MBF. We anticipate PET-CT could be used as useful tool for evaluation of myocardial function in nuclear cardiac study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2004

Purpose: Much evidence suggests long-term cigarette smoking alters coronary vascular endothelial response. On this study, we applied nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), an unsupervised learning algorithm, to CO-less $H_2^{15}O-PET$ to investigate coronary endothelial dysfunction caused by smoking noninvasively. Materials and methods: This study enrolled eighteen young male volunteers consisting of 9 smokers $(23.8{\pm}1.1\;yr;\;6.5{\pm}2.5$ pack-years) and 9 nonsmokers $(23.8{\pm}2.9 yr)$. They do not have any cardiovascular risk factor or disease history. Myocardial $H_2^{15}O-PET$ was performed at rest, during cold ($5^{\circ}C$) pressor stimulation and during adenosine infusion. Left ventricular blood pool and myocardium were segmented on dynamic PET data by NMF method. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was calculated from input and tissue functions by a single compartmental model with correction of partial volume and spillover effects. Results: There were no significant difference in resting MBF between the two groups (Smokers: 1.43 0.41 ml/g/min and non-smokers: $1.37{\pm}0.41$ ml/g/min p=NS). during cold pressor stimulation, MBF in smokers was significantly lower than 4hat in non-smokers ($1.25{\pm}0.34$ ml/g/min vs $1.59{\pm}0.29$ ml/gmin; p=0.019). The difference in the ratio of cold pressor MBF to resting MBF between the two groups was also significant (p=0.024; $90{\pm}24%$ in smokers and $122{\pm}28%$ in non-smokers.). During adenosine infusion, however, hyperemic MBF did not differ significantly between smokers and non-smokers ($5.81{\pm}1.99$ ml/g/min vs $5.11{\pm}1.31$ ml/g/min ; p=NS). Conclusion: in smokers, MBF during cold pressor stimulation was significantly lower compared wi4h nonsmokers, reflecting smoking-Induced endothelial dysfunction. However, there was no significant difference in MBF during adenosine-induced hyperemia between the two groups.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2006

Papers were prepared from cut cocoons and mulberry branches, which are byproducts from sericulture industry. The long filament of silk should be cut into appropriate length in order to prepare paper and this was achieved by chemical method. By a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate solution, the silk filaments were cut into short fibers (less than 1 mm in length). Since the short silk fibers (sSf) could not bind each other by itself, starch and poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) were added as a bonding agent. When starch and PEO were used in a ratio of 3:7, the silk papers had optimum mechanical properties for paper. Fibers from the skin of mulberry branches (MBF) were added to sSf to enhance the mechanical properties of pure silk paper. Bleaching of MBF was performed with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium silicate. The mechanical properties were greatly enhanced and the optimum blend ratio of MBF and sSf were 7:3. The mulberry/silk paper has good absorption property against formaldehyde, and therefore, the paper could be applied as a wall paper for preventing the sick house syndrome.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2002

In this work, transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of Ni-Cr heat resisted cast alloy (HP) was investigated. And also the behaviors of the solid particles distributed in the interlayer during TLP bonding were investigated. The MBF-60 and solid particles (Ni, Fe, and $Al_2O_3$ powders respectively) added MBF-60 which will be a liquid phase coexisting with solid particles at the bonding temperature were used as insert metal. The effective and sound bonding was possible by spark plasma sinter-bonding due to the differences of electric resistance between base metal and liquid insert layer which creates high temperature region. During the isothermal solidification, $Al_2O_3$ particles and solid particles of liquid phase sintered insert metal have shown no growth, while Ni and Fe particles grow rapidly. In this TLP bonding using the MBF-60 and distributed Fe, Ni particles as insert materials, the whole isothermal solidification process was dominated by the growth rate of the solid particles distributed in the interlayer.

• 연구논문집
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• s.29
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• pp.141-149
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• 1999

Brazing of Fe-Cr-Al alloy was carried out at $1200^{\circ}C$ in vacuum furnace using nickel-based filler metals : BNi-5 powder(Ni-Cr-Si-Fe base alloy} and MBF-50 foil (Ni-Cr-Si-B). The effect of boron content on the stability of oxide scale on the brazed joint was investigated by means of cyclic oxidation test performed at $1050^{\circ}C$ and $1200^{\circ}C$. Apparently, the joints brazed with MBF-50 containing boron showed relatively stable oxidation rates compared to boron-free BNi-5 at both temperatures. However, it was considered that the slower weight loss of MBF-50 brazed specimen wasn’t resulted from the low oxidation rate but from the spallation of oxide layer. The oxide layer consisted of thick spinel oxide on the surface and $Al_2 O_3$ internal oxide layer along the interface between mother alloy and braze, the mother alloy was also eroded seriously by the formation of spinel oxides such as $FeCr_2 O_4$ and $NiCr_2 O_4$ on the surface, likely to be induced by the change of oxide forming mechanism due to diffusion of boron from the braze. On the contrary, the joint brazed with BNi-5 showed the good oxidation resistance during the cyclic oxidation test. It seems that the oxidation can be retarded by the formation of stable $Al_2 O_3$ layer at the surface.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2020

Objective: Third-generation dual-source computed tomography (3rd-DSCT) allows dynamic myocardial CT perfusion imaging (dynamic CTP) with a 10.5-cm z-axis coverage. Although the increased radiation exposure associated with the 50% wider scan range compared to second-generation DSCT (2nd-DSCT) may be suppressed by using a tube voltage of 70 kV, it remains unclear whether image quality and the ability to quantify myocardial blood flow (MBF) can be maintained under these conditions. This study aimed to compare the image quality, estimated MBF, and radiation dose of dynamic CTP between 2ndDSCT and 3rd-DSCT and to evaluate whether a 10.5-cm coverage is suitable for dynamic CTP. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients who underwent dynamic CTP using 2nd-DSCT at 80 kV (n = 54) or 3rd-DSCT at 70 kV (n = 53). Image quality, estimated MBF, radiation dose, and coverage of left ventricular (LV) myocardium were compared. Results: No significant differences were observed between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in contrast-to-noise ratio (37.4 ± 11.4 vs. 35.5 ± 11.2, p = 0.396). Effective radiation dose was lower with 3rd-DSCT (3.97 ± 0.92 mSv with a conversion factor of 0.017 mSv/mGy∙cm) compared to 2nd-DSCT (5.49 ± 1.36 mSv, p < 0.001). Incomplete coverage was more frequent with 2nd-DSCT than with 3rd-DSCT (1.9% [1/53] vs. 56% [30/54], p < 0.001). In propensity score-matched cohorts, MBF was comparable between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in non-ischemic (146.2 ± 26.5 vs. 157.5 ± 34.9 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.137) as well as ischemic myocardium (92.7 ± 21.1 vs. 90.9 ± 29.7 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.876). Conclusion: The radiation increase inherent to the widened z-axis coverage in 3rd-DSCT can be balanced by using a tube voltage of 70 kV without compromising image quality or MBF quantification. In dynamic CTP, a z-axis coverage of 10.5 cm is sufficient to achieve complete coverage of the LV myocardium in most patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1997

Regional myocardial blood flow (rMBF) can be noninvasively quantified using N-13 ammonia and dynamic positron emission tomography (PET). The quantitative accuracy of the rMBF values, however, is affected by the distortion of myocardial PET images caused by finite PET image resolution and cardiac motion. Although different methods have been developed to correct the distortion typically classified as partial volume effect and spillover, the methods are too complex to employ in a routine clinical environment. We have developed a refined method incorporating a geometric model of the volume representation of a region-of-interest (ROI) into the two-compartment N-13 ammonia model. In the refined model, partial volume effect and spillover are conveniently corrected by an additional parameter in the mathematical model. To examine the accuracy of this approach, studies were performed in 9 coronary artery disease patients. Dynamic transaxial images (16 frames) were acquired with a GE $Advance^{TM}$ PET scanner simultaneous with intravenous injection of 20 mCi N-13 ammonia. rMBF was examined at rest and during pharmacologically (dipyridamole) induced coronary hyperemia. Three sectorial myocardium (septum, anterior wall and lateral wall) and blood pool time-activity curves were generated using dynamic images from manually drawn ROIs. The accuracy of rMBF values estimated by the refined method was examined by comparing to the values estimated using the conventional two-compartment model without partial volume effect correction rMBF values obtained by the refined method linearly correlated with rMBF values obtained by the conventional method (108 myocardial segments, correlation coefficient (r)=0.88). Additionally, underestimated rMBF values by the conventional method due to partial volume effect were corrected by theoretically predicted amount in the refined method (slope(m)=1.57). Spillover fraction estimated by the two methods agreed well (r=1.00, m=0.98). In conclusion, accurate rMBF values can be efficiently quantified by the refined method incorporating myocardium geometric information into the two-compartment model using N-13 ammonia and PET.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.316-326
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• 1999

Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility of extracting pure left ventricular blood pool and myocardial time-activity curves (TACs) and of generating factor images from human dynamic N-13 ammonia PET using factor analysis. The myocardial blood flow (MBF) estimates obtained with factor analysis were compared with those obtained with the user drawn region-of-interest (ROI) method. Materials and Methods: Stress and rest N-13 ammonia cardiac PET imaging was acquired for 23 min in 5 patients with coronary artery disease using GE Advance tomograph. Factor analysis generated physiological TACs and factor images using the normalized TACs from each dixel. Four steps were involved in this algorithm: (a) data preprocessing; (b) principal component analysis; (c) oblique rotation with positivity constraints; (d) factor image computation. Area under curves and MBF estimated using the two compartment N-13 ammonia model were used to validate the accuracy of the factor analysis generated physiological TACs. The MBF estimated by factor analysis was compared to the values estimated by using the ROI method. Results: MBF values obtained by factor analysis were linearly correlated with MBF obtained by the ROI method (slope = 0.84, r = 0.91), Left ventricular blood pool TACs obtained by the two methods agreed well (Area under curve ratio: 1.02 ($0{\sim}1min$), 0.98 ($0{\sim}2min$), 0.86 ($1{\sim}2min$)). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrates that MBF can be measured accurately and noninvasively with dynamic N-13 ammonia PET imaging and factor analysis. This method is simple and accurate, and can measure MBF without blood sampling, ROI definition or spillover correction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2014.06a
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• pp.226-229
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• 2014

본 논문은 효과적인 열화영상의 복원을 위해 Multiresolution Bilateral Filter (MBF) 기반의 구간적 노이즈 분석을 제안한다. 기존의 MBF 알고리즘은 최적화되지 않은 노이즈 추정 값을 중첩적으로 사용하다보니 over smoothing 현상이 발생되는 결과가 도출되기도 하였다. 이에 따른 보완점으로 열화영상 내 전체 화소를 일정한 블록 단위의 영역으로 나누어, 영상특성을 최대한 보존하며 노이즈제거를 진행하기 위해 블록 단위의 영역 내에서 노이즈 추정을 위한 파라미터를 추가한다. 실험을 통해 제안된 알고리즘이 노이즈 추정을 수행하여 얻어진 노이즈의 분산 값을 보다 정확히 추정하였고, 이로 인하여 향상된 노이즈 제거 영상 획득이 가능함을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2011

Design is important in the IT, digital appliance, and auto industries. Aesthetic and art images are being applied for better quality of the products. Most image patterns are complex and much lead-time is required to implement them to the product design process. A precise reverse engineering method generating 2.5D engraving models from 2D artistic images is proposed through the image processing, NURBS interpolation and 2.5D reconstruction methods. To generate 2.5D TechArt models from the art images, boundary points of the images are extracted by using the adaptive median filter and the novel MBF (modified boundary follower) algorithm. Accurate NURBS interpolation of the points generates TechArt CAD models. Performance of the developed system has been confirmed through the quick turnaround 2.5D engraving simulation linked with the commercial CAD/CAM system.