• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 2013

Image quality of computed tomography (CT) is very vulnerable to metal artifacts. Recently, the thickness and background normalization techniques have been introduced. Since they provide flat sinograms, it is easy to determine metal traces and a simple linear interpolation would be enough to describe the missing data in sinograms. In this study, we have developed a theory describing two normalization methods and compared two methods with respect to various sizes and numbers of metal inserts by using simple numerical simulations. The developed theory showed that the background normalization provide flatter sinograms than the thickness normalization, which was validated with the simulation results. Numerical simulation results with respect to various sizes and numbers of metal inserts showed that the background normalization was better than the thickness normalization for metal artifact corrections. Although the residual artifacts still existed, we have showed that the background normalization without the segmentation procedure was better than the thickness normalization for metal artifact corrections. Since the background normalization without the segmentation procedure is simple and it does not require any users' intervention, it can be readily installed in conventional CT systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.1286-1297
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• 2022

Purpose To assess the usefulness of various metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods in patients with hip prostheses. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 47 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroplasty and dual-energy CT. Conventional polyenergetic image (CI), orthopedic-MAR (OMAR), and virtual monoenergetic image (VMI, 50-200 keV) were tested for MAR. Quantitative analysis was performed in seven regions around the prostheses. Qualitative assessments included evaluation of the degree of artifacts and the presence of secondary artifacts. Results The lowest amount of image noise was observed in the O-MAR, followed by the VMI. O-MAR also showed the lowest artifact index, followed by high-keV VMI in the range of 120-200 keV (soft tissue) or 200 keV (bone). O-MAR had the highest contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in regions with severe hypodense artifacts, while VMI had the highest CNR in other regions, including the periprosthetic bone. On assessment of the CI of pelvic soft tissues, VMI showed a higher structural similarity than O-MAR. Upon qualitative analysis, metal artifacts were significantly reduced in O-MAR, followed by that in VMI, while secondary artifacts were the most frequently found in the O-MAR (p < 0.001). Conclusion O-MAR is the best technique for severe MAR, but it can generate secondary artifacts. VMI at high keV can be advantageous for evaluating periprosthetic bone.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.521-524
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• 2005

In order to measure ECG in daily life, a new ECG measurement method on bed was developed. The provided method does not require any direct conductive contact between the instrument and bare skin, so that it does not cause the uncomfortable feel of touch and the possible skin trouble which are typical shortcomings of the conventional conductive contact ECG measurement. The provided method utilized an array of high-input-impedance active electrodes fixed on the mattress and an indirect-skin-contact ground made of a large conductive textile sheet and laid on lower area of the mattress. A thin cotton bedcover covered the mattress, the electrodes, and the conductive textile and subjects lay on the mattress over the bedcover. ECG was obtained successfully. However its signal quality is lower and the motion artifact is larger than direct-contact measurement. Careful measurement setup was needed to reduce the motion artifact originated from variation in static electricity. From the ECG obtained by the provided method, R-peak could be discriminated easily and the information about the position and the posture of the subject could be obtained.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.229-235
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess artifacts induced by metallic restorations in three-dimensional (3D) dental surface models derived by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Fifteen specimens, each with four extracted human premolars and molars embedded in a plaster block, were scanned by CBCT before and after the cavitated second premolars were restored with dental amalgam. Five consecutive surface models of each specimen were created according to increasing restoration size: no restoration (control) and small occlusal, large occlusal, disto-occlusal, and mesio-occluso-distal restorations. After registering each restored model with the control model, maximum linear discrepancy, area, and intensity of the artifacts were measured and compared. Results: Artifacts developed mostly on the buccal and lingual surfaces. They occurred not only on the second premolar but also on the first premolar and first molar. The parametric values increased significantly with increasing restoration size. Conclusions: Metallic restorations induce considerable artifacts in 3D dental surface models. Artifact reduction should be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis and treatment planning when using 3D surface model derived by CBCT in dentofacial deformity patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2014

If there are metals located in the X-ray scanned object, a point outside the metals has its range of projection angle at which projections passing through the point are disturbed by the metals. Roughly speaking, this implies that attenuation information at the point is missing in the blocked projection range. So conventional projection completion MAR algorithms to use the undisturbed projection data on the boundary of the metaltrace is less efficient in reconstructing the attenuation coefficient in detailed parts, in particular, near the metal region. In order to overcome this problem, we propose the algebraic correction technique (ACT) to utilize a pre-reconstructed interim image of the attenuation coefficient outside the metal region which is obtained by solving a linear system designed to reduce computational costs. The reconstructed interim image of the attenuation coefficient is used as prior information for MAR. Numerical simulations support that the proposed correction technique shows better performance than conventional inpainting techniques such as the total variation and the harmonic inpainting.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 2015

The goal of this study is to assess the effects of Scratch programming classes on preservice teachers by using computational thinking and cognitive evaluations based on Bloom's taxonomy. To pursue this research goal we measured preservice teachers' programming skills using cognitive evaluation items based on Bloom's taxonomy after preservice teachers took one-semester Scratch programming course. In addition, a survey focused on computational thinking (CT) concepts, CT practices, and CT perspectives was conducted. We also conducted artifact-based interviews to unpack preservice teachers' experiences of working on team projects and analyzed their experiences qualitatively. The results of this study are meaningful because we assessed preservice teachers' experiences comprehensively with both quantitative and qualitative methods. In addition, this study provides us with implications for evaluation perspectives in designing programming courses for preservice teachers by adopting Bloom's taxonomy scheme.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.549-558
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• 2014

This study aims to provide suggestions for software education in an afterschool program, deriving from the analysis of student experiences of working on Scratch team projects. This study reports on the implementation of the 12 week afterschool software education program in an elementary school, where students worked in pairs to learn Scratch programming from ideation to design and presentation. For an in-depth study of student-generated artifacts, we selected three groups' Scratch projects and conducted artifact-based interviews to unpack student experiences working on Scratch projects as a group. Adopting the computational thinking framework as an overarching analytical lens, we focused on examining student experiences from three dimensions of computational thinking (CT), namely, CT concepts, CT practices, and CT perspectives. The present study provides both theoretical and practical implications. Firstly, we demonstrate the feasibility of applying the CT framework for assessing student-generated artifacts in design-oriented software education. We also believe that this study provides important suggestions to future software education programs adopting CT as an overarching design and assessment framework.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2013

The cotton fabric armour for lower class soldiers can be found from the historical records of the mid-Joseon Korea. And the records show that the form and the structure of the armour was modified in the late 19th century in order to provide better protection from gunshots for the soldiers in the midst of the invasions from the West. This is a survey and research of the only artifact of the cotton fabric armour remaining in Korea - for its form, dimensions, and design. Using the historical records as reference, we can confirm the structure and characteristics of the cotton fabric armour of the Joseon period. This cotton fabric armour, preserved in National Museum of Korea, is a vest-type armour made of 30 layers of cotton. On the right shoulder, there is a button for tying knots and strings were tied under both armpits. On the surface of the cotton fabric armour there were some characters and patterns stamped in black. Presently, this artifact in Korea is the only specimen relic of its sort, but there are some other related relics in foreign countries including helmets and belts. Continuous researches would help extend the scope of armour study beyond the traditional researches that only focuses on the armours of the officials, thus helping us to understand the military costumes in traditional Korea.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-47
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• 2023

This study examines the activity system of teaching and learning about informal statistical inference using sampling simulation, based on cultural-historical activity theory. The research explores what contradictions arise in the activity system and how the system changes as a result of these contradictions. The participants were 20 elementary school students in the 5th to 6th grades who received classes on informal statistical inference using sampling simulations. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings show that a contradiction emerged between the rule and the object, as well as between the mediating artifact and the object. It was confirmed that visualization of empirical sampling distribution was introduced as a new artifact while resolving these contradictions. In addition, contradictions arose between the subject and the rule and between the rule and the mediating artifact. It was confirmed that an algorithm to calculate the mean of the sample means was introduced as a new rule while resolving these contradictions.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-228
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• 2012

Damage of cultural properties happens variously. Particularly, the surface damage of metal cultural properties exposed outdoors lowers historical and art historical value of artifact by artificial damage such as paint, scribbling containing oily material and so on. Therefore, this study compared dry-ice pellet cleaning with poultice when clearing paint and oily material environment-friendly, harmlessly to humans and without damage of artifact. As the result of experiment, when clearing those (paint and oily material) by poultice, oily paint was cleared, but there were spots of metal surface. Also, Lacquer spray wasn't well cleared, and resin came off the surface of artifact. When clearing those by dry-ice pellet cleaning, oil paint was cleanly cleared without surface damage of artifact according to Stereoscopic microscope observation, color-measurement, FT-IR, SEM analysis. Also, lacquer spray seemed to be cleared with the naked eye, but there were minute particles on surface according to the result of SEM observation. Consequently, we could confirm possibility of dry-ice pellet cleaning substitution.