• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2003

Purpose : B1 field of birdcage RF (radiofrequency) coil that is used most for brain imaging in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) decreases toward endring from the coil center. We investigated how much RE B1 homogeneity effect the endcap shield brings form the coil center as it towards to endcap region. Materials and Methods : We compared RF B1 field distribution by each finite difference time domain (EDTD) simulations for lowpass, highpass and hybrid birdcage RF coils. We selected the highpass birdcage RF coil that was the highest RF B1 field condition as simulation result, and studied how much RF B1 homogeneity effect was occurred when endcap shield was applied to endring area. Results : B1 field of the highpass birdcage RF coil was higher than other birdcage RF coil types as simulation result. However, the RF B1 homogeneity was lower than other coil types. RE B1 field of highpass birdcage RF coil with endcap shield is similar with RF B1 field of hybrid birdcage RF coil and the overall RE B1 homogeneity in sagittal direction was better. Conclusion In this paper, proposed method can apply improving RF B1 homogeneity of RF coil in clinical examination.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 1998

Purpose : This paper introduces a new three dimensional magnetic Resonance Image classification which is based on Mar kov Random Field-Gibbs Random Field with a line model. Material and Methods : The performance of the Gibbs Classifier over a statistically heterogeneous image can be improved if the local stationary regions in the image are disassociated from each other through the mechanism of the interaction parameters defined at the local neighborhood level. This usually involves the construction of a line model for the image. In this paper we construct a line model for multisignature images based on the differential of the image which can provide an a priori estimate of the unobservable line field, which may lie in regions with significantly different statistics. the line model estimated from the original image data can in turn be used to alter the values of the interaction parameters of the Gibbs Classifier. Results : MRF-Gibbs classifier for volumetric MR images is developed under the condition that the domain of the image classification is $E^{3}$ space rather thatn the conventional $E^{2}$ space. Compared to context free classification, MRF-Gibbs classifier performed better in homogeneous and along boundaries since contextual information is used during the classification. Conclusion : We construct a line model for multisignature, multidimensional image and derive the interaction parameter for determining the energy function of MRF-Gibbs classifier.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.596-608
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• 2018

As urban infrastructure is aging, the possibility of accidents due to the failures or breakdowns of infrastructure increases. Especially, aging underground infrastructures like sewer pipes, waterworks, and subway have a potential to cause an urban ground sink. Urban ground sink is defined just as a local and erratic collapse occurred by underground cavity due to soil erosion or soil loss, which is separated from a sinkhole in soluble bedrock such as limestone. The conventional measurements such as differential settlement gauge, inclinometer or earth pressure gauge have a shortcoming just to provide point measurements with short coverage. Therefore, these methods are not adequate for monitoring of an erratic subsidence caused by underground cavity due to soil erosion or soil loss which occurring at unspecified time and location. Therefore, an alternative technology is required to detect a change of underground physical condition in real time. In this study, the feasibility of a novel magnetic resonance based monitoring method is investigated through laboratory tests, where the changes of path loss (S21) were measured under various testing conditions: media including air, water, and soil, resonant frequency, impedance, and distances between transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX). Theoretically, the transfer characteristic of magnetic field is known to be independent of the density of the medium. However, the results of the test showed the meaningful differences in the path loss (S21) under the different conditions of medium. And it is found that the reflection coefficient showed the more distinct differences over the testing conditions than the path loss. In particular, input reflection coefficient (S11) is more distinguishable than output reflection coefficient (S22).

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2011

The purpose of present study was to examine brain functions associated with intention to conceal information. Kubo & Nittono(2009) and Verschuere et al.(2009) studied the intention to conceal information using P300 amplitude. On the basis of these two studies, present study attempted to identify brain area while participants were performing concealed information test. 19 healthy college students participated in fMRI-based concealed information test. Participants' name were used as concealed information. The test was performed in two conditions. In the intention condition, participants were instructed to try leaving their names undetected by suppressing their brain response to it. In the no intention condition, participants performed the test without intention to conceal. The fMRI results showed that the right anterior cingulated cortex (Rt. ACC), and left orbito-frontal cortex (Lt. OFC) activations were greater in the deceptive condition than the truth condition. These finding confirmed that ACC is area a deception-specific process as shown in the previous fMRI study. The OFC activation was also observed in the deceptive condition. The OFC is an area known as associated with emotional response such as anxiety, fear, and guilty. The anxiety induced while participants were intended to conceal information might be related to the OFC activation.

• Atmosphere
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.205-220
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• 2013

Upper ocean response to typhoon Ewiniar (0603) and its impact on the following typhoon Bilis (0604) are investigated using observational data and numerical experiments. Data used in this study are obtained from the Ieodo Ocean Research Station (IORS), ARGO, and satellite. Numerical simulations are conducted using 3-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model. Results show that when Ewiniar passes over the western North Pacific, unique oceanic responses are found at two places, One is in East China Sea near Taiwan and another is in the vicinity of IORS. The latter are characterized by a strong sea surface cooling (SSC), $6^{\circ}C$ and $11^{\circ}C$ in simulation and observation, under the condition of typhoon with a fast translation speed (8m $s^{-1}$) and lowering intensity (970 hPa). The record-breaking strong SSC is caused by the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water, which produces a strong vertical temperature gradient within a shallow depth of Yellow Sea. The former are also characterized by a strong SSC, $7.5^{\circ}C$ in simulation, with a additional cooling of $4.5^{\circ}C$ after a storm's passage mainly due to enhanced and maintained upwelling process by the resonance coupling of storm translation speed and the gravest mode internal wave phase speed. The numerical simulation reveals that the Ewiniar produced a unfavorable upper-ocean thermal condition, which eventually inhibited the intensification of the following typhoon Bilis. Statistics show that 9% of the typhoons in western North Pacific are influenced by cold wakes produced by a proceeding typhoon. These overall results demonstrate that upper ocean response to a typhoon even after the passage is also important factor to be considered for an accurate intensity prediction of a following typhoon with similar track.

• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.72-78
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• 2016

Spinnable pitches and carbon fibers were successfully prepared from petroleum or coal pyrolysis residues. After pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), slurry oil, and coal tar were simply filtered to eliminate the solid impurities, the characteristics of the raw materials were evaluated by elemental analysis, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS), and so on. Spinnable pitches were prepared for melt-spinning carbon fiber through a simple distillation under strong nitrogen flow, and further vacuum distillation to obtain a high softening point. Carbon fibers were produced from the above pitches by single-hole melt spinning and additional heat treatment, for oxidization and carbonization. Even though spinnable pitches and carbon fibers were processed under the same conditions, the melt-spinning and properties of the carbon fiber were different depending on the raw materials. A fine carbon fiber could not be prepared from slurry oil, and the different diameter carbon fibers were produced from the PFO and coal tar pitch. These results seem to be closely correlated with the initial characteristics of the raw materials, under this simple processing condition.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the appropriateness of gustatory features in product design affect product evaluation and accompanied response by using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI). Through the pilot survey, we categorized the product designs into two groups based on the level of the appropriateness. The total of 40 product designs were selected as the experimental stimuli. 15 right-handed participants(mean age = 23.33, SD = 1.7) were scanned with 3T MRI machine(ISOL Tech, Oxford OR63). The experimental stimuli were passively presented inside the scanner. In post scanning session, participants were asked to measure their preference and buying intention to the product designs. The results show that both the preference and buying intention were significantly higher for the high appropriateness condition compared to those of low appropriateness designs. Caudate nucleus and putamen, areas related to the positive reward such as monetary acquisition showed greater activation in response to the designs of high appropriateness condition, compared to the low appropriateness designs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2017

Background: Low back pain is a frequent condition that results in substantial disability and causes admission of patients to neurosurgery clinics. To evaluate and present the therapeutic outcomes in lumbar disc hernia (LDH) patients treated by means of a conservative approach, consisting of bed rest and medical therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort was carried out in the neurosurgery departments of hospitals in KahramanmaraŞ city and 23 patients diagnosed with LDH at the levels of L3-L4, L4-L5 or L5-S1 were enrolled. Results: The average age was $38.4{\pm}8.0$ and the chief complaint was low back pain and sciatica radiating to one or both lower extremities. Conservative treatment was administered. Neurological examination findings, durations of treatment and intervals until symptomatic recovery were recorded. $Las{\grave{e}}gue$ tests and neurosensory examination revealed that mild neurological deficits existed in 16 of our patients. Previously, 5 patients had received physiotherapy and 7 patients had been on medical treatment. The number of patients with LDH at the level of L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 were 1, 13, and 9, respectively. All patients reported that they had benefit from medical treatment and bed rest, and radiologic improvement was observed simultaneously on MRI scans. The average duration until symptomatic recovery and/or regression of LDH symptoms was $13.6{\pm}5.4$ months (range: 5-22). Conclusions: It should be kept in mind that lumbar disc hernias could regress with medical treatment and rest without surgery, and there should be an awareness that these patients could recover radiologically. This condition must be taken into account during decision making for surgical intervention in LDH patients devoid of indications for emergent surgery.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.635-640
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• 2012

In this paper, The TE (Transverse Electric) scattering problems by a perfectly conducting strip grating over a grounded two dielectric layers are analyzed by applying the conductive boundary condition and the FGMM (Fourier-Galerkin Moment Method) known as a numerical procedure, then the induced surface current density is expanded in a series of the multiplication of the unknown coefficient and the exponential function as a simple function. Generally, the reflected power gets increased according as the relative permittivity ${\epsilon}_{r2}$ and the thickness of dielectric layer $t_2$ of the region-2 in the presented structure gets increased, respectively. The sharp variations of the reflected power are due to resonance effects were previously called wood's anomaly, the numerical results show in good agreement with those of the existing papers.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.139-149
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• 2019

Purpose: With neurodegeneration, the signal intensity of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain increases. The objective of this study was to evaluate chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) signals with and without the contribution of CSF signals in elderly human brains using two different 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences Methods: Full CEST signals were acquired in ten subjects (Group I) with a three-dimensional (3D)-segmented gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence and in ten other subjects (Group II) with a 3D gradient and spin-echo (GRASE) sequence using two different 3T MRI systems. The segmented tissue compartments of gray and white matter were used to mask the CSF signals in the full CEST images. Two sets of magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTR_asym) maps were obtained for each offset frequency in each subject with and without masking the CSF signals (masked and unmasked conditions, respectively) and later compared using paired t-tests. Results: The region-of-interest (ROI)-based analyses showed that the MTR_asym values for both the 3D-segmented gradient-echo EPI and 3D GRASE sequences were altered under the masked condition compared with the unmasked condition at several ROIs and offset frequencies. Conclusions: Depending on the imaging sequence, the MTR_asym values can be overestimated for some areas of the elderly human brain when CSF signals are unmasked. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to minimize this overestimation in the case of elderly patients.