• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.2341-2347
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• 2021

Because single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is one of the widely used nuclear medicine imaging systems, it is extremely important to acquire high-quality images for diagnosis. In this study, we designed a super-resolution (SR) technique using dense block-based deep convolutional neural network (CNN) and evaluated the algorithm on real SPECT phantom images. To acquire the phantom images, a real SPECT system using a^99mTc source and two physical phantoms was used. To confirm the image quality, the noise properties and visual quality metric evaluation parameters were calculated. The results demonstrate that our proposed method delivers a more valid SR improvement by using dense block-based deep CNNs as compared to conventional reconstruction techniques. In particular, when the proposed method was used, the quantitative performance was improved from 1.2 to 5.0 times compared to the result of using the conventional iterative reconstruction. Here, we confirmed the effects on the image quality of the resulting SR image, and our proposed technique was shown to be effective for nuclear medicine imaging.

• Biomedical Engineering Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2018

When focusing using an ultrasonic transducer array, a main lobe is formed in the focal region of an ultrasound field, but side lobes also arise around the focal region due to the leakage. Since the side lobes cannot be completely eliminated in the focusing process, they are responsible for subsequent ultrasound image quality degradation. To improve ultrasound image quality, a signal processing strategy to reduce side lobes is definitely in demand. To this end, quantitative determination of main and side lobes is necessary. We propose a theoretically and actually error-free method of exactly discriminating and separately computing the main lobe and side lobe parts in ultrasound image by computer simulation. We refer to images constructed using the main and side lobe signals as the main and side lobe images, respectively. Since the main and side lobe images exactly represent their main and side lobe components, respectively, they can be used to evaluate ultrasound image quality. Defining the average brightness of the main and side lobe images, the conventional to side lobe image ratio, and the main to side lobe image ratio as image quality metrics, we can evaluate image characteristics in speckle images. The proposed method is also applied in assessing the performance of side lobe suppression filtering. We show that the proposed method may greatly aid in the evaluation of medical ultrasonic images using computer simulations, albeit lacking the use of actual experimental data.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2021

This paper presents a RLS based adaptive sliding mode observer (A-SMO) for unknown fault reconstruction in longitudinal autonomous driving. Securing the functional safety of autonomous vehicles from unexpected faults of sensors is essential for avoidance of fatal accidents. Because the magnitude and type of the faults cannot be known exactly, the RLS based A-SMO for unknown acceleration fault reconstruction has been designed with relationship function in this study. It is assumed that longitudinal acceleration of preceding vehicle can be obtained by using the V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) communication. The kinematic model that represents relative relation between subject and preceding vehicles has been used for fault reconstruction. In order to reconstruct fault signal in acceleration, the magnitude of the injection term has been adjusted by adaptation rule designed based on MIT rule. The proposed A-SMO in this study was developed in Matlab/Simulink environment. Performance evaluation has been conducted using the commercial software (CarMaker) with car-following scenario and evaluation results show that maximum reconstruction error ratios exist within range of ±10%.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

This study aim of quantitative assessment of Noise Power Spectrum(NPS) and image characteristics of by acquired the optimal image for noise characteristics and quality assurance by using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MRI device was (MAGNETOM Vida 3.0T MRI; Siemense healthcare system; Germany) used and the head/neck shim MR receive coil were 20 channels coil and a diameter 200 mm hemisphere phantom. Frequency signal could be acquired the K-space trajectory image and white image for NPS. The T2 image highest quantitatively value for NPS finding of showed the best value of 0.026 based on the T2 frequency of 1.0 mm-1. The NPS acquired of showed that the T1 CE turbo image was 0.077, the T1 CE Conca2 turbo image was 0.056, T1 turbo image was 0.061, and the T1 Conca2 turbo image was 0.066. The assessment of NPS image characteristics of this study were to that could be used efficiently of the MRI and to present the quantitative evaluation methods and image noise characteristics of 3.0T MRI.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2023

Autonomous driving systems are likely to be operated in various complex environments. However, the well-known integrated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), which is currently the major source for absolute position information, still has difficulties in accurate positioning in harsh signal environments such as urban canyons. To overcome these difficulties, integrated Visual/Inertial/GNSS (VIG) navigation systems have been extensively studied in various areas. Recently, a Compressed-State Constraint Kalman Filter (CSCKF)-based VIG navigation system (CSCKF-VIG) using a monocular camera, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and GNSS receivers has been studied with the aim of providing robust and accurate position information in urban areas. For this new filter-based navigation system, on the basis of time-propagation measurement fusion theory, unnecessary camera states are not required in the system state. This paper presents a performance evaluation of the CSCKF-VIG system compared to other conventional navigation systems. First, the CSCKF-VIG is introduced in detail compared to the well-known Multi-State Constraint Kalman Filter (MSCKF). The CSCKF-VIG system is then evaluated by a field experiment in different GNSS availability situations. The results show that accuracy is improved in the GNSS-degraded environment compared to that of the conventional systems.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4652-4659
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• 2022

Among the detector materials available at room temperature, thallium bromide (TlBr), which has a relatively high atomic number and density, is widely used for gamma camera imaging. This study aimed to verify the usefulness of TlBr through quantitative evaluation by modeling detectors of various compound types using Monte Carlo simulations. The Geant4 application for tomographic emission was used for simulation, and detectors based on cadmium zinc telluride and cadmium telluride materials were selected as a comparison group. A pixel-matched parallel-hole collimator with proven excellent performance was modeled, and phantoms used for quality control in nuclear medicine were used. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR), sensitivity, and full width at half maximum (FWHM) were used for quantitative analysis to evaluate the image quality. The SNR, CNR, sensitivity, and FWHM for the TlBr detector material were approximately 1.05, 1.04, 1.41, and 1.02 times, respectively, higher than those of the other detector materials. The SNR, CNR and sensitivity increased with increasing detector thickness, but the spatial resolution in terms of FWHM decreased. Thus, we demonstrated the feasibility and possibility of using the TlBr detector material in comparison with commercial detector materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2021.07a
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• pp.671-672
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• 2021

본 논문에서는 작전환경과 위장무늬 디자인 영상 간의 색상 및 구조 분석 기반의 새로운 정량적 위장무늬 평가 방법을 제안한다. 작전환경 및 위장무늬 디자인 영상 간 RGB, Lab 색상 공간에서의 화소간 평균 오차 및 색상 히스토그램 비교를 통해 색상 유사도를 계산한다. 또한, PSNR(Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio), MSSIM(Mean Structural Similarity Index), UIQI, GMSD 및 딥러닝 기반 영상 간 구조 유사도를 계산한다. Random Forest Regressor를 통해 각각 계산된 색상 및 구조 유사도 파라미터를 회기 분석하여 최종 위장무늬 평가 결과를 계산한다. 20명의 피실험자를 대상으로 제안한 위장무늬 평가 방법과 기존 평가 방법을 비교함을 통해 제안한 방법의 성능을 검증하였다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.62-78
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• 2023

As the majority of incidentally detected lesions in the anterior mediastinum is small nodules with soft tissue appearance, the differential diagnosis has typically included thymic neoplasm and prevascular lymph node, with benign cyst. Overestimation or misinterpretation of these lesions can lead to unnecessary surgery for ultimately benign conditions. Diagnosing mediastinal cysts using MRI serves as a problem-solving modality in distinguishing between surgical and nonsurgical anterior mediastinal lesions. The pitfalls of MRI evaluation for anterior mediastinal cystic lesions are as follows: first, we acknowledge the limitation of T2-weighted images for evaluating benign cystic lesions. Due to variable contents within benign cystic lesions, such as hemorrhage, T2 signal intensity may be variable. Second, owing to extensive necrosis and cystic changes, the T2 shine-through effect may be seen on diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and small solid portions might be missed on enhanced images. Therefore, both enhancement and DWI with apparent diffusion coefficient values should be considered. An algorithm will be suggested for the diagnostic evaluation of anterior mediastinal cystic lesions, and finally, a management strategy based on MRI features will be suggested.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study has attempted to evaluate and compare the image evaluation and exposure dose by respectively applying Filtered Back Projection(FBP), the existing test method, and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction(ASIR) with different values of tube voltage during the Low Dose Computed Tomography(LDCT). Materials and Methods: With the image reconstruction method as basis, Chest Phantom was utilized with the FBP and ASIR set at 10%, 20% respectively, and the change of Tube Voltage (100kVp, 120kVp). For image evaluation, Back ground noise, Signal to Noise ratio(SNR) and Contrast to Noise ratio(CNR) were measured, and, for dose evaluation, CTDIvol and DLP were measured respectively. The statistical analysis was tested with SPSS(ver. 22.0), followed by ANOVA Test conducted after normality test and homogeneity test. (p<0.05). Results: In terms of image evaluation, there was no outstanding difference in Ascending Aorta(AA) SNR and Infraspinatus Muscle(IM) SNR with the different values of ASIR application(p<0.05), but a significant difference with the different amount of tube voltage(p>0.05). Also, there wasn't noticeable change in CNR with ASIR and different amount of Tube Voltage (p<0.05). However, in terms of dose evaluation, CTDIvol and DLP showed contrasting results(p<0.05). In terms of CTDIvol, the measured values with the same tube voltage of 120kVp were 2.6mGy with No-ASIR and 2.17mGy with 20%-ASIR respectively, decreased by 0.43mGy, and the values with 100kVp were 1.61mGy with No-ASIR and 1.34mGy with 20%-ASIR, decreased by 0.27mGy. In terms of DLP, the measured values with 120kVp were $103.21mGy{\cdot}cm$ with No-ASIR and $85.94mGy{\cdot}cm$ with 20%-ASIR, decreased by $17.27mGy{\cdot}cm$(about 16.7%), and the values with 100kVp were $63.84mGy{\cdot}cm$ with No-ASIR and $53.25mGy{\cdot}cm$ with 20%-ASIR, a decrease by $10.62mGy{\cdot}cm$(about 16.7%). Conclusion: At lower tube voltage, the rate of dose significantly decreased, but the negative effects on image evaluation was shown due to the increase of noise. For the future, through the result of the experiment, it is considered that the method above would be recommended for follow-up patients or those who get health checkup as long as there is no interference on the process of diagnosis due to the characteristics of Low Dose examination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.417-425
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• 2018

The psychological anxiety of radiologists, as well as the patients, is growing with the increasing use of CT contrast agent side effects and the process of extravasation. In this study, a satisfaction survey was conducted regarding the wireless signal device after CT examination in patients and radiologists by employing a wireless signal device during a contrast-enhanced CT examination in order to determine its usefulness to the relieve psychological anxiety, such as anxiety and fear, of patients and radiologists when using contrast agents. The use of a wireless signal device was also intended to help radiologists in dealing with the side effects of contrast agents that may occur during a CT examination and preventing extravasation. Patients aged 20 years or older, who visited the C university hospital in Jeonnam province for 4 months from August to November in 2017, were surveyed. A total number of 90 patients (57 males and 33 females),who agreed to the study after CT examination, were included in the questionnaire survey. Meanwhile, 15 radiologists, who were working at a CT room and had an experience in using a wireless signal device, were surveyed. Patient satisfaction was $6.01{\pm}0.88$ before the use of a wireless signal device and $8.20{\pm}1.06$ after use, thereby showing an increased satisfaction after its use. Radiologist satisfaction was $8.46{\pm}1.06$ after use, thereby not showing a big difference from the mean patient satisfaction. The satisfaction was high at over 8 points in both groups. The contribution to psychological stability with the use of a wireless signal device was $8.98{\pm}0.65$ in patients with prior experience of side effects and $8.00{\pm}1.21$ in patients without prior experience of side effects. In conclusion, it is considered to improve satisfaction with the examination by helping the radiologists in taking immediate action with calling via the wireless signal device and providing the patients and radiologists with psychological stability by reducing their anxiety.