• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of collimator width on effective atomic number (EAN), relative electron density (RED), and stopping power ratio (SPR) measured by dual-layer dual-energy computed tomography (DL-DECT). Methods: CIRS electron density calibration phantoms with two different arrangements of material plugs were scanned by DL-DECT with two different collimator widths. The first phantom included two dense bone plugs, while the second excluded dense bone plugs. The collimator widths selected were 64 mm×0.625 mm for wider collimators and 16 mm×0.625 mm for narrow collimators. The scanning parameters were 120 kVp, 0.33 second gantry rotation, 3 mm slice thickness, B reconstruction filter, and spectral level 4. An image analysis portal system provided by a computed tomography (CT) manufacturer was used to derive the EAN and RED of the phantoms from the combination of low energy and high energy CT images. The EAN and RED were compared between the images scanned using the two different collimation widths. Results: The CT images with the wider collimation width generated more severe artifacts, particularly with high-density material (i.e., dense bone). RED and EAN for tissues (excluding lung and bones) with the wider collimation width showed significant relative differences compared to the theoretical value (4.5% for RED and 20.6% for EAN), while those with the narrow collimation width were closer to the theoretical value of each material (2.2% for EAN and 2.3% for RED). Scanning with narrow collimation width increased the accuracy of SPR estimation even with high-density bone plugs in the phantom. Conclusions: The effect of CT collimation width on EAN, RED, and SPR measured by DL-DECT was evaluated. In order to improve the accuracy of the measured EAN, RED, and SPR by DL-DECT, CT scanning should be performed using narrow collimation widths.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1342-1349
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• 2023

The planning accuracy of charged particle therapy (CPT) is subject to the accuracy of stopping power (SP) estimation. In this study, we propose a method of deriving a pseudo-triple-energy CT (pTECT) that can be achievable in the existing dual-energy CT (DECT) systems for better SP estimation. In order to remove the direct effect of errors in CT values, relative CT values according to three scanning voltage settings were used. CT values of each tissue substitute phantom were measured to show the non-linearity of the values thereby suggesting the absolute difference and ratio of CT values as parameters for SP estimation. Electron density, effective atomic number (EAN), mean excitation energy and SP were calculated based on these parameters. Two of conventional methods were implemented and compared to the proposed pTECT method in terms of residuals, absolute error and root-mean-square-error (RMSE). The proposed method outperformed the comparison methods in every evaluation metrics. Especially, the estimation error for EAN and mean excitation using pTECT were converging to zero. In this proof-of-concept study, we showed the feasibility of using three CT values for accurate SP estimation. Our suggested pTECT method indicates potential clinical utility of spectral CT imaging for CPT planning.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2023

Computed tomography (CT) images are used as the basis for proton Bragg peak position estimation and treatment plan simulation. During the Hounsfield Unit (HU) based proton stopping power ratio (SPR) estimation, small differences in the patient's density and elemental composition lead to uncertainty in the Bragg peak positions along the path of the proton beam. In this study, we investigated the potential of dual-energy computed tomography image-based proton SPRs prediction accuracy to reduce the uncertainty of Bragg peak position prediction. Single- and dual-energy images of an electron density phantom (CIRS Model 062M electron density phantom, CIRS Inc., Norfolk, VA, USA) were acquired using a computed tomography system (Somatom Definition AS, Siemens Health Care, Forchheim, Germany) to estimate the SPRs of the proton beam. To validate the method, it was compared to the SPRs estimated from standard data provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The results show that the dual-energy image-based method has the potential to improve accuracy in predicting the SPRs of proton beams, and it is expected that further improvements in predicting the position of the proton's Bragg peak will be possible if a wider variety of substitutes with different densities and elemental compositions of the human body are used to predict the SPRs.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2012

In the present study, we measured the pure beta particle energy spectra of $^{147}Pm$, $^{85}Kr$, $^{90}Sr+^{90}Y$ radionuclide sources. We confirmed the residual maximum energies of KRISS sources meet the requirement of ISO 6980 and calculated mass collision stopping power ratio, which is essential for absolute measurement of absorbed dose from the reference ${\beta}$-rays. The residual maximum energies of KRISS $^{147}Pm$, $^{85}Kr$, $^{90}Sr+^{90}Y$ sources are 0.14, 0.57 and 0.93 MeV, respectively and the mass collision stopping power ratios are 1.123, 1.120 and 1.109, respectively.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.47-51
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• 1999

We calculated the energy distribution and the percentage depth-dose at 10 cm in a $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ with a photon beam at SSD of 100 cm by using a Monte Carlo Simulation. PDD is used as a beam-quality specifier for radiotherapy beams. It is better than the commonly used values of TPR or nominal accelerating potential. The presence of electron contamination affects the measurement of PDD, but can be removed by the use of a 0.1 cm lead filter. It reduces surface dose from contaminant electrons from the accelerator by more than 90% for radiotherapy beams. The filter performs best when it is placed immediately below the head. An electron-contamination correction factor is introduced to correct for electron contamination from the filter and air. It converts PDD which includes the electron contamination with the filter in place into PDD for the photons in the filtered beam. The correction factor can be used to determine stopping-power ratio. Calculations show that the values of water-to-air slopping power ratio in the unfiltered beam are related to PDD.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 1991

Measurement of Co-60 gamma rays has been made for establishment of exposure standard and analyze it's overall uncertainties. Exposure rate determined by the charge mode method using vibrating reed amplifier with cylinderical type cavity chamber. The values of a variety of physical constants and the correction factors are evaluated. The resulting exposure rate is 690.81 R/h at the distance of 1m from the source and the related uncertainties is ${\pm}0.8%$

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 1991

Beta ray $(^{90}Sr+^{90}Y)$ absorbed dose at tissue surface was measured from the distance of 30cm by use of extrapolation chamber. In the measurement, following factors were considered: effective area of collecting electrode, polarity effect, ion recombination and window attenuation. The measured absorbed dose rate at tissue surface was $1.493{\mu}Gy/sec$ with ${\pm}2.9%$.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.174-182
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• 2011

This study analyzed visitors' behaviors in the viewpoint of Attraction Power and Holding Power of exhibits on the basis of exhibition layout of real science museums. Through the analysis, the study grasped efficiency of analysis index and exhibition environment elements which might have an effect on planning the exhibition space of a large-scale museum and producing detailed ranges of exhibition. The main indicators used are: 1. Attraction Power: it indicates the relative incidence of people who have stopped in front of an object/exhibit during the exhibition tour. It is calculated by dividing the number of people who stop by the total number of people who have visited the museum or gallery. 2. Holding Power: it measures the average time spent in front of an information/communication element. It is calculated by dividing the average time of stay by the time "necessary" to read an element. As a result of analyzing the exhibition areas of National Science Museum (Daejeon) and National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation(Tokyo), the Holding Power was found to be relatively lower than the Attracting Power. This means that 3.5 out of 10 visitors stop in front of the exhibit in 6 exhibition areas, and among these, only 1/10 is used when compared to the user required time of the exhibits. In other words, like the method of deriving an analysis index, the stage of viewing can be categorized as Attracting Power and Holding Power, and because the stage from Attracting Power to the stage of Holding Power are strongly linked, it shows that it is not easy to display a meaningful result. Except, the general distribution of Attracting Power was shown to be high from the entrance area of the exhibition hall based on the standard of viewing sequence. Also, the Holding Power became sequentially lower according to the sequence of exhibition viewing and displayed a meaningful interrelationship with the distribution ratio of island exhibits. In the case of island exhibition method, it is less influenced by the movement flow of visitors when compared to the wall type method of exhibition and can be understood as an exhibition method that provides spatial chances enabling stopping and viewing.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.465-475
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• 2012

This study was carried out with two goals. One was the development of a model of a wind turbine blade airfoil and the other was the application of this folding blade. In general, in large-sized (MW) wind turbines, damage is prevented because of the use of a pitch control system. On the other hand, pitch control is not performed in small wind turbines since equipment costs and maintenance costs are high, and therefore, the blade will cause serious damage. The wind turbine proposed in this study does not require maintenance, and the blades do not break during high winds because they are folded in accordance with changes in the wind speed. But generators are not cut-out, while maintaining a constant angle will continue to produce. The focus of this study, the wind turbine is continued by folding blade system in strong winds and gusts without stopping production.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2017

For effective patient treatment in proton therapy, it is therefore important to accurately measure the beam range. For measuring beam range, various researchers determine the beam range by measuring the prompt gammas generated during nuclear reactions of protons with materials. However, the accuracy of the beam range determination can be lowered in heterogeneous phantoms, because of the differences with respect to the prompt gamma production depending on the properties of the material. In this research, to improve the beam range determination in a heterogeneous phantom, we derived a formula to correct the prompt-gamma distribution using the ratio of the prompt gamma production, stopping power, and density obtained for each material. Then, the prompt-gamma distributions were acquired by a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera on various kinds of heterogeneous phantoms using a Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation, and the deduced formula was applied to the prompt-gamma distributions. For the case involving the phantom having bone-equivalent material in the soft tissue-equivalent material, it was confirmed that compared to the actual range, the determined ranges were relatively accurate both before and after correction. In the case of a phantom having the lung-equivalent material in the soft tissue-equivalent material, although the maximum error before correction was 18.7 mm, the difference was very large. However, when the correction method was applied, the accuracy was significantly improved by a maximum error of 4.1 mm. Moreover, for a phantom that was constructed based on CT data, after applying the calibration method, the beam range could be generally determined within an error of 2.5 mm. Simulation results confirmed the potential to determine the beam range with high accuracy in heterogeneous phantoms by applying the proposed correction method. In future, these methods will be verified by performing experiments using a therapeutic proton beam.