• 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.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.182-191
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcome of proton therapy (PT) in patients with chordoma. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight patients with chordoma treated with PT between June 2007 and December 2015 at the National Cancer Center, Korea, were retrospectively analyzed. The median total dose was 69.6 cobalt gray equivalent (CGE; range, 64.8 to 79.2 CGE). Local progression-free survival (LPFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: With the median follow-up of 42.8 months (range, 4 to 174 months), the 5-year LPFS, DMFS, OS, and DSS rates were 87.9%, 86.7%, 88.3%, and 92.9%, respectively. The tumor location was associated with the patterns of failure: the LPFS rates were lower for cervical tumors (57.1%) than for non-cervical tumors (93.1%) (p = 0.02), and the DMFS rates were lower for sacral tumors (53.5%) than for non-sacral tumors (100%) (p = 0.001). The total dose was associated with both the LPFS rate and DMFS rate. The initial tumor size was associated with the DMFS rate, but was not associated with the LPFS rate. Three patients had grade 3 late toxicity with none ≥grade 4. Conclusion: PT is an effective and safe treatment in patients with chordomas. The tumor location was associated with the patterns of failure: local failure was common in cervical tumors, and distant failure was common in sacral tumors. Further refinement of PT, such as the utilization of intensity modulated PT for cervical tumors, is warranted to improve the outcome.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

The SOI wafer fabrication technique has been developed by using ion-cut process, based on proton implantation and wafer bonding techniques. It has been shown by TRIM simulation that 65 keV proton implantation is required for the standard SOI wafer (200 nm SOI, 400 nm BOX) fabrication. In order to investigate the optimum proton dose and primary annealing condition for wafer splitting, the surface morphologic change has been observed such as blistering and flaking. As a result, effective dose is found to be in the 6∼$9\times10^{16}$ $H^{+}/\textrm{cm}^2$ range, and the annealing at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes is expected to be optimum for wafer splitting. The depth distribution of implanted hydrogen has been experimentally confirmed by ERD and SIMS measurements. The microstructure evolution in the damaged layer was also studied by X-TEM analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric properties of robust planning strategy for plain intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) taking into account of the uncertainties of effective proton range and set up error as compared to photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (photon-IMRT) in prostate cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: The photon-IMRT (7 beams, step & shoot), plain-IMPT (2, 4, and 7 portals), and robust- IMPT plans, which was recalculated the plain-IMPT based on the uncertainties of range error (${\pm}5%$) and set up error (0.5 cm), were evaluated for five prostate cancer patients prescribed by 70 Gy/35 fractions. To quantitatively evaluate the dose distributions, several parameters such as maximum dose, minimum dose, mean dose, conformity index (CI), and homogeneity index (HI) for PTV as well as dose-volume index of VxGy for OARs were calculated from dose-volume histograms. Results: Robust-IMPT showed superior dose distributios in the PTV and OARs as compared to plain-IMPT and photon-IMRT. Like plain-IMPT, robust-IMPT were resulted in dose fluctuation around OARs, while better homogeneity and conformity in PTVs and lower mean dose in OARs as compared to photon-IMRT. Conclusion: In consideration with the effective range correction and set up movement using robustness in IMPT plan, the dosimetric uncertainties from plain-IMPT could substantially reduce and suggest more effective solutions than photon-IMRT in prostate cancer treatment.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2012

In proton therapy, in vivo dose verification is one of the most important parts to fully utilize characteristics of proton dose distribution concentrating high dose with steep gradient and guarantee the patient safety. Currently, in order to image the proton dose distribution, a prompt gamma distribution detection system, which consists of an array of multiple CsI(Tl) scintillation detectors in the vertical direction, a collimator, and a multi-channel DAQ system is under development. In the present study, the optimal design of prompt gamma distribution detection system was studied by Monte Carlo simulations using the MCNPX code. For effective measurement of high-energy prompt gammas with enough imaging resolution, the dimensions of the CsI(Tl) scintillator was determined to be $6{\times}6{\times}50mm^3$. In order to maximize the detection efficiency for prompt gammas while minimizing the contribution of background gammas generated by neutron captures, the hole size and the length of the collimator were optimized as $6{\times}6mm^2$ and 150 mm, respectively. Finally, the performance of the detection system optimized in the present study was predicted by Monte Carlo simulations for a 150 MeV proton beam. Our result shows that the detection system in the optimal dimensions can effectively measure the 2D prompt gamma distribution and determine the beam range within 1 mm errors for 150 MeV proton beam.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.949-959
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• 2021

The current study aims to explore the shielding properties of multi-component borate-based glass series. Seven glass-samples with composition of (80-y)H₃BO₃-10ZnO-10Na₂O-yBaO where (y = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol.%) were synthesized by melt-quench method. Various shielding features for photons, neutrons, and protons were determined for all prepared samples. XCOM, Phy-X program, and SRIM code were performed to determine and explain several shielding properties such as equivalent atomic number, exposure build-up factor, specific gamma-ray constants, effective removal cross-section (Σ_R), neutron scattering and absorption, Mass Stopping Power (MSP) and projected range. The energy ranges for photons and protons were 0.015-15 MeV and 0.01-10 MeV, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) was also determined experimentally by utilizing two radioactive sources (¹⁶⁶Ho and ¹³⁷Cs). Consistent results were obtained between experimental and XCOM values in determining μ/ρ of the new glasses. The addition of BaO to the glass matrix led to enhance the μ/ρ and specific gamma-ray constants of glasses. Whereas the remarkable reductions in Σ_R, MSP, and projected range values were reported with increasing BaO concentrations. The acquired results nominate the use of these glasses in different radiation shielding purposes.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2006

The COREA (COsmic ray Research and Education Array in Korea) project aims to build a ground array of particle detectors distributed over Korean Peninsular, through collaborations of high school students, educators, and university researchers, in order to study the origin of ultra high energy cosmic rays. COREA array will consist of about 2000 detector stations covering several hundreds of $km^2$ area at its final configuration and detect electrons and muons in extensive air-showers triggered by high energy particles. During the intial phase COREA array will start with a small number of detector stations in Seoul area schools. In this paper, we have studied by Monte Carlo simulations how to select detector sites for optimal detection efficiency for proton triggered air-showers. We considered several model clusters with up to 30 detector stations and calculated the effective number of air-shower events that can be detected per year for each cluster. The greatest detection efficiency is achieved when the mean distance between detector stations of a cluster is comparable to the effective radius of the air-shower of a given proton energy. We find the detection efficiency of a cluster with randomly selected detector sites is comparable to that of clusters with uniform detector spacing. We also considered a hybrid cluster with 60 detector stations that combines a small cluster with ${\Delta}{\iota}{\approx}100m$ and a large cluster with ${Delta}{\iota}{\approx}1km$. We suggest that it can be an ideal configuration for the initial phase study of the COREA project, since it can measure the cosmic rays with a wide range energy, i.e., $10^{16}eV{\leq}E{\leq}10^{19}eV$, with a reasonable detection rate.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2005

The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer fabrication technique has been developed by using ion-cut process, based on proton implantation and wafer bonding techniques. It has been shown by SRIM simulation that 65keV proton implantation is required for a SOI wafer (200nm SOI, 400nm BOX) fabrication. In order to investigate the optimum proton dose and primary annealing condition for wafer splitting, the surface morphologic change has been observed such as blistering and flaking. As a result, effective dose is found to be in the $6\~9\times10^{16}\;H^+/cm^2$ range, and the annealing at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes is expected to be optimum for wafer splitting. Direct wafer bonding is performed by joining two wafers together after creating hydrophilic surfaces by a modified RCA cleaning, and IR inspection is followed to ensure a void free bonding. The wafer splitting was accomplished by annealing at the predetermined optimum condition, and high temperature annealing was then performed at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes to stabilize the bonding interface. TEM observation revealed no detectable defect at the SOI structure, and the interface trap charge density at the upper interface of the BOX was measured to be low enough to keep 'thermal' quality.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2003

Although there is a wide range of diseases caused by gastric acid reflux and the number of cases is on the rise, it is difficult for the laryngologist to make the correct diagnosis. The treatment for laryngopharyngeal reflux can be grouped into 3 categories - changes in lifestyle, medication, and surgery. The medication used to treat laryngopharyngeal reflux are prokinetic agents and acid supressive agents such as antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs(Proton pump inhibitor). Rabeprazole sodium($Pariet^{\circledR}$) is a newly developed agent belonging to the PPI group, but in contrast with the existing drugs such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, has a low dependency on CYP2C19 during the metabolic cycle. Thus, it is known to have a quick but fixed antiacid effect and less individual differences. We analyzed 2166 patients from 32 hospitals who were prescribed $Pariet^{\circledR}$ from May, 2001 to April, 2002. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the duration of treatment - Group 1: 1-14 days, Group 2: 15-28 days, group 3: 29-56 days, Group 4: more than 56 days. The cases were then analyzed for improvement of 8 symptoms(heart bum, regurgitation, chronic cough, hoarseness, globus sensation, chronic throat clearing, sore throat, and dysphagia), improvement on laryngoscope, usefulness to the doctor, and complication development. Of the total of 2116 patients, 1627(75.1%) cases showed at least 50% improvement of symptoms and the amount of improvement increased according to the duration of medical treatment. Most of the patients showed objective improvement on the laryngoscope, with 32.9% showing significant improvement and 38.7% showing moderate improvement. 37.6% of the doctors questioned replied that $Pariet^{\circledR}$ was very useful and 50.3% said it was useful, showing that most were satisfied with the treatment results. The complications known to develop after taking PPI are headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, dizziness, fatigue, and of these, only a small percentage of the patients complained of mild headache. $Pariet^{\circledR}$ has shown to be a relatively safe and effective drug for the treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2007

Otolaryngological manifestations of acid reflux include a wide range of pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms ; and the constellation of symptoms has been called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). In the absence of definite diagnostic criteria, LPR disease remains a subjective entity. A diagnosis of LPR is usually based on response of symptoms to empirical treatment. Investigative modalities such as pH monitoring and, more recently, impedance studies are generally reserved for treatment failures. LPR usually requires more aggressive and prolonged treatment to achieve regression of both symptoms and laryngeal findings. The suppression of gastric acid and secretion with anti-secretary agents has been the mainstay of medical treatment for patients with acid-related disorders. The suppression of gastric acid secretion achieved with Hz-receptor antagonist $(H_2RA)$ has proved suboptimal for relief of reflux symptoms. The rapid development of tolerance and rebound acid hypersecretion after the with-drawal of $H_2RA$ limit their clinical use. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have been proved to be very effective for suppressing intragastric acidity, but the optimal dose and duration is unknown. Current evidence indicates that pharmacologic intervention should include, at a minimum, a 3 month trial of twice daily PPI. Symptoms of LPR improve over 2 months of therapy. The physical findings of LPR resolve more slowly than the symptoms and this continues through out at least 6 months of treatment. For most patients with LPR, twice daily dosing with a PPI is usually recommended for an initial treatment for a period of no less than 6 months treatment, and lifetime treatment may be required.