• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1982-1990
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to verify the possibility of fuel rod pattern analysis in a fresh fuel assembly using the Yonsei single-photon emission computed tomography (YSECT) system. The YSECT system consisted of three main parts: four trapezoidal-shaped bismuth germanate scintillator-based 64-channel detectors, a semiconductor-based multi-channel data acquisition system, and a rotary stage. In order to assess the performance of the prototype YSECT, tomographic images were obtained for three representative fuel rod patterns in the 6 × 6 array using two representative image-reconstruction algorithms. The fuel-rod patterns were then assessed using an in-house fuel rod pattern analysis algorithm. In the experimental results, the single-directional projection images for those three fuel-rod patterns well discriminated each fuel-rod location, showing a Gaussian-peak-shaped projection for a single 10 mm-diameter fuel rod with 12.1 mm full-width at half maximum. Finally, we successfully verified the possibility of the fuel rod pattern analysis for all three patterns of fresh fuel rods with the tomographic images obtained by the rotational YSECT system.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.25.1-25.11
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• 2020

Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) or Acoustic Micro Imaging (AMI) is a powerful, non-destructive technique that can detect hidden defects in elastic and biological samples as well as non-transparent hard materials. By monitoring the internal features of a sample in three-dimensional integration, this technique can efficiently find physical defects such as cracks, voids, and delamination with high sensitivity. In recent years, advanced techniques such as ultrasound impedance microscopy, ultrasound speed microscopy, and scanning acoustic gigahertz microscopy have been developed for applications in industries and in the medical field to provide additional information on the internal stress, viscoelastic, and anisotropic, or nonlinear properties. X-ray, magnetic resonance, and infrared techniques are the other competitive and widely used methods. However, they have their own advantages and limitations owing to their inherent properties such as different light sources and sensors. This paper provides an overview of the principle of SAM and presents a few results to demonstrate the applications of modern acoustic imaging technology. A variety of inspection modes, such as vertical, horizontal, and diagonal cross-sections have been presented by employing the focus pathway and image reconstruction algorithm. Images have been reconstructed from the reflected echoes resulting from the change in the acoustic impedance at the interface of the material layers or defects. The results described in this paper indicate that the novel acoustic technology can expand the scope of SAM as a versatile diagnostic tool requiring less time and having a high efficiency.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.459-467
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• 2009

Purpose: The maximum likelihood-expectation maximization (ML-EM) is the statistical reconstruction algorithm derived from probabilistic model of the emission and detection processes. Although the ML-EM has many advantages in accuracy and utility, the use of the ML-EM is limited due to the computational burden of iterating processing on a CPU (central processing unit). In this study, we developed a parallel computing technique on GPU (graphic processing unit) for ML-EM algorithm. Materials and Methods: Using Geforce 9800 GTX+ graphic card and CUDA (compute unified device architecture) the projection and backprojection in ML-EM algorithm were parallelized by NVIDIA's technology. The time delay on computations for projection, errors between measured and estimated data and backprojection in an iteration were measured. Total time included the latency in data transmission between RAM and GPU memory. Results: The total computation time of the CPU- and GPU-based ML-EM with 32 iterations were 3.83 and 0.26 see, respectively. In this case, the computing speed was improved about 15 times on GPU. When the number of iterations increased into 1024, the CPU- and GPU-based computing took totally 18 min and 8 see, respectively. The improvement was about 135 times and was caused by delay on CPU-based computing after certain iterations. On the other hand, the GPU-based computation provided very small variation on time delay per iteration due to use of shared memory. Conclusion: The GPU-based parallel computation for ML-EM improved significantly the computing speed and stability. The developed GPU-based ML-EM algorithm could be easily modified for some other imaging geometries.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.42 no.2 s.302
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• pp.27-36
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• 2005

This thesis proposed an effective encryption method for the DCT-based image/video contents and made it possible to operate in a high speed by implementing it as an optimized hardware. By considering the increase in the amount of the calculation in the image/video compression, reconstruction and encryption, an partial encryption was performed, in which only the important information (DC and DPCM coefficients) were selected as the data to be encrypted. As the result, the encryption cost decreased when all the original image was encrypted. As the encryption algorithm one of the multi-mode AES, DES, or SEED can be used. The proposed encryption method was implemented in software to be experimented with TM-5 for about 1,000 test images. From the result, it was verified that to induce the original image from the encrypted one is not possible. At that situation, the decrease in compression ratio was only $1.6\%$. The hardware encryption system implemented in Verilog-HDL was synthesized to find the gate-level circuit in the SynopsysTM design compiler with the Hynix $0.25{\mu}m$ CMOS Phantom-cell library. Timing simulation was performed by Verilog-XL from CadenceTM, which resulted in the stable operation in the frequency above 100MHz. Accordingly, the proposed encryption method and the implemented hardware are expected to be effectively used as a good solution for the end-to-end security which is considered as one of the important problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.1032-1045
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• 2022

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in elderly patients. Lower-extremity CT angiography (LE-CTA) can be useful for detecting PAD and planning its treatment. PAD can also be accurately evaluated on reconstructed monoenergetic images (MEIs) from low kiloelectron volt (keV) to high keV images using dual-energy CT. Low keV images generally provide higher contrast than high keV images but also feature more severe image noise. The noise-reduced virtual MEI reconstruction algorithm, called the Mono+ technique, was recently introduced to overcome such image noise. Therefore, this pictorial review aimed to present the imaging findings of PAD on LE-CTA and compare low and high keV images with those subjected to the Mono+ technique. We found that, in many cases, the overall and segmental image qualities were better and metal artifacts and venous contamination were decreased in the high keV images.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 1998

A computerized tomography system was developed using the X-ray source that has diameter of 5 micrometer. The system is used for the nondestructive testing of specimens with diameter below 20 mm. The convolution back projection algorithm was adopted for the reconstruction of cross sectional image, and the shape of the X-ray beam was let parallel beam or fan beam to compare each resultant image. Our CT system was constructed to operate based on the personal computer. The sectional images of the fabricated specimens were reconstructed and analyzed. The reconstructed images well coincided with real images taken with optical microscope and gave us enough reports on the defects in the ceramic specimen. The resolution of the system regarded as about $20{\sim}30$ micrometers.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.436-442
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• 2008

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography(MREIT) has been suggested to produce cross-sectional conductivity images of an electrically conducting object such as the human body. In most previous studies, recessed electrodes have been used to inject imaging currents into the object. An MRI scanner was used to capture induced magnetic flux density data inside the object and a conductivity image reconstruction algorithm was applied to the data. This paper reports the performance of a thin and flexible carbon-hydrogel electrode that replaces the bulky and rigid recessed electrode in previous studies. The new carbon-hydrogel electrode produces a negligible amount of artifacts in MR and conductivity images and significantly simplifies the experimental procedure. We can fabricate the electrode in different shapes and sizes. Adding a layer of conductive adhesive, we can easily attach the electrode on an irregular surface with an excellent contact. Using a pair of carbon-hydrogel electrodes with a large contact area, we may inject an imaging current with increased amplitude primarily due to a reduced average current density underneath the electrodes. Before we apply the new electrode to a human subject, we evaluated its performance by conducting MREIT imaging experiments of five swine legs. Reconstructed conductivity images of the swine legs show a good contrast among different muscles and bones. We suggest a future study of human experiments using the carbon-hydrogel electrode following the guideline proposed in this paper.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2007

In this paper, we propose an image-based method for modeling 3D objects with curved surfaces based on the NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) representation. Starting from a few calibrated images, the user specifies the corresponding curves by means of an interactive user interface. Then, the 3D curves are reconstructed using stereo reconstruction. In order to fit the curves easily using the interactive user interface, NURBS curves and surfaces are employed. The proposed surface modeling techniques include surface building methods such as bilinear surfaces, ruled surfaces, generalized cylinders, and surfaces of revolution. In addition to these methods, we also propose various advanced surface modeling techniques, including skinned surfaces, swept surfaces, and boundary patches. Based on these surface modeling techniques, it is possible to build various types of 3D shape models with textured curved surfaces without much effort. Also, it is possible to reconstruct more realistic surfaces by using proposed view-dependent texture acquisition algorithm. Constructed 3D shape model with curves and curved surfaces can be exported in VRML format, making it possible to be used in different 3D graphics softwares.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.63-70
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• 2007

Since the fisheye lens has a wide field of view, it can capture the scene and illumination from all directions from far less number of omnidirectional images. Due to these advantages of the omnidirectional camera, it is widely used in surveillance and reconstruction of 3D structure of the scene In this paper, we present a new self-calibration algorithm of omnidirectional camera from uncalibrated images by considering the inlier distribution. First, one parametric non-linear projection model of omnidirectional camera is estimated with the known rotation and translation parameters. After deriving projection model, we can compute an essential matrix of the camera with unknown motions, and then determine the camera information: rotation and translations. The standard deviations are used as a quantitative measure to select a proper inlier set. The experimental results showed that we can achieve a precise estimation of the omnidirectional camera model and extrinsic parameters including rotation and translation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2008

Patient's respiration can have an effect on movement of tumor range and peripheral organs. Therefore, the respiratory signal was acquired by relation between external markers and movement of patient's abdomen during radiational therapy in order to minimize the effect of respiration. Based on this technique, many studies of rational therapy to irradiate at particular part of stable respiratory signals have executed and they have been clinically applied. Nevertheless, the phase-based method is preferred to the amplitude-based method for the rational therapy related to respiration. Because stabilization of the respiratory signal are limited. In this study, a in-house respiratory signal analysis program was developed for the phase reassignment and the analysis of the irregular respiratory signals. Various irregular respiratory patterns was obtained from clinical experimental volunteers. After then, the in-house program analyzed the factors affecting to phase assignment which is directly related to irradiated sector. Subsequently, accuracy of phase assignment was improved with removement of irregular signals by self-developed algorithm. This study is considered to be useful for not only image reconstruction and elevation of irradiating accuracy through phase assignment of RPM system but also analysis of respiratory signals. Moreover, development of 4D CT image is planed with phantom researches or clinical experiments based on this program.