• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3406-3412
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• 2021

A real-time digital time-stamp sorting algorithm used in the In-Beam positron emission tomography (In-Beam PET) is presented. The algorithm is operated in the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a small amount of registers, MUX and memory cells are used. It is developed for sorting the data of annihilation event from front-end circuits, so as to identify the coincidence events efficiently in a large amount of data. In the In-Beam PET, each annihilation event is detected by the detector array and digitized by the analog to digital converter (ADC) in Data Acquisition Unit (DAQU), with a resolution of 14 bits and sampling rate of 50 MS/s. Test and preliminary operation have been implemented, it can perform a sorting operation under the event count rate up to 1 MHz per channel, and support four channels in total, count rate up to 4 MHz. The performance of this algorithm has been verified by pulse generator and ²²Na radiation source, which can sort the events with chaotic order into chronological order completely. The application of this algorithm provides not only an efficient solution for selection of coincidence events, but also a design of electronic circuit with a small-scale structure.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2019

Background: In the calibration and testing laboratory of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the old X-ray generator used for the production of reference X-ray fields was replaced with a new one. For this newly installed X-ray irradiation system, beam alignment as well as the verification of beam qualities was conducted. Materials and Methods: The existing X-ray generator, Phillips MG325, was replaced with YXLON Y.TU 320-D03 in order to generate reference X-ray fields. Theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine initial filter thickness. Beam alignment was performed in three steps to deliver a homogeneous radiation dosage to the target at different distances. Finally, the half-value layers were measured for different X-ray fields to verify beam qualities by using an ion chamber. Results and Discussion: Beam alignment was performed in three steps, and collimators and other components were arranged to maintain the uniformity of the mean air kerma rate within ${\pm}2.5%$ at the effective beam diameter of 28 cm. The beam quality was verified by using half-value layer measurement methods specified by American National Standard Institute (ANSI) N13.11-2009 and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-4037. For each of the nine beams than can be generated by the new X-ray irradiation system, air kerma rates for X-ray fields of different beam qualifies were measured. The results showed that each air kerma rate and homogeneity coefficient of the first and second half-value layers were within ${\pm}5%$ of the recommended values in the standard documents. Conclusion: The results showed that the new X-ray irradiation system provides beam qualities that are as high as moderate beam qualities offered by National Institute of Standards and Technology in ANSI N13.11-2009 and those for narrow-spectrum series of ISO-4037.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.131-143
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• 2023

Background: This study examined the detection limit of thyroid screening monitoring conducted at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011 using a Monte Carlo simulation. Materials and Methods: We calculated the detection limit of a NaI(Tl) survey meter to measure ¹³¹I accumulation in the thyroid gland of children. Mathematical phantoms of 1- and 5-year-old children were developed in the simulation of the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System code. Contamination of the body surface with eight radionuclides found after the FDNPP accident was assumed to have been deposited on the neck and shoulder area. Results and Discussion: The detection limit was calculated as a function of ambient dose rate. In the case of 40 Bq/cm² contamination on the body surface of the neck, the present simulations showed that residual thyroid radioactivity corresponding to thyroid dose of 100 mSv can be detected within 21 days after intake at the ambient dose rate of 0.2 µSv/hr and within 11 days in the case of 2.0 µSv/hr. When a time constant of 10 seconds was used at the dose rate of 0.2 µSv/hr, the estimated survey meter output error was 5%. Evaluation of the effect of individual differences in the location of the thyroid gland confirmed that the measured value would decrease by approximately 6% for a height difference of ±1 cm and increase by approximately 65% for a depth of 1 cm. Conclusion: In the event of a nuclear disaster, simple measurements carried out using a NaI(Tl) scintillation survey meter remain effective for assessing ¹³¹I intake. However, it should be noted that the presence of short-half-life radioactive materials on the body surface affects the detection limit.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric effects of couch attenuation and air gaps using 3D phantom for prone breast radiation therapy. Materials and method: A 3D printer(Builder Extreme 1000) and computed tomography (CT) images of a breast cancer patient were used to manufacture the customized breast phantom. Eclipse External Beam Planning 13.6 (Varian Medical Systems Palo Alto, CA, USA) was used to create the treatment plan with a dose of 200 cGy per fraction with 6 MV energy. The Optically Stimulated Luminescence Detector(OSLD) was used to measure the skin dose at four points (Med 1, Med 2, Lat 1, Lat 2) on the 3D phantom and ion-chamber (FC65-G) were used to perform the in-vivo dosimetry at the two points (Anterior, Posterior). The Skin dose and in-vivo dosimetry were measured with reference air gap (3 cm) and increased air gaps (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cm) from reference distance between the couch and 3D phantom. Results: As a result, measurement for the skin dose at lateral point showed a similar value within ${\pm}4%$ compared to the plan. While the air gap increased, skin dose at medial 1 was reduced. And it was also reduced over 7 % when the air gap was more than 3 cm compared to radiation therapy plan. At medial 2 it was reduced over 4 % as well. The changes of dose from variety of the air gap showed similar value within ${\pm}1%$ at posterior. As the air gap was increased, the dose at anterior was also increased and it was increased by 1 % from the air gap distance more than 3 cm. Conclusion: Dosimetrical measurement using 3D phantom is very useful to evaluate the dosimetric effects of couch attenuation and air gaps for prone breast radiation therapy. And it is possible to reduce the skin dose and increase the accuracy of the radiation dose delivery by appling the optimized air gap.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

In the field of neutron detections, $^3He$ gas, the so-called "the gold standard," is the most widely used material for neutron detections because of its high efficiency in neutron capturing. However, from variable causes since early 2009, $^3He$ is being depleted, which has maintained an upward pressure on its cost. For this reason, the demands for $^3He$ replacements are rising sharply. Research into neutron converting materials, which has not been used well due to a neutron detection efficiency lower than the efficiency of $^3He$, although it can be chosen for use in a neutron detector, has been highlighted again. $^{10}B$, which is one of the $^3He$ replacements, such as $BF_3$, $^6Li$, $^{10}B$, $Gd_2O_2S$, is being researched by various detector development groups owing to a number of advantages such as easy gamma-ray discrimination, non-toxicity, low cost, etc. One of the possible techniques for the detection is an indirect neutron detection method measuring secondary radiation generated by interactions between neutrons and $^{10}B$. Because of the mean free path of alpha particle from interactions that are very short in a solid material, the thickness of $^{10}B$ should be thin. Therefore, to increase the neutron detection efficiency, it is important to make a $^{10}B$ thin film. In this study, we fabricated a $^{10}B$ thin film that is about 60 um in thickness for neutron detection using well-known technology for the manufacturing of a thin electrode for use in lithium ion batteries. In addition, by performing simple physical tests on the conductivity, dispersion, adhesion, and flexibility, we confirmed that the physical characteristics of the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film are good. Using the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film, we made a proportional counter for neutron monitoring and measured the neutron pulse height spectrum at a neutron facility at KAERI. Furthermore, we calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation the change of neutron detection efficiency according to the number of thin film layers. In conclusion, we suggest a fabrication method of a $^{10}B$ thin film using the technology used in making a thin electrode of lithium ion batteries and made the $^{10}B$ thin film for neutron detection using suggested method.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2002

DR has had an important fact not only in the department of radiology but also in productivity or work efficiency of a whole hospital. The environment of DR has more various parameter than CR, so it is able to supply high quality of medical services. The current environment of radiology department in each hospital has been changed from Film-Screen system to DR through Full-PACS. This hospital which uses Full-PACS became to study the proper condition of CR and DDR and how the image quality of them is expressed among general photographing systems in the DR environment. From this experiment, the image quality of DDR is better than CR under the same exposure condition. And in the DDR system, the score of image which uses AEC is a little higher than the score which doesn't use it. Especially it can be known that the function of AEC of DDR is useful to improve the image quality in the part of skull and chest. (The function of AEC : It is the tool that detects the ionized current of x-ray which goes through objects with using the ion chamber which is in the detector. Also it controls the examination of X-ray when the proper density is reached.) Because the proper degree of density can be represented by this system, the photographing can be taken much easily without consideration of the exposure condition with the thickness of various objects. From the result of this experiment, it can be known that the selection of proper exposure condition plays an important rule to gain good Image Quality. More researches will be necessary about DDR system which has potential ability in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2015

In radiation therapy fields, a brachytherapy is a treatment that kills lesion of cells by inserting a radioisotope that keeps emitting radiation into the body. We currently verify the consistency of radiation treatment plan and dose distribution through film/screen system (F/S system), provide therapy after checking dose. When we check dose distribution, F/S systems have radiation signal distortion because there is low resolution by penumbra depending on the condition of film developed. In this study, We fabricated a $HgI_2$ Semiconductor radiation sensor for base study in order that we verify the real dose distribution weather it's same as plans or not in brachytherapy. Also, we attempt to evaluate the feasibility of QA system by utilizing and evaluating the sensor to brachytherapy source. As shown in the result of detected signal with various source-to-detector distance (SDD), we quantitatively verified the real range of treatment which is also equivalent to treatment plans because only the low signal estimated as scatters was measured beyond the range of treatment. And the result of experiment that we access reproducibility on the same condition of ${\gamma}$-ray, we have made sure that the CV (coefficient of variation) is within 1.5 percent so we consider that the $HgI_2$ sensor is available at QA of brachytherapy based on the result.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2016

An analytical method was developed for the determination of oxathiapiprolin in agricultural commodities. Oxathiapiprolin is a new oomycide (fungicide of piperidinyl thiazole isoxazoline class) which controls downy mildew in cucurbits caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis (oomycete plant pathogen). Agricultural commodities were extracted with acetonitrile and partitioned with dichloromethane to remove the interference, adjusting pH between 9 and 10 by 1 N sodium hydroxide. After purification by silica SPE cartridge to clean up the interference of organic compounds, they were finally quantified by HPLC-UVD (high performance liquid chromatograph ultraviolet detector) using a wavelength at 260 nm and confirmed by LC-MS (liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer) in electro-spray ionization positive ion mode. The standard calibration curve was linear with coefficients of determination ($r^2$) 1.00 over the calibration ranges (0.025-2.5 mg/L). Recoveries were ranged between 86.7 to 112.7%, with relative standard deviations less than 10% at three concentration levels (LOQ, 10LOQ, and 50LOQ) performing five replicates. The overall results were determined and estimated according to the CODEX guidelines (CAC/GL40). The proposed method for determination of oxathiapiprolin residues in agricultural commodities can be used as an official method.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

In order to find the exposure conversion coefficients for 3"X3" NaI spectrum, we measured the exposure rates with the pressurized ion chamber at 29 different areas in the range of $4{\sim}23{\mu}R\;h^{-1}$, and also measured the gamma spectra with 3"X3" and 4"X4" NaI detectors, simultaneously. The exposure conversion coefficient of the total energy method was determined using the linear relation between the measured exposure rate and the gamma spectrum energy. In order to find the exposure conversion coefficients of the energy band method, we applied the exposure conversion coefficients recommended by NCRP to the 4"X4" NaI spectra, and calculated the exposure rates due to $^{40}K,\;^{238}U$, and $^{232}Th$ series respectively. Using the linearly proportional relation between the obtained $^{232}Th$ series exposure rate and peak area of 2614 keV that represents the $^{232}Th$ series, we obtained the exposure conversion coefficients for $^{232}Th$ series. We also determined the conversion coefficients for $^{238}U$ series and $^{40}K$ using a similar method.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2003

An easily available, simultaneous identification/determination procedure for sildenafil, homosildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil in adulterated health related foods was established by using a combination of three different analytical methods; thin layer chromatography(TLC), liquied chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and high-performance liquied chromatography (HPLC)/photo-diode-array detector. The sample solution for TLC was applied to silica gel 60 $F_{254}$ plates with ethylacetate/acetonitrile/25%ammonia (90:10:5) as a developing solvent. Spots were located under UV radiation at 254 nm and dragendolfs reagent. Mass spectra of the compounds by LC/MS were investigated with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface, under positive ion mode. The HPLC analysis was performed on a column of capcell pack $C_{18}$ (UG120, 4.6${\times}$250mm I.D. 5 ${\mu}$m)with 0.1% sodium 1-hexansulfonate (in 0.1% phosphoric acid)/acetnitrile (73:27) as a mobile phase, and effluent was minitored with a photo-diode-applied to commercial foods, Sildenafil content was inthe range of 0.4mg/g~360.9 mg/g from 7 out of 35 samples. Homosildenafil content was in the range of 2.2 mg/g~336.0 mg/g from 7 out of 35 samples. Tadalafil content was 429.3 mg/g, 9.6 mg/500 mg from 2 out of 35 samples. The procedure described here is available for the screening of sildenafil, homosildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil.