• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2022

The aim of this study is to establish a new QC method that can simultaneously evaluate the resolution of the x/y plane and the z-axis by producing a phantom that can reflect exposure and reconstruction parameter of MDCT system. It was used with Aquilion ONE(Cannon Medical System, Otawara, Japan), and the examination was scanned using of 120 kV, 260 mA, and the D-FOV of 300 mm². It produced new SSP phantom modules in which two aluminum plates inclined at 45° to a vertical axis and a transverse axis to evaluate high contrast resolution of x/y plane and z axis. And it changed factors such as the algorithm, distance from gantry iso-center. All images were reconstructed in five steps from 0.6 mm to 10.0 mm slice thickness to measure resolution of x/y plane and z-axis. The image data measured FWHM and FWTM using Profile tool of Aquarius iNtusion Edition ver. 4.4.13 P6 software(Terarecon, California, USA), and analysed SPQI and signal intensity by ImageJ program(v1.53n, National Institutes of Health, USA). It decreased by 4.09~11.99%, 4.12~35.52%, and 4.70~37.64% in slice thickness of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm for evaluating the high contrast resolution of x/y plane according to distance from gantry iso-center. Therefore, the high contrast resolution of the x/y plane decreased when the distance from the iso-center increased or the slice thickness increased. Additionally, the slice thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm with a high algorithm increased 74.83, 15.18 and 81.25%. The FWHM was almost constant on the measured SSP graph for evaluating the accuracy of slice thickness which represents the resolution of x/y plane and z-axis, but it was measured to be higher than the nominal slice thickness set by user. The FWHM and FWTM of z-axis with axial scan mode tended to increase significantly as the distance increased from gantry iso-center than the helical mode. Particularly, the thinner slice thickness that increased error range compare with the nominal slice thickness. The SPQI increased with thick slice thickness, and that was closer to 90% in the helical scan than the axial scan. In conclusion, by producing a phantom suitable for MDCT detectors and capable of quantitative resolution evaluation, it can be used as a specific method in the management of research quality and management of outdated equipment. Thus, it is expected to contribute greatly to the discrimination of lesions in the field of CT imaging.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.512-518
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the change in foraminal space on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus foraminotomy in cervical foraminal stenosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2019 on 186 patients who underwent ACDF and foraminotomy. One hundred and two cases were selected considering age, sex, and body mass index. MRI was performed before and on the 5^th day after surgery to compare the changes in the foraminal diameter between the ACDF group (group A-51) and foraminotomy group (group B-51). Results: Between groups A and B, the average change in foraminal vertical diameter was 1.7 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively; group A was 0.5 mm larger difference (p=0.042). The average change in foraminal transverse diameter was 1.2 mm and 1.8mm, respectively; group B showed a 0.6 mm larger change (p=0.21). Both the neck disability index (NDI) and Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) scores improved in both groups. Group A showed more improvement, but there was no significant difference (p=0.356, p=0.607, respectively). Conclusion: Foraminotomy is a useful option for patients with foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine because it showed comparable clinical and morphological results to ACDF and could minimize motion segment loss and muscle and ligament damage.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.22-26
• /
• 2020

Purposes: The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between the standing position of the subject and the normal standing position(NSP) and the straight standing position(SSP) and to investigate the possibility of different body shape test results depending on the status of the image inspection apparatus. Methods: The images of the NSP and SSP were compared with each other by body line BLS system. Results: At the time of examination, the position of the camera was captured at a position 2.3 m vertically from the posterior position 45 cm behind the subject. This is a privacy protection method for covering the breast of the subject. Results: The physiological characteristics of the anatomical position of the body align image test are the living body. NSP and SSP tests showed different shapes of the pelvis AS(antero-supero) and pelvis rotation in the transverse plane. Shoulder and arm displacement was observed in the trunk extension image capture. Conclusions: In the body alignment test, the pelvis position test images of NSP and SSP are evaluated differently for pelvis rotation, AS, and PS. At the extension position of the trunk, a test of the maximal extension range showed that the left and right shortening of the shoulder anterior muscles could be observed. Inducing and testing the trunk extension is also useful.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2020

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of mixed grafts in lumbar posterolateral fusion (PLF) by comparing the bone union rates of an autobone with a bone substitute mixed graft. Materials and Methods: The patients were followed-up for at least two years after PLF and divided into four groups according to the mixed graft retrospectively. Group I was 48 cases using a femoral head allobone. Group II was 38 cases using β-tricalcium phosphate. Group III was 92 cases using biphasic calcium phosphate. Group IV was 38 cases using biphasic calcium phosphate and autologous bone marrow. Union was evaluated by the work up simple radiographs after two years from PLF. Union was defined if the radiographs demonstrated a bilateral continuity in the fusion mass between the cephalad and caudal transverse processes with less than 2° of angular motion and no translation between the vertebrae at the level of fusion on the lateral flexion-extension radiographs. Results: According to simple radiographs after two years from PLF, the rate of union was highest in Group IV using local autobone, biphasic calcium phosphate and autologous bone marrow mixed graft. Conclusion: Biphasic calcium phosphate is an osteoconductive bone substitute that increases the bio-absorbability and mechanical strength. Autologous bone marrow has osteoinductive and osteogenic properties. These features can increase the rate of bone union. Therefore, a local autobone, biphasic calcium phosphate and autologous bone marrow mixed graft can be considered an effective bone graft substitute for lumbar PLF instead of an autobone graft.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.197-206
• /
• 2023

Recently, the international community, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has strengthened regulations on air pollution emissions of ships, and eco-friendly ships are actively being developed to reduce exhaust gas emissions. Among them, rotor sail (RS), a wind-assisted ship propulsion system, is attracting attention again. RS is a cylindrical device installed on the ship deck, that generates hydrodynamic lift using a magnus effect. This is a next generation eco-friendly auxiliary propulsion technology, and Enercon company, which developed RS-applied ships, announced that fuel savings of more than 30% are possible. In this study, optimal installation conditions such as RS spacing and arrangement type were selected when multiple RSs were installed on ships. AR=5.1, SR=1.0, and D_e/D was fixed at 2.0 according to the RS arrangement, and the wind direction was considered only for the unidirectional +y-axis. Regarding arrangement conditions, five conditions were set at 3D intervals in the +x-axis direction from 3D to 15D and five conditions in the +y-axis direction from 5D to 25D. C_L, C_D and aerodynamic efficiency (C_L/C_D) were compared according to the square(□) and diamond(◇) shape arrangements. Consequently, the effect of RS on the longitudinal distance was not significantly different. However, in the case of RS flow characteristics according to the transverse distance, the interaction effect of RS was the greatest when the two RSs almost matched the wind direction. In the case of the RS flow characteristics according to the arrangement, notably, when the wind blew in the forward (0°) direction, the diamond (◇) arrangement was least affected by the backward flow between RSs.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.6B
• /
• pp.731-741
• /
• 2008

Previous studies on the numerical simulation at the tidal reach of Han River tend to restrict downstream boundary as Jeon-ryu station due to difficulties in gaining cross section data and tidal elevation values at Yu-do. But, in this study, geometries beyond the confluence of Gok-reung stream and Im-jin River are constructed based on the numerical sea map; tidal elevation at the downstream boundary, Yu-do is estimated by harmonic analysis of In-cheon tide gage station so that hydrodynamic and diffusion behavior have been analyzed. The domain ranging from Shin-gok submerged weir to Yu-do is selected (which is 36.8 km in length). RMA-2 and RAM4 developed by Il Won Seo (2008) are applied to simulate flow and diffusion behavior, respectively. Numerical results of flow characteristic are compared with the measured data at Jeon-ryu station. Simulation is carried out from June 23 to 25 in 2006 on the ground that hydrologic data is satisfactory and tidal difference is huge during that period. The result shows that reverse flow occurs 5 times according to the tidal elevation at Yu-do and the maximum reverse flow is observed up to Jang-hang IC, which is 32.9 km in length. Also analysis is focused on the process of generation and disappearance of reverse flow, the distribution of water surface elevation and velocity along the maximum velocity line, and the transport of nonconservative pollutant. Pollutant injected from Gul-po stream spreads widely across the river; however, the size of BOD cloud entering from Gok-reung stream is relatively small because water depth at the mid and left side becomes deeper and maximum velocity occurs along the right bank so that transverse mixing is completed quickly. Finally, mixing characteristic of horizontal salinity distribution is obtained by estimating the salinity input with analytical solution of 1D advection-dispersion equation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.81 no.2
• /
• pp.365-378
• /
• 2020

Purpose This study was performed to determine whether the T1 relaxation time of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MR imaging is useful for detecting and staging liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods One hundred and three patients with suspected focal liver lesion underwent MR imaging and Fibroscan. Fibroscan was chosen as the reference standard for classifying liver fibrosis. T1 relaxation times were acquired before (preT1), 20 minutes after (postT1) contrast administration, and reduction rate of T1 relaxation time (rrT1) on transverse 3D VIBE (volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination) sequence using 3T MR imaging. The optimal cut-off values for the fibrosis staging were determined with ROC analysis. Results PreT1 and postT1 increased and rrT1 decreased constantly with increasing severity of liver fibrosis according to the METAVIR score (F0-F4). There were statistically significant differences between F2 and F3 in preT1 (F2, 836.0 ± 74.7 ms; F3, 888.6 ± 77.5 ms, p < 0.05) and between F3 and F4 in postT1 (F3, 309.0 ± 80.2 ms; F4, 406.6 ± 147.7 ms, p < 0.05) and rrT1 (F3, 65.4 ± 7.7%; F4, 57.3 ± 11.4%, p < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed that combination test (preT1 + postT1) was the best test for predicting liver fibrosis. Conclusion PreT1 and postT1 increased constantly with increasing severity of liver fibrosis. T1 mapping in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MR imaging could be a helpful complementary sequence to determine the liver fibrosis stage.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2002

High energy photon beams from medical linear accelerators produce large scattered radiation by various components of the treatment head, collimator and walls or objects in the treatment room including the patient. These scattered radiation do not provide therapeutic dose and are considered a hazard from the radiation safety perspective. Scattered dose of therapeutic high energy radiation beams are contributed significant unwanted dose to the patient. ICRP take the position that a dose of 500mGy may cause abortion at any stage of pregnancy and that radiation detriment to the fetus includes risk of mental retardation with a possible threshold in the dose response relationship around 100 mGy for the gestational period. The ICRP principle of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) was recommended for protection of occupation upon the linear no-threshold dose response hypothesis for cancer induction. We suggest this ALARA principle be applied to the fetus and testicle in therapeutic treatment. Radiation dose outside a photon treatment filed is mostly due to scattered photons. This scattered dose is a function of the distance from the beam edge, treatment geometry, primary photon energy, and depth in the patient. The need for effective shielding of the fetus and testicle is reinforced when young patients ate treated with external beam radiation therapy and then shielding designed to reduce the scattered photon dose to normal organs have to considered. Irradiation was performed in phantom using high energy photon beams produced by a Varian 2100C/D medical linear accelerator (Varian Oncology Systems, Palo Alto, CA) located at the Yonsei Cancer Center. The composite phantom used was comprised of a commercially available anthropomorphic Rando phantom (Phantom Laboratory Inc., Salem, YN) and a rectangular solid polystyrene phantom of dimensions $30cm{\times}30cm{\times}20cm$. the anthropomorphic Rando phantom represents an average man made from tissue equivalent materials that is transected into transverse 36 slices of 2.5cm thickness. Photon dose was measured using a Capintec PR-06C ionization chamber with Capintec 192 electrometer (Capintec Inc., Ramsey, NJ), TLD( VICTOREEN 5000. LiF) and film dosimetry V-Omat, Kodak). In case of fetus, the dosimeter was placed at a depth of loom in this phantom at 100cm source to axis distance and located centrally 15cm from the inferior edge of the $30cm{\times}30cm^2$ x-ray beam irradiating the Rando phantom chest wall. A acryl bridge of size $40cm{\times}40cm^2$ and a clear space of about 20 cm was fabricated and placed on top of the rectangular polystyrene phantom representing the abdomen of the patient. The leaf pot for testicle shielding was made as various shape, sizes, thickness and supporting stand. The scattered photon with and without shielding were measured at the representative position of the fetus and testicle. Measurement of radiation scattered dose outside fields and critical organs, like fetus position and testicle region, from chest or pelvic irradiation by large fie]d of high energy radiation beam was performed using an ionization chamber and film dosimetry. The scattered doses outside field were measured 5 - 10% of maximum doses in fields and exponentially decrease from field margins. The scattered photon dose received the fetus and testicle from thorax field irradiation was measured about 1 mGy/Gy of photon treatment dose. Shielding construction to reduce this scattered dose was investigated using lead sheet and blocks. Lead pot shield for testicle reduced the scatter dose under 10 mGy when photon beam of 60 Gy was irradiated in abdomen region. The scattered photon dose is reduced when the lead shield was used while the no significant reduction of scattered photon dose was observed and 2-3 mm lead sheets refuted the skin dose under 80% and almost electron contamination. The results indicate that it was possible to improve shielding to reduce scattered photon for fetus and testicle when a young patients were treated with a high energy photon beam.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2009

The applicability of a well-type autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing reactive barrier (L $\times$ W $\times$ D = $3m\;{\times}\;4\;m\;{\times}\;2\;m$) as a long-term treatment option for nitrate removal in groundwater was evaluated. Pilot-scale (L $\times$ W $\times$ D = $8m\;{\times}\;4\;m\;{\times}\;2\;m$) flow-tank experiments were conducted to examine remedial efficacy of the well-type reactive barrier. A total of 80 kg sulfur granules as an electron donor and Thiobacillus denitrificans as an active bacterial species were prepared. Thiobacillus denitrificans was successfully colonized on the surface of the sulfur granules and the microflora transformed nitrate with removal efficiency of ~12% (0.07 mM) for 11 days, ~24% (1.3 mM) for 18 days, ~45% (2.4 mM) for 32 days, and ~52% (2.8 mM) for 60 days. Sulfur granules attached to Thiobacillus denitrificans were used to construct the well-type reactive barrier comprising three discrete barriers installed at 1-m interval downstream. Average initial nitrate concentrations were 181 mg/L for the first 28 days and 281 mg/L for the next 14 days. For the 181 mg/L (2.9 mM) plume, nitrate concentrations decreased by ~2% (0.06 mM), ~9% (0.27 mM), and ~15% (0.44 mM) after $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ barriers, respectively. For the 281 mg/L (4.5 mM) plume, nitrate concentrations decreased by ~1% (0.02 mM), ~6% (0.27 mM), and ~8% (0.37 mM) after $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ barriers, respectively. Nitrate plume was flowed through the flow-tank for 49 days by supplying $1.24\;m^3/d$ of nitrate solution. During nitrate treatment, flow velocity (0.44 m/d), pH (6.7 to 8.3), and DO (0.9~2.8 mg/L) showed little variations. Incomplete destruction of nitrate plume was attributed to the lack of retention time, rarely transverse dispersion, and inhibiting the activity of denitrification enzymes caused by relatively high DO concentrations. For field applications, it should be considered increments of retention time, modification of well placements, and intrinsic DO concentration.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.275-286
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To setup procedures of quality assurance (OA) for implementing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) clinically, report OA procedures peformed for one patient with prostate cancer. Materials and methods : $P^3IMRT$ (ADAC) and linear accelerator (Siemens) with multileaf collimator are used to implement IMRT. At first, the positional accuracy, reproducibility of MLC, and leaf transmission factor were evaluated. RTP commissioning was peformed again to consider small field effect. After RTP recommissioning, a test plan of a C-shaped PTV was made using 9 intensity modulated beams, and the calculated isocenter dose was compared with the measured one in solid water phantom. As a patient-specific IMRT QA, one patient with prostate cancer was planned using 6 beams of total 74 segmented fields. The same beams were used to recalculate dose in a solid water phantom. Dose of these beams were measured with a 0.015 cc micro-ionization chamber, a diode detector, films, and an array detector and compared with calculated one. Results : The positioning accuracy of MLC was about 1 mm, and the reproducibility was around 0.5 mm. For leaf transmission factor for 10 MV photon beams, interleaf leakage was measured $1.9\%$ and midleaf leakage $0.9\%$ relative to $10\times\;cm^2$ open filed. Penumbra measured with film, diode detector, microionization chamber, and conventional 0.125 cc chamber showed that $80\~20\%$ penumbra width measured with a 0.125 cc chamber was 2 mm larger than that of film, which means a 0.125 cc ionization chamber was unacceptable for measuring small field such like 0.5 cm beamlet. After RTP recommissioning, the discrepancy between the measured and calculated dose profile for a small field of $1\times1\;cm^2$ size was less than $2\%$. The isocenter dose of the test plan of C-shaped PTV was measured two times with micro-ionization chamber in solid phantom showed that the errors upto $12\%$ for individual beam, but total dose delivered were agreed with the calculated within $2\%$. The transverse dose distribution measured with EC-L film was agreed with the calculated one in general. The isocenter dose for the patient measured in solid phantom was agreed within $1.5\%$. On-axis dose profiles of each individual beam at the position of the central leaf measured with film and array detector were found that at out-of-the-field region, the calculated dose underestimates about $2\%$, at inside-the-field the measured one was agreed within $3\%$, except some position. Conclusion : It is necessary more tight quality control of MLC for IMRT relative to conventional large field treatment and to develop QA procedures to check intensity pattern more efficiently. At the conclusion, we did setup an appropriate QA procedures for IMRT by a series of verifications including the measurement of absolute dose at the isocenter with a micro-ionization chamber, film dosimetry for verifying intensity pattern, and another measurement with an array detector for comparing off-axis dose profile.