• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.812-828
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• 2020

Objective: To provide an evidence-based guide for the MRI interpretation of complete tumor response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for rectal cancer using visual assessment on T2-weighted imaging (T2) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Materials and Methods: PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched on November 28, 2019 to identify articles on the following issues: 1) sensitivity and specificity of T2 or DWI for diagnosing pathologic complete response (pCR) and the criteria for MRI diagnosis; 2) MRI alone vs. MRI combined with other test(s) in sensitivity and specificity for pCR; and 3) tests to select patients for the watch-and-wait management. Eligible articles were selected according to meticulous criteria and were synthesized. Results: Of 1615 article candidates, 55 eligible articles (for all three issues combined) were identified. Combined T2 and DWI performed better than T2 alone, with a meta-analytic summary sensitivity of 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.77; I² = 80.60) and summary specificity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.80-0.94; I² = 92.61) for diagnosing pCR. The criteria for the complete response on T2 in most studies had the commonality of remarkable tumor decrease to the absence of mass-like or nodular intermediate signal, although somewhat varied, as follows: (near) normalization of the wall; regular, thin, hypointense scar in the luminal side with (near) normal-appearance or homogeneous intermediate signal in the underlying wall; and hypointense thickening of the wall. The criteria on DWI were the absence of a hyperintense signal at high b-value (≥ 800 sec/mm²) in most studies. The specific algorithm to combine T2 and DWI was obscure in half of the studies. MRI combined with endoscopy was the most utilized means to select patients for the watch-and-wait management despite a lack of strong evidence to guide and support a multi-test approach. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide an evidence-based practical guide for MRI assessment of complete tumor response after CRT for rectal cancer.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the residual echocardiographic findings including strain analysis among post-coronavirus disease (COVID) patients. The aim of our study is to prospectively phenotype post-COVID patients. METHODS: All patients discharged following acute COVID infection were systematically followed in the post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital. At 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic assessment. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by 3D, 2D Biplane Simpson's, or visual estimate. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured using a vendor-independent 2D speckle-tracking software (TomTec). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (53% female, mean age 58 years) were included in our analyses. At baseline, cardiac conditions were present in 58% of the patients (15% coronary artery disease, 4% heart failure, 44% hypertension, 10% atrial fibrillation) while the remainder were free of cardiac conditions. COVID-19 serious complications were present in 79% of the patients (76% pneumonia, 37% intensive care unit admission, 21% intubation, 1% myocarditis). Normal LVEF was seen in 96% of the cohort and 97% had normal right ventricular systolic function. A high proportion (53%) had abnormal LV GLS defined as < 18%. Average LV GLS of septal and inferior segments were lower compared to that of other segments. Among patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions, LVEF was abnormal in only 1.9%, but LV GLS was abnormal in 46% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most post-COVID patients had normal LVEF at 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, but over half had abnormal LV GLS.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2024

This study introduced a method of estimating water surface evaporation using the physical-based Penman combination equation (PCE) and the Penman wind function (PWF). A set of regression parameters in the PCE and PWF models were optimized by using the observed evaporation data for the period 2016-2017 in the Yongdam Dam watershed, and their effectiveness was explored. The estimated evaporation over the Deokyu Mountain flux tower demonstrated that the PWF method appears to have more improved results in terms of correlation, but both methods showed overestimation. Further, the PWF method was applied to the observed hydro-meteorological data on the surface of Yongdam Lake. The PWF method outperformed the PCE in the estimation of water surface evaporation in terms of goodness-of-fit measure and visual evaluation. Future studies will focus on a regionalization process which can be effective in estimating water surface evaporation for the ungauged area by linking hydrometeorological characteristics and regression parameters.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.413-420
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• 2024

After Friedrich Nietzsche's advocacy of nihilism, many literary works, dramas, and films have depicted aspects of human psychology associated with nihilism. Animation, too, has been used to convey nihilism, with narratives infused with nihilistic themes produced as both TV series and theatrical animations. Particularly, animation, as a visual medium capable of realizing any imaginative image unlike other media, possesses distinctive characteristics from live-action cinematography and differs from comics in its temporal properties. Hence, this study aims to analyze how Nietzsche's defined three stages of nihilism are represented within animation characters and how they construct various scenarios, using the anime "Attack on Titan" as a case study. The research unfolds by first examining Nietzsche's types of nihilism and the three stages through a review of literature, while also investigating the portrayal of nihilism in mass media and considering the unique attributes of animation. Secondly, building upon the literature review, the analysis interprets the narrative and constructed world of the chosen case study from a nihilistic perspective, examining four major characters through the stages of passive nihilism, active nihilism, and eternal recurrence. The findings demonstrate that the anime conveys two messages regarding negation and affirmation of one's life and existence, thereby offering viewers an opportunity to deeply contemplate human existence. This study is considered significant as it examines how Nietzschean nihilism is portrayed within the popular entertainment medium of animation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2024

Today, AI image creation technology is being expanded and utilized across industries. Accordingly, various AI image creation programs optimized for the fashion industry are being developed and commercialized. In this study, we compared and analyzed the visual characteristics of fashion images created by AI image creation programs such as Playground, Midjourney, and The New Black to identify the characteristics of each program and point out areas where each program can be used and problems. The results are as follows: First, while Playground and Midjourney intuitively applied the contents of the command to create images that were different from actual fashion trends, Dannew Black created images that were relatively similar to fashion trends. Second, while Playground separates or combines images corresponding to the command content, Midjourny tends to create new images by adding and fusing various details. Third, in Playground, colors not included in the command appear randomly, and in The New Black, colors not included in the command appear coordinated, and Midjourney generates the color specified in the command relatively accurately. In conclusion, Midjourney can be used when seeking inspiration for developing unique and creative fashion designs, and The New Black can be helpful in referencing fashion trends or fashion styling. On the other hand, playgrounds can be somewhat confusing when it comes to color creation, so this is something to be careful about. It is expected that AI image creation tools can be used more efficiently in fashion design development.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.365-384
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• 2024

The development of scanning technology is accelerating for safer and more efficient automated inspection than human-based inspection. Research on automatically detecting facility damage from images collected using computer vision technology is also increasing. The pixel size, quality, and quantity of an image can affect the performance of deep learning or image processing for automatic damage detection. This study is a basic to acquire high-quality raw image data and camera performance of a mobile tunnel scanning system for automatic detection of damage based on deep learning, and proposes a method to quantitatively evaluate image quality. A test chart was attached to a panel device capable of simulating a moving speed of 40 km/h, and an indoor test was performed using the international standard ISO 12233 method. Existing image quality evaluation methods were applied to evaluate the quality of images obtained in indoor experiments. It was determined that the shutter speed of the camera is closely related to the motion blur that occurs in the image. Modulation transfer function (MTF), one of the image quality evaluation method, can objectively evaluate image quality and was judged to be consistent with visual observation.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2023

Among cardiac diseases, arrhythmias can lead to serious complications such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure if left untreated, so continuous and accurate ECG monitoring is crucial for clinical care. However, the accurate interpretation of electrocardiogram (ECG) data is entirely dependent on medical doctors, which requires additional time and cost. Therefore, this paper proposes an arrhythmia recognition module for the purpose of developing a medical platform through the analysis of abnormal pulse waveforms based on Lifelogs. The proposed method is to convert ECG data into image format instead of time series data, apply visual pattern recognition technology, and then detect arrhythmia using CNN model. In order to validate the arrhythmia classification of the CNN model by image type conversion of ECG data proposed in this paper, the MIT-BIH arrhythmia dataset was used, and the result showed an accuracy of 97%.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.327-337
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• 2024

Background/Aims: The prognostic significance of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are controversial. We explored the prognostic impact of sequential ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT during frontline chemotherapy of patients with PTCLs. Methods: In total, 143 patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were included. Sequential ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CTs were performed at the time of diagnosis, during chemotherapy, and at the end of chemotherapy. The baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) was calculated using the the standard uptake value with a threshold method of 2.5. Results: A baseline TMTV of 457.0 cm³ was used to categorize patients into high and low TMTV groups. Patients with a high TMTV had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with a low TMTV (PFS, 9.8 vs. 26.5 mo, p = 0.043; OS, 18.9 vs. 71.2 mo, p = 0.004). The interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT response score was recorded as 1, 2-3, and 4-5 according to the Deauville criteria. The PFS and OS showed significant differences according to the interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT response score (PFS, 120.7 vs. 34.1 vs. 5.1 mo, p < 0.001; OS, not reached vs. 61.1 mo vs. 12.1 mo, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The interim PET/CT response based on visual assessment predicts disease progression and survival outcome in PTCLs. A high baseline TMTV is associated with a poor response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in PTCLs. However, TMTV was not an independent predictor for PFS in the multivariate analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.110-122
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• 2009

Purpose: Nowadays, A medical institution assesment could get more interest about a quality of medical services from many hospitals that developed the active activities for improving medical services. Also, there is an other additional issue which is the patients risk management. Uijeongbu ST. Mary's hospital Nuclear Medicine department has been changed many work process after PET-CT introduction and renovation of its place since 2008. Therefore, modified structure and the way of existing work process have contained risk factors. The purpose of this study would be the appropriate risk management process while imaging examination process, the removal risk factors and improved activities through the analysis risk factors. Materials and Methods: Nuclear Medicine department new process should analysis through many-sided, Firstly, make and trained risk management manual after then apply an actual work. Result analysis showed the number of risk accident occurrence that comparing the last year and after the improved activities. Secondly, producing risk management public relations film has been showed an applicable patient after then the customer service measurement checked for a hundred patient by questionnaire. Lastly, Risk factors were eliminated through the facilities participation improving activities which could change for the better risk factors. Results: The number of safety accident occurrence(medication error, fall and collision) were checked as zero after the improving activities both PET-CT and gamma camera examination. The results of questionnaire showed as follows; 74% marked as understanding of the test process and 81% checked "satisfaction" after the public relations film showing. The question "Did you consider about the risk factors?", both PET-CT and gamma camera checked as 94% and 89% respectively. Customer risk management could be accomplished effectively through the improving activities at the nuclear medicine department. Conclusions: The study would be an opportunity that spread risk factors were systematically showed and analyzied. Also, It showed the possibility of the minimized safety accident and its feedback, if application of the response manuel that could be a standard of radiology technician's work method to react safety accident. It was the more effective that visual material could be easy to approach as a methodology of risk factors. As far as I have concerned that It could help the safety and convenience through continuous and detailed activities that offer to patients.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.50
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• pp.43-73
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• 2018

This is a study on 'Objet' in animation culture art education. Research on the use of Objet in modern art is actively under way. From Cubism to Dadaism, Surrealism, Futurism and Pop art, it is no exaggeration to say that the Objet is stepping with modern art. In addition, Objet has a remarkable value in the field of visual arts expressing 'motion' such as kinetic art, video art, media art, and animation. However, there are not many cases of classifying and studying the types of Objets used in artworks. Therefore, this researcher has been influenced by the surrealism discourse and prepared six types of Objets type analysis framework. And the research focused on 'the aesthetic emotion and educational aspect of creativity improvement' of Objet animation was conducted. The type analysis framework is named as a drawing Objet, Objet of existence, a morphine Objet, epidermis Objet, assigned Objet and assemblage Objet and this type is presented and analyzed with case image. The data used in this study was focused on the outcome of Objet animation that were trained for non-experts in culture and arts education. This aesthetic emotion refers to Freud's desire for life (Eros) as Attraction, and desire for death (Thanatos) as Uncanny (fearful unfamiliarity) and explains the conflicting concept with the Animism, the indigenous religion. Next, educational aspects of Objet animation creativity improvement in relation to the term 'functional fixedness' was discussed as described by Gestalt psychologist Karl Duncker (1903-1940). Overcoming the functional fixedness is a phenomenon that is fixed only to the functional aspects of things and can't be changed. In this study, the educational aspect of creativity improvement was demonstrated as a case of overcoming the functional fixedness through 'Objet Animation' culture and art education. Ultimately, this study is to prove the aesthetic emotion and creativity of the Objet animation by analyzing Objet types. Furthermore, it is meaningful to suggest direction when using 'Objet Animation' in culture and arts education.