• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.166-176
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• 2010

Purpose: To determine the appropriate prostate planning target volume (PTV) margins for 3-dimensitional (3D) conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) patients treated with an endorectal balloon (ERB) under our institutional treatment condition. Materials and Methods: Patients were treated in the supine position. An ERB was inserted into the rectum with 70 cc air prior to planning a CT scan and then each treatment fraction. Electronic portal images (EPIs) and digital reconstructed radiographs (DRR) of planning CT images were used to evaluate inter-fractional patient's setup and ERB errors. To register both image sets, we developed an in-house program written in visual $C^{++}$. A new method to determine prostate PTV margins with an ERB was developed by using the common method. Results: The mean value of patient setup errors was within 1 mm in all directions. The ERB inter-fractional errors in the superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions were larger than in the left-right (LR) direction. The calculated 1D symmetric PTV margins were 3.0 mm, 8.2 mm, and 8.5 mm for 3D CRT and 4.1 mm, 7.9 mm, and 10.3 mm for IMRT in LR, SI, and AP, respectively according to the new method including ERB random errors. Conclusion: The ERB random error contributes to the deformation of the prostate, which affects the original treatment planning. Thus, a new PTV margin method includes dose blurring effects of ERB. The correction of ERB systematic error is a prerequisite since the new method only accounts for ERB random error.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2006

Background: The "health-related quality of life" (HRQL) for patients with chronic respiratory disease has been emphasized, because chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is chronic and progressive, and it finally causes disability. HRQL instruments may be useful for monitoring patients' progress or for determining the most appropriate choice of treatment. We describe the adapting St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), which is a self-administered questionnaire developed by Jones et al. (1991), into the Korean version for covering three domains of health for the patients suffering with airways disease. Method: We obtained the original SGRQ from the author after gaining permission. For adaptation, we created an expert panel and translated the original questionnaire into Korean language. The translated questionnaire was then back-translated by bilingual experts and we compared it with the original questionnaire. After correction and feasibility testing, 74 patients with chronic respiratory disease (COPD, asthma, destroyed lung) completed the Korean version of the SGRQ. The clinical status of each patients was evaluated concurrently with measurement of their health status. Result: The Korean version of the SGRQ was acceptable and easy to understand. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.92 for the overall scale and 0.63 for the "Symptoms", subscale, 0.87 for the "Activity", subscale, and 0.89 for the "Impacts" subscales. The correlation coefficients between the overall score and the Borg scale score, oxygen saturation, and forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) were 0.52, -0.32 and -0.26, respectively. These results support that the Korean SGRQ was correlated with other measurements. Conclusion: The Korean SGRQ was reliable and valid for patients with chronic respiratory disease, such as COPD, asthma, and destroyed lung. The SGRQ score was well correlated with other respiratory measurements as well. Although further studies should complete the adaptation work, our results suggest that the SGRQ may be used in Korea and also for international studies involving Korean CRD patients.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2011

Nowadays there are a lot of issues about copyright infringement in the Internet world because the digital content on the network can be copied and delivered easily. Indeed the copied version has same quality with the original one. So, copyright owners and content provider want a powerful solution to protect their content. The popular one of the solutions was DRM (digital rights management) that is based on encryption technology and rights control. However, DRM-free service was launched after Steve Jobs who is CEO of Apple proposed a new music service paradigm without DRM, and the DRM is disappeared at the online music market. Even though the online music service decided to not equip the DRM solution, copyright owners and content providers are still searching a solution to protect their content. A solution to replace the DRM technology is digital audio watermarking technology which can embed copyright information into the music. In this paper, the author proposed a new audio watermarking algorithm with two approaches. First, the watermark information is generated by two dimensional barcode which has error correction code. So, the information can be recovered by itself if the errors fall into the range of the error tolerance. The other one is to use chirp sequence of CDMA (code division multiple access). These make the algorithm robust to the several malicious attacks. There are many 2D barcodes. Especially, QR code which is one of the matrix barcodes can express the information and the expression is freer than that of the other matrix barcodes. QR code has the square patterns with double at the three corners and these indicate the boundary of the symbol. This feature of the QR code is proper to express the watermark information. That is, because the QR code is 2D barcodes, nonlinear code and matrix code, it can be modulated to the spread spectrum and can be used for the watermarking algorithm. The proposed algorithm assigns the different spread spectrum sequences to the individual users respectively. In the case that the assigned code sequences are orthogonal, we can identify the watermark information of the individual user from an audio content. The algorithm used the Walsh code as an orthogonal code. The watermark information is rearranged to the 1D sequence from 2D barcode and modulated by the Walsh code. The modulated watermark information is embedded into the DCT (discrete cosine transform) domain of the original audio content. For the performance evaluation, I used 3 audio samples, "Amazing Grace", "Oh! Carol" and "Take me home country roads", The attacks for the robustness test were MP3 compression, echo attack, and sub woofer boost. The MP3 compression was performed by a tool of Cool Edit Pro 2.0. The specification of MP3 was CBR(Constant Bit Rate) 128kbps, 44,100Hz, and stereo. The echo attack had the echo with initial volume 70%, decay 75%, and delay 100msec. The sub woofer boost attack was a modification attack of low frequency part in the Fourier coefficients. The test results showed the proposed algorithm is robust to the attacks. In the MP3 attack, the strength of the watermark information is not affected, and then the watermark can be detected from all of the sample audios. In the sub woofer boost attack, the watermark was detected when the strength is 0.3. Also, in the case of echo attack, the watermark can be identified if the strength is greater and equal than 0.5.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2004

Purpose: Much evidence suggests long-term cigarette smoking alters coronary vascular endothelial response. On this study, we applied nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), an unsupervised learning algorithm, to CO-less $H_2^{15}O-PET$ to investigate coronary endothelial dysfunction caused by smoking noninvasively. Materials and methods: This study enrolled eighteen young male volunteers consisting of 9 smokers $(23.8{\pm}1.1\;yr;\;6.5{\pm}2.5$ pack-years) and 9 nonsmokers $(23.8{\pm}2.9 yr)$. They do not have any cardiovascular risk factor or disease history. Myocardial $H_2^{15}O-PET$ was performed at rest, during cold ($5^{\circ}C$) pressor stimulation and during adenosine infusion. Left ventricular blood pool and myocardium were segmented on dynamic PET data by NMF method. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was calculated from input and tissue functions by a single compartmental model with correction of partial volume and spillover effects. Results: There were no significant difference in resting MBF between the two groups (Smokers: 1.43 0.41 ml/g/min and non-smokers: $1.37{\pm}0.41$ ml/g/min p=NS). during cold pressor stimulation, MBF in smokers was significantly lower than 4hat in non-smokers ($1.25{\pm}0.34$ ml/g/min vs $1.59{\pm}0.29$ ml/gmin; p=0.019). The difference in the ratio of cold pressor MBF to resting MBF between the two groups was also significant (p=0.024; $90{\pm}24%$ in smokers and $122{\pm}28%$ in non-smokers.). During adenosine infusion, however, hyperemic MBF did not differ significantly between smokers and non-smokers ($5.81{\pm}1.99$ ml/g/min vs $5.11{\pm}1.31$ ml/g/min ; p=NS). Conclusion: in smokers, MBF during cold pressor stimulation was significantly lower compared wi4h nonsmokers, reflecting smoking-Induced endothelial dysfunction. However, there was no significant difference in MBF during adenosine-induced hyperemia between the two groups.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.4323-4337
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• 1977

The study was to estimate the effect of the rise of water temperature in the warm water pool and to make contribution to the establishment of reducing to a damage of cool water as well as to the planning for warm water pool. This observation was performed in Wudu warm water pool located at Wudu-Dong of Chuncheon for two years from 1975 to 1976. The results were showed as follows; 1. The daily variation of water temperature was the least for inset (No.1; 0.6$^{\circ}C$) the second for middle overflow (No2: 3$^{\circ}C$, No.3; 2.3$^{\circ}C$) and another for outflet (No.4; 3.6$^{\circ}C$, No.5; 3.8$^{\circ}C$) And the highest reaching time of water temperature in each block was later about 1 hour than the time at which air temperature happend in the daytime. So, the variation of water temperature was sensitive to the variation of air temperature 2. The monthly variation of water temperature at each measuring point was plotted to be increased with increase in air temperature till August (Mean monthly rising degree; No.1; 1.15$^{\circ}C$, No.2; 1.7$^{\circ}C$, No.3; 1.73$^{\circ}C$, No.4; 2.08$^{\circ}C$, No.5; 2.0$^{\circ}C$), and expressed gradually descended influence upon water temperature after August. 3. The mean temperature of inflow folwed in warm Water pool was 7.5∼12.5$^{\circ}C$, and outflow temperature was described as 13.4∼22.5$^{\circ}C$ to be climbed. And So, the rising interval of water temperature was shown as 6.7∼10.4$^{\circ}C$. 4. The correlation between the rising of water temperature and the weather condition was found out highly significant. As the result, their correlation coefficents of water temperature depending on mean air temperature, ground temperature, wind velocity and relative humidity were to be 0.93, 0.90, - 0.83 and 0.71 respectively. But there was no confrimation of the correlation on the clouds, sunlight time, volume of evaporation, and heat capacity of horizontal place. 5. The water temperature of balance during the period of rice growing in Chuncheon district was shown as table 10, and the mean of whole period was calculated as about 23.7$^{\circ}C$. 6. The observed value of the outflow temperature passed through the warm water pool was higher than that of computed, the mean difference between two value was marked as 1.15$^{\circ}C$ for blockl, 1.18$^{\circ}C$ for block2, and 0.47$^{\circ}C$ for block3, respectivly. Therefore, the ratio on the rising degree between the observed and computed were shown as 53%, 44%, and 18%, mean 38% through each block warm water pool (referring item $\circled9$ of table 11,12, and 13). Accordingly, formula (4) in order to fit for each block warm water pool was transfromed as follow; {{{{ { theta }_{w } - { theta }_{ 0} =[1-exp LEFT { { 1-(1+2 varphi )} over {cp } CDOT { A} over { q} RIGHT } ] TIMES ( { theta }_{w } - { theta }_{ 0}) TIMES C }}}} Here, correction coefficinent was computed 1.38, and being substituted 1.38 for C in preceding formula, the expected water temperature will be calculated to be able to irrigate the rice paddy. As the result, we can apply the coefficient in order to plan and to construct a new warm water pool.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.325-335
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• 1998

Purpose : Since the mid cranial fossa is composed of various thickness of bone, the tissue inhomogeneity caused by bone would produce dose attenuation in cobalt-60 gamma knife irradiation. The correction factor for bone attenuation of cobalt-60 which is used for gamma knife source is -3.5$\%$. More importantly, nearly all the radiosurgery treatment planning systems assume a treatment volume of unit density: any perturbation due to tissue inhomogeneity is neglected, This study was performed to confirm the bone attenuation in mid cranial fossa using gamma knife. Materials and Methods : Computed tomography was performed after Leksell stereotactic frame had been liked to the Alderson Rando Phantom (human phantom) skull area. Kodak X-omat V film was inserted into two sites of pituitary adenoma point and acoustic neurinoma point, and irradiated by gamma knife with 14mm and 18mm collimator. An automatic scanning densitometer with a 1mm aperture is used to measure the dose profile along the x and y axis. Results : Isodose curve constriction in mid cranial fossa is observed with various ranges. Pituitary tumor point is greater than acoustic neurinoma point (0.2-3.0 mm vs 0.1-1.3 mm) and generally 14 mm collimator is greater than 18mm collimator (0.4-3.0 mm vs. 0.2-2.2 mm) Even though the isodose constriction is found, constriction of 50$\%$ isodose curve which is used for treatment reference line does not exceed 1 mm. This range is too small to influence the treatment planning and treatment results. Conclusion : Radiosurgery planning system of gamma knife does not show significant error to be corrected without consideration of bone attenuation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2015

The calculation method of infiltration loss in greenhouse has different ideas in each design standard, so there is a big difference in each method according to the size of greenhouses, it is necessary to establish a more accurate method that can be applied to the domestic. In order to provide basic data for the formulation of the calculation method of greenhouse heating load, we measured the infiltration rates using the tracer gas method in plastic greenhouses equipped with various thermal curtains. And then the calculation methods of infiltration loss in greenhouses were reviewed. Infiltration rates of the multi-span and single-span greenhouses were measured in the range of $0.042{\sim}0.245h^{-1}$ and $0.056{\sim}0.336h^{-1}$ respectively, single-span greenhouses appeared to be slightly larger. Infiltration rate of the greenhouse has been shown to significantly decrease depending on the number of thermal curtain layers without separation of single-span and multi-span. As the temperature differences between indoor and outdoor increase, the infiltration rates tended to increase. In the range of low wind speed during the experiments, changes of infiltration rate according to the outdoor wind speed could not find a consistent trend. Infiltration rates for the greenhouse heating design need to present the values at the appropriate temperature difference between indoor and outdoor. The change in the infiltration rate according to the wind speed does not need to be considered because the maximum heating load is calculated at a low wind speed range. However the correction factors to increase slightly the maximum heating load including the overall heat transfer coefficient should be applied at the strong wind regions. After reviewing the calculation method of infiltration loss, a method of using the infiltration heat transfer coefficient and the greenhouse covering area was found to have a problem, a method of using the infiltration rate and the greenhouse volume was determined to be reasonable.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the radiological efficacy of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmentation of pedicle screw operation in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty OVCF patients, who underwent only posterior fusion using pedicle screws with PMMA augmentation, were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 15.6 months. The demographic data, bone mineral density (BMD), fusion segments, number of pedicle screws, and amount of PMMA were reviewed as medical records. To analyze the radiological outcomes, the radiologic parameters were measured as the time serial follow-up (preoperation, immediately postoperation, postoperation 6 weeks, 3, 6 months, and 1 year follow-up). Results: A total of 20 patients were examined (16 females [80.0%]; mean age, 69.1±8.9 years). The average BMD was -2.5±0.9 g/cm². The average cement volume per vertebral body was 6.3 ml. The mean preoperative Cobb angle of focal kyphosis was 32.7°±7.0° and was improved significantly to 8.7°±6.9° postoperatively (p<0.001), with maintenance of the correction at the serial follow-up, postoperatively. The Cobb angle of instrumented kyphosis, wedge angle, and sagittal index showed similar patterns. In addition, the anterior part of fractured vertebral body height averaged 11.0±5.0 mm and was improved to 18.5±5.7 mm postoperatively (p=0.006), with maintenance of the improvement at the 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up. Conclusion: The reinforcement of pedicle screws using PMMA augmentation may be a feasible surgical technique for OVCF. Moreover, it appears to be appropriate for improving the focal thoracolumbar/lumbar kyphosis and is maintained well after surgery.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

The cone-beam CT (CBCT) which is acquired using on-board imager (OBI) attached to a linear accelerator is widely used for the image guided radiation therapy. In this study, the effect of respiratory motion on the quality of CBCT image was evaluated. A phantom system was constructed in order to simulate respiratory motion. One part of the system is composed of a moving plate and a motor driving component which can control the motional cycle and motional range. The other part is solid water phantom containing a small cubic phantom ($2{\times}2{\times}2cm^3$) surrounded by air which simulate a small tumor volume in the lung air cavity CBCT images of the phantom were acquired in 20 different cases and compared with the image in the static status. The 20 different cases are constituted with 4 different motional ranges (0.7 cm, 1.6 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.1 cm) and 5 different motional cycles (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 sec). The difference of CT number in the coronal image was evaluated as a deformation degree of image quality. The relative average pixel intensity values as a compared CT number of static CBCT image were 71.07% at 0.7 cm motional range, 48.88% at 1.6 cm motional range, 30.60% at 2.4 cm motional range, 17.38% at 3.1 cm motional range The tumor phantom sizes which were defined as the length with different CT number compared with air were increased as the increase of motional range (2.1 cm: no motion, 2.66 cm: 0.7 cm motion, 3.06 cm: 1.6 cm motion, 3.62 cm: 2.4 cm motion, 4.04 cm: 3.1 cm motion). This study shows that respiratory motion in the region of inhomogeneous structures can degrade the image quality of CBCT and it must be considered in the process of setup error correction using CBCT images.