• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.23-26
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• 2009

This study proposed an improved center array-sequencing phase unwrapping (ICASPU) algorithm. 2% agarose phantom dopped with 0.6mM/l MnCl2 was used with clinical 1.5T MRI system and commercial knee coil. Obtained k-space data(raw-data) was transmitted to PC and reconstructed into phase image with MATLAB software. Previous center array-sequence phase unwrapping algorithm wascompared with proposed ICASP algorithm using second order regression analysis. As a result, we found that the amount of error on proposed ICASPU method is less about 5 times than that of previous CASPU method. In this study, we exploit improved Center array-sequence phase unwrapping algorithm and expect to apply to images including phase informations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.6
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• pp.1290-1308
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• 2023

Purpose To compare the diagnostic performance of rectal CT with that of high-resolution rectal MRI and histopathology in assessing rectal cancer. Materials and Methods Sixty-seven patients with rectal cancer who underwent rectal CT with rectal distension using sonographic gel and high-resolution MRI were enrolled in this study. The distance from the anal verge/anorectal junction, distance to the mesorectal fascia (MRF), extramural depth (EMD), extramesorectal lymph node (LN) involvement, extramural venous invasion (EMVI), and T/N stages in rectal CT/MRI were analyzed by two gastrointestinal radiologists. The CT findings of 20 patients who underwent radical surgery without concurrent chemoradiotherapy were compared using histopathology. Interclass correlations and kappa statistics were used. Results The distance from the anal verge/anorectal junction showed an excellent intraclass correlation between CT and MRI for both reviewers. For EMD, the distance to the MRF, presence of LNs, extramesorectal LN metastasis, EMVI, T stage, and intermodality kappa or weighted kappa values between CT and MRI showed excellent agreement. Among the 20 patients who underwent radical surgery, T staging, circumferential resection margin involvement, EMVI, and LN metastasis on rectal CT showed acceptable concordance rates with histopathology. Conclusion Dedicated rectal CT may be on par with rectal MRI in providing critical information to patients with rectal cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2019

It was reported that there were some cases in which signal was not inhibited but high signal appeared in cerebrospinal fluid on FLAIR(fluid attenuated inversion recovery) of MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in case a person inhales high-concentration oxygen. This study was to prepare basic database. We produced a phantom fixed with agar gel and by using it, obtained the images of the signals of normal saline into which oxygen was injected and normal saline diluted with contrast media by changing the TI(Inversion Time) of FLAIR technique and analyzed them. In the result of FLAIR technique of MRI using Philips Achieva MR 3.0T in Busan P Hospital, the SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) of normal saline into which oxygen was injected was higher than the SNR of normal saline into which oxygen was not injected. However, it was not higher than the SNR of normal saline diluted with contrast media. In the TI 1,800ms, we could obtain the images which do not have the rise of the signal due to oxygen. In the CNR(Contrast to Noise Ratio) of normal saline into which oxygen was injected and normal saline diluted with contrast media as well, it was higher in the TI 1,800ms than in the TI 2,800ms that is mainly used clinically. It is thought that the result of this study could be basic database for studies on change of signal of cerebrospinal fluid as a result of injection of oxygen in FLAIR technique of MRI.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2020

In High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, effective localization of HIFU focus is important for developing a safe treatment plan. While Magnetic Resonance Imaging guided HIFU (MRIgHIFU) can visualize the ultrasound path during the treatment for localizing HIFU focus, it is challenging in ultrasound imaging guided HIFU (USIgHIFU). In the present study, a real-time ultrasound beam visualization technique capable of localizing HIFU focus is presented for USIgHIFU. In the proposed method, a short pulse, with the same center frequency of an imaging ultrasound transducer below the regulated acoustic intensity (i.e., Ispta < 720 mW/㎠), was transmitted through a HIFU transducer whereupon backscattered signals were received by the imaging transducer. To visualize the HIFU beam path, the backscattered signals underwent dynamic receive focusing and subsequent echo processing. From in vitro experiments with bovine serum albumin gel phantoms, the HIFU beam path was clearly depicted with low acoustic intensity (i.e., Ispta of 94.8 mW/㎠) and the HIFU focus was successfully localized before any damages were produced. This result indicates that the proposed ultrasound beam path visualization method can be used for localizing the HIFU focus in real time while minimizing unwanted tissue damage in USIgHIFU treatment.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.06c
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• pp.33-36
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• 2001

With all the researches to define human genom and to look for some new bio-activated material in the bio-technology field recently, it is more highly needed to analyse DNA or so called Material than ever before. First, the lanes are extracted based on histogram analysis and projection technique. And then three other approaches are applied for band extraction: SB, RG-1, and RG-2. In SB method, a search line is set dividing each lane equally and vertically to find peaks and valleys. And according to them, minimum enclosing rectangle of each band is determined. In RC-1 approach, on the other hand, band areas are extracted by region growing with the peaks as seeds, avoiding the overlap with the neighboring bands. In RC-2 approach, peaks and valleys are searched in two lines that trisect the lane vertically, and the pair of peaks in the same band are determined, and then used to grow the region. To compare the accuracy of the three suggested methods, we measure the location and amount of bands. The result shows that the mean deviation of the location is 0.06, 0.03, and 0.01 for SB, RG-1, and RC-2 respectively. And the mean deviation of the amount of bands is 0.08, 0.05, and 0.02 for SB, RG-1, and RG-2 respectively. In conclusion, the RG-2 method suggested in this paper appears to be the most reliable on the degree of the accuracy in measuring the location and amount of bands

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2011

Purpose : The aim of this study is to measure the typical MR variables such as $T_1$- and $T_2$-relaxation times according to morphological characteristics of gold nanopartides as a preliminary study to perform theragnosis using local heating by gold nanopartides. Materials and Methods : Two types of gold nanoparticles were used. Spheres were synthesized by various methods and stirring speed. Rods were synthesized by adding various concentrations of sphere nanopartides. Gold nanopartides were mixed with 2% agarose gel at 1:1 ratio and then signals were acquired using a 1.5T MRI. For the measurements of $T_1$-and $T_2$-relaxation times, TR and TE were varied, respectively. The results were acquired through $T_1$ and $T_2$ curves based on the intensities of MR image using self-developed software. And Statistical analysis was performed. Results : $T_1$ times were measured 1.86 sec and 2.08 sec for sphere and rod, respectively. On the other hands, $T_2$ times were measured 57 ms and 35.45 ms for sphere and rod. Conclusion : The changes of the MR variables according to the morphological characteristics of the gold nanopartides were confirmed. Optimal MR imaging conditions can be obtained by choosing proper TR and TE according to the type of nanoparticles.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2014

Purpose : To assess the usefulness of rectal filling using ultrasonographic gel in patients with lower rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty five patients with lower rectal cancer were enrolled. High resolution pelvic MR was performed twice before and after gel filling. Independently and retrospectively, two radiologists reviewed each set of MR images using five-grade scales for sphincter involvement, CRM (circumferential resection margin) involvement and depiction of the tumor. Same two radiologists retrospectively performed consensus review of each set of MR images for tumor distance from the anal verge and T&N staging. Results: Tumor depiction scores from MR with gel filling were significantly higher than those of MR without distention (p<0.001). Compared to MR without distension, MR with gel filling had no significant differences in prediction of CRM or sphincter involvement (p>0.05). Distance from the anal verge was significantly different between MR with gel filling and rigid endoscopy ($6.8{\pm}1.6cm$ vs. $5.8{\pm}1.6cm$, p=0.001). There were no significant differences between pathological staging and MR staging with or without gel filling. Conclusion: MR with gel filling improved tumor depiction. And also MR with gel filling revealed same ability for the predictions of CRM or sphincter invasion in patients with lower rectal cancer, comparing with MR without gel filling.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Purpose : This study proposes the keyhole method in order to improve the time resolution of the proton resonance frequency(PRF) MR temperature monitoring technique. The values of Root Mean Square (RMS) error of measured temperature value and Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR) obtained from the keyhole and full phase encoded temperature images were compared. Materials and Methods : The PRF method combined with GRE sequence was used to get MR temperature images using a clinical 1.5T MR scanner. It was conducted on the tissue-mimic 2% agarose gel phantom and swine's hock tissue. A MR compatible coaxial slot antenna driven by microwave power generator at 2.45GHz was used to heat the object in the magnetic bore for 5 minutes followed by a sequential acquisition of MR raw data during 10 minutes of cooling period. The acquired raw data were transferred to PC after then the keyhole images were reconstructed by taking the central part of K-space data with 128, 64, 32 and 16 phase encoding lines while the remaining peripheral parts were taken from the 1st reference raw data. The RMS errors were compared with the 256 full encoded self-reference temperature image while the SNR values were compared with the zero filling images. Results : As phase encoding number at the center part on the keyhole temperature images decreased to 128, 64, 32 and 16, the RMS errors of the measured temperature increased to 0.538, 0.712, 0.768 and 0.845$^{\circ}C$, meanwhile SNR values were maintained as the phase encoding number of keyhole part is reduced. Conclusion : This study shows that the keyhole technique is successfully applied to temperature monitoring procedure to increases the temporal resolution by standardizing the matrix size, thus maintained the SNR values. In future, it is expected to implement the MR real time thermal imaging using keyhole method which is able to reduce the scan time with minimal thermal variations.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.313-324
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• 2009

We explore the effect of particle shape and size on 3-dimensional (3D) network and pore structure of porous earth materials composed of glass beads and silica gel using NMR micro-imaging in order to gain better insights into relationship between structure and the corresponding hydrologic and seismological properties. The 3D micro-imaging data for the model porous networks show that the specific surface area, porosity, and permeability range from 2.5 to $9.6\;mm^2/mm^3$, from 0.21 to 0.38, and from 11.6 to 892.3 D (Darcy), respectively, which are typical values for unconsolidated sands. The relationships among specific surface area, porosity, and permeability of the porous media are relatively well explained with the Kozeny equation. Cube counting fractal dimension analysis shows that fractal dimension increases from ~2.5－2.6 to 3.0 with increasing specific surface area from 2.5 to $9.6\;mm^2/mm^3$, with the data also suggesting the effect of porosity. Specific surface area, porosity, permeability, and cube counting fractal dimension for the natural mongolian sandstone are $0.33\;mm^2/mm^3$, 0.017, 30.9 mD, and 1.59, respectively. The current results highlight that NMR micro-imaging, together with detailed statistical analyses can be useful to characterize 3D pore structures of various porous earth materials and be potentially effective in accounting for transport properties and seismic wave velocity and attenuation of diverse porous media in earth crust and interiors.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 1994

The effect of growth regulators (NAA, BA and $ extrm{GA}_3$) and light (blue, red and far-red) on the changes in total protein and thylakoid membrane protein pattern of callus from intergeneric protoplast fusion between Nicotiana tabacum and Solanum nigrw were investigated. When the callus were irradiated with different wavelengths of light, blue and red light accelerated the synthesis of total proteins and thylakoid membrane proteins. Particularly, red light led to an increase in the protein synthesis compared to blue light. When the callus were subjected to various combinations of growth regulators, NAA+$ extrm{GA}_3$ and NAA+BA treatments induced remarkable increase of total proteins and thylakoid membrane proteins accumulation, particularly in the combination of NAA+$ extrm{GA}_3$. NAA.$ extrm{GA}_3$ treatment with irradiation of red ligh showed highest value in the accumulation of total proteins and thylakoid membrane proteins. We conclude that simultaneous application of red light and NAA+$ extrm{GA}_3$ treatment may induce synergistic effect in the synthesis of total proteins and thylakoid membrane Proteins.