• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2011

A method to get a size of the radiation isocenter of linear accelerators using star-shot images was presented and a computer program was developed to automate the method. Accuracy of the method was verified. The developed program was used to measure sizes of the radiation isocenters for a Clinac 21EX (Varian, USA) using data of quality assurance (QA) performed from June 2008 to December 2010. To calculated the size of radiation isocenter, positions of two points on each central ray of the star-shot image were found and the equation of the central ray was determined using the positions of two points. Using the equations of central rays the radius of the minimum circle intersecting all the central rays, which is one half of the size of radiation isocenter, was calculated. The program measured x-intercepts and y-intercepts of the central rays within errors of 0.084 mm and sizes of radiation isocenters within 0.053 mm. All the errors were less than the spatial resolution of star-shot images 0.085 mm. The radiation isocenter sizes of Clinac 21EX were $0.33{\pm}0.27mm$, $0.71{\pm}0.36mm$, $0.50{\pm}0.16mm$ for collimator, gantry and couch respectively. During the measurement period all the measured sizes were less than 2.0 mm and within tolerance. The developed program could calculate the size of radiation isocenters and it would be helpful to routine QA.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2014

The accuracy and uniformity of CT numbers are the main causes of radiation dose calculation error. Especially, for the dose calculation based on kV-Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) image, the scatter affecting the CT number is known to be quite different by the object sizes, densities, exposure conditions, and so on. In this study, the scatter impact on the CBCT based dose calculation was evaluated to provide the optimal condition minimizing the error. The CBCT images was acquired under three scatter conditions ("Under-scatter", "Over-scatter", and "Full-scatter") by adjusting amount of scatter materials around a electron density phantom (CIRS062, Tissue Simulation Technology, Norfolk, VA, USA). The CT number uniformities of CBCT images for water-equivalent materials of the phantom were assessed, and the location dependency, either "inner" or "outer" parts of the phantom, was also evaluated. The electron density correction curves were derived from CBCT images of the electron density phantom in each scatter condition. The electron density correction curves were applied to calculate the CBCT based doses, which were compared with the dose based on Fan Beam Computed Tomography (FBCT). Also, 5 prostate IMRT cases were enrolled to assess the accuracy of dose based on CBCT images using gamma index analysis and relative dose differences. As the CT number histogram of phantom CBCT images for water equivalent materials was fitted with a gaussian function, the FHWM (146 HU) for "Full-scatter" condition was the smallest among the FHWM for the three conditions (685 HU for "under scatter" and 264 HU for "over scatter"). Also, the variance of CT numbers was the smallest for the same ingredients located in the center and periphery of the phantom in the "Full-scatter" condition. The dose distributions calculated with FBCT and CBCT images compared in a gamma index evaluation of 1%/3 mm criteria and in the dose difference. With the electron density correction acquired in the same scatter condition, the CBCT based dose calculations tended to be the most accurate. In 5 prostate cases in which the mean equivalent diameter was 27.2 cm, the averaged gamma pass rate was 98% and the dose difference confirmed to be less than 2% (average 0.2%, ranged from -1.3% to 1.6%) with the electron density correction of the "Full-scatter" condition. The accuracy of CBCT based dose calculation could be confirmed that closely related to the CT number uniformity and to the similarity of the scatter conditions for the electron density correction curve and CBCT image. In pelvic cases, the most accurate dose calculation was achievable in the application of the electron density curves of the "Full-scatter" condition.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of diffusion weighted MR imaging(DWI) in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. Materials and methods: DWI and conventional MR images of nineteen patients with brain tumors(10 metastatic tumors, 4 high grade gliomas, 4 low grade astrocytomas, one oligodendroglioma)were obtained on 1.5T unit. DWI was obtained using single shot spin echo planar imaging with b-value near 1000. We analyzed the signal intensities of lesions including solid portion, necrotic or cystic portion and peritumoral edema of brain tumors (classified five grades comparison with the signal intensities of brain parenchyma and CSF)and calculate the SIR(signal intensity ratio)of lesions to the contralateral normal brain parenchyma. We analyzed statistically the signal intensities and SIR of tumors using independence T test. Results: In solid portions of tumors, all the metastatic tumors and high grade gliomas showed high signal intensities, but low grade astrocytomas and oligodendroglioma showed iso or slight high signal intensities to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIR of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant pot ential(metastatic tumors 1.52, high grade gliomas 1.38, low grade astrocytomas 1.16, oligodendroglioma 1.31)(p < 0.05). In peritumoral edema where seen in 14 tumors, seven of 10 metastatic tumors and two of 4 high grade gliomas showed iso signal intensities, whereas edemas in other 5 brain tumors showed hyperintense to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIRs of peritumoral edemas in metastatic tumors (1.14) was lower than high grade gliomas(1.31),but statistically insignificant. The SIR of cystic or necrotic portion of brain tumors was 0.63. In non enhancing solid portions, three of six cases showed hyperintense to the adjacent peritumoral edema. Conclusion: On DWI, the signal intensities of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant potential, and perilesional edema of brain tumors appear various signal intensities owing to "T2 shine through effect" and the extensiveness of vasogenic edema. Another merit using DWI on the evaluation of brain tumors is to improved better delineation of tumor margins from the adjacent edemas, especially at the non enhancing solid portion of the tumors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2010

Purpose : The aims of this study were to investigate the long-term outcomes in children with infantile spasms (IS) and to identify the prognostic factors influencing their neurodevelopment. Methods : We retrospectively evaluated seventy two children over five years old who were treated for IS at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, between 1994 and 2007. Forty-three children were contacted by telephone or medical follow-up to assess their current neurodevelopmental status. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) of risk factors for unfavorable outcomes.Results : The mean follow-up duration for these 43 children was $7.2{\pm}1.5$ years (range, 4.5 to 13.0 years). Of these, 13 (30.2%) had cryptogenic and 30 (69.8%) had symptomatic IS. Eleven (25.6%) children were initially treated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) therapy, with a mean treatment lag of $1.3{\pm}1.9$ months (range; 0.1 to 7.0 months). Eighteen (41.8%) children clinically responded to initial treatment, as shown by EEG response. Overall, 22 (51.2%) children had at least moderate neurodevelopmental disorders and 2 (4.8%) died. In univariate analysis, etiology (symptomatic) and poor electroclinical response to initial treatment were related to long-term unfavorable outcomes. In multivariate analysis, response to primary treatment was the sole significant independent risk factor with a high OR. Conclusion : Overall prognosis of children with IS was poor. Electroclinical non-responsiveness to initial treatment was related to unfavorable long-term outcomes, indicating that initial control of seizures may be important in reducing the likelihood of poor neurodevelopment.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.276-282
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to compare and analyze air temperature and humidity distribution and energy consumptions according to using air circulation fans in single-span greenhouses. The greenhouses located in Cheongnam-myeon, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. There were cherry tomatoes in the greenhouses and the size of greenhouses was as follows;ridge height : 3.2 m, wide : 6 m, length : 95 m. The heating system was composed of a hot-water boiler and 6 FCUs(Fan Coil Unit)-4 FCUs were on bottom with duct and 2 FCUs were installed at 2.0 m. A total of 18 air circulation fans(impeller's diameter : 230 mm) were bilaterally arranged in 2 rows in the experimental greenhouse. The sensors for measuring air temperature and humidity were located at a quarter and three quarters of a length. The height of sensors were 0.8 m, 1.8 m. To calculate energy consumption in greenhouses, water temperature at inlet and outlet in a water pump, volume of water were measured. Form February 3rd to March 23th, temperature, humidity and energy consumptions were measured during heating time(6pm~7am). In a greenhouse without fans, the average differences of temperature and humidity were $0.75^{\circ}C$, 2.31%, respectively. The operation of fans showed their differences to $0.42^{\circ}C$, 1.8%. The standard deviation of temperature and humidity between measuring points in the greenhouse with fans was lower than the greenhouse without fans. Total energy consumptions in a greenhouse without fans were 4,673 kWh. In the greenhouse with fans, the total energy consumptions were 4,009 kWh. The energy consumptions in a greenhouse with fans 14.2% were less than the greenhouse without fans. Therefore, air circulation makes temperature and humidity uniform and saves energy consumptions for heating.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2017

This study was conducted to provide basic data needed to calculate the crop loads for the greenhouse design. Four countries' crop loads for greenhouse structures were compared and the crop loads were measured directly and analyzed for various greenhouse crops, including tomato, strawberry, cucumber, and eggplant. According to the analysis results of four country's standards for the design crop loads, it was judged that the new design crop loads suit for greenhouse crops in our country should be suggested because our standards just used the design crop loads of other countries. The maximum crop loads per plant of tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and strawberry were 3.9, 0.75, 1.9 and $2.1kgf{\cdot}plant^{-1}$, respectively. The crop load per unit area of tomato was $8.5kgf{\cdot}m^{-2}$, which was much greater than the cucumber and eggplant's crop load of 2.1 and $2.4kgf{\cdot}m^{-2}$ respectively. The crop loads of tomato and cucumber, suggested by the greenhouse structure design standard of Korea, is $15kgf{\cdot}m^{-2}$, which is far greater than the values suggested by this research. It was judged that this was because our standard just used the Dutch standard, our crop load standard should be reviewed considering this difference. The crop load of strawberry, including the growing bed, was $21.0kgf{\cdot}m^{-2}$, which was much greater than the crop load in the Dutch standard.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.115-137
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• 2010

Information technology (IT) outsourcing, the use of a third-party vendor to provide IT services, started in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Korea, and has increased rapidly since 2000. Recently, firms have increased their efforts to capture greater value from IT outsourcing. To date, there have been a large number of studies on IT outsourcing. Most prior studies on IT outsourcing have focused on outsourcing practices and decisions, and little attention has been paid to objectively measuring the value of IT outsourcing. In addition, studies that examined the performance of IT outsourcing have mainly relied on anecdotal evidence or practitioners' perceptions. Our study examines the contribution of IT outsourcing to economic growth in Korean industries over the 1990 to 2007 period, using a production function framework and a panel data set for 54 industries constructed from input-output tables, fixed-capital formation tables, and employment tables. Based on the framework and estimation procedures that Han, Kauffman and Nault (2010) used to examine the economic impact of IT outsourcing in U.S. industries, we evaluate the impact of IT outsourcing on output and productivity in Korean industries. Because IT outsourcing started to grow at a significantly more rapid pace in 2000, we compare the impact of IT outsourcing in pre- and post-2000 periods. Our industry-level panel data cover a large proportion of Korean economy-54 out of 58 Korean industries. This allows us greater opportunity to assess the impacts of IT outsourcing on objective performance measures, such as output and productivity. Using IT outsourcing and IT capital as our primary independent variables, we employ an extended Cobb-Douglas production function in which both variables are treated as factor inputs. We also derive and estimate a labor productivity equation to assess the impact of our IT variables on labor productivity. We use data from seven years (1990, 1993, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007) for which both input-output tables and fixed-capital formation tables are available. Combining the input-output tables and fixed-capital formation tables resulted in 54 industries. IT outsourcing is measured as the value of computer-related services purchased by each industry in a given year. All the variables have been converted to 2000 Korean Won using GDP deflators. To calculate labor hours, we use the average work hours for each sector provided by the OECD. To effectively control for heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation present in our dataset, we use the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) procedures. Because the AR1 process may be industry-specific (i.e., panel-specific), we consider both common AR1 and panel-specific AR1 (PSAR1) processes in our estimations. We also include year dummies to control for year-specific effects common across industries, and sector dummies (as defined in the GDP deflator) to control for time-invariant sector-specific effects. Based on the full sample of 378 observations, we find that a 1% increase in IT outsourcing is associated with a 0.012~0.014% increase in gross output and a 1% increase in IT capital is associated with a 0.024~0.027% increase in gross output. To compare the contribution of IT outsourcing relative to that of IT capital, we examined gross marginal product (GMP). The average GMP of IT outsourcing was 6.423, which is substantially greater than that of IT capital at 2.093. This indicates that on average if an industry invests KRW 1 millon, it can increase its output by KRW 6.4 million. In terms of the contribution to labor productivity, we find that a 1% increase in IT outsourcing is associated with a 0.009~0.01% increase in labor productivity while a 1% increase in IT capital is associated with a 0.024~0.025% increase in labor productivity. Overall, our results indicate that IT outsourcing has made positive and economically meaningful contributions to output and productivity in Korean industries over the 1990 to 2007 period. The average GMP of IT outsourcing we report about Korean industries is 1.44 times greater than that in U.S. industries reported in Han et al. (2010). Further, we find that the contribution of IT outsourcing has been significantly greater in the 2000~2007 period during which the growth of IT outsourcing accelerated. Our study provides implication for policymakers and managers. First, our results suggest that Korean industries can capture further benefits by increasing investments in IT outsourcing. Second, our analyses and results provide a basis for managers to assess the impact of investments in IT outsourcing and IT capital in an objective and quantitative manner. Building on our study, future research should examine the impact of IT outsourcing at a more detailed industry level and the firm level.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2014

Purpose : To compare dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for the differentiation of tumor recurrence and delayed radiation therapy (RT)-related changes in patients treated with RT for primary brain tumors. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 24 patients treated with RT for various primary brain tumors, who showed newly appearing enhancing lesions more than one year after completion of RT on follow-up MRI. The enhancing-lesions were confirmed as recurrences (n=14) or RT-changes (n=10). We calculated the mean values of normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and proportion of dark signal intensity on SWI (proSWI) for the enhancing-lesions. All the values between the two groups were compared using t-test. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the best predictor of differential diagnosis. The cutoff value of the best predictor obtained from receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was applied to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis. Results: The mean nCBV value was significantly higher in the recurrence group than in the RT-change group (P=.004), and the mean proSWI was significantly lower in the recurrence group (P<.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the mean ADC values between the two groups. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that proSWI was the only independent variable for the differentiation; the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 78.6% (11 of 14), 100% (10 of 10), and 87.5% (21 of 24), respectively. Conclusion: The proSWI was the most promising parameter for the differentiation of newly developed enhancing-lesions more than one year after RT completion in brain tumor patients.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to study the spring productivity and feeding value of hairy vetch varieties. We also measured DM yield and feeding value by analyze CP and CF that authors made possible to calculate TDN and RFV. The results can be summarized as follows; Dry matter yield were increased earlier autumn seeding date and later cut in spring. Differences of dry matter yield in earlier cut in spring was high in order of Ostsaat, Welta, Vv4712, Penn-02, Common and Minnie. Crude protein(CP) yield was increased when earlier autumn seeding date and later cut in spring. Total digestible nutrient(TDN) yield of hairy vetch varieties was decreased when later autumn seeding date, and was increased when later cut in spring. TDN yield was highest in Ostsaat and Welta varieties had highest dry matter yield. Acid detergent fiber(ADF) content was decreased when later autumn seeding date and was increased when later cut in spring. Neutral detergent fiber(NDF) content was decreased when later autumn seeding date. Average values for relative feed value(RFV) were 157% and 132% in both cut. It shows that a high feed value in all of hairy vetch varieties. Above all, the results presented that the optimal seeding date for cultivating hairy vetch in the central region of Korea is between the 10th to the 20th of September. Because Ostsaat and Welta had significantly high dry matter yield we expected Ostsaat and Welta have a higher wintering ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2008

This study examined principles and techniques of efficient water quality management as well as total coastal pollutant loads and the relevant examples in the advanced countries from the viewpoints of water quality improvement and pollution control in coastal areas. The problems and improvements in an estimation of the current total pollutant loads were also pointed out. In addition, discussion was made on the relationship between total pollutant loads and environmental capacity as well as particulars requiring extensive examination on access to and study on water quality model used as prediction tool for marine environment. Furthermore, this study proposed details of and improvement plans for water quality control to be reflected and absorbed into systems and policies related to coastal water quality. In coastal areas, which are subject to total coastal pollutant loads, it is necessary to calculate pollutant loads reduction and allocation, to propose them in detail in statement in relations to new pollution sources for the corresponding projects or plans in environmental impact assessment and prior environmental review system. Also, in relations to regional plans for coastal management, the local government concerned must focus more on environmental management plan to implement data on pollution sources and pollutant loads flown into sea areas under basic jurisdiction, therefore it is required to actively respond to expansion and introduction of total coastal pollutant loads system in the future. Total coastal pollutant loads system must be expanded and executed by considering characteristics of sea area and changes in the environment of land. For pollution sources in land, the competent authorities in charge of coastal environment will need to initiatively administer supervision, monitoring activities and achieve integration and operation of the related laws by preparing legal bases for management system or adjusting the related laws.