• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2023

This work was performed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy in neutral aqueous solutions where Cl^-, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and F^- ions were present and pH was adjusted to 6 to exclude the contribution of H⁺ and OH^- ions. Open-circuit potential (OCP) transient, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potnetiodynamic polarization curves were employed. The OCP value appeared to decrease in the order of F^- > Cl^- > SO₄^2- > PO₄^3- ions while corrosion current density increased in the same order. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data showed two capacitive arcs in all the solutions and one more inductive arc appeared in PO₄^3--containing solution. By fitting of two capacitive arcs, capacitance of dense film (C_df), resistance of porous film (R_pf) and double layer capacitance (C_dl) and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) beneath the porous films were obtained. A simplified model in which various thicknesses and coverages of dense and porous films are assumed to be present on the AZ31 Mg alloy surface, is suggested to explain the effects of four different anions on the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.841-849
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• 2023

Corallina pilulifera (CP) is prevalent along the Korean coastline and belongs to the Corallinaceae family, exhibiting growth throughout all seasons. This study confirmed the role of calcium supplementation through CP, calcined CP (CCP), and a commercial calcium powder, highlighting variations in dosage within animal models induced by a calcium-deficient diet. Analysis of calcium absorption was conducted by assessing the serum and urine calcium levels during the feeding periods. Serum calcium content was significantly higher in the control group (CON, 9.79 mg/dL) than in the calcium-deficient model (CDM, 6.15 mg/dL). The calcium content of urine was significantly higher than that of CON (0.20 mg/dL) compared with CDM (0.08 mg/dL). Reticular bone thickness showed no significant differences between the CON and CDM groups. Additionally, micro-CT results demonstrated a reduction in the trabecular volume and a significant difference between the number of strands and the average interval of the reticular bone. In conclusion, CP serves as a promising source of calcium supplementation. Therefore, these findings emphasize that CP is of sufficient value as an industrial material related to calcium metabolism.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In this study, forced vibration behavior of a piezo magneto electric sandwich Timoshenko beam is investigated. It is assumed a sandwich beam with porous core and graphene platelet reinforced composite (GPLRC) in facesheets subjected to magneto-electro-elastic and temperature-dependent material properties. The magneto electro platelets are under linear function along with the thickness that includes a cosine function and magnetic and electric constant potentials. The governing equations of motion are derived using modified strain gradient theory for microstructures. The effects of material length scale parameters, temperature change, different distributions of porous, various patterns of graphene platelets, and the core to face sheets thickness ratio on the natural frequency and excited frequency of a sandwich Timoshenko beam are scrutinized. Various size-dependent methods effects such as MSGT, MCST, and CT on the natural frequency is considered. Moreover, the final results affirm that the increase in porosity coefficient and volume fractions lead to an increase in the amount of natural frequency; while vice versa for the increment in the aspect ratio. From forced vibration analysis, it is understood that by increasing the values of volume fraction and the length thickness of GPL, the maximum deflection of a sandwich beam decreases. Also, it is concluded that increasing the temperature, the thickness of GPL, and the initial force leads to a decrease in the maximum deflection of GPL. It is also shown that resonance phenomenon occurs when the natural and excitation frequencies become equal to each other. Outcomes also reveal that the third natural frequency owns the minimum value of both deflection and frequency ratio and the first natural frequency has the maximum.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.25.1-25.11
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• 2022

IL-34 can promote osteoclast differentiation and activation, which may contribute to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Animal model was constructed in both BALB/c and IL-34 deficient mice to detect the relative expression of inflammation cytokines. Micro-CT was utilized to reveal the internal structure. In vitro differentiated osteoclast was induced by culturing bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-34 conditioned medium or M-CSF. The relative expression of pro-inflammation cytokines, osteoclast marker genes, and relevant pathways molecules was detected with quantitative real-time RT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot. Up-regulated IL-34 expression could be detected in the serum of ONFH patients and femoral heads of ONFH mice. IL-34 deficient mice showed the resistance to ONFH induction with the up-regulated trabecular number, trabecular thickness, bone value fraction, and down-regulated trabecular separation. On the other hand, inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-2, and IL-17A, showed diminished expression in IL-34 deficient ONFH induced mice. IL-34 alone or works in coordination with M-CSF to promote osteoclastogenesis and activate ERK, STAT3, and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. These data demonstrate that IL-34 can promote the differentiation of osteoclast through ERK, STAT3, and non-canonical NF-κB pathways to aggravate steroid-induced ONFH, and IL-34 can be considered as a treatment target.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2005

Purpose: To improve the management of a medical linear accelerator, the records of operational failures of a Varian CL2l00C over a ten year period were retrospectively analyzed. Materials and Methods: The failures were classified according to the involved functional subunits, with each class rated Into one of three levels depending on the operational conditions. The relationships between the failure rate and working ratio and between the failure rate and outside temperature were investigated. In addition, the average life time of the main part and the operating efficiency over the last 4 years were analyzed. Results: Among the recorded failures (total 587 failures), the most frequent failure was observed in the parts related with the collimation system, including the monitor chamber, which accounted for $20\%$ of all failures. With regard to the operational conditions, 2nd level of failures, which temporally interrupted treatments, were the most frequent. Third level of failures, which interrupted treatment for more than several hours, were mostly caused by the accelerating subunit. The number of failures was increased with number of treatments and operating time. The average life-times of the Klystron and Thyratron became shorter as the working ratio increased, and were 42 and $83\%$ of the expected values, respectively. The operating efficiency was maintained at $95\%$ or higher, but this value slightly decreased. There was no significant correlation between the number of failures and the outside temperature. Conclusion: The maintenance of detailed equipment problems and failures records over a long period of time can provide good knowledge of equipment function as well as the capability of predicting future failure. Wore rigorous equipment maintenance Is required for old medical linear accelerators for the advanced avoidance of serious failure and to improve the qualify of patient treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.321-327
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• 2014

Purpose : To verify the accuracy of the Ecilpse's dose calculation algorithm(AAA:Analytic anisotropic algorithm) in case of a radiation treatment on Inhomogeneous tissues using FFF beam comparing dose distribution at TPS with actual distribution. Materials and Methods : After acquiring CT images for radiation treatment by the location of tumors and sizes using the solid water phantoms, cork and chest tumor phantom made of paraffin, we established the treatment plan for 6MV photon therapy using our radiation treatment planning system for chest SABR, Ecilpse's AAA(Analytic anisotropic algorithm). According to the completed plan, using our TrueBeam STx(Varian medical system, Palo Alto, CA), we irradiated radiation on the chest tumor phantom on which EBT2 films are inserted and evaluated the dose value of the treatment plan and that of the actual phantom on Inhomogeneous tissue. Results : The difference of the dose value between TPS and measurement at the medial target is 1.28~2.7%, and, at the side of target including inhomogeneous tissues, the difference is 2.02%~7.40% at Ant, 4.46%~14.84% at Post, 0.98%~7.12% at Rt, 1.36%~4.08% at Lt, 2.38%~4.98% at Sup, and 0.94%~3.54% at Inf. Conclusion : In this study, we discovered the possibility of dose calculation's errors caused by FFF beam's characteristics and the inhomogeneous tissues when we do SBRT for inhomogeneous tissues. SBRT which is most popular therapy method needs high accuracy because it irradiates high dose radiation in small fraction. So, it is supposed that ideal treatment is possible if we minimize the errors when planning for treatment through more study about organ's characteristics like Inhomogeneous tissues and FFF beam's characteristics.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2012

Purpose: The respiration is one of the most important factors in respiratory gating radiation therapy (RGRT). We have developed an unique respiratory guidance system using an audio-visual system in order to support and stabilize individual patient's respiration and evaluated the usefulness of this system. Materials and Methods: Seven patients received the RGRT at our clinic from June 2011 to April 2012. After breathing exercise with the audio-visual system, we measured their spontaneous respiration and their respiration with the audio-visual system respectively. With the measured data, we yielded standard deviations by the superficial contents of respiratory cycles and functions, and analyzed them to examine changes in their breathing before and after the therapy. Results: The PTP (peak to peak) of the standard deviations of the free breathing, the audio guidance system, and the respiratory guidance system were 0.343, 0.148, and 0.078 respectively. The respiratory cycles were 0.645, 0.345, and 0.171 respectively and the superficial contents of the respiratory functions were 2.591, 1.008, and 0.877 respectively. The average values of the differences in the standard deviations among the whole patients at the CT room and therapy room were 0.425 for the PTP, 1.566 for the respiratory cycles, and 3.671 for the respiratory superficial contents. As for the standard deviations before and after the application of the PTP respiratory guidance system, that of the PTP was 0.265, that of the respiratory cycles was 0.474, and that of the respiratory superficial contents. The results of t-test of the values before and after free breathing and the audio-visual guidance system showed that the P-value of the PTP was 0.035, that of the cycles 0.009, and that of the respiratory superficial contents 0.010. Conclusion: The respiratory control could be one of the most important factors in the RGRT which determines the success or failure of a treatment. We were able to get more stable breathing with the audio-visual respiratory guidance system than free breathing or breathing with auditory guidance alone. In particular, the above system was excellent at the reproduction of respiratory cycles in care units. Such a system enables to reduce time due to unstable breathing and to perform more precise and detailed treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2008

Purpose: We are trying to analyze 130 patients' conditions by using our Helical Tomotherapy, which was installed in our center in Oct. 2007. We will be statistically approach this examination and analyze so that we will be able to figure out adaptive plans according to the change in place of the tumor, GTV (gross tumor volume), total amount of time it took, vector (${\upsilon}=\surd$x2+y2+z2) and the change in size of the tumor. Materials and Methods: Objectives were the patients who were medicated with Tomotherapy in our medical center since Oct. 2007 August 2008. The Average age of the patients were 53 years old (Minimum 25 years old, Maximum 83 years old). The parts of the body we operated were could be categorized as Head&neck (n=22), Chest (n=47), Abdomen (n=25), Pelvis (n=11), Bone (n=25). MVCT had acted on 2702 times, and also had acted on our adaptive plan toward patients who showed big difference in the size of tumor. Also, after equalizing our gained MVCT and kv-CT we checked up on the range of possible mistake, using x, y, z, roll and vector. We've also investigated on Set-up, MVCT, average time of operation and target volume. Results: Mean time on table was 22.8 minutes. Mean treatment time was 13.26 minutes. Mean correction (mm) was X=-0.7, Y=-1.4, Z=5.77, roll=0.29, vector=8.66 Head&neck patients had 2.96 mm less vector value in movement than patients of Chest, Abdomen, Bone. In increasing order, Head&neck, Bone, Abdomen, Chest, Pelvis showed the vector value in movement. Also, there were 27 patients for adaptive plan, 39 patients, who had long or multiple tumor. We could know that When medical treatment is one cure plan, it takes 32 minutes, and when medical treatment is two cure plan, it takes 40 minutes that one medical treatment takes 21 minutes, and the other medical treatment takes 19 minutes. Conclusion:With our basic tools, we could bring more accurate IMRT with MVCT. Also, through our daily image, we checked up on the change in tumor so that adaptive plan could work. It was made it possible to take the cure of long or multiple tumor, the cure in a nearby OAR, and the complicated cure that should make changes of gradient dose distribution.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2019

Purpose: Metals induce metal artifact during CT-image for therapy planning, and it occurs images distortion, which affects the volumetric measurement and radiation calculation. In the case of using megavoltage computed tomography(MVCT), the volume of metals can be measured as similar to true volume due to minimal metal artifact outcome. In this study, radiation assessment was conducted by comparing teeth volume from images of kVCT and MVCT of head and neck cancer patients, then assigning to kVCT image to calculate radiation after obtaining the similar volume of true teeth volume from MVCT. Also, formal IR image was able to verify the accuracy of radiation calculation. Material and method: 5 head and neck cancer patients who had intensity-modulated radiation therapy from Radixact^® Series were of the subject in this study. Calculations of radiation when constraining true teeth volume out of kVCT image(A-CT) and when designated specific HU after teeth assigned using MVCT image were compared with formal IR image. Treatment planning was devised at the same constraints and mean dose was measured at the radiation assess points. The points were anterior of the teeth, between PTV and the teeth, the interior of PTV near the teeth, and the teeth where 5cm distance from PTV. Result: A difference of metals volume from kVCT and MVCT image was mean 3.49±2.61cc, maximum 7.43cc. PTV was limited to where the internal teeth were fully contained. The results of PTV dose evaluation showed that the average CI value of the kVCT treatment planning without the artifact correction was 0.86, and the average CI value of the kVCT with the artifact correction using MVCT image was 0.9. Conclusion: When the Treatment Planning was made without correction of metal artifacts, the dose of PTV was underestimated, indicating that dose uncertainty occurred. When the computerized treatment plan was made without correction of metal artifacts, the dose of PTV was underestimated, indicating that dose uncertainty occurred.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2010

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to determine the capability of electrospun silk fibroin as a biomaterial template for bone formation when mixed with nano-hydoxyapatite in vivo. Materials and Methods: Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study and bilateral round shaped defects were formed in the parietal bone (diameter: 8.0 mm). The electrospun silk fibroin was coated by nano-hydroxyapatite and grafted into the right parietal bone (experimental group). The left side (control group) did not receive a graft. The animals were sacrificed at 6 weeks and 12 weeks, humanly. The microcomputerized tomogram (${\mu}CT$) was taken for each specimen. Subsequently, they were undergone decalcification and stained for the histological analysis. Results: The average value of all measured variables was higher in the experimental group than in the control at 6 weeks after the operation. BMC in the experimental group at 6 weeks after operation was $48.94{\pm}19.25$ and that in the control was $26.17{\pm}16.40$ (P = 0.027). BMD in the experimental group at 6 weeks after operation was $324.59{\pm}165.24$ and that in the control was $173.03{\pm}120.30$ (P = 0.044). TMC in the experimental group at 6 weeks after operation was $19.50{\pm}6.00$ and that in the control was $10.52{\pm}6.20$ (P = 0.011). TMD in the experimental group at 6 weeks after operation was $508.88{\pm}297.57$ and that in the control was $273.54{\pm}175.91$ (P = 0.06). Gross image of both groups showed higher calcification area at 12 weeks than them in 6 weeks. The average value of ${\mu}CT$ analysis was higher at 12 weeks than that in 6 weeks in both groups. BMC in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation was $51.21{\pm}8.81$ and that in the control was $33.47{\pm}11.13$ (P = 0.010). BMD in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation was $323.39{\pm}21.54$ and that in the control was $197.75{\pm}76.23$ (P = 0.012). TMC in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation was $21.44{\pm}5.30$ and that in the control was $13.31{\pm}4.17$ (P = 0.008). TMD in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation was $524.47{\pm}19.37$ and that in the control was $299.60{\pm}136.20$ (P = 0.016). Conclusion: The rabbit calvarial defect could be successfully repaired by electrospun silk nano-fiber combined with nano-hydroxyapatite.