• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2023

In nuclear power plants, the flow rate information is a major indicator of the performance of rotating equipment such as pumps, and is a very important one required for facility operation and maintenance. To measure a flow rate, various types of methods have been developed and used. Among them, the differential pressure type using orifice and the direct doppler type using ultrasonic waves are the most commonly used. However, these flow rate measurement methods have limitations in installation, conditions and status of the measuring part, etc. To solve this problem, we have studied a new technique for measuring flow rate from scratch. In this paper, we have devised a technique to estimate the flow rate using an average moving velocity of large-scale eddy in turbulence that occurs in the piping flow field. The velocity of the large-scale eddy can be measured using the pressure fluctuation signals on the inner surface of the pipe. To estimate the flow rate, at first a cross-correlation function is applied to the two pressure fluctuation signals located at different positions in the down stream for calculating the time delay between the moving eddies. In order to validate the proposed flow rate estimation method, CFD analyses for the internal turbulence flow in pipe are conducted with a fixed flow condition, where the pressure fluctuation signals on the pipe inner surface are simulated. And then the average flow velocity of the large scale eddy is to be estimated. The estimated flow velocity is turned out to be similar to the fixed (known) flow rate.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2024

Since Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) uses an array with narrow sensor spacing, precise synchronization is required to improve source localization performances. However, in the underwater environment, synchronization errors occur due to relatively strong noise and underwater acoustic channels such as multipath and Doppler, which deteriorates the source localization performances. This paper proposes a covariance-based synchronization compensation method to improve the source localization performances of the underwater USBL systems. The proposed method arranges the received signals through cross-correlation and calculates the covariance of the arranged signals. The synchronization error is related to the phase difference in the covariance. Thus, the phase difference is estimated as the covariance and compensated. Computer simulations demonstrate that the proposed method has better source localization performances than the conventional cross-correlation method.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: In many cardiovascular disorders, the contractile performance of the right ventricle (RV) is the primary determinant of prognosis. For evaluating RV volumes and function, 4 dimensional (4D)-echocardiography has become common. This research used 2D and 4D modalities to assess RV contractile performance in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with essential hypertension were enrolled in this study, along with 75 age and sex-matched volunteers. Clinical evaluation and echocardiographic examination (including M-mode, tissue Doppler imaging, and 2D speckle tracking) were conducted on all participants. RV volumes, 4D-ejection fraction (EF), 4D-fractional area change (FAC), 4D-tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), 4D-septal and free wall (FW) strain were all measured using 4D-echocardiography. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients showed 2D-RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction (including TAPSE, 2D-right ventricular global longitudinal strain, RV-myocardial performance index and average E/EaRV) and 4D-RV impairment (including right ventricular EF, FAC, RV strain and TAPSE, right ventricular end-diastolic volume and right ventricular end-systolic volume) compared to the control group. We verified the prevalence of RV systolic dysfunction in hypertension patients using the following parameters: 1) 15% of them had 2D-TAPSE < 17 mm vs. 40% by 4D-TAPSE; 2) 25% of them had 2D-GLS < 19% vs. 42% by 4D-septal strain and 35% by 4D FW strain; 3) 35% of hypertensive patients had 4D-EF < 45%; and finally; 4) 25% of hypertensive patients had 2D-FAC < 35% compared to 45% by 4D-FAC. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of RV involvement was greater in 4D than in 2D-modality trans-thoracic echocardiography. We speculated that 4D-echocardiography with 4D-strain imaging would be more beneficial for examining RV morphology and function in hypertensive patients than 2D-echocardiography, since 4D-echocardiography could estimate RV volumes and function without making geometric assumptions.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of a handheld device (HH) used during common daily practice and its agreement with the results of a standard echocardiography study (STD) performed by experienced sonographers and echocardiographer. METHODS: A prospective follow-up was conducted in an adult outpatient echocardiography clinic. Experienced sonographers performed the STD and an experienced echocardiographer performed the HH. STD included 2-dimensional images, Doppler and hemodynamics analysis. Hemodynamic assessment was not performed with the HH device because the HH does not include such technology. The images were interpreted by blinded echocardiographers, and the agreement between the reports was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were included; and the concordance for left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction (EF), wall motion score index, LV and right ventricle (RV) function, RV size, and mitral and aortic stenosis was excellent with κ values greater than 0.80. Wall motion abnormalities had good concordance (κ value 0.78). The agreement for LV hypertrophy, mitral and aortic regurgitation was moderate, and tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation agreements were low (κ values of 0.26 and 0.25, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a daily practice scenario with experienced hands, HH demonstrated good correlation for most echocardiography indications, such as ventricular size and function assessment and stenosis valve lesion analyses.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2024

Since the first description of the possible utilization of the internal maxillary artery for bypass surgery, there are some reports of its use in aneurysm cases; however, there is no information about the possible advantages of this type of bypass for cerebral ischemic disease. We present a 77-year-old man with a history of diabetes, hypertension, systemic atherosclerosis, and two acute myocardial infarctions with left hemiparesis. Imaging studies reported total occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and 75% occlusion on the left side, with an old opercular infarction and repeated transient ischemic attacks in the right middle cerebral artery territory despite medical treatment. After a consensus, we decided to perform a bypass from the internal maxillary artery to the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery using a radial artery graft. After performing the proximal anastomosis, the calculated graft's free flow was 216 ml/min. Subsequently, after completing the bypass, the patency was confirmed with fluorescein videoangiography and intraoperative Doppler. Postoperatively, imaging studies showed improvement in the perfusion values and the hemiparesis from 3/5 to 4+/5. The patient was discharged one week after the operation, with a modified Rankin scale of 1, without added deficits. The use of revascularization techniques in steno-occlusive disease indicates a select group of patients that may benefit from this procedure. In addition, internal maxillary artery bypass has provided a safe option for large areas of ischemia that cannot be supplied with a superficial temporal artery - middle cerebral artery bypass.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.554-562
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• 2007

This study was performed to provide basic data for predicting the usefulness of Gastrodiae rhizoma as a materials for functional foods. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and blood pressure(BP) were measured in rats, following the intravenous injection of processed Gastrodiae rhizoma water extract. In its processing, we used rice water, Sderotium Poriae Cocos and Radix Ligustici Chuanxiaong. The rCBF and BP measurements were continually monitored by a laser-doppler flowmeter and a pressure transducer in the anesthetized adult Sprague-Dawley rats for approximately about two to two and a half hours, through a data acquisition system composed of a MacLab and Macintosh computer. The results of the experiment are as follows: the processed Gastrodiae rhizoma significantly increased changes in rCBF in the rats. The rCBF with processed Gastrodiae rhizoma did not change by pretreatment with propranolol, atropin, methylene blue, and indomethacin. But the rCBF of the processed Gastrodiae rhizoma was increased by pretreatment with L-NNA. The processed Gastrodiae rhizoma significantly decreased the changes in BP. However, BP with the processed Gastrodiae rhizoma did not change by pretreatment with propranolol, atropin, methylene blue and indomethacin. On the other hand, BP decreased with the processed Gastrodiae rhizoma pretreatment with L-NNA. These results indicate that processed Gastrodiae rhizoma might increase the rCBF and the BP which are related to nitric oxide synthesis. Also these results indicate that the used of processed Gastrodiae rhizoma in safe, as well as clinically applicable in diet therapy for cerebral related disease and hypertension.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.455-465
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• 2017

Understanding of the two-dimensional velocity field is crucial in terms of analyzing various hydrodynamic and fluvial processes in the riverine environments. Until recently, many numerical models have played major roles of providing such velocity field instead of in-situ flow measurements, because there were limitations in instruments and methodologies suitable for efficiently measuring in the broad range of river reaches. In the last decades, however, the advent of modernized instrumentations started to revolutionize the flow measurements. Among others, acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) became very promising especially for accurately assessing streamflow discharge, and they are also able to provide the detailed velocity field very efficiently. Thus it became possible to capture the velocity field only with field observations. Since most of ADCPs measurements have been mostly conducted in the cross-sectional lines despite their capabilities, it is still required to apply appropriate interpolation methods to obtain dense velocity field as likely as results from numerical simulations. However, anisotropic nature of the meandering river channel could have brought in the difficulties for applying simple spatial interpolation methods for handling dynamic flow velocity vector, since the flow direction continuously changes over the curvature of the channel shape. Without considering anisotropic characteristics in terms of the meandering, therefore, conventional interpolation methods such as IDW and Kriging possibly lead to erroneous results, when they dealt with velocity vectors in the meandering channel. Based on the consecutive ADCP cross-sectional measurements in the meandering river channel. For this purpose, the geographic coordinate with the measured ADCP velocity was converted from the conventional Cartesian coordinate (x, y) to a curvilinear coordinate (s, n). The results from application of A-VIM showed significant improvement in accuracy as much as 41.5% in RMSE.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1275-1281
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• 2006

Purpose : Cerebral edema in meningitis is a potentially complication. Hypertonic saline of various concentrations are frequently used to treat cerebral edemas in meningitis. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of osmotic therapy in cerebral edema by comparison of various hypertonic saline concentrations and mannitol. Methods : The medical records of 42 patients, who were followed up in the Department of Pediatrics, Busan Medical Center, from Jan. 2002 to Oct. 2005, were analyzed retrospectively. We measured intracranial pressure, mean flow velocity, and various laboratory parameters. Results : In cerebral edema developed in meningitis, intracranial pressure and symptoms were improved in treatment of hypertonic saline and mannitol. Serial bolus infusion of 3 percent hypertonic saline resulted in the best outcome. There was not a statistically considerable difference on the mean values of the intracranial pressure gap. On transcranial doppler, mean flow velocity was increased and pulsatilty index was decreased. Laboratory findings (osmolarity, Na, Cl, pH, lactic acid, Ca) were diffenent during the treatment period as opposed to K, Hb, bicarbonate, base excess. There was not a specific form of hypertonic saline used in meningitis treatment with cerebral edema. Conclusion : The therapy for cerebral edema in meningitis remains largely empirical. Serial bolus infusion of 3 percent hypertonic saline is better than other hypertonic salines. Various concentrations and different infusion methods of hypertonic saline statistically does not influence the result of treatment. More research aimed at improving cerebral edema treatment is needed to identify new, effective forms of treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1324-1328
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• 2006

Purpose : The object of this study was to determine the difference between two methods for myocardial performance index(MPI) in children, using the conventional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Methods : A total of 27 children with anatomically normal hearts were enrolled for the study. all were examined by conventional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography at Gangneung Asan Hospital between December, 2005 and February, 2006. First, we measured the time interval(a1) between the mitral inflows from apical 4-chamber view, and the ejection time(ET1) from apical 5-chamber view. And then, we calculated MPI1, isovolumic contraction time(ICT1) and isovolumic relaxation time (IRT1). Secondly, we measured ICT2, ET2 and IRT2 from apical 5-chamber view with a Dopper signal placed at just below junction between mitral and aortic valve at the same cardiac cycle. And then, we calculated MPI2. We compared MPI1 to MPI2. All MPIs were calculated by using the formula, MPI=(ICT+IRT)/ET. Results : The mean age was $5.7{\pm}2.2years$ old(M:F=15:12). The MPI2 was higher than MPI1: $0.277{\pm}0.083$ vs. $0.428{\pm}0.081$(MPI1 vs MPI2, P=0.000). Also, the ICT2 was higher than ICT1: $56{\pm}15msec$ vs $97{\pm}18msec$(ICT1 vs ICT2, P=0.000) and the IRT2 was higher than IRT1: $42{\pm}8msec$ vs $53{\pm}9msec$(IRT1 vs IRT2, P=0.000). But, the ET2 was lower than ET1: $260{\pm}16msec$ vs $254{\pm}14msec$ (ET1 vs ET2, P=0.01). There was, as well, positive linear correlation between MPI1 and MPI2. Conclusion : This study showed that there is a difference between MPI1 and MPI2 in connection with estimating methods. However, the two MPIs had a positive linear correlation. Judging from our results, the MPI of the new method might be a useful index of venticular global function in children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 1999

Background: Ventricular septal defect(VSD) that causes pulmonary hypertension increase right ventricular workload. Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular systolic time interval (RVSTI) has been used to predict pulmonary artery pressure in various cardiopulmonary diseases. This study was undertaken in infants with simple VSD to observe the alteration of the right ventricular workload through the changes of RVSTI after repair of VSD. Material and Method: We evaluated heart rate, the ratio of the left atrium/aortic root diameter (LA/Ao), right ventricular pre-ejection period(RVPEP), right ventricular ejection time(RVET), and its ratio(RVPEP/RVET) as a predictor of right ventricular workload in 12 children with simple VSD. These were measured three times at the preoperative period, at the 3 month and between 6 month and 1 year(average 9.5${\pm}$1.8month) after repair of VSD by M-mode & Doppler echocardiograph from the pulmonic valve echogram. Result: Heart rate was decreased significantly after repair(137.1${\pm}$13.7 vs 114.4${\pm}$21.1 and 104.1${\pm}$10.2, p<0.01). LA/Ao ratio was decreased significantly after repair(1.71${\pm}$0.32 vs 1.47${\pm}$0.33 and 1.39${\pm}$0.23, p<0.05). RVPEP/RVET were decreased after repair (0.38${\pm}$0.09 vs 0.32${\pm}$0.08 and 0.29${\pm}$0.09, p<0.01). Heart rate corrected RVPEP/RVET were significantly decreased only after 6 months(0.32${\pm}$0.03 vs 0.30${\pm}$0.05 and 0.28${\pm}$0.06, p<0.05). Conclusion: We found elevated right ventricular workload was progressively decreased until more than 6 months after repair and the RVSTI may serve a useful guide in postoperative care for children with VSD.