• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

This study aims to evaluate CT (Computed Tomography) characteristics through the estimation of HU (Hounsfield Unit) and the corresponding variations using coefficient of variation values for various materials as a function of physical factor. HU values for various materials with varying densities as a function of physical factor were measured using MDCT (Siemens SOMATOM Sensation 4, Germany). The results showed that the HU values were decreased and increased as a function of kVp and material density, respectively. Especially, the HU values for bone and iodine at 140 kVp were 32% and 42% smaller than those at 80 kVp, respectively. In case of iodine, the HU values also decreased and increased as a function of kVp and concentration, respectively. While the HU values were fixed as a function of mAs. The decreased ratio of HU values between 80 keV and 140 keV was different at various concentration and maximum difference was shown as 1.73 at 3% concentration. These results indicated that it may be possible to separate composition of materials, e.g. iodine and bone, using single source CT. The results showed that dual energy techniques using single source CT can be applied to material separation and expand CT imaging techniques to other practical applications.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.211-221
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• 2023

This study presents a comprehensive study on the synthesis and characterization of PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI polymeric membrane electrolytes and CxNy-C flexible electrodes for energy storage applications. The dual-functional PVI-PGMA copolymer exhibited excellent ionic conductivity, with the PVI-PGMA73/LiTFSI200 membrane electrolyte achieving the highest conductivity of 1.0 × 10^-3 S cm^-1. The electrochemical performance of the CxNy-C electrodes was systematically investigated, with C3N2-C demonstrating superior performance, achieving the highest specific capacitance of 958 F g^-1 and lowest charge transfer resistance (R_ct) due to its highly interconnected hybrid structure comprising nanowires and polyhedrons, along with binary Co/Ni oxides, which provided abundant redox-active sites and facilitated ion diffusion. The presence of a graphitic carbon shell further contributed to the enhanced electrochemical stability during charge-discharge cycles. These results highlight the potential of PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI polymeric membrane electrolytes and CxNy-C electrodes for advanced energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for further advancements in sustainable and high-performance energy storage technologies.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2016

Purpose : This study will evaluate the clinical utility by applying clinical schematic that uses monoenergy or dual energy as according to the location of tumors to the stereotactic radiotherapy to compare the change in actual dose given to the real tumor and the dose that locates adjacent to the tumor. Materials and Methods : CT images from a total of 10 patients were obtained and the clinical planning were planned based on the volumetric modulated arc therapy on monoenergy and dual energy. To analyze the change factor in the tumor, Comformity Index(CI) and Homogeneity Index(HI) and maximum dose quantity were each calculated and comparing the dose distribution on normal tissues, $V_{10}$ and $V_5$, first ~ fourth ribs closest to the tumor ($1^{st}{\sim}4^{th}$ Rib), Spinal Cord, Esophagus and Trachea were selected. Also, in order to confirm the accuracy on which the planned dose distribution is really measured, the 2-dimensional ion chamber array was used to measure the dose distribution. Results : As of the tumor factor, CI and HI showed a number close to 1 when the two energies were used. As of the maximum dose, the front chest wall showed 2% and the dorsal tumor showed equivalent value. As of normal tissue, the front chest wall tumors were reduced by 4%, 5% when both energies were used in the adjacent rib and as of trachea, reduced by 11%, 17%. As of the dose in the lung, as of $V_{10}$, it reduced by 1.5%, $V_5$ by 1%. As of the rear chest wall, when both energies were used, the ribs adjacent to the tumors showed 6%, 1%, 4%, 12% reduction, and in the lung dose distribution, $V_{10}$ reduced by 3%, and $V_5$ reduced by 3.1%. The dose measurement in all energies were in accordance to the results of Gamma Index 3mm/3%. Conclusion : It is considered that rather than using monoenergy, utilizing double energy in the clinical setting can be more effectively applied to the superficial tumors.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time on Hounsfield unit (HU) values of hydroxyapatite (HA) in virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)(Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). Materials and Methods: A bone density calibration phantom with 3 HA inserts of different densities(CTWATER^®; 0, 100, and 200 mg of HA/㎤) was scanned using a twin-beam DECT scanner at 120 kVp with tube rotation times of 0.5 and 1.0 seconds. The VMIs were reconstructed by changing the energy level (with options of 40 keV, 70 keV, and 140 keV). In order to investigate the impact of the reconstruction kernel, virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed after changing the kernel from body regular 40 (Br40) to head regular 40 (Hr40) in the reconstruction phase. The mean HU value was measured by placing a circular region of interests (ROIs) in the middle of each insert obtained from the VMIs. The HU values were compared with regard to energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time. Results: Hydroxyapatite density was strongly correlated with HU values(correlation coefficient=0.678, P<0.05). For the HA 100 and 200 inserts, HU decreased significantly at increased energy levels(correlation coefficient= -0.538, P<0.05) but increased by 70 HU when using Hr40 rather than Br40 (correlation coefficient=0.158, P<0.05). The tube rotation time did not significantly affect the HU(P>0.05). Conclusion: The HU values of hydroxyapatite were strongly correlated with hydroxyapatite density and energy level in VMIs obtained with DECT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2023

Purpose: CT scan makes up for the weak point of the nuclear medicine image having a low resolution and also were used for attenuation correction on image reconstruction. Recently, many studies try to make use of CT images additionally, one of them is to measure the bone mineral density(BMD) using Quantitative CT(QCT) software. BMD exams are performed to scan lumbar and femur with DXA(Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) in order to diagnose bone disease such as osteopenia, osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to identify the usefulness of QCT_BMD analyzed with low dose CT images on L-spine Bone SPECT/CT comparing with DXA_BMD. Materials and Methods: Fifty five women over 50 years old (mean 66.4 ± 9.1) who took the both examinations(L-spine Bone SPECT/CT with SIEMENS Intevo 16 and DXA scan with GE Lunar prodigy advance) within 90 days from April 2017 to July 2022, BMD, T-score and disease classification were analyzed. Three-dimensional BMD was analyzed with low dose CT images acquired on L-spine Bone SPECT/CT scan on Mindways QCT PRO^TM software and two-dimensional BMD was analyzed on DXA scan. Basically, Lumbar 1-4 were analyzed and the patients who has lesion or spine implants on L-spine were excluded for this study. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed in BMD and T-score, chi-square test was performed in disease classification between QCT and DXA. Results: On 55 patients, the minimum of QCT_BMD was 18.10, maximum was 166.50, average was 82.71 ± 31.5 mg/cm³. And the minimum of DXA-BMD was 0.540, maximum was 1.302, average was 0.902 ± 0.201 g/cm², respectively. The result shows a strong statistical correlation between QCT_BMD and DXA_BMD(p<0.001, r=0.76). The minimum of QCT_T-score was -5.7, maximum was -0.1, average was -3.2 ± 1.3 and the minimum of DXA_T-score was -5.0, maximum was 1.7, average was -2.0 ± 1.3, respectively. The result shows a statistical correlation between QCT T-score and DXA T-score (p<0.001, r=0.66). On the disease classification, normal was 5, osteopenia was 25, osteoporosis was 25 in QCT and normal was 10, osteopenia was 25, osteoporosis was 20 in DXA. There was under-estimation of bone decrease relatively on DXA than QCT, but there was no significant differences statistically by chi-square test between QCT and DXA. Conclusion: Through this study, we could identify that the QCT measurement with low dose CT images QCT from L-Spine Bone SPECT/CT was reliable because of a strong statistical correlation between QCT_BMD and DXA_BMD. Bone SPECT/CT scan can provide three-dimensional information also BMD measurement with CT images. In the future, rather than various exams such as CT, BMD, Bone scan are performed, it will be possible to provide multipurpose information via only SPECT/CT scan. In addition, it will be very helpful clinically in the sense that we can provide a diagnosis of potential osteoporosis, especially in middle-aged patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.187-201
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• 2024

Osteoporosis is a major health issue globally, often remaining undetected until a fracture occurs. To facilitate early detection, deep learning (DL) models were developed to classify osteoporosis using abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. This study was conducted using retrospectively collected data from 3,012 contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans. The DL models developed in this study were constructed for using image data, demographic/clinical information, and multi-modality data, respectively. Patients were categorized into the normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups based on their T-scores, obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. The models showed high accuracy and effectiveness, with the combined data model performing the best, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94 and an accuracy of 0.80. The image-based model also performed well, while the demographic data model had lower accuracy and effectiveness. In addition, the DL model was interpreted by gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) to highlight clinically relevant features in the images, revealing the femoral neck as a common site for fractures. The study shows that DL can accurately identify osteoporosis stages from clinical data, indicating the potential of abdominal CT scans in early osteoporosis detection and reducing fracture risks with prompt treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 1999

Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-18-FDG) whole body scan (FDG W/B Scan) using dual-head gamma camera equipped with ultra high energy collimator in patients with various cancers, and compare the results with those of coincidence imaging. Materials and Methods: Phantom studies of planar imaging with ultra high energy and coincidence tomography (FDG CoDe PET) were performed. Fourteen patients with known or suspected malignancy were examined. F-18-FDG whole body scan was performed using dual-head gamma camera with high energy (511 keV) collimators and regional FDG CoDe PET immediately followed it Radiological, clinical follow up and histologic results were correlated with F-18-FDG findings. Results: Planar phantom study showed 13.1 mm spatial resolution at 10 cm with a sensitivity of 2638 cpm/MBq/ml. In coincidence PET, spatial resolution was 7.49 mm and sensitivity was 5351 cpm/MBq/ml. Eight out of 14 patients showed hypermetabolic sites in primary or metastatic tumors in FDG CoDe PET. The lesions showing no hypermetabolic uptake of FDG in both methods were all less than 1 cm except one lesion of 2 cm sized metastatic lymph node. The metastatic lymph nodes of positive FDG uptake were more than 1.5 cm in size or conglomerated lesions of lymph nodes less than 1cm in size. FDG W/B scan showed similar results but had additional false positive and false negative cases. FDG W/B scan could not visualize liver metastasis in one case that showed multiple metastatic sites in FDG CoDe PET. Conclusion: FDG W/B scan with specially designed collimators depicted some cancers and their metastatic sites, although it had a limitation in image quality compared to that of FDG CoDe PET. This study suggests that F-18-FDG positron imaging using dual-head gamma camera is feasible in oncology and helpful if it should be more available by regional distribution of FDG.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2014

Purpose Find out about the significance of the GFR values calculated by the kidney depth is measured by comparing the values obtained for kidney depth was measured GFR in the CT image kidney depth and is calculated by Tonnesen law in $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA dynamic kidney scan with each applies. Materials and Methods Among patients with normal value (75~120 mL/min) computed GFR conducted of dynamic renal scan to visit from February 2013 to February 2014 and donor GFR values in patients with normal value. The mean age was 46.9 years with 14 men 13 females. We used abdomen CT image which checked before conducting dynamic Kidney scan for measuring the depth of kidney. We only used CT image that contains renal hilum and measured outermost front of the kidney from the skin surface (a) and the final surface (b) caculated the average depth of [(a + b) / 2] respectively. Using the same ROI in order to limit the change in GFR values by the other additional element was set before and after the depth value was excluded from the GFR falls kidney disease. Results Using Tonnesen law the average value was caculated 5.94 cm from the right kidney 5.90 cm from the left kidney. It was 6.83 cm, 8.71 cm in the left kidney and the right kidney average value of the depth measured on the basis of the CT image. The respective increase in left kidney 0.93 cm and right kidney 2.77 cm calculated on the basis of CT image actually measured values. GFR was calculated as the average depth of the subject calculated by the method Tonnesen $83.3{\pm}9.79mL/min$. $98.6{\pm}14.07mL/min$ GFR was applied to calculate the average depth of the subjects using the CT image, is the difference appears 15.26 mL/min was increased after seting up depth value, P value was less than 0.01 which is significant. Conclusion The difference between GFR before-after setting up depth value cause that the different of depth value. Is a measured depth of the extension value of the calculated estimates Whereas Tonnesen kidney depth method is to use in calculating the value of GFR in a typical dynamic elongation test depth derived using the CT image depth. Is thought to be able to calculate more accurately the GFR value by the distance to the center of kidney more accurately measured in the skin thereby.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 1995

The soil humic acid was subdivided into four subfractions by molecular weight (F1: >100.000 dalton; F2: >100.000 dalton; F3: >10.000 dalton; F4: >2.000 dalton) using MP-dual hollow fiber ultrafiltration system. The characterization using IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, showed similar spectroscopic features of HA, demonstrating that the bulk properties of HA subfractions are very similar to one another. IR spectral data showed a decrease in polysaccharide contents and increase in carboxylate functionality as molecular weight become smaller.functions. The structure of (NO) can be described by two interactions (N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$N, N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$O). One is the ONNO structure with an (N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$N) interaction. In this structure, acyclic cis-ONNO with $C_{2v}$-symmetry, acyclic trans-ONNO with $C_{2h}$, and cyclic ONNO with trapezoidal structure ($C_{2v}$) are optimized at the MP2 level. The other structure is the ONON structure with an (N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$O) interaction. In the structure, acyclic cis-ONON with Cs$^{-symmetry}$ and cyclic ONON of the rectangular ($C_{2h}$), square $(D_{2h})$, rhombic $(D_{2h})$, and parallelogramic $(D_{2h})$ geometries are also optimized. It is found that acyclic cis-ONNO $(^1A_1$) is the most stable structure and cyclic ONNO ($^3A_1$) is the least stable. Acyclic trans-ONNO ($^3A_1$) with an (N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$N) interaction, acyclic trans-ONON and bicyclic ONON $(C_{2v})$ with (N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$O) interaction, and acyclic cis- and trans-NOON with an (O${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$O) interaction can not be optimized at the MP2 level. Particularly, acyclic trans-ONNO with $C_{2h}$-symmetry can not be optimized at the CCSD(T) level. Meanwhile, acyclic NNOO ($^1A_1$, $C_s)$ and trianglic NNOO ($^1A_1$,$C_{2v})$ formed by the (O${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$N) interaction between $O_2$and $N_2$are optimized at the MP2 level. The binding energies and the relative energy gaps among the isomers are found to be relatively small./sec. Spiral CT scans during the arterial phase were obtained 35 seconds after the injection of contrast medium. CT findings of 78 lesions less than 4cm in diameter were correlated with angiographic findings. Results : The attenuation of lesions was high(n = 69), iso(n = 5), and low(n = 4) compared with liver parenchyma during the arterial phase of spiral CT. In lesions with high-, iso-, and low-attenuation during the arterial phase of spiral CT, hypervascularity on angiograms was found in 63 of 69(91.3%), three of five(60%), and three of four lesions(75%), respectively. Six lesions with high-attenuation on the arterial phase of spiral CT were not seen on angiography. Two iso-attenuated and one low-attenuated lesion were hypovascular on angiograms. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that with some exceptions there was good correlation between the arterial phase of spiral CT and angiography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.1032-1045
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• 2022

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in elderly patients. Lower-extremity CT angiography (LE-CTA) can be useful for detecting PAD and planning its treatment. PAD can also be accurately evaluated on reconstructed monoenergetic images (MEIs) from low kiloelectron volt (keV) to high keV images using dual-energy CT. Low keV images generally provide higher contrast than high keV images but also feature more severe image noise. The noise-reduced virtual MEI reconstruction algorithm, called the Mono+ technique, was recently introduced to overcome such image noise. Therefore, this pictorial review aimed to present the imaging findings of PAD on LE-CTA and compare low and high keV images with those subjected to the Mono+ technique. We found that, in many cases, the overall and segmental image qualities were better and metal artifacts and venous contamination were decreased in the high keV images.