• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2019

Purpose DMIDR(Discovery Molecular Imaging Digital Ready, General Electric Healthcare, USA) is a PET/CT scanner designed to allow application of PSF(Point Spread Function), TOF(Time of Flight) and Q.Clear algorithm. Especially, Q.Clear is a reconstruction algorithm which can overcome the limitation of OSEM(Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) and reduce the image noise based on voxel unit. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of reconstruction algorithms and optimize the algorithm combination to improve the accurate SUV(Standardized Uptake Value) measurement and lesion detectability. Materials and Methods PET phantom was filled with $^{18}F-FDG$ radioactivity concentration ratio of hot to background was in a ratio of 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1. Scan was performed using the NEMA protocols. Scan data was reconstructed using combination of (1)VPFX(VUE point FX(TOF)), (2)VPHD-S(VUE Point HD+PSF), (3)VPFX-S (TOF+PSF), (4)QCHD-S-400((VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (5)QCFX-S-400(TOF +Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (6)QCHD-S-50(VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF) and (7)QCFX-S-50(TOF+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF). CR(Contrast Recovery) and BV(Background Variability) were compared. Also, SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) and RC(Recovery Coefficient) of counts and SUV were compared respectively. Results VPFX-S showed the highest CR value in sphere size of 10 and 13 mm, and QCFX-S-50 showed the highest value in spheres greater than 17 mm. In comparison of BV and SNR, QCFX-S-400 and QCHD-S-400 showed good results. The results of SUV measurement were proportional to the H/B ratio. RC for SUV is in inverse proportion to the H/B ratio and QCFX-S-50 showed highest value. In addition, reconstruction algorithm of Q.Clear using 400 of ${\beta}-strength$ showed lower value. Conclusion When higher ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed better image quality by reducing the noise. On the contrary, lower ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed that sharpness increase and PVE(Partial Volume Effect) decrease, so it is possible to measure SUV based on high RC comparing to conventional reconstruction conditions. An appropriate choice of these reconstruction algorithm can improve the accuracy and lesion detectability. In this reason, it is necessary to optimize the algorithm parameter according to the purpose.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical applicability of Co-60 ViewRay treatment plan to increase the skin dose in case of high skin dose is required such as Malignant Fungating Wound By measuring the presence / absence of Bolus application and skin dose by the treatment device and comparing it Materials and Methods : Nine inner measuring points of 2.5 cm lattice arrangement and all 13 measuring points including upper and lower left and right measuring points touching the chest and skin were marked. After CT was taken, each treatment plan was formulated through Eclipse and ViewRay-TPS, and a Fixed beam-IMRT treatment plan was formulated so that the left chest V2Gy=95 % is delivered. Before measurement QED detector was calibrated and the QED detector was positioned at the 13 measurement points displayed on Phantom and surface dose of each treatment planner was measured using 5 mm Bolus application using True-beam and View-ray before and after, measure three times and compare each before applying 5 mm Bolus. Results : The surface dose of the Co-60 ViewRay and the linear accelerator appeared at $76.8%{\pm}5.2%$ vs. $67.3{\pm}%7.5%$ and the surface dose after application of 5 mm Bolus was $87.6%{\pm}8.9%$ vs. $80.3%{\pm}10.2%$ It was measured at 10.2 % (p<0.001). Conclusion : As a result of the surface dose measurement of each treatment instrument, Co-60 ViewRay confirmed that the surface dose reached 95.6 % of 6 MV Linac with conventional 5 mm bolus, despite not using Bolus (p<0.001). Also, by utilizing magnetic resonance images for each treatment, it is possible to observe the change in the treatment site without the problem of exposure, it is easy to formulate an adaptive treatment plan and it is easy to secure the skin dose, so the size In the case of Malignant Fungating Wound patients who need fast skin changes and need high skin doses, Co-60 ViewRay is considered to be more useful than linear accelerators.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1556-1564
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• 2021

Purpose This study aimed to apply MR elastography (MRE) to achieve in vivo evaluation of the elastic properties of thigh muscles and validate the feasibility of quantifying the elasticity of normal thigh muscles using MRE. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 10 volunteer subjects [mean age, 32.5 years, (range, 23-45 years)] who reported normal activities of daily living and underwent both T2-weighted axial images and MRE of thigh muscles on the same day. A sequence with a motion-encoding gradient was used in the MRE to map the propagating shear waves in the muscle. Elastic properties were quantified as the shear modulus of the following four thigh muscles at rest; the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, adductor magnus, and biceps femoris. Results The mean shear modulus was 0.98 ± 0.32 kPa and 1.00 ± 0.33 kPa for the vastus medialis, 1.10 ± 0.46 kPa and 1.07 ± 0.43 kPa for the vastus lateralis, 0.91 ± 0.41 kPa and 0.93 ± 0.47 kPa for the adductor magnus, and 0.99 ± 0.37 kPa and 0.94 ± 0.32 kPa for the biceps femoris, with reader 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the shear modulus based on sex (p < 0.05). Aging consistently showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the shear modulus of the thigh muscles, except for the vastus medialis (p = 0.194 for reader 1 and p = 0.355 for reader 2). Conclusion MRE is a quantitative technique used to measure the elastic properties of individual muscles with excellent inter-observer agreement. Age was consistently significantly negatively correlated with the shear stiffness of muscles, except for the vastus medialis.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of two electronic apex locators in vitro model. Materials consisted of fifty two extracted premolars and two electronic apex locators; Root ZX (J. Morita, Osaka, Japan) and E-Magic Finder Deluxe (S-Denti. Cheonan, Korea). After access preparation, the teeth were embedded in a saline-mixed alginate model. Canal lengths of each tooth were measured at "0.5" and "Apex" mark of the apex locators, respectively so that each tooth had two measurements from 0.5 and Apex points. The file was fixed at final measurement using a glass ionomer cement. The apical 4 mm from the apex was exposed to measure the distance from the file tip to the major apical foramen of each tooth. Average distances and standard deviations were used to evaluate the consistency. Results showed that all measurements of both Root ZX and E-Magic Finder located the major foramen the range of ${\pm}0.5\;mm$ level. Both apex locators showed better consistency at Apex mark than at 0.5 mark. The average distance of file tip-major foramen was - 0.18 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.07 mm at Apex mark in Root ZX, - 0.25 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.02 mm at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder. Standard deviation was 0.21 at 0.5 mark and 0.12 at Apex mark in Root ZX, 0.12 at 0.5 mark and 0.09 at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2010

Objective: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of direct electrical current stimulation (DECS) on bone regeneration in response to an expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture in the rat. Methods: Sixteen 50 - 60 days old Wistar male rats were separated into two equal groups (control and experimental). Both groups were subjected to expansion, and 30-gram of force was applied to the maxillary incisors with helical-spring. In the experimental group, two metallic-screws were placed at lateral parts of the maxillary segments. Electrodes were connected to the screws. The device was activated with current adjustment to measure $10{\mu}A$ continuously and the current was monitored daily during the expansion and early-retention phase. Bone regeneration in the sutural area was histomorphometrically evaluated including new-bone area (${\mu}m^2$), bone perimeter (${\mu}m$), feret's diameter (${\mu}m$) and newly formed bone (%) parameters. Kruskal-Wallis rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical evaluation at p < 0.05 level. Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between groups for all investigated histomorphometric parameters. New bone area (p = 0.002), bone perimeter (p = 0.004), feret's diameter (p = 0.002) and newly formed bone percentage (p = 0.002) measurements were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. Bone histomorphometric measurements revealed that bone architecture in the DECS group was improved. Conclusions: The application of DECS to an orthopedically expanded inter-premaxillary suture area during the early retention phase stimulated the formation of new bone.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2002

Serotonin transporter(5-HTT) is one of the major action site of antidepressants in neuronal cells. According to the recent studies, it is known that the functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene(5-HTT linked polymorphism repetitive element in promoter region, 5-HTTLPR) is associated with antidepressant responsiveness, and the distributions of 5-HTTLPR is various among the different populations. Our preliminary study suggested that it is possible to measure the endophenotype of 5-HTTLPR genotype by examining the pharmacodynamic research of the 5-HTT in platelet membranes. However, there are limitations to predicting the antidepressant responsiveness only from the endophenotypic characteristics of 5-HTT gene promoter polymorphism, and therefore we propose to use the pharmacogenomic methods for overcoming these limitations. We found that the significant correlations existed among the genetic polymorphisms of biogenic amine transporters whose structure and characteristics are similar to the 5-HTT, and the predictable odds ratio of antidepressant responsiveness are increased significantly by combining the effect with other associated polymorphisms, compared to the effect of 5-HTT promoter polymorphism only. These results support the hypothesis that antidepressant treatment has to be individualized according to the genetic and ethnic background of depressed patients. It would be possible to develope the evaluation tools to predict the antidepressant responsiveness and its side effect profile, if scientists reveal the genes related to the action mechanism as well as the metabolism of antidepressants so as to discover the interaction of those genes and contribution of endogenotypes toward antidepressant responsiveness.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2008

In order to carry out river basin management, it is necessary to evaluate the state of the river basin and make site-specific measures on the basis of management goals and objectives. A river basin is divided into several watersheds, which are composed of several components: water resources, social and economic systems, law and institution, user, land, ecosystems, etc. They are connected among them and form network holistically. In this study, a methodology for evaluating watershed management was developed by consideration of the various features of a watershed system. This methodology employed factor analysis to develop sub-indexes for evaluating water use management, environment and ecosystem management, and flood management in a watershed. To do this, first, the related data were gathered and classified into six groups that are the components of watershed systems. Second, in all sub-indexes, preliminary tests such as KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were conducted to check the data's acceptability to factor analysis, respectively. Third, variables related to each sub-index were grouped into three factors by consideration of statistic characteristics, respectively. These factors became indicators and were named, taking into account the relationship and the characteristics of included variables. In order to check the study results, the computed factor loadings of each variable were reviewed, and correlation analysis among factor scores was fulfilled. It was revealed that each factor score of factors in a sub-index was not correlated, and grouping variables by factor analysis was appropriate. And, it was thought that this indicator system would be applied effectively to evaluating the states of watershed management.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.180-190
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the abrasion resistance of surface penetrating sealant which was applied on a composite resin restoration and to provide proper time to reapply sealant on composite resin surface. Two hundred rectangular specimens, sized $8\times3\times2mm$, were made of Micronew (Bisco, Inc., Schaumburg, IL, U.S.A) and divided into two groups; F group (n = 10) was finished with coarse and medium grit of Sof-Lex discs and BisCoverwas applied B group (n = 190) after finishing with discs. B group was again subdivided into nineteen subgroups From B-1 group to B-18 group were subjected to toothbrush abrasion test using a distilled water-dentifrice slurry and toothbrush heads B-IM group was not subjected to toothbrush abrasion test. Average surface roughness (Ra) of each group was calculated using a surface roughness tester (Surfcorder MSE-1700: Kosaka Laboratory Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) . A representative specimen of each group was examined by FE-SEM (S-4700: Hitachi High Technologies Co., Tokyo, Japan). The data were analysed using cluster analysis, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA. The results of this study were as follows; 1. Ra off group was $0.898{\pm}0.145{\mu}m$ and B-IM group was $0.289{\pm}0.142{\mu}m$. Ra became higher from B-1 group $(0.299{\pm}0.48{\mu}m$ to B-18 group $(0.642{\pm}0.313{\mu}m$. 2. Final cluster center of Ra was $0.361{\mu}m$ in cluster 1 $(B-IM\simB-7)$, $0.511{\mu}m$ in cluster 2 $(B-8\simB-14)$ and $0.624{\mu}m$ in cluster 3 ($(B-15\simB-18)$. There were significant difference among Ra of three clusters. 3 Ra of B-IM group was decreased 210.72% than Ra of F group. Ra of B-8 group and B-15 group was increased 35.49% and 51.35% respectively than Ra of B-IM group. 4. On FE-SEM, B-IM group showed the smoothest resin surface. B-8 group and B-15 group showed vertically shallow scratches , and wide and irregular vertical scratches on composite resin surface respectively. Within a limitation of this study, finished resin surface will be again smooth and glazy if BisCover would be reapplied within 8 to 14 months after applying to resin surface.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.2 s.115
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• pp.125-135
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the level of frictional resistance generated from three currently used ceramic brackets; 1, Crystaline $V^{(R)}$, Tomy International Inc., Tokyo, Japan; 2, $Clarity^{(R)}$, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA; 3, $Inspire^{(R)}$, Ormco, Orange, CA, USA; with composite resin brackets, Spirit, Ormco, Orange, CA, USA; and conventional stainless steel brackets, Kosaka, Tomy International Inc., Tokyo, Japan used as controls. In this experiment, the resistance to sliding was studied as a function of four angulations $(0^{\circ},\;5^{\circ},\;10^{\circ}\;and\;15^{\circ})$ using 2 different orthodontic wire alloys: stainless steel (stainless steel, SDS Ormco, Orange, CA, USA), and beta-titanium (TMA, SDS Ormco, Orange, CA, USA). After mounting the 22 mil brackets to the fixture and $.019{\times}.025$ wires ligated with elastic ligatures, the arch wires were slid through the brackets at 5mm/min in the dry state at $34^{\circ}C$. Silica-insert ceramic brackets generated a significantly lower frictional force than did other ceramic brackets, similar to that of stainless steel brackets. Beta-titanium archwires had higher frictional resistance than did stainless steel, and all the brackets showed higher static and kinetic frictional force as the angulation increased. When the angulation exceeded $5^{\circ}$, the active configuration emerged and frictional force quickly increased by 2.5 to 4.5-fold. The order of frictional force of the different wire-bracket couples transposed as the angle increased. The silica-insert ceramic bracket is a valuable alternative to conventional stainless steel brackets for patients with esthetic demands.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2000

Tunnelling has been created as a great extent in view of less land space available because the growth of population in metropolitan has been accelerated at a faster pace than the development of the cities. In tunnelling, it is often faced that measures are obliged to be taken without confirmation for such abnormality as diverged movement of surrounding rock mass, growing crack of shotcrete and yielding of rockbolts. In this case, it is usually said that the judgments of experienced engineers for the selection of measure are importance and allowed us to get over the situations in many construction sites. But decrease of such experienced engineers need us to develop the new system to assist the selection of measures for the abnormality without any experiences of similar tunnelling sites. In this study, After a lot of tunnelling reinforcement methods were surveyed and the detail application were studied, an expert system was developed to predict the safety of tunnel and choose proper tunnel reinforcement system using fuzzy quantification theory and fuzzy inference rule based on tunnel information database. The expert system developed in this study have two main parts named pre-module and post-module. Pre-module decides tunnel information imput items based on the tunnel face mapping information which can be easily obtained in-situ site. Then, using fuzzy quantification theory II, fuzzy membership function is composed and tunnel safety level is inferred through this membership function. The comparison result between the predicted reinforcement system level and measured ones was very similar. In-situ data were obtained in three tunnel sites including subway tunnel under Han river. This system will be very helpful to make the most of in-situ data and suggest proper applicability of tunnel reinforcement system developing more resonable tunnel support method from dependance of some experienced experts for the absent of guide.