• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the anteroposterior length and buccal angle of the anterior loop, and the size and location of the mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: 100 CBCT images from 87 adults (43 males and 44 females) ranging in age from 20 to 73 years (average 50 years) with edentulous ridge of the mandibular premolar region were obtained. Axial, sagittal, coronal images were reconstructed from Dental and Block Images of CBCT. The anteroposterior length, shape and buccal angle of the anterior loop, and the size and location of the mental foramen were calculated from reconstructed images of axial, sagittal and coronal CBCT. Results: The anteroposterior length and buccal angle of the mental canal was 4.0${\pm}$1.2mm, 37.8${\pm}$11.60$^{\circ}$respectively. The loop type with straight course was the most common shape of the mental canal. The location of the mental foramen below the apex of the lower second premolar (78%) was the most common. The maximum size of the mental foramen was 4.6${\pm}$1.0 mm in width and 3.0${\pm}$0.6 mm in height. The inner size of the mental canal was 2.6${\pm}$0.6 mm in width and 2.1 mm${\pm}$0.4 mm in height. Conclusion: CBCT is useful to evaluate the anterior loop and mental foramen of the mandibular canal. Safe guideline of 4 mm from the most anterior point of the mental foramen is recommended for implant and surgical treatment. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 81-7)

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.470-475
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to identify the complex course of the mandibular canal using 3D reconstruction of microCT images and to provide the diagram for clinicians to help them understand at the interforaminal region in Korean. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-six hemimandibles obtained from cadavers were examined using microCT, and the images were reconstructed. At both the midpoint of mental foramen and the tip of anterior loop, the bucco-lingual position, the height from the mandibular inferior border, the horizontal distance between two points, and position relative to tooth site on the mandibular canal were measured. The angle that the mental canal diverges from the mandibular canal was measured in posterior-superior and lateral-superior direction. RESULTS. The buccal distance from the mandibular canal was significantly much shorter than lingual distance at both the mental foramen and the tip of anterior loop. The mandibular canal at the tip of anterior loop was significantly located closer to buccal side and higher than at the mental foramen. And the mental canal most commonly diverged from the mandibular canal below the first premolar by approximately $50^{\circ}$ posterior-superior and $41^{\circ}$ lateral-superior direction, which had with a mean length of 5.19 mm in front of the mental foramen, and exited to the mental foramen below the second premolar. CONCLUSION. These results suggest that it could form a hazardous tetrahedron space at the interforaminal region, thus, the clinician need to pay attention to the width of a premolar tooth from the mental foramen during dental implant placement.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2011

The mental foramen and anterior loop of the mandibular canal are important landmarks for mandibular surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the shape and position of the mental foramen and anterior loop of the mandibular canal on the computed tomography (CT) images, and apply the results clinically. CT images of 96 patients (33 male, 36 female, age range 17~43 years, mean $24.6{\pm}4.99$ years) were enrolled. The horizontal and vertical position of the mental foramen, as well as the distance from the root apices were measured. The distance of the anterior loop of the mandibular canal to the root apices, and the buccal angle were measured. The mental foramen was found mostly below the second premolar observed in 81 cases (46.0%), between the first and second premolars in 67 cases (38.0%), and between the second premolar and first molar in 19 cases (10.2%). The mean distance between the mental foramen and the lower border of the mandible was $12.20{\pm}1.77$ mm, the mean distance between the mental foramen and root apex was $5.16{\pm}0.98$ mm. The mean distance of the anterior loop of the mandibular canal was $5.80{\pm}2.00$ mm. The buccal angle measured at $47.7{\pm}9.07^{\circ}$. The distance between the root apex and mental foramen measured as $5.16{\pm}0.98$ mm on panoramic radiography, and $6.2{\pm}3.07$ mm on CT. The mean distance between the mental foramen and mandibular canal was $5.39{\pm}1.62$ mm. When performing surgical procedures such as installing dental implants, it is important to minimize surgical trauma, especially the risk of damage to the mental nerve. To optimize the surgical outcome, a careful assessment of the shape and position of the mental foramen and the anterior loop of the mandibular canal must be made. CT images are useful for finding such anatomic structures.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.933-948
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to examine the anatomic structures of the mandible-inferior alveolar canal, mental foramen, mental canal-with panoramic radiography and conventional tomography and to compare both radiographic techniques in conjunction with endosseous implants. In this study 14 adult dentulous mandibles -27 cases of right and left side of mandibles- were examined and the results were as follows. 1. The distance between superior border of the inferior alveolar canal and the alveolar ridge crest showed a decreasing tendency from the mental foramen to 4cm posterior to the mental foramen. 2. The mean diameter of the inferior alveolar canal was $4.11{\pm}0.50mm$ with panoramic radiography and $3.29{\pm}0.59mm$ with conventional tomography. 3. The inferior border of the inferior alveolar canal and inferior border of the mandible was closest at 2cm posterior to the mental foramen but it was not statistically significant. the mean distance was $1l.64{\pm}2.95mm$ in panoramic radiography and $1l.68{\pm} 2.91mm$ in conventional tomography. 4. The inferior alveolar canal located lingually in bucco-lingual direction 16%(mental foramen), 54%(lcm posterior to the mental foramen), 68%(2cm posterior to the mental foramen), 50%(3cm posterior to mental foramen), 55%(4cm posterior to the mental foramen). 5. Mean length of the anterior loop of the mental canal was 2.73mm, and the loop below 2mm was 35% and 15% of mental canal was invisible in panoramic radiography. 6. The minimum interforaminal distance was 56.7mm, the maximum distance was 73.2mm and the mean distance was 66.42mm in panoramic radiography. 7. The mean distance between midpoint of the mental canal and alveolar ridge crest was 16.24mm and the mean buccolingual angulation of the mental canal was $52.98^{\circ}$ in conventional tomography. 8. In comparison of panoramic radiography and conventional tomography, inferior alveolar canal is better visualized with conventional tomography than panoramic radiography from the mental foramen to the 2cm posterior to the mental foramen, while visiblity of conventional tomography prominently decreased in 4cm posterior to the mental foramen and alveolar ridge crest is better visualized with panoramic radiography than conventional radiography at the mental foramen and at 4cm posterior to the mental foramen. In radiologic examination of anatomic structures of the mandible for endosseous implants, panoramic radiography and conventional tomography can be effectively used when it is used to overcome the anatomic limitations.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to detect the anterior loop of the mental nerve and the mandibular incisive canal in panoramic radiographs (PAN) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, as well as to determine the anterior/mesial extension of these structures in panoramic and cross-sectional reconstructions using PAN and CBCT images. Materials and Methods: Images (both PAN and CBCT) from 90 patients were evaluated by 2 independent observers. Detection of the anterior loop and the incisive canal were compared between PAN and CBCT. The anterior/mesial extension of these structures was compared between PAN and both cross-sectional and panoramic CBCT reconstructions. Results: In CBCT, the anterior loop and the incisive canal were observed in 7.7% and 24.4% of the hemimandibles, respectively. In PAN, the anterior loop and the incisive canal were detected in 15% and 5.5% of cases, respectively. PAN presented more difficulties in the visualization of structures. The anterior/mesial extensions ranged from 0.0 mm to 19.0 mm on CBCT. PAN underestimated the measurements by approximately 2.0 mm. Conclusion: CBCT appears to be a more reliable imaging modality than PAN for preoperative workups of the anterior mandible. Individual variations in the anterior/mesial extensions of the anterior loop of the mental nerve and the mandibular incisive canal mean that is not prudent to rely on a general safe zone for implant placement or bone surgery in the interforaminal region.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.145-166
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate why advance organizers (AO) are effective in promoting comprehension and mental model formation in terms of cognitive load. Two experimental groups: a concept-map AO group and a key-word AO group and one control group were used. This study considered cognitive load in view of Baddeley's working memory model: central executive (CE), phonological loop (PL), and visuo-spatial sketch pad (VSSP). The present experiment directly examined cognitive load using dual task methodology. The results were as follows: central executive (CE) suppression task achievement for the concept map AO group was higher than the key word AO group and control group. Comprehension and mental model construction for the concept map AO group were higher than the other groups. These results indicated that the superiority of concept map AO owing to CE load decrement occurred with comprehension and mental model construction in learning. Thus, the available resources produced by CE load reduction may have been invested for comprehension and mental model construction of learning contents.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-56
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• 2008

With emphasis on the importance of systems thinking for the establishment of learning organization, Senge in his famous book "The Fifth Discipline", explains in depth four disciplines such as personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, which are all geared up to the implementation of learning organization. However, two critical pitfalls are found: First, a holistic picture is absent in his presentation of learning organization, which just seems like a puzzle with linking pieces missing between disciplines. Secondly, as is often the case too much details are discussed in expense of insights on each discipline. This paper thus attempts to draw core metaphysical insights underlying Senge's learning organization disciplines by reinterpreting them from oriental perspectives; and to identify mechanisms depicting how they are working together as a whole, which is enabled by exploiting causal loop diagrams as a tool of systems thinking. In addition some thoughts on the implications of systems thinking on each of the learning organization disciplines.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.395-400
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate different anatomical variants of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) via cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 71 patients (36 males and 35 females) were evaluated. We used the classification described by Solar for IAN evaluation. In this classification, three different types of IAN loops were introduced prior to emerging from the mental foramen. We classified patients according to this system and introduced a new, fourth type. Results: Type I was seen in 15 sites (10.6%), type II in 39 sites (27.5%), and type III in 50 sites (35.2%). We found a new type in 38 sites (26.8%) that constituted a fourth type. Conclusion: We found that type III was the most common variant. In the fourth type, the IAN was not detectable because the main nerve was adjacent to the cortical plate and the incisive branch was thinner than the main branch and alongside it. In this type, more care is needed for surgeries including inferior alveolar and mental nerve transposition.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2002

Flow Condensation heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) of Rl2, R22, R32, Rl23, Rl25, R134a, R142b were measured experimentally on a horizontal plain tube. The experi- mental apparatus was composed of three main parts; a refrigerant loop, a water loop and a water-glycol loop. The test section in a refrigerant loop was made of a copper tube of 8.8 mm inner diameter and 1000 mm length respectively. The refrigerant was cooled by passing cold water through an annulus surrounding the test section. All tests were performed at a filed refrigerant saturation temperature of 4$0^{\circ}C$ with mass fluxes of 100, 200, 300 kg/$m^2$s. The experimental result showed that flow condensation HTCs increase as the quality, mass flux, and latent heat of condensation increase. At the same mass flux, the HTCs of R32 and R142b were higher than those of R22 by 35~45% and 7~14% respectively while HTCs of R134a and Rl23 were similar to those of R22. On the other hand, HTCs of Rl25 and Rl2 were lower than those of R22 by 28 ~30% and 15 ~25% respectively Finally, a new correlation for flow condensation HTCs was developed by modifying Dobson and Chato's correlation with the latent heat of condensation considered. The correlaton showed an average deviation of 13.1% for all pure fluids data indicating an excellent agreement.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.63-92
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• 2011

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a possibility of applying multimethodological approach for solving a dilemma. The motivation of this attempt is that the two different approaches, the system dynamics and the theory of constraints, resemble each other in having mental models for describing the target system and using graphic tools for representing those mental models. After a brief discussion on the comparison of the two approaches, a combined method applying to the problem of dilemma is suggested. For an experimental example, the proposed approach is applied to the sales and finance conflict on an inventory issue. The study shows that the suggested approach is able to complement each other's drawbacks. Especially constructing a stock-and-flow model and implementing a computer simulation would be very useful for quantifying the system's behavior which is hardly tracked down when applying the theory of constraints alone.