• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Purpose : $T_2{^*}$ relaxation time which includes susceptibility information represents unique feature of tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate $T_2{^*}$ relaxation times of the normal glandular tissue and fat of breast using a 3T MRI system. Materials and Methods: Seven-echo MR Images were acquired from 52 female subjects (age $49{\pm}12 $years; range, 25 to 75) using a three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence. Echo times were between 2.28 ms to 25.72 ms in 3.91 ms steps. Voxel-based $T_2{^*}$ relaxation times and $R_2{^*}$ relaxation rate maps were calculated by using the linear curve fitting for each subject. The 3D regions-of-interest (ROI) of the normal glandular tissue and fat were drawn on the longest echo-time image to obtain $T_2{^*}$ and $R_2{^*}$ values. Mean values of those parameters were calculated over all subjects. Results: The 3D ROI sizes were $4818{\pm}4679$ voxels and $1455{\pm}785$ voxels for the normal glandular tissue and fat, respectively. The mean $T_2{^*}$ values were $22.40{\pm}5.61ms$ and $36.36{\pm}8.77ms$ for normal glandular tissue and fat, respectively. The mean $R_2{^*}$ values were $0.0524{\pm}0.0134/ms$ and $0.0297{\pm}0.0069/ms$ for the normal glandular tissue and fat, respectively. Conclusion: $T_2{^*}$ and $R_2{^*}$ values were measured from human breast tissues. $T_2{^*}$ of the normal glandular tissue was shorter than that of fat. Measurement of $T_2{^*}$ relaxation time could be important to understand susceptibility effects in the breast cancer and the normal tissue.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.429-439
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• 2013

This study was conducted to identify the relationship between environmental factors and algal bloom, and provide information for efficient management based on the results of monitoring the environmental parameters and algal diversity in the Jundai reservoir from March 2011 to October 2013. Little change in the weather conditions was observed during the study period except for a slight decrease in rainfall. Concentration of TN and TP in the reservoir exceeded water quality standards for agriculture and significant correlation between algal growth and environmental factors was observed. Phytoplankton in Jundai reservoir included 6 classes, 40 genus, 62 species, and the phytoplankton abundance was in the range of $1.3{\times}10^4{\sim}2.8{\times}10^6$ cells $mL^{-1}$. The annual average of phytoplankton abundance and Chl-a gradually decreased as TN and TP concentrations decreased. Overall Anabaena sp., Oscillatoria sp., and Microcystis sp. were the dominant species in Jundai reservoir. As the water temperature increased, the dominant species were Anabaena sp., Microcystis sp. and Oscillatoria sp., in that order. Anabaena sp. was dominant from spring to early summer with increase in water temperature and pollutant concentrations, and high correlation with environmental factors was observed. Microcystis sp. was dominant depending on changes in the nutrient levels. In the case of Oscillatoria sp., there was no significant correlation between phytoplankton biomess and Chl-a. However, efficient management of water environment and practical control of algal bloom in small scale reservoir polluted by livestock and farm irrigation should be achieved by identification of the relationship between algal growth and environmental factors.