• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.751-759
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• 2023

Breast ultrasonography is difficult to image in fatty breasts and to find micro-calcification, but the discovery of micro-calcification is very important for breast cancer screening. Among the color Doppler artifact of ultrasound, twinkle artifact mainly occur on strong reflectors such as stones or calcification in images, and evaluation methods using them are clinically being used. In this study, we are conducting experiments on the color Doppler settings of ultrasound equipment, such as repetition frequency, ensemble, persist, wall filtering, smoothing, linear density, and dissociation value, by producing a breast simulation phantom using the largest amount of calcium phosphate among breast implants. The purpose of this study was to improve the contrast of twinkle artifact in breast ultrasound examinations and to maximize their use in clinical practice. As a result, the pulse repetition frequency occurred in the range of 3.6 kHz to 7.2 kHz, and did not occur above 10.5 kHz. For ensembles, twinkle artifact occurred in all sizes of calcification under low conditions, and in threshold settings, the twinkle artifact increased slightly only under 80 to 100 conditions, and did not occur in 1 mm size calcification. Persist, wall filter, smoothing, and line density settings did not have much meaning in the setting variable because conditions did not increase by condition, and pulse repetition frequency, ensemble, and thresholds had the greatest impact on the twinkling artifact image. This study is expected to help examiners select optimal conditions to effectively increase twinkle artifact by adjusting color Doppler settings.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.161-177
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• 2015

With the rapid evolution of technology, the size, number, and the type of databases has increased concomitantly, so data mining approaches face many challenging applications from databases. One such application is discovery of fraud patterns from agricultural product wholesale transaction instances. The agricultural product wholesale market in Korea is huge, and vast numbers of transactions have been made every day. The demand for agricultural products continues to grow, and the use of electronic auction systems raises the efficiency of operations of wholesale market. Certainly, the number of unusual transactions is also assumed to be increased in proportion to the trading amount, where an unusual transaction is often the first sign of fraud. However, it is very difficult to identify and detect these transactions and the corresponding fraud occurred in agricultural product wholesale market because the types of fraud are more intelligent than ever before. The fraud can be detected by verifying the overall transaction records manually, but it requires significant amount of human resources, and ultimately is not a practical approach. Frauds also can be revealed by victim's report or complaint. But there are usually no victims in the agricultural product wholesale frauds because they are committed by collusion of an auction company and an intermediary wholesaler. Nevertheless, it is required to monitor transaction records continuously and to make an effort to prevent any fraud, because the fraud not only disturbs the fair trade order of the market but also reduces the credibility of the market rapidly. Applying data mining to such an environment is very useful since it can discover unknown fraud patterns or features from a large volume of transaction data properly. The objective of this research is to empirically investigate the factors necessary to detect fraud transactions in an agricultural product wholesale market by developing a data mining based fraud detection model. One of major frauds is the phantom transaction, which is a colluding transaction by the seller(auction company or forwarder) and buyer(intermediary wholesaler) to commit the fraud transaction. They pretend to fulfill the transaction by recording false data in the online transaction processing system without actually selling products, and the seller receives money from the buyer. This leads to the overstatement of sales performance and illegal money transfers, which reduces the credibility of market. This paper reviews the environment of wholesale market such as types of transactions, roles of participants of the market, and various types and characteristics of frauds, and introduces the whole process of developing the phantom transaction detection model. The process consists of the following 4 modules: (1) Data cleaning and standardization (2) Statistical data analysis such as distribution and correlation analysis, (3) Construction of classification model using decision-tree induction approach, (4) Verification of the model in terms of hit ratio. We collected real data from 6 associations of agricultural producers in metropolitan markets. Final model with a decision-tree induction approach revealed that monthly average trading price of item offered by forwarders is a key variable in detecting the phantom transaction. The verification procedure also confirmed the suitability of the results. However, even though the performance of the results of this research is satisfactory, sensitive issues are still remained for improving classification accuracy and conciseness of rules. One such issue is the robustness of data mining model. Data mining is very much data-oriented, so data mining models tend to be very sensitive to changes of data or situations. Thus, it is evident that this non-robustness of data mining model requires continuous remodeling as data or situation changes. We hope that this paper suggest valuable guideline to organizations and companies that consider introducing or constructing a fraud detection model in the future.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2008

Setting parameters of Ultrasonic scanners influence the quality of ultrasonic images. In order to obtain optimized images sonographers need to understand the effects of the setting parameters on ultrasonic images. The present study considered typical four parameters including TGC (Time Gain Control), Gain, Frequency, DR (Dynamic Range). LCS (low contrast sensitivity) was chosen to quantitatively compare the quality of the images. In the present experiment LCS targets of a standard ultrasonic test phantom (539, ATS, USA) were imaged using a clinical ultrasonic scanner (SA-9000 PRIME, Medison, Korea). Altering the settings in the parameters of the ultrasonic scanner, 6 LCS target images (+15 dB, +6 dB, +3 dB, -3 dB, -6 dB, -15 dB) to each setting were obtained, and their LCS values were calculated. The results show that the mean pixel value (LCS) is the highest at the max setting in TGC, mid to max in gain and pen mode in frequency and 40-66 dB in DR. Among all images, the image being the highest in LCS was obtained at the setting of DR 40 dB. It is expected that the results will be of use in setting the parameters when ultrasonically examining masses often clinically found In either solid lesions (similar to +15, +6, +3 dB targets) or cystic lesions (similar to -15, -6, -3 dB targets).

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

Purpose : If electron, chosen for superficial oncotherapy, was applied with bolus, it could work as an important factor to a therapy result by showing a drastic change in surface dose. Hence the calculation value and the actual measurement value of surface dose of Treatment Planning System (TPS) according to four variables influencing surface dose when using bolus on an electron therapy were compared and analyzed in this paper. Materials and Methods : Four variables which frequently occur during the actual therapies (A: bolus thickness - 3, 5, 10 mm, B: field size - $6{\time}6$, $10{\time}10$, $15{\time}15cm2$, C: energy - 6, 9, 12 MeV, D: gantry angle - $0^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$) were set to compare the actual measurement value with TPS(Pinnacle 9.2, philips, USA). A computed tomography (lightspeed ultra 16, General Electric, USA) was performed using 16 cm-thick solid water phantom without bolus and total 54 beams where A, B, C, and D were combined after creating 3, 5 and 10 mm bolus on TPS were planned for a therapy. At this moment SSD 100 cm, 300 MU was investigated and measured twice repeatedly by placing it on iso-center by using EBT3 film(International Specialty Products, NJ, USA) to compare and analyze the actual measurement value and TPS. Measured film was analyzed with each average value and standard deviation value using digital flat bed scanner (Expression 10000XL, EPSON, USA) and dose density analyzing system (Complete Version 6.1, RIT, USA). Results : For the values according to the thickness of bolus, the actual measured values for 3, 5 and 10 mm were 101.41%, 99.58% and 101.28% higher respectively than the calculation values of TPS and the standard deviations were 0.0219, 0.0115 and 0.0190 respectively. The actual values according to the field size were $6{\time}6$, $10{\time}10$ and $15{\time}15cm2$ which were 99.63%, 101.40% and 101.24% higher respectively than the calculation values and the standard deviations were 0.0138, 0.0176 and 0.0220. The values according to energy were 6, 9, and 12 MeV which were 99.72%, 100.60% and 101.96% higher respectively and the standard deviations were 0.0200, 0.0160 and 0.0164. The actual measurement value according to beam angle were measured 100.45% and 101.07% higher at $0^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ respectively and standard deviations were 0.0199 and 0.0190 so they were measured 0.62% higher at $15^{\circ}$ than $0^{\circ}$. Conclusion : As a result of analyzing the calculation value of TPS and measurement value according to the used variables in this paper, the values calculated with TPS on 5 mm bolus, $6{\time}6cm2$ field size and low-energy electron at $0^{\circ}$ gantry angle were closer to the measured values, however, it showed a modest difference within the error bound of maximum 2%. If it was beyond the bounds of variables selected in this paper using electron and bolus simultaneously, the actual measurement value could differ from TPS according to each variable, therefore QA for the accurate surface dose would have to be performed.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2019

Purpose: Recently, A Catcher was added to prevent sagging in Radixact^® X9. In this study, We quantitatively compared general couch of Tomo-HDA^® with catcher couch of Radixact^® X9 using the human phantom and evaluated usefulness of catcher. Materials and methods: We used rando phantom for phantom study and set the each iso-center of head and neck region and Pelvis region for region parameter. Furthermore, We used hand made low melting point alloys for weight parameter. MVCT(Mega Voltage Computed Tomography) images were acquired for vertical error and rotation(pitch) error measurement increasing weight(A: 15kg, A+B: 30kg, A+B+C: 45kg). We selected 120 patients who has been treated using Tomotherpy machine for patient study. 60 patients has been treated in Tomo-HDA^® and the other 60 patients treated in Radixact^® X9. In the patient study methods, vertical error and rotation(pitch) error was measured for mean value calculation using MVCT images acquired on first day of radiation therapy. Result: Result of phantom study, Vertical error and rotation(pitch) error was increased proportionally increased as the weight increases in general couch of Tomo-HDA^®. each maximum value was 7.52mm, 0.38° in head and neck region and 11.94mm, 0.92° in pelvis region. However, We could confirm that there was stable error range(0.02~0.1mm, 0~0.04°) in Catcher couch of Radixact^®. Result of patient study, The head and neck region was measured 4.79mm 0.33° lower, and the pelvis region was measured 7.66mm, 0.22° lower in Catcher couch of Radixact^® X9. Conclusion: In this study, Vertical error and rotation(pitch) error was proportionally increased as the weight increases in general couch of Tomo-HDA^®. Especially, The pelvis region error was more increased than the head and neck region error. However, Vertical error and rotation(pitch) error was regularly generated regardless of weight or regions in Catcher^TM couch of Radixact^® X9 that this study's purpose. In conclusion, Catcher^TM couch of Radixact^® X9 can minimize mechanical error that couch sagging. Furthermore, The pelvis region is more efficiency than head and neck region. In radiation therapy using Tomotherapy machine, it is regarded that may contribute to minimizing unadjusted pitch error due to characters of Tomotherapy.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of an iterative reconstruction algorithm and an automatic exposure control (AEC) technique on image quality and radiation dose through phantom experiments with coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols. We scanned the AAPM CT performance phantom using 320 multi-detector-row CT. At the tube voltages of 80, 100, and 120 kVp, the scanning was repeated with two settings of the AEC technique, i.e., with the target standard deviations (SD) values of 33 (the higher tube current) and 44 (the lower tube current). The scanned projection data were reconstructed also in two ways, with the filtered back projection (FBP) and with the iterative reconstruction technique (AIDR-3D). The image quality was evaluated quantitatively with the noise standard deviation, modulation transfer function, and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). More specifically, we analyzed the influences of selection of a tube voltage and a reconstruction algorithm on tube current modulation and consequently on radiation dose. Reduction of image noise by the iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with the FBP was revealed eminently, especially with the lower tube current protocols, i.e., it was decreased by 46% and 38%, when the AEC was established with the lower dose (the target SD=44) and the higher dose (the target SD=33), respectively. As a side effect of iterative reconstruction, the spatial resolution was decreased by a degree that could not mar the remarkable gains in terms of noise reduction. Consequently, if coronary CT angiogprahy is scanned and reconstructed using both the automatic exposure control and iterative reconstruction techniques, it is anticipated that, in comparison with a conventional acquisition method, image noise can be reduced significantly with slight decrease in spatial resolution, implying clinical advantages of radiation dose reduction, still being faithful to the ALARA principle.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.94-97
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• 2014

Purpose: Standardized uptake value (SUV) is a simple semi-quantitative method that can measure the ratio of the tissue radioactivity between the tumor and normal. SUV is commonly used in PET/CT, however, SUV is affected by various factor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the residual activity on SUV depending on the location of catheter insertion device post injection. Materials and Methods: NEMA IEC Body Phantom was imaged using a Discovery 600 PET scanner. In 22 mm diameter sphere, the different activity of $^{18}F-FDG$ (7.4, 14.8, 22.2, 29.6, 37, 55.5 MBq) was filled and background was filled with $^{18}F-FDG$ (5.7 kBq/mL). We scaned the phantom on the assumption that the radioactivity in sphere was residual activity in insertion device. Simulation of PET was divided into three groups based on the location of sphere in Scan FOV (SFOV); inclusion, 1/2 inclusion and exclusion group. Results: Among three groups, the group of excluded sphere showed the highest SUV regardless of the amount of $^{18}F-FDG$ activity. In case of 7.4 MBq, average SUV of inclusion group, 1/2 inclusion and exclusion group was 0.780, 0.840 and 0.896 respectively. However, average SUV of 55.5 MBq showed 0.372, 0.460 and 0.508 with same order. Depend on residual radioactivity in the sphere and position of sphere, the SUV was different minimum of 10.4%, maximum of 62.8%. Conclusion: This study showed that SUV is underestimated as the residual radio-activity is increased. In addition, SUV was a changed according to the position of residual radio-activity. And among the position, exclusion group showed the difference of SUV was lowest. If we measure the residual radio-activity of inserting devices and radio-activity from extra-vasation in the patients, it seems to be more useful in clinical field.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to establish a new QC method that can simultaneously evaluate the resolution of the x/y plane and the z-axis by producing a phantom that can reflect exposure and reconstruction parameter of MDCT system. It was used with Aquilion ONE(Cannon Medical System, Otawara, Japan), and the examination was scanned using of 120 kV, 260 mA, and the D-FOV of 300 mm². It produced new SSP phantom modules in which two aluminum plates inclined at 45° to a vertical axis and a transverse axis to evaluate high contrast resolution of x/y plane and z axis. And it changed factors such as the algorithm, distance from gantry iso-center. All images were reconstructed in five steps from 0.6 mm to 10.0 mm slice thickness to measure resolution of x/y plane and z-axis. The image data measured FWHM and FWTM using Profile tool of Aquarius iNtusion Edition ver. 4.4.13 P6 software(Terarecon, California, USA), and analysed SPQI and signal intensity by ImageJ program(v1.53n, National Institutes of Health, USA). It decreased by 4.09~11.99%, 4.12~35.52%, and 4.70~37.64% in slice thickness of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm for evaluating the high contrast resolution of x/y plane according to distance from gantry iso-center. Therefore, the high contrast resolution of the x/y plane decreased when the distance from the iso-center increased or the slice thickness increased. Additionally, the slice thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm with a high algorithm increased 74.83, 15.18 and 81.25%. The FWHM was almost constant on the measured SSP graph for evaluating the accuracy of slice thickness which represents the resolution of x/y plane and z-axis, but it was measured to be higher than the nominal slice thickness set by user. The FWHM and FWTM of z-axis with axial scan mode tended to increase significantly as the distance increased from gantry iso-center than the helical mode. Particularly, the thinner slice thickness that increased error range compare with the nominal slice thickness. The SPQI increased with thick slice thickness, and that was closer to 90% in the helical scan than the axial scan. In conclusion, by producing a phantom suitable for MDCT detectors and capable of quantitative resolution evaluation, it can be used as a specific method in the management of research quality and management of outdated equipment. Thus, it is expected to contribute greatly to the discrimination of lesions in the field of CT imaging.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.25-33
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of the Trigger mode for the Respiratory Gated Radiation Therapy (RGRT) Materials and methods : A QUASAR respiratory phantom that inserted a 3 mm fiducial marker (a gold marker) was used to estimate the accuracy of the Trigger mode. And the 20 bpm was used as reference respiration rate in this study. The marker that placed at the center of the phantom was contoured, and the lower threshold of a gating window was fixed at 2.0 mm using an OBI with Truebeam STx^TM. The upper threshold was measured every 0.5 mm from 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. The respiration rates were changed every 10 bpm from 10 bpm to 60 bpm. We repeatedly measured five times to check the error rate of the trigger mode in the same condition. Result : The differences of a distance from a peak phase to upper threshold, 1.0 to 3.0 mm at a 20 bpm as a reference for 3 days in a row were 0.68±0.05 mm, 0.91±0.03 mm, 1.23±0.03 mm, 1.42±0.04 mm, and 1.66±0.06 mm, respectively. Measurement result of changes in respiratory rate compared to baseline respiratory rate in maximum absolute difference. The coefficient of determination (R2) to estimate the correlation between the respiration velocity and variation of absolute difference was on average 0.838, 0.887, 0.770, 0.850, and 0.906. The p-values of all the variables were below 0.05. Conclusion : Using Trigger mode during respiratory gated radiation therapy (RGRT), accuracy and usefulness of trigger mode at reference breathing rate were confirmed. However, inaccuracies depending on the rate of breathing it could be uncertain in case of respiration rate is faster than 20 bpm as a standard respiration rate compared to slower than 20 bpm. Consequently, when conducting a RGRT using the trigger mode, real time monitoring is required with well educated respiration.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 1989

Several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms were studied to measure electron beams. Silicon Pmt junction diode was used to find the dependence of depth dose profile on field size on axis of electron beam Depths of 50, 80 and $90\%$ doses increased with the field size for small fields. For some larger fields, they were nearly constant. The smallest of field sizes over which the parameters were constant was enlarged with increase of the energy of electron beams. Depth dose distributions on axis of electron beam of $10\times10cm^2$ field were studied with several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms. Cylindrical ion chamber could not be used for measurement of surface dose, and was not convenient for measurement of near surface region of 6MeV electron. With some exceptions, parameters agreed well with those studied by different devices and phantoms. Surface dose in some energies showed $4\%$ difference between maximum and minimum. For 18MeV, depths of 80 and $90\%$ doses were considerably shallower by film than by others. Parallel-plate ion chamber with polystyrene phamtom and silicon PN junction would be recommended for measurement of central axis depth dose of electron beams with considerably large field size. It is desirable not to use cylindrical ion chamber for the purpose of measurement of surface dose or near surface region for lower energy electron beam. It is questionable that film would be recommended for measurement of dose distribution of electron with high energy like as 18MeV.