• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2017.01a
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• pp.235-238
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• 2017

This study was to develop a portable digital radiography (PDR) system with a function measuring the X-ray source-with-detector angle (SDA) and to evaluate the imaging performance for the diagnosis of chest imaging. The SDA device consisted of an Arduino, an accelerometer and gyro sensor, and a Bluetooth module. According to different angle degrees, five anatomical landmarks on chest images were assessed using a 5-point scale. Mean signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio were 182.47 and 141.43. Spatial resolution (10% MTF) and entrance surface dose were 3.17 lp/mm ($157{\mu}m$) and 0.266mGy. The angle values of SDA device were not significant difference as compared to those of the digital angle meter. In chest imaging, SNR and CNR values were not significantly different according to different angle degrees (repeated-measures ANOVA, p>0.05). The visibility scores of the border of heart, 5th rib and scapula showed significant differences according to different angles (rmANOVA, p<0.05), whereas the scores of the clavicle and 1st rib were not significant. It is noticeable that the increase in SDA degree was consistent with the increase of visibility score. Our PDR with SDA device would be useful to be applicable to clinical radiography setting according to the standard radiography guideline at various fields.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.52.3-52.3
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• 2021

Timing analysis에서 pulsar 또는 magnetar의 pulsation 측정은 background 또는 주변의 다른 source의 영향으로 매우 세밀하게 측정을 진행해야 할 수 있다. 하지만 gamma-ray 영역에서는 instrument의 낮은 imaging resolution으로 인해 likeihood 분석법을 사용하며, pulsation측정의 sensitivity를 향상시키기 위해 weighted H-test를 적용하고 있다. weighted H-test는 Instrument의 responses와 source, background의 radiational properties를 이용하여 각 photon의 probability를 계산하고 이를 weight하여 pulsation detection의 sensitivity를 향상시키는 방법으로 이번 연구를 통해 이를 X-ray에서 적용할 수 있도록 확장하였다. 이번 발표에서는 X-ray 데이터 중 상대적으로 낮은 imaging resolution을 갖는 XMM-Newton data에 weighted H-test를 적용하여 기존의 H-test와의 차이를 비교해보고, weighted H-test가 갖는 이점에 대하여 논의하고자 한다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.10-22
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• 2021

Purpose: To overcome the difficulty in building a large data set with a high-quality in medical imaging, a concept of 'blended-transfer learning' (BTL) using a combination of both source data and target data is proposed for the target task. Materials and Methods: Source and target tasks were defined as training of the source and target networks to reconstruct cardiac CINE images from undersampled data, respectively. In transfer learning (TL), the entire neural network (NN) or some parts of the NN after conducting a source task using an open data set was adopted in the target network as the initial network to improve the learning speed and the performance of the target task. Using BTL, an NN effectively learned the target data while preserving knowledge from the source data to the maximum extent possible. The ratio of the source data to the target data was reduced stepwise from 1 in the initial stage to 0 in the final stage. Results: NN that performed BTL showed an improved performance compared to those that performed TL or standalone learning (SL). Generalization of NN was also better achieved. The learning curve was evaluated using normalized mean square error (NMSE) of reconstructed images for both target data and source data. BTL reduced the learning time by 1.25 to 100 times and provided better image quality. Its NMSE was 3% to 8% lower than with SL. Conclusion: The NN that performed the proposed BTL showed the best performance in terms of learning speed and learning curve. It also showed the highest reconstructed-image quality with the lowest NMSE for the test data set. Thus, BTL is an effective way of learning for NNs in the medical-imaging domain where both quality and quantity of data are always limited.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.537-544
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• 2023

Differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, a central quantitative phase imaging (QPI) technique in cell biology, facilitates label-free, real-time monitoring of intrinsic optical phase variations in biological samples. The existing DPC imaging theory, while important for QPI, is grounded in paraxial diffraction theory. However, this theory lacks accuracy when applied to high numerical aperture (NA) systems that are vital for high-resolution cellular studies. To tackle this limitation, we have, for the first time, formulated a nonparaxial DPC imaging equation with a transmission cross-coefficient (TCC) for high NA DPC microscopy. Our theoretical framework incorporates the apodization of the high NA objective lens, nonparaxial light propagation, and the angular distribution of source intensity or detector sensitivity. Thus, our TCC model deviates significantly from traditional paraxial TCCs, influenced by both NA and the angular variation of illumination or detection. Our nonparaxial imaging theory could enhance phase retrieval accuracy in QPI based on high NA DPC imaging.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2024

Wavefront coding (WFC) imaging systems can redistribute the energy of an interference laser spot on an image plane sensor by wavefront phase modulation and reduce the peak intensity, realizing laser protection while maintaining imaging functionality by leveraging algorithmic post-processing. In this paper, a spiral axicon WFC imaging system is proposed, and the performance for laser protection is investigated by constructing a laser transmission model. An Airy disk on an image plane sensor is refactored into a symmetrical hollow ring by a spiral axicon phase mask, and the maximum intensity can be reduced to lower than 1% and single-pixel power to 1.2%. The spiral axicon phase mask exhibits strong robustness to the position of the interference laser source and can effectively reduce the risk of sensor damage for an almost arbitrary lase propagation distance. Moreover, we revealed that there is a sensor hazard distance for both conventional and WFC imaging systems where the maximum single-pixel power reaches a peak value under irradiation of a power-fixed laser source. Our findings can offer guidance for the anti-laser reinforcement design of photoelectric imaging systems, thereby enhancing the adaptability of imaging systems in a complex laser environment. The laser blinding-resistant imaging system has potential applications in security monitoring, autonomous driving, and intense-laser-pulse experiments.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.112-119
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• 2021

Background: This work aims to develop a new imaging system based on a pulse shape discrimination-capable Cs₂LiYCl₆:Ce (CLYC) scintillation detector combined with the rotational modulation collimator (RMC) technique for dual-particle imaging. Materials and Methods: In this study, a CLYC-based RMC system was designed based on Monte Carlo simulations, and a prototype was fabricated. Therein, a rotation control system was developed to rotate the RMC unit precisely, and a graphical user interface-based software was also developed to operate the data acquisition with RMC rotation. The RMC system was developed to allow combining various types of collimator masks and detectors interchangeably, making the imaging system more versatile for various applications and conditions. Results and Discussion: Operational performance of the fabricated system was studied by checking the accuracy and precision of the collimator rotation and obtaining modulation patterns from a gamma-ray source repeatedly. Conclusion: The prototype RMC system showed reliability in its mechanical properties and reproducibility in the acquisition of modulation patterns, and it will be further investigated for its dual-particle imaging capability with various complex radioactive source conditions.

• Biomedical Engineering Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2018

For prompt gamma ray imaging for biomedical applications and environmental radiation monitoring, we propose herein a multiple-scattering Compton camera (MSCC). MSCC consists of three or more semiconductor layers with good energy resolution, and has potential for simultaneous detection and differentiation of multiple radio-isotopes based on the measured energies, as well as three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the radio-isotope distribution. In this study, we developed an analytic simulator and a 3D image generator for a MSCC, including the physical models of the radiation source emission and detection processes that can be utilized for geometry and performance prediction prior to the construction of a real system. The analytic simulator for a MSCC records coincidence detections of successive interactions in multiple detector layers. In the successive interaction processes, the emission direction of the incident gamma ray, the scattering angle, and the changed traveling path after the Compton scattering interaction in each detector, were determined by a conical surface uniform random number generator (RNG), and by a Klein-Nishina RNG. The 3D image generator has two functions: the recovery of the initial source energy spectrum and the 3D spatial distribution of the source. We evaluated the analytic simulator and image generator with two different energetic point radiation sources (Cs-137 and Co-60) and with an MSCC comprising three detector layers. The recovered initial energies of the incident radiations were well differentiated from the generated MSCC events. Correspondingly, we could obtain a multi-tracer image that combined the two differentiated images. The developed analytic simulator in this study emulated the randomness of the detection process of a multiple-scattering Compton camera, including the inherent degradation factors of the detectors, such as the limited spatial and energy resolutions. The Doppler-broadening effect owing to the momentum distribution of electrons in Compton scattering was not considered in the detection process because most interested isotopes for biomedical and environmental applications have high energies that are less sensitive to Doppler broadening. The analytic simulator and image generator for MSCC can be utilized to determine the optimal geometrical parameters, such as the distances between detectors and detector size, thus affecting the imaging performance of the Compton camera prior to the development of a real system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.321-330
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• 2001

In this paper, we propose a new synthetic aperture focusing scheme for improving the lateral resolution which is one of the most important factors determining the quality of ultrasound imaging. The proposed scheme enables full round-trip dynamic focusing with approximately limited property. This properties are obtained through transmitting plane waves of which the traveling angle varies with the receive subaperture position, as opposed to stepping the spherical wave source across an array in other synthetic aperture focusing schemes, and employing dynamic focusing in receive. In this paper, the properties of the proposed scheme is analyzed in which a hypothetical infinite line source is used to transmit the plane waves and verified through computer simulation results. Also, we show that the proposed scheme is realizable with an array transducer with a finite aperture size. In summary, it is shown through comparison between the field contours of the proposed scheme and the conventional scheme that the proposed scheme can improve greatly the lateral resolution of ultrasound imaging.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.199-207
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• 2021

This paper deals with accurate image reconstruction of gamma camera using a coded-aperture mask based on pixel-type CsI(Tl) scintillator coupled with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) array. Coded-aperture imaging (CAI) system typically has a smaller effective viewing angle than Compton camera. Thus, if the position of the gamma source to be searched is out of the fully-coded field-of-view (FCFOV) region of the CAI system, artifacts can be generated when the image is reconstructed by using the conventional cross-correlation (CC) method. In this work, we propose an effective method for more accurate reconstruction in CAI considering the source distribution of partially-coded field-of-view (PCFOV) in the reconstruction in attempt to overcome this drawback. We employed an iterative algorithm based on compressed-sensing (CS) and compared the reconstruction quality with that of the CC algorithm. Both algorithms were implemented and performed a systematic Monte Carlo simulation to demonstrate the possiblilty of the proposed method. The reconstructed image qualities were quantitatively evaluated in sense of the root mean square error (RMSE) and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). Our simulation results indicate that the proposed method provides more accurate location information of the simulated gamma source than the CC-based method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1947-1954
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• 2021

In the nuclear medicine imaging, quality control (QC) process using quadrant bar phantom is fundamental aspect of evaluating the spatial resolution. In addition, QC process of gamma camera is performed by daily or weekly. Recently, Monte Carlo simulation using the Geant4 application for tomographic emission (GATE) is widely applied in the pre-clinical nuclear medicine field for modeling gamma cameras with pixelated cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor detector. In this study, we modeled a pixelated CdTe semiconductor detector and quadrant bar phantom (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm bar thicknesses) using the GATE tool. Similarity analysis based on correlation coefficients and peak signal-to-noise ratios was performed to compare image qualities for various source to collimator distances (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 cm) and collimator lengths (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 cm). To this end, we selected reference images based on collimator length and source to collimator distance settings. The results demonstrate that as the collimator length increases and the source to collimator distance decreases, the similarity to reference images improves. Therefore, our simulation results represent valuable information for the modeling of CdTe-based semiconductor gamma imaging systems and QC phantoms in the field of nuclear medicine.