• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.206-211
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• 2010

In this paper, an implantable planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for an artificial cardiac pacemaker is proposed. The antenna has a simple structure with a low profile and is placed on the top side of the pacemaker. The dimensions of the pacemaker system, including the antenna element, are $42{\times}43.6{\times}11$ mm. When the antenna is embedded in pig tissue, its $S_{11}$ value is -10.94 dB at 403 MHz and the -10 dB impedance bandwidth of the antenna is 6 MHz (399~406 MHz). The proposed PIFA in tissue has a peak gain of -20.19 dBi and a radiation efficiency of 1.12 % at 403 MHz. When the proposed antenna is placed in a flat phantom, its specific absorption ratio (SAR) value is 0.038 W/kg (1 g tissue). Performances of the proposed PIFA is sufficient to operate at the MICS band (402 ~ 405 MHz).

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.213-219
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• 2012

Recently, we are simultaneously exposed by various electromagnetic sources due to an increase of mobile communication services. However, EMF(Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Field) study has been performed mainly about only single frequency. The objective of this paper is to develop an multiple-frequency exposure system for in vitro experiment. The exposure unit for in vitro experiments was designed by radial transmission line type to get broadband characteristics to generate signals of CDMA at 836.5 MHz and WCDMA at 1950 MHz frequency simultaneously. The modulated signals were delivered to the conical antenna through amplifier, digital attenuator and RF combiner. SAR values were obtained by the averaged values of 3 measured values at 9 points in petri dish using the fiber optic temperature probe. The measured return loss was under -15 dB. For 1 W input power, the mean value and standard deviation of SAR were $0.105{\pm}0.019$ for the CDMA frequency and $0.262{\pm}0.055$ for the WCDMA frequency.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.460-467
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• 2016

Magnetic hyperthermia mediated by superparamagnetic particles is mainly based in sinusoidal waveforms as excitation signals. Temperature changes are conventionally explained by rotation of the particles in the surrounding medium. This is a hypothesis quite questionable since habitual experimental setups only produce changes in the magnetic module, not in the field lines trajectories. Theoretical results were tested by changing the waveform of the exciting signal in order to compare non-sinusoidal signals against sinusoidal signals. Experiments were done at different frequencies: 200 KHz, 400 KHz, 600 KHz, 800 KHz and 1 MHz. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide samples (SPION), made of magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) and suspended in water (100 mg/ml), were used. Magnetic field strength varies from $0.1{\pm}0.015KA/m$ to $0.6{\pm}0.015KA/m$. In this study was observed that the power loss depends on the applied frequency: for 1 to 2.5 RMS current the responses for each signal are part of the higher section of the exponential function, and for 3.5 to 8 RMS current the response is clearly the decrement exponential function's tale (under $1{\times}10^3LER/gr$).

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.38B no.9
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• pp.744-750
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• 2013

In this paper, we proposed new type of an artificial magnetic conductor(AMC) structure, which has a high impedance surface for realizing the meta-material characteristics. The designed AMC structure set a goal of 3.2GHz, and the reflector, which consists of periodically arrayed AMCs is fabricated and measured. The high impedance improves the reflection coefficient, decreases the system size and interference, and increases the antenna performance. The structure has embodied the high impedance by the thickness and relative permitivity of the dielectric substrate and the design configuration without the metallic via hole which connects the AMC to the GND. The bandwidth is 150% broader than the similar AMC structures. Also, the distance between the antenna and the AMC reflector is decreased by ${\lambda}/10$ as working as the metal(PEC) reflectors. The antenna radiation characteristics are 3dB increased at 10mm away from reflector by measurement. The proposed reflector could be inserted in the portable mobile devices, and the antenna's performance has improved by the reflector. The specific absorption rate is dramatically decreased over 94% because the back radiation of the antenna is shielded.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2010

Increased exposure of human to RF fields has raised concerns for its potential adverse effects on our health. To address the biological effects of RF radiation, we used genome wide gene expression as the indicator. We exposed normal WI-38 human fibroblast cells to 1763 MHz mobile phone RF radiation at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 60 W/kg with an operating cooling system for 24 h. There were no alterations in cell numbers or morphology after RF exposure. Through microarray analysis, we identified no differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the 0.05 significance level after controlling for multiple testing errors with the Benjaminiochberg false discovery rate (BH FDR) method. Meanwhile, 82 genes were differentially expressed between RF-exposed cells and controls when the significance level was set at 0.01 without correction for multiple comparisons. We found that 24 genes (0.08% of the total genes examined) were changed by more than 1.5-fold on RF exposure. However, significant enrichment of any gene set or pathway was not observed from the functional annotation analysis. From these results, we did not find any evidence that non-thermal RF radiation at a 60-W/kg SAR significantly affects cell proliferation or gene expression in WI-38 cells.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Purpose : This study presents the optimization of flip angle (FA) to obtain higher contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and lower specific absorption rate (SAR). Materials and Method : T1-weighted images of the cerebrum of brain were obtained from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ FA with 10$^\circ$ interval. Signal to noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated for white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and background noise. The proper FA was analyzed by T-test statistics and Kruskal-wallis analysis using R1 = 1- exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$) and Ernst angle cos $\theta$ = exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$). Results : The SNR of WM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.6 times higher than the SNR of WM at 50$^\circ$. The SNR of GM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.9 times higher than the SNR of GM at 50$^\circ$. Although the SNRs of WM and GM showed similar trends with the change of FA values, the slowdown point of decrease after linear fitting were different. While the SNR of WM started decreasing at 120$^\circ$ FA, the SNR of GM started decreasing at less than 110$^\circ$. The highest SNRs of WM and GM were obtained at 130$^\circ$ FA. The highest CNRs, however, were obtained at 80$^\circ$ FA. Conclusion : Although SNR increased with the change of FA values from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ at 3T SE T1WI, CNR was higher at 80$^\circ$ FA than at the usually used 90$^\circ$ FA. In addition, the SAR was decreased by using smaller FA. The CNR can be increased by using this optimized FA at 3T MR SE T1WI.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 1990

Spiral microwave antennas have been developed and measured the thermal distribution in agar phantom. The design has been configured in three types, 3 cm $\phi$ applicator with 24.5 cm length (A type),4 cm $\phi$ with 12.2 cm (B type) and 6 cm $\phi$ with 24.5 cm length (C type). The relative specific absorption rate (SAR) measured in phantom have been used to estimate the depth and profile of effective heating. The applicator of copper antenna with 4 cm $\phi$ diameter and 12.2 cm length (B type) has the most homogeneous (FWHM=3.5 cm) and heating into deep site ($D_{eff}=4\;cm$).

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2010

Radiofrequency (RF) radiation might induce the transcription of a certain set of genes as other physical stresses like ionizing radiation and UV. To observe transcriptional changes upon RF radiation, we exposed WI-38, human lung fibroblast cell to 1763 MHz of mobile phone RF radiation at 60 W/kg of specific absorption rate (SAR) for 24h with or without heat control. There were no significant changes in cell numbers and morphology after exposure to RF radiation. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we checked the expression of three heat shock protein (HSP) (HSPA1A, HSPA6 and HSP105) and seven stress-related genes (TNFRSF11B, FGF2, TGFB2, ITGA2, BRIP1, EXO1, and MCM10) in RF only and RF/HS groups of RF-exposed cells. The expressions of three heat shock proteins and seven stress-related genes were selectively changed only in RF/HS groups. Based on the expression of ten genes, we could classify thermal and non-thermal effect of RF-exposure, which genes can be used as biomarkers for RF radiation exposure.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2011

In u-healthcare services based on wireless body sensor networks, reliable connection is very important as many types of information, including vital signals, are transmitted through the networks. The transmit power requirements are very stringent in the case of in-body networks for implant communication. Furthermore, the wireless link in an in-body environment has a high degree of path loss (e.g., the path loss exponent is around 6.2 for deep tissue). Because of such inherently bad settings of the communication nodes, a multi-hop network topology is preferred in order to meet the transmit power requirements and to increase the battery lifetime of sensor nodes. This will ensure that the live body of a patient receiving the healthcare service has a reduced level of specific absorption ratio (SAR) when exposed to long-lasting radiation. We propose an efficientmethod for delivering delay-intolerant data packets over multiple hops. We consider forward error correction (FEC) in an erasure correction mode and develop a mathematical formulation for packet-level scheduling of delay-intolerant FEC packets over multiple hops. The proposed method can be used as a simple guideline for applications to setting up a topology for a medical body sensor network of each individual patient, which is connected to a remote server for u-healthcare service applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.471-473
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• 2002

Public concerns associated with the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures from mobile phones on human body are increased. Although studies on the effects of the EMF exposures on human have been carried out for a long time, it is not proved yet whether the EMF effect is harmful or not. Based on the scientific results by experts, EMF exposure limits have been regulated as a precautionary approach on the assumption that the EMF effect may be harmful. It is well known that absorbed EMF can be transformed into heat within biological tissues and that thermal effects are related with the specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution. However, the relative magnitude and distribution of the energies are not well defined. Although there is comprehensive information of the thermal effects, most of them come from animal and in vitro studies. Considerable efforts have been made to analyze the EMF absorption model while the actual temperature in the human body has been rarely measured. Temperature changes on the face of a healthy male volunteer were studied. A digital mobile phone of 1.8GHz was used. A digital infrared imaging system (IRIS-5000, Medicore, Seoul, Korea) was applied to take infrared pictures of the face every minute while the volunteer talked over the mobile phone for 20 minutes. The specification of the imaging system was as follows: Temperature resolution = 0.1$^{\circ}C$; Range of temperature measurement = 17～40$^{\circ}C$; Pixel size = 0.9mm ${\times}$ 0.9mm; Frame time = 2.6s; Active temperature of detector = 77$^{\circ}$K. The result showed that temperature of the ear region was increased during the phone call and the region of the temperature increase on the face was expanded as the phone call time increased. Further study is necessary to investigate the temperature rise analytically and quantitatively.