• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2011

Dynamic range on the digital detector can be a representation to the ratio of maximum and minimum of pixel value. Wide dynamic range and post processing ability of the digital detector made difficult to recognize visually to high or low dose images. We were evaluated a change of mean pixel value on the original and processed image, when we controlled the kVp, mA, exposure time on the digital detector. On the kVp of a constant condition, we were acquired an original and processed image by changes of mA, exposure time. According to the thickness of the subject under the same conditions, to determine a relation of pixel value and X-ray intensity, we used an aluminum step wedge. When mA and exposure times were changed under the kVp of a constant condition, the X-ray intensity was decreased by the reduction of the mean pixel value. In addition when kVp was increased in a constant condition of mAs, the mean pixel value was increased according to the increment of the X-ray intensity. Therefore, low kVp, high mA and short exposure time were a way to reduce a patient dose.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2013

Objectives: Aluminum step wedge (ASW) equivalent radiodensity (eRD) has been used to quantify restorative material's radiodensity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of image acquisition control (IAC) of a digital X-ray system on the radiodensity quantification under different exposure time settings. Materials and Methods: Three 1-mm thick restorative material samples with various opacities were prepared. Samples were radiographed alongside an ASW using one of three digital radiographic modes (linear mapping (L), nonlinear mapping (N), and nonlinear mapping and automatic exposure control activated (E)) under 3 exposure time settings (underexposure, normal-exposure, and overexposure). The ASW eRD of restorative materials, attenuation coefficients and contrasts of ASW, and the correlation coefficient of linear relationship between logarithms of gray-scale value and thicknesses of ASW were compared under 9 conditions. Results: The ASW eRD measurements of restorative materials by three digital radiographic modes were statistically different (p = 0.049) but clinically similar. The relationship between logarithms of background corrected grey scale value and thickness of ASW was highly linear but attenuation coefficients and contrasts varied significantly among 3 radiographic modes. Varying exposure times did not affect ASW eRD significantly. Conclusions: Even though different digital radiographic modes induced large variation on attenuation of coefficient and contrast of ASW, E mode improved diagnostic quality of the image significantly under the underexposure condition by improving contrasts, while maintaining ASW eRDs of restorative materials similar. Under the condition of this study, underexposure time may be acceptable clinically with digital X-ray system using automatic gain control that reduces radiation exposure for patient.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.188-197
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare radiopacity and radiographic discriminability of various FRC-Posts. Six FRC-Posts were investigated ; 1) FRC Postec Plus (Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein), 2) Snowlight (Carbotech, Lewis center, OH, USA), 3) Dentin Post (Komet Brasseler, Lamgo, Germany), 4) Rely-X Fiber Post (3M ESPE, St.paul, MN, USA), 5) D.T.-Light Post (BISCO, Schaumburg, IL,USA), 6) Luxapost (DMG, Hamburg, Germany) The radiographs of each post with a reference 1 mm / 2 mm aluminum step-wedge was taken using digital sensor. The optical density were calculated by gray value of $10{\times}10$ pixel and compared in mm Al equivalent at five points. Six maxillary incisors of similar radiopacity were used. Radiographs of posts in Mx. incisors of lingual side of dry mandible were taken. We showed radiographs and asked the questionnaire to 3 radiologists, 3 endodontists, 3 general practitioners. The questionnaire was comprised of choices of the highest, lowest radiopaque individual post and the choices of best discriminable post at apical, coronal area. The following results were obtained. 1. Each post system showed various radiopacity. 2. There was change of discriminability between each post and simulated specimens regardless of examiner. Although each post showed various radiopacity, the difference of radiopacity did not affect on discriminability.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.423-431
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to present objective information in applying 3D printing technology for PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) performance evaluation and use it as a basic research that can be applied to various purposes in the future. Phantoms were manufactured with step wedge of ABS(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and ACR(Acrylic acid) material. The counts for each ROI(Region of Interest) were analyzed through image acquisition in PET/CT. And the variation rate of counts and CNR(Contrast Noise Ratio) was evaluated. In the counts analysis, the effect of thickness occurred. In addition, in the variation rate analysis, the thickness setting of steps wedge 4 to 5 levels should be considered first. These results minimize quantitative and qualitative changes in the phantom manufactured based on 3D printing, and enable more stable PET/CT performance evaluation. Based on 3D printing in PET/CT, various phantoms are expected to be produced in the future. If the characteristics of each material are considered and applied through the basic research such as this research, the result of the phantom manufactured through 3D printing can be more meaningful and will be used in a wide range.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2000

Purpose : The effects of step numbers of copper wedge and exposure on the coefficient of determination (r²) of the conversion equation to Cu-equivalent image and on the Cu-equivalent value (mmCu) and it's coefficient of variation measured at each copper step and the mandibular premolar area were evaluated. Method: Digital image analyzing system consisted of scanner, personal computer, and a stepwedge with 10 steps of 0.03 mm copper in thickness as reference material was prepared for quantitative assessment of the bone mineral density. NIH image program was used for analyzing images. Results : The film having moderately high film density showed the discrepancy between the real thickness and the measured Cu-equivalent value of each copper step. The Cu-equivalent image was dependent on the determinational coefficient of the conversion equation than the coefficient of variance of the measured value. Conclusion : Obtaining conversion equation with high coefficient of determination and proper film exposure are supposed to be neccessary for quantitative assessment of bone density. Multiple steps in the range of the corresponding copper thickness to the bone density of the area to be measured should be prepared.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2007

The spermiogenesis of Crocidura shantungensis were studied by electron microscope. All process of spermiogenesis was divided into 11 phases 15 steps, based on the morphological features of the nucleus and cell organelles in cytoplasm of spermatids. The spermatids in Golgi and cap phases were a spherical shape. On the other hand, at the early acrosomal phase they changed into an oval shape, and the tail was created in this phase. In maturation phase, the shapes of spermatid head were thin and longish. Until step 7 the direction of spermatids head turned toward the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. From step 8 to step 15 their heads turned toward the basal lamina. In step 12, the nucleus and acrosome shown maximal elongation. From Step 13 the nucleus of spermatids became flat, simultaneously with flat expansion of the acrosome expanded, and the visible whole lengths of spermatids were tend to be shorten. Spermatid heading which arrived to step 14 was taken the final shape. The nucleus was doing the wedge shape, and the nuclear chromatins condensed completely and homogenized. In the spermiation phase, the spermatids were gradually disconnected from the cytoplasm of the Sertoli cell. In this phase, the acrosome of the spermatids were fully shorten and flat, and the spermatozoa completed the process of heading and the tailing. Considering all the results, the spermiogenesis may be useful information to analyze the differentiation of spermatogenic cells.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2018

Purpose: This study evaluated the radiopacity of contemporary luting cements using conventional and digital radiography. Materials and Methods: Disc specimens (N=24, n=6 per group, ø$7mm{\times}1mm$) were prepared using 4 resin-based luting cements (Duolink, Multilink N, Panavia F 2.0, and U-cem). The specimens were radiographed using films, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and a photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP) with a 10-step aluminum step wedge (1 mm incremental steps) and a 1-mm-thick tooth cut. The settings were 70 kVp, 4 mA, and 30 cm, with an exposure time of 0.2 s for the films and 0.1 s for the CMOS sensor and PSP. The films were scanned using a scanner. The radiopacity of the luting cements and tooth was measured using a densitometer for the film and NIH ImageJ software for the images obtained from the CMOS sensor, PSP, and scanned films. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Multilink (3.44-4.33) showed the highest radiopacity, followed by U-cem (1.81-2.88), Panavia F 2.0 (1.51-2.69), and Duolink (1.48-2.59). The $R^2$ values of the optical density of the aluminum step wedge were 0.9923 for the films, 0.9989 for the PSP, 0.9986 for the scanned films, and 0.9266 for the CMOS sensor in the linear regression models. Conclusion: The radiopacities of the luting materials were greater than those of aluminum or dentin at the same thickness. PSP is recommended as a detector for radiopacity measurements because of its accuracy and convenience.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2012

Purpose: ANSI/ADA has established standards for adequate radiopacity. This study was aimed to assess the changes in radiopacity of composite resins according to various tube-target distances and exposure times. Materials and Methods: Five 1-mm thick samples of Filtek P60 and Clearfil composite resins were prepared and exposed with six tube-target distance/exposure time setups (i.e., 40 cm, 0.2 seconds; 30 cm, 0.2 seconds; 30 cm, 0.16 seconds, 30 cm, 0.12 seconds; 15 cm, 0.2 seconds; 15 cm, 0.12 seconds) performing at 70 kVp and 7 mA along with a 12-step aluminum stepwedge (1 mm incremental steps) using a PSP digital sensor. Thereafter, the radiopacities measured with Digora for Windows software 2.5 were converted to absorbencies (i.e., A=-log (1-G/255)), where A is the absorbency and G is the measured gray scale). Furthermore, the linear regression model of aluminum thickness and absorbency was developed and used to convert the radiopacity of dental materials to the equivalent aluminum thickness. In addition, all calculations were compared with those obtained from a modified 3-step stepwedge (i.e., using data for the 2nd, 5th, and 8th steps). Results: The radiopacities of the composite resins differed significantly with various setups (p<0.001) and between the materials (p<0.001). The best predicted model was obtained for the 30 cm 0.2 seconds setup ($R^2$=0.999). Data from the reduced modified stepwedge was remarkable and comparable with the 12-step stepwedge. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, our findings support that various setups might influence the radiopacity of dental materials on digital radiographs.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2021

3D printing technology is an additive manufacturing technology produced through 3D scanning or modeling method. This technology can be produced in a short time without mold, which has recently been applied in earnest in various fields. In the medical field, 3D printing technology is used in various fields of radiology and radiation therapy, but related research is insufficient in the field of nuclear medicine. In this study, we compare the characteristics of traditional nuclear medicine phantom with 3D printing technology and evaluate its applicability in clinical trials. We manufactured the same size phantom of poly methyl meta acrylate(PMMA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) based on the aluminum step wedge. We used BrightView XCT(Philips Health Care, Cleveland, USA) SPECT/CT. We acquired 60 min list mode for Aluminum, PMMA and ABS phantoms using Rectangular Flood Phantom (Biodex, New York, USA) ^99mTcO₄ 3 mCi(111 MBq), 6 mCi (222MBq) and ⁵⁷Co Flood phantom(adq, New Hampshire, USA). For the analysis of acquired images, the region of interest(ROI) were drawn and evaluated step by step for each phantom. Depending on the type of radioisotope and radiation dose, the counts of the ABS phantom was similar to that of the PMMA phantom. And as the step thickness increased, the counts decreased linearly. When comparing the linear attenuation coefficient of Aluminum, PMMA and ABS phantom, the linear attenuation coefficient of the aluminium phantom was higher than that of the others, and the PMMA and ABS phantom had similar the linear attenuation coefficient. Based on ABS phantom manufactured by 3D printing technology, as the thickness of the PMMA phantom increased, the counts and linear attenuation coefficient decreased linearly. It has been confirmed that ABS phantom is applicable in the clinical field of nuclear medicine. If the calibration factor is applied through further research, it is believed that practical application will be possible.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.135-139
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• 2002

Purpose: To determine the proper reference step wedge for digital Cu-Equivalent Image analyzing systems for measurement of bone density. Meterials and Methods : Radiograms of lumbar vertebrae phantom (1g/㎠) with 3 test copper step wedges of 0.03, 0.05 and, 0.1 mm thickness unit were taken and analyzed using NIH image software on a Macintosh personal computer. Measured densities of the lumbar areas in the Cu-Equivalent images made by utilizing 3 different copper stepwedges were compared with a known bone density. Results: The values of r2 for all copper equivalent images were over 0.99. The mean Cu-Eq value of lumbar in copper equivalent image made by a 0.1 mm copper stepwedge was 0.22 ± 0.06 mm and converted to hydroxyapatite density of 1.03 g/㎠. The stepwedges of 0.03 and 0.05 mm produced results having higher values than the actual known bone density. They did not show the blue and green color level that appeared in lumbar on color enhanced image. Conclusion : A copper stepwedge of adequate thickness and range of steps which can express the range of density of bone being measured should be used.