• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.163-171
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various technical parameters for the dose optimization in pediatric chest radiological examinations by evaluating effective dose and effective detective quantum efficiency (eDQE) including the scatter radiation from the object, the blur caused by the focal spot, geometric magnification and detector characteristics. For the tube voltages ranging from 40 to 90 kVp in 10 kVp increments at the FDD of 100, 110, 120, 150, 180 cm, the eDQE was evaluated at the same effective dose. The results showed that the eDQE was largest at 60 kVp when compares the eDQE at different tube voltage. Especially, the eDQE was considerably higher without the use of an anti-scatter grid on equivalent effective dose. This indicates that the reducing the scatter radiation did not compensate for the loss of absorbed effective photons in the grid. When the grid is not used the eDQE increased with increasing FDD because of the greater effective modulation transfer function (eMTF). However, most of major hospitals in Korea employed a short FDD of 100 cm with an anti-scatter grid for the chest radiological examination of a 15 month old infant. As a result, the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) values for the hospitals of this survey exceeded the Korean DRL (diagnostic reference level) of $100{\mu}Gy$. Therefore, appropriate technical parameters should be established to perform pediatric chest examinations on children of different ages. The results of this study may serve as a baseline to establish detailed reference level of pediatric dose for different ages.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2006

Purpose: To determine appropriate sampling frequency and time of multiple blood sampling dual exponential method with $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA for calculating glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Materials & Methods: Thirty four patients were included in this study. Three mCi of $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA was intravenously injected and blood sampling at 9 different times, 5ml each, were done. Using the radioactivity of serum, measured by gamma counter, the GFR was calculated using dual exponential method and corrected with the body surface area. Using spontaneously chosen 2 data points of serum radioactivity, 15 collections of 2-sample GFR were calculated. And 10 collections of 3-sample GFR and 12 collections of 4-sample GFR were also calculated. Using the 9-sample GFR as a reference value, degree of agreement was analyzed with Kendall's $\tau$ correlation coefficients, mean difference and standard deviation. Results: Although some of the 2-sample GFR showed high correlation coefficient, over or underestimation had evolved as the renal function change. The 10-120-240 min 3-sample GFR showed a high correlation coefficient (${\tau}=0.93$), minimal difference ($Mean{\pm}SD=-1.784{\pm}3.972$), and no over or underestimation as the renal function changed. The 4-sample GFR showed no better accuracy than the 3-sample GFR. Conclusions: In the wide spectrum of renal function, the 10-120-240 min 3-sample GFC could be the best choice for estimating the patients' renal function.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-133
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• 2005

For identifying the pathological findings in magnetic resonance images (MRIs), normal anatomical structures in MRIs should be identified in advance. For studying the anatomical structures in MRIs, a learning tool that includes the followings is necessary. First, MRIs of the entire body; second, horizontal, coronal, and sagittal MRIs; third, segmented images corresponding to the MRIs; fourth, three dimensional (3D) images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs; fifth, software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images. Such a learning tool, however, is hard to obtain. Therefore, in this research, such a learning tool which helps medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs was made as follows. A healthy young Korean male adult with standard body shape was selected. Six hundred thirteen MRIs of the entire body were scanned (slice thickness 3 mm, interslice gap 0 mm, field of view 480 mm${\times}$480 mm, resolution 512${\times}$512, T1 weighted), and transferred to the personal computer. Sixty anatomical structures in the MRIs were segmented to make segmented images. Coronal, sagittal MRIs and coronal, sagittal segmented images were made. On the basis of the segmented images, forty-seven anatomical structures 3D images were made by manual surface reconstruction method. Software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images was composed. This learning tool that includes horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs of the entire body, corresponding segmented images, 3D images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs, and software is expected to help medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs. This learning tool will be presented worldwide through Internet or CD titles.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.103-109
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• 2016

Polyethylene pipes has useful benefits which are anti-corrosive and flexible material, so it is used to gas pipes but also class 3 water pipes of nuclear power plant, process pipes of petrochemical plant and chemical plant. So the usage of polyethylene pipes is widely increased. But it has been limited for the usage of polyethylene, because it can not be directly detected to fusion joints by using non destructive evaluation. Polyethylene pipes are connected by two methods, one is butt fusion and the other is electrofusion. Butt fusion is widely used to connecting the pipes. It is proposed to method for determining the reliability of joints in this study that is detection of the melt flow zone at fusion joints. In this study, middle density polyethylene is used, outside diameter of the test specimen is 225mm and thickness is 20.5mm. Speed of ultrasonic of this test specimen is 2,200m/s. Test specimens were fabricated by varying the heating time which means from 0% to 130% applying time through heating plate to polyethylene for detecting melt flow zone. Also 4 additional test specimens were made, one was made that not scrapping attached surface of pipes but applying 100% of the proper heating time and the others were made to include of soil, gravel and vinly tape paper at fusion joints, that were also applied 100% of proper heating time. Ultrasonic testing to measure the melt flow zone of 20 test specimens was conducted by using 3.5MHz and 5.0MHz ultrasonic probes and melt flow zone measuring was conducted to three times at different point to one specimen. To differentiate the melt flow zone signal, post image processing was equally conducted to all test results and image levels, contrast, sharpen, threshold were adopted to all teat results and the test results were displayed gray scale. From the results, for the shorter heating times the reflection area of multiple echo have been increased, so the data was obtained from the position where it can be eliminated as much as possible. At 80% of proper heating time(168 sec.), the signal of melt flow zone was obtained clearly, so measuring could be conducted. From 7% of proper heating time(15 sec.) to shorter heating times. we could not obtain the signal because test specimen was not fused. From the result, we can verify that measuring of melt flow zone by using phased array ultrasonic imaging method is possible. And we can verify to complete and incomplete butt fusion by measuring the melt flow zone.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.228-232
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• 2006

Purpose: electrophilic $^{18}F(T_{1/2}=110\;min)$ radionuclide in the form of $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas is of great significance for labeling radiopharmaceuticals for positron omission tomography (PET). However, its production In high yield and with high specific radioactivity is still a challenge to overcome several problems on targetry. The aim of the present study was to develop a method suitable for the routine production of $[^{18}F]F_2$ for the electrophilic substitution reaction. Materials and Methods: The target was designed water-cooled aluminum target chamber system with a conical bore shape. Production of the elemental fluorine was carried out via the $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction using a two-step irradiation protocol. In the first irradiation, the target filled with highly enriched $^{18}O_2$ was irradiated with protons for $^{18}F$ production, which were adsorbed on the inner surface of target body. In the second irradiation, the mixed gas ($1%[^{19}F]F_2/Ar$) was leaded into the target chamber, fellowing a short irradiation of proton for isotopic exchange between the carrier-fluorine and the radiofluorine absorbed in the target chamber. Optimization of production was performed as the function of irradiation time, the beam current and $^{18}O_2$ loading pressure. Results: Production runs was performed under the following optimum conditions: The 1st irradiation for the nuclear reaction (15.0 bar of 97% enriched $^{18}O_2$, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 60-90 min irradiation), the recovery of enriched oxygen via cryogenic pumping; The 2nd irradiation for the recovery of absorbed radiofluorine (12.0 bar of 1% $[^{19}F]fluorine/argon$ gas, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 20-30 min irradiation) the recovery of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ for synthesis. The yield of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ at EOB (end of bombardment) was achieved around $34{\pm}6.0$ GBq (n>10). Conclusion: The production of $^{18}F$ electrophilic agent via $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction was much under investigation. Especially, an aluminum gas target was very advantageous for routine production of $[^{18}F]fluorine$. These results suggest the possibility to use $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas as a electrophilic substitution agent.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2003

Purpose: To establish the role of stereoactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator for the treatment of patients with cavernous angloma. Materials and Methods: Between February 1995 and May 1997, 11 patients with cavernous angioma were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator. Diagnoses were based on the magnetic resonance imaging in 8 patients, and the histological in 3. The vascular lesions were located on the brainstem (5 cases), cerebellum (2 cases) thalamus (1 case) and cerebrum (3 cases). The clinical presentation at onset included previous intracerebral hemorrhages (9 cases) and seizures (2 cases). All patients were treated with a a linac-based radiosurgery. The median dose of radiation delivered was 16 Gy ranging from 14 to 24 Gy, which was typically proscribed to the 80$\%$ isodose surface (range 50 $\~$ 80$\%$), corresponding to the periphery of the lesion with a single isocenter. Ten patients were followed-up. Results: The median follow-up was 49 months ranging from 8 to 73 months, during which time two patients developed an intracerebral hemorrhage, 1 at 8 months, with the other at 64 months post radiosurgery. One patient developed neurological deficit after radiosurgery, and two developed an edema on the T2 weighted images of the MRI surrounding the radiosurgical target. Conclusion: The use of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of a cavernous angioma may be effective in the prevention of rebleedlng, and can be safely delivered. However, a longer follow-up period will be required.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.378-388
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• 2001

Purpose: In this study, we developed a new method for the determination of renal depth with anterior and posterior renal scintigrams in a dual-head gamma camera, considering the attenuation factor $e^{-{\mu}x}$ of the conjugate-view method. Material and Method: We developed abdomen and kidney phantoms to perform experiments using Technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid ($^{99m}Tc$-DMSA). The phantom images were obtained by dual-head gamma camera equipped with low-energy, high-resolution, parallel-hole collimators (ICONf, Siemens). The equation was derived from the linear integration of omission ${\gamma}$-ray considering attenuation from the posterior abdomen to the anterior abdomen phantom surface. The program for measurement was developed by Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. Results : Renal depths of the phantoms were derived from the derived equations and compared with the exact geometrical values. Differences between the measured and the calculated values were the range of 0.1 to 0.7 cm ($0.029{\pm}0.15cm,\;mean{\pm}S.D.$). Conclusion: The present study showed that the use of the derived equations for renal depth measurements, combined with quantitative planar imaging using dual-head gamma camera, could provide more accurate results for individual variation than the conventional method.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2003

As the importance of accuracy in measurings of 3-D anatomical structures continues to be stressed, an objective and quantitative of assessing image quality and accuracy of 3-D volume-rendered images is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of 3-D rendered images obtained with MDCT, scanned at various scanning parameters (scan modes, slice thicknesses and reconstruction slice thickness). Twelve clinically significant points that play an important role for the craniofacial bone in plastic surgery and dentistry were marked on the surface of a dry human skull. The direct distances between the reference points were defined as gold standards to assess the measuring errors of 3-D images. Then, we scanned the specimen with acquisition parameters of 300 mA, In kVp, and 1.0 sec scan time in axial and helical scan modes (pitch 3:1 and 6:1) at 1,25 mm, 2.50 mm, 3.75 mm and 5.00 mm slice thicknesses. We performed 3-D visualizations and distance measurements with volumetric analysis software and statistically evaluated the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements. The accuracy of distance measurements on the 3-D images acquired with 1.25, 2.50, 3,75 and 5.00 mm slice thickness were 48%, 33%, 23%, 14%, respectively, and those of the reconstructed 1.25 mm were 53%, 41%, 43%, 36% respectively. Meanwhile, there were insignificant statistical differences (P-value<0.05) in the accuracy of the distance measurements of 3-D images reconstructed with 1.25 mm thickness. In conclusion, slice thickness, rather than scan mode, influenced the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements in 3-D rendered images with MDCT. The quantitative analysis of distance measurements may be a useful tool for evaluating the accuracy of 3-D rendered images used in diagnosis, surgical planning, and radiotherapeutic treatment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2013

Microwave remote sensing can help monitor the land surface water cycle and crop growth. This type of remote sensing has great potential over conventional remote sensing using the visible and infrared regions due to its all-weather day-and-night imaging capabilities. In this paper, a ground-based multi-frequency (L-, C-, and X-band) polarimetric scatterometer system capable of making observations every 10 min was developed. This system was used to monitor the wheat over an entire growth cycle. The polarimetric scatterometer components were installed inside an air-conditioned shelter to maintain constant temperature and humidity during the data acquisition period. Backscattering coefficients for the crop growing season were compared with biophysical measurements. Backscattering coefficients for all frequencies and polarizations increased until dat of year 137 and then decreased along with fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and vegetation water content (VWC). The range of backscatter for X-band was lower than for L- and C-band. We examined the relationship between the backscattering coefficients of each band (frequency/polarization) and the various wheat growth parameters. The correlation between the different vegetation parameters and backscatter decreased with increasing frequency. L-band HH-polarization (L-HH) is best suited for the monitoring of fresh weight (r=0.98), dry weight (r=0.96), VWC (r=0.98), and plant height (r=0.96). The correlation coefficients were highest for L-band observations and lowest for X-band. Also, HH-polarization had the highest correlations among the polarization channels (HH, VV and HV). Based on the correlation analysis between backscattering coefficients in each band and wheat growth parameters, we developed prediction equations using the L-HH based on the observed relationships between L-HH and fresh weight, dry weight, VWC and plant height. The results of these analyses will be useful in determining the optimum microwave frequency and polarizations necessary for estimating vegetation parameters in the wheat.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.174-184
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• 2009

Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the major hydrologic processes in terrestrial ecosystems. A reliable estimation of spatially representavtive ET is necessary for deriving regional water budget, primary productivity of vegetation, and feedbacks of land surface to regional climate. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides an opportunity to monitor ET for wide area at daily time scale. In this study, we applied a MODIS-based ET algorithm and tested its reliability for nine flux tower sites in East Asia. This is a stand-alone MODIS algorithm based on the Penman-Monteith equation and uses input data derived from MODIS. Instantaneous ET was estimated and scaled up to daily ET. For six flux sites, the MODIS-derived instantaneous ET showed a good agreement with the measured data ($r^2=0.38$ to 0.73, ME = -44 to $+31W\;m^{-2}$, RMSE =48 to $111W\;m^{-2}$). However, for the other three sites, a poor agreement was observed. The predictability of MODIS ET was improved when the up-scaled daily ET was used ($r^2\;=\;0.48$ to 0.89, ME = -0.7 to $-0.6\;mm\;day^{-1}$, $RMSE=\;0.5{\sim}1.1\;mm\;day^{-1}$). Errors in the canopy conductance were identified as a primary factor of uncertainty in MODIS-derived ET and hence, a more reliable estimation of canopy conductance is necessary to increase the accuracy of MODIS ET.