• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.101-104
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• 2017

In this investigation, synchrotron X-ray imaging was used to investigate the water distribution inside newly developed gas diffusion media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. In-situ radiography was used to reveal the relationship between the structure of the microporous layer (MPL) and the water flow in a newly developed MPL equipped with randomly arranged holes. A strong influence of these holes on the overall water transport was found. This contribution provides a brief overview to some of our recent activities on this research field.

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.646-665
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2007

The global environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, despite of enhanced international environmental regulation. Many studies have been performed to reduce toxic pollutants. Recently, plant-based phytoremediation technology for moving toxic contaminants from soil and water has been receiving large attention. Arsenic-contaminated soil is one of the major pollutant sources for drinking water. Pteris erotica has been known as a hyper-accumulator of arsenic from soils. In this study, we investigated the effect of arsenic absorption on sap flow inside xylem vessels of Pteris. The synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor the refilling process of water containing arsenic inside the xylem vessels of Pteris's leaves and stems non-invasively. The captured phase-contrast X-ray images show both anatomy of internal structure and transport of water inside Pteris. The exposure of Pteris to arsenic solution was found to increase largely the water raise speed in xylem vessels. The present results would provide important information needed for understanding the mechanisms of accumulation and transportation of toxic materials in plants.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.92-95
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• 2006

The global environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate despite of enhanced international environmental regulation. Many studies have been performed to reduce pollutants. Recently, phytoremediation, plant-based technology for the removal of toxic contaminants from soil, water, and air, has been receiving large attention. Arsenic-contaminated soil is one of the major pollutant sources fur drinking water. The fern brake (Pteris erotica) has been reported as a hyper-accumulate arsenic from soils. In this study, we investigated the arsenic absorption effect on sap flow inside xylem vessels of a fern brake. The synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor flow inside the plant non-invasively. The captured phase-contrast X-ray images show both anatomy and transport of water inside the fern brake. The refilling process of water containing arsenic inside the xylem vessels of fern brake's leaves and stems was clearly observed. These results would provide important information needed fur understanding the mechanisms of accumulation, translocation, and transformation of toxic materials in plants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.32-34
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• 2002

Over the past two decades there has been a tremendous growth in the number of synchrotron radiation facilities in the world and also in Japan. The high flux and brightness radiation which derive from the third generation low emittance rings provide an ideal source for many applications in the medical sciences. The application of synchrotron radiation to medical imaging started in the early 80's in U.S.A, followed by European countries such as Germany and Russia. In Japan, researchs on intravenous coronary angiography started in 1884 at the Institute for High Energy Phisics(KEK) in Tsukuba. At present, it is the only application of syncrotron radiation which is at the stage of human study. In '90s, newer techniques such as phase and refraction contrast imaging appeared which are at the in vitro or animal study stage. Various types of x-ray CT have also been developed for three-dimensional imaging of the subjects. The present status of medical applications of synchrotron radiation in Japan is reviewed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2001

Synchrotron radiation (SR) has several advantages over convetional x-rays, including its phase, collimation, and high flux. A synchrotron radiation beamline 5C1 at Pohang Light Source (PLS) was recently built for imaging applications. We have shown that a SR imaging system is useful in imaging microscopic structures. SR with broad-band energy spectrum were adjusted to an object by Si wafers and their energy were approximately ranging from 6 keV to 30 keV. SR were passed through an object and finally transformed into visible lights by CdWO$_4$ scintillator screen. The visible lights which were reflected at an angle of 90 degrees by gold plated mirror were detected by a CCD camera and the image data were acquired using image acquisition system. A high-resolution phantom, capacitor, adult tooth, child tooth, cancerous breast tissue, and mouse lumbar vertebra were imaged with SR imaging system. The Objects were rotated within the field of view of the CCD detector, and their projection image data were obtained at 250 steps over 180 degrees rotation. Image reconstructions were carried out in a PC by using IDLTM(Research systems, Inc., US) program. The spatial resolution of the images acquired by the SR imaging system was measured with a high-resolution chart manufactured for several micrometer resolution. The specimens were also imaged with conventional x-ray radiography system to compare the image quality of radiography obtained with the SR imaging system. The results showed more structural details and high contrast images with SR imaging system than conventional x-ray radiography system. The SR imaging system may have a potential for imaging in biological researches, material applications, and clinical radiography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.27-31
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• 2010

Spatial resolution is determined by the performance of x-ray optics used in the x-ray imaging system. A zone plate was designed for obtaining a high spatial resolution image at x-ray energy of 8.5keV. A spatial resolution of 80 nm was estimated by the ray tracing when an x-ray tube of tungsten targe was used instead of synchrotron radiation. The designed zone plate of outermost zone width of 40nm was successfully fabricated by the electron-beam lithography.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.29 no.11 s.242
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• pp.1182-1188
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• 2005

An x-ray PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technique was developed to measure quantitative information on flows inside opaque conduits and on opaque-fluid flows. At first, the developed x-ray PIV technique was applied to flow in an opaque Teflon tube. To acquire x-ray images suitable for PIV velocity field measurements, refraction-based edge enhancement mechanism was employed using detectable tracer particles. The optimal distance between with the sample and detector was experimentally determined. The resulting amassed velocity field data were in reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction. The x-ray PIV technique was also applied to blood flow in a microchannel. The flow pattern of blood was visualifed by enhancing the diffraction/interference -bas ed characteristic s of blood cells on synchrotron x-rays without any contrast agent or tracer particles. That is, the flow-pattern image of blood was achieved by optimizing the sample (blood) to detector distance and the sample thickness. Quantitative velocity field information was obtained by applying PIV algorithm to the enhanced x-ray flow images. The measured velocity field data show a typical flow structure of flow in a macro-scale channel.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.02a
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• pp.264-265
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• 2005

In this paper the conceptual design and development of a compact vertical type soft x-ray microscope is described. This x-ray microscope operates in the water window wavelength region(2.3 ${\sim}$ 4.4nm), where natural contrast between carbon(protein) and oxygen(water) allows imaging of unstained biological material their natural, hydrated environment. Until now, operational x-ray microscopes are based on synchrotron radiation sources, which limit their accessibility. Many biologists would benefit from having the x-ray microscope as a tool among other tools in their own laboratory, For this purpose we introduced the compact vertical type soft X-ray microscope with 50 nm resolution for biomedical application. The compact vertical type soft x-ray microscope is based on a laser plasma x-ray source, doubled ellipsoidal condenser reflective optics, diffractive zone plate optics and MCP coupled with CCD to record an x-ray image.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.290-297
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• 2017

Background: The use of X-ray phase-contrast microtomography for the investigation of Chinese medicinal materials is advantageous for its nondestructive, in situ, and three-dimensional quantitative imaging properties. Methods: The X-ray phase-contrast microtomography quantitative imaging method was used to investigate the microstructure of ginseng, and the phase-retrieval method is also employed to process the experimental data. Four different ginseng samples were collected and investigated; these were classified according to their species, production area, and sample growth pattern. Results: The quantitative internal characteristic microstructures of ginseng were extracted successfully. The size and position distributions of the calcium oxalate cluster crystals (COCCs), important secondary metabolites that accumulate in ginseng, are revealed by the three-dimensional quantitative imaging method. The volume and amount of the COCCs in different species of the ginseng are obtained by a quantitative analysis of the three-dimensional microstructures, which shows obvious difference among the four species of ginseng. Conclusion: This study is the first to provide evidence of the distribution characteristics of COCCs to identify four types of ginseng, with regard to species authentication and age identification, by X-ray phase-contrast microtomography quantitative imaging. This method is also expected to reveal important relationships between COCCs and the occurrence of the effective medicinal components of ginseng.