• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the magnitude of artifacts produced by gutta-percha and metal posts on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans obtained with different tube currents and with or without metal artifact reduction (MAR). Materials and Methods: A tooth was inserted in a dry human mandible socket, and CBCT scans were acquired after root canal instrumentation, root canal filling, and metal post placement with various tube currents with and without MAR activation. The artifact magnitude was assessed by the standard deviation (SD) of gray values and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at the various distances from the tooth. Data were compared using multi-way analysis of variance. Results: At all distances, a current of 4 mA was associated with a higher SD and a lower CNR than 8 mA or 10 mA (P<0.05). For the metal posts without MAR, the artifact magnitude as assessed by SD was greatest at 1.5 cm or less (P<0.05). When MAR was applied, SD values for distances 1.5 cm or closer to the tooth were reduced (P<0.05). MAR usage did not influence the magnitude of artifacts in the control and gutta-percha groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: Increasing the tube current from 4 mA to 8 mA may reduce the magnitude of artifacts from metal posts. The magnitude of artifacts arising from metal posts was significantly higher at distances of 1.5 cm or less than at greater distances. MAR usage improved image quality near the metal post, but had no significant influence farther than 1.5 cm from the tooth.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2014

This study spatially assesses the impact of trees on residential rooftop solar energy potential using urban three-dimensional models derived from Light Detection and Ranging(LiDAR) data in San Francisco, California. In recent years on-site solar energy generation in cities has become an essential agenda in municipal climate action plans. However, it can be limited by neighboring environments such as shade from topography, buildings and trees. Of all these effects, the impact of trees on rooftop photovoltaics(PVs) requires careful attention because improper situation of solar panels without considering trees can result in inefficient solar energy generation, tree removal, and/or increasing building energy demand and urban heat island effect. Using ArcMap 9.3.1, we calculated the incoming annual solar radiation on individual rooftops in San Francisco and the reduced insolation affected by trees. Furthermore, we performed a multiple regression analysis to see what attributes of trees in a neighborhood(tree density, tree heights, and the variance of tree heights) affect rooftop insolation. The result shows that annual total residential rooftops insolation in San Francisco is 18,326,671 MWh and annual total light-loss reduction caused by trees is 326,406 MWh, which is about 1.78%. The annual insolation shows a wide range of values from $34.4kWh/m^2/year$ to $1,348.4kWh/m^2/year$. The result spatially maps the locations that show the various levels of impact from trees. The result from multiple regression shows that tree density, average tree heights and the variation of tree heights in a neighborhood have statistically significant effects on the rooftop solar potential. The results can be linked to municipal energy planning in order to manage potential conflicts as cities with low to medium population density begin implementing on-site solar energy generation. Rooftop solar energy generation makes the best contribution towards achieving sustainability when PVs are optimally located while pursuing the preservation of urban trees.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2889-2894
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• 2015

Background: To investigate the impact of the breast size, shape, maximum heart depth (MDH), and chest wall hypotenuse (the distance connecting middle point of the sternum and the length of lung draw on the selected transverse CT slice) on the volumetric dose to heart with whole breast irradiation (WBI) of left-sided breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three patients with left-sided breast cancer undergoing adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were enrolled in the study. The primary breast size and shape, MHD and DCWH (chest wall hypotenuse) were contoured on radiotherapy (RT) planning CT slices. The dose data of hearts were obtained from the dose-volume histograms (DVHs). Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t-test and linear regression analysis. Results: Breast size was independent of heart dose, whereas breast shape, MHD and DCWH were correlated with heart dose. The shapes of breasts were divided into four types, as the flap type, hemisphere type, cone type and pendulous type with heart mean dose being $491.8{\pm}234.6cGy$, $752.7{\pm}219.0cGy$, $620.2{\pm}275.7cGy$, and $666.1{\pm}238.0cGy$, respectively. The flap type of breasts shows a strong statistically reduction in heart dose, compared to others (p=0.008 for V30 of heart). DCWH and MHD were found to be the most important parameters correlating with heart dose in WBI. Conclusions: More attention should be paid to the heart dose of non-flap type patients. The MHD was found to be the most important parameter to correlate with heart dose in tangential WBI, closely followed by the DCWH, which could help radiation oncologists and physicsts evaluate heart dose and design RT plan in advance.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5-26
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• 2001

Many studies have reported that regular aquatic exercise can lead to improvement of health for patients suffering from arthritis. In spite of these benefits, the adherence rate has shown as few as 26% of patients with arthritis who had completed the aquatic exercise education program. Moreover, when patients with arthritis begin an aquatic exercise, 47% withdraw within the first 6 month. No study has been found that constructs model to explain aquatic exercise adherence of patients with arthritis. The purpose of this study were to identify the factors influencing exercise adherence and to construct and test a structural model to explain aquatic exercise adherence of patients with arthritis. Hypothesized model was constructed on the basis of Bandura's social cognitive theory and literature review. Exogenous latent variables included in this model are group cohesion and barrier, endogenous latent variables are self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and self-evaluation. Empirical data used was collected through individual interviews with the structural questionnaire on 249 patients with arthritis who had completed the 6-week aquatic exercise education program of Korean Rheumatology Health Professionals Academy. The interviews were performed from September 6, 1999 through October 8, 1999. A model tested by the covariance structural analysis with LISREL 8.12a program and by descriptive statistics and correlation with SAS 6.12 program. The results are summarized as follows: First, hypothesized model showed a good fit to the empirical data. In the modified model added one new path showed a much better fit. Second, group cohesion had a direct, indirect positive effects, self-efficacy and self evaluation had a direct positive effects on exercise adherence. Barrier had a direct, indirect negative effects on exercise adherence. Outcome expectancy had a direct negative effect, indirect positive effects through self-evaluation on exercise adherence, but total effects was not significant. Total effect size of the variables were group cohesion, self-efficacy, barrier and self evaluation in order. All variables accounted for 54% of the total variance of exercise adherence in the model. In conclusion, this model confirmed to be proper in explaining of aquatic exercise adherence. Group cohesion, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, self-evaluation, barrier contributed to the aquatic exercise adherence of patients with arthritis. The results of this study suggested that improvement of group cohesion, self-efficacy and self-evaluation, motivation of outcome expectancy through self-evaluation, and reduction of the barrier should be included in the strategy of nursing intervention for the aquatic exercise adherence of patients with arthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 6-week sensorimotoor training on balance ability and lower limb muscle activation during gait in older adults. Methods: Twenty-four community-dwelling older adults between 65 and 90 years of age participated in this study. In the older adults of the experimental group (n=12), the sensorimotor training program was performed bare feet. General exercise was performed in the control group (n=12). Then, both groups exercised three times a week for forty minutes over a 6-week period. Balance ability was evaluated by One leg stand (OLS) test for determining the static balance and Timed Up & Go (TUG) test for determining the dynamic balance. In addition, muscle activation of the dominant lower limb tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis muscles were measured by surface EMG to evaluate muscle activation during gait. Results: A significant improvement was seen in the one leg standing (OLS) time after exercise in both the sensorimotor training (SMT) group and general exercise (GE) group (p<0.05) and the change in the SMT group was greater than that in the GE group (p<0.05). A significant reduction was seen in the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test time after exercise in both the SMT group and GE group (p<0.05). Also, a significant increase was seen in muscle activation of tibialis anterior muscle after exercise in the SMT group (p<0.05), but no such significant increase was seen in the GE group (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that sensorimotor training improves the balance in older adults and has a more positive effect on muscular strength and gait. Sensorimotor training provided a variance of training environment and COG exercise of the body is thought to be a more effective exercise program that improves balance and gait ability in older adults.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.29-47
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• 2007

Owing to the rapid growth of using the Internet, not only click-and-mortar companies but also brick-and-mortar ones have been expanding their distribution channels into online, Moreover, since online channels are more attractive than offline ones in control and maintenance, switching customers into online ones is emerged as one of very important managerial issues in a view of reduction of cost as well as expansion of services. However, the switched customers should be faced by uncertainties which could not have been experienced in offline. Specifically, in online channels, buyers and sellers are separated temporally and spacially and there are always so many kinds of threat for security as well as not enough systems and conventions for them yet. Therefore, trust has been considered as one of the most critical mechanisms for resolution of such uncertainties in online transactions. However, it is not easy to build and maintain the relationships in online since most of them are virtual and indirect generally. Therefore, in order to switch offline customers into online ones, it is very important to make strategies based on identification of the relationship between online transaction and offline trust which has been built in offline business. Generally offline trust, which has been built independent of online, could not include trust for online-dependent activities such as payment security during or after transactions, while most of online trust include it. Therefore, a customer with high offline trust does not always perceive high security and assure safe transactions. Accordingly, while online trust, where technical capabilities for online security is one of main bases, includes control trust implicitly or explicitly, offline trust does not. However. in spite of such clear discrimination and independence between offline trust and perceived security, there can be the significant dependency between these two beliefs. The customers with high offline trust believe that the company would do some activities for online security for customers' safe transactions since it has been believed of doing well for customers' trust. Theoretically, users' perception of security is interpreted as a kind of control trus, which is trust for company's technical control capacities in order to resolve technical uncertainties in online. Therefore, the relationship between two beliefs can be considered as transference from offline trust to another type trust. that is, control trust. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of offline trust on online transaction uses mediated by perceived security. For this purpose, we suggest a research model based on technology acceptance model (TAM). Reuse intention is adopted as a dependent variable and TAM is modified by adding perceived risk (PR) as well as two beliefs of using Internet banking, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU). Moreover, perceive security (PS) is adopted as an external variable for PR and PU, while offline trust (OT) is an antecedent of PS. For an empirical test, sampling from 108 visitors to the banks in Daegu, Korea, we analyze our model by partial least square (PLS) approach. In result, our model is shown to explain 51.4% of the variance in reuse intention and all hypothesis are supported statistically. A theoretical implication of this study is to identify a role of PS between offline trust and reuse intention of using online transaction services. According to our result, PS can be considered as a mediation variable for bridging between two different concepts: trust that explains social aspects of customers and companies, and TAM that explains customers' reuse intention.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 1982

Effects of lime and ameliolating materials on decreasing available soil cadmium were studied, applying the amendments to Cd pre-and post-treated soils. Soil sttreated with Cd were placed in pots and kept under field moisture condition, summer through winter in 1981. The results of soil analysis made 40 to 60 days after the Cd treatment are as follows ; 1. Greater amount of Cd was extracted by 0.1N-HCl or 2% Citric acid than N-AcNH4 solution. More Cd was dissoluted by 0.1-HCl than 2% Citric acid. No Cd was extracted by pure water. Showing a wide variance in the amount of extractable Cd among treatments (amendments), the $N-AcNH_4$ solution seemed to be the most effective extracting solution of available soil cadmium. 2. Calcium hydroxide was the most effective materials in reducing $N-AcNH_4$ extractable Cd, followed by calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. 3. Superphosphate is also effective in reducing exchangeable cadmium. The reduction seemed to be attributed to the precipitation of cadmium phosphate. 4. The exchangeable cadmium by $N-AcNH_4$ was large in the soil pH range of 6.0 and 6.5, and it decreased as the soil pH became far apart from these values. The decrese of exchangeable Cd at low pH seemed to be related to the increase of $Mn^{+{+}}$ and that at the high pH to the precipitation as Cd-hydroxide.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.57-63
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• 2013

In this study, the characteristics of degradation and mineralization of diazinon using a statistical approach based on Box-Behnken design (BBD, one of response surface method) was investigated in an E-beam process, and also the main factors with diazinon concentration ($X_1$), irradiatin intensity ($X_2$) and pH ($X_3$) which consisted of 3 levels in each factor was set up to determine the effects of factors and optimization. At first, effects of pH and diazinon concentration were investigated to determine the proper range of application on response surface method(RSM). In statistical approach, the regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied to evaluate the quantitative comparison of each factors in order to obtain the effects were irradiation intensity>diazinon concentration>pH. The regression model predicted the optimization point using the response optimizer to consider the effects of operation conditions were $Y_1=81.73-5.58X_1+23.69X_2-14.23X{_2}^2+4.22X{_3}^2(R^2=99.7%)$, $Y_2=35.23-3.01X_1+10.79X_2-7.58X_2{^2}(R^2=97.9%)$ and 95.7% of diazinon degradation, 41.8% of TOC reduction at 12.75mg/L and 4.26kGy, respectively. The pH condition was not significantly affects on E-beam process than other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-140
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• 1994

This paper presents the probabilistic model to evaluate the three-dimensional stability of layered deposits and c-0 soil slopes. Rotational slides are assumed with a cylindroid control part terminated with plane ends. And the potential failure surfaces in this study are assumed with the logarithmic spiral curve refracted at boundary of layers. This model takes into consideration the spatial variabilities of soil properties and the uncertainties stemming from insufficient number of samples and the discrepancies between laboratory measured and in -situ values of shear strength parameters. From the probabilistic approxi mate method (FOSM and SOSM method), the mean and variance of safety factor are calculated, respectively. And the programs based on above models is developed and a case study is analysed in detail to study the sensitivity of results to variations in different parameters by using the programs developed in this study. On the basis of thin study the following conclusions could be stated : (1) The sensitivity analysis shown that the probability of failure is more sensitive to the uncertainty of the angle of internal friction than that of the cohesion, (2) The total 3-D proability of failure and the critical width of failure are significantly affected by total width of slope. It is found that the total 3-D probability of failure and the critical width of failure increase with increasing the slope width when seismic forces do not exist and the total 3-D probability of failure increases with increasing the slope width and the critical width of failure decreases when seismic intensity is relatively large, (3) A decrease in the safety factor (due to effect such as a rise in the mean ground water level, lower shear strength parameters, lower values for the correction factors, etc.) would result in reduction in the critical width of failure.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2012

The noise generated in the process of obtaining the medical image acts as the element obstructing the image interpretation and diagnosis. To restore the true image from the image polluted from the noise, the total variation optimization algorithm was proposed by the R.O. F (L.Rudin, S Osher, E. Fatemi). This method removes the noise by fitting the balance of the regularity and fidelity. However, the blurring phenomenon of the border area generated in the process of performing the iterative operation cannot be avoided. In this paper, we propose the adaptive total variation method by mapping the control parameter to the proposed transfer function for minimizing boundary error. The proposed transfer function is determined by the noise variance and the local property of the image. The proposed method was applied to 464 tooth images. To evaluate proposed method performance, PSNR which is a indicator of signal and noise's signal power ratio was used. The experimental results show that the proposed method has better performance than other methods.