• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.151-159
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• 2014

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most widely used medical imaging modality. However, substantial x-ray dose exposed to the human subject during the CT scan is a great concern. Region-of-interest (ROI) CT is considered to be a possible solution for its potential to reduce the x-ray dose to the human subject. In most of ROI-CT scans, the ROI is set to a circular shape whose diameter is often considerably smaller than the full field-of-view (FOV). However, an arbitrarily shaped ROI is very desirable to reduce the x-ray dose more than the circularly shaped ROI can do. We propose a new method to make a non-circular convex-shaped ROI along with the image reconstruction method. To make a ROI with an arbitrary convex shape, dynamic collimations are necessary to minimize the x-ray dose at each angle of view. In addition to the dynamic collimation, we get the ROI projection data with slightly lower sampling rate in the view direction to further reduce the x-ray dose. We reconstruct images from the ROI projection data in the compressed sensing (CS) framework assisted by the exterior projection data acquired from the pilot scan to set the ROI. To validate the proposed method, we used the experimental micro-CT projection data after truncating them to simulate the dynamic collimation. The reconstructed ROI images showed little errors as compared to the images reconstructed from the full-FOV scan data as well as little artifacts inside the ROI. We expect the proposed method can significantly reduce the x-ray dose in CT scans if the dynamic collimation is realized in real CT machines.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.45-55
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• 2020

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is very useful for the quantitative evaluation of internal structures, particularly defects in rock samples, such as pores and fractures. In situ CT allows 3D imaging of a sample subjected to various external treatments such as loading and therefore enables observation of changes that occur during the loading process. We reviewed state-of-the-art of in situ CT applications for geomaterials. Two triaxial cells made using relatively low density but high strength materials were developed aimed at in situ CT scanning during hydro-mechanical laboratory testing of rocks. Preliminary results for in situ CT imaging of granite and sandstone samples with diameters ranging from 25 mm to 50 mm show a resolution range of 34~105 ㎛ per pixel pitch, indicating the feasibility of in situ CT observations for internal structural changes in rocks at the micrometer scale. Potassium iodide solution was found to improve the image contrast, and can be used as an injection fluid for hydro-mechanical testing combined with in situ CT scanning.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.184-196
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• 2019

This study aims to extract a 3D image of micro-cracks generated by hydraulic fracturing tests, using the deep learning method and X-ray computed tomography images. The pixel-level cracks are difficult to be detected via conventional image processing methods, such as global thresholding, canny edge detection, and the region growing method. Thus, the convolutional neural network-based encoder-decoder network is adapted to extract and analyze the micro-crack quantitatively. The number of training data can be acquired by dividing, rotating, and flipping images and the optimum combination for the image augmentation method is verified. Application of the optimal image augmentation method shows enhanced performance for not only the validation dataset but also the test dataset. In addition, the influence of the original number of training data to the performance of the deep learning-based neural network is confirmed, and it leads to succeed the pixel-level crack detection.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2008

Purpose: National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria and the Canadian Cervical Spine rule (CCR) are commonly used in cervical trauma patients to determine whether a plain cervical X-ray should be performed. However, plain cervical X-rays are so inaccurate that cervical spine computed tomography (CT) is often considered as a screening test. We studied the usefulness of the NEXUS criteria and the CCR for determining the need for a CT evaluation in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from January 2007 to March 2008. Plain X-ray and CT scans of the cervical spine were performed on blunt trauma patients with neck pain. The relevancy of CT was examined using the NEXUS criteria and the CCR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, and negative predicted value analyses were performed to diagnose the cervical spine injury. Results: During the study period, 284 patients were enrolled in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, and negative predicted value of the NEXUS criteria were 87.5%, 1.1%, 5.0%, and 60.0% respectively, while those of the CCR were 87.5%, 8.2%, 5.3%, and 91.6%. There were two missed fracture cases when the NEXUS criteria and the CCR were applied independently, however, no cases were missed when both were applied. Conclusion: This study suggests the NEXUS and the CCR in combination can be used as a guide to CT evaluation for cervical spine injury in the ED.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.403-408
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• 2015

Hard X-ray has been widely used in medical and industrial fields because it can be applied to observe the inside of a sample. Computed tomography provides sectional images of the sample through the reconstruction of the projection images. The quality of sectional images strongly depends on that of projection images. Ring artifact appeared on the seconal image can be made by the abnormal pixels of the detector used. In this study, we examine the ring artifact ratio in the circle phantom as a function of detection error of the detector used in computed tomography. The ring artifact increased with the increment of detection error under parallel and fan beam geometries and strongly increased near the center of rotation. The corrections, dead pixel and flat field corrections, for the images taken with the detector are required before the image reconstruction process to reduce the ring artifact in the computed tomography.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.294-297
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• 2002

For the quality control procedure of diagnostic x ray units, a method for simultaneous measurement of air kerma, half value layer and tube potential was developed utilizing a computed radiography system for intraoral radiography and film badge case. The response of average pixel values under the windows were calibrated by x rays generated at tube potentials from 40 to 140 kV with filtration from 1.5 to 3.7 mmAl. The calibration curves for half value layer and tube potential were derived as functions of attenuation factors by the 1.4 mmAl filter and the 0.2 mmCu filter. The energy dependency of the open window response was corrected by the calibration factor as a function of the attenuation factor by the 1.4 mmAl filter. The uncertainty of the estimated half value layer, tube potential and air kerma were 0.2 mmAl, 3.6 % and 5 %, respectively. It was thus suggested that this system could be applied to quality control program to detect the variation of working condition of x ray units in clinical use.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2017

The mechanical characteristics of frozen sand greatly depend on the frozen temperature and the fine contents according to the previous study by Chae et al. (2015). There are two hypotheses to explain this experimental results; one is the unfrozen water contents greatly affected by the fine contents and frozen temperature and the other is the sand particle spacing greatly affected by the pore-ice. To evaluate the latter hypothesis, the micro X-ray CT scan was performed. The micro X-ray CT scanning, one of the actively performed interdisciplinary research area, has a high resolution with micrometer unit allows to investigate internal structure of soils. In this study, X-ray CT technique was applied to investigate the effect of the frozen temperature and fine contents on the sand particle minimum and average spacing with the developed image processing techniques. Based on the spacing analysis, the frozen temperature and fine contents have little influence on the sand particle spacing in the frozen sand specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2006

ln order to manage efficiently many ancient wooden buildings, which have been preserved as cultural properties in Korea, the internal state of wood members should be evaluated exactly and periodically by a NDE (non-destructive evaluation) method. A research project was planned to develop an X-ray CT (computed tomography) system as a NDE method for wood, which could be easily applied in field. This paper includes the first part of this project. First of all, to establish a measuring procedure of wood density using X-ray radiography, the correlation between X-ray intensity and the film brightness was evaluated. Also, initial X-ray intensity was quantified with various radiate conditions controlled by the tube voltage and tube current. And then, the effects of density, annual ring angle, and thickness on the mass attenuation coefficient of wood were examined. Finally, Beer's law was modified with the above results and adopted to calculate the density of wood. As a result of this study, the measuring procedure of wood density was established using a portable soft X-ray device and this procedure was verified with some small wood specimens. This results will he used valuably for the following researches to develop a portable X-ray CT system.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2003

Purpose : Computed tomographic equipment is essential for diagnosis by means of radiation. With passage of time and development of science computed tomographic was developed time and again and in future examination by means of this equipment is expected to increase. In this connection these authors measured rate of scatter ray generation at front of lead glass for patients within control room of computed tomographic equipment room and outside of entrance door for exit and entrance of patients and attempted to ind out method for minimizing exposure to scatter ray. Material and Method : From November 2001 twenty five units of computed tomographic equipments which were already installed and operation by 13 general hospitals and university hospitals in Seoul were subjected to this study. As condition of photographing those recommended by manufacturer for measuring exposure to sauter ray was use. At the time objects used DALI CT Radiation Dose Test Phantom fot Head (${\oint}16\;cm$ Plexglas) and Phantom for Stomache(${\oint}32\;cm$ Plexglas) were used. For measurement of scatter ray Reader (Radiation Monitor Controller Model 2026) and G-M Survey were used to Survey Meter of Radical Corporation, model $20{\times}5-1800$, Electrometer/Ion Chamber, S/N 21740. Spots for measurement of scatter ray included front of lead glass for patients within control room of computed tomographic equipment room which is place where most of work by gradiographic personnel are carried out and is outside of entrance door for exit and entrance of patients and their guardians and at spot 100 cm off from isocenter at the time of scanning the object. The results : Work environment within computed tomography room which was installed and under operation by each hospital showed considerable difference depending on circumstances of pertinent hospitals and status of scatter ray was as follows. 1) From isocenter of computed tomographic equipment to lead glass for patients within control room average distance was 377 cm. At that time scatter ray showed diverse distribution from spot where no presence was detected to spot where about 100 mR/week was detected. But it met requirement of weekly tolerance $2.58{\times}10^{-5}\;C/kg$(100 mR/week). 2) From isocenter of computed tomographic equipment to outside of entrance door where patients and their guardians exit and enter was 439 cm in average, At that time scatter ray showed diverse distribution from spot where almost no presence was detected to spot with different level but in most of cases it satisfied requirement of weekly tolerance of $2.58{\times}10^{-6}\;C/kg$(100 mR/week). 3) At the time of scanning object amount of scatter ray at spot with 100 cm distance from isocenter showed considerable difference depending on equipments. Conclusion : Use of computed tomographic equipment as one for generation of radiation for diagnosis is increasing daily. Compared to other general X-ray photographing field of diagnosis is very high but there is a high possibility of exposure to radiation and scatter ray. To be free from scatter ray at computed tomographic equipment room even by slight degree it is essential to secure sufficient space and more effort should be exerted for development of variety of skills to enable maximum photographic image at minimum cost.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.829-840
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• 2013

In this paper, we propose a new lung segmentation method for chest x-ray images which can take both global and local properties into account. Firstly, the initial lung segmentation is computed by applying the active shape model (ASM) which keeps the shape of deformable model from the pre-learned model and searches the image boundaries. At the second segmentation stage, we also applied the localizing region-based active contour model (LRACM) for correcting various regional errors in the initial segmentation. Finally, to measure the similarities, we calculated the Dice coefficient of the segmented area using each semiautomatic method with the result of the manually segmented area by a radiologist. The comparison experiments were performed using 5 lung x-ray images. In our experiment, the Dice coefficient with manually segmented area was $95.33%{\pm}0.93%$ for the proposed method. Effective segmentation methods will be essential for the development of computer-aided diagnosis systems for a more accurate early diagnosis and prognosis regarding lung cancer in chest x-ray images.