• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.5
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• pp.499-516
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• 2023

To defend against harmful gamma radiation, new types of materials for use in the construction of heavyweight concrete (HWC) are still needed to be developed. This research introduces new materials to be employed as a partial replacement for fine aggregate (FA) to manufacture high-performance heavyweight concrete (HPHWC). These materials include hematite, black sand, ilmenite, and magnetite, with substitution ratios of 50% and 100% of FA. In this research, the hardening and fresh characteristics of HPHWC were obtained. Concrete samples' Gamma-ray linear attenuation coefficient was evaluated utilizing a gamma source of Co-60 through the thicknesses of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 cm. High temperatures were studied for HPHWC samples, which were exposed to up to 700℃ for two hours. Energy-dispersive x-rays and a scanning electron microscope carried out microstructure analyses. Magnetite as an FA attained the lowest compressive strength of 87.1 MPa, but the best radiation protection characteristics and the highest density of 3100 kg/m³ were achieved. After 28 days, the attenuation efficiency of concrete mixtures was increased by 6.5% when fine sand was replaced with black sand at a ratio of 50%. HPHWC, which contains hematite, black sand, ilmenite, and magnetite, is designed to reduce environmental and health dangers and be used in medicinal, military, and civil applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.170-184
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• 2023

Purpose To assess the magnitude of differences between attenuation values of the true non-contrast image (TNC) and virtual non-contrast image (VNC) derived from twin-beam dual-energy CT (tbDECT) and dual-source DECT (dsDECT). Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 62 patients who underwent liver dynamic DECT with tbDECT (n = 32) or dsDECT (n = 30). Arterial VNC (AVNC), portal VNC (PVNC), and delayed VNC (DVNC) were reconstructed using multiphasic DECT. Attenuation values of multiple intra-abdominal organs (n = 11) on TNCs were subsequently compared to those on multiphasic VNCs. Further, we investigated the percentage of cases with an absolute difference between TNC and VNC of ≤ 10 Hounsfield units (HU). Results For the mean attenuation values of TNC and VNC, 33 items for each DECT were compared according to the multiphasic VNCs and organs. More than half of the comparison items for each DECT showed significant differences (tbDECT 17/33; dsDECT 19/33; Bonferroni correction p < 0.0167). The percentage of cases with an absolute difference ≤ 10 HU was 56.7%, 69.2%, and 78.6% in AVNC, PVNC, and DVNC in tbDECT, respectively, and 70.5%, 78%, and 78% in dsDECT, respectively. Conclusion VNCs derived from the two DECTs were insufficient to replace TNCs because of the considerable difference in attenuation values.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.147-151
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• 2016

Tibial defect, or fracture is very routine musculoskeletal case which brings fully uncomfortable and painful situations to patient. Moreover, it has long hospitalization period because of its risk of non-union. There are many studies using ultrasound, vibration, and laser for bone regeneration to figure out fast bone healing. Among them, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is already known that it is very easy to treat and may have positive effect for bone regeneration. However, LLLT has uncertain energy dose because of scattering and absorption of laser in tissue. In this study, we used interstitial LLLT to treat tibial defect in animal study. The Interstitial LLLT can overcome some limitations caused by laser scattering or absorption in tissue medium. The results were evaluated using u-CT which can calculate X-ray attenuation coefficient and bone volume of bone defect area. These results showed that interstitial LLLT may affect fast bone healing process in early phase.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.759-762
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• 2003

The epitaxially grown Mg-doped GaN thin film was prepared by MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) for a SAW(Surface Acoustic Wave) filter. Mg-doped GaN thin film had enough properties for a SAW filter which include crystallinity and morphology. The surface morphology and crystalline of the Mg-doped GaN thin films were characterized using AFM and an X-ray rocking curve. The SAW filter, which was fabricated by lift-off process and frequency response, was measured by HP 8753C network analyzer. Center frequency was 96.687 MHz and SAW velocity was 5801 m/s when wavelength(λ) was 60${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. Insertion loss was over -10 dB, Q was factor over 200, and side lobe attenuation was over 22 dB which was suitable for use as a SAW filter. Electro-mechanical coupling coefficient (k$^2$) was calculated from the measured data. k$^2$ was from 1 % to 1.44 %. The fabricated SAW filter using Mg-doped GaN/sapphire structure has good qualities as a filter and will be used as a SAW filter for operating RF frequency.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2020

The prevalence of pulmonary pargonimiasis in Korea has been steadily decreasing due to develop of the public health, and there have been few clinical cases of paragonimiasis infections, especially in pneumothorax. A 22-year-old man referred to emergency department for dyspnea and chest pain. The right lung was totally collapsed on a chest X-ray. We emergently performed a closed thoracostomy with a 28-Fr chest tube. However, the air leak from the chest tube persisted for three days after the closed thoracostomy. A chest computed tomography showed multiple subpleural consolidative nodular lesions and mixed ground-glass attenuation nodules. We potentially suspected a secondary pneumothorax resulting from pulmonary paragonimiasis infection because the patient was a Chinese man who was working at a Korean restaurant. We decided to perform a medical treatment instead of pulmonary wedge resections. The air leak was discontinued three days after the prescription of praziquantel. The patient was discharged nine days after the admission. We suggest that anti-parasitic drugs are very effective in the secondary pneumothorax resulting from paragonimiasis.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.191-196
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• 1995

Using sol-gel processing method, thin films of lathanum modified lead titanate(PLT) on Corning 7059 glass were prepared. A differential thermal analysis (DTA/TG) curve of gel powder and infrared spectra (FT-IR) of the films were measured to estimate residual organices in them. The heat-treated films were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD). Microstructures of the films were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Optical properties of the films were determined by a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The waveguiding properties and optical attenuation were measured with the end coupling method and the cut back method. Effects of the drying conditions on the transmittance and the propagation loss of the films were investigated. Experimemtal results showed that the content of residual organics in the film decreased as the drying temperature of the film increased. As the La content of the film increased, the grain size decreased and the transmittance increased. The transmittances of the films increased with the increasing of the drying temperature. The propagation losses in the film decreased as the drying temperature increased.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2010

Purpose: The X-ray attenuation coefficient based on CT images is used for attenuation correction in PET/CT. The polychromatic X-ray beam can introduce beam-hardening artifact on CT images. The aims of the study were to evaluate the effect of dental metal prostheses in phantom and patients on apparent tracer activity measured with PET/CT when using CT attenuation correction. Materials and Methods: 40 normal patients (mean age $54{\pm}12$) was scanned between Jan and Feb 2010. NEMA(National Electrical Manufactures Association) PET $Phantom^{TM}$ (NU2-1994) was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG injected into the water that insert implant and metal prostheses dental cast. Region of interest were drawn in non-artifact region, bright steak artifact region and dark streak artifact region on the same transaxial CT and PET slices. Patients and phantom with dental metal prostheses and dental implant were evaluated the change rate of CT Number and $SUV_{mean}$ in PET/CT. A paired t-test was performed to compare the ratio and the difference of the calculated values. Results: In patients with dental metal prostheses, $SUV_{mean}$ was reduced 19.64% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the brightstreak artifact region whereas was increased 90.1% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In phantom with dental metal prostheses, $SUV_{mean}$ was reduced 18.1% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 18.0% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In patients with dental implant, $SUV_{mean}$ was increased 19.1% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 96.62% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In phantom with dental implant, $SUV_{mean}$ was increased 14.4% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 7.0% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. Conclusion: When CT is used for attenuation correction in patients with dental metal prostheses, 19.1% reduced $SUV_{mean}$ is anticipated in the dark streak artifact region on CT images. The dark streak artifacts of CT by dental metal prostheses may cause false negative finding in PET/CT. We recommend that the non-attenuation corrected PET images also be evaluated for clinical use.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.949-959
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• 2021

The current study aims to explore the shielding properties of multi-component borate-based glass series. Seven glass-samples with composition of (80-y)H₃BO₃-10ZnO-10Na₂O-yBaO where (y = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol.%) were synthesized by melt-quench method. Various shielding features for photons, neutrons, and protons were determined for all prepared samples. XCOM, Phy-X program, and SRIM code were performed to determine and explain several shielding properties such as equivalent atomic number, exposure build-up factor, specific gamma-ray constants, effective removal cross-section (Σ_R), neutron scattering and absorption, Mass Stopping Power (MSP) and projected range. The energy ranges for photons and protons were 0.015-15 MeV and 0.01-10 MeV, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) was also determined experimentally by utilizing two radioactive sources (¹⁶⁶Ho and ¹³⁷Cs). Consistent results were obtained between experimental and XCOM values in determining μ/ρ of the new glasses. The addition of BaO to the glass matrix led to enhance the μ/ρ and specific gamma-ray constants of glasses. Whereas the remarkable reductions in Σ_R, MSP, and projected range values were reported with increasing BaO concentrations. The acquired results nominate the use of these glasses in different radiation shielding purposes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.278-284
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• 2023

The synthetic B₂O₃-As₂O₃ glass ceramic are prepared to investigate the physical properties and the radiation shielding capabilities with the variation of concentration of the As₂O₃ with 10, 20, 30, and 40%, respectively. XRD analyses are performed on the fabricated glass-ceramic and depicted the improvement of crystallinity by adding As₂O₃. The radiation shielding properties are studied for the B₂O₃-As₂O₃ glass ceramic. The values of linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) are varied with the variation of incident photon gamma energy (23.1-103 keV). The LAC values enhanced from 12.19 cm^-1-37.75 cm^-1 by raising the As₂O₃ concentration from 10 to 40 mol% at low gamma energy (23.1 keV) for BAs10 and BAs40, respectively. Among the shielding parameters, the half-value layer, transmission factor, and radiation protection efficiency are estimated. Furthermore, the fabricated samples of glass ceramic have low manufacturing costs and good shielding features compared to the previous work. It can be concluded the B₂O₃-As₂O₃ glass ceramic is appropriate to apply in X-ray or low-energy gamma-ray shielding applications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 1997

Purpose : The Dual-Energy Quantitative Computed Tomography(DEQCT) was compared with bone equivalent $K_2HPO_4$ standard solution and ash weight of animal cadaveric trabecular bone in the measurement of bone mineral contents(BMC). Method and Materials : The attenuation coefficient of tissues highly depends on the radiation energy density and effective atomic number of composition, The bone mineral content of DEQCT in this experiments was determined from empirical constants and mass attenuation coefficients of bone,fat and soft tissue equivalent solution in two photon spectra. In this experiments, the BMC of DEQCT with 80 and $120kV_p$ X rays was compared to ash weight of animal trabecular bone. Results : We obtained the mass attenuation coefficient of 0.2409 0.5608 and 0.2206 in $80kV_p$, and 0.2046, 0.3273 and $0.1971cm^2/g$ in $120kV_p$ X-ray spectra for water bone and fat equivalent materials, respectively. The BMC with DEQCT was acomplished with empirical constants $K_1=0.3232,\;K_2$=0.2450 and mass attenuation coefficients has very closed to ash weight of animal trabecular bone The BMC of empirical DEQCT and that of manufacturing DEQCT were correlated with ash weight as a correlation r= 0.998 and r= 0.996, respectively. Conclusion : The BMC of empirical DEQCT using the experimental mass attenuation coefficients and that of manufacture have showed very close to ash weight of animal trabecular bone.