• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2016

Purpose: To quantitatively and qualitatively compare fat-suppressed MRI quality using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) with that using frequency selective fat-suppression (FSFS) T2- and postcontrast T1-weighted fast spin-echo images of the head and neck at 3T. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Prospective MR image analysis was performed in 36 individuals at a single-center. Axial fat suppressed T2- and postcontrast T1-weighted images with IDEAL and FSFS were compared. Visual assessment was performed by two independent readers with respect to; 1) metallic artifacts around oral cavity, 2) susceptibility artifacts around upper airway, paranasal sinus, and head-neck junction, 3) homogeneity of fat suppression, 4) image sharpness, 5) tissue contrast of pathologies and lymph nodes. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for each image sequence were assessed. Results: Both IDEAL fat suppressed T2- and T1-weighted images significantly reduced artifacts around airway, paranasal sinus, and head-neck junction, and significantly improved homogeneous fat suppression in compared to those using FSFS (P < 0.05 for all). IDEAL significantly decreased artifacts around oral cavity on T2-weighted images (P < 0.05, respectively) and improved sharpness, lesion-to-tissue, and lymph node-to-tissue contrast on T1-weighted images (P < 0.05 for all). The mean SNRs were significantly improved on both T1- and T2-weighted IDEAL images (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: IDEAL technique improves image quality in the head and neck by reducing artifacts with homogeneous fat suppression, while maintaining a high SNR.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2008

Near-field scanning microwave microscope (NSMM) has been used to characterize the electromagnetic properties of samples based on a cavity perturbation technique. We used a NSMM using a waveguide cavity to couple a metallic probe tip as a point like evanescent field emitter. We explained the quality of our NSMM system by applying the cavity perturbation theory. First, to make a shape perturbation, we inserted linear and loop probes in the waveguide resonator. To check up electric and magnetic field distribution inside the waveguide resonator by shape perturbation, we confirmed the field distribution by using a HFSS simulation. Second, to make material perturbation, we located a dielectric sample in front of the probe tip and measured reflection coefficient $(S_{11})$. We found that the resonance frequency$(f_r)$ was changed linearly as the dielectric constant of resonator$({\varepsilon}_r)$ increased when ${\Delta}{\varepsilon}\;and\;{\Delta}{\mu}$ were small.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.261-272
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• 2012

Molten Core Concrete Interaction (MCCI) is a complex process characterized by concrete ablation and volatile generation; Thermal and solutal convection in a bubble-agitated melt; Physico-chemical evolution of the corium pool with a wide solidification range (of the order of 1000 K). Twelve experiments have been carried out in the VULCANO facility with prototypic corium and sustained heating. The dry oxidic corium tests have contributed to show that silica-rich concrete experience an anisotropic ablation. This unexpected ablation pattern is quite reproducible and can be recalculated, provided an empirical anisotropy factor is assumed. Dry tests with oxide and metal liquid phases have also yielded unexpected results: a larger than expected steel oxidation and unexpected topology of the metallic phase (at the bottom of the cavity and also on the vertical concrete walls). Finally, VULCANO has proved its interest for the study of mitigation solutions such as the COMET bottom flooding core catcher.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.202-207
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• 2017

This paper presents the performance of a planar, low-profile, and wide-gain-bandwidth leaky-wave slit antenna in different thickness values of high-permittivity gallium arsenide substrates at terahertz frequencies. The proposed antenna designs consisted of a periodic array of $5{\times}5$ metallic square patches and a planar feeding structure. The patch array was printed on the top side of the substrate, and the feeding structure, which is an open-ended leaky-wave slot line, was etched on the bottom side of the substrate. The antenna performed as a Fabry-Perot cavity antenna at high thickness levels ($H=160{\mu}m$ and $H=80{\mu}m$), thus exhibiting high gain but a narrow gain bandwidth. At low thickness levels ($H=40{\mu}m$ and $H=20{\mu}m$), it performed as a metasurface antenna and showed wide-gain-bandwidth characteristics with a low gain value. Aside from the advantage of achieving useful characteristics for different antennas by just changing the substrate thickness, the proposed antenna design exhibited a low profile, easy integration into circuit boards, and excellent low-cost mass production suitability.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2001

In order to fabricate uncooled IR sensors for pyroelectric applications, multilayered thin films of Pt/PbTiO$_3$/Pt/Ti/Si$_3$N$_4$/SiO$_2$/Si and thermally isolating membrane structures of square-shaped/cantilevers-shaped microstructures were prepared. Cavity was also fabricated via direct silicon wafer bonding and etching technique. Metallic Pt layer was deposited by ion beam sputtering while PbTiO$_3$ thin films were prepared by sol-gel technique. Micromachining technology was used to fabricate microstructured-membrane detectors. In order to avoid a difficulty of etching active layers, silicon-nitride membrane structure was fabricated through the direct bonding and etching of the silicon wafer. Although multilayered thin film deposition and device fabrications were processed independently, these could b integrated to make IR micro-sensor devices.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2012

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2024

The increasing demand for metallic minerals due to global growth and the continued exploitation of near-surface minerals requires safe and efficient ways to mine ores present in deep mines. In deep mines, stresses concentrated around the cavity increase, which can lead to problems such as induced seismicity and rockbursts. In addition, the transfer of energy from blasting to deeply located faults can cause fault slip, which can lead to earthquakes, and controlling these events is key to deep mining methods. In this technical report, we will introduce the Underhand Closed Bench (UCB) mining method, which can control possible accidents and increase productivity when mining in deep mines.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.508-517
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• 2004

We described a near-field scanning microwave microscope which uses a high-quality dielectric resonator with a tunable screw. The operating frequency is f=4.5 5GHz. The probe tip is mounted in a cylindrical resonant cavity coupled to a dielectric resonator We developed a hybrid tip combining a reduced length of the tapered part with a small apex. In order to understand the function of the probe, we fabricated three different tips using a conventional chemical etching technique and observed three different NSMM images for patterened Cr films on glass substrates. We measured the reflection coefficient of different metal thin film samples with the same thickness of 300m and compared with theoretical impedance respectly. By tuning the tunable screw coming through the top cover, we could improve sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and spatial resolution to better than $1{\mu}m$. To demonstrate the ability of local microwave characterization, the surface resistance of metallic thin films has been mapped.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate marginal leakage of bulk fill flowable composite resin filling with different curing time by using microcomputed tomography technology. Materials and Methods: 30 previously extracted human molars were randomly divided into 6 groups based upon restorative system and different curing time. Class II cavities (vertical slot cavities) were prepared. An individual metallic matrix was used to build up the proximal wall. The SonicFill or SureFil SDR flow was inserted into the preparation by using 1 bulk increment, followed by light polymerization for different curing times. The different exposure times were 20, 40, and 60 seconds. All specimens were submitted to 5,000 thermal cycles for artificial aging. Micro-CT scanning was performed by using SkyScan 1272. One evaluator assessed microleakage of silver nitrated solution at the resin-dentin interface. The 3D image of each leakage around the restoration was reconstructed with CT-Analyser V.1.14.4. The leakage was analyzed with the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Significant differences were observed between the light curing times, but no significant differences were found between the bulk fill composite resins. Increasing in the photoactivation time resulted in greater microleakage in all the experimental groups. Those subjected to 60 seconds of light curing showed higher microleakage means than those exposed for 20 seconds and 40 seconds. Conclusion: Increasing the photoactivation time is factor that may increase marginal microlekage of the bulk fill composite resins. Further, micro-CT can nondestructively detect leakage around the resin composite restoration in three dimensions.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.33.1-33.12
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• 2019

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the restorative technique on the mechanical response of endodontically-treated upper premolars with mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavity. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight premolars received MOD preparation (4 groups, n = 12) with different restorative techniques: glass ionomer cement + composite resin (the GIC group), a metallic post + composite resin (the MP group), a fiberglass post + composite resin (the FGP group), or no endodontic treatment + restoration with composite resin (the CR group). Cusp strain and load-bearing capacity were evaluated. One-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test were used with ${\alpha}=5%$. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to calculate displacement and tensile stress for the teeth and restorations. Results: MP showed the highest cusp (p = 0.027) deflection ($24.28{\pm}5.09{\mu}m/{\mu}m$), followed by FGP ($20.61{\pm}5.05{\mu}m/{\mu}m$), CR ($17.62{\pm}7.00{\mu}m/{\mu}m$), and GIC ($17.62{\pm}7.00{\mu}m/{\mu}m$). For load-bearing, CR ($38.89{\pm}3.24N$) showed the highest, followed by GIC ($37.51{\pm}6.69N$), FGP ($29.80{\pm}10.03N$), and MP ($18.41{\pm}4.15N$) (p = 0.001) value. FEA showed similar behavior in the restorations in all groups, while MP showed the highest stress concentration in the tooth and post. Conclusions: There is no mechanical advantage in using intraradicular posts for endodontically-treated premolars requiring MOD restoration. Filling the pulp chamber with GIC and restoring the tooth with only CR showed the most promising results for cusp deflection, failure load, and stress distribution.