• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.991-998
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the image quality of the SE-EPI and SSH-TSE technique for MR DWI. Datum were analyzed for 35 PACS transmission datum(Normal part: 12 males, 13 females, Cerebral Infarction: 10(5males and 5females), and average age 68±7.32), randomly selected patients who underwent MRDWI tests. The equipment used was Ingenia CX 3.0T, SSH_TSE and SE-EPI pulse sequence and 32 Ch. head coil were used for data acquisition. Image evaluation was performed on the paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests, and was considered significant when the p value was 0.05 or less. As a result of quantitative analysis of SNR for DWI images, the mean and standard deviation values of 4 parts (WM, GM, BG, Cerebellum) in ADC (s/mm2), Diffusion b=0, 1000 images were higher in SE-EPI techniques(ADC: 120.50 ± 40, b=0: 54.50 ± 35.91, b=1000: 91.61 ± 36.63) than in SSH-TSE techniques(ADC: 99.69 ± 31.10, b=0: 43.52 ± 25.00 , b=1000: 60.74 ± 24.85)(p<0.05). The CNR values for GM-WM, BG-WM sites were also higher in SE-EPI technique (ADC: 116.08 ± 43.30, b=0:27.23 ± 09.10, b=1000: 78.50 ± 16.56) than in SSH-TSE(ADC: 101.08 ± 36.81, b=0: 23.96 ± 07.79 , b=1000: 74.30 ± 14.22). As a visual evaluation of observers, ghost artifact, magnetic susceptibility artifacts and overall image quality for SE-TSE and SSH-TSE all yielded high results from SSH-TSE techniques(ADC:3.6 ± 0.1, 2.8 ± 0.2, b=0: 4.3 ± 0.3, 3.4 ± 0.1 b=1000: 4.3 ± 0.2, 3.5 ± 0.2, p=0.000). In conclusion, the SE-EPI technique obtained an superiority in SNR and CNR measurements using SSH-TSE, SE-EPI. In the qualitative analysis, the SSH-TSE pulse sequence was obtained a high result according to the pulse sequence characteristics.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2000

Purpose: Projection-type Fast Spin Echo (PFSE) imaging is robust to patient motion or flow related artifact compared to conventional Fast Spin Echo (FSE) imaging, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast. In this paper, Tz contrast in the PFSE method is analyzed and compared with those of the FSE method with various effective echo times by computer simulation. The contrasts in the FSE and PFSE methods are also compared by experiments with volunteers. From the analysis and simulation, it is shown that ${T_2}-weighted$ images can well be obtained by the PFSE method proposed. Materials and methods: Pulse sequence for the PFSE method is implemented at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system and $T_2$ contrasts in the PFSE and FSE methods are analyzed by computer simulation and experiment with volunteers. For the simulation, a mathematical phantom composed of various $T_2$ values is devised and $T_2$ contrast in the reconstructed image by the PFSE is compared to those by the FSE method with various effective echo times. Multi-slice ${T_2}-weighted$ head images of the volunteers obtained by the PFSE method are also shown in comparison with those by the FSE method at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system. Results: From the analysis, $T_2$ contrast by the PFSE method appears similar to those by the FSE method with the effective echo time in a range of SO-lOOms. Using a mathematical phantom, contrast in the PFSE image appears close to that by the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. From experiment with volunteers, multi-slice $T_2-weighted$ images are obtained by the PFSE method having contrast similar to that of the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. Reconstructed images by the PFSE method show less motion related artifact compared to those by the FSE method. Conclusion: The projection-type FSE imaging acquires multiple radial lines with different angles in polar coordinate in k space using multiple spin echoes. The PFSE method is robust to patient motion or flow, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast compared to the FSE method. In this paper, it is shown that the PFSE method provides good $T_2$ contrast (${T_2}-weighted$ images) similar to the FSE method by both computer simulation and experiments with volunteers.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2002

Purpose : The differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis sometimes is difficult, because the affected bone marrows in both disease show similar signal intensity on conventional MR imaging. We evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-wighted MR imaging for differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Materials and methods : The spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR images of eight patients with Modic type I degenerative spines and 14 patients with infectious spondylitis diagnosed by clinical findings or CT-guided biopsies we re analyzed. The diffusion-weighted imaging sequence was based on reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (PSIF). Signal intensity changes of the vertebral bone marrow on conventional spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR imaging were compared between degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Results : On T1-weighte d images, the affeted bone marrow in both disease showed hypointense signals. On T 2-weighted images, all of type I degenerative spine and 11 of infectious spondylitis showed hyperintensity, and three of infectious spondylitis showed heterogeneo us mixed signal intensity. On diffusion-weighted MR images, all of type I degenerative spine were hypointense with peripheral high signal intensity to normal vertebral body, but infectious spondylitis was hyperintense (n = 11) and hypointense (n=3). Conclusion : Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is useful to differentiate Modic type I degenerative spine from infectious spondylitis. On diffusion-weighted images, the high singal intensity of bone marrow suggests infectious spondylitis, whereas the low signal intensity of bone marrow with peripheral focal high signal intensity suggests type I degenerative spine.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2014

Purpose : We evaluated the diagnostic value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for the detection of developmental venous anomaly (DVA). Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 1068 brain MR examinations found 28 DVAs in 28 patients (2.6%) on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. SWI, T2, and FLAIR images of 28 patients with DVA and 28 sex- and age-matched control patients without DVA were analyzed by blinded readers on each type of sequences. All images were independently reviewed by two radiologists who were blinded to other MR imaging finding. In cases of discrepancy, two reviewers reached a consensus later. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of each MR sequence for the detection of DVA were determined. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Mcnemar test. The significance level was p < 0.05. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of SWI for the detection of DVA were 85.7%, 92.9%, 92.3%, and 86.7%, respectively. T2 and FLAIR images showed sensitivity of 35.7% and 35.7%, specificity of 92.9% and 96.4%, PPV of 83.3% and 90.9%, and NPV of 59.1% and 60.0%, respectively. On SWI, the sensitivity and NPV for the detection of DVAs were significantly higher than those of T2 and FLAIR images (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SWI was sensitive and specific for the detection of DVA.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Purpose : This study proposes the keyhole method in order to improve the time resolution of the proton resonance frequency(PRF) MR temperature monitoring technique. The values of Root Mean Square (RMS) error of measured temperature value and Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR) obtained from the keyhole and full phase encoded temperature images were compared. Materials and Methods : The PRF method combined with GRE sequence was used to get MR temperature images using a clinical 1.5T MR scanner. It was conducted on the tissue-mimic 2% agarose gel phantom and swine's hock tissue. A MR compatible coaxial slot antenna driven by microwave power generator at 2.45GHz was used to heat the object in the magnetic bore for 5 minutes followed by a sequential acquisition of MR raw data during 10 minutes of cooling period. The acquired raw data were transferred to PC after then the keyhole images were reconstructed by taking the central part of K-space data with 128, 64, 32 and 16 phase encoding lines while the remaining peripheral parts were taken from the 1st reference raw data. The RMS errors were compared with the 256 full encoded self-reference temperature image while the SNR values were compared with the zero filling images. Results : As phase encoding number at the center part on the keyhole temperature images decreased to 128, 64, 32 and 16, the RMS errors of the measured temperature increased to 0.538, 0.712, 0.768 and 0.845$^{\circ}C$, meanwhile SNR values were maintained as the phase encoding number of keyhole part is reduced. Conclusion : This study shows that the keyhole technique is successfully applied to temperature monitoring procedure to increases the temporal resolution by standardizing the matrix size, thus maintained the SNR values. In future, it is expected to implement the MR real time thermal imaging using keyhole method which is able to reduce the scan time with minimal thermal variations.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate and compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) for detection and estimation of invasion depth of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) by correlation with histopathologic findings in vitro, and to find out the best MR pulse sequence for accurate delineation of tumor from surrounding normal tissue. Materials and Methods: Resected specimens of CRC from 45 patients were examined about tumor detectability and invasion depth of US using high frequency (5-17 MHz) linear transducer in a tube filled with normal saline and MRI in a 8-channel quadrate head coil. The institutional review board approved this study and informed consent was waived. MRI with seven pulse sequences of in- and out-of-phases gradient echo T1 weighted images, fast spin echo T2 weighted image and its fat suppression image, fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) and its fat suppression image, and diffusion weighted image (DWI) were performed. In each case, both imaging findings of MRI and US were evaluated independently for detection and estimation of invasion depth of tumor by consensus of two radiologists and were compared about diagnostic accuracy according to the histopathologic findings as reference standard. Seven MR pulse sequences were evaluated on the point of accurate delineation of tumor from surrounding normal tissue in each specimen. Results: In specimens of CRC, both imaging modalities of MRI (91.1%) and US (86.7%) showed relatively high diagnostic accuracy to detect tumor and evaluate invasion depth of tumor. In early CRC, diagnostic accuracy of US was 87.5% and that of MRI was 75.0%. There was no statistically significant difference between two imaging modalities (p > 0.05). The best pulse sequence among seven MR sequences for accurate delineation of tumor from surrounding normal tissue in each specimen of CRC was fast spin echo T2 weighted image. Conclusion: MRI and US show relatively high diagnostic accuracy to detect tumor and evaluate invasion depth of resected specimen of CRC. The most excellent pulse sequence of MRI for accurate delineation of tumor from surrounding normal tissue in CRC is fast spin echo T2 weighted image.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2001

Objective : The exact position of the lesion during the pallidotomy is critical to obtain the clinical improvement of parkinson's disease without damage to surrounding structure. Ventriculogrphy, CT(computed tomograpy) or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) have been used to determine the initial coordinates of stereotactic target for pallidotomy. The goal of this study was to determine whether microelectrode recording significantly improves the neurophysiologic localization of the target obtained from MRI. Methods : Twenty patients were studied. They underwent a unilateral pallidotomy. Leksell frame was applied and T1 axial images parallel to the AC-PC(anterior commissure-posterior commissure) plane using a 1.5 Tesla MRI with 3mm slice thickness were obtained. Anteroposterior coordinate of target was chosen at 2mm in front of the midcommissural point and lateral coordinate between 19 and 22mm from the midline. The vertical coordinate was calculated on coronal slice using a fast spin echo inversion recovery sequence(FSEIR) related to the position of the choroidal fissure and ranged over 4-5mm below the AC-PC plane. Confirmation of the anatomical target was done on axial slices using the same FSEIR sequence . Microrecording was done at the pallidum contralateral to the symptomatic side using an electrode with a tip diameter of $1{{\mu}m}$ diameter tip and 1.1-1.4 mOhm impedance at 1000Hz. Electrophysiologic localization of the target was also confirmed intraoperatively by macrostimulation. Results : Microrecording techniques were reliable to define the transition from the base of the pallidum which was characterized by the disappearance of spike activity and by the change of the audible background activity. Signals from high amplitude neurons firing at 200-400Hz were recorded in the pallidal base. X, Y and Z coordinates of target obtained from the MRI were within 1mm from the X, Y, Z coordinates obtained with microrecording in 16 patients (80%), 15 patients(75%), 10 patients(50%) respectively. The difference of Y coordinate between on MRI and on microrecording was 4mm in only one patient. Conclusion : The MRI was accurate to localize the target within 1mm of the error from microrecording target in 70% of the patients. 4mm discrepancy was observed only once. We conclude that MRI alone can be used to determine the target for pallidotomy in most patients. However, microrecording technique can still be extremely valuable in patents with aberrant anatomy or unusual MRI coordinates. We also consider physiologic confirmation of the target using macrostimulation to be mandatory in all cases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2012

Purpose : To compare the arterial and venous detection sites of triggering methods in contrast-enhanced-MR-venography (CE-MRV) for the evaluation of intracranial venous system. Materials and Methods: 41 healthy patients underwent CE-MRV with autotriggering at either the cavernous segment of internal carotid artery with an inserted time-delay of 6 seconds (n = 20) or the superior sagittal sinus without any timedelay (n = 21). 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium-based contrast material ($Magnevist^{(R)}$, Schering, Germany) was intravenously injected by hand injection. A sagittal fast-spoiled-gradient-echo-sequence ranging from one ear to the other was performed (TR/TE5.2/1.5, Matrix $310{\times}310$, 124 sections in the 15-cm-thick volume). 17 predefined venous structures were evaluated on all venograms by two neuroradiologists and defined as completely visible, partially visible, or none visible. Results: The rate of completely visible structures were 272 out of 323 (84%) in the arterial triggering CE-MRV and 310 out of 340 (91%) in the venous triggering CE-MRV. The venous triggering CE-MRV demonstrated an overall superior visualization of the cerebral veins than the arterial triggering CE-MRV (Fisher exact test, p < 0.006). Conclusion: CE-MRV using venous autotriggering method provides higher-quality images of the intracranial venous structures compared to that of arterial.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2023

Fiber-reinforced composites have anisotropic material properties, so the mechanical properties of composite structures can vary depending on the stacking sequence. Therefore, it is essential to design the proper stacking sequence of composite structures according to the functional requirements. However, depending on the manufacturing condition or the shape of the structure, there are many cases where the designed stacking angle is out of range, which can affect structural performance. Accordingly, it is important to analyze the stacking angle in order to confirm that the composite structure is correctly fabricated as designed. In this study, the stacking angle was predicted from real cross-sectional images of fiber-reinforced composites using convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning. Carbon fiber-reinforced composite specimens with several stacking angles were fabricated and their cross-sections were photographed on a micro-scale using an optical microscope. The training was performed for a CNN-based deep learning model using the cross-sectional image data of the composite specimens. As a result, the stacking angle can be predicted from the actual cross-sectional image of the fiber-reinforced composite with high accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics B
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• v.31B no.11
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• pp.63-77
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• 1994

This paper describes the real-time system which, through analyzing a sequence of images, can extract motional information on a moving object and can contol servo equipment to always locate the moving object at the center of an image frame. An image is a vast amount of two-dimensional signal, so it takes a lot of time to analyze the whole quantity of a given image. Especially, the time needed to load pixels from a memory to processor increase exponentially as the size of an image increases. To solve such a problem and track a moving object in real-time, this paper addresses how to selectively search the spatial and time domain. Based on the selective search of spatial and time domain, this paper suggests various types of techniques which are essential in implementing a real-time tracking system. That is, this paper describes how to detect an entrance of a moving object in the field of view of a camera and the direction of the entrance, how to determine the time interval of adjacent images, how to determine nonstationary areas formed by a moving object and calculated velocity and position information of a moving object based on the determined areas, how to control servo equipment to locate the moving object at the center of an image frame, and how to properly adjust time interval(${\Delta}$t) to track an object taking variable speed.