• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2020

High-quality computed tomography (CT) images enable precise lesion detection and accurate diagnosis. A lot of studies have been performed to improve CT image quality while reducing radiation dose. Recently, deep learning-based techniques for improving CT image quality have been developed and show superior performance compared to conventional techniques. In this study, a super-resolution convolutional neural network (SRCNN) model was used to improve the spatial resolution of CT images, and image quality according to the hyperparameters, which determine the performance of the SRCNN model, was evaluated in order to verify the effect of hyperparameters on the SRCNN model. Profile, structural similarity (SSIM), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) were measured to evaluate the performance of the SRCNN model. The results showed that the performance of the SRCNN model was improved with an increase of the numbers of epochs and training sets, and the learning rate needed to be optimized for obtaining acceptable image quality. Therefore, the SRCNN model with optimal hyperparameters is able to improve CT image quality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.415-417
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• 2002

Images of microcalcification specks showed large variation in conventional radiographs of phantoms which are approved for mammography image quality standard by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This kind of variation is not appropriate for image quality standards because the number of specks are visually counted in images and that number is important in image quality evaluation. Our study using synchrotron radiation (SR) imaging revealed the overlapping of micro-sized air bubble(s) to some specks, and also the structural deformation or crackings. Eight phantoms approved by ACR from two different makers and an air-bubble phantom were examined. SR imaging was performed at a synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8, in Japan. The image-detector was a fluorescent-screen optical-lens coupling system using a CCD camera with a spatial resolution of 6 $\square$m. Objects when imaged with longer sample-to-detector distance show edge enhancement due to a difference in refraction indices, that is refraction enhancement. Refraction-enhanced SR images revealed that some of specks carried foreign objects, which were proven to be air. In phantoms provided by one maker, attaching/overlapping airs were observed for 62 out of 150 specks (41%) , with a higher incidence for the smallest specks. A speck becomes hardly visible in a conventional radiograph when air(s) overlaps the majority part of a speck, though depending on the size of the air-inclusion and on its configuration. Those airs might have been adsorbed on a speck surface before being embedded and then introduced into the matrix together with specks. Our study using SR imaging has clearly shown the nature of defects in some mammography phantoms which seriously degrade the quality as an image standard.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 2008

This paper represents the final results of a research program sponsored by the European Commission through project WIND-CHIME ($\underline{W}$ide Range Non-$\underline{IN}$trusive $\underline{D}$evices toward $\underline{C}$onservation of $\underline{HI}$storical Monuments in the $\underline{ME}$diterranean Area), in which the possibility of using advanced seismic protection technologies to preserve historical monuments in the Mediterranean area is investigated. In the current research, the dynamic characteristics of two outstanding Mamluk-Style minarets, which similar minarets were reported to experience extensive damage during Dahshur 1992 earthquake, are investigated. The first minaret is the Qusun minaret (1337 A.D, 736 Hijri Date (H.D)) located in El-Suyuti cemetery on the southern side of the Salah El-Din citadel. The minaret is currently separated from the surrounding building and is directly resting on the ground (no vaults underneath). The total height of the minaret is 40.28 meters with a base rectangular shaft of about 5.42 ${\times}$ 5.20 m. The second minaret is the southern minaret of Al-Sultaniya (1340 A.D, 739 H.D). It is located about 30.0 meters from Qusun minaret, and it is now standing alone but it seems that it used to be attached to a huge unidentified structure. The style of the minaret and its size attribute it to the first half of the fourteenth century. The minaret total height is 36.69 meters and has a 4.48 ${\times}$ 4.48 m rectangular base. Field investigations were conducted to obtain: (a) geometrical description of the minarets, (b) material properties of the minarets' stones, and (c) soil conditions at the minarets' location. Ambient vibration tests were performed to determine the modal parameters of the minarets such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. A $1/16^{th}$ scale model of Qusun minaret was constructed at Cairo University Concrete Research Laboratory and tested under free vibration with and without SMA wire dampers. The contribution of SMA wire dampers to the structural damping coefficient was evaluated under different vertical loads and vibration amplitudes. Experimental results were used along with the field investigation data to develop a realistic 3-D finite element model that can be used for seismic risk evaluation of the minarets. Examining the updated finite element models under different seismic excitations indicated the vulnerability of such structures to earthquakes with medium to high a/v ratio. The use of SMA wire dampers was found feasible for reducing the seismic risk for this type of structures.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.303-312
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• 2008

Multi-axial compression tests have been frequently adopted for the evaluation of material properties of rock cores and rock fracture model tests. Special care has to be applied on the boundary condition between the specimen and loading platen to draw the precise test results of the multi-axial compression tests. With the use of dry steel platen, the stress rotation will occur, due to the frictional restraint from the boundary between the specimen and loading platen. The restraint will deviate the expected test results under the conditions of the given external pressures. Various methods have been applied to reduce the side restraint along the specimen/loading platen interface. The steel brush type loading platen is one example of the attempts. In this paper, a new type of loading platen is introduced to overcome the limitation caused by the use of the brush type loading platen, which requires some internal space for the installation of the brushes. The new type of loading platen, roller supported steel piston type loading platen. is constituted of shot steel pistons which have sufficient stiffness to deliver the external pressure and the shaft type roller installed at the rear of the pistons. The pistons are designed to follow the local deformation of the specimens. In this paper, structural details of the loading platen are presented and frictional and biaxial compression tests results are shown to verify the required functions of the loading platen. Furthermore, calibration process is followed by a comparison between the test results and numerical analyses.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2019

There are many differences in tran-epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin water contents, and skin elasticity, etc between face and forearm skin. In particular, our previous studies showed that elasticity of face skin was significantly differed from forearm depending on full hydration. So, we have studied the surface properties of corneocyte using atomic force microscopy (AFM), assuming that the differences between face and forearm skin would be associated with the surface properties of corneocyte. The surface roughness of corneocyte and villus-like projections (VPs) were measured. Furthermore, qualitative comparison among the surface of face, forearm, and lip corneocyte was performed. Corneocytes were collected by tape-stripping on both face and forearm of 8 volunteers, and the bottom surface of corneocytes were measured at 40 ㎛ × 40 ㎛ using AFM. Results showed that the lower surface roughness of face corneocytes was 388.34 ± 86.189 nm, and that of forearm corneocytes was 662.27 ± 224.257 nm, which confirmed that the lower surface of forearm corneocytes was more rough than that of face corneocytes (p < 0.001). Compared with the amount of VPs, lip corneocytes were the highest followed by face corneocytes, and forearm corneocytes were the lowest. From these results, it is conclued that the surface properties of corneocytes are somewhat involved in the property differences between the face and the forearm skin and VPs can be a useful parameter for the study of corneocyte by site. In addition, AFM is a very useful device for the comparative study of nano-structural differences on the surface of corneocytes. More studies can lead to develop a new evaluation method of corneocytes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.311-321
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• 2015

In this study, an experimental study to evaluate the seismic performance of beam-to-column connection for medium and low-rise building was conducted. Five connections using SHN490 steel were made with test variables such as flange welded or bolted, web welded or bolted. Specimen SHN-W-W is web welded and flange welded type. Specimen SHN-W-B is web welded and flange bolted type. Specimen SHN-B-W is web bolted and flange welded type. Specimen SHN-B-B is web bolted and flange bolted type. Specimen SHN-EP is a connection with the end plate to the beam ends. Cyclic loadings was applied at the tip of beam following KBC2009 load protocol. The load vs rotation curves for different connection are shown and final failure mode shapes are summarized. The connections are classified in terms of stiffness and strength as semi-rigid or rigid connection. Energy dissipation capacities for seismic performance evaluation were compared.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2010

There are many restrictions in the application of high-strength HSSs, including yield strength and yield ratio for the 600-MPa steel. The AISC and Canadian codes recommend that the yield strength and yield ratio of HSS members be 360 MPa and 80%, respectively. It is important to understand the true buckling behaviors of HSSs using high-strength steel at the limit states. There are many experimental data regarding the rectangular HSSs, and the circular ones are not enough for high-strength steel. Therefore, this study was conducted to create a better understanding of the buckling behaviors of the 600- and 400-MPa steels based on the results of the finite-element analysis that was done before the experiment. To understand the structural behaviors of the aforementioned steels, the width-to-thickness ratios, the angle of the web members, the yield strength, and the gap of the web members were selected as the main parameters in this study, and ABAQUS, a general finite-element program, was used.As a result, the compression web member reached elastic buckling in the 600-MPa steel and inelastic buckling in the 400-MPa steel. A brittle fracture occurred in the case where the yield ratio was greater than 80%. At the same time, it was found that the limit strength determined via FEM analysis had a higher value compared to the code evaluation with the variation of the width-to-thickness ratio in the main code member. The change in the connection load in high-strength steels was not identified by the other factors.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.884-889
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• 2015

Appropriate evaluation of thermal insulation property of structural member and valid control of cooling/heating energy are important for improving building's energy efficiency. The typical heating system of house in Korea is the floor heating one. The radiation heating system is not only appropriate to climate and geographic conditions of Korea, but also advantageous to provide emotional comfort by the warm feeling of floor. Based on living conditions in Korea, scaled models of the wooden house and concrete house were designed. The ceiling was made of styrofoam insulation and the four sided walls and bottom were made of plywood and concrete, respectively. The floor was heated by heating film. Indoor vertical temperature distributions by floor heating system were measured by thermocouple, and surface temperatures on walls were measured by infrared thermography. Also, thermal insulation property of wooden wall was evaluated to build database for improving energy efficiency of wooden building. It is expected that collected data during tests of various types of floor and wall composition could be referenced for evaluating thermal environment of actual conditions of houses.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2011

We manufactured the Vac-lok that can be applied to patient of special body shape and need to special set-up position and evaluated the usefulness in the radiation therapy. The manufacture Vac-lok, It was used EVA resin and biobeadform of a diameter 1.5 mm. carried out the test of functionality, structural and analyzed the relative reproducibility of phantoms and patients. During the total period of radiation therapy, Vacuum pressure bring variety to a very small amount in the test of functionality of the manufacture Vac-lok. But It was a negligible quantity. The manufacture Vac-lok improved the relative reproducibility of phantoms than the existing Vac-lok and tolerance has a confidence less than 4% error. Also, relative reproducibility of patient increased error than phantom in the antero-posterior and lateral plan. However, the maximum set-up error was less than ${\pm}\;2.3$ mm. In conclusion, If tolerance set-up error of radiotherapy is less than ${\pm}\;3$ mm, the manufacture Vac-lok was enough possible to use and improvement of reproducibility, considering supply with the Vac-lok made to measure of special patient that produced at a low price and without delay.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.412-425
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• 2012

Concrete Soil Erosion Control Dam, which blocks flow of debris flow in torrential stream, are reported to lose expected functions due to structural failure and collapses, caused by poor construction, material deterioration and external impacts. In this paper, an integrity assessment technique for debris barriers was proposed, which allows preliminary detection of problems inherent in debris barriers. The proposed integrity assessment technique is a non-destructive method based on SASW method, one of surface-wave tests. In this paper, a practical procedure and analysis guidelines in applying the SASW technique to debris barrier was proposed and its validity was verified using five decrepit debris barriers older than 20-year old. As a result, the SASW method was validated for the reliable grade evaluation method for concrete soil erosion control dam, and the resulting grades turned out to agree with the results determined by Sabang Associations.