• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2022

In SPECT image, scatter count is the cause of quantitative count error and image quality degradation. This study is to evaluate the accuracy of CT based SC(CTSC) and energy window based SC(EWSC) as the comparison with existing Non SC. SPECT/CT images were obtained after filling air in order to acquire a reference image without the influence of scatter count inside the Triple line insert phantom setting hot rod(^99mTc 74.0 MBq) in the middle and each SPECT/CT image was obtained each separately after filling water instead of air in order to derive the influence of scatter count under the same conditions. For EWSC, 9 sub-energy windows were set additionally in addition to main energy window(140 keV, 20%) and then, images were acquired at the same time and five types of EWSC including DPW(dual photo-peak window)10%, DEW(dual energy window)20%, TEW(triple energy window)10%, TEW5.0%, TEW2.5% were used. Under the condition without fluctuations in primary count, total count was measured by drawing volume of interest (VOI) in the images of the two conditions and then, the ratio of scatter count of total counts was calculated as percent scatter fraction(%SF) and the count error with image filled with water was evaluated with percent normalized mean-square error(%NMSE) based on the image filled with air. Based on the image filled with air, %SF of images filled with water to which each SC method was applied is non scatter correction(NSC) 37.44, DPW 27.41, DEW 21.84, TEW10% 19.60, TEW5% 17.02, TEW2.5% 14.68, CTSC 5.57 and the scatter counts were removed the most in CTSC and %NMSE is NSC 35.80, DPW 14.28, DEW 7.81, TEW10% 5.94, TEW5% 4.21, TEW2.5% 2.96, CTSC 0.35 and the error in CTSC was found to be the lowest. In SPECT/CT images, the application of each scatter correction method used in the experiment could improve the quantitative count error caused by the influence of scatter count. In particular, CTSC showed the lowest %NMSE(=0.35) compared to existing EWSC methods, enabling relatively accurate scatter correction.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.231-242
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• 1976

The effects of temperature and pressure of leaching water on the leaching of radionuclides from bitumen-waste products were studied. The principal results are as follows: The fraction of $^{90}$ Sr and $^{137}$ Cs leached for periods of up to 120 days at 8atm was 2.1$\times$10$^{-6}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ , day$^{-1}$ and 6.02$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ respectively and at 5$^{\circ}C$, 1.7$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ and 4.01$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ respectively. These values were lower than those in atmospheric pressure and room temperature. No diffence in the leaching rate with sea and distilled water was observed for the bitumen-waste products containing 40wt% salts. It appears that these results could be saved by improving safety in the dumping of sea. The effect of the softening point of pure asphalt or bitumen-waste product by $^{60}$ Co irradiation was increased with increasing total dose. Irradiation of asphalts at a total dose of 5.8$\times$10$^{8}$ rad showed no evidence of volume and caused no swelling. The functional groups of blown asphalt by infrared spectra are also identified.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2023

The main purpose of the current research is to develop an efficient two variables trigonometric shear deformation beam theory to investigate the buckling behavior of symmetric and non-symmetric functionally graded carbon nanotubes reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beam resting on an elastic foundation with various boundary conditions. The proposed theory obviates the use to shear correction factors as it satisfies the parabolic variation of through-thickness shear stress distribution. The composite beam is made of a polymeric matrix reinforced by aligned and distributed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with different patterns of reinforcement. The material properties of the FG-CNTRC beam are estimated by using the rule of mixture. The governing equilibrium equations are solved by using new analytical solutions based on the Galerkin method. The robustness and accuracy of the proposed analytical model are demonstrated by comparing its results with those available by other researchers in the existing literature. Moreover, a comprehensive parametric study is presented and discussed in detail to show the effects of CNTs volume fraction, distribution patterns of CNTs, boundary conditions, length-to-thickness ratio, and spring constant factors on the buckling response of FG-CNTRC beam. Some new referential results are reported for the first time, which will serve as a benchmark for future research.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 1994

The crystallization behavior of the amorphous $Fe_{73.5}Cu_{1}Nb_{3}Si_{16.5}B_{6}$ alloy with isothermal annealing at $552^{\circ}C$ was studied by $M\"{o}ssbauer$ spectroscopy. The amorphous phase was revealed to coexist together with $Do_{3}-FeSi$ nanocrystalline and Cu-duster in annealed alloys by $M\"{o}ssbauer$ spectrum analysis. At the early stage of crystallization, Si content of FeSi is high due to the creation of Cu-cluster, and decreases with annealing until 60 minutes, which results in the increase in the mean hyperfine field of FeSi, and thereafter keeps constant. After 60 minutes, the decrease in the mean hyperfine field of the residual armrphous, in spite of a slight change in the volume fraction of the FeSi and the residual armrphous, is caused by the increase in the content of Nb and B in residual amorphous phase. Both directions of the hyperfine field, those of the FeSi and the residual amorphous, become randomly oriented in about 60 minutes. For FeSi and Cu-duster, the Avrami exponents are 0.51 and O.65, the activation energies are 2.35 eV and 2.44 eV, and the incubation times are 2.4 minutes and 0.8 minutes respectively. Earlier formation of Cu-duster than that of FeSi is coincidence with the fact that Cu atom promotes the nucleation of the FeSi.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2010

Effects of $Ca(OH)_2$ concentration (0.16~0.64 wt%), surfactant concentration (2~16 wt%), total volumetric flow rate (3~6 L/min) and $CO_2$ volume fraction $(0.3{\sim}0.6)$ on morphology, crystal structure, mean particle diameter, aggregation and specific surface area of the precipitated $CaCO_3$ were investigated in the slurry bubble column reactor. Experiments were carried out in acrylic reactor ($0.11\;m-ID{\times}1.0\;m-high$) with a internal tube ($0.04\;m-ID{\times}1.0\;m-high$h). The reaction time of $CaCO_3$ synthesis decreased with adding Dispex N40 of the anionic surfactant. The reaction rate of $Ca(OH)_2$ increased with increasing the volumetric flow rate of $CO_2$. From SEM images, the single crystal of $CaCO_3$ increased with increasing the reaction rate in the saturated concentration of $Ca(OH)_2$ (0.16 wt %) and the concentration of Dispex N40 (2 wt%). The mean particle size of $CaCO_3$ varied with adding Dispex N40. In addition, the specific surface area of $CaCO_3$ increased with adding of surfactant (2 wt%) from $35m^2/g$ to $44m^2/g$ at the volumetric flow rate of $CO_2$ (0.9 L/min) and the concentration of $Ca(OH)_2$(0.64 wt %).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.465-474
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• 2023

The effects of La³⁺ substitution for Sr²⁺-site on the crystal structure and the dielectric properties of (Ba_0.7Sr_0.3-3x/2La_x) (Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ (BSLTZ) (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) ceramics were investigated. The structural characteristics of the BSLTZ ceramics were quantitatively evaluated using the Rietveld refinement method from X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. For the specimens sintered at 1,550 ℃ for 6 h, a single phase with a perovskite structure and homogeneous microstructure were observed for the entire range of compositions. With increasing La³⁺ substitution (x), the unit cell volume decreased because the ionic size of La³⁺ (1.36 Å) ions is smaller than that of Sr²⁺ (1.44 Å) ions. With increasing La³⁺ substitution (x), the tetragonal phase fraction increased due to the A-site cation size mismatch effect. Dielectric constant (ε_r) increased with the La³⁺ substitution (x) due to the increase in tetragonality (c/a) and the average B-site bond valence of the ABO₃ perovskite. The BSLTZ ceramics showed a higher dielectric loss due to the smaller grain size than that of (Ba_0.7Sr_0.3)(Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ ceramics. BSLTZ (x = 0.02) ceramics met the X7R specification proposed by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1157-1164
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• 2023

This study measures the additional dose for each treatment area using kV X-ray based OBI (On-Board Imager) and CBCT (Cone-Beam CT), which have excellent spatial resolution and contrast, and evaluates the adequacy and stability of radiation management aspects of IGRT. The subjects of the experiment were examined with OBI and CBCT attached to a linear accelerator (Clinac IX), and ring-shaped Halcyon CBCT under imaging conditions for each treatment area, and the dose at the center was measured using an ion chamber. OBI single fraction dose was measured as 0.77 mGy in the head area, 3.04 mGy in the chest area, and 7.19 mGy in the pelvic area. The absorbed doses from the two devices, Clinac IX CBCT and Halcyon CBCT, were measured to be similar in the pelvic area, at 70.04 mGy and 70.45 mGy. and in chest CBCT, the Clinac IX absorbed dose (70.05 mGy) was higher than the Halcyon absorbed dose (21.01 mGy). The absorbed dose to the head area was also higher than that of Clinac IX (9.08 mGy) and Halcyon (5.44 mGy). In kV X-ray-based IGRT, additional radiation exposure due to photoelectric absorption may affect the overall volume of the treatment area, and caution is required.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.435-440
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• 2023

This study aimed to enhance the thermal conductivity of B₄C/Al composite materials, commonly used in transport/storage containers for spent nuclear fuel, by incorporating both boron carbide (B₄C) and cubic boron nitride(cBN) as reinforcing agents in an aluminum (Al) matrix. The composite materials were successfully manufactured through a stir casting process and practical neutron-absorbing materials were obtained by rolling the fabricated composite ingot. The evaluation of the thermal conductivity of the fabricated composites was carried out because thermal conductivity is critical for neutron absorbing materials. The thermal conductivity measurement results indicated an approximately 3% increase in thermal conductivity under the same volume fraction when compared to composite materials using only B₄C particles. Through neutron absorption cross-sectional area calculations, it was confirmed that the neutron absorption capability decreased to a negligible level. Based on the findings of this study, new design approaches for neutron absorption materials are proposed, contributing to the development of high-performance transport/storage containers.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.827-837
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• 2023

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of radiomics features based on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine images for left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center, cohort study involving 244 patients (random-split into 170 and 74 for training and testing, respectively) having an acute STEMI (88.5% males, 57.0 ± 10.3 years of age) who underwent CMR examination at one week and six months after percutaneous coronary intervention. LVAR was defined as a 20% increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume 6 months after acute STEMI. Radiomics features were extracted from the oneweek CMR cine images using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) analysis. The predictive performance of the selected features was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC). Results: Nine radiomics features with non-zero coefficients were included in the LASSO regression of the radiomics score (RAD score). Infarct size (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04 (1.00-1.07); P = 0.031) and RAD score (OR: 3.43 (2.34-5.28); P < 0.001) were independent predictors of LVAR. The RAD score predicted LVAR, with an AUC (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 0.82 (0.75-0.89) in the training set and 0.75 (0.62-0.89) in the testing set. Combining the RAD score with infarct size yielded favorable performance in predicting LVAR, with an AUC of 0.84 (0.72-0.95). Moreover, the addition of the RAD score to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly increased the AUC from 0.68 (0.52-0.84) to 0.82 (0.70-0.93) (P = 0.018), which was also comparable to the prediction provided by the combined microvascular obstruction, infarct size, and LVEF with an AUC of 0.79 (0.65-0.94) (P = 0.727). Conclusion: Radiomics analysis using non-contrast cine CMR can predict LVAR after STEMI independently and incrementally to LVEF and may provide an alternative to traditional CMR parameters.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.838-848
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• 2023

Objective: To quantitatively analyze the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) and explore their prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Materials and Methods: A total of 145 patients (male:female = 76:69, mean age = 63.0 years) with cancer and heart failure who underwent CMR between January 2015 and January 2021 were included. CMR was performed using a 3T scanner (Siemens). Biventricular functions, native T1 T2, extracellular volume fraction (ECV) values, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of the left ventricle (LV) were compared between those with and without CTRCD. These were compared between patients with mild-to-moderate CTRCD and those with severe CTRCD. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the CMR parameters and MACE occurrence during follow-up in the CTRCD patients. Results: Among 145 patients, 61 had CTRCD and 84 did not have CTRCD. Native T1, ECV, and T2 were significantly higher in the CTRCD group (1336.9 ms, 32.5%, and 44.7 ms, respectively) than those in the non-CTRCD group (1303.4 ms, 30.5%, and 42.0 ms, respectively; P = 0.013, 0.010, and < 0.001, respectively). They were not significantly different between patients with mild-to-moderate and severe CTRCD. Indexed LV mass was significantly smaller in the CTRCD group (65.0 g/m² vs. 78.9 g/mm²; P < 0.001). According to the multivariable Cox regression analysis, T2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.27; P = 0.028) and quantified LGE (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13; P = 0.021) were independently associated with MACE in the CTRCD patients. Conclusion: Quantitative parameters from CMR have the potential to evaluate myocardial changes in CTRCD. Increased T2 with reduced LV mass was demonstrated in CTRCD patients even before the development of severe cardiac dysfunction. T2 and quantified LGE may be independent prognostic factors for MACE in patients with CTRCD.