• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.401-408
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• 2013

In this paper, we propose a method that automatically detects organs having similar appearances in medical images by learning both context and appearance features. Since only the appearance feature is used to learn the classifier in most existing detection methods, detection errors occur when the medical images include multiple organs having similar appearances. In the proposed method, based on the probabilities acquired by the appearance-based classifier, new classifier containing the context feature is created by iteratively learning the characteristics of probability distribution around the interest voxel. Furthermore, both the efficiency and the accuracy are improved through 'region based voting scheme' in test stage. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we detect femur and tibia which have similar appearance from SKI10 knee joint dataset. The proposed method outperformed the detection method only using appearance feature in aspect of overall detection performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Cognitive Science Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.151-153
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• 2005

We investigated the brain substrate of repetition priming on the implicit memory taskusing low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) with high-density 128 channel EEG and individual MRI as a realistic head model. Thirteen right-handed, healthy subjects performed a word/nonword discrimination task, in which the words and nonwords were presented visually,and some of the words appeared twice with a lag of one or five items. All of the subjects exhibited repetition priming with respect to the behavioral data, in which a faster reaction time was observed to the repeated word (old word) than to the first presentation of the word (new word). The old words elicited more positive-going potentials than the new words, beginning at 200 ms and lasting until 500 ms post-stimulus. We conducted source reconstruction using LORETA at a latency of 400 ms with the peak mean global field potentials and used statistical parametric mapping for the statistical analysis. We found that the source elicited by the old words exhibited a statistically significant current density reduction in the left inferior frontal gyrus. This is the first study to investigate the generators of repetition priming using voxel-by-voxel statistical mapping of the current density with individual MRI and high-density EEG.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2000

Binary volume data has its widespread use in the application of color volume rendering and surgical simulation system where gray-scale volume is inappropriate. For the efficient representation of binary volume, this paper proposes a new data structure - the Slice-based Binary Shell (SBS) - along with its rendering algorithm. Since SBS stores the minimal set of surface voxels in slice order and supports the direct computation of voxel coordinates, it shows high efficiency for rendering multiple objects. The rendering algorithm of SBS running on a PC with no specialized hardware renders more than one hundred binary objects in a second.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2012

Purpose : Field of view and voxel resolution of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) might affect the diagnostic capability. This study was performed to compare between the standard and HiRes zoom modes in the diagnosis of external root resorption (ERR) using CBCT. Materials and Methods : Sixty three small cavities (0.25 mm depth and 0.5 mm diameter) were simulated on the buccal, lingual, and proximal surfaces at three different levels of 16 roots of teeth. After covering the root with nail varnish, the roots were inserted in the sockets and the model was placed in a water-containing lacuna. CBCT scans were taken in both standard and HiRes zoom modes using NewTom VG (QR srl Company, Verona, Italy). Then, an observer assessed the images to determine the presence or absence of the cavities. This process was repeated by increasing the size and depth of cavities to 0.5 mm depth and 1 mm diameter. Data were analyzed by McNemar test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio in evaluation of the simulated cavities were calculated. Results : There was a significant difference between the two imaging modes in diagnosing the shallow cavities (p=0.02).The sensitivity of the standard zoom in detecting the shallow cavities was lower than that of the HiRes zoom. The likelihood ratio of the HiRes zoom was higher in the diagnosis of both cavity types. Conclusion : This study suggested that a smaller voxel size in the HiRes zoom mode of CBCT is preferred for diagnosis of ERR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8335-8338
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• 2016

Purpose: To make a comparison of single voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MRI for differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions in a sample of Iranian women. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 women with abnormal breast lesions detected in mammography, ultrasound, or clinical breast exam were examined with DCE and SV-MRS. tCho (total choline) resonance in MRS spectra was qualitatively evaluated and detection of a visible tCho peak at 3.2 ppm was defined as a positive finding for malignancy. Different types of DCE curves were persistent (type 1), plateau (type 2), and washout (type 3). At first, lesions were classified according to choline findings and types of DCE curve, finally being compared to pathological results as the standard reference. Results: this study included 19 patients with malignant lesions and 11 patients with benign ones. While 63.6 % of benign lesions (7 of 11) showed type 1 DCE curves and 36.4% (4 of 11) showed type 2, 57.9% (11of 19) of malignant lesions were type 3 and 42.1% (8 of 19) type 2. Choline peaks were detected in 18 of 19 malignant lesions and in 3 of 11 benign counterparts. 1 malignant and 8 benign cases did not show any visible resonance at 3.2 ppm so SV-MRS featured 94.7% sensitivity, 72.7 % specificity and 86.7% accuracy.Conclusions: The present findings indicate that a combined approach using MRS and DCE MRI can improve the specificity of MRI for differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Purpose: Several morphometric studies have been performed to investigate brain abnormalities in congenitally deaf people. But no report exists concerning structural brain abnormalities in congenitally deaf adolescents. We evaluated the regional volume changes in gray matter (GM) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in congenitally deaf adolescents. Materials and Methods: A VBM8 methodology was applied to the T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of eight congenitally deaf adolescents (mean age, 15.6 years) and nine adolescents with normal hearing. All MRI scans were normalized to a template and then segmented, modulated, and smoothed. Smoothed GM data were tested statistically using analysis of covariance (controlled for age, gender, and intracranial cavity volume). Results: The mean values of age, gender, total volumes of GM, and total intracranial volume did not differ between the two groups. In the auditory centers, the left anterior Heschl's gyrus and both inferior colliculi showed decreased regional GM volume in the congenitally deaf adolescents. The GM volumes of the lingual gyri, nuclei accumbens, and left posterior thalamic reticular nucleus in the midbrain were also decreased. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that early deprivation of auditory stimulation in congenitally deaf adolescents might have caused significant underdevelopment of the auditory cortex (left Heschl's gyrus), subcortical auditory structures (inferior colliculi), auditory gain controllers (nucleus accumbens and thalamic reticular nucleus), and multisensory integration areas (inferior colliculi and lingual gyri). These defects might be related to the absence of general auditory perception, the auditory gating system of thalamocortical transmission, and failure in the maturation of the auditory-to-limbic connection and the auditorysomatosensory-visual interconnection.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare different radiographic methods for assessing endodontically treated teeth. Materials and Methods: Root canal treatments were applied in 120 extracted mandibular teeth, which were divided into four groups: (1) ideal root canal treatment (60 teeth), (2) insufficient lateral condensation (20 teeth), (3) root canals filled short of the apex (20 teeth), (4) overfilled root canal treatment (20 teeth). The teeth were imaged using intraoral film, panoramic film, digital intraoral systems (CCD and PSP), CCD obtained with portable X-ray source, digital panoramic, and CBCT images obtained at 0.3 $mm^3$ and 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel size. Images were evaluated separately by three observers, twice. Kappa coefficients were calculated. The percentage of correct readings obtained from each modality was calculated and compared using a t-test (p<0.05). Results: The intra-observer kappa for each observer ranged between 0.327 and 0.849. The inter-observer kappa for each observer for both readings ranged between 0.312 and 0.749. For the ideal root canal treatment group, CBCT with 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel images revealed the best results. For insufficient lateral condensation, the best readings were found with periapical film followed by CCD and PSP. The assessment of teeth with root canals filled short of the apex showed the highest percentage of correct readings by CBCT and CCD. For the overfilled canal treatment group, PSP images and conventional periapical film radiographs had the best scores. Conclusion: CBCT was found to be successful in the assessment of teeth with ideal root canal treatment and teeth with canals filled short of the apex.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.110-119
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: To analyze $^{18}F-THK5351$ positron emission tomography (PET) scans of patients with clinically diagnosed nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (navPPA). Methods: Thirty-one participants, including those with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=13), navPPA (n=3), and those with normal control (NC, n=15) who completed 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET scans, and detailed neuropsychological tests, were included. Voxel-based and region of interest (ROI)-based analyses were performed to evaluate retention of $^{18}F-THK5351$ in navPPA patients. Results: In ROI-based analysis, patients with navPPA had higher levels of THK retention in the Broca's area, bilateral inferior frontal lobes, bilateral precentral gyri, and bilateral basal ganglia. Patients with navPPA showed higher levels of THK retention in bilateral frontal lobes (mainly left side) compared than NC in voxel-wise analysis. Conclusions: In our study, THK retention in navPPA patients was mainly distributed at the frontal region which was well correlated with functional-radiological distribution of navPPA. Our results suggest that tau PET imaging could be a supportive tool for diagnosis of navPPA in combination with a clinical history.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2019

Purpose: One of the suggested potential mechanisms of tinnitus is an alteration in perception in the neural auditory pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in laterality in functional connectivity between tinnitus patients and healthy controls using resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight chronic tinnitus subjects and 45 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Connectivity was investigated using independent component analysis, and the laterality index map was calculated based on auditory (AN) and dorsal attention (DAN), default mode (DMN), sensorimotor, salience (SalN), and visual networks (VNs). The laterality index (LI) of tinnitus subjects was compared with that of normal controls using region-of-interest (ROI) and voxel-based methods and a two-sample unpaired t-test. Pearson correlation was conducted to assess the associations between the LI in each network and clinical variables. Results: The AN and VN showed significant differences in LI between the two groups in ROI analysis (P < 0.05), and the tinnitus group had clusters with significantly decreased laterality of AN, SalN, and VN in voxel-based comparisons. The AN was positively correlated with tinnitus distress (tinnitus handicap inventory), and the SalN was negatively correlated with symptom duration (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that various functional networks related to psychological distress can be modified by tinnitus, and that this interrelation can present differently on the right and left sides, according to the dominance of the network.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.163-173
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a subtype of frontotemporal dementia, which has clinical symptoms of progressive personality and behavioral changes with deterioration of social cognition and executive functions. The pathology of bvFTD is known to be tauopathy or TDP-43 equally. We analyzed the $^{18}F-THK5351$ positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which were recently developed tau PET, in patients with clinically-diagnosed bvFTD. Methods: Forty-eight participants, including participants with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD, n=3), Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=21) and normal cognition (NC, n=24) who completed 3T magnetic resonance images, $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET scans, and detailed neuropsychological tests were included in the study. Voxel-wise statistical analysis and region of interest (ROI)-based analyses were performed to evaluate the retention of THK in bvFTD patients. Results: In the voxel-based and ROI-based analyses, patients with bvFTD showed greater THK retention in the prefrontal, medial frontal, orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate, insula, anterior inferior temporal and striatum regions compared to NC participants. Left-right asymmetry was noted in the bvFTD patients. A patient with extrapyramidal symptoms showed much greater THK retention in the brainstem. Conclusions: The distribution of THK retention in the bvFTD patients was mainly in the frontal, insula, anterior temporal, and striatum regions which are known to be the brain regions corresponding to the clinical symptoms of bvFTD. Our study suggests that $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET imaging could be a supportive tool for diagnosis of bvFTD.