[en] The objective of this research is to develop the 0.3 ∼ 0.5 mm sized UO₂ microspheres for the kernel of the nuclear fuel. In this research, ZrO₂ microspheres were studied in stead of UO₂. The research was done with the detailed contents as follows, the development of well dispersed high solid loading ZrO₂ slurry : by the control of dipersion and the thixotropic properties of the slurry, high solid loading slurry with more than 60 wt% solid content could be made. And the slurry was turned to the formed microspheres by the liquid drop method. The dipersant and PH conditions were critical for the preparation of the slurry. Development of the microsphere fabrication and sintering process for the microspheres : by the liquid drop method with high voltage electricity, microspheres were successfully formed. and the sphericity of the microsphere were improved with the control of the slurry condition and forming process. The viscosity and binder content were controlled to make various sized microspheres

[en] It was well known that cerebral blood perfusion is normal or diffusely decreased in the majority of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Actually we interpreted brain perfusion SPECT images of PD patients in the clinical situation, we observed various cerebral perfusion patterns in patients with PD. So we performed brain perfusion SPECT to know the brain perfusion patterns of PD patients and the difference of perfusion patterns according to the sex and the age. Also we classified PD patients into small groups based on the brain perfusion pattern. Two hundred nineteen patients (M: 70, F: 149, mean age: 62.9±6.9 y/o) who were diagnosed as PD without dementia clinically and 55 patients (M: 15, F: 40, mean age: 61.4±9.2 y/o) as normal controls who had no past illness history were performed ^99mTc-HMPAO brain perfusion SPECT and neuropsychological test. At first, we compared all patients with PD and normal controls. Brain perfusion in left inferior frontal gyrus, left insula, left transverse temporal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left superior parietal lobule, right precuneus, right caudate tail were lower in patients with PD than normal controls. Secondly, we compared male and female patients with PD and normal controls, respectively. Brain perfusion SPECT showed more decreased cerebral perfusion in left hemisphere than right side in both male and female patients compared to normal controls. And there was larger hypoperfusion area in female patients compared with male. Thirdly, we classified patients with PD and normal controls into 4 groups according to the age and compared brain perfusion respectively. In patient below fifties, brain perfusion in both occipitoparietal and left temporal lobe were lower in PD group. As the patients with PD grew older, hypoperfusion area were shown in both frontal, temporal and limbic lobes. Fourthly, We were able to divide patients into small groups based on cerebral perfusion pattern. There was normal cerebral blood perfusion in 32 (14.7%) of 219 patients with PD, decreased perfusion on the frontal lobe in 45 patients (20.6%), the temporal lobe in 38 patients (17.4%), the parietal lobe in 39 patients (17.9%), the occipital lobe in 40 patients (18.3%), diffuse area in 14 patients (6.4%) and unclassified in 10 patients (4.6%). Fifthly, we compared the results of the neuropsychological test and cerebral perfusion pattern. There was no correlation between two tests except visuospatial function. Various perfusion state were found in patients with PD according to the age and sex. Also we were able to classify perfusion state into several groups and compare the neuropsychological test with cerebral perfusion

[en] Whole-body counters are widely used to evaluate internal contamination of the internal presence of gamma-emitting radionuclides. In internal dosimetry, it is a basic requirement that quality control procedures be applied to verify the reliability of the measured results. The implementation of intercomparison programs plays an important role in quality control, and the accuracy of the calibration and the reliability of the results should be verified through intercomparison. In this study, we evaluated the reliability of 2 whole-body counting systems using 2 calibration methods. In this study, 2 whole-body counters were calibrated using a reference male bottle manikin absorption (BOMAB) phantom and a Radiation Management Corporation (RMC-II) phantom. The reliability of the whole-body counting systems was evaluated by performing an intercomparison with International Atomic Energy Agencyto assess counting efficiency according to the type of the phantom. In the analysis of counting efficiency using the BOMAB phantom, the performance criteria of the counters were satisfied. The relative bias of activity for all radionuclides was -0.16 to 0.01 in the Fastscan and -0.01 to 0.03 in the Accuscan. However, when counting efficiency was analyzed using the RMC-II phantom, the relative bias of 241Am activity was -0.49 in the Fastscan and 0.55 in the Accuscan, indicating that its performance criteria was not satisfactory. The intercomparison process demonstrated the reliability of whole-body counting systems calibrated with a BOMAB phantom. However, when the RMC-II phantom was used, the accuracy of measurements decreased for low-energy nuclides. Therefore, it appears that the RMC-II phantom should only be used for efficiency calibration for high-energy nuclides. Moreover, a novel phantom capable of matching the efficiency of the BOMAB phantom in low-energy nuclides should be developed

[en] Within the framework for the development of a radio frequency driven positive ion source for fusion applications, KAERI is currently constructing a new high power large area radio frequency ion source. An impedance matching circuit maximizing the power transfer to a plasma in the ion source, while taking into account the technical feasibility, is preliminarily designed at a conceptual level. In order to estimate the plasma load impedance and design parameters, an integrated model composed of the hydrogen plasma global model, the two-dimensional electromagnetic model, the relative plasma dielectric constant calculation module, and the impedance matching circuit module is developed for the ion source with a rectangular tube geometry. By employing this design model, the design parameters dependent on RF input powers of up to 50 kW are investigated and the preliminary design is assessed.

[en] For the case of radiation emergency, it is required to assess internal contamination of the public, including children as well as adults. The objective of the present study was to assess counting efficiency of a whole body counter by human body size and standing position of the measurement person. In this study, the FASTSCAN whole body counter used at National Radiation Emergency Medical Center of Korean Institute of Radiological and Medical Science was simulated by a radiation transport computer code. The simulation results of the counting efficiencies agreed well with measurements within the 2% of discrepancy for 4-year child and 5% for adults. The standing positions of the people were adjusted by body size to find the consistent trend of the counting efficiencies by human body size. Body size scaling factors of the whole body counter were derived to consider human body size and improve the measurement accuracy. The counting efficiency assessment methodology in this study can be successively used to improve the measurement accuracy when using a whole body counter for the case of radiation emergency

[en] Highlights: • An equivalent circuit model of a rectangular radio frequency driven hydrogen ion source is developed. • This model predicts electrical characteristics of the ion source equipped with an isolation transformer and a Faraday shield. • The model is used to design of an impedance matching network for the KAERI rectangular radio frequency driven ion source. - Abstract: KAERI is presently developing a rectangular RF driven deuterium ion source for both neutron source and fusion applications. For a model-based design of a reliable impedance matching network for the ion source, we extend an equivalent circuit model of the ion source system by allowing effects of an isolation transformer and a Faraday shield on the system to be reflected in our previous model (Huh et al., 2017 Fusion Eng. Des. 121 337). In this paper we use the model to investigate the trends in external electrical characteristics of the ion source system (e.g., voltage and current across and through an RF antenna coil and the impedance matching network circuit components) with RF power of up to 50 kW. The model results provide criteria for the impedance matching network design and data for an assessment of the ion source performance.

[en] The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest white matter structure in the brain, consisting of more than 200–250 million axons that provide a large connection mainly between homologous cerebral cortical areas in mirror image sites. The posterior end of the CC is the thickest part, which is called the slenium. Various diseases including congenital to acquired lesions including congenital anomalies, traumatic lesions, ischemic diseases, tumors, metabolic, toxic, degenerative, and demyelinating diseases, can involve the splenium of the CC and their clinical symptoms and signs are also variable. Therefore, knowledge of the disease entities and the imaging findings of lesions involving the splenium is valuable in clinical practice. MR imaging is useful for the detection and differential diagnosis of splenial lesions of the CC. In this study, we classify the disease entities and describe imaging findings of lesions involving the splenium of the CC based on our experiences and a review of the literature

[en] Background: As diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is routinely incorporated into the standard clinical protocol, it is clinically relevant to determine whether DWI after gadoxetic acid is comparable to pre-contrast DWI, with regard to the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Purpose: To compare DWI before and after administration of gadoxetic acid in the detection and characterization of small (≤2.5 cm) focal hepatic lesions. Material and Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight patients with 237 focal hepatic lesions (≤2.5 cm) (124 HCCs, 50 metastases, 2 cholangiocarcinomas, 43 hemangiomas, and 18 cysts) were included. DWIs were obtained before and after administration of gadoxetic acid. Non-breath-hold DWI was performed with b values of 0, 100, and 800 s/mm². Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the liver and lesion were calculated. Lesion detection with each DWI was evaluated with alternative free-response receiver-operating characteristic analysis by two observers. The sensitivity of the characterization of focal hepatic lesions as solid (malignancy) or non-solid (benignity) with each DWI was calculated using a five-point confidence scale. Inter-observer agreement regarding lesion detection and characterization was evaluated using kappa statistics. Results: SNRs of the liver on post-contrast DWI were significantly lower than on unenhanced DWI at b = 800 s/mm² (P < 0.05). SNRs, CNRs, and ADCs of focal hepatic lesions were not significantly different between two DWIs (P > 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy (Az) for lesion detection and the sensitivity for lesion characterization did not show significant difference between two DWIs (P > 0.05). With regard to the detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions, the kappa values for two DWIs indicated good and excellent inter-observer agreement, respectively. Conclusion: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced DWI showed comparable diagnostic capability to unenhanced DWI for the detection and characterization of small focal hepatic lesions

[en] Background The use of oral contrast has been essential for the identification of a normal appendix on MR imaging during pregnancy. However, stool could be used as a positive oral contrast as it is characterized by a relatively high signal on T1-weighted imaging, and 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo (T1W-GRE) MR imaging has been used to evaluate 3 mm diameter intestines in fetuses. Purpose To evaluate the added value of 3D T1W-GRE MR imaging in combination with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) compared to T2WI alone for evaluating the appendix during pregnancy. Material and Methods Eighteen consecutive pregnant patients who were clinically suspected of having acute appendicitis underwent appendix MR imaging which included T2WI with or without spectral presaturation attenuated inversion-recovery (SPAIR) fat suppression, and 3D T1W-GRE with SPAIR fat suppression. Two radiologists reviewed the two image sets (the T2WI set and the combined set of T2WI and 3D T1W-GRE images). Pathologic and clinical results served as the reference standard. The differences in the degree of visibility of the appendix and confidence scale for diagnosing acute appendicitis between two image sets were compared by using the paired Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results For both reviewers, the degree of visibility of the appendix using the combined T2WI and 3D T1W-GRE images was significantly higher than using T2WI alone (P < 0.01), and the confidence levels for acute appendicitis using combined T2WI and 3D T1W-GRE images were significantly different from those using T2WI alone (P < 0.01). In the 13 patients with a normal appendix, both reviewers showed improved confidence levels for appendicitis using combined T2WI and 3D T1W-GRE images than T2WI alone. Conclusion Adding 3D T1W-GRE images to T2WI is helpful for identification of the appendix, as compared to T2WI alone in pregnant women without ingestion of oral contrast material. This may improve diagnostic confidence for acute appendicitis in pregnant patients

[en] In case of radiation emergencies, radioactive materials released into environments can cause internal exposure of members of the public. Even though whole body counters are widely used for direct measurement of internally deposited radionuclides, those are not likely to be used at the field to rapidly screen internal exposure. In this study, we estimated the counting efficiencies of portable NaI detector for different size BOMAB phantoms using Monte Carlo transport code to apply handheld gamma spectrometers for rapid screening of internal exposure following radiological accidents. As a result of comparison for two counting geometries, counting efficiencies for sitting model were about 1.1 times higher than those for standing model. We found, however, that differences of counting efficiencies according to different size are higher than those according to counting geometry. Therefore, we concluded that when we assess internal exposure of small size people compared to the reference male, the body size should be considered to estimate more accurate radioactivity in the human body because counting efficiencies of 4-year old BOMAB phantom were about 2.4-3.1 times higher than those of reference male BOMAB phantom