In this study, we evaluated an edge detector for small-beam dosimetry. We measured the dose linearity, dose rate dependence, output factor, beam profiles, and percentage depth dose using an edge detector (Model 1118 Edge) for 6-MV photon beams at different field sizes and depths. The obtained values were compared with those obtained using a standard volume ionization chamber (CC13) and photon diode detector (PFD). The dose linearity results for the three detectors showed good agreement within 1%. The edge detector had the best linearity of +/-0.08%. The edge detector and PFD showed little dose rate dependency throughout the range of 100~600 MU/min, while CC13 showed a significant discrepancy of approximately -5% at 100 MU/min. The output factors of the three detectors showed good agreement within 1% for the tested field sizes. However, the output factor of CC13 compared to the other two detectors had a maximum difference of 21% for small field sizes (~4x4 cm2). When analyzing the 20~80% penumbra, the penumbra measured using CC13 was approximately two times wider than that using the edge detector for all field sizes. The width measured using PFD was approximately 30% wider for all field sizes. Compared to the edge detector, the 10~90% penumbras measured using the CC13 and PFD were approximately 55% and 19% wider, respectively. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the edge detector was close to the real field size, while the other two detectors measured values that were 8~10% greater for all field sizes. Percentage depth doses measured by the three detectors corresponded to each other for small beams. Based on the results, we consider the edge detector as an appropriate small-beam detector, while CC13 and PFD can lead to some errors when used for small beam fields under 4x4 cm2.
Dependency (Psychology)

In this study, we have investigated the dose characteristics of PTW-LinaCheck designed to detect output of medical LINAC and discussed clinical use of the detector. The reproducibility, linearity, and dose rate dependency of the dosimeter were measured for photons of 6 and 15 MV and the electrons of 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16 MeV. To know the error ranges of the measured data in daily output measurement, the response variations due to geometrical setup errors were measured. As a result of measurement, the error range from the geometrical setup and the reproducibility was less than +/-0.6% for given beam qualities in daily output measurement, where the errors from the linearity and the dose rate dependency were negligible. Finally, we concluded that the LinaCheck dosimeter has a good characteristics in terms of dose and setup convenience in daily output measurement. In addition we have shown an examples of clinical use of this dosimeter for measuring daily output more than 60 days.
Dependency (Psychology) ; Electrons ; Photons

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a useful marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, which has resulted in an increasing dependency on HbA1c levels for diagnosing diabetes in small- and medium-sized hospitals. We evaluated a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based HbA1c autoanalyzer Bio-Rad D-10 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA) by comparing the analysis results with that by Tosoh HLC-723 G7 (Tosoh Corporation, Japan). METHODS: The Bio-Rad D-10 autoanalyzer was evaluated for its precision, linearity, and carryover. The analysis time and correlation were evaluated and compared with those by Tosoh HLC-723 G7 autoanalyzer. RESULTS: Bio-Rad D-10 showed within-run, between-day, and total precision of less than 1.3% coefficient of variation (CV) and excellent linearity between HbA1c in the range of 3.2%-21% (coefficient of determination, R 2 = 0.998). The sampleto-sample carryover was 0.57%. The results obtained by using Bio-Rad D-10 showed good correlation (r = 0.997; P < 0.001) with those by Tosoh HLC-723 G7; however, the analysis time using Bio-Rad D-10 was about 2.3 times per 10 samples and 2.5 times per 20 samples than those using Tosoh HLC-723 G7. CONCLUSIONS: Bio-Rad D-10 showed good performance in assaying HbA1c. Bio-Rad D-10 autoanalyzer would be suitable for use in laboratories with small to medium amount of samples to be analyzed, but its initial analyzing time was longer than that by Tosoh HLC-723 G7.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Hemoglobins

In proton therapy, the analysis of secondary particles is important due to delivered dose outside the target volume and thus increased potential risk for the development of secondary cancer. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of secondary particles from proton beams on fluence and energy deposition in the presence of inhomogeneous material by using Geant4 simulation toolkit. The inhomogeneity was modeled with the condition that the adipose tissue, bone and lung equivalent slab with thickness of 2 cm were inserted at 30% (Plateau region) and 80% (Bragg peak region) dose points of maximum dose in Bragg curve. The energy of proton was varied with 100, 130, 160 and 190 MeV for energy dependency. The results for secondary particles were presented for the fluence and deposited energy of secondary particles at inhomogeneous condition. Our study demonstrates that the fluence of secondary particles is neither influenced insertion of inhomogeneties nor the energy of initial proton, while there is a little effect by material density. The deposited energy of secondary particles has a difference in the position placed inhomogeneous materials. In the Plateau region, deposited energy of secondary particles mostly depends on the density of inserted materials. Deposited energy in the Bragg region, in otherwise, is influenced by both density of inserted material and initial energy of proton beams. Our results suggest a possibility of prediction about the distribution of secondary particles within complex heterogeneity.
Adipose Tissue ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Lung ; Population Characteristics ; Proton Therapy ; Protons

OBJECTIVES : Administration methods of antibiotics implements a variety for indications and diseases. Therefore, it is impossible to produce a single guideline. Many antibiotics have been prescribed without specific index, by practicians for a long period of time. In general dental practice and oral and maxillofacial surgical practice, there is not a guidelines for antibiotics. Therefore, there is a dependency on pre-existent methods rather than following an exact guideline. Consequently, a controversy was issued that prescription of antibiotics tend to be misused or abused. And it is also direct relation to the tolerance of antibiotics as well. Moving forward, in this review we will be analyzing the exact usage and indication of antibiotics in dental treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS : 29 published articles of both domestic and international were researched through Pubmed and Kormed, and the review from these articles were performed accordingly. We examined the administration of antibiotics through the objective usage, that classified prophylactic and therapeutic. RESULTS : For therapeutic usage, empirical prescription is mandatory for the first step. Next is to moderate the empirical prescription depending upon the result of its culture. Administration of antibiotics must be kept for 2days after the symptoms disappear. For a prophylactic use, we can generally pr escribe antibiotics to prevent local infection or systemic infection. Although the method of prescription and neccessity of antibiotics to prevent local in fection are controversial, exact guidelines of antibiotics to prevent systemic infection are established by AHA. CONCLUSION : Most crucial concept for prescript antibiotics is to determine if it is adequately suitable for all circumstances. In this decision making, a guideline for prescription of antibiotics in various dental surgical practice is necessary. This guideline can reduce the misusage and disusage of a ntibiotics in general dental practices and oral and maxillofacial surgical practices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Decision Making ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Prescriptions ; Resin Cements

PURPOSE: This study attempted to identify influential variables on types of smoking in adult smokers, which have been derived from Q-study. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 328 adult smokers at community settings in Seoul, South Korea from April 2006 to July 2006. To identify the influential variables related to smoking, variables from the Trans-theoretical model(i.e., self-efficacy for smoking abstinence, smoking temptation, process of change, decisional balance(pros and cons)) and nicotine dependency were analysed by ANOVA. Post-comparison tests were also done. RESULTS: The scores of nicotine dependency and smoking temptation were higher in habitual craving types than any other types, while the scores of self-liberation and self-efficacy for smoking abstinence were higher in self control types than any other types. CONCLUSION: Specific smoking intervention methods for each of the smoking types needs to be developed, based on how different groups of individuals gets into a decisions to quit smoking within their contexts.
Adult ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Nicotine ; Republic of Korea ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: Until recently, most patch-clamp recordings in inner hair cells (IHCs) have been performed at room temperature. The results acquired at room temperature should be corrected if they are to be related to in vivo findings. However, the temperature dependency to ion channels in IHCs is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the potassium currents in IHCs. METHODS: IHCs were isolated from a mature guinea-pig cochlea and potassium currents were recorded at room temperature (around 25degrees C) and physiological temperatures (35degrees C-37degrees C). RESULTS: IHCs showed outwardly rectifying currents in response to depolarizing voltage pulses, with only a slight inward current when hyperpolarized. The amplitude of both outward and inward currents demonstrated no temperature dependency, however, activation and inactivation rates were faster at 36degrees C than at room temperature. Half-time for activation was shorter at 36degrees C than at room temperature at membrane potentials of -10, +10, +20, +30, and +40 mV. Q10 for the activation rate was 1.83. The inactivation time constant in outward tetraethylammonium-sensitive potassium currents was much smaller at 36degrees C than at room temperature between the membrane potentials of -20 and +60 mV. Q10 for the inactivation time constant was 3.19. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the amplitude of potassium currents in IHCs showed no temperature dependence either in outward or inward-going currents, however, activation and inactivation accelerated at physiological temperatures.
Cochlea ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Hair ; Ion Channels ; Kinetics ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium

Recently PTW developed a MicroLion liquid ionization chamber which is water_equivalent and has a small sensitive volume of 0.002 cm3. The aim of this work is to investigate such dosimetric characteristics as dose linearity, dose rate dependency, spatial resolution, and output factors of the chamber for the external radiotherapy photon beam. The results were compared to those of Semiflex chamber, Pinpoint chamber and Diode chamber with the sensitive volumes of 0.125 cm3, 0.03 cm3 and 0.0025 cm3, respectively and evaluated to be suitable for small fields. This study was performed in the 6MV photon energy from a Varian 2300 C/D linac accelerator and the MP3 water phantom (PTW, Freiburg) was used. Penumbras in the varios field sizes ranged from 0.5x0.5 cm2 to 10x10 cm2 were used to evaluate the spatial resolution. Output factors were measured in the field sizes of 0.5x0.5 to 40x40 cm2. Readings of the chamber was linearly proportional to dose. Dose rate dependency was measured from 100 MU/min to 600 MU/min, showed a maximum difference of 5.0%, and outputs decreased with dose rates. The spatial resolutions determined with comparing profiles for the field sizes of 0.5x0.5 cm2 to 10x10 cm2 agreed between every detector except the Semiflex chamber to within 2%. Outputs of detectors were compared to that of Semiflex chamber and showed good agreements within 2% for every chamber. This study shows that MicroLion chamber characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio and water equivalence could be suitable for the small field dosimetry.
Dependency (Psychology) ; Reading ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Spatial Analysis ; Water

OBJECTIVE: Psychobiological traits may be associated with excessive Internet use. This study assessed the relationships between biogenetic traits, the amount of time spent in online game playing, and the genre of the online game being played. METHODS: Five hundred sixty five students who enjoyed one of the four types of games included in this study were recruited. The types of games examined included role playing games (RPG), real-time strategy games (RTS), first person shooting games (FPS), and sports games. Behavioral patterns of game play, academic performance, and player biogenetic characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: The amount of time that the participants spent playing online games was significantly greater on weekends than on weekdays. On weekends, the types of games with the largest numbers of participants who played games for more than three hours were ranked as follows: RPG and FPS, RTS, and sports games. The Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS)score for the RPG group was the highest among the groups of the four types of game players. The time that participants spent playing games on weekdays was negatively associated with academic performance, especially for the RPG and FPS groups. Compared with the other groups, the RPG and RTS groups had higher novelty seeking (NS) scores and self-directedness (SD) scores, respectively. Additionally, the sports game group had higher reward dependency scores than the other groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RPGs may have specific factors that are attractive to latent game addicts with higher NS scores. Additionally, excessive playing of online games is related to impaired academic performance.
Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Internet ; Reward ; Role Playing ; Sports

This study was to develop and evaluate a nutrition education program to reduce dietary sodium. The school children (218 boys, 226 girls), from 8 elementary schools in the city of Daegu, Korea, were involved in this study. This research was based on the data from two groups of elementary school children, the "education" group (n = 240), and "no-education" group (n = 204). Educational media and programs were developed to educate the education group for four weeks and were presented on the web (www.saltdown.com). After education, the preference for a non-salty taste in the education group increased 10%, compared with those who preferred a non-salty taste before education. There was a significant change away from a preference for a salty taste and a rise in the mean score for nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude in the education group compared to the no-education group (p < 0.05). This study indicates that school children can reduce their dependency on preference for a salty taste and change their high-salt dietary behavior after the education.
Child ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Korea ; Sodium ; Sodium, Dietary