Objective To compare conventional sensitivity encoding (SENSE) to compressed sensing plus SENSE (CS) for high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) of intracranial and extracranial arteries. Materials and Methods HR-MRI was performed in 14 healthy volunteers. Three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and proton density-weighted imaging (PD) were acquired using CS or SENSE under the same total acceleration factors (AF t )-5.5, 6.8, and 9.7 for T1WI and 3.2, 4.0, and 5.8 for PD-to achieve reduced scanning times in comparison with the original imaging sequence (SENSE T1WI, AF t 3.5; SENSE PD, AF t 2.0) using the 3-tesla system. Two neuroradiologists measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and used visual scoring systems to assess image quality. Acceptable imaging was defined as a visual score ≥ 2. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Cochran's Q test were performed. Results CS yielded better image quality and vessel delineation than SENSE in T1WI with AF t of 5.5, 6.8, and 9.7, and in PD with AF t of 5.8 ( p < 0.05). CS T1WI with AF t of 5.5 and CS PD with AF t of 3.2 and 4.0 did not differ significantly from original imaging ( p > 0.05). SNR and CNR in CS were higher than they were in SENSE, but lower than they were in the original images ( p < 0.05). CS yielded higher proportions of acceptable imaging than SENSE (CS T1WI with AF t of 6.8 and PD with AF t of 5.8; p < 0.0167). Conclusion CS is superior to SENSE, and may be a reliable acceleration method for vessel HR-MRI using AF t of 5.5 for T1WI, and 3.2 and 4.0 for PD.

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In this study, the crack detecting system with digital image processing techniques based on the mathematical morphology method was developed to detect cracks in concrete structures. In the developed system, the image combining technique of reconstructing multiple images as an entire single image considering efficient management of analysis results was applied as an additional module. The developed system was verified through a field test with the cracked concrete culvert and the crack width of 0.2 mm was able to be detected in the 40m span. In the image analysis, the difference between calculated crack width and actual crack width were less than 0.08mm. For image combination in the stitching test of pattern images, the stitched image was identical with the original picture of entire subject in the visual perception level.

This study compared sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and compressed sensing sensitivity encoding (CS-SENSE) for phase oversampling distance and assessed its impact on image quality and image acquisition time. The experiment was performed with a large diameter phantom using 16-channel anterior body coils. All imaging data were divided into three groups according to the parallel imaging technique and oversampling distances: groups A (SENSE with phase oversampling distance of 150 mm), B (CS-SENSE with phase oversampling distance of 100 mm), and C (CS-SENSE with phase oversampling distance of 75 mm). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups A, B, and C regarding both T2 and T1 turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequences using an acceleration factor (AF) of 2 (p = 0.301 and 0.289, respectively). In comparison with AF 2 of group A, the scan time of AF 2 of groups B and C was reduced by 11.2% and 23.5% (T2 TSE) and 15.8% and 22.7% (T1 TSE), respectively, while providing comparable image quality. Significant image noise and aliasing artifact were more evident at AF ≥ 2 in group A compared with groups B and C. CS-SENSE with a less phase oversampling distance can reduce image acquisition time without image quality degradation compared with that of SENSE, despite the increase in aliasing artifact as the AF increased in both CS-SENSE and SENSE.

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The use of a silicone device provides homogeneous fat suppression in 3T MRI of the foot and can significantly improve image quality.

The carrying capacity of existing concrete structures is evaluated by the measured data from displacement and strain gauges for given loads and the results of numerical analysis that are compared with the measured ones. Consequently, this process could be accomplished in doing the direct measurement of residual stress on existing concrete. This study is concerned with the development of IITC (Instrumented Indentation Technique for Concrete) system which is based on the experimental stress analysis technique using non-destructive test method to evaluate the residual stress of concrete structures depending on the types of applied loadings in analysing indentation load -indentation depth curve derived experimentally on concrete surface. As a result, in this paper, almost all of systematized H/W and S/W were newly developed to estimate the residual stresses of concrete structures. Thus, the creation of new experimental equations for deriving residual stresses and automatical calculations of residual stresses using the empirical formula can lead to evaluate the structural resistances conveniently in the structures from construction phase to maintenance stage.

In this study, we assessed how image quality depends on the angle of tilt of a flex tilt coil supporting device during an MRI examination. All measurements were performed with an American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI phantom using a flex tilt coil supporting device. All images were analyzed using an automatic assessment method following the ACR MRI accreditation guidance. Image quality was compared between acquisitions grouped according to the angle of tilt of the coil supporting device: group A (Flat mode), group B (10˚), and group C (18˚). All measured image qualities were within the ACR recommended criteria, regardless of the angle of tilt of the flex tilt coil supporting device. However, statistically significant differences between the three groups were found for slice thickness, position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, and SNR (P < 0.05, ANOVA). The flex tilt coil supporting device can provide sufficient image quality, passing the criteria of the ACR MRI guideline, despite differences in slice thickness, slice position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, and SNR according to the angle of tilt.