• 한국사회정책
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.197-221
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• 2013

The 2008 world economic crisis had unprecedented consequences in European societies, with repercussions on Southern European countries in particular. In Italy, the crisis itself provided a plausible rationale for policy makers to push forward long needed welfare cuts, resulting in the neoliberal austerity trend fostered by the Monti government (years 2011-2012). In the light of the fact that Bismarckian welfare states from continental Europe are generally difficult to reform, understanding these policy dynamics requires an adequate theoretical framework. This paper seeks to understand the logics behind welfare reforms in Italy after the 2008 economic crisis, by reviewing available theoretical approaches in literature. It is argued that external forces (notably, the European Union) represented the main trigger factor, and that political elites marginalized the role played by civil society, with social problems such as unemployment worsening as a result.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4067-4073
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• 2012

Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor$receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist that induces differentiation in adipocytes and induces growth arrest and/or apoptosis in vitro in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the development of azoxymethane-induced colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ obesity and diabetes model mice, and tried to clarify mechanisms by which the $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand inhibits ACF development. Administration of 800 ppm pioglitazone reduced the number of colon ACF/mouse to 30% of those in untreated mice and improved hypertrophic changes of adipocytes in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ mice with significant reduction of serum triglyceride and insulin levels. Moreover, mRNA levels of adipocytokines, such as leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in the visceral fat were decreased. PCNA immunohistochemistry revealed that pioglitazone treatment suppressed cell proliferation in the colorectal epithelium with elevation of p27 and p53 gene expression. These results suggest that pioglitazone prevented obesity-associated colon carcinogenesis through improvement of dysregulated adipocytokine levels and high serum levels of triglyceride and insulin, and increase of p27 and p53 mRNA levels in the colorectal mucosa. These data indicate that pioglitazone warrants attention as a potential chemopreventive agent against obesity-associated colorectal cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2015

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate image quality change by truncated region in field of view (FOV) of attenuation correction computed tomography (AC-CT) in brain PET/CT. Materials and Methods Biograph Truepoint 40 with TrueV (Siemens) was used as a scanner. $^{68}Ge$ phantom scan was performed with and without applying brain holder using brain PET/CT protocol. PET attenuation correction factor (ACF) was evaluated according to existence of pallet in FOV of AC-CT. FBP, OSEM-3D and PSF methods were applied for PET reconstruction. Parameters of iteration 4, subsets 21 and gaussian 2 mm filter were applied for iterative reconstruction methods. Window level 2900, width 6000 and level 4, 200, width 1000 were set for visual evaluation of PET AC images. Vertical profiles of 5 slices and 20 slices summation images applied gaussian 5 mm filter were produced for evaluating integral uniformity. Results Patient pallet was not covered in FOV of AC-CT when without applying brain holder because of small size of FOV. It resulted in defect of ACF sinogram by truncated region in ACF evaluation. When without applying brain holder, defect was appeared in lower part of transverse image on condition of window level 4200, width 1000 in PET AC image evaluation. With and without applying brain holder, integral uniformities of 5 slices and 20 slices summation images were 7.2%, 6.7% and 11.7%, 6.7%. Conclusion Truncated region by small FOV results in count defect in occipital lobe of brain in clinical or research studies. It is necessary to understand effect of truncated region and apply appropriate accessory for brain PET/CT.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.115-128
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• 2012

This paper investigates the effects of diffuser on the acoustical parameters in music hall with consideration of the result of scattering coefficient measurement. A scale model hall of 600 seats with orchestra shell was used for experiments. The materials of 1:50 scale model was chosen through absorption coefficient measurement based on ISO 354. The model was matched to the computer simulation model in terms of reverberation time. In order to evaluate the effect of diffuser location, the measurements were accomplished with and without diffusers according to 7 configurations by diffuser-installed region; sidewall, balcony front, ceiling and so on. The following acoustical parameters were extracted from each measurement case; Reverberation time (RT), Early decay time (EDT), Clarity (C80), Center time (Ts), Sound strength (G) and Temporal diffusion (TD) from the auto-correlation function (ACF) of impulse responses. As a result, the absorption power and diffusion power were increased with number of diffusers. Accordingly RT, EDT and G were decreased by diffuser and the redirection of reflections was occurred briskly. Averaged TD was 6.05 to 6.30 by measurement cases. RT was found to be the most related factor to diffusion power (R = 0.94). The correlation between TD and EDT was high (R = 0.73). In addition, the effects of diffuser-installed location were discussed in terms of acoustical parameter variation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Spectraplakins are crucially important communicators, linking cytoskeletal components to each other and cellular junctions. Microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1), also known as actin crosslinking family 7 (ACF7), is a member of the spectraplakin family. It is expressed in numerous tissues and cells as one extensively studied spectraplakin. MACF1 has several isoforms with unique structures and well-known function to be able to crosslink F-actin and microtubules. MACF1 is one versatile spectraplakin with various functions in cell processes, embryo development, tissue-specific functions, and human diseases. The importance of MACF1 has become more apparent in recent years. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the presence and function of MACF1 and provide perspectives on future research of MACF1 based on our studies and others. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 37-44]