IRIS Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
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The complementary effects of formal and informal budgetary performance feedback on doctor-managers' responsibilities
No full textBackground: The reforms that have affected public health care organizations have changed the tasks and responsibilities of physicians heading operational units, who have become doctor-managers. This hybridization makes doctor-managers vulnerable to role ambiguities, with possible dysfunctional effects on their managerial behaviors and performance. The enhancement of different sources of budgetary performance feedback (BPF) and perceived organizational support (POS) can help them reconcile their managerial and clinical professional domains. Purpose: Rooted in psychology-based budgeting research, this study aimed to show the role of doctor-managers' perceptions of BPF by examining the complementary effects of formal and informal BPF on POS and their satisfaction with the budget-holder role. Methodology/Approach: We collected self-reported data by administering questionnaires to a sample of doctor-managers from Italian public health care organizations. The hypotheses were tested using a linear regression model, clustered at the hospital level. Mediation analysis was used to test the mediating effects of POS. Results: Findings showed that formal and informal BPF perceptions positively influenced POS and satisfaction with the budget-holder role. Further, POS mediated the BPF–role satisfaction link. Conclusion: The study adds to the limited research on the individual-level benefits of perceived formal and informal BPF as complementary mechanisms for improving doctor-managers' attitudes toward the budget-holder role. Practice Implications: Top management and controllers should develop budgeting practices that consider the psychological factors related to the complementary functioning of formal and informal BPFs. These factors may support doctor-managers in meeting their responsibilities as budget holders and mitigate role ambiguities
Human osteosarcoma cell secretome impairs neonatal mouse calvarial osteogenic cells functions and modifies the nanoparticles-derived protein profile
Full text linkOsteosarcoma is the most common pediatric primary bone tumor, whose growth strictly relies on a complex interplay among tumor cells, resident cells, and the bone matrix. We investigated the effects of secretome collected from the human osteosarcoma cell line MNNG/HOS on mouse primary osteogenic cells, finding that prolonged exposure alters osteoblast phenotype and activity. MNNG/HOS secretome also reduces the production and release of collagen type I, the most abundant constituent of the bone matrix, and hinders osteoblast ability to form nodule of mineralization, compared to osteogenic cells treated with their own secretome. Given the crucial role exerted by secretome on tumor growth, we aimed also to determine whether osteosarcoma cells secretome can influence the osteoblast release of extracellular nanoparticles (NPs) as well as NPs protein cargo. Intriguingly, we found that MNNG/HOS secretome exerts a direct effect on osteoblast-NPs, reprogramming their protein cargo and subsequently influencing extracellular matrix composition and collagen formation, in favor of tumor progression. Overall, our findings indicate the ability of MNNG/HOS cells to fuel their own malignancy by deranging bone matrix composition and stimulating osteoblast-nanoparticles shuttling of osteosarcoma promoting factors
‘Monte Parnaso. Mascarata da Cavalieri Napoletani’ (1630). Feste, balli e cerimoniali a Napoli per l’Infanta di Spagna
No full textLa mascherata Monte Parnaso, con versi di Giovan Battista Basile e musiche di Giacinto Lambardi, è segmento di una lunga festa organizzata il 17 ottobre 1630 a Napoli per onorare il soggiorno in città di Maria Anna d’Austria, Infanta di Spagna. In questa ‘forma intermedia’ (Warburg), la qualità del testo letterario, la potenza evocatrice della musica e le componenti architettoniche della scenografia mirano a conquistare lo spettatore, a consolidare l’autorità del sovrano e a celebrare l’intellighenzia napoletana coinvolta nell’organizzazione e messa in scena dell’evento
The impact of urban models on social support – Between spatial justice and sustainable development
Full text linkTerritorial disparities condition the well-being of communities, affecting access to essentialservices and the possibility of building and maintaining meaningful social networks. Differ-ences in the distribution of infrastructure, the quality of urban spaces, and opportunities forsocial interaction can amplify isolation situations, especially impacting the most vulnerablesegments of the population. This study, conducted in four municipalities in the Province ofL’Aquila, analyses the phenomenon according to two dimensions: the spatial one, linked tourban planning and the location of primary services, and the social one, related to perceivedsocial support. The results underline the importance of inclusive planning that promotes spa-tial justice and equitable access to services, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal
Is NAD+ a key factor in ovarian aging and dysfunction? Insights and uncertainties from current research
Full text linkRecent findings highlight NAD+ as a central regulator of various cellular processes, including energy metabolism, stress response, and aging. The growing evidence of the benefits associated with dietary NAD+ precursors has elevated NAD+ to a promising therapeutic target for addressing female infertility. This review aims to evaluate existing literature on the mechanisms governing the availability and utilization of NAD+ in the ovaries and its alterations in female reproductive disorders, with a particular focus on ovarian aging and dysfunction including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Alongside data from in vivo and in vitro studies on various NAD+ boosters, this review incorporates findings from research on genetic mutations, polymorphisms in human and animal populations, and insights from transgenic animal models. The present work emphasizes that NAD+ deficiency is largely driven by a combination of factors, including heightened consumption, impaired utilization efficiency, and diminished biosynthesis or transport. Analysing these aspects, we suggest that the ovary possesses its own unique NAD+ metabolism, but our understanding of the mechanisms governing it is still in its infancy. Key questions remain unanswered, such as how NAD+ and its precursors are transported into oocytes and ovarian cells, their specific preferences for different NAD+ precursors, as well as the specific changes associated with different ovarian dysfunctions. Finally, in this review methods for studying NAD+ metabolism are reported as essential tools to properly investigate the potential of NAD+ boosting therapies for counteracting ovarian aging and dysfunction
Selective activation of antioxidant resources and energy deficiency in Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome fibroblasts as an adaptive biological response to Sil1 loss
Full text linkMarinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS) is a neuromuscular disease which presents with ataxia, muscle weakness and cataracts. This syndrome is typically caused by mutations in SIL1 gene, an ER co-chaperone that disrupts protein folding. Although it is known that accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER profoundly affect reduction-oxidation (redox) homeostasis and energy production, the possible role of these processes in MSS was not investigated to date. In patient-derived fibroblasts, both maximal mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial ATP production rates were diminished, while the glycolytic fraction remained unaffected. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were increased, while glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were decreased. Oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA was comparable or even lower to that observed in control cells. Similar alterations were observed in the muscle tissue of the woozy mouse model of MSS. In conclusion, we identified a mitochondrial energy deficit and an adaptive cellular mechanism that effectively manage oxidative stress in Sil1-deficient cells
Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of High-Altitude Biodiversity: A Case Study on Artemisia eriantha in the Central Apennines, Italy
No full textThe conservation of high-altitude biodiversity requires multidisciplinary approaches integrating botanical, genetic, ecological, and microbiological perspectives to understand
species’ resilience, evolutionary dynamics, and ecological interactions in extreme environments. These integrated methods are crucial for identifying factors influencing species’ survival in fragile, high-altitude ecosystems threatened by harsh conditions and climate change. Genetic studies reveal population structure and diversity, microbiological analyses explore plant-microbe interactions, and ecological assessments examine habitat conditions. Together, these approaches provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping species adaptation and persistence. The present study investigates the genetic diversity and rhizosphere microbiota related to Artemisia eriantha, a glacial relict endemic to the Central Apennines. Plant and soil samples were collected from three sites in the Abruzzo region: Monte Corvo, Monte Portella (Gran Sasso massif), and Monte Focalone (Majella massif). Genetic analysis using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers revealed high within-population variability typical of outcrossing species and distinct population clustering. Rhizosphere microbiota diversity, analyzed via 16S rRNA metabarcoding, showed site-specific differences, with Monte Portella exhibiting lower diversity and the presence of unique genera, such as Streptomyces and Solirubrobacter, further underscore the localized adaptation of microbiota to site-specific conditions. The findings highlight how environmental factors shape plant genetic structure and associated microbiota, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary approaches. This integrated analysis provides a framework for targeted in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies for endangered alpine species
Microbial Solutions in Agriculture: Enhancing Soil Health and Resilience Through Bio-Inoculants and Bioremediation
Full text linkHygrothermal degradation of modes I and II fracture toughness in flat carbon/epoxy composites: experimental and numerical insights
Full text linkFilament winding is a widely used technique for manufacturing axisymmetric fibre-reinforced composites, such as pressure vessels and pipes, designed for harsh environments. Understanding the effects of these conditions on mechanical performance is crucial. This study presents a combined experimental and numerical investigation of unidirectional carbon/epoxy composites manufactured via filament winding, subjected to tensile, compressive, shear, and interlaminar fracture toughness tests (Modes I and II). Samples were exposed to hygrothermal ageing at room and elevated temperatures to assess moisture absorption and its influence on fracture properties. Special attention is given to the variation in interlaminar fracture toughness due to hygrothermal exposure. Fractographic analysis reveals fibre bridging as a key mechanism behind enhanced Mode I toughness, while Mode II toughness deteriorates with ageing. The findings provide critical insights into the durability and failure mechanisms of filament-wound composites under service conditions