Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"
Not a member yet
116395 research outputs found
Sort by
The Influence of Working from Home vs. Working at the Office on Job Performance in a Hybrid Work Arrangement: A Diary Study
No full textWorking from home (WFH) has become increasingly common, and its impact on job performance is particularly interesting to researchers. Prior research has established a positive correlation between remote work and job performance, but the underlying mechanisms still need to be fully understood. This diary study addresses this issue by applying the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory and developing a mediation model that identifies two processes responsible for the positive and negative relationships of WFH (compared to working at the office or WATO) with job performance. The study was conducted in a public organization, and 203 employees engaged in hybrid work arrangements answered an online survey for eight consecutive workdays. Results showed that working from home (WFH) had an indirect positive relationship with job performance through daily concentration and work engagement. Instead, no significant indirect relationship of WFH with daily job performance through daily social isolation and tension was observed. However, a disengagement “effect” was found, as the indirect relationship of WFH with daily job performance via daily social isolation and work engagement was negative and statistically significant. Theoretically, this study supports a motivational mechanism linking WFH to job performance, does not support the health-impairment process triggered by WFH, and emphasizes the importance of considering the complex interplay between job demands and motivational states. From a practical standpoint, the study suggests that organizations implementing hybrid work should enhance employee motivation, for instance, by providing tools to improve employee concentration and addressing potential feelings of social isolation when working from home
‘Is it me or ... ?’. A multimethod study to explore the impact of personal and contextual factors on PhD students’ well-being
No full textAs PhD students’ well-being gathers relevance, exploring what factors influence it and how is crucial. Therefore, this study quantitatively examined the joint effect of personal and contextual variables on PhD students’ well-being and qualitatively assessed their perceptions about the main issues they faced during their doctoral course. Through a multimethod study, we collected quantitative data from 216 Italian PhD students, 123 of whom responded to an open-ended question. We tested a moderating mediation model to understand whether (1) there was an indirect relationship between self-efficacy and exhaustion, mediated by the perceptions of impostor syndrome; (2) supervisor instrumental support moderated the self-efficacy–impostor syndrome relationship and the indirect relationship abovementioned. Quantitative findings showed that self-efficacy was negatively associated with exhaustion via perceptions of impostor syndrome. Concerning the moderation effect, when self-efficacy was high, the higher the supervisor support, the lower the perceptions of impostor syndrome. When self-efficacy was low, the higher the supervisor support, the higher the perceptions of impostor syndrome. Qualitative findings reported various personal and contextual aspects PhD students perceived as problematic, which may jeopardise their well-being. These results may inform policymakers and academic staff interventions for promoting PhD students’ well-being
Lack of pre-movement facilitation as neurophysiological hallmark of fatigue in patients with Parkinson's disease: A single pulse TMS study
No full textBackground: Fatigue is a debilitating symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly affecting quality of life. Despite its prevalence, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that deficits in cortical motor preparation processes may contribute to PD-related fatigue. Methods: This study investigated premovement facilitation (PMF), a marker of corticospinal excitability during motor preparation, in 20 healthy subjects (HS) and 28 PD patients, subdivided into those with fatigue (PDwF, n = 14) and without fatigue (PDwoF, n = 14). Participants performed a reaction time (RT) task involving thumb abduction following a visual go signal, while transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) at intervals of 50, 100, and 150 ms before movement onset. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and the task-irrelevant abductor digiti minimi (ADM). Results: In HS and PDwoF, MEP APB amplitude increased progressively when TMS was applied at 150, 100, and 50 ms before movement onset, reflecting intact PMF, with the greater MEP APB amplitude at the shorter interval (50 ms). However, in PDwF patients, PMF was absent on the most affected side, while it remained preserved on the less affected side. Furthermore, the absence of PMF correlated with fatigue severity (FSS scores) and rigidity subscores, highlighting a link between impaired motor preparation and clinical symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cortical dysfunction in motor preparation contributes to PD-related fatigue, particularly in the most affected hemisphere. The observed PMF deficits provide a potential neurophysiological marker for fatigue in PD, supporting future investigations into targeted therapeutic interventions to restore motor excitability and alleviate fatigue symptoms
Mapping Digital Transformation and Social Impact in Italian Healthcare: A Holistic Evaluation of Organizational Digital Maturity
No full textEnergy calibration and stability of the 3 MV accelerator at CIRCE for applications in Nuclear Astrophysics
No full textA 3 MV NEC 9SDH-2 Pelletron accelerator is installed at the Center for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta (CIRCE-DMF). The accelerator serves several beam lines devoted to both applied and fundamental research. While generally a precise and accurate knowledge of the energy of the charged particle beams is of interest for all applications, the measurement of charged particle nuclear reactions of astrophysical energies is particularly demanding because of the strong energy dependence of the cross section below the Coulomb barrier and the very long duration of the measurements. We describe here the energy calibration of the accelerator installed at CIRCE-DMF and a measurement of the short term stability. A routine to improve the long term stability and remove the observed dependence of the terminal voltage on the injected current was successfully tested. Finally, possible improvements are discussed
Low LDL-Cholesterol and Hemorrhagic Risk: Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Perspectives
No full textLow-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plays a central role in lipid metabolism and is a well-established therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In recent years, increasingly aggressive lipid-lowering strategies have been adopted to achieve ultra-low LDL-C concentrations (<55 mg/dL or even <30 mg/dL) in high-risk patients. While the benefits of LDL-C reduction in lowering the incidence of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke are well documented, emerging clinical evidence has raised concerns about a potential association between very low LDL-C levels and an increased risk of bleeding, particularly hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms by which reduced LDL-C levels may influence the hemostatic system and vascular integrity. It explores the complex interplay between cholesterol availability and platelet function, endothelial barrier stability, and coagulation pathways. In addition, we assess experimental and clinical studies supporting this association and discuss how these findings may inform risk stratification and personalized lipid-lowering strategies. A deeper understanding of the biological basis of this paradoxical risk is essential for achieving a safe, balanced, and effective approach to cardiovascular prevention
An integrated multifocal tDCS-EEG protocol for reducing cognitive and affective symptoms in mild cognitive impairment and early stages of dementia: a crossover double-blind randomized controlled trial
No full textBackground: Available evidence on effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive and affective symptoms in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and the early stages of dementia is encouraging but still limited. Multifocal high-definition brain stimulation could detain the potential of improving these symptoms by modulating the activity of a fronto-temporal network. Moreover, combined electrophysiological measures might contribute monitoring the underlying neurophysiological effects. In this study protocol an innovative and integrated intervention for patients with MCI and early-stage dementia will be proposed, also exploring the modulatory role of some specific variables such as education and cognitive reserve. Method: Sixty patients with MCI and early-stage dementia will be enrolled in a crossover double-blind randomized controlled trial utilizing an integrated intervention combining conventional cognitive treatment with multifocal brain stimulation and electrophysiological recordings. A battery of standardized neuropsychological tests will be employed at several time points to monitor changes, and inferential statistics will identify the changes specifically associated with the intervention. Regression analyses will be performed to ascertain the extent to which education and cognitive reserve scores may influence intervention outcomes. Analysis of electrophysiological data will contribute characterizing responders to treatment. Discussion: The project will contribute to a transformation in the landscape of non-pharmacological interventions for MCI and dementia, integrating diverse techniques and levels of analysis within a unified, comprehensive approach. Trial registration: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov database under registry number NCT06668610 on October 30, 2024
Interplay between sex, age, BMI, health-related quality of life, and coping strategies in amateur and professional athletes
No full textBackground/Objectives: The psychological well-being of athletes has garnered increasing interest due to its strong association with physical performance. While somatic indicators such as Body Mass Index (BMI) are routinely monitored in sports, the role of psychological resources—especially coping strategies—in shaping Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of psychological and physical factors on HRQoL among amateur and professional athletes, controlling for sex, age, and BMI. Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 537 athletes (326 males, 211 females; mean age = 32.44, SD = 13.64), aged 18–76 years. Participants were recruited via online platforms and sports organizations and completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, including the SF-36 to assess HRQoL and the COPE-NVI-25 to evaluate coping strategies. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the relative contributions of demographic, anthropometric, and psychological variables to HRQoL. Results: Demographic variables and BMI explained a limited proportion of the variance in HRQoL. In contrast, coping strategies significantly contributed to HRQoL outcomes, accounting for up to 22.5% of the variance in the global SF-36 score. Positive attitude and social support were associated with better physical and mental health, while avoidance strategies showed consistent negative associations across all HRQoL dimensions. Conclusion: Adaptive coping strategies, particularly positive attitude and social support, play a pivotal role in enhancing athletes’ HRQoL, surpassing the influence of BMI, sex, and age. These findings support the development of tailored psychological interventions to foster athlete wellbeing across competitive levels