The purpose of this study is to investigate what kind of observable and non-observable factors can influence passenger satisfaction on the quality of public transport services in a local context. Of course, these results can be used by the transport company in order to modify its business strategies and to improve its business performance. Relationships among latent dimensions (such as quality, satisfaction and loyalty) are first defined on the basis of a sample survey through suitable statistical measuring techniques (Factor Analysis with Categorical Principal Component Analysis). Then, multivariate methods of classification (Segmentation Analysis and Cluster Analysis), are used in order to explore the characteristics of the customers and their quality perception.

By using the skill gap analysis we propose a new quantitative method to plan training courses. By comparing the differences between the competences needed to cover a position and the ones possessed, it is possible to find the cases that need to be trained. According to different situations we propose some algorithms to plan courses and to find the subjects that require to be trained.

L'articolo analizza con varie metodologie statistiche, ed in particolare con la "survival analysis", la fedeltà della clientela bancaria di fronte agli investimenti proposti.

Oggetto della presente ricerca è l’analisi della Employee Satisfaction relativamente alla qualità percepita dei servizi IT nell’apposita indagine svolta dalla BNL nel 2011. Nel dettaglio, sfruttando inizialmente tecniche di analisi fattoriale esplorativa per analizzare l’intensità di legame esistente tra i servizi IT, ma anche con l’Employee Satisfaction Index rilevato dall’azienda, si è voluto verificare se esiste (e in quali termini) una relazione di causa-effetto complessa. Obiettivo principale del suddetto lavoro è, infatti, quello di evincere mediante modelli ad equazioni strutturali (SEM), in un’ottica di miglioramento continuo, quei meccanismi latenti che possono determinare la (in)soddisfazione del personale della BNL rispetto ai servizi IT fruiti.

Oggetto della presente ricerca è l’analisi del quadro attualmente esistente nelle ultime classi delle scuole secondarie di II grado, volto a guidare gli/le alunni/e verso una scelta più mirata, guidata e consapevole. È noto che gli/le studenti/esse appaiono sempre più disorientati al termine del ciclo di studi secondario e non riescono ad avere una visione chiara del panorama e delle opportunità esistenti nel mondo universitario e del lavoro. Scopi del presente lavoro sono quindi quelli di verificare in che misura gli/le studenti/esse sono in grado di prendere decisioni attendibili riguardo al loro futuro scolastico e/o professionale; analizzare gli scostamenti tra quanto dichiarato dai soggetti intervistati al momento della compilazione del questionario (scelta ex-ante) rispetto alla effettiva scelta effettuata al termine del percorso scolastico oppure nel periodo immediatamente successivo (scelta ex-post) e individuare l'esistenza di una continuità formativa tra la scuola secondaria di secondo grado, il mondo del lavoro e/o il sistema universitario. È stato inoltre introdotto un semplice indicatore per misurare la coerenza tra i propositi ex-ante espressi dagli/le alunni/e e le scelte da loro effettivamente compiute dopo il diploma.

BACKGROUND: In patients with Lynch syndrome, germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes cause a high risk of developing a broad spectrum of cancers. To date, the management of patients with Lynch syndrome has represented a major challenge because of large variations in age at cancer onset. Several factors, including genetic anticipation, have been proposed to explain this phenotypic heterogeneity, but the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Telomere shortening is a common event in tumorigenesis and also has been observed in different familial cancers. In this study, the authors investigated the possibility of a relation between telomere length and cancer onset in patients with Lynch syndrome. METHODS: The mean telomere length was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood samples from a control group of 50 individuals, from 31 unaffected mutation carriers, and from 43 affected patients, and the results were correlated with both gene mutation and cancer occurrence. In affected patients, telomere attrition was correlated with age at cancer onset. In all patients, a t test was used to assess the linearity of the regression. RESULTS: A significant correlation between telomere length and age was observed in both affected and unaffected mutation carriers (P =.0016 and P =.004, respectively) and in mutS hornolog 2 (MSH2) mutation carriers (P =.0002) but not in mutL homolog 1 (MLH1) mutation carriers. Telomere attrition was correlated significantly with age at onset in MSH2 carriers (P =.004), whereas an opposite trend toward longer telomeres in patients with delayed onset was observed in MLH1 carriers. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggested that telomere dynamics differ between MLH1 and MSH2 mutation carriers. It is possible that subtle, gene-specific mechanisms can be linked to cancer onset and anticipation in patients with Lynch syndrome. Cancer 2011;117:432535. (C) 2011 American Cancer Society.

The present invention is an element for making a surface extraction replica of a metallic material to be analised, comprising a layer suited to be placed in contact with a surface area of the material to be analysed so as to memorize the characteristics of the material to be analysed; the layer comprises indium (In) or indium oxide (In2O3). The invention includes also a kit comprising a casing and a n element for making a surface extraction replica, a method for making a surface extraction replica of a metallic material to be analysed, an the use of indium (In) or indium oxide (In2O3) in a method for making a surface extraction replica of a metallic material to be analysed.

The present invention is an element for making a surface extraction replica of a material to be analised, comprising a layer suited to be placed in contact with a surface area of the material to be analysed so as to memorize the characteristics of the material to be analysed; the layer comprises indium (In) or indium oxide (In2O3). The invention includes also a kit comprising a casing and a n element for making a surface extraction replica, a method for making a surface extraction replica of a material to be analysed, an the use of indium (In) or indium oxide (In2O3) in a method for making a surface extraction replica of a material to be analysed.

Italy is frequently reprimanded by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) over the amount of time it takes Italian courts to reach verdicts. As stated by President Giorgio Napolitano, European Court decisions have lead to calls for an urgent intervention in order to save time and costs in Italian judicial system. Efficiency and effectiveness are key targets for managing justice in Italy. Nevertheless they are not easy to achieve. In this paper, using a Stochastic Frontier Model (SFM) we compare the Italian courts efficiency to identify strong and weak points.

Abstract. Screening and diagnostic mammography are the most effective tools available for detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. In the last decade many techniques based upon measures of the shape of the contours of breast masses are been developed to investigate the nature of lesions between malignant tumours and benign masses. This paper presents methods for statistical analysis on a data set of 192 contours of breast masses. Results of these analysis lead to levels of accurate prediction in 90% of the cases, overcoming 98% for the diagnosis of malignant lesions. In this study we applied multivariate statistical techniques for examining relationships among more variables at the same time. We used in addition to the shape factors of contour masses also the age of the patients at the time of mammography, using both ROC analysis and segmentation analysis through Classification and Regression Tree.

This paper describes a statistical procedure which, tested in Basilicata, is able to supply regional administrations and tourist companies with reliable data, obtained in noticeable advance in relationship to official surveys, useful to: • know the tourist flow in different regional areas; • evaluate regional data in comparison to the other Italian regions; • establish the efficiency of possible operational measures (promotional campaigns, events, etc.); • work out strategies able to favour the increase of tourist flows in case of negative data; • sustain and encourage tourism in the weakest areas; • deepen sector studies throughout the year. The statistical population of the experimental survey is made of the active accommodation facilities in Basilicata, among the almost 650 present in the regional database. From this population, a reduced sample of facilities is obtained through a complex sampling, able to represent the population properly. Stratified samplings are planned according to the areas (Matera, Potenza, Maratea, Jonian Coast, Pollino and rest of the territory), the accommodation typologies (hotels and other facilities) and to the previous year tourist traffic size (in this procedure, above or under the limit of 11.000 presences). The survey is carried out through the ISTAT form that the facilities’ managers are obliged to provide via paper or via e-mail (often after repeated reminder). A lot of managers are in fact used to postpone the data transmission until the very end (that is January of the following year, when the annual final data are to be sent to ISTAT), even if they are frequently urged to send monthly data (as regional and national laws have established): this is the reason why an estimation partially based on a probability sampling is required.

The main aim of the present research is to find a statistical method able to preview the general trend of tourism in summer time, in order to respond to the numerous requests made by the stakeholders in Basilicata (public administrations, tourist agents, researchers, and so on). There-fore there has been an enquiry, which analyzed the sensations of tourist accommodation facili-ties’ managers about a previous period and the next summer season to point out: • booking features (timing, methods, trend); • variations perceived in relationship to the same period of previous year; • forecasts on tourist presences in summer (flows, average permanence and places of origin). The statistical population of the survey consisted in the accommodation facilities in Basilicata, interviewed through a written questionnaire. The analysis was carried out according to the ac-commodation size (number of firms and beds), typologies (hotels and other facilities) and to the areas (Matera, Potenza, Maratea, Jonian Coast, Pollino and rest of the territory). The analysis carried out in the present paper has pointed out that the managers’ sensations have been quite accurate, according to both the previous period and the forecasts. The data collected have made it possible to define the aspects of tourism in Basilicata useful to make a comparison with global tendencies, but also with booking features and tourist attitudes. The variations per-ceived are helpful also to understand the traders’ sensations and the difference between these and the final data, in order to evaluate the forecasting, planning and entrepreneurial capability of tourism agents, fundamental to improve tourism in Basilicata.

Recently, the Universities of Puglia, Molise and Basilicata started a project of Federation which aims to create a common pathway for the rationalization of resources and potentials, improving efficiency and competitiveness of educational activities, re-search and services to students. In this context, our study aims to evaluate the opinion of teachers belonging to the six universities participating in such initiative, about the state of the Italian university system in various aspects, as well as about the project of the Federation and its implementation. We projected a survey using a online questionnaire freely compiled by each teacher or researcher. The statistical data analysis revealed that some professional or personal characteristics of the respondents can influence signifi-cantly the opinions about several themes. Finally, a segmentation analysis of the sample was performed: through an automatic classification, such analysis identified the pres-ence of multiple complex relationships and, particularly, identified homogeneous groups with respect to the survey themes.

In this paper we propose an indicator for estimating the scientific productivity of scholars and, also, of the structures and institutions to which they pertain, The data needed for the indicator come from administrative databases managed by CINECA. Our exercise is aimed at measuring the quality and quantity of publications but it can be extended to any activity related to research, without conceptual and operational difficulties. The indicator, whose estimates can be computed with fast and cheap procedures, is not explicitly oriented to the evaluation of scientific research quality, but enables to highlight the immediate relevance for the meritocratic innovations that could be introduced into the Italian university system.

This paper aims to analyze the current status of orientation in the final year of secondary school degree, in order to guide pupils toward well weighted decisions. It is known that students are confused at the end of the secondary education, viewing the opportunities that exist in the academic world or in the work market. This research could give a tool to students to better explore their professional or formative futures, through a gap analysis between what students projected (ex-ante survey) and their effective choice after the end of their secondary education (ex-post choice). An easy indicator was introduced in order to measure the coherence between ex-ante and final choices after first diploma. This indicator was placed at the base of the subsequent multivariate analyses (segmentation analysis and neural network analysis) in order to identify a forecasting model.

The main way to reduce costs ensuring good healthcare standards and improving the benefit-cost ratio, in Italy as well as in other countries, is connected to organizational choices: by example, the organizational pertinence in hospitalization typology (“ordinary admission” vs “day hospital/day surgery”). This paper aims to investigate such type of efficiency in healthcare facilities by using multivariate methods of data mining, precisely logit regression, segmentation analysis, and neural networks, in order to assess the organizational appropriateness, evaluating the incidence of the day hospital and day surgery procedures and analysing their relevance in the health system, as well as their pertinence level. Starting by a set of hospital administrative data (deriving from Hospital Discharge Datasheet provided by all Apulian healthcare facilities), this study provides interesting results about the decisional mechanism of the Healthcare management, as well as the ranking of organizational efficiency in the health Apulian network. Further analyses could clarify how (and how much) these results can be extended to other territorial systems.

To analyse the level of passenger satisfaction of a public local transport service, after an explorative factorial analysis, a Structural Equation Model was adopted. The main goal of this paper is to verify how much some service characteristics could influence the perceived quality of the service. The passengers are found very sensitive to the level of the service organization and to the way the service is delivered (punctuality and regularity, and short waiting time). The safety and reliability of buses, the level of comfort and cleanness and the professionalism and courtesy of staff had, also, a big weight to determinate of the customer satisfaction. Applying a further analysis on different sub-samples, based on individual characteristics, we found that the model above identified is full invariant for different residence area and frequency of use of the service, and partially invariant for age groups, employment status, time slot of use and reason of use. The test of invariance the structural coefficients failed considering gender or education level of the passengers.

To analyse the level of passenger satisfaction of a public local transport service, after an explorative factorial analysis, a Structural Equation Model was adopted. The main goal of this paper is to verify how much some service characteristics could influence the perceived quality of the service. The passengers are found very sensitive to the level of the service organization and to the way the service is delivered (punctuality and regularity, and short waiting time). The safety and reliability of buses, the level of comfort and cleanness and the professionalism and courtesy of staff had, also, a big weight to determinate of the customer satisfaction. Applying a further analysis on different sub-samples, based on individual characteristics, we found that the model above identified is full invariant for different residence area and frequency of use of the service, and partially invariant for age groups, employment status, time slot of use and reason of use. The test of invariance the structural coefficients failed considering gender or education level of the passengers.

The 17 Y-STR loci included in the AmpFLSTR Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit were analyzed in 98 unrelated healthy males from Apulia (Southern Italy). A total of 97 different haplotypes were identified, of which 96 haplotypes were unique and 1 occurred twice. Allele frequencies for each Y-STR locus in pooled sample and estimated value of gene diversity (GD) were evaluated. The lowest value of GD was observed for DYS392 (0.126) and the highest one (0.936) for DYS385. The HD (haplotype diversity) for the studied Y-STR set showed a value of 0.9994, with an HMP (haplotype match probability) value of 0.0006, while the overall DC was 98.98%. Microvariant alleles were found for the DYS458 and DYS385 markers and sequenced. Furthermore, Φ st-based genetic distance computation and pair-wise analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) test were carried out. When comparing our population with the Apulia sample previously investigated, the AMOVA analysis detected no evidence for significant differentiation. The comparison with all Italian populations submitted to the YHRD website showed no relevant differences with all Southern Italian populations (San Giorgio La Molara, Belvedere, Trapani and Catania) and significant genetic deviation with all Northern Italian populations (Udine, Biella, La Spezia, Modena, Ravenna, Marche and North Sardinia). Moreover, the other populations and meta-populations belonging to the whole Mediterranean area (Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Spain) were different from our Apulia sample. The data were submitted to YHRD.

Current observations link vitamin D deficiency to many autoimmune diseases. There are limited data on vitamin D in Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease which in our experience shows seasonality in most of its remitting-relapsing forms. Our results demonstrate the presence of insufficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OH-D) in many patients with various clinical forms, correlated with the expected increase of the values of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). This could suggest the possible clinical use of vitamin D in the management of this frustrating disease.

In order to provide more efficient services and quality and improve its e-government features, the Polytechnic University of Bari enriched its usual request of evaluation by their users (students) with an online survey focused on satisfaction about the quality of website services. In this paper we chosen to measure the customer satisfaction by building three synthetic indices. The first index is simply represented by the raw judgement of the respondents about their opinion on the whole website’s quality. The second one was built as weighted average of all item scores of the survey’s questionnaire, divided in conceptual sections, by using, as weight, the correlation index between each section’s mean and the item of the final overall judgment. The third index was calculated similarly to the previous one, but considering the importance of each single item in the overall correlation matrix, by using as weight their communalities in a Principal Component Analysis. Then, a comparison between the three indices was done, by using various tools of multivariate analysis, and the index which appeared more suitable to differentiate the users by their “customer satisfaction” was used to define the user profiles

Utilizzando un modello DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) è stato realizzato uno studio sull’efficienza delle corti d’appello italiane. Confrontando il numero dei procedimenti civili e penali, esauriti nel corso di un anno, con le risorse impiegate da ciascuna corte, in termini di magistrati togati presenti e di spese per intercettazioni, si è verificato il livello di efficienza delle diverse strutture territoriali e la loro distanza rispetto alla frontiera produttiva.