In the last decade, the world of academia has faced a period of strong/severe resource constraints/reduction. At the same time, there has been an increasing interest of the Ministry of Research (MIUR) in designing methods to evaluate University performance in order to rank efficient Universities and to reduce potential inefficiencies, so providing the administration authorities with measures that may be used for an optimal resources allocation. With this increasing interest in University performance, a wide academic debate has emerged about the models and measures adopted, based on several quantitative measures of inputs that, sometimes, have been borrowed from the Italian Health organizational model, much more consolidated in its experience. We cite, for all, the students evaluation in terms of standard cost within the resources allocation model introduced last year, and the “customers” satisfaction measurement, whose main goal is to provide an independent system of regular evaluation of student satisfaction and of the University teaching quality. The aim of this paper is to deal with the students opinion about the quality of teaching, as perceived as “users” while attending their academic courses in the health area. We agree with the statement that the high quality of healthcare services provided to the community depends also on the main factor, the human capital involved in supplying them. In Italy, the academic courses belonging to the health area provide the access to a limited number of students who passed a hard selection. This rule was introduced by the law n.264/1999 to harmonize the Italian University system to the European one in order to guarantee the high quality of students higher education in this field. And that quality of the education, according to the law, depended on the places in the classrooms, on the equipment and scientific laboratories for teaching; on the teaching staff and technical personnel; on the assistance and tutoring service, on the apprenticeships and places available in laboratories and classrooms equipped for practical, on the presence of technical-practical and laboratory activities. For the Government, that is the main donor for Italian Universities, the level of student satisfaction is of great importance to evaluate the quality of their courses. It is actually measured by different points of view as quality of teachers, teaching materials and logistical support. The law n.370/1999 states that Italian Universities have to systematically carry out a survey on the satisfaction of “teaching” of their students; this survey is named Opinione degli studenti . Recently, the National Agency of Evaluation (ANVUR) has been entrusted to oversee the related processes. Since 2013, the University of Bari, like the other Universities, has adopted the ANVUR guidelines.

Il modello di Dirichlet consente di rappresentare il comportamento di acquisto del consumatore nel caso di mercati stazionari ma a condizione che le marche rispondano tutte alla stessa funzione d’uso. Il modello rappresenta un valido supporto alle decisioni di chi intende migliorare la quota di mercato della propria marca o nel caso in cui volesse introdurne una nuova. Con il modello è possibile ottenere informazioni di marketing per verificare con degli indicatori se ciò che accade nel mercato può essere considerato stazionario o meno, individuare nuovi segmenti di mercato, inoltre, rappresenta un valido supporto all’analisi delle situazioni di non stazionarietà come promozioni, ingresso di nuove marche nel mercato o trend di vendita. Il modello di Dirichlet sta assumendo sempre maggiore rilevanza nella letteratura del marketing mix ed in particolare per l’analisi del comportamento del consumatore, per l’analisi approfondita delle marche relativamente al posizionamento, alle differenziazioni ed al plus offerto, ed infine offre un valido contributo per l’analisi della pubblicità, delle vendite e delle promozioni.

Kakwani suggested a decomposition of Gini concentration ratio by components in which the concentration ratio of the whole variable is a linear combination of the concentration ratios of the components, the weights being the products of the shares of the same components and some correlation coefficients. In this note we show that in the case of some null observations of the component, which is very common in applications, each of the three factors of the decomposition can be split in two parts, one due to positive observations and another due to null observations. This paper gives a more complete interpretation of the results of the applications of Kakwani decomposition.

Multiple-site colonization with Candida spp. is commonly recognized as a risk factor for invasive fungal infection in critically ill patients. We carried out a study to determine the relationship between Candida colonization and invasive infection in neurological patients admitted to an ICU. At admission (T0) and every three days for two weeks, different samples (pharynx swab, tracheal secretions, stomach contents, etc.) were collected for mycological surveillance. Candida mannan antigen and Candida anti-mannan antibodies were assayed. The Colonization Index (CI) and Corrected Colonization Index were calculated for each time point. Of all patients 70% was already colonized by Candida spp. at T0 and six of them had CI ≥ 0.5. Three patients developed candidemia; they had CI ≥ 0.5 before infection. Positive values of Candida mannan antigen and anti-mannan antibodies were found only in the patients with candidemia. The sensitivity and specificity of the Candida mannan test were 66.6% and 100%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of the anti-mannan antibody test were 100%. In accordance with other authors, we find the surveillance cultures are useful to monitor the Candida colonization in ICU patients. In addition, the sequential observation of anti-mannan antibodies could contribute to early diagnosis of candidiasis more than Candida mannan antigen in immunocompetent patients.

Biomass pelleting process strongly depends on a number of variables hard to be simultaneously controlled. This paper suggests a method to ensure pellets moisture optimization and process energy saving. An experimental testbed was arranged in order to validate the performance of the proposed strategy. It is based on a closed-loop control system that regulates material moisture and flow rate, but its robustness is affected by the control-loop delay (the actuator delay is about 10 minutes) and by the random arrangement of the pellets inside the cooler that strongly affects product moisture (the measurement errors are not negligible). To overcome those problems, a robust statistical approach was adopted to reach the best trade-off between estimation accuracy and computational effort. It was derived by the well-known Random Close Packing model and statistical estimator. Experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed approach that provides moisture errors less than 7.2% with a continuous limitation of energy consumption. The present work is part of Idea75’s project – SEI Smart supervisor for Energy efficiency optimization of Industrial processes – funded by Regione – PO FESR 2007-2013, Asse I, Linea di Intervento 1.1. Azione 1.1.3 – Aiuti alle piccole imprese innovative di nuova costituzione.

AIM: to evaluate the influence of cerebral venous drainage on the pathogenesis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) and Ménière syndrome (MD). METHODS: we enrolled 59 consecutive patients (32 males, mean age 53.05+15.37 years): 40 ISSHL and 19 MD. All underwent physical examination, biochemical evaluation (glycemic and lipid profile, viral serology, C reactive protein, etc), audiometric (tonal, vocal, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and auditory brainstem response test) and impedentiometric examination. The pure tone average (PTA) was calculated for the following frequencies: 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 8000. An echo-color Doppler evaluation of the venous cerebral veins, internal jugular (IJV) and vertebral veins (VV) at supine and 90° position was performed. RESULTS: no morphological alterations were found both in patients and controls. There were no signs of stenosis, blocked flow, membranes, etc. We found lower minimum, mean and maximum velocities in distal IJVs (p=0.019; p=0.013; p=0.022; respectively) and left VVs (p=0.027; p=0.008; p=0.001; respectively) in supine (0°) position in both MD and ISSHL patients as compared to controls. The same was for orthostatic position (90°). We found negative correlations between the velocities in extracranial veins and PTA values: therefore, the worst the audiometric performance of the subjects, the lower the velocities in the venous cerebral drainage. CONCLUSIONS: ISSHL and MD patients showed altered venous flow in IJVs and VVs as compared to controls, independently from posture. This different behavior of venous tone control can influence the ear performance and may have a role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Ziconotide is a nonopioid intrathecal analgesic drug used to manage moderate to severe chronic pain. The aim of this work is to assess the safety and efficacy of intrathecal (IT) combination of ziconotide and morphine in malignant pain refractory to high doses of oral opioids. Patients with malignant pain refractory to high oral opioids doses with a mean visual analogue scale of pain intensity (VASPI) score of P70 mm were enrolled. An IT combination therapy was administered: Ziconotide was started at a dose of 2.4 lg/ day, followed by increases of 1.2 lg/day at intervals of at least 7 days, and an initial IT daily dose of morphine was calculated based on its oral daily dose. Percentage change in VASPI scores from baseline was calculated at 2 days, at 7 days, and weekly until the first 28 days. The mean percentage change of VASPI score from baseline was used for efficacy assessment. Safety was monitored based on adverse events and routine laboratory values. Twenty patients were enrolled, with a mean daily VASPI score at rest of 90 ± 7. All had a disseminated cancer with bone metastases involving the spine. The percentage changes in VASPI mean scores from baseline to 2 days, 7 days, and 28 days were 39 ± 13% (95% confidence interval [CI] =13.61–64.49, P < .001), 51 ± 12% (95% CI = 27.56–74.56, P < .001), and 62 ± 13% (95% CI = 36.03– 87.89%, P &

In this paper we analysis the results from a survey carried out among students of the faculty of Education at the University of Bari with respect to the different aspects of the teaching activity.The statistical tecniques of multidimensional scaling and principal component analysisi have been used to synthesize a Matrix of data maintaining the greatest informational content.

In this paper we analyse the results from a survey carried out among students of the Faculty of Education at the University of Bari with respect to the different aspects of the teaching activity. The statistical techniques of Multidimensional Scaling and principal component analysis have been used to synthesize a matrix of data maintaining the greatest informational content.

In questa nota è stata analizzata la disuguaglianza dei redditi delle famiglie pugliesi e italiane nell’anno 2012. I dati utilizzati sono quelli rivenienti per detto anno dalla indagine della Banca d’Italia. Il campione considerato comprende 8151 famiglie per l’intero Paese, di cui 498 pugliesi. I dati presi in considerazione per ciascuna famiglia sono: redditi da lavoro dipendente, redditi da lavoro autonomo, redditi da trasferimenti, redditi da capitale e redditi totali. L’indice di disuguaglianza dei redditi adoperato è il rapporto di concentrazione di Gini che, come è noto, varia tra 0 nel caso in cui tutte le famiglie abbiano lo stesso reddito (equidistribuzione) ed 1 nel caso in cui l’ammontare complessivo del reddito è percepito da una sola famiglia e le restanti non percepiscono alcun reddito (concentrazione massima). La disponibilità oltre che dei redditi complessivi anche dei redditi per fonte, come indicato precedentemente, consentirà di accertare il contributo alla concentrazione dei redditi complessivi apportato da ciascuna fonte, adottando una metodologia di scomposizione moltiplicativa proposta da Kakwani nel 1977 e da Shorrocks nel 1982 ed utilizzata da vari autori, in particolare da Lerman e Yitzhaki nel 1985 per gli Usa e da Jedrzejczak nel 2008 per la Polonia.

Il volume presenta i risultati delle ricerche dei vari gruppi di studiosi che gravitano intorno al Centro lnteruniversitario di Ricerca “Popolazione, Ambiente e Salute”. l saggi qui raccolti affrontano, infatti, da prospettive scientifiche differenti ma complementari, problematiche di carattere demografico, sociale e sanitario.Integrazione, lavoro, disagio sociale, immigrazione, invecchiamento della popolazione, educazione alla salute sono alcuni dei temi presenti nel volume che volge uno sguardo anche al passato. Problematiche affrontate utilizzando una pluralità di fonti e metodologie d’analisi in un'ottica sempre attenta al territorio. l risultati presentati intendono fornire una lente d'ingrandimento attraverso la quale osservare il presente nonché stimolare nell'opinione pubblica una riflessione attenta e costruttiva.A tal fine, il “connubio” fra discipline differenti, la condivisione di molteplici percorsi di ricerca si rivelano preziosi elementi di arricchimento.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) , primitive dilated cardiomyopathy (PDCM) is a "progressive dilation of the left or both ventricles and a depressed contractility in absence of abnormal load conditions ". It evolves in progressive heart-failure. The term "cardiogenic dementia" expresses the intimate connection between heart diseases and cognitive functions. The association between PDCM and the neuropsychological functions is unclear: the main pathophysiological hypotheses are cerebral hypoperfusion and cardiogenic emboli. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact that the PDCM has on neuropsychological decline and to detect early echocardiographic markers of cognitive impairment. We enrolled 235 patients: 168 suffering from PDCM as sample group and 67 suffering from hypertensive dilated cardiomyopathy (HTCM) as control group. They underwent a cardiology examination and a neuropsychological assessment . A p <0.05 was considered significant. The two groups showed no differences in risk factors, demographic and cardiovascular parameters (except for dimensions of aortic root, left atrium and ventricle which appeared greater in PDCM and left ventricle ejection fraction that appeared lower in PDCM). Among administered neuropsychological tests, only the Stroop Test (which explores executive and attentive functions) appeared significantly lower in PDCM (p = 0.029). Moreover left ventricle end-diastolic diameter was inversely related to the Stroop Test Score (r= -0.32). PDCM doesn't appear to be at the basis of a generalized cognitive and neuropsychological decline. Only the executive functions seem impaired in PDCM. Left ventricle dilation seems to be associated to attentive and executive functions decline.

In this paper the authors study empirically the power of the test based on the index of dissimilarity to compare two samples drawn from two populations differing only in the location parameter. We call such a test as test of homogeneity. In practice the power of such a bidirectional test will be studied referring to the absolute value of the shift δ and to the same probability models considered by Fried and Dehling.

In this paper we examine 5 indexes (the two Yule’s indexes, the chi square, the odds ratio and an elementary index) of a two-by-two table, which estimate the correlation coefficient ρ in a bivariate Bernoulli distribution. We will find the compact expression of the influence functions, which allow the quantification of the effect of an infinitesimal contamination of the probability of any pair of attributes of the bivariate random variable distributed according to the above-mentioned model. We prove that the only unbiased index is the chi square. In order to determine the indexes, which are less sensitive to contamination, we obtain the expressions of three synthetic measures of the influence function, which are the maximum contamination (gross sensitivity error), the mean square deviation and the variance. These results, even if don’t allow a definitive assessment of the overall optimum properties of the five indexes, as not all of them are unbiased, nevertheless they allow to appreciating the synthetic entity of the effect of the contaminations in the estimation of the parameter ρ of the bivariate Bernoulli distribution.

The calculation of the mean difference for the lognormal distribution involves several hard integrals featuring the error function. In this paper, considering two particular cases of an integral of the exponential function for the complement to one of the error functions, and using various symmetries, we have achieved the result of an extremely simple and useful formula of the mean difference for the lognormal distribution.

The aim of this note is to highlight the importance of statistical-economic forecasting models for the deployment of innovative services through modern communication tools. We will analyse some communication tools and, in particular, the following: the communication trough the mass media, the interpersonal communication and the communication "through word of mouth". After having analysed the means of communication, we will measure the influence that consumers will experience in their purchasing decisions through the use of economic-statistical models In the current landscape, in the companies, the importance of innovation strategies assumes a growing importance, so the ability to model the cost-effectiveness is essential. Among all the suitable models, the model of F. Bass (1969) is efficient for measuring the effectiveness of the communication tools used for the promotion of innovative products. The model is widely used by companies for their quantitative analysis of the sales deriving from the innovative products put on the market and it has proven to effectively support the commercial management of the companies in planning and programming of sales. The Bass model is a considerable tool for measuring the diffusion process of innovation of a product among the potential customers. Another important contribution is offered by the model of information dissemination developed by Rogers (1983) that is based on the Gaussian distribution, where the curve is the frequency of consumers buying a product over time. If can be detected the cumulative number of buyers, the result is a S form pattern (sigmoid). Rogers argues that the curve of purchase is normally distributed because of a learning effect due to the interpersonal interaction existing in the social system. The number of buyers increases as soon as the process of interpersonal influence acts on those who are not buyers and this leads Rogers to identify the diffusion process essentially with a communicative nature.

applied to marketing strategies. In the past, multivariate statistical techniques were used for quantitative data in marketing decision support systems (MDSS), but there are many qualitative variables in present day marketing research, and the elaboration of these variables requires the use of categorical statistical models. In view of the scarcity of references in the literature to the contribution of applied categorical models to marketing, the scientific purpose of the present work involves the application of the methodology of categorical models to marketing management. A marketing information system (MIS) is an integrated structure involving people, equipment, and procedures which has the purpose of collecting, classifying, analyzing, evaluating and distributing relevant, timely and accurate data for operators making marketing decisions. In the management of marketing information systems, the utilization of statistical techniques is fundamental for the elaboration of data. In particular, the use of the following categorical statistical models is most useful: categorical regression model, categorical principal components model, non-linear canonical correlation model, multiple correspondences model, multidimensional scaling model. The categorical regression model is used to measure customers’ degree of satisfaction in relation to the use of some products or services. The categorical principle components model is used in the field of marketing to analyse the preferences or opinions on the characteristics of products expressed by consumers. The non-linear canonical correlation model makes it possible to measure the correlation between different sets of variables. The multiple correspondences model is used in marketing strategies for the creation of positioning maps for product brands through the opinions expressed by consumers on the qualities of the products. The multidimensional scaling model is used to analyse the perceptions and opinions expressed by consumers on the greater or lesser similarity between product brands.

Celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disease triggered by dietary gluten, is a multi-systemic disorder that primarily results in mucosal damage of the small intestine. Reproductive disorders and pregnancy complications have been associated with CD. Conflicting results have been published concerning CD and the risk of impaired fetal growth with reduced birthweight. The aim of our multicentric, perspective, case–control study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed CD in mothers of small for gestational age (SGA) newborns in two regions of Italy. The study included 480 mothers: group A consisted of 284 SGA newborns’ mothers and group B consisted of 196 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) newborns’ mothers. Tissue transglutaminase type 2 antibodies (TG2) IgA and IgG were measured in blood samples. We diagnosed two new cases of CD in asymptomatic mothers. It may be appropriate to include the TG2 to the panel of prenatal blood test.