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.

AIM: Although the underlined mechanisms are still unknown, metabolic/coagulation alterations related to childhood obesity can induce vascular impairments. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic/coagulation parameters and endothelial function/vascular morphology in overweight/obese children. METHODS: Thirty-five obese/overweight children (22 pre-pubertal, mean age: 9.52±3.35 years) were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment index (HOMAIR), metabolic and coagulation parameters, [adiponectin, fibrinogen, high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW), endothelin-1, and vonWillebrand factor antigen] ultrasound early markers of atherosclerosis [flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), common carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and anteroposterior diameter of infra-renal abdominal aorta (APAO)] were assessed. RESULTS: APAO was related to anthropometric (age: r=0.520, p=0.001; height: r=0.679, p＜0.001; weight: r=0.548, p=0.001; BMI: r=0.607, p＜0.001; SBP: r=0.377, p=0.026) and metabolic (HOMAIR: r=0.357, p=0.035; HMW: r=－0.355, p=0.036) parameters. Age, height, and systolic blood pressure were positively related to increased C-IMT (r=0.352, p=0.038; r=0.356, p=0.036; r=0.346, p=0.042, respectively). FMD was not related to any clinical and biochemical characteristics of the pediatric population. Age, HOMAIR, fasting glucose levels, and HMW were independent predictors for APAO increase. Each unit decrease in HMW concentrations (1 μg/ml) induced a 0.065 mm increase in APAO. CONCLUSION: High molecular weight adiponectin is related to cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese children.

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.

il presente lavoro ha l’obiettivo di procedere nella direzione delle precedenti ricerche e di definire, avvalendosi dei risultati ottenuti dai succitati autori, la varianza, il momento terzo ed il momento quarto della distribuzione campionaria di Δ per il modello parabolico. L’importanza di tali conoscenze deriva, come è noto, dalla possibilità che queste offrono di valutare la convergenza della distribuzione campionaria della differenza media alla simmetria, mediante il momento terzo, ed alla normalità, mediante il momento quarto.

La principale fonte di informazione sulla distribuzione dei redditi familiari in Italia è l’indagine campionaria realizzata ogni due anni dalla Banca d’Italia sui bilanci delle famiglie italiane. Il presente lavoro si pone come obiettivo la stima del capitale umano basata sull’analisi dei dati relativi alle suddette indagini svolte negli anni 2006 e 2008. Il capitale umano può essere espresso come l’insieme delle conoscenze, competenze ed abilità che gli individui acquisiscono nel corso della vita con finalità rivolte al raggiungimento di obiettivi sociali ed economici. Esso rappresenta, infatti, uno dei fattori di principale interesse nell’individuazione di modelli finalizzati alla definizione di strategie di politica economica. Un limite all’utilizzo del capitale umano, in detti modelli, è dato dal fatto che tale variabile non può essere misurata direttamente e, pertanto, non è possibile avere una stima monetaria della sua distribuzione tra individui e famiglie. Il capitale umano può essere, quindi, considerato come una variabile latente, ovvero come una variabile teorica non direttamente osservabile, ma che può essere stimata a partire da una serie di variabili manifeste a cui essa sottende (Gertler, 1988).

Nel presente lavoro è stata ricavata un’espressione esplicita e compatta dello scarto semplice medio dalla mediana per la distribuzione di Dagum. Tale espressione permette di esaminare, con grande evidenza, il comportamento dei parametri di scala e di forma in termini di variabilità assoluta e in termini di variabilità relativa.

Society focuses on the individual as a whole and from this point of view, it is similar to the features at the top of Maslow’s pyramid (self actualization). Once the physiological needs have been met (since food is no longer scarce due to the present financial conditions) and the safety needs (perhaps at the moment, these are being put to the test, but in a completely different view from the one Maslow hypothesized, considering the latest events linked to the terrorist attacks which are raging against the United States and Italy) self actualization is found at the higher levels of the pyramid. Reaching the top of the pyramid , man is self actualized . At this stage man should be able to find the right balance between his work and his private life so as to be satisfied with his role within this dual function. Our approach stems from this awareness, which places the self actualized individual as someone who is capable of having a balancing role in each fundamental facet of life: work and the family, a man who is fulfilled and not stressed, who knows how to balance his roles in different areas and at different moments in life.