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.

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.

L’indice di Hirsch (comunemente noto come indice h) è stato definito da Hirsch (2005) come quel numero numero h tale che, per un insieme di pubblicazioni di un dato autore, h di queste hanno ricevuto almeno h citazioni, mentre le rimanenti non ne hanno ricevute più di h. Tale metrica è ampiamente utilizzata per quantificare l’impatto della ricerca scientifica individuale (ed istituzionale), e diverse varianti ne sono state proposte tanto al fine di estendere la proposta originale quanto di superarne alcuni inconvenienti. In questo lavoro, discuteremo la crescente importanza di valutare l’impatto della ricerca in un contesto come quello italiano, al fine di poter finalmente garantire che le risorse pubbliche spese possano essere indirizzate verso settori di eccellenza della ricerca, con i conseguenti benefici che ne deriverebbero per il paese: a tal fine, l’indice h potrebbe avere un ruolo molto importante, trattandosi di un indicatore sintetico tanto della produttività scientifica quanto del relativo impatto, che permette quindi di semplificare la caratterizzazione della produzione scientifica dei ricercatori. Pertanto, presenteremo una rassegna completa su h e sugli indicatori ad esso collegati; verrà posta attenzione anche alla relativa teoria statistica, che costituisce un corpus di ricerche in rapida crescita, recentemente sviluppato per distribuzioni di probabilità continue, ed esteso successivamente al caso di distribuzioni aventi supporto sui numeri interi (che è il caso familiare per le applicazioni bibliometriche). Infine, presenteremo una applicazione relativa alla comunità accademica italiana dei docenti di Statistica (sett. scientifico disciplinare SECS-S/01) in servizio come professori di prima fascia.

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.