Weekly Docetaxel (Wd) Vs Cmf As Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Elderly Early Breast Cancer (Ebc) Patients (Pts): Final Results from the Randomised Phase 3 Elda Trial

n/

Mixing distributions of tastes with a Combination of Nested Logit (CoNL) kernel: Formulation and performance analysis

This paper explores the potential of a special instance of the Combination of Random Utility Models (CoRUM; Papola, 2016), termed Combination of Nested Logit (CoNL), as kernel model in conjunction with several types of mixing distributions of tastes (parametric, nonparametric, semiparametric). Various model formulations are illustrated with their mathematical properties, and several alternative kernel models are identified for comparison. An estimation exercise is presented on a real mode choice dataset from a stated preference survey on the intercity corridor between Naples and Milan in Italy. Results, in terms of both in-sample and out-of-sample goodness-of-fit on a 10-fold cross-validation show that models with the proposed CoNL kernel outperform contrasted models

Evaluating the choice behaviour of high-speed rail passengers in Italy: A latent class structure with alternative kernel models to the Multinomial Logit

This paper analyzes the choice behavior of the high-speed rail Italian passengers, with a random utility latent class structure for modelling travelers' tastes. Latent class structures are widely used for addressing inter/intra-respondent taste variation in transport field. The simple Multinomial Logit (MNL) is commonly used as a kernel model (in the sense it will be clarified in the paper) into such latent class structures. The resulting random utility model (RUM) is well known in the literature as latent class Multinomial Logit (LC-MNL). In this study, we propose to test kernel models with different inherent distributional assumptions for random residuals of the utilities than that of the simple Multinomial Logit (MNL), namely the Gumbel distribution assumption (Extreme Value type I). Such different kernel RUMs are obtained by assuming random residuals of the utilities distributed as: Weibull (i.e. Extreme Value-type III), Exponential, Rayleigh, Pareto and q-Gumbel. Results on an estimation exercise, based on a dataset coming from a stated preference (SP) survey, show that some of these assumptions allow the resulting LC-RUM to outperform the well-known LC-MNL in terms of goodness of fit (GOF

Ecodriving in high frequency rail services

In recent years an increasing attention has been paid to energy efficiency in rail transportation. The problem of energy saving involves timetable and speed profile optimization and has been widely addressed in the literature. This paper deals with the trajectory optimization within high frequency rail systems, where the service is based on a scheduled headway rather than by a timetable. In this context, the reserve time holds for the whole line and the paper provides an assessment of its optimal split amongst the sections, taking into account the possible delays. This aspect enables the evaluation of the effects of delays on the trajectories optimization effectiveness

Towards a bottom-up estimation of a standard unit operating cost for bus operators: Methodology and policy implications in Italy

The paper proposes a bottom-up model for the calculation of unit operating costs of bus operators, with the aim of informing a more realistic calculation of standard costs in public transport. Standard costs are a key input for a more effective allocation of public resources to bus operators in Italy and allow for setting a virtuous circle towards more efficient public transport systems. Based on easy-to-collect data, an explicit dependence of some cost components upon relevant context/service variables faced by bus operators is introduced, ameliorating existing methods currently adopted. This enables bus operators to identify directions to improve their performance and public bodies to resort to more effective standard cost estimations. The viability of the proposed approach is showcased in the real case of Azienda Napoletana Mobilità, the biggest bus operator in the city of Naples (Italy), with examples of company-oriented and policy-oriented implications

Improving O-D flows updating through aggregation of O-D pairs: Methodological formulation and performance analysis of a heuristic algorithm

Performance of origin-destination (o-d) flows updating using link counts is highly influenced by the unbalance between the information provided by link counts and the number of o-d flows to update. In this respect, the paper proposes an approach to update o-d flows, based on their aggregation through a sequential algorithm, whose inputs are a prior o-d flows estimate, a set of counted links, and a prior estimate of the assignment matrix. The approach aggregates sequentially suitable pairs of o-d flows with a stepwise selection based on two criteria, namely coverage and proximity. Resulting aggregated o-d flows are then updated by means of a classical Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimator. Finally, resulting updated o-d flows are disaggregated back to the original granularity using o-d flow proportions coming from the prior o-d flows estimate, thus introducing a bias. Notwithstanding, experimental results on a real-size network show the proposed approach to improve significantly o-d flows updating. Rules-of-thumb for the application of the proposed approach are also discussed, with operational and interesting implications for researchers and practitioners

Hypergraph-based centrality metrics for maritime container service networks: A worldwide application

Centrality metrics are commonly applied to analyse maritime container service networks, usually modelled as L-graphs (with links representing legs of each service) or P-graphs (with links representing direct port-to-port connections enabled by each service). In fact, maritime container service networks are characterised by routing strategies encompassing multiple alternative routing options between ports – e.g., different sequences of services and/or of transhipment operations in diverse hub ports of call – with an overall transit time depending upon the cumulated frequency of concerned services at loading ports. This resembles exactly the structure of transit networks, modelled usually with a hypergraph-based approach, thus preferable to also represent container service networks. The topology of a hypergraph consists of a dedicated set of links (either in a L- or a P- approach) for each service, and of hyperlinks/waiting links at each port modelling the waiting time as a function of the cumulated frequency of relevant services calling at that port. This allows hypergraphs to account properly for routing strategies in the above sense. Extension of centrality metrics to hypergraphs modelling maritime container services is not straightforward as well and deserves attention. This paper aims to contribute to this topic: theoretical and practical implications of calculation of centrality metrics in hypergraphs are discussed first, by introducing the concepts of HL-graphs and HP-graphs. Then, a new formulation of the betweenness centrality metric consistent with the concept of hyperpath is proposed, leveraging the probability of occurrence of each elemental path in an hyperpath. Finally, an application to a worldwide network of container services related to year 2019 showcases the effectiveness and the easiness of calculation of the new proposed betweenness centrality metric

Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax maritime transport in Italy: A policy-oriented market analysis

This paper proposes an in-depth analysis of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services in the Western Mediterranean, with a focus on Italy. Following an already consolidated research track, a database of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services has been built and analysed, enabling policy insights on port connectivity, market positioning of shipping companies across ports and routes, and congestion of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax port terminals. Furthermore, an adaptation of the well-known GLS-based procedure that updates/estimates o-d flows from traffic measurements has been proposed, to estimate Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax freight flows between ports in a study area, given the total inbound/outbound port throughput and the total weekly capacity of port-to-port services. Application to both a laboratory experiment and to a real case study yielded very effective results. Overall, the presented analyses update earlier contributions in the literature and set the basis for an observatory on Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services that might be regularly brought up to date and applied also to other countries