3 research outputs found
Addressing the Minimum Fleet Problem for a Traditional and an Autonomous Car Sharing Service Based on Real Data
No full textThis study examines the transformative potential of autonomous vehicle (AV) car-sharing services for sustainable urban mobility, using Milan as a case study. Recent regulatory changes in Europe, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and urban traffic congestion, have catalyzed the shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (EVs). However, private car ownership and even current shared mobility models, such as freefloating car sharing, fall short of achieving both environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. Utilizing telematics big data of private cars as representative of real mobility demand, this research compares the efficiency of a free-floating sharing against an autonomous valet model. Results demonstrate a notable efficiency increase: while traditional car sharing reduces the fleet size by a quarter, the AV service cuts vehicle demand by up to 13 times, minimizing fleet size to meet urban demand with minimal waiting and walking time. This data-driven, simulation-based optimization underscores AV car sharing's potential to support urban sustainability goals by lowering vehicle number, curbing emissions, and enhancing service levels for users. The findings present a viable pathway toward the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which could redefine urban transportation by moving away from individual car ownership
Nutritional knowledge and dietary practice in elite 24-hour ultramarathon runners: A brief report
No full textSeveral factors contribute to athletes’ sporting performance and diet is a key component. Higher levels of nutritional knowledge seem to correlate with a higher quality of diet, but this remains poorly explored and findings are still not conclusive. The aim of our study was to assess nutritional knowledge and dietary adequacy, detecting any potential association between these two factors in elite 24-hour ultramarathon runners, a sport which seems to have been increasing in popularity over the last decade. Nutritional knowledge and Mediterranean dietary adequacy scores were assessed by means of validated questionnaires given to 10 elite ultramarathon runners (six males and four females) from the Italian Ultramarathon and Trail Association (IUTA). The overall nutritional knowledge in the entire sample of athletes seemed to be good, especially in terms of “dietary recommendations” and “nutrient sources” knowledge. However, females had higher total nutritional knowledge scores when compared to males. Finally, linear regression analysis showed that greater nutritional knowledge was positively associated with an increase in Mediterranean dietary adequacy scores (β = 1.27; 95% CI = 0.039–2.494; p = 0.045) after adjusting for level of education. Our findings provide evidence that higher nutritional knowledge is associated with better dietary practice in elite 24-hour ultramarathon runners. Future studies are needed to assess the usefulness of educational programs as a strategy to improve the adequacy of dietary intake in this specific population
Association between dietary practice, body composition, training volume and sport performance in 100-Km elite ultramarathon runners
No full textBackground & aim: Sport performance during competitions is a central goal for athletes, and several factors have been identified that appear to have an association with better performance in different sport disciplines. However, the data are still not conclusive in ultramarathon runners. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the potential associations between anthropometric, body composition, dietary and training factors and athletic performance in 100-Km elite ultramarathon runners. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), body composition, training volume, Mediterranean dietary adequacy score (MDAS) and “100-Km race competition record” were assessed in 10 elite ultramarathon runners from the Italian Ultramarathon and Trail Association (IUTA) of the Italian national team. Results: The study sample had a mean age of 41.1 ± 7.59 years and BMI of 21.66 ± 1.11 kg/m2. Female athletes had a lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) and 100-Km race competition record, and a higher trunk fat percentage and MDAS compared to males. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between the 100-Km race competition record and age, gender, ASMI, training volume, total body and trunk fat percentages. However, after correcting for confounders, partial correlation analysis confirmed only the association between training volume and 100-Km race competition record (ρ = −0.891, p = 0.009). Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that a higher training volume expressed as Kilometers per week is an independent variable associated with better performance in 100-Km race competitions in elite ultramarathon runners. Future studies are needed to assess the usefulness of programs based on the increase of training volume as a strategy to improve athletic performance in 100-Km races in this specific population
