Machine learning methods in predicting the student academic motivation

Academic motivation is closely related to academic performance. For educators, it is equally important to detect early students with a lack of academic motivation as it is to detect those with a high level of academic motivation. In endeavouring to develop a classification model for predicting student academic motivation based on their behaviour in learning management system (LMS) courses, this paper intends to establish links between the predicted student academic motivation and their behaviour in the LMS course. Students from all years at the Faculty of Education in Osijek participated in this research. Three machine learning classifiers (neural networks, decision trees, and support vector machines) were used. To establish whether a significant difference in the performance of models exists, a t-test of the difference in proportions was used. Although, all classifiers were successful, the neural network model was shown to be the most successful in detecting the student academic motivation based on their behaviour in LMS course

Predicting student satisfaction with courses based on log data from a virtual learning environment – a neural network and classification tree model

Student satisfaction with courses in academic institutions is an important issue and is recognized as a form of support in ensuring effective and quality education, as well as enhancing student course experience. This paper investigates whether there is a connection between student satisfaction with courses and log data on student courses in a virtual learning environment. Furthermore, it explores whether a successful classification model for predicting student satisfaction with course can be developed based on course log data and compares the results obtained from implemented methods. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Education in Osijek and included analysis of log data and course satisfaction on a sample of third and fourth year students. Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) with different activation functions and Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks as well as classification tree models were developed, trained and tested in order to classify students into one of two categories of course satisfaction. Type I and type II errors, and input variable importance were used for model comparison and classification accuracy. The results indicate that a successful classification model using tested methods can be created. The MLP model provides the highest average classification accuracy and the lowest preference in misclassification of students with a low level of course satisfaction, although a t-test for the difference in proportions showed that the difference in performance between the compared models is not statistically significant. Student involvement in forum discussions is recognized as a valuable predictor of student satisfaction with courses in all observed models

The Notochordal Sheath in Amphioxus – An Ultrastructural and Histochemical Study

The notochord and notochordal sheath of 10 adult amphioxus were investigated ultrastructurally and histochemically. The notochord in amphioxus consists of parallel notochordal cells (plates) and each plate consists of parallel thicker and thinner fibrils and numerous profiles of smooth endoplasmic reticulum situated just beneath the cell membrane. Histochemical staining shows that the notochordal plates resemble neither the connective tissue notochordal sheath nor the typical muscular structure myotomes. The notochordal sheath has a complex three-layered organization with the outer, middle and inner layer. The outer and middle layer are composed of collagen fibers of different thickness and course, that correspond to collagen type I and collagen type III in vertebrates, respectively, and the inner layer is amorphous, resembles basal lamina, and is closely attached to the notochord by hemidesmosome junctions. These results confirm the presence of collagen fibers and absence of elastic fibers in amphioxus

Rejecting a General Check-up: Case Report

65-old gentleman rejected the general check-up recommendation, because he felt healthy. As his chosen family doctor, I also perceive him as the healthy patient, not having any risks. In spite of my personal concerns, it was obvious that I had to respect his choice, because of Act on Patients Rights and the Physicians Ethical Code. But, at that moment I was not certain about the evidence on the effectiveness of general check-ups and some professional dilemmas remain. Therefore, we did a limited literature search. A Cochrane systematic analysis as well as other systematic reviews has shown that there is no evidence on the effectiveness of general check-ups. In the professional recommendations general check- -ups are replaced by preventive measures with proven effectiveness, such as those recommended by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and the U.S. Preventive Task Force. It helps me to solve my professional dilemmas around this patient

The Impact of Mobile Phone Use on Young Drivers\u27 Driving Behaviour and Visual Scanning of the Environment

Driver distraction has been identified as a contributing factor to road crashes, among which the most common is the use of mobile phones while driving. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to analyse the behaviour of young drivers while they use mobile phones (answering a telephone call, texting, and browsing the internet) and drive in a simulated urban environment. In total 28 volunteers participated in the study. Several variables were recorded for each participant: driving speed, acceleration, deceleration, and eye movement. The results show that the difference in driving speed, acceleration, and deceleration was relatively small for each task and for the control condition (no use of mobile phone). However, when looking at the total time required for conducting each task, participants spent 26.44% of the time looking at the phone when texting, 37.01% when browsing the internet, and 2.27% when talking on the phone. In addition, participants viewed on average 66.45% traffic signs when distracted, compared to 79.22% during undistracted driving. Based on the results, a proactive approach to reduce the problem related to the use of mobile phones while driving is proposed

FEATURES OF NEONATES TREATED WITH MICAFUNGIN FOR THE SUSPICION OF HAVING INVASIVE CANDIDA INFECTION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS OF THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTRE SPLIT

Cilj istraživanja: Procijeniti sigurnost mikafungina u liječenju suspektne invazivne kandidoze novorođenčadi te odrediti učestalost čimbenika rizika za razvoj iste. Materijali i metode: Retrospektivna analiza medicinske dokumentacije 28 novorođenčadi hospitalizirane u Klinici za dječje bolesti KBC Split u razdoblju od rujna 2014. do prosinca 2016. godine koji su liječeni mikafunginom zbog sumnje na invazivnu Candida infekciju. Prikupljeni podaci su uneseni u elektroničke tablice podataka i analizirani pomoću računalnog programa Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Rezultati: Terapija mikafunginom u novorođenčadi sa suspektnom invazivnom kandidozom nije uzrokovala nuspojave kao ni poremećaje u laboratorijskim nalazima. Od prisutnih čimbenika rizika za razvoj invazivne kandidoze najčešći promjenjivi je bio primjena antibiotika širokog spektra, a nepromjenjivi izrazito niska porođajna masa (ELBW). Simptomi i rizični čimbenici koji su upućivali na invazivnu kandidozu bili su češći u muške novorođenčadi (71.43 %) te se muški spol pokazao kao dodatni čimbenik rizika za razvoj ove infekcije u populaciji novorođenčadi. Zaključak: Istraživanje je opravdalo primjenu mikafungina kao jedinog ehinokandina odobrenog za populaciju novorođenčadi. Također, potvrđeno je da rano prepoznavanje čimbenika rizika i ordiniranje terapije znači i bolji ishod za novorođenčad.Objectives: to evaluate a safety of micafungin in the treatment of suspected neonate invasive candidiasis and to determine a frequency of risk factors for the development of invasive candidasis. Materials and methodes: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 28 neonates hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics of the University Hospital Centre in the period from september 2014 to december 2016 who were treated with micafungin for the suspected invasive Candida infection. Collected data were taken in electronic data tables and analyzed by computer program Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Results: Micafungin treatment in neonates with suspected invasive candidiasis did not cause any adverse effects and there were no changes in laboratory values related to micafungin. Among the present risk factors for the development of invasive candidiasis, the most common modifiable risk factor were use of broad spectrum antibiotics, and the most commmon unmodifiable risk factor were extremly low birth weight (ELBW). Simptoms and risk factors referred to invasive candidiasis were more common in male neonates (71.43%) and male gender was shown to be an additional risk factor for this infection in the neonatal population. Conclusion: The study justified use of micafungin as only echinocandin for neonatal use. Also, is confirmed that early recognition of risk factors and early therapy results with a better ultimate outcome for neonates

Hispano-American fantasy fiction of Gabriel García Márquez in Stalin's Picture and Other Short Stories by Stjepan Čuić

U diplomskom radu „Hispanoamerička fantastika Gabriela Garcíe Márqueza u Staljinovoj slici i drugim pričama Stjepana Čuića“ problematizira se tip fantastike koji je svojstven za fantastičnu prozu Stjepana Čuića. Hispanoamerička fantastika utjecala je na političku fantastiku kojoj je sklon Stjepan Čuić u zbirci Staljinova slika i druge priče. Kompozicijski unutar tri dijela zbirke dosljedno se provode elementi magijskog realizma koje pronalazimo u književnom iskazu Gabriela Garcíe Márqueza. Motiv proročanstva, opsesija vremenom, vizionarska potraga za višim idealom, motiv samoće, kritika i govor o suvremenosti karakteristične su sastavnice fantastičnog diskursa obojice autora. Fantastična proza Stjepana Čuića sadržava u sebi tendenciju veće koncentracije na realnost. Čuić svoje novele započinje tako što čitatelja u središte radnje uvodi opisom stvarnosnog događaja kojeg pri kraju zaodijeva u ruho fantastike. Obilježja političke fantastike ovog autora su sveznajući distancirani pripovjedač, predfabularni opisi radnje, miješanje elemenata čudnog i čudesnog, groteska i ironija u službi kritike društva i komponenta angažiranosti pisca. Utjecaj hispanoameričke fantastike G. G. Márqueza stvorio je u Staljinovoj slici fantastičan i britak kritički govor o aktualnosti jednog režimskog sustava.This diploma paper „Hispano-American fantasy fiction od Gabriel García Márquez in Stalin's Picture and Other Short Stories by Stjepan Čuić“ examines a type of fantasy which is characteristic of the fantasy fiction of Stjepan Čuić. Hispano-American fantasy fiction has influenced the political fantasy fiction to which Stjepan Čuić is prone in his collection of short stories Stalin's Picture and Other Stories. Compositionwise, elements of magical realism, 56 which can be found in the literary expression of Gabriel García Márquez, are systematically used within the three parts of the collection. The motif of prophecy, obsession with time, the visionary search for a higher ideal, the motif of solitude, criticism and the talk on modernity are the characteristic components of the fantasy discourse of both authors. Fantasy fiction of Stjepan Čuić comprises a tendency towards more concentration on reality. Čuić begins his short stories and brings the reader into the centre of the story line by describing the real event which, towards the end, is clad in the attire of fantasy. Features of political fantasy of this author are: the omniscient distant narrator, predescriptions of the plot, mixing of the weird and miraculous elements, grotesque and irony which serve as the criticism of the society and as a component of an engaged writer. The influence of the Hispano-American fantasy fiction of G. G. Márquez has created a fantastic and sharp critical speech on the actualities of a regime system in Stalin's Picture