Students' Satisfaction Forecasting Factors of the Hellenic Open University

Η παρούσα εργασία έχει σκοπό να καταγράψει το βαθμό στον οποίο συμμετέχουν στην πρόβλεψη της ικανοποίησης των φοιτητών του Ελληνικού Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου από τις σπουδές τους η αλληλεπίδραση που είχαν με τον/την καθηγητή/τρια σύμβουλο, η αποτελεσματικότητα του καθηγητή – συμβούλου και η αξιολόγηση του προγράμματος της θεματικής ενότητας. Για την έρευνα χρησιμοποιήσαμε τη μέθοδο του ερωτηματολογίου το οποίο διανείμαμε σε ενενήντα τέσσερις προπτυχιακούς και μεταπτυχιακούς φοιτητές του ΕΑΠ κατά τη διάρκεια των Ομαδικών Συμβουλευτικών Συναντήσεων σε Αθήνα και Θεσσαλονίκη. Η επιλογή του ερωτηματολογίου βασίστηκε σε προηγούμενη έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε σε ξένο πανεπιστήμιο και η επεξεργασία και η ανάλυση των δεδομένων πραγματοποιήθηκε με το πρόγραμμα στατιστικής επεξεργασίας SPSS 20. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας έδειξαν ότι η αξιολόγηση του προγράμματος ήταν υπεύθυνη για το 34% της διακύμανσης της ικανοποίησης ενώ οι υπόλοιπες μεταβλητές δεν ερμήνευσαν κάποιο επιπλέον ποσοστό της διακύμανσης. Τα ευρήματα της έρευνας αναφέρονται και  στις συσχετίσεις των παραπάνω παραγόντων με την ικανοποίηση των φοιτητών. Τα συμπεράσματα της έρευνας είναι σημαντικά για όλα τα πανεπιστήμια που παρέχουν μάθηση από απόσταση έτσι ώστε να βελτιώσουν τις παρεχόμενες υπηρεσίες και το επίπεδο σπουδών των φοιτητών τους. Επιπλέον, η συγκεκριμένη εργασία αποτελεί κίνητρο για περεταίρω έρευνα στο πεδίο της εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης από Ελληνικά και ξένα πανεπιστήμια.The purpose of this research was to investigate whether certain factors could predict the satisfaction of students of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) from their studies and the results were compared with corresponding surveys conducted for other universities. Based on the data collected from the questionnaire and in accordance with the results of the Ali, Ramay & Shahzad (2011) survey, the conclusion is that the majority of students attending HOU’s distance education programs are pleased at a fairly high percentage of student performance, of the quality of the curriculum and the studentstudent interaction. In terms of gender, statistical analysis did not show a significant gender impact on the average satisfaction rates of students, but showed significant differences in age. More specifically, the satisfaction of the interaction with the teacher consultant is increasing for students in the age group over 50 and the performance of the counseling professor differs for those over the age of 50 from those under the age of 40. Researchers' views differ in relation to the importance of age but this may have to do with the sample of research. In our survey, 98% of the students were over 30 years of age, while in Shehab's study 15% of her sample was under 20 years of age. The findings of the survey showed a strong correlation of student satisfaction with program evaluation, moderate positive correlation of student satisfaction with teacher performance and weak positive correlation of student satisfaction with studentprofessor, while in the study of Ali, Ramay & Shahzad (2011) there is a strong correlation of student satisfaction with teacher performance and program evaluation and moderate correlation with student-teacher interaction.In order to investigate the prognosis of the independent variable (students satisfaction) from the three factors mentioned above, the statistical method of stepwise regression was used and findings show that the program evaluation was responsible for 34% of the satisfaction variance, while the other variables introduced later did not interpret an extra percentage of the variance of pleasure. These results contradict the study by Ali, Ramay & Shahzad (2011), where all three factors contribute greatly to the interpretation-prediction of student satisfaction. The conclusion is that the satisfaction of students depends to a large extent on the evaluation of the program and more specifically on whether the students acquire valuable learning experiences from the group counseling meetings if the work they have done is useful, if the educational material is useful and adequate, if the objectives of the thematic unit were clear and understandable, if the processes of control and evaluation of their learning paths were pedagogically correct and finally if the planned hours of study was adequate to meet the student needs. All the above factors can be used by education managers and the relevant ministry to facilitate the learning process by using an effective teaching methodology and to provide methods and techniques to improve the quality of education provided by the HOU, improve the institution of distance learning in Greece in order to respond more to the interests and requirements of the students, to facilitate the adaptation of the student to the educational environment, as well as to facilitate the adaptation of the environment to the needs and characteristics of the student leading to achieve the purposes and objectives of education and student satisfaction is high

Optimized classification predictions with a new index combining machine learning algorithms

Voting is a commonly used ensemble method aiming to optimize classification predictions by combining results from individual base classifiers. However, the selection of appropriate classifiers to participate in voting algorithm is currently an open issue. In this study we developed a novel Dissimilarity-Performance (DP) index which incorporates two important criteria for the selection of base classifiers to participate in voting: their differential response in classification (dissimilarity) when combined in triads and their individual performance. To develop this empirical index we firstly used a range of different datasets to evaluate the relationship between voting results and measures of dissimilarity among classifiers of different types (rules, trees, lazy classifiers, functions and Bayes). Secondly, we computed the combined effect on voting performance of classifiers with different individual performance and/or diverse results in the voting performance. Our DP index was able to rank the classifier combinations according to their voting performance and thus to suggest the optimal combination. The proposed index is recommended for individual machine learning users as a preliminary tool to identify which classifiers to combine in order to achieve more accurate classification predictions avoiding computer intensive and time-consuming search

Optimizing biodiversity prediction from abiotic parameters

An integrated methodology is proposed for the effective prediction of biodiversity exclusively from abiotic parameters. Phytoplankton biodiversity was expressed as richness, evenness and dominance indices and abiotic parameters included temperature, salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphates. Prediction was based on three machine learning techniques: model trees, multilayer perceptron and instance based learning. To optimize diversity prediction, indices were calculated on a large number of phytoplankton field assemblages, but also on corresponding noise-free simulated assemblages. Biodiversity was most accurately predicted by the instance based learning algorithm and the efficiency was doubled with simulated assemblages. Based on the optimal algorithm, indices, and dataset, a software package was developed for phytoplankton diversity prediction for Eastern Mediterranean waters. The proposed methodology can be adapted to any group of organisms in marine and terrestrial ecosystems whereas important applications are the integration of community structure in ecological models and in assessments of global change scenarios

Additional file 1: of Dirofilaria infections in dogs in different areas of Greece

Data collected from the questionnaires filled in for each examined dog. (XLSX 91 kb

Ticks, Fleas, and Harboured Pathogens from Dogs and Cats in Cyprus

Ticks and fleas are blood-sucking ectoparasites that cause irritation and anaemia to their hosts and act as vectors of pathogens (vector-borne pathogens, VBPs) of relevance for animal and human health. In the present study, tick and flea species in dogs and cats from Cyprus were recorded and VBPs were detected in the collected specimens. Ectoparasites were collected from 220 animals (161 dogs and 59 cats), and a questionnaire including demographic, clinical, and other information was filled out for each animal. The ectoparasites were morphologically identified and the detection of VBPs was performed by PCR-coupled sequencing. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was found on 108 dogs and 13 cats, and Ixodes gibbosus on 2 dogs. Ctenocephalides felis was the predominant flea species (on 62 dogs and 45 cats), while one dog and one cat were infested by Ctenocephalides canis and Echidnophaga gallinacea, respectively. The VBPs in ticks were Anaplasma platys, Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Hepatozoon felis and Hepatozoon canis, while Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia sp., Bartonella koehlerae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, and Bartonella henselae were recorded in fleas. Statistical analysis (chi-square test and multiple univariate generalized linear model) showed that animals up to 6 months of age were less likely to be infested with ticks than older animals, but more likely to be infested with fleas. Ticks were more prevalent in sheltered than in owned animals, while the odds ratio of flea presence was higher in owned animals than those living in shelters. The present study is the first investigation on the occurrence of ticks and fleas in dogs and cats from Cyprus, showing the presence of different VBPs in these important ectoparasites. The results point out the importance of systematic ectoparasite control in dogs and cats

Association of Paraoxonase-1 and NT-proBNP with Clinical, Clinico-Pathologic and Echocardiographic Variables in Dogs with Mitral Valve Disease

The objective of the present study was to measure the concentration of Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and N-terminal-prohormone-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in the serum of dogs with degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), in order to identify their association with the clinical stage and specific clinico-pathologic and echocardiographic findings.Eighty dogs diagnosed with MVD and staged according to the ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) consensus statement (B1, B2, C and D), based on their clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic findings, were included in the study. NT-proBNP was measured only in stage B1 and B2 dogs. Clinical stage did not have a significant effect on PON-1 concentrations (p = 0.149), but NT-proBNP levels were lower in B1 dogs (p = 0.001). A significant correlation between PON-1 and total plasma proteins (p = 0.001), albumin (p = 0.003) and white blood cell count (p = 0.041) was detected, whereas there was no significant correlation (p = 0.847) between PON-1 and NT-proBNP concentrations. PON-1 showed a significant but weak negative correlation with normalized left ventricular internal diameter at diastole (LVIDdn) (p = 0.022) and systole (LVIDsn) (p = 0.012), as well as mitral valve E to A wave velocity ratio (MV E/A) (p = 0.015), but not with Left Atrial to Aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) (p = 0.892) or fractional shortening (FS%) (p = 0.944). PON-1 seems to be an insensitive marker of clinical stage and disease severity in MVD, but can be indicative of some clinico-pathological and echocardiographic changes. NT-proBNP changes are independent of oxidative stress