Semantic-Based Process Mining Technique for Annotation and Modelling of Domain Processes

Semantic technologies aim to represent information or models in formatsthat are not just machine-readable but also machine-understandable. To this effect, thispaper shows how the semantic concepts can be layered on top of the derived models toprovide a more contextual analysis of the models through the conceptualization method.Technically, the method involves augmentation of informative value of the resulting mod-els by semantically annotating the process elements with concepts that they represent inreal-time settings, and then linking them to an ontology in order to allow for a moreabstract analysis of the extracted logs or models. The work illustrates the method usingthe case study of a learning process domain. Consequently, the results show that a systemwhich is formally encoded with semantic labelling (annotation), semantic representation(ontology) and semantic reasoning (reasoner) has the capacity to lift the process miningand analysis from the syntactic to a more conceptual level

Normative ultrasound values of renal parenchymal thickness among adults in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Reduction in renal length was found to be an insufficient independent indicator of chronic renal disease.Objective: To determine the ultrasound normative values of renal parenchymal thickness (RPT) among adults and correlate them with age and somatometric parameters.Methods: This was a prospective clinic based study involving 310 normal adults (135 males and 175 females) scanned at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu between August 2003 and November 2004. The RPT measurements were made from the outer renal cortical margin to the outer margin of the sinus echoes at the three major poles. The age, height, weight and body mass index were recorded for each subject.Results: The average RPT are 1.85 + 0.20 cm for the right kidney and 1.95 + 0.19 cm for the left kidney. RPT exhibited strong positive correlation with height, weight and body mass index and significant negative correlation with age. No significant difference in mean RPT of both kidneys between genders (p > 0.05). The mean RPT of the left kidney was found to be statistically higher than that of the right kidney (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Normal values of RPT are important in the evaluation of patients with chronic renal disease.Keywords: Adult, Kidney, Parenchymal thickness, 1Ultrasound

Relationship between Self-Esteem, Academic Procrastination and Test Anxiety with Academic Achievement of Post Graduate Diploma In Education (PGDE) Students in Delta State University, Abraka.

In order execute this study, three research questions were raised and three null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. Correlational-descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The entire population of 43 PGDE students were studied without sampling. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Abu-Ghazal’s Academic ProcrastinationQuestionnaire and Suinn’sTest Anxiety Questionnaire with reliability coefficients of .92, .83 and .86 were used as instruments for the study.Achievement scores obtained in Educational Statistics and Introduction to Special Educationwith permission of the Head of the Department, Educational Foundations, Delta State University, Abraka,were collected and used to determine the academic achievement of PGDE students.Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used for data analysis. Findings of the study revealed a positive and significant relationshipbetween self-esteem and academic achievement among PGDE students. The study discovered a negative and significant relationship between academic procrastination and academic achievement. Also, the study disclosed a negative and significant relationship between test anxiety and academic achievement. The study concluded that, PGDE students must design time management strategies in order to create a balance between their professional life and postgraduate studies in order to attain optimal academic performance. It was recommended among others that management of universitiesrunning post-graduate programmes should implement flexible assessment and evaluation techniques in measuring the academic success of PGDE students in order to reduce the negative effects of test anxiety and academic procrastination on their academic engagements

Relationship between Leadership Styles and Productivity of Vocational and Technical Lecturers in Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study was designed to determine the relationship between leadership styles and productivity of vocational and technical lecturers in tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria. Four research questions were raised and four hypotheses were tested for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted correlational research design. The entire population of 132 vocational and technical educators in public tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria was studied without sampling. Leadership Style Questionnaire (LSQ) and Lecturers’ Productivity Questionnaire (LPQ) were used for data collection. Cronbach Alpha method was used to establish the reliability of the instrument which yielded coefficient of 0.89 for LSQ and 0.76 for LPQ.  The researchers administered the instrument with the help of four research assistants using direct method to the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correction statistics with SPSS version 23.0. Findings of the study revealed that there is a negative and significant relationship between autocratic leadership style and VTE lecturers’ productivity. Findings also revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between democratic, transactional and transformational leadership styles and VTE lecturers’ productivity. The null hypotheses raised for the study were rejected. The study concluded that Deans and Heads of Department must switch from one leadership style to another in order to monitor the academic leadership function of lecturers in line with the academic performance of students in vocational and technical education. The study recommended among others that vocational and technical education lecturers should not abuse the conducive working environment created by Deans and Heads of VTE Department as that may lead to organizational breakdown and swift application of rigid style of leadership &nbsp

ATTITUDE AND SELF-EFFICACY AS CORRELATES OF JOB PERFORMANCE AND SATISFACTION OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATORS IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

This study assessed attitude and self-efficacy as correlates of job performance and satisfaction of technical and vocational educators in North-east Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. Four null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. Correlational survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States tertiary institutions in North-east, Nigeria. The population for the study consisted of 163 technical and vocational educators from 22 federal and state-owned universities and colleges of education in North-east Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s alpha formular which yielded reliability coefficient values of 0.88, 0.72, 0.85 and 0.77. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient. The results showed that there is negligible and low positive relationship between attitude and job performance and satisfaction of technical and vocational educators in North-east Nigeria. There is moderate and substantial positive relationship between self-efficacy and job performance and satisfaction of technical and vocational educators. The study further revealed that there is significant relationship between attitude, self-efficacy and job performance and satisfaction of technical and vocational educators in tertiary institutions North-east Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that educational agencies and professional associations should collaborate with tertiary institutions to organize workshops and seminars for technical and vocational educators at regular interval to strengthen abilities to ensure effective performance by educators to achieve the objectives of tertiary education as entrenched in the National Policy on Education. Article visualizations

Influence of College Clubs in Increasing Students’ Interest and Achievement in Nigerian Post-Primary Schools as Perceived by Science Students.

The perceived influence of college club in increasing students’ interest and achievement in Nigerian post-primary schools in Anambra State was studied using a survey research design. The population of the study comprised all senior secondary school science students in Anambra State totaling 9322 as at 2007. From this population, a sample of 140 senior secondary two (SS 11) science students was purposively drawn from those that participated at the Anambra State branch of Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) 2007 science quiz and exhibition competition. A 31-item validated researcher-developed questionnaire arranged in 3 clusters of 14, 10 & 7 was used to collect data. A reliability coefficient of 0.81 was established for the instrument using crombach-alpha. The result of the study revealed that senior secondary students in Anambra State testified that science clubs exist and is functional in most secondary schools in the state and has positive influence in increasing students’ interest and achievement in science subjects as well as science and technology related careers. It was therefore recommended among others that every effort on the part of government, school head and students should be made to establish and sustain a functional science club in secondary schools in Anambra state. Keywords: Influence, College, Clubs, Interest, Achievement, Post-Primary Schools, Student

Vocationalisation of Secondary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects

It is highly indisputable that, the ever-escalating level of chronic unemployment among youths in many countries across the globe coupled with the resulting high level of social unrest among the youth’s accounts for the increased emphasis on acquisition of vocational skills for self-reliance. The paper discusses vocationalisation of secondary education in Nigeria and also examined Nigeria’s policy initiatives at vocationalisation of secondary education. It also discusses the fundamental issues in vocationalisation of secondary education, as well as some of the pressing challenges hampering effective vocationalisation of education in Nigeria. The paper suggests, among others, that a model secondary school should be established in each local government area in the country. Such schools should be fully equipped with the necessary facilities, equipment and staff for effective training of students in vocational areas. In addition, provision of infrastructures such as classrooms and workshops across all levels would ease overcrowding, increase access and reduce student/teacher ratio. Keywords: Vocationalisation, secondary education, issues, challenges and prospect

INFLUENCE OF HEAD-TEACHERS CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLE ON TEACHERS’ JOB SATISFACTION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The study focused on influence of head-teachers conflict management style on teachers’ job satisfaction in public secondary schools in Awka education zone of Anambra State, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study consisted 122 head-teachers in 61 public secondary schools in Awka education zone. No sample was taken, as the population size was manageable. A 16-items structured questionnaire validated by three experts was used for the study. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient to determine its degree of reliability which obtained overall reliability coefficient values of 0.95. Data related to the research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that respondents disagreed that head teachers use integrating conflict management style while they agreed in using obliging conflict management style for their job satisfaction. The study revealed that head teachers’ years of teaching experience does not affect the uses of integrating and obliging conflict management style in their job satisfaction. It was concluded that integrating conflict management style are rarely used by the head teacher. It was recommended, among others, that Head teachers should strive at minimizing conflicts and use appropriate methods to manage them such integrating either than obliging conflict management style.  Article visualizations

Patients' views on improving sickle cell disease management in primary care: focus group discussion.

OBJECTIVES: To assess sickle cell disease (SCD) patient and carer perspectives on the primary care services related to SCD that they receive from their general practitioner (GP). DESIGN: A focus group discussion was used to elicit the views of patients about the quality of care they receive from their primary health-care providers and what they thought was the role of primary care in SCD management. The focus group discussion was video recorded. The recording was then examined by the project team and recurring themes were identified. A comparison was made with notes made by two scribes also present at the discussion. SETTING: Sickle Cell Society in Brent, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Ten participants with SCD or caring for someone with SCD from Northwest London, UK. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients perceptions about the primary care services they received, and a list of key themes and suggestions. RESULTS: Patients and carers often bypassed GPs for acute problems but felt that GPs had an important role to play around repeat prescriptions and general health care. These service users believed SCD is often ignored and deemed unimportant by GPs. CONCLUSION: Participants wanted the health service to support primary health-care providers to improve their knowledge and understanding of SCD. Key themes and suggestions from this focus group have been used to help develop an educational intervention for general practice services that will be used to improve SCD management in primary care

Views of patients about sickle cell disease management in primary care: a questionnaire-based pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine how patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) perceive the quality of care that they receive from their primary healthcare providers. DESIGN: A questionnaire-based pilot study was used to elicit the views of patients about the quality of care they have been receiving from their primary healthcare providers and what they thought was the role of primary care in SCD management. SETTING: Sickle Cell Society and Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, in the London Borough of Brent. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred questionnaires were distributed to potential participants with SCD between November 2010 and July 2011 of which 40 participants responded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of 40 patient questionnaires collected over a nine-month period. RESULTS: Most patients are generally not satisfied with the quality of care that they are receiving from their primary healthcare providers for SCD. Most do not make use of general practitioner (GP) services for management of their SCD. Collecting prescriptions was the reason most cited for visiting the GP. CONCLUSION: GPs could help improve the day-to-day management of patients with SCD. This could be facilitated by local quality improvement schemes in areas with high disease prevalence. The results of the survey have been used to help develop a GP education intervention and a local enhanced service to support primary healthcare clinicians with SCDs ongoing management