Peter Švec

Data preprocessing evaluation for web log mining: reconstruction of activities of a web visitor

Abstract Presumptions of each data analysis are data themselves, regardless of the analysis focus (visit rate analysis, optimization of portal, personalization of portal, etc.). Results of selected analysis highly depend on the quality of analyzed data. In case of portal usage analysis, these data can be obtained by monitoring web server log file. We are able to create data matrices and web map based on these data which will serve for searching for behaviour patterns of users. Data preparation from the log file represents the most time-consuming phase of whole analysis. We realized an experiment so that we can find out to which criteria are necessary to realize this time-consuming data preparation. We aimed at specifying the inevitable steps that are required for obtaining valid data from the log file. Specially, we focused on the reconstruction of activities of the web visitor. This advanced technique of data preprocessing belongs to time consuming one. In the article we tried to assess the impact of reconstruction of activities of a web visitor on the quantity and quality of the extracted rules which represent the web users’ behaviour patterns.

E-learning courses quality evaluation framework as part of quality assurance in higher education

The paper introduces the proof of concept of the e-learning courses quality evaluation framework and its implementation into the quality assurance in higher education. We summarize general issues of the internal quality assurance. We pay more attention to the evaluation of the e-learning course quality framework itself in the context of Part 1 of European Standards and Guidelines for internal quality assurance within educational institution. Finally, we try to generalize found observations and create set of procedural rules.

IPv4/IPv6 Performance Analysis: Transport Layer Protocol Impact to Transmission Time

Simulation modeling of computer networks is an effective technique for evaluating the performance of network and data transfer with various internet protocols. In this paper we are focusing on the impact of used transport layer protocol transferred with new internet protocol (IPv6) against network performance, especially network router load and efficiency. Higher values of load or worse efficiency can be a problem in global IPv6 deployment. We propose methodology of traffic measurement based on different stochastic systems. We are able to generate different TCP, UDP and SCTP traffic according to uniform probability distribution for packet inter departure time and packet size. We use a generator that is able to reproduce experiment by using the same seed for random values and we focus on the correlation of packet size, inter departure time to router and communicating nodes load. All experiments were made in pure IPv4 environment and in native IPv6 environment too. We expected that the use of a new protocol lead to higher efficiency of data transfer. By using forward stepwise regression analysis we identify which variables imply the packet transfer time.

Pillar 3 and Modelling of Stakeholders’ Behaviour at the Commercial Bank Website during the Recent Financial Crisis☆

Abstract The paper analyses domestic and foreign market participants’ interests in mandatory Basel 2, Pillar 3 information disclosure of a commercial bank during the recent financial crisis. The authors try to ascertain whether the purposes of Basel 2 regulations under the Pillar 3 - Market discipline, publishing the financial and risk related information, have been fulfilled. Therefore, the paper focuses on modelling of visitors’ behaviour at the commercial bank website where information according to Basel 2 is available. The authors present a detailed analysis of the user log data stored by web servers. The analysis can help better understand the rate of use of the mandatory and optional Pillar 3 information disclosure web pages at the commercial bank website in the recent financial crisis in Slovakia. The authors used association rule analysis to identify the association among content categories of the website. The results show that there is in general a small interest of stakeholders in mandating the commercial banks disclosure of financial information. Foreign website visitors were more concerned about information disclosure according to Pillar 3, Basel 2 regulation, and they have less interest in general information about the bank than domestic ones.

Scientific Fair Science you can see, hear and experience

In the paper, we describe one-day project aimed to popularization of scientific fields carried out by eight departments of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. The project was named Scientific Fair - Science you can see, hear and experience. Its main goal was to present seven scientific fields. Popularization was realized as experimental activities. Their aim was to inspire the audience, arouse their interest in science and motivate the participants to cognitive activities. We introduce the idea of the project in detail. We deal with the marketing as well as the content point of view concentrating mainly on informatics realized by the Department of Informatics.

Assessment of the Pillar 3 Financial and Risk Information Disclosures Usefulness to the Commercial Banks Users

The paper analyses usefulness of the Pillar 3 financial and risk information disclosures to the commercial banks users. The Pillar 3 are specific regulatory disclosures requirements set out in the Basel 2 framework and incorporated into EU law and subsequently laws of the member states. According to Pillar 3 intention market participants should be able to understand and subsequently judge the relevance of the bank risk position and risk management and try to discipline “risky” banks. Due to that the European authorities are focused on control and improvements of the banks’ disclosures. However, less is done as far as usefulness of the Pillar 3 risk information to the commercial banks users is. The authors try to assess at which extent is information useful for users of the banks that operate in countries where banking sectors are dominated by foreign-owned entities and depositors (sophisticated and non sophisticated; insured and uninsured; primarily non-financial ones) is a key source of market discipline. The authors focus on modelling of visitor behaviours at website where financial and risk information according to Pillar 3 requirements is available. The results show that there is in general small interest in Pillar 3 information and even financial and risk related information belongs to those where interests is the lowest one.

Selection of Suitable PageRank Calculation for Analysis of Differences Between Expected and Observed Probability of Accesses to Web Pages

We describe various approaches how to calculate the value of PageRank in this paper. There are few methods how to calculate the PageRank, from the basic historical one to more enhanced versions. Most of them are using the original value of the damping factor. We describe the experiment we realised using our method for analysing differences between expected and observed probability of accesses to web pages of the selected portal. We used five slightly different methods for PageRank estimation using both the original value of damping factor and the value calculated from data in the web server log file. We assumed and confirmed that the estimation/calculation of the damping factor would have a significant impact on the estimation of the PageRank. We also wrongly assumed that the estimation/calculation of the damping factor would have a significant impact on the number of suspicious pages. We also compared the computational complexity of used PageRank methods, and the most effective method seems to be a method with the estimated value of the damping factor.

Analysis of University e-Environment in Selected European Countries – IRNet Case Study

The chapter aims at finding out how students from selected universities in different European countries use e-environment and e-resources at their universities. Students’ opinion was gathered using a survey. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions and created the basis for the evaluation of a university e-environment. It was assumed that participants of e-environment (academic teachers, students, administration) are involved in activities with the six different benefits. Almost 900 responses from five different countries joined in the project IRNet under European Union Seventh Framework program (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russian Federation) were collected. The chapter presents the analysis of the answers with the result that students require a broad Internet connection and electronic versions of study material, but do not want to publish own achievements in a university e-environment. Half of the students require printed publications and students do not widely use scientific resources when searching for learning materials.

Knowledge discovery from university information systems for purposes of quality assurance implementation

The European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG) present nowadays the most famous and frequently used documents in the field of quality assurance in higher education. The authors deal with the problem of ESG implementation at the university. They propose a model of support information system, which covers all parts defined in ESG. This model divides the problem of internal guidelines for quality assurance implementation into modules and schematically depicts their mutual relations. The authors discuss each module in detail and give reasons for their inclusion in the proposed model.