The vocational orientation of the youngsters who are about to enter, study, or have recently graduated at higher education (HE) institutions, and linking HE with labor market are two research areas which have not been investigated extensively in Balkan countries. Job (or occupational) profiles, among other tools used in vocational orientation, provide standardized and digitized descriptions of different professions. This article focuses on the analysis and the design of a web-based decision support system (DSS) to assist its users in getting thoroughly informed about HE studies in Greece, and eventually in choosing their vocational prospects. Apart from reviewing the related previous research work and relevant web-based systems, we present the main elements of the system?s analysis and its design, the extensions that could lead to even more powerful systems, and conclusions about the advantages, limitations and practical application of the DSS.

Chemotherapy results in increased free radical formation and depletion of tissue antioxidants. Moreover, patients receiving chemotherapy are under emotional stress, which is also accompanied by low antioxidant levels. In the present study, we measured cortisol, the main stress hormone, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum of 51 cancer patients during chemotherapy. Antioxidant activity was estimated by measuring the influence of serum in oxidation of ABTS (2,2΄-azino-bis (3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid to ABTS+ by methmyoglobin (Antioxidant kit of Cayman). Serum cortisol was measured using an ELISA colorimetric assay. Serum TAC was significantly decreased (75% decrease compared to normal levels, p = 0.001) in all patients during chemotherapy, while blood cortisol concentration was increased by 10%, (p = 0.044). Lower antioxidant levels and higher cortisol concentration were detected in patients receiving chemotherapeutic drugs daily, compared to the ones receiving chemotherapy once a week. A difference between sexes was observed with male patients presenting lower antioxidant status and higher cortisol levels than females. A significant and persistent decrease in antioxidant capacity accompanied by increased cortisol concentration was observed in all patients during chemotherapy. This fact, which is probably generated by biological and emotional stress, increases the probability of harmful side effects and organism weakening and needs to be considered during patients' treatment.

ABSTRACT

Cloud computing is changing rapidly the way users perceive the use of computer functions and resources as well as the development of more complex business models. A lot of new issues emerged by this ongoing trend, especially by privacy advocates as regards to the way cloud services providers control totally the communication and data exchanged between them and the users. The security status of the stored data offers another reason for concern, because as this new model is gaining popularity rapidly, so does the threat level increases. Cloud computing is however generally considered a reliable way to add features to the existing technical capabilities and increase business capacity on the fly without on the same time making costly new investments in more modern IT infrastructures. It also encompasses subscription-based or pay-per-use services, but at the same time offers an extensive variety of free services as well. This paper focuses on the users' perspectives towards the 11 most popular free services providers, chosen after a thorough literature review. A questionnaire survey was conducted mainly among the IT academic staffs of the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece, who are specialized users, in order to determine the cloud computing provider selection criteria as well as the analytical relationships among these criteria. Goal programming techniques assessed the weighs of the selected criteria in order to implement the AHP and PROMETHEE multi-criteria methodologies. The results provided an opportunity to gain insights on users' demands and expectations and evaluate the level of trust towards these new services. The usefulness and applicability of cloud computing in the modern educational procedure are also evaluated. Moreover, interesting relevant issues for further research are discussed and suggested.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to focus on a thorough comparison of the broader specialties and subspecialties provided by Greek higher technological education, regarding the employment status and the vocational prospects of the corresponding graduates, and aims to identify and analyze the relevant existing differences. Design/methodology/approach -Original empirical data were collected from 5,183 graduates of Technological Educational Institutes of higher education through a national survey using telephone interviews and a structured questionnaire. The stratified sample consisted of graduates originating from all nine different broader specialties (faculties) and 45 subspecialties (departments). Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis was used for the elaboration of the collected information.Findings -The results showed that there are significant differences among the graduates of different specialties regarding some employment characteristics, such as professional status, type of employment, relevance between present work and Bachelor studies, and satisfaction from employment and wages. Additionally, the results identify distinguished clusters among certain broader specialties and subspecialties regarding graduates' employment status and characteristics. Practical implications -The revealed existence of strong relationships between broader specialties/ subspecialties and their graduates' vocational prospects can offer justified advice/guidelines to secondary education graduates for applying to specialties presenting promising employment prospects. Originality/value -This work, being one of the very few nation-wide studies, reveals and highlights the most important higher education specialties regarding the vocational status and prospects of the corresponding graduates, providing a guideline for the selection of the subject of studies that leads to a more promising career.