A Descriptive Framework for the Field of Knowledge Management

Despite the extensive evolution of knowledge management (KM), the field lacks an integrated description. This situation leads to difficulties in research, teaching, and learning. To bridge this gap, this study surveys 2842 articles from top-ranked KM journals to provide a descriptive framework that guides future research in the field of knowledge management. This study also seeks to provide a comprehensive depiction of current research in the field and categorizes these research activities into higher-level categories using grounded theory approach and topic modeling technique. The results show that KM studies are classified into four core research categories: technological, business, people, and domains/applications dimensions. An additional concern addressed in this study is the major research methodologies used in this field. The results raise awareness of the development of KM discipline and hold implications for research methodologies and research trends in the selected KM journals. The results obtained from this study also provide practitioners with a useful quality reference source. The framework and the components included provide researchers, practitioners, and educators with an ontology of KM topics, where they can cover deficiencies in research and provide an agenda for future research

Factors and affect mobile telephone users to use mobile payment solution

Providing a convenient payment solution to mp3 users is one of the alternatives that can promote legal mp3 downloading. However, before the success of the payment solution can be determined, it is essential to understand whether it would be well-accepted by the users. This paper examines factors that influence the intention to use a mobile payment solution for mp3 downloading among university' students. Drawing from the Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Planned Behaviour and previous literatures, five factors were hypothesized to influence the intention to use the payment solution, namely perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, perceived price level, and peer influence. Final year business students at a public university in the southern part of Malaysia were chosen as respondents for this study. Multiple regressions were employed to analyze the data. Two factors were found to have significant effect on the intention to use the payment solution, which were trust and peer influence. Practical implications were proposed and discussed

When Users Enjoy Using the System: The Case of AIS

This study utilized an extended model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) to explore the factors influencing the future adoption of accounting information systems (AIS) by Qatari students. A research model was proposed to predict future adoption, partially moderated by voluntary status of using the system. A sample of 237 students was used to probe their perceptions regarding the use of such systems in their future careers. Students were enrolled in an accounting information systems course in Qatar University. Results indicated that perceived facilitating conditions, performance expectancy and enjoyment were significant predictors of AIS. The other factors failed to be significant predictors. The estimated R2 was 48.4%. The moderation effect of voluntariness was also significant in influencing the relationship between enjoyment and future adoption. The moderator yielded a negative beta, which means that it faded the relationship under consideration. Conclusions and future recommendations are reported at the end of the paper

Preparation of Polyfunctionally Substituted Pyridine-2(1H) thione Derivatives as Precursors to Bicycles and Polycycles

Reaction of acetylacetone with 1 mole of dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) affords enamine 2a which react with cyanothioacetamide to give pyridinethione 3a. Pyridinethione 3a reacts with methyl iodide, halogenated compounds, aromatic aldehyde and malononitrile / elemental sulfur to yiled compounds 7-10 respectively. Reactions of thioether (7) in ethanolic K2CO3, 1 mole DMFDMA and 4-(dimethylamino) benzaldehyde gave compounds (11, 13, 14) respectively. Enaminone (12) can be prepared by reaction of compound (11) with DMFDMA. Also, compounds (13) and (14) can be obtained by reaction of compounds (3a) and (9a) with 2 mole of DMFDMA and methyl iodide respectively. Reactions of enaminone (9) with hydrazine hydrate and cyanothioacetamide gave compounds (11) and (12) respectively. Malononitrile dimmer when reacted with chalcones (9a), (14) and enaminone (12), (13) gave bipyridyl (15), (16) and (19a,b) respectively. Bipyridyl (15) can be converted to (16) by methylation using methyl iodide. Reactions of thienopyridine (8) with DMFDMA and sodium nitrite in acetic acid gave tricyclic compounds (20) and (21) respectively. Finally, reactions of (21a) with malononitrile / elemental sulfur and DMFDMA gave compounds (22) and (23) respectively

Preparation of Polyfunctionally Substituted Pyridine-2(1H) thione Derivatives as Precursors to Bicycles and Polycycles

Reaction of acetylacetone with 1 mole of dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) affords enamine 2a which react with cyanothioacetamide to give pyridinethione 3a. Pyridinethione 3a reacts with methyl iodide, halogenated compounds, aromatic aldehyde and malononitrile / elemental sulfur to yiled compounds 7-10 respectively. Reactions of thioether (7) in ethanolic K2CO3, 1 mole DMFDMA and 4-(dimethylamino) benzaldehyde gave compounds (11, 13, 14) respectively. Enaminone (12) can be prepared by reaction of compound (11) with DMFDMA. Also, compounds (13) and (14) can be obtained by reaction of compounds (3a) and (9a) with 2 mole of DMFDMA and methyl iodide respectively. Reactions of enaminone (9) with hydrazine hydrate and cyanothioacetamide gave compounds (11) and (12) respectively. Malononitrile dimmer when reacted with chalcones (9a), (14) and enaminone (12), (13) gave bipyridyl (15), (16) and (19a,b) respectively. Bipyridyl (15) can be converted to (16) by methylation using methyl iodide. Reactions of thienopyridine (8) with DMFDMA and sodium nitrite in acetic acid gave tricyclic compounds (20) and (21) respectively. Finally, reactions of (21a) with malononitrile / elemental sulfur and DMFDMA gave compounds (22) and (23)respectively.Keywords: Acetyl acetone; DMFDMA; Malononitrile dimmer; Bipyridyl; 5-Acetylpyridinethione

Effect of COVID-19 quarantine on the sleep quality and the depressive symptom levels of university students in Jordan during the spring of 2020

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the effect of COVID-19 home quarantine and its lifestyle challenges on the sleep quality and mental health of a large sample of undergraduate University students in Jordan. It is the first study applied to the Jordanian population. The aim was to investigate how quarantine for several weeks changed the students' habits and affected their mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a random representative sample of 6,157 undergraduate students (mean age 19.79 ± 1.67 years, males 28.7%) from the University of Jordan through voluntarily filling an online questionnaire. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) were used to assess sleep quality and depressive symptoms, respectively. Results: The PSQI mean score for the study participants was 8.1 ± 3.6. The sleep quality of three-quarters of the participants was negatively affected by the extended quarantine. Nearly half of the participants reported poor sleep quality. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among participants was 76% (males: 71.5% and females: 77.8%). Similarly, the prevalence of the depressive symptoms was 71% (34% for moderate and 37% for high depressive symptoms), with females showing higher prevalence than males. The overall mean CES-D score for the group with low depressive symptoms is 9.3, for the moderate group is 19.8, while it is 34.3 for the high depressive symptoms group. More than half of the students (62.5%) reported that the quarantine had a negative effect on their mental health. Finally, females, smokers, and students with decreased income levels during the extended quarantine were the common exposures that are significantly associated with a higher risk of developing sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Mass and extended quarantine succeeded in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus; however, it comes with a high cost of potential psychological impacts. Most of the students reported that they suffer from sleeping disorders and had a degree of depressive symptoms. Officials should provide psychological support and clear guidance to help the general public to reduce these potential effects and overcome the quarantine period with minimum negative impacts

Usefulness of routine pairing of anaerobic with aerobic blood culture bottles and decision making on antimicrobial therapy

ObjectivesTo evaluate the growth concordance in paired aerobic/anaerobic sets, and the impact of the anaerobic growth on patients' antimicrobial management.MethodThis is a prospective multicenter study which was conducted in three hospitals, with total beds of 750 beds and 52 ICU beds. Prospectively, laboratory blood cultures logbooks were daily reviewed and patients from whom blood cultures were ordered were followed, their chart were reviewed. Entries on antimicrobial therapeutic changes were noted for all paired sets. Clinicians were blinded to the study, though they were informed about culture results via the usual work protocol in each hospital.ResultsCollected Blood culture sets totaled 2492; 172 single sets were excluded, and 1160 paired sets were analyzed. 1046 were concordant; 79 sets had bacterial growth and 967 sets had no bacterial growth. 114 sets were discordant; 97 in aerobic bottles, 13 in anaerobic, and 4 in both.The proportion of agreement for the concordant paired growth sets was 90.2%.  The composite proportion of agreement for sets with any growth (N = 193, composite proportion of agreement = 56%, 95% C.I., 34% - 48%). Cohen kappa composite agreement, measured for the total analyzed paired-sets (N = 1160, K = .52, SE = .038. 95% C.I., .447 - .595). The odds of modifying antimicrobial regimen were for total and subgroups intent to treat odds, based on paired sets showed that one modification took place in one anaerobic growth set (N = 1160, Odds = 0.0008), the odds for all sets with any growth (N = 193, odds = .005), and based on any anaerobic sets (79 concordant, 13 anaerobic, and 4 discordant) with bacterial growth (N = 96: odds = 0.010).ConclusionThe study demonstrates that the proportion of agreement among paired sets were high, and needless to include anaerobic sets in routine blood culture collection. Also the decision-making of anti-infective treatment on patients based on anaerobic blood culture growth was not evident

Role of Nrf2 Dysfunction in Uremia-Associated Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Barrier Disruption

Aims: To study the expression profile of inflammatory and tight junction proteins in the colon from CKD rats compared to healthy controls, and demonstrate the role of Nrf2 (transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) using a potent Nrf2 activator

The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Technology Adoption and Decision-Making Process

Emotional intelligence is a vital measure of personality in psychology, where research indicated that it has a direct influence on technology adoption. This study assumed that emotional intelligence dimensions would have an influence on personal self-efficacy, which makes it a driver of technology adoption domain. The proposed framework deployed a relational model of emotional intelligence dimensions, and connected it to technology adoption theories. A sample of 268 students filled the survey and was used for analysis. Results indicated that self-awareness significantly influenced self-management, social management significantly influenced social skills, and both social management and self-management influenced social skills. In addition, social skills significantly influenced self-efficacy. All four dimensions of emotional intelligence explained 9% of the variance in self-efficacy. Self-efficacy and effort expectancy significantly influenced performance expectancy and explain 29.6% of its variance. Finally, performance expectancy significantly influenced the behavioural intention to use Excel for the decision-making process in the future, and explained 47.8% of its variance. Results supported the model and provided a fair explanation of power. Details, conclusions and future work are reported at the end