Knowledge-sharing adoption in Saudi Universities' E-learning communities

Technology revolution in recent years has increased the demand for the provision of e-learning. However, academic staff lack the knowledge-sharing attitude in e-learning communities. The aim of this research is to investigate the various factors of knowledge-sharing adoption for e-learning communities in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a framework aimed at sharing knowledge within the e-learning communities is developed. Data has been collected from public universities in Saudi Arabia. Partial Least Square approach has been applied to analyse the data. The results shows knowledge-sharing individual factors (such as openness in communication, interpersonal trust), technology acceptance factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) significantly influence knowledge-sharing attitude while the relationship between people self-motivation and knowledge-sharing attitude is insignificant. Among other factors, subjective norm and attitude significantly impact behavioural intention toward knowledgesharing adoption in Saudi universities' e-learning communities

Populating contents of the Saudi eLearning objects repository 'Maknaz' from information technology & knowledge management perspective

© 2014 IEEE. E-Learning is an important tool for current learning and teaching processes. Learning Objects Repository (LOR) has been seen as a key factor in eLearning and knowledge management environment. Universities in Saudi Arabia have prioritized implementing eLearning in their development plans. However, current learning and teaching process in higher education in Saudi Arabia is still mostly traditional. Educational and information technologies adoption is slow due to the lack of awareness about the importance of collaborative learning that is mainly based on LORs knowledge and technical skills that educators and learners should have. There is a need to study the possible technical tools and approaches that can direct eLearning practices in Saudi Arabia to embrace the initiative of the Saudi National Learning Objects Repository 'Maknaz' in order to collaboratively populate and digitalize its knowledge contents. Due to the slow adoption of technologies and knowledge management systems in Saudi higher education, it is important to analyze the academics and students' acceptance toward current eLearning environment implemented so far. This paper investigates what efforts have been made so far to implement eLearning and LORs technologies in Saudi Arabia; and suggests what is required from participants in the higher educational institutions to link these technologies to education and pedagogy practices based on an integrated knowledge management system with eLearning to creatively create and exchange new knowledge localized in LORs

Impact of Knowledge Sharing Adoption on Universities' Virtual Learning Communities.

In new age, knowledge has become a significant source. Knowledge sharing is a substantial component of success in any organisation. In various organisations, knowledge sharing adoption is lacking, especially among academic staff working in Saudi universities. This paper investigates collectivism impact on knowledge-sharing factors among academics in Saudi e-learning communities. A conceptual model that will affect the knowledge sharing behaviour within the e-learning community in Saudi universities is proposed. Hypotheses have been accordingly developed. Data was collected in different Saudi public universities. Partial Least Square approach has been applied to analyse the data. The findings of this study provide key factors affecting the process of knowledge-sharing adoption between academic staff within the virtual learning communities in Saudi universities

Knowledge management and its impact on knowledge sharing adoption in e-learning communites in Saudi Universites

Knowledge sharing is a significant component of success in knowledge management. In most organisations, knowledge management is often lacking when it comes to knowledge sharing adoption, especially between academic staffs who work in Saudi universities. This paper investigates factors affecting knowledge-sharing adoption among academics in Saudi e-learning communities. A model that will affect the process of knowledge sharing within the e-learning community is proposed. Hypotheses have been developed. Data has been collected in Saudi public universities. Partial Least Square approach has been applied to analyse the data. The findings provide key factors affecting knowledge-sharing adoption among academic staff

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8–13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05–6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50–75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life. Funding Pfizer, Amgen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Sanofi–Aventis, Daiichi Sankyo, and Regeneron

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life

Adoption of knowledge management and net generation characteristics in elearning communities in Saudi Arabia

E-Learning and Knowledge management are crucial for educational institutions and organizations due to the massive amount of knowledge that now exists within and outside those organizations. This paper analyses the current relationship between eLearning, knowledge management and Netgeneration in Saudi Arabia. Due to the lack of research in this area in Saudi Arabia, there is a need to address issues when applying eLearning in Saudi Arabia. A mechanism to include knowledge management practice within eLearning in the Saudi learning and training environment is an important aim and need for this study. Similarly, Net-generation personalization in eLearning in Saudi Arabia is absent since the access to social websites and YouTube by learners or staff is limited. This paper proposes a best practice model for improvement in eLearning and training through technology innovations and knowledge management that should be included in the eLearning processes. © 2013 International Business Information Management Association

Influence of Culture on Knowledge Sharing Attitude among Academic Staff in eLearning Virtual Communities in Saudi Arabia

Knowledge sharing is a significant component of success in knowledge management. In Saudi Arabia, knowledge management is often lacking when it comes to knowledge sharing adoption, especially between academic staff. This research aims to investigate various factors of knowledge sharing adoption for eLearning communities in Saudi Arabia and to examine the effect of culture as a moderating role on the relationships between these factors and academics’ attitude. Therefore, a framework is aimed at sharing knowledge within the eLearning communities is developed. Data has been collected from public universities in Saudi Arabia. Partial Least Square approach has been applied to analyse the data. The results show individual factors (such as openness in communication, interpersonal trust) and technology acceptance factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) significantly influence knowledge sharing attitude, while the relationship between people self-motivation and knowledge sharing attitude is insignificant. Subjective norm and attitude significantly impact behavioral intention toward knowledge sharing adoption in Saudi universities’ eLearning communities

The Adoption of Knowledge Management and Net Generation characteristics in E-Learning Communities in Saudi Arabia

E-Learning and Knowledge management are crucial for organizations due to the massive amount of knowledge that now exists within and outside an organization. This Paper analyses the current relationship between e-learning, knowledge management and Net-Generation. It identifies some of the future trends in designing effective E-Learning communities; and possible areas for improvement implementation through IT innovations in Saudi Arabia

Mode of Proximal Tubule Damage: Differential Cause for the Release of TFF3?

Proximal tubular epithelial cells are particularly sensitive to damage. In search of a biomarker, this study evaluated the potential of different cell activation models (hypoxia/replenishment and protein overload) to lead to a release of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3). Surprisingly, we found disparity in the ability of the different stimuli to enhance the intracellular abundance of TFF3 and its release: while conditions of nutrient starvation and damage associated with replenishment lead to intracellular abundance of TFF3 in the absence of TFF3 release, stimulation with an excess amount of albumin did not yield accumulation of TFF3. By contrast, incubation of cells with a purified λ light chain preparation from a patient with multiple myeloma provoked the presence of TFF3 in the cell supernatant. We, therefore, propose that elevations of TFF3 in renal disease might be more revelatory for the cause of restitution than previously thought