MOOCs in Omani Higher Education Institutions: Use and Popularity

Due to the rapid influence of technology on the teaching-learning process, both instructors and students alike are expected to keep abreast of the perpetual developments in the field of education. The introduction of Massive Open Online Courses (Henceforth MOOCs), as one form of e-learning, has made skyrocketing changes in the manner and availability of education provided to mass numbers of learners all the world, including Arab countries. The use of MOOCs in Oman is relatively new, and thus it appears to be unbeknown to a large segment of undergraduate students. The study beforehand, therefore, is meant to explore Omani undergraduate students’ awareness of MOOCs both locally and globally via the use a self-administered questionnaire targeting three main academic institutions in Oman with a total number of 306 participants. In-depth scrutiny of the obtained data evidently shows that unfamiliarity of MOOCs among Omani undergraduate students is significantly high, a fact reflected in the high percentage of those oblivious of its existence (88.89%) as opposed to those (11.11 %) who are familiar with MOOCs. Lack of publicity of these platforms in the Omani academic institutions and the academic community in general, among several other reasons, stand behind such unawareness of these platforms

Educational Games in Elementary Education: Unlocking the Potentials

The advent of technology has made big strides in the development of humans’ life in different spheres. The integration of technology in education has introduced other teaching methods that could improve and emulate the traditional way of teaching. The use of educational games is a by-product of integrating technology into teaching to enhance teaching methods and students’ performance. This study, hence, aims to evaluate the effect of using educational games in teaching mathematics to second-graders in a Palestinian school using a quasi-experimental approach. Thirty male and female second-graders from Al Aqsa Integrated School, Kuala Lumpur, were the targeted sample. The sample was divided into an experimental group and a control group. A selected educational game was used to explain mathematics lessons, namely addition within 99 or 999, to the experimental group. The same content was taught to the students in the control group using the traditional method. Findings showed that teaching mathematics via educational games was significantly effective in improving students’ achievement in the experimental group compared to the achievement of their counterparts taught via the traditional method. These findings provide evidence that educational games could substantially improve primary second-grade students’ skills in mathematics compared to the traditional teaching method

The Impact of Cooperative Learning on Developing the Sixth Grade Students Decision-Making Skill and Academic Achievement

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the cooperative learning on developing the sixth graders' decision making skill and their academic achievement. The study sample, which was selected randomly, consisted of (46) students and divided into two groups: the experimental group which was exposed to the cooperative learning strategy and the control group that followed the traditional method. The students were taught the Geometry unit in mathematics from their mathematics book which required (16) lessons to finish. Then, an achievement and a decision making skill tests were administered. The validity and reliability of the tests were achieved by using suitable methods. The results of the study showed that there were significant statistical differences between the two groups concerning the students' skill in decision making and their results in the achievement test in favor of the experimental group.Keywords: Cooperative learning, decision-making skill, academic achievement

A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Management Implementation in Organizations

This study aimed to identify the processes associated with knowledge management implementation and develop a framework with different stages that combines these processes to guide the initiative for implementing knowledge management in organizations. The study was approached from a theoretical perspective. The study contributes to the knowledge management literature by developing a conceptual framework of knowledge management. A comprehensive review was conducted of recent progress and the rapidly growing number of published studies on knowledge management implementation. The review revealed ten critical processes that should be considered to ensure successful knowledge management initiatives. Based on that, a framework for knowledge management implementation is proposed. Specifically, the processes associated with implementing knowledge management are logically distributed among the PDCA framework promulgated and reflecting the four domains of the Plan–Do–Check–Act, which has consistently shown the capability to encompass all processes of effective knowledge management implementation. The framework can be used as a reference for implementing knowledge management initiatives in organizations. Finally, this study emphasizes that continuous process methods are significant in implementing knowledge management initiatives. By placing knowledge management implementation processes in the PDCA cycle, task-based knowledge can be better recognized and understood

Mechanisms Regulating the Association of Protein Phosphatase 1 with Spinophilin and Neurabin

Protein phosphorylation is a key mediator of signal transduction, allowing for dynamic regulation of substrate activity. Whereas protein kinases obtain substrate specificity by targeting specific amino acid sequences, serine/threonine phosphatase catalytic subunits are much more promiscuous in their ability to dephosphorylate substrates. To obtain substrate specificity, serine/threonine phosphatases utilize targeting proteins to regulate phosphatase subcellular localization and catalytic activity. Spinophilin and its homologue neurabin are two of the most abundant dendritic spine-localized protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) targeting proteins. The association between spinophilin and PP1 is increased in the striatum of animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, mechanisms that regulate the association of spinophilin and neurabin with PP1 are unclear. Here, we report that the association between spinophilin and PP1α or PP1γ1 was increased by CDK5 expression and activation in a heterologous cell system. This increased association is at least partially due to phosphorylation of PP1. Conversely, CDK5 expression and activation decreased the association of PP1 with neurabin. As with dopamine depletion, methamphetamine (METH) abuse causes persistent alterations in dopamine signaling which influence striatal medium spiny neuron function and biochemistry. Moreover, both METH toxicity and dopamine depletion are associated with deficits in motor control and motor learning. Pathologically, we observed a decreased association of spinophilin with PP1 in rat striatum evaluated one month following a binge METH paradigm. Behaviorally, we found that loss of spinophilin recapitulates rotarod pathology previously observed in dopamine-depleted and METH-treated animals. Together, these data have implications in multiple disease states associated with altered dopamine signaling such as PD and psychostimulant drug abuse and delineate a novel mechanism by which PP1 interactions with spinophilin and neurabin may be differentially regulated

Osteoblast Behavior on Silicon and Porous-Silicon Substrates

Osteoblast viability, proliferation, protein expression and mineralization were studied on bare, micro- and nanoporous silicon (Si) substrates. Micro- and nano-porous-Si substrates were prepared by anodic etching of silicon in ethanolic hydrofluoric acid and characterized using scanning electron and atomic force microscopies. Mouse osteoblasts were cultured on these substrates and cellular response to these surfaces was assessed using the Live/Dead Cell Viability assay and the MTT assay for cell proliferation. Osteoblast functionality was assessed using immunohistochemistry for bone protein specific markers. Osteoblasts grew well on micro- and nanoporous silicon substrates over the twenty-one day experimental period supporting the assessment that these are suitable cell supportive surfaces. Cell proliferation rates on bare and nanoporous silicon were similar initially, however, nanoporous silicon displayed enhanced cell proliferation, in comparison to bare silicon, after 14 days in culture. Immunocytochemical assays, using bone specific markers, showed positive reactions for osteonectin and osteopontin expression on all substrates with staining intensity increasing over the 21-day experimental period. Calcium mineral deposits were quantified using the Alizarin Red histochemical assay and nanoporous silicon induced the highest level of calcium mineral production in comparison to bare and microporous silicon. The data supports the potential use of nanoporous silicon as a surface implant coating for dental and orthopedic applications. The ability to dope (and then release) drugs or growth factors from the silicon nanopores offers the potential for a multi-functional implant surface

Growth-Led Tourism and the Role of Exchange Rate: Empirical Evidence from Sri Lanka

We re-visit the growth-led tourism hypothesis to examine the role of the exchange rate in the nexus. Using yearly data on Sri Lanka from 1995 to 2018, preliminary tests reveal a long-run association between tourism receipts, economic growth, and the official exchange rate. Consistent robustness results from a battery of econometric techniques validate that the connection holds autonomously and interactively. Conclusions drawn from the linear models suggest that a percentage change in economic growth increases tourism by 0.8% to 1.2%. Likewise, the exchange rate boosts tourism by 0.006% to 0.008%, on average, ceteris paribus. For the most part, the interaction of the exchange rate with economic growth upholds the "growth-led tourism" hypothesis. We also find that the results hold across the conditional distribution of tourism. Additional evidence from the margin plot reveals that the effect of economic growth on tourism is positive as the Sri Lankan Rupee depreciates. The upward trend of the plot within the 95% confidence interval shows that currency depreciation enhances the impact of economic growth on tourism. These are novel contributions to the literature as it suggests that currency depreciation in Sri Lanka is pro-tourism. Policy recommendations are discussed

Immunfluoreszenz-Lokalisation von Polyketid-Synthasen in der Arzneipflanze Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort; Clusiaceae) is an important medicinal plant, which is widely used as an antidepressant. The plant is characterized by the presence of different types of secretory tissue including translucent glands, black nodules and secretory canals. Hypericum species are ideal experimental systems for studying the biosynthesis of a diversity of aromatic polyketides. Two type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) involved are benzophenone synthase (BPS) and chalcone synthase (CHS), for which cDNAs had been cloned and characterized. This work describes immunochemical studies and immunofluorescence localization of these PKSs in H. perforatum. Both enzymes were heterologously expressed in E. coli as 6xHis-tagged proteins and GST-fusion proteins. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the 6xHis-tagged PKSs in rabbits and the IgG fractions were isolated. The specificity of the antibodies was examined using immunoblotting and immunotitration techniques. Protein extracts from various H. perforatum organs were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. BPS was mainly immunodetected in middle-aged fruits. CHS was detected in young leaves and flower buds. The tissue-specific localization of BPS and CHS was studied with H. perforatum organs using the immunofluorescence technique and confocal laser scanning microscopy. BPS was expressed to a low extent in mesophyll cells of young leaves and strongly expressed in the glandular cells of large translucent glands present inside the leaves. In roots, BPS was located in the cortex cells. In floral parts, as far as studied, BPS was found in the secretory tissue of sepals of young buds and in middle-aged fruits. In addition, seeds present in the middle-aged fruits contained BPS. CHS was strongly expressed in the mesophyll cells of young leaves and was not present in glands. Nor was the enzyme observed in roots. In floral parts, as far as studied, CHS is located in the mesophyll of sepals of young buds.Hypericum perforatum (Tüpfel-Johanniskraut; Clusiaceae) ist eine bedeutende Arzneipflanze, deren Extrakte weite Anwendung als Antidepressivum finden. H. perforatum ist anatomisch durch das Vorkommen verschiedener Drüsentypen charakterisiert, u.a. durchscheinender Drüsen, schwarzer Behälter sowie von Drüsenkanälen. Hypericum-Arten sind ideale Untersuchungssysteme, um die Biosynthese einer Diversität von aromatischen Polyketiden zu bearbeiten. Zwei beteiligte Typ III Polyketid-Synthasen (PKS) sind die Benzophenon-Synthase (BPS) and die Chalcon-Synthase (CHS), für die bereits cDNAs kloniert und charakterisiert wurden. Diese Arbeit beschreibt die immunchemische Untersuchung sowie die Immunfluoreszenz-Lokalisation der beiden PKS in H. perforatum. Beide Enzyme wurden in E. coli als 6xHis-markierte Proteine und als GST-Fusionsproteine heterolog exprimiert. Gegen die 6xHis-markierten PKS wurden in Kaninchen polyklonale Antikörper gewonnen und daraus die IgG-Fraktionen isoliert. Die Spezifität der Antikörper wurde mittels Immunblotting und Immuntitration gezeigt. Protein-Extrakte aus H. perforatum-Organen verschiedener Entwicklungsstadien wurden dem Immunblotting nach SDS-PAGE unterworfen. BPS wurde vornehmlich in mittelalten Früchten, CHS in jungen Blättern und Blütenknospen detektiert. Die Gewebe-spezifische Lokalisation von BPS und CHS in H. perforatum wurde mittels Immunfluoreszenz und konfokaler Laser-Scanning Mikroskopie untersucht. Die BPS war schwach in Mesophyll-Zellen von jungen Blättern, aber stark in Drüsenzellen von durscheinenden Drüsen exprimiert. In Wurzeln wurde die BPS in den Zellen der Cortex lokalisiert. In Blüten, so weit untersucht, kam die BPS im sekretorischen Gewebe von Kronblättern junger Knospen sowie mittelalten Früchten vor. Auch die Samen mittelalter Früchte enthielten BPS. Die CHS war stark in den Mesophyll-Zellen von jungen Blättern exprimiert. In den verschiedenen Drüsen-Typen war sie nicht vorhanden. Auch in Wurzeln wurde keine CHS detektiert. In Blüten kam das Enzym im Mesophyll von Kelchblättern junger Knospen vor