Challenges of E-Learning: Behavioral Intention of Academicians to Use E-Learning during COVID-19 Crisis.

The COVID-19 crisis demanded that all educational activities should be performed virtually to follow social distancing guidelines. Therefore, there was a need to perform a research study to assess the effects of external factors on the perceived usefulness, ease of use of e-learning, and the further effect of these perceptions on attitude and intent to use e-learning by using the technology acceptance model (TAM) among academicians at higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data were collected from 263 academicians across Saudi Arabia through an online survey questionnaire using a non-probability purposive sampling technique and analyzed and tested using the SPSS and Smart PLS software. RESULTS: This study found that self-efficacy was positively associated with perceived usefulness at ß = 0.143 and p < 0.05, but it had no association with perceived ease of use at ß = 0.057 at p > 0.05. System accessibility had a significant and positive relationship with perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use at ß = 0.283, ß = 0.247, and p < 0.01, respectively. Self-efficacy had a positive effect on perceived usefulness, whereas the subjective norm had no relationship with perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use at ß = -0.065 and ß = -0.012 at p > 0.05, respectively. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were positively related to attitude towards use, which has a significant influence on intention to use e-learning. CONCLUSION: Perceived ease of application is the most significant factor (ß = 0.556) in developing the attitude among academicians to practice e-learning, followed by perceived usefulness (ß = 0.262). Moreover, it can be concluded that system accessibility has a stronger influence on developing perception among academicians about the expediency and ease of application of e-learning than self-efficacy.

Enhancing phosphorus uptake and yield of wheat with phosphoric acid application in calcareous soil.

BACKGROUND: Low phosphorus (P) availability to wheat from commercial fertilizers is one of the reasons for lower grain yield and hence justifies search for more efficient P source under alkaline calcareous soils. RESULTS: Phosphoric acid (PA) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), applied through conventional and modified methods, were assessed for P supply and wheat yield in a calcareous soil. Under laboratory conditions, pre-incubated soil with 70 mg P kg-1 soil as PA and DAP was assessed for solution P (Cp ) for 4 weeks. Phosphorus sorption data were fitted using the Freundlich model for describing analyzed sorption in soil incubated with or without DAP and PA. The fitted model equations exhibited comparatively higher effluxes of P from the solution system in control treatment. Compared to DAP, lower quantities (19.6%) of P for PA-treated soil were required for producing optimum P concentration in soil solution, i.e. 0.2 mg P L-1 . The greenhouse study involved 32 P tracer technique to quantify the proportion of applied P derived by wheat from fertilizer or soil. The results showed that P derived from fertilizer was highest (47.5%) in PA placement, while the lowest (31.5%) was in DAP broadcast treatment. The field study also showed similar trends to that of the greenhouse study. The PA placement treatment resulted in highest (23.4%) phosphorus use efficiency, whereas the lowest one (17.1%) was recorded for DAP broadcast treatment. CONCLUSION: PA proved to be a better P source than DAP for improving P content and achieving higher yield and recovery of applied P by wheat grown in alkaline calcareous soils. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

International Patients' Travel Decision Making Process- A Conceptual Framework.

BACKGROUND: Role of information source, perceived benefits and risks, and destination image has significantly been examined in travel and tourism literature; however, in medical tourism it is yet to be examined thoroughly. The concept discussed in this article is drawn form well established models in tourism literature. METHODS: The purpose of this research was to identify the source of information, travel benefits and perceived risks related to movement of international patients and develop a conceptual model based on well-established theory. Thorough database search (Science Direct, utmj.org, nih.gov, nchu.edu.tw, palgrave-journals, medretreat, Biomedcentral) was performed to fulfill the objectives of the study. RESULTS: International patients always concern about benefits and risks related to travel. These benefits and risks form images of destination in the minds of international patients. Different sources of information make international patients acquaint about the associated benefits and risks, which later leads to development of intention to visit. This conceptual paper helps in establishing model for decision-making process of international patients in developing visit intention. CONCLUSION: Ample amount of literature is available detailing different factors involved in travel decision making of international patients; however literature explaining relationship between these factors is scarce.