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This study aims to synthesize new disperse dyes based on novel pyrazolyl quinolinone derivatives EQ1 and EQ2 and evaluate their characteristics after dyeing them on a polyester fabric.

New dispersed dyes based on pyrazolyl quinolinone derivatives were prepared and confirmed by different analyses, such as infrared spectroscopy, elemental microanalysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. They were dyed on a polyester fabric. The characteristics of dyed polyester were determined by color measurements such as a*, b*, L*, C*, E, Ho, R% and color strength. The electronic structures of EQ1 and EQ2 in gaseous state were investigated using density functional theory/B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) level of theory.

The suitability of the prepared dyestuffs for dyeing on polyester fabrics has been investigated. The study was concerned with comparing the contrasting depth of shade and levelness. The study was concerned mainly with dye uptake and color measurements at two different temperatures. The results showed that the exhaustion values of dyes inside the polyester at 130°C were higher than those obtained at conventional dyeing temperature (100°C). The exhaustion values of EQ2 were greater than those of EQ1 at 130°C with 2.2%, while the brightness of EQ2 was higher than that of EQ1 at the two investigated temperatures. The results of molecular orbital calculations show that the studied compounds are planar. In addition, the ionization potential of EQ1 was lower than that of EQ2. The results of the theoretical study helped in understanding the dyeing behavior of the investigated azo dyes.

The prepared disperse dyes based on pyrazolyl quinolinone derivatives could be used in textile dyeing of polyester on an industrial scale.

Load forecasting is important to any electrical grid, but for the developing and third-world countries with power shortages, load forecasting is essential. When planed load shedding programs are implemented to face power shortage, a noticeable distortion to the load curves will happen, and this will make the load forecasting more difficult.

In this paper, a new load forecasting model is developed that can detect the effect of planned load shedding on the power consumption and estimate the load curve behavior without the shedding and with different shedding programs. A neuro-Fuzzy technique is used for the model, which is trained and tested with real data taken from one of the 11 KV feeders in Najaf city in Iraq to forecast the load for two days ahead for the four seasons. Load, temperature, time of the day and load shedding schedule for one month before are the input parameters for the training, and the load forecasting data for two days are estimated by the model.

To verify the model, the load is forecasted without shedding by the proposed model and compared to real data without shedding and the difference is acceptable.

The proposed model provides acceptable forecasting with the load shedding effect available and better than other models. The proposed model provides expected behavior of load with different shedding programs an issue helps to select the appropriate shedding program. The proposed model is useful to estimate the real demands by assuming load shedding hours to be zero and forecast the load. This is important in places suffer from grid problems and cannot supply full loads to calculate the peak demands as the case in Iraq.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the preparedness of academic libraries in Ghana for the use of social media in reference and user services.

A qualitative research approach using interviews was used to solicit the views of Systems/reference librarians from six most highly ranked public and private universities (in Ghana) on their libraries’ preparedness for use of social media to provide reference and user services.

The findings of the study indicate that most of the university libraries lacked policy on the use of social media and that though librarians held the perception that social media was useful, they lacked the competence and motivation to use social media to make a remarkable difference in service delivery.

Academic libraries in Ghana and elsewhere will find the results useful in formulating policies for the use of social media in libraries.

This qualitative approach to the study of social media deviates from the mostly quantitative studies in the literature and has brought out more revealing findings.

This study aims to examine the perceived values of the metaverse when adopting it in the luxury hospitality business. Based on the cost–benefit perspective, this research provides solid theoretical contributions and actionable managerial recommendations.

An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was used. For the qualitative phase, 21 hotel managers and 24 hotel guests (who often stay in four-star and five-star hotels and resorts) were interviewed after showing them a series of videos about using the metaverse in the hotel business. Based on the results of the qualitative phase, the analytic hierarchy process method was used, and 476 valid questionnaires were analyzed.

The results highlight the perceived benefits (personalized services, immersive experience and positive brand image) and costs (lack of human touch, time and effort and security and privacy) of metaverse adoption for hotel managers and their guests. In addition, the study determines the weight of each value attribute of metaverse adoption for each travel stage (pre-travel, during travel and post-travel).

Regarding metaverse adoption, the research offers practical suggestions for luxury hotels. For instance, the cost of equipment and the time and effort required are perceived costs of metaverse adoption. To address these challenges, hotels may offer free equipment (e.g. VR headsets) and training to their guests to stimulate the use of the metaverse.

This study addresses a gap in the literature by presenting a conceptual framework for examining metaverse adoption in the luxury hotel scenario. Unlike using conventional models like the technology acceptance model or the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to investigate a technology’s adoption, this study stands out by unraveling the topic through the lens of value proposition. The latter often comes from an efficient value co-creation process, which is indeed shaped by an adequate appreciation of the congruence of perceived values (i.e. perceived benefits and costs) of metaverse from hotel manager and guest perspectives.

This paper aims to challenge the fashion of ubiquitous artificial intelligence (AI) and the effects which it will have upon society. In doing so it argues that the effects of AI will be minimal but important.

This argument is based upon the Socratic method and explores the Utilitarian background in which AI is based while drawing upon classical literature and other examples to illustrate the argument.

The findings are encompassed in the argument and show that we need to be more open and careful when considering AI and its effects. We also need to be more realistic when considering potential benefits.

This argument has significant implications for the adoption of AI.

The social implications are equally profound and will impact upon our application of AI solutions to current problems and upon humanity more generally.

This is the first paper which relates AI to human successes.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate factors influencing rural women entrepreneurship development and sustainable rural livelihoods in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe.

A quantitative research was conducted in Manicaland province in Zimbabwe. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 400 women entrepreneurs in various sectors. The participants were in vegetable vending, operating clothing flea markets and cross border trading. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. Structural equation modeling in SmartPLS version 3 was used to test the research hypotheses.

The study established that women entrepreneurship is driven by financial factors, positive environmental factors, positive psychological factors as well as positive sociological factors for a sustainable rural livelihood.

It is clear that if the discovered challenges are not addressed, sustainability of women entrepreneurship will remain a dream.

The study came up with strategies for improving women entrepreneurship activities. Future research can be done in other areas of provinces to avoid generalization challenges.

Many challenges hinder the sustainability of women entrepreneurship. Major impediments to women entrepreneurship comprises inadequate support from government schemes, patriarchal societal structure of the community, lack of relevant entrepreneurial knowledge to manage businesses, lack of collateral security to access funding, time limitation or role conflict to balance family pressures and business.

The study recommends proper entrepreneurship education and training, supportive government schemes and access to network affiliation/connection to sustain women entrepreneurship.

Knowledge management in the public sector is relatively an ignored avenue of research and practice that has recently been given attention. Knowledge management initiatives in the public sector are now not limited to the developed countries anymore. The public sectors of various developing countries including Pakistan have developed knowledge management functions to address the problems of low organizational commitment (higher turnover rates) and knowledge-workers’ performance. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediation role of organizational commitment in the relationship between knowledge management practices and knowledge-worker performance.

The data were gathered from 341 knowledge workers of the public sector health department of Punjab Province, Pakistan, where knowledge management unit initiative has been taken. It was then analyzed using the structural equation modeling.

Organizational commitment partially mediates the relationship between knowledge management practices and knowledge-work performance.

The public sector policy makers are strongly advised to implement knowledge management units and practices in order to enhance knowledge-work performance as well as organizational commitment.

First, the model on the mediating role of organizational commitment has never been examined before. Second, the data collection from the public Health Department of Pakistan, a developing country, is relatively rare because the public sector knowledge management studies have mostly been conducted in developed countries. Finally, this study extends the literature on knowledge management in the public sector that is the developing theme in knowledge management discipline while adding knowledge management as a toolkit to enhance knowledge-workers’, organizational commitment and knowledge-work performance.

The purpose of this article is to investigate on changes of the microbial load and the chemical and physical properties of date fruits stored for 6 months under two different temperatures.

A composite sample of 100 kg date fruits from the Khalas variety, season 2019, was collected from the local market in Al Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia, packaged in 1 kg lots, stored at room and refrigerator temperatures and the microbial contamination and the chemical and physical properties monitored over a period of six months of storage. Total bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds were counted and representatives of yeast and mold contaminants were identified using morphological, physiological and molecular typing techniques. Changes in the color and texture of the samples were also monitored during storage.

The yeasts detected were two strains of each of Lachancea thermotolerans and Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis and one strain of Cystofilobasidium lacus-mascardii. For molds, one strain of each of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus caespitosus have been detected. No significant growth of these microorganisms was observed, but enough load persisted during storage that makes the samples not meeting the microbiological standards. There were significant changes in the color and texture of the fruits during storage.

These findings add important information that can help producers and processors to improve quality and promote marketing of date fruits, especially to international markets.

Growing recognition of the metaverse has implied its far-reaching impacts on the tourism and hospitality industry. This paper sets out to detail the status of metaverse-related research in tourism and hospitality, propose intriguing directions for future studies and highlight multiple areas that call for immediate attention from practitioners in navigating the metaverse phenomenon.

This viewpoint paper referenced the extant academic discussion on the metaverse, based on which timely suggestions for academia and practices are proposed.

This viewpoint paper presents an account of the metaverse and discusses the status of metaverse-related research in hospitality and tourism. It then proposes intriguing avenues for future research around the topics of marketing, reconceptualizing service quality, attitude and behaviors, electronic customer-to-customer interactions, transformative impacts on the society well-being and research methodology. Multiple areas that call for immediate attention from practitioners in navigating the metaverse phenomenon are also highlighted. Both scholars and industry organizations are called upon to assume some responsibility for mapping out protocols to guide the appropriate development, use and governance of metaverse worlds. Governments and policymakers are further encouraged to consider the ramifications of metaverse development for individuals and society and to devise proactive mitigation strategies.

This viewpoint paper proposes several directions for future business practices in the areas of co-creation, experiential consumption, and emerging critical issues in healthcare, human resources, and social media services. It expects to inspire more discussion about the potential impacts of metaverse on the wider society. Its practical significance will further expand the theoretical foundation of the metaverse research and makes this viewpoint paper an intriguing prospect.

The nascent stage of academic discussion intended to guide the development of metaverse is noteworthy, which forms a notable contrast with the growing recognition of its potential of co-creating transformational experiences in hospitality and tourism. This viewpoint paper joins the current academic conversations acknowledging this phenomenon in hospitality and tourism. Provided the notable topicality and empirical relevance, the expanded scope and rich content the present viewpoint paper provides for metaverse will offer a fruitful ground for future research to tap further into currently underrepresented areas.

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of attitude, religiosity, awareness and subjective norm toward trust which influences purchase intention regarding Islamic insurance in Indonesia.

This research uses quantitative methods. Online questionnaires are distributed and collected for people who already have an insurance policy, have the knowledge and are interested in buying Islamic insurance in Indonesia. A total of 322 valid responses were collected using non probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling method. To achieve the purpose of this study, an analysis using SEM or structural equation model for hypothesis testing was performed.

The results show that trust significantly affected purchase intention regarding Islamic insurance. Other than that, trust is significantly influenced by awareness, religiosity and subjective norm. Moreover, the attitude toward trust found that not significantly related.

The originality of this study is the first research integrating attitude, religiosity, awareness and subjective norm, mediating by trust toward a purchase intention of Islamic insurance in Indonesia.