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Since the first case of AIDS was reported in 1986, several HIV/AIDS intervention program operates at the national and regional level in India, to control the spread of this epidemic. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate one intervention program in a major city of India – Kolkata that targets specifically the commercial sex-workers challenged with socio-economic-health disparities. This intervention program called the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) is located in the Sonagachi area and nicknamed as the “Sonagachi Project.”

The behavioral change of about 500 sex-workers participating in the survey was studied in 2005. The data were collected from the focus groups of the sex-workers; official records and DMSC officials were also interviewed to collect data. The “short-term” outcome and the “long-term” impact of the program were compared with a baseline survey conducted in 1992 by another study.

Participants experienced increased awareness of the disease, increased literacy rate and increased social and economical empowerment. The incidence of HIV/AIDS has gone down significantly among this high-risk group due to safe-sex practice.

This community-based organization adopts a unique method of engaging the sex-workers as peer educators to train other sex-workers about safe-sex practices and has become the role model for sex-workers in other parts of the world to fight socio-economic-health disparities.

This research was conducted by directly contacting the program directors and members of the Sonagachi project and in that sense is first hand information. It gives valuable insights into the struggles these sex-workers had to go through to gain social and economic empowerment.

Collection content is no longer the primary distinctive signifier of excellence in the present libraries. In an information market where technology has increased access to content, thereby providing resources at one’s fingertips, the provision of services is increasingly becoming a distinctive signifier of excellence and quality. In such an open/service-oriented marketplace, what are the services that are signifiers of excellence and consequently distinguish a library? This paper aims to review select literature within the USA to identify the services that are signifiers of excellence and that will consequently distinguish a library in the current era and investigate the extent to which said services identified in the review of the literature are provided by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona library, but focus specifically on only those that meet the additional criteria of placing the UWI Mona library as either the first to introduce the service in Jamaica or as the only library in Jamaica with the particular service offering. These two additional criteria provide the added signature or uniqueness essential to being distinguished.

Through the use of a mixed methods research, this paper highlights library service offerings considered as distinctive signifiers of excellence within the American literature and also within the UWI Mona Library – that will distinguish a library.

This paper reveals services incorporating technology, the library as a place/space, teaching and research and personal attention to users as distinctive signifiers of excellence. In this regard, within the UWI Mona Library, services offered such as the Virtual Reference Service, Extended Opening Service, Halls of Residence Librarian Service, Information Commons Service, Information Literacy Service and the West Indies and Special Collection Research Service were found to incorporate the aforementioned service themes and placed the UWI Mona library as either the first to introduce the service in Jamaica or as the only library in Jamaica with the particular service offering, consequently distinguishing the UWI Mona Library from other academic libraries in Jamaica.

This paper is of value, as it provides the library and information community with an outline of services that distinguish a library; it offers library managers in Jamaica and the rest of the world the opportunity to compare services in their libraries with that of other libraries as outlined within the literature review as well as within the UWI Mona library; it highlights how the UWI Mona library, an academic library in the Caribbean, compares on the international library scene, with particular reference to the USA; it informs current and potential library users of how the UWI Mona library is trending in service culture and a focus on distinctive services can promote a community of academic library service best practice.

Sex and age estimation is important, particularly when information about the deceased is unavailable. There are limited radiological studies investigating side, sex and age differences in normal ankle morphometric parameters. The authors’ goal was to evaluate different ankle joint morphometric measurements and document variations among Egyptians.

A prospective study was conducted throughout 23 months on 203 (100 males and 103 females) adult Egyptians, aged between 20-69 years old, who were referred for a plain x-ray of bilateral normal ankle joints.

Ankle parameters showed no statistical difference between both sides, except for tarsal width (TaW) which was significantly higher on right than left side (26.92 ± 2.66 vs 26.18 ± 2.65 mm). Males showed significantly higher morphometric values except for anteroposterior gap (APG) and talus height (TaH) which were significantly higher in females (2.29 ± 0.80 vs 1.80 ± 0.61 mm and 13.01 ± 1.68 vs 11.87 ± 1.91 mm, respectively). There was significant increase in tibial arc length, APG, distance of level of MTiTh from anterior limit of mortise, distance of level of MTiTh from vertex of mortise, sagittal distance between tibial and talar vertices and sagittal radius of trochlea tali arc in old age group compared to young one. A significant decrease in tibial width, malleolar width, TaW and TaH was noted in old age group compared to young one.

Ankle joints of both sides are mostly symmetrical; however, there are significant differences in most morphometric values due to sex and age factors. These findings may be essential during side, sex and age determination.

This study aims to get rid of non-degradable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste as well as sunflower seed cake (SSC) waste by preparing eco-friendly composites from both in different proportions to reach good mechanical and insulating properties for antimicrobial and antistatic applications.

Eco-friendly composite films based on waste polyvinylchloride (WPVC) and SSC of concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 Wt.%) were prepared using solution casting method. Further, the effect of sunflower seed oil (SSO) on the biophysical properties of the prepared composites is also investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope, mechanical, thermal, dielectric properties were assessed. Besides, the antimicrobial and biodegradation tests were also studied.

The crystallinity increases by rising SSC concentration as revealed by XRD results. Additionally, the permittivity (ε′) increases by increasing SSC filler and SSO as well. A remarkable increase in dc conductivity was attained after the addition of SSO. While raw WPVC has very low bacterial activity. The composite films are found to be very effective against staphylococcus epidermidis, staphylococcus aureus bacteria and against candida albicans as well. On the other hand, the weight loss of WPVC increases by adding of SSC and SSO, as disclosed by biodegradation studies.

The study aims to reach the optimum method for safe and beneficial disposal of PVC waste as well as SSC for antistatic and antimicrobial application.

The dyeing of acrylic fabrics using C.I. Astrazon Basic Golden Yellow GLE is studied with both conventional (CH) and ultrasonic (US) techniques. The factors that affect dyeability, such as dye bath pH, US power, dyeing time and temperature, are studied. The colour strength values obtained are found to be higher with US than CH heating. Also, the fastness properties of the dyed fabrics are determined with. A comparative study using x-ray and scanning electron microscope (SEM) that is implemented on samples to explain for the better dyeability of acrylic fabrics with the US method. Dyeing kinetics and the time/dye-uptake isotherms reveal enhanced dye-uptake in the second phase of dyeing. The values of the dyeing rate constant, half-time of dyeing and standard affinity, and US efficiency are calculated and discussed.

In the presence of limited financial resources, developing countries such as Lebanon often allocate small budgets to the sports sector. Even more, the Lebanese Government lacks a strategic approach that is necessary for any nation to achieve elite sport success. This study aims to assess the motivations and barriers that impact Lebanese athletes’ achievements at the Olympics by addressing the factors that affect such participation. Two main aspects were put into the study: lack of governmental support and sponsorship.

This study examines the barriers that hinder achievement by Lebanese Olympians in their International participation with an emphasis on the factors that affect their performance whether positively or negatively. The methodology consisted of a set of survey questions filled by 50 Lebanese athletes and 4 interviews conducted with Lebanese Olympians to make use of their experience and insight regarding such barriers and how to best boost motivation among young and potential talent.

The findings shed light on the limited Lebanese Olympic participation; out of the 17 participation (226 Olympians in total), only 4 Olympians won medals for the country; the past victory was 38 years ago. The reasons as reached are mainly due to the lack of government support and the inability of athletes to secure-related sponsors. Specifically, a lack of governmental support has a negative correlation with athletes’ achievements in international contests. Moreover, the inability of athletes to secure the financial support, in the form of sponsorship, necessary for the training, preparation and all the way to participation.

The study revealed a lack of active participation from the government in nurturing skill and elevating talented athletes’ chance to achieve in the Olympics. The main factor that this study was able to identify is the lack of an official body to manage the nurturing, training, financial support up to participation of the athletes in the international events.

The study highlighted the importance of training camps and consistent improvement to performance. While these two require extensive investment and devotion, athletes on their own cannot afford to fulfill the requirements without the support of the government; the latter being almost absent.

The insights provided through this study address the importance of sponsorship and government support in athletes’ achievements. It shed light on areas that are nonexistent for the Lebanese case and provided practical recommendations that if applied, would increase the chances of Lebanon in competing effectively in the international arena.

A work system may be said to exhibit social sustainability if it utilizes its human, social, economic, and ecological resources with responsibility. This entails using these resources in a non-exploitive way, regenerating them, and paying due attention to the needs and ambitions of its stakeholders in the short- and long-term. For most presently existing organizations attaining and maintaining sustainability requires a midcourse correction, a transformation process. This chapter reviews the main concepts regarding sustainability and previous research of organizational development in this context. It presents a four-phase model for this transformation process and illustrates the model's application in four different contexts. The results are discussed and directions for further research are presented.

The purpose of this study is to successfully apply ultrasonic waves for the quick extraction of flax seed gum from flaxseed hull or whole seed and compare it to the standard technique of extraction.

The effect of the heating source, extracted time, temperature and pH of extracted solution on the extraction was studied. The obtained gum is subsequently used for silk screen printing on cotton, linen and viscous fabrics. Rheological properties and viscosity of the printing paste were scrutinized in the current study to get a better insight into this important polysaccharide. The output of this effort aimed to specify the parameters of the processes for printing textiles to serve in women’s fashion clothes by applying innovated handmade combinations of Islamic art motives using a quick and affordable method. Seven designs are executed, and inspiring from them, seven fashion designs of ladies’ clothes were designed virtually by Clo 3D software.

The result recorded that the new gum has excellent printing properties. In addition, they have better rheological properties, viscosity, chromatic strength and fastness qualities, all of which could help them in commercial production.

Flaxseed and three different fabric types (Cotton, Linen and Viscous) were used.

Synthesis of a new biodegradable thickener from a natural resource, namely, flaxseed, by applying new technology to save time, water and energy.

Synthesis of eco-friendly biodegradable thickener and used in textile printing alternative to the synthetic thickener.

Nowadays, the recent advances in information and communications technology and the advent of Web 2.0 technology have resulted in the increasing popularity of social media and provided enterprises and companies with new horizons in establishing an effective significant relationship with clients. Despite the recognized importance of social media in knowledge management (KM) and customer relationships, there is not any research to identify social media capabilities related to customer knowledge management (CKM). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to recognize the social media capabilities related to CKM effectively.

To obtain research objectives, literature review, focus group method and expert interview were applied to identify and categorize social media capabilities. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) also used to prioritize capabilities important.

The results indicate social media capabilities such as conversation capability, sharing capability, groups/community capability, relationship capability, speed and ease of access for the public are the main capabilities related to exploit customer knowledge and manage it successfully.

The results highlight the different social media capabilities for CKM approach which will enhance customer insight and personalized services. Because of the newness of CKM and social media implementation in Iranian firms, empirical study was not conducted for a better understanding of their business value.

The main innovation of this study is identifying the social media capabilities related to CKM and prioritizing them which allow managers to select the most appropriate social media tools based on these results.

The purpose of this study is to explore the pros and cons of WhatsApp communication service and its likely effects on consumer behavior and one’s perception of luxury brands.

This study conducted 27 in-depth interviews with UK-based participants. This study used NVivo12 to thematically analyze the collected data.

The findings indicate that perceived communication convenience, searching for prepurchase information, intimate consumer–brand relationship, perceived self-worth and the thrill of a new service positively contribute to luxury customers’ acceptance of WhatsApp communication usage. Nevertheless, many factors including push promotional strategy, poor service quality, brand “massification” effect, deficient sensory experience, fear of financial risk and deceptive practices, all curbed the participants’ acceptance of this communication platform. When service is poor, all these factors jeopardized the luxury image, causing an impaired brand image, accompanied with negative word of mouth and in some instances, unexpected anticonsumption reactions.

This study carries the limitations of any exploratory and qualitative research. Therefore, future research should replicate this study in other areas and for other instant messaging platforms.

The implications of this study serve as a reference for luxury brands’ managers when managing their WhatsApp service. This study provides important insights into the risk of using WhatsApp by luxury brands to communicate with customers. The overall conclusion is that WhatsApp communication service requires a close, supervised and innovative use to benefit luxury brands.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the topic of WhatsApp usage as a communication mean in the luxury industry is still largely underexplored, hence filling a gap in the literature that needs to be addressed given its significant implications.