Service Hub Research Articles

Study of Effective Factors and Policies on the Development of Health Tourism in Iran as a Developing Country

Background: Medical tourism, a byproduct of globalization, involves patients traveling beyond their national borders for healthcare. While this trend is prominent in developed countries, developing nations like Iran can capitalize on it for economic gains. Objectives: This study explores the potential and prerequisites for the advancement of medical tourism in Iran, a developing country with significant potential in health services and a need for the development of health tourism to foster further economic growth. Methods: The target group for this study includes Iranian hospitals. The methods used are "Data Collection and Analysis". First, data were gathered from official health and tourism sources through interviews. Second, relevant factors were identified and analyzed qualitatively through a systematic review of related literature. Results: The study found that beyond the quality of medical services, cultural attributes, legal frameworks, and the tourism appeal of historical sites significantly impact the growth of medical tourism. Key opportunities for Iran's medical tourism include a high number of advanced medical centers, cost-effective and high-quality healthcare, and the allure of historical and natural tourist attractions. However, challenges such as the absence of a centralized coordinating body, limited private sector involvement, and inadequate oversight pose constraints. This study aimed to answer questions about the requirements for medical tourism development and the limitations of its achievement in developing countries. Conclusions: To enhance medical tourism in Iran, it is essential to adopt a "multifaceted approach" that integrates economic, legal, cultural, and service quality considerations. This approach should improve infrastructure, such as healthcare accommodations, and encourage the participation of private healthcare providers. Furthermore, strategic development in these areas will not only contribute to Iran's economic growth but also enhance its global reputation as a hub for high-quality healthcare services.

Study tours as strategy in building multi-level public health system transformation in Ukraine (UA)

Abstract With 14 million Ukrainians in need of psychological aid (UNDP) and a strained health system, UA urgently requires mental health and psychological support services (MHPSS). As a TA partner on the USAID funded Public Health System Recovery and Resilience project in UA, the Philadelphia (PHL) team supports capacity building for population-based MHPSS at the community level with a study tour strategy. Such approaches apply to other countries interested in remodeling public health systems. The strategy aims to advance community based MHPSS through in person tours in PHL with remote follow up to stimulate vision, exchange ideas and accelerate action among governmental, community, and academic partners. The study tours presented overviews on health policy, system development, program services delivered to children and adults, community interventions, and workforce development of professionals and paraprofessionals. All included the foundational principles of trauma-informed practice. The June 2023 tour hosted 11 decision makers and regional officials who embraced the vision for system development and endorsed further engagement. The December 2023 tour hosted 13 practitioners and coordinators of health and social services to observe community programs. Results include development of PHL NGOs and UA social service hub partnerships to implement train the trainer programs for peers/people with lived experience and for mural arts programs to promote community engagement and empowerment. The September 2024 tour involves university partners from nursing, social work and psychology and PHL counterparts to strengthen curricula to include mental health competencies, support faculty development with potential for collaborative research and student exchange, and design post-graduate continuing education courses for upskilling the incumbent workforce. Study tours and direct exchange are an effective strategy for capacity building for MHPSS in Ukraine to address population health needs. Key messages • The sequenced study tour strategy affects distinct levels of change makers in UA. The results are governmental buy-in, partnerships for programmatic development, and academic advancement. • The study tour model promotes systematic change and offers solutions to MHPSS workforce shortages through information exchange, relationship building, and capacity development.

How schools affect neighbourhoods: a conceptual framework for the multiple roles of public schools

ABSTRACT Schools are often seen primarily as places of education and learning. However, in addition to providing pupils with knowledge and skills needed in life, schools have a central role in forming and structuring life in their neighbourhoods. In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework for understanding the role and potential of schools in neighbourhood and social development. We illustrate the conceptual framework with empirical data from a survey among residents in five Finnish cities, where the link between schools and neighbourhoods is traditionally strong as school admission is based on catchment areas. We argue for a broader perspective on schools by paying attention to the three significant roles of schools: their educational role, their role in structuring residential decisions and social composition of neighbourhoods, and thirdly, their role as a hub for services and social life.

Macroeconomic Factors and Policy Dynamics Influencing FDI Flows from Arab Countries to Malaysia: A Qualitative Analysis (2018-2023)

This study examines the macroeconomic factors and policy dynamics influencing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from Arab countries to Malaysia during the period 2018-2023. Employing a qualitative research design, the study utilizes semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, analysis of policy documents, and examination of economic data to provide a comprehensive understanding of this evolving economic relationship. The research reveals that Malaysia's economic resilience, robust GDP growth, and effective fiscal policies have been instrumental in attracting Arab FDI, despite global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategic policy initiatives, including targeted FDI incentives and bilateral trade agreements, have played a crucial role in facilitating investment flows. The study identifies key sectors attracting Arab investment, including real estate, Islamic banking and finance, oil and gas, and tourism. Malaysia's position as a global hub for Islamic financial services and halal industries emerges as a significant factor in its appeal to Arab investors. However, the research also highlights persistent challenges, such as regulatory hurdles, cultural and language barriers, and increasing regional competition. The study concludes that while Malaysia has successfully positioned itself as an attractive destination for Arab FDI, continued policy refinement and focus on high-value, knowledge-intensive sectors are necessary to maintain this position. The findings contribute to the growing body of literature on South-South economic cooperation and provide valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and researchers. Future research directions, including the need for quantitative analysis and comparative studies with other Southeast Asian countries, are suggested to further enhance understanding of these complex investment dynamics.

Caring for uncommon bodies: Commoning yoseba through indifferent care and working together

ABSTRACT This study examines the emergence of care as a commoning practice within grassroots movements by focusing on Sōgidan, an activist group supporting rough sleepers in San’ya, Tokyo. San’ya is yoseba (day labor auction market), a historical urban margin turning into a service hub. Produced as cheap, disposable labor in the process of Japanese modernization, Japan’s day laborers were enclaved in yoseba and left without social protection after the economic bubble burst. However, they were not merely victims; they embodied a rebellious subjectivity, actively breaking away from the oppressive society. Despite welfare provisions after the 2000s, many day laborers refused aid and continued to sleep on the streets. Through extensive archival research, ethnographic observation, and in-depth interviews, this paper illuminates how Sōgidan has developed strategies of care to relate to the underclass, the historical others who refuse aid. Sōgidan embodies and carries forward the underclass movement, which uniquely echoed feminist ethics of care. It also initiates the creation of the radical commons, reconfiguring the distance between individuals and collectives, and sharing precariousness differently from capitalist norms. By linking Sōgidan’s practices to feminist ethics of care, this research contributes to opening up new perspectives of care and in(ter)dependence toward the commons.

Practical Path of Stock Garment Redesign Under Digitalization Perspective

Aiming at the two core issues of digital transformation and upgrading of Chinese clothing enterprises and inventory clothing, this paper establishes the development path and characteristics of inventory clothing redesign from the aspects of design techniques and clothing technology. Through the online services of R&D and design, online and offline collaborative services at the manufacturing end and other forms to complete the digitalization of the whole chain integration of clothing planning, plate making, production, publicity, sales and other links to accelerate the formation of a digital service hub for inventory clothing. Through the integration of inventory clothing into the cloud design and manufacturing synergy services, combined with intelligent technology, to enhance the terminal retail services from various aspects, so that the clothing enterprise inventory clothing through redesign to complete the digital transformation and reconstruction. Taking the core problem of inventory clothing, which exists in all apparel enterprises, as the basic breakthrough point, the use of data-based means to break through the barriers of each link, realizing the new apparel development situation of sharing data and creating a digital ecosystem.

Transforming a Day-Laborer's Quarter into a Service Hub: An Analysis of the Case of Kotobuki in Yokohama, Japan, Using Public Choice and Neo-Hegelian Theories

The inadequate provision of welfare services has long represented a persisting issue in addressing urban poverty, especially in districts where poverty converges. One such district, once a day laborer's quarter, is Kotobuki of Yokohama. However, given that Kotobuki is now recognized as a welfare center, this study analyzes why the abovementioned transformation occurred. Previous research examining this question focused especially on the role of civil society, neglecting that of the city government, despite its crucial role in providing welfare services. Furthermore, few studies have employed robust theories in their analysis. Against this background, this study aims to bridge these gaps, conducting in-depth interviews with city government officials and civil society personnel while using public choice and neo-Hegelian theories. The findings provide useful implications for policymakers in day laborers’ quarters worldwide, as well as insight into future welfare strategies, informing the development of public policies to address urban poverty.

Investigation on seismic performance degradation of hub large‐span roof structures considering corrosion and damage accumulation

AbstractHub transportation facilities are important lifeline projects in cities. Once they are damaged by earthquakes, their functional use will be lost, resulting in significant adverse social impacts. The roof structures of hub transportation facilities are usually made of large‐span steel structures. During service, they bear long‐term vibrations caused by multiple vibration sources such as high‐speed trains and wind loads, resulting in cumulative damage. In addition, the roof structures located in coastal areas may be exposed to a corrosive environment, which can lead to the degradation of structural performance. Currently, the relevant structural design standards do not consider the factor of structural performance variation over time. To address the above problems, this study adopts a time‐dependent constitutive model of steel considering corrosion and damage cumulative to investigate the seismic performance degradation of typical hub transportation facility roof structures. The research results show that the stiffness and seismic performance of 50‐year service hub large‐span roof structure have decreased compared to newly built structures, but the probability of serious damage is lower, indicating that the hub large‐span roof structures have good seismic performance.

AI Hub: Idea to Innovative Service - An AI Service Hub for the Citizens of Bangladesh to Accelerate the Implementation of Smart Bangladesh

AI Hub: Idea to Innovative Service - An AI Service Hub for the Citizens of Bangladesh to Accelerate the Implementation of Smart Bangladesh

Experiences of help-seeking from professional services for a child or young person's mental health concerns during the pandemic: A qualitative study.

The immediate response to the Covid-19 pandemic saw school closures and a shift in provision to online health services for children and young people experiencing mental health concerns. This study provides mental health and referral services with an insight into difficulties experienced as well as recommendations on potential improvements. Semi-structured interviews with 11 parents and six young people. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Parents and young people reported mixed experiences on accessing mental health support. Priorities and pressures on health services impacted the likelihood of choosing to seek and being able to obtain help. Parents and young people had varying expectations and experiences in help-seeking during the pandemic which were also impacted by others' experiences and views. For many, the relationship with the professional they were in contact with impacted their mental health treatment. Provision was sometimes accessed via private services due to long waiting lists or problems that did not "meet threshold". Understanding the experiences of seeking mental healthcare during the pandemic can inform improvements to access to services at a time when people are most vulnerable. Accessible provision other than private services needs to be made for those on waiting lists. For those who do not meet service threshold, intermediary support needs to be secured to prevent unnecessary exacerbation of symptoms and prolonged problems. If schools are to remain the hub for children and young people's mental health services, they should be considered essential services at all times.

Designing a Community-Based Health Promotion Program for Older Adults Based on Perceived Usefulness, Service Experience, Perceived Value, and Behavioral Intention

ABSTRACT Improving nutritional intake contributes to maintaining the health and quality of life of the older population and reducing individual and societal healthcare costs. We collaborated with two community service hubs and a public health center in Taipei’s Daan District to develop a personalized community-based health and nutrition program using service design. The design was validated through a model encompassing perceived usefulness, service experience, perceived value, and behavioral intention, analyzed using PLS-SEM modeling on 76 individuals. The results showed bidirectional influences among these factors. This study provides practical recommendations for formulating public health policies and health promotion programs for older adults.

International Bullion Exchange at GIFT IFSC in India- A Descriptive Study

In the global financial arena, the International Bullion Exchange (IBE) in Gujarat's GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-city City represents a noteworthy advancement. GIFT City, the nation's first operational smart city and hub for international financial services, seeks to establish India as a major player in international finance by fostering an atmosphere that is favorable to global financial services. An essential component that makes it easier to trade precious metals internationally is the IBE. The IBE, which is housed in GIFT City, serves as a marketplace where international buyers and sellers come together to transact in different kinds of precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. The exchange provides a smooth and transparent platform for players to participate in price discovery, hedging, and investing activities by utilizing cutting-edge technology and infrastructure. India has a long history of being one of the world's biggest consumers of gold, with a connection spanning across cultural, religious, and economic domains. By offering a strong platform for domestic and international stakeholders to participate in gold trading activities, the IBE takes advantage of India's fondness for gold. The exchange seeks to improve market efficiency and facilitate liquidity in the global bullion market by providing transparent trading procedures, effective price discovery mechanisms, and access to a wide range of market players. This study examines GIFT City's evolution, operating structure, market dynamics, and possible ramifications for the world bullion market. The research aims to add to the conversation about the globalization of financial markets and the changing face of commodities trade in the twenty-first century by illuminating this crucial shift.

Explainable Model Using Shapley Additive Explanations Approach on Wound Infection after Wide Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection: "Big Data" Analysis Based on Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Hub.

Background and Objectives: Soft tissue sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignant mesenchymal tissues. Despite their low prevalence, soft tissue sarcomas present clinical challenges for orthopedic surgeons owing to their aggressive nature, and perioperative wound infections. However, the low prevalence of soft tissue sarcomas has hindered the availability of large-scale studies. This study aimed to analyze wound infections after wide resection in patients with soft tissue sarcomas by employing big data analytics from the Hub of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent wide excision of soft tissue sarcomas between 2010 and 2021 were included. Data were collected from the HIRA database of approximately 50 million individuals' information in the Republic of Korea. The data collected included demographic information, diagnoses, prescribed medications, and surgical procedures. Random forest has been used to analyze the major associated determinants. A total of 10,906 observations with complete data were divided into training and validation sets in an 80:20 ratio (8773 vs. 2193 cases). Random forest permutation importance was employed to identify the major predictors of infection and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) values were derived to analyze the directions of associations with predictors. Results: A total of 10,969 patients who underwent wide excision of soft tissue sarcomas were included. Among the study population, 886 (8.08%) patients had post-operative infections requiring surgery. The overall transfusion rate for wide excision was 20.67% (2267 patients). Risk factors among the comorbidities of each patient with wound infection were analyzed and dependence plots of individual features were visualized. The transfusion dependence plot reveals a distinctive pattern, with SHAP values displaying a negative trend for individuals without blood transfusions and a positive trend for those who received blood transfusions, emphasizing the substantial impact of blood transfusions on the likelihood of wound infection. Conclusions: Using the machine learning random forest model and the SHAP values, the perioperative transfusion, male sex, old age, and low SES were important features of wound infection in soft-tissue sarcoma patients.

Turkiye as a regional hub

Purpose- This study examines Türkiye's strategic importance and potential to serve as a pivotal regional hub for businesses. The study also investigates the various fields of businesses for being a potential hub. A review of common concerns that needs further developments are analysed. Methodology- The study utilizes an analytical literature survey and investigates the various business fields for becoming a regional hub. Findings- Turkiye is the 7th largest economy by GDP in Europe by IMF among 22 countries for the year 2022. Turkiye is ranked as the 1st in ease of setting and welcoming categories at Expat Explorer Index, and 7th in the world in the year 2019. More, Turkish international airports serve for 342 direct flights for 128 countries with Turkish Airlines and proximity to these markets with a total GDP of 46 trillion USD within 4 hours flight. Conclusion- Turkiye's unique geographical position bridges Europe and Asia providing a natural gateway between the East and the West. Proximity to major markets enhances its appeal as a strategic center for trade and commerce. Ongoing investments in infrastructure, including transportation networks and logistics facilities, are positioning Türkiye as a key hub for the efficient movement of goods and services. Modern ports, airports, and road networks facilitate seamless connectivity within the region. Türkiye's growing economy attracts foreign investments, fostering the development of financial services and encouraging multinational companies to establish regional headquarters Keywords: Regional hub, Istanbul Finance Center, strategic location, logistics hub, service hub. JEL Codes: F10, F18, M20

Optimal Placement of UAVs to Provide Surveillance Coverage for a Ground Vehicle in a Collaborative Search-and-Rescue Operation

A drone-truck combined search-and-rescue operation involves a ground vehicle and a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where the UAVs provide surveillance coverage to guide the ground vehicle to navigate through the environment and carry out the search and rescue, and the ground vehicle functions as a service hub for carrying and recharging the UAVs. An effective strategy for providing persistent UAV surveillance coverage around the ground vehicle consists of initially forming the UAV swarm coverage and then controlling the UAV formation to follow the ground vehicle. This paper focuses on the formation of coverage and presents a method for planning an optimal placement of the UAVs to form seamless surveillance coverage around the ground vehicle. The optimization problem is formulated to determine the number and positions of UAVs that minimize the energy consumption in deploying and collecting those UAVs, subject to a set of constraints in UAV positioning, communication, and coverage, specifically the available number of UAVs, allowable range of UAV altitude, allowable energy consumption for deploying and collecting each UAV, communication ranges of UAVs and ground vehicle, safety distance between UAVs for collision and interference avoidance, and seamless coverage. A bi-layer optimization procedure is developed, with an outer layer searching through the allowable numbers of UAVs and an inner layer searching for the optimal positions for each specific number of UAVs. The optimal number and positions of UAVs are chosen by comparing among the solutions for different numbers of UAVs. A simulation study is carried out to validate the proposed optimization formulation and solution approach, where the simulation settings of UAVs, particularly the critical parameters including the UAV energy constants, visibility angle, altitude, and communication range, use the representative values presented in the cited literature. The simulation results show that the proposed approach is effective in planning the optimal number and positions of UAVs to provide seamless surveillance coverage for a ground vehicle. The next step of research will set priorities on comprehending the complexity of the solution space and enhancing the global optimality of the solution.

Sharing South Dakota's cultural heritage: harvesting digital collections into the Digital Public Library of America and beyond

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) enables the discovery of digitized content held by U.S. cultural heritage institutions by aggregating metadata contributed from participating organizations. The DPLA differs from other resource sharing networks by providing not only the locality of an item from a catalogue such as WorldCat but offers easy access to the digitized item itself. Particularly for smaller libraries, archives, and museums, including content in the DPLA makes that content much easier for users to discover, access, and contextualize than it would be otherwise. The DPLA uses what they call the Hub Model made up of Service Hubs and Content Hubs to aggregate metadata from their partners and contribute it to DPLA. This allows state and regional collaborations to onboard small institutions, adding online texts, photographs, manuscript material, artwork and more.

PERANAN MUSLIMAT DALAM MENJADIKAN MASJID SEBAGAI PUSAT KHIDMAT SOSIAL

The mosque has been a spiritual and social centre for the Muslim community since the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Although mosques are generally managed by men, this does not negate the contributions of Muslim women (Muslimat) in enriching the mosque environment. This study aims to analyze the role of Muslim women in making the mosque a hub for social services. The study adopts a qualitative approach with a case study design. Three mosques and three small prayer halls (surau) from nearby locations were selected as the study samples. Study participants consist of active Muslim women committee members appointed. The study employs a focused group discussion protocol as the interview instrument. Data is transcribed and analyzed using the thematic analysis method with the Atlas.ti software. The study findings indicate that women also play a role in mosque enlivening (imarah), particularly in the realm of social services. The social services carried out aim to assist community members facing social, economic, health, and other issues, while also maintaining the well-being of women in the community. Activities undertaken include charitable sales, foster care programs, financial aid for chronic patients, recreational activities, charitable visits, grant (hibah) management, and collaborations with non-governmental organizations. The contributions of Muslim women through these social service activities benefit the overall community, strengthen social ties, and foster a harmonious environment within the mosque community. This illustrates that Muslim women also possess the potential to empower themselves and Muslim women in general through involvement in programs beyond the mosque environment. Therefore, both the community members and mosque administration should provide support and acknowledge the contributions of Muslimat in mosque enlivening, particularly concerning matters related to Muslim women.

한국의 對폴란드 교역 특성과 통상전략 분석

Purpose: This study derives Korea's trade strategy toward Poland and selects promising items exported to the Polish market after analyzing the macroeconomic trend and major industries in Poland and trade-investment relations between Korea and Poland.
 Research design, data, and methodology: This paper makes use of KITA statistics on trade and investment relations between Korea and Poland as well as a SWOT analysis of the Polish market.
 Results: Promising export items for the Polish market are electric battery anode material, defense industry products and weapons, semiconductors, synthetic resins, batteries and storage batteries, plastic products, measurement control analyzers, other machinery, transport and unloading machinery, and textile and chemical machinery.
 Conclusions: Poland should be established as a production/sales/producer service hub linking Western Europe to Eastern Europe, Russia, and the CIS region over the long term, taking advantage of opportunity factors such as geographic location and an excellent manufacturing base, high-quality inexpensive labor, and the government's active FDI promotion policy. In particular, the Polish government has recently been increasing the purchase of self-propelled artillery, tanks, and fighter jets, so Korea should quickly revise the Export-Import Bank of Korea Act to expand financial support in order to facilitate contracts with Poland for weapons.

Offer It and They Will Come? An Investigation of the Factors Associated With the Uptake of School-Sponsored Resources

In response to economic distress, schools are increasingly serving as providers and distributors of social service resources. However, even when schools offer resources that respond to needs, they struggle to attain high levels of uptake. We examine the family-level correlates of participation in school-sponsored resources during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and find that uptake increases with economic need. In addition, net of need, families who report maintaining communication with parents of their children’s classmates take up more resources; and take-up of key meal and digital technology resources is associated with higher levels of take-up of other resources. These findings contribute to efforts to reposition schools as social service hubs by highlighting promising practices to improve resource uptake.

163 Examining the appropriateness of tilt-testing within a community integrated care hub for older persons services

Abstract Background Tilt-testing has been widely used in acute hospitals for more than 20 years in Ireland. Its use in community settings has been promoted in recent years with the development of the National Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (NICPOP). In our integrated care hub our focus lies in the assessment of falls and frailty. We propose to examine if the current rational for performing tilt-testing has showed a diagnostic yield. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all tilt reports in the ambulatory care hub from November 2021 to May 2023. We examined the rationale for ordering the test, the number of patients who received a diagnosis of Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) and treatment that was commenced. Results 59 tilt reports were examined between the 18 month period. The average age of the patients were 83 (range 68–93). The male to female ratio was 1:1.3. All patients had an indicator for testing. The 5 indicators that emerged were falls, syncope, orthostatic intolerance, lying and standing blood pressure drop and dizziness. 11/59 (19%) patients had one indicator, 18/59 (31%) patients had two indicators, 15/59 (25%) patients had three indicators and 15/59 (25%) patients had four indicators for performing a tilt. OH was diagnosed in 36/59 (61%) patients of whom 9/36 (25%) had symptomatic OH during both HUT and AS, 8/36 (22%) had symptoms during HUT alone, 6/36 (17%) had symptoms during AS and 9/36 (25%) were asymptomatic throughout testing. 4/36 (11%) had no documentation regarding their symptoms during tilting. De-prescribing was performed in 16/36 (44%) patients and Midodrine was commenced in 18/36 (50%) patients with fludrocortisone being started on 2/36 (6%) patients. Conclusion We demonstrated a high yield from the tilt-test investigations and in combination with Ambulatory BP monitoring had a significant number of medications de-prescribed. The greater preponderance of more than one indicator for tilt-testing was greater than what we perceived.