Low-cost Services Research Articles

The 2016 United States Election and Financial Support to Migrant-Serving Legal-Aid Organizations

The 2016 US election of Donald Trump ushered in a wave of anti-immigrant rhetoric and federal policies that have been shown to harm immigrant families. This study examines how the election affected immigrant-serving community-based organizations (CBOs), which provide vital support to these communities and may mitigate harm. Focusing on migrant-legal CBOs — a key subset that offers pro-bono or low-cost legal services — and incorporating theories from organizations, social movements, and political opportunity, we assess whether these organizations were able to leverage the election as a focusing event to attract funding and whether they sustained this support over time. Using Internal Revenue Service records, we identify migrant-legal aid CBOs with a track record of delivering legal services to immigrant communities. Using synthetic control methods, we find that financial resources to migrant-legal CBOs increased from 4 to 11 percentage points during the 2016 election, and were 8 to 17 percentage points higher through 2019, the last year of available data. Our study shows that amid the shifting anti-immigrant policy climate of the Trump election, migrant-legal CBOs mobilized as a counterforce, using the socio-political landscape and public response as an opportunity to secure and sustain financial support, potentially acting as a safeguard against the escalating anti-immigrant climate.

Korean American Immigrant Women’s Mammography Use in Korea: Factors Associated with Medical Tourism

This study examined social determinants associated with Korean American immigrant women’s mammography use in Korea after immigration to the United States. Data from a cross-sectional survey were obtained from 187 women in Los Angeles County, California. More than one-quarter (28.3%) of the respondents reported returning to Korea for a mammogram after immigrating to the United States. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared to those who had their first mammogram in Korea, Korean American immigrant women who had their first mammogram in the United States were less likely to return to Korea for subsequent screenings (AOR = 0.02, 95% CI: <0.001, 0.05); also, those who had employer-based health insurance in the United States were less likely to get a mammogram in Korea after immigration (AOR = 0.01, 95% CI: <0.01, 0.18). Findings suggest that women familiar with the Korean healthcare system and who are uninsured or have inconsistent healthcare coverage in the United States may seek care in Korea. To promote adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines among Korean American immigrant women residing in the United States, greater access to free or low-cost screening services and breast cancer screening education is warranted to reduce the risk of later stage breast cancer detection resulting from medical tourism.

Preferences for the delivery of early abortion services in Australia: a discrete choice experiment.

Background Abortion is a common procedure in Australia; it is estimated that the rate is between 15 and 17 per 1000 women. Surgical and medical abortion options are available; however, the use of medical abortion is not as common as in other similar countries. The aim of this study is to understand preferences for the provision of early abortion services in Australia. Methods We conducted a survey of 821 members of an online panel representative of the Australian adult general population. The survey consisted of a discrete choice experiment including 16 choice tasks and a number of follow-up questions. A mixed logit model was used to analyse the responses to the discrete choice experiment. Results Respondents preferred services that provided surgical abortion compared with early medical abortion (EMA). They preferred consultations with a specialist gynaecologist compared with a general practitioner (GP); consultations with a GP were preferred to those with a nurse practitioner. Face-to-face consultations were preferred to telehealth. For EMA, respondents preferred to collect medication from the doctor's surgery rather than from a pharmacy or to receive it by post. Overall, respondents preferred lower-cost services. There were no differences in preferences between respondents with or without experience of abortion or between genders. Conclusions Respondents prefer abortion services with low out-of-pocket costs. Their reluctance to use a nurse-led service may reflect the general public's lack of understanding of and familiarity with the training and expertise of nurse practitioners. Similarly, the safety and benefits of EMA relative to surgery, including EMA delivered by telehealth, need to be emphasised.

Evaluating an Applied Behavior Analysis Telehealth Training Package for Caregivers of Children With Autism in the Czech and Slovak Regions

In places where in-person applied behavior analysis (ABA) services are not available to those in need, distance approaches may be needed. However, in the Czech Republic and surrounding countries, ABA and telehealth practices are just emerging. Therefore, minimal systems are guiding ABA-based telehealth for children with autism and their caregivers. To develop a model of low-cost, high-efficacy, family-centered, and fidelity-driven ABA telehealth services in Central Europe, this study piloted a systematic remote training package to teach caregivers to build foundational skills with their children with autism. Using a multiple baseline across behaviors design, practitioners followed scripts to collaboratively select targets and use behavioral skills training procedures with caregivers. Based on caregiver needs, their skill acquisition was evaluated in the skill sets of pairing, responding to challenging behaviors, and/or language building. Results demonstrated that the program was socially valid, contributed to skill gains, and increased quality of life.

Value for whom? Rethinking cost-effectiveness from young people’s perspective

Background: This article re-envisions the concept of value in relation to safeguarding and welfare services to young people who are experiencing adversity, risk and disadvantage. Current use of the terms ‘cost-effectiveness’ and ‘value for money’ within the policy and practice sectors is dominated by the concept of financial costs, most particularly with respect to the goals of producing organisational efficiencies and providing lower cost services. Analysis is often driven by outcomes that are easy to measure and can be monetised. Findings: The moral and societal costs associated with not providing the best possible support and services to some of the most vulnerable people in society are largely missing from these debates, as are young people’s views on what counts as value from their perspective. Drawing on learning from our recent and current research in the UK focused on young people at risk of extra-familial risks and harms, we use a case study to consider alternative approaches that would place young people’s views and concerns at the centre of analysis. We explore the integration of ‘softer outcomes’ (such as subjective well-being, educational engagement and qualitative inquiry into what matters to young people) into debates about ‘value for money’. Conclusion: We highlight the importance of exploring the lives of young people holistically and taking a life course perspective to understand and engage with the longer-term societal, moral and financial costs associated with providing the right services and support, at the right time, to the children and young people who need them most.

Optimisation of services to prevent dental caries for school-aged children in China: a discrete choice experiment.

The objective of this study is to analyse the preferences of guardians of school-aged children for children's caries prevention services (CPS) and their willingness to pay (WTP) for different levels of attributes. Four key attributes were identified through a literature review and expert consultations: preventive service time, preventive effectiveness, distance (driving time to service institution) and service cost (out-of-pocket for CPS). A D-efficient design was used to create a discrete choice experiment questionnaire, and data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Data collection was conducted between July 2021 and January 2022 in Anhui, China. Guardians (785) of children aged 3-12 years participated. A mixed-logit model was used to estimate preferences and WTP for different attribute levels, and the preference heterogeneity was assessed using a latent class logit model. Preventive effectiveness was the most important attribute, followed by service cost, preventive service time and distance. Guardians preferred CPS with over 90% preventive effectiveness, a distance of 10-25 min, services offered during vacations and lower service cost. Guardians were willing to pay 409 Chinese yuan (CNY) for higher effectiveness, 84 CNY for shorter distances and 87 CNY for services offered during vacation. Guardians with a college education or higher and females prioritise preventive effectiveness, while guardians who had children with a caries history and who had children with better oral health status preferred CPS during vacation. All four attributes influenced guardians' preferences for CPS, with preventive effectiveness being the most important. Guardians were willing to pay extra money for better CPS, and preferences varied according to individual characteristics. These findings provide a reference for policy-makers to provide personalised, demand-based CPS.

Barriers and Facilitators to Patient Utilization of Non-Communicable Disease Services in Primary Healthcare Facilities in Nepal: A Qualitative Study.

The Nepalese government endorsed and implemented the Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (PEN) by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent and manage four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases. This study explored barriers and facilitators to patient utilization of NCD services at primary healthcare facilities in Nepal. We conducted a qualitative study with a 35 purposive sample of patients living with one or more NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD/ asthma) who sought healthcare at primary healthcare facilities in 14 randomly selected districts in seven provinces in Nepal that implemented PEN. Trained qualitative researchers conducted in-depth interviews in-person in a private setting using a semi-structured interview guide developed based on the Health Belief Model in the local language. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded inductively and deductively, and analyzed by a framework approach using Dedoose software. From the perspectives of patients, key facilitators of service utilization encompassed free medicines, low-cost services, geographical and financial accessibility, less waiting time, positive interactions with health service providers, experiencing improvements in their health conditions, and support from family and peers. Barriers to utilizing services included inadequate health services (e.g., lack of medications and equipment), inaccessibility and affordability, inadequate health-related information from health service providers, low knowledge of NCD care, and lack of reminders or follow ups. Enhancing NCD service utilization is potentially attainable through interventions that address patients' knowledge, self-motivation, and misconceptions. Furthermore, strengthening the availability and accessibility of crucial services such as laboratory investigations, medications, equipment, and the patient-provider relationship is crucial for sustainable implementation of PEN.

The role of Ukrainian healthcare in the global market of medical services: growth factors in the context of globalization

Background. Post-war recovery in Ukraine necessitates rapid economic and social development, including in the healthcare sector. The quality of life and active participation in society are highly dependent on robust health, especially for citizens affected by physical and psychological trauma due to the russian aggression. Purpose – to explore the potential for exporting medical services from Ukraine and attracting international patients. Materials and Methods. Review of the literature on the development of global medical services and healthcare markets; analysis of statistical data on the state and capabilities of Ukraine’s healthcare sector; study of best practices from other countries in the field of medical tourism; assessment of economic indicators and their correlation with the growth of international medical services. Results. The study reveals that Ukraine has significant potential to develop its international medical services sector. This potential is driven by the high qualifications of Ukrainian doctors, the relatively low cost of medical services, and the availability of advanced medical technologies in some hospitals. Promoting international medical services can attract foreign investment, enhance the quality of healthcare, and generate substantial economic benefits. The influx of international patients would generate export revenues, contributing to the state budget and balancing the national payment system. However, challenges such as infrastructure improvements, international accreditation, and effective marketing need to be addressed to fully realize this potential. Conclusions. Developing international medical services in Ukraine can significantly enhance the national economy and healthcare system. Strategic focus on this sector can yield benefits like improved healthcare quality, increased foreign investment, and significant economic returns. Addressing challenges and leveraging the country’s strengths in healthcare are essential for success.

The Influence of Digital Trading Applications on Financial Markets

The word "fintech" refers to a new technology that aims to make financial services better and more automated. Investment management, retail banking, artificial intelligence, block chains, mobile payments, stock trading, and other industries are increasingly included in the fintech sector. With today's high-tech electronic trading on the stock exchange, ordinary investors can purchase or sell shares in a matter of seconds, giving investors the opportunity to efficiently perform their research before investing in equities. This paper, thus, talks about the emergence of fintech, which has led to the development of various mobile trading applications like Zerodha, Grow, Upstox, Angel Broking, etc. These apps have become popular among young investors in recent years because of their low-cost broking services. In this study, both primary and secondary data have been used. Primary survey-based research has been used to know the experiences of people belonging to different age groups on trading apps, and secondary data for statistical figures and other factual points has been used from verified stock exchange data and websites of trading apps. This paper will also shed light on the various seamless services offered by such broking applications, which have drastically changed the way the market functions. Investors could easily browse through the available investments, order what they wanted, and manage their portfolio with a single tap from their phone, making adjustments right away. The paper will go on to explain how stock trading applications have affected the financial markets by encouraging an increasing number of people to participate in the process of constructing economies by trading in financial assets. The report can assist policymakers in determining the advantages and hazards of using these new technologies, as well as the repercussions of their use. It offers legislative recommendations that are meant to encourage the use of AI in finance while making sure that its application is consistent with fostering market integrity, financial stability, and competition while safeguarding financial consumers. To support and encourage the use of responsible AI, emerging dangers from the deployment of AI techniques need to be detected and mitigated.

Blockchain Factors in the Design of Smart-Media for E-Healthcare Management.

According to the current situation of deep aging globally, how to provide low-cost and high-quality medical services has become a problem that the whole society needs to consider. To address these challenges, we propose an e-healthcare management system leveraging the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technologies. Our system aims to provide comprehensive, reliable, and secure one-stop services for patients. Specifically, we introduce a blockchain-based searchable encryption scheme for decentralized storage and real-time updates of electronic health records (EHRs). This approach ensures secure and efficient data traceability across medical equipment, drug supply chains, patient health monitoring, and medical big data management. By improving information processing capabilities, our system aspires to advance the digital transformation of e-healthcare services.

Differences in Utilization of Preventive Services for Primary Care Clinicians Participating in MIPS and ACOs.

Value-based payment programs link payments to the performance of providers on cost and quality of care to incentivize high-value care. To improve quality and lower costs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Quality Payment Program (QPP) for clinicians in 2017. Under the Medicare QPP, most eligible clinicians participate in one of the payment models: (a) Advanced Alternative Payment Models (A-APMs) through eligible APMs like Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) or (b) the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). ACO and MIPS clinicians participating in QPP differ in quality reporting requirements, and these differences are likely to affect the utilization of different quality measures, including preventive services. This study evaluated the differences in the utilization of preventive services by primary care clinicians participating in MIPS and ACOs. We use difference-in-difference regressions to compare preventive services in MIPS versus ACOs. Since preventive services like immunization and certain cancer screening are mandatory reporting measures for ACOs and voluntary measures for MIPS, the treatment group for this study is ACO clinicians and the comparison group is non-ACO MIPS clinicians. We obtained the rates of influenza immunization, pneumonia vaccination, tobacco use cessation intervention, depression screening, colorectal cancer screening, breast cancer screening, and wellness visits per 10000 Medicare beneficiaries from Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Public Use File (2012-2018). We had 508144 total observations (ACO=25.78% and MIPS=74.22%) from 72592 unique primary care clinicians. Compared to MIPS clinicians, ACO clinicians had significantly higher rates of pneumonia vaccination (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.43) but lower rates of colorectal cancer screening (IRR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.96). Similarly, clinicians in ACO shared savings-only models had significantly higher rates of pneumonia vaccination (IRR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.11-1.48), depression screening (IRR 1.72; 95% CI, 1.09-2.71), and wellness visits (IRR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.09-1.47) compared to MIPS clinicians. There were no differences between ACO and MIPS clinicians on the utilization of breast cancer screening procedures and tobacco use cessation interventions. ACO clinicians may have prioritized relatively low-cost services such as pneumonia vaccination, depression screening, and wellness visits to improve their performance under QPP. Policymakers may need to alter incentives in performance-based payment programs to ensure that clinicians are improving all types of quality measures, including cancer screening.

COMPETITIVE MODEL PROPOSAL FOR THE AZERBAIJAN WINE INDUSTRY: TALENT-BASED ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL

The main aim of this study is to develop a talent-based model proposition in line with the resource-based approach by assessing the strategic position of Azerbaijan's wine industry, which is globally recognized as an important wine producing country. It is noted that in the context of very important changes and events taking place in the world today, the phenomenon of competition expresses competition in all spheres of life and day by day increases its intensity and challenges modern business. The article widely uses methods of comparative analysis of the experience of foreign countries, analysis of statistical dynamics, and in-depth analyzes of economic growth in a competitive environment. The author notes that in order for businesses to compete and, moreover, achieve sustainable competitive advantage, they need to understand that the basis of competition has changed, and accordingly everyone must reconsider their approaches and define a new road map for themselves as strategic support with new methods in management. This new understanding of strategy allows companies to be unique, inimitable and responsive to define their strategy and prepare action plans to meet changing customer needs, create customer value and provide quality and low-cost products and services. The author emphasizes that businesses now realize that it is impossible to compete and survive using old methods. It is noted that the resource-based view is used as a new approach, which involves the harmonization of resources and business capabilities with their external environment to produce unique products and services. Azerbaijani wine industry businesses that can redefine their boundaries and develop external relationships using a talent-based model can expand their reach and influence to new groups of employees and entrepreneurs. In this way, Azerbaijani wine industry enterprises can create great new opportunities and offer these groups opportunities to participate in the global economy. This perspective, which sheds light on the dominant organizational logic of powerful players who influence or share the behavior of others, includes foreign competitors, suppliers and employees in the global economy. In this regard, it is very important for the Azerbaijani wine industry to have a good understanding of the interaction between global and local dynamics.

Analysis of registered clinical trials in Italy regarding dermatology (2003-2022): a cross-sectional study on historical trend and prospects for industry investments.

This cross-sectional analysis intends to evaluate trend and outlook of industry clinical research in Italy regarding dermatology and its prospects for the next few years. A computerized search of ClinicalTrial.gov database was carried out considering the 20-year period 2003-2022 using the following string: "Skin Diseases OR Skin cancer OR Skin Neoplasms OR Skin Infection OR Skin Lesion OR Skin Ulcer OR Skin Laxity OR Skin toxicity OR Dermatologic Complication OR Skin abnormalities". During the last 20 years 690 Industry Clinical Trials (IndCTs) were conducted in Italy regarding dermatological investigations, almost entirely funded by non-Italian pharmaceutical companies, involving 4497 centers, and recruiting an average of 13.0 subjects per site. The number of controlled and randomized studies has grown quite regularly and in the last 5 years they represented 79.6% of IndCTs initiated. Countries most frequently sharing with Italy international protocols were Spain (75.0%), Germany (71.8%), France (68.5%), the USA (67.4%), and the UK (54.8%). These data point to a historical involvement of Italy in dermatology IndCTs lower than in the major European countries. However, the war in Ukraine has deprived IndCTs of the contribution of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, meaning a mean of about 40 new IndCTs per year in a population of 200 million inhabitants. In contrast, many indicators point to Italy as a country with potential in dermatology wider than used in the past: an efficient health care system accessible to any citizen or resident, 4.6 million dermatological interventions per year, low density of IndCTs concerning dermatology, good production of scientific papers in indexed medical journals, relatively low cost of services and labour and geopolitical stability. The European Clinical Trials Information System's (CTIS), mandatory for the EU member states since early 2023 allows common, simplified, and harmonized regulatory procedures over the life cycle of clinical trials in Europe (EMA, 2023) and plays in favor of Italy's greater competitiveness in clinical research.

Otolaryngology Diagnoses at a Student-Run Community Clinic.

Purpose Compared to insured individuals who have established pathways for primary and specialist care, uninsured patients often delay seeking medical attention and are more likely to rely on emergency departments or community clinics for low-cost services. This study aims to identify the most prevalent otolaryngology (ENT) diagnoses at a free, student-run community clinic for uninsured patients. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate their management needs in order to inform strategies for enhancing support and care for this vulnerable population. Methods The electronic medical records for a free, student-run community clinic (St. Vincent's Hope Student Clinic in Galveston, Texas) were reviewed. Patient age, sex, chief complaint, date of medical encounter, and encounter diagnoses from April 2021 to May 2024 were recorded; medical diagnoses were then manually stratified into system categories and diagnostic subgroups. Diagnoses unrelated to ENT were excluded and likely represented secondary encounter diagnoses. Results A total of 38 patients were evaluated across 51 total ENT encounters. The average number of encounters per patient per year was 1.34 (1.05-1.63, 95% CI). The most common ENT category was throat (37%), and the most common individual diagnosis was balance problems (11% of total diagnoses). Conclusion The most common ENT system was the throat, followed by ear, nose, and other. Balance problems, reflux, and allergic rhinitis were the most common individual ENT diagnoses. The analysis of data collected for this study may help direct future care and resource allocation at this clinic.

Knowledge, attitudes, and barriers: Palliative Care services for women with HIV in resource-limited settings

BackgroundWomen living with HIV (WLWH) in low- middle-income countries (LMICs) face increased mortality risks from comorbidities despite progress in antiretroviral therapy. Palliative care (PC) is vital for these patients, yet its integration in LMICs, such as Nigeria, is suboptimal due to unique challenges.ObjectiveThis study investigated the knowledge, perceived barriers, and facilitators influencing PC integration into routine HIV care within healthcare (HC) settings.MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was conducted among WLWH in twelve HC facilities throughout Nigeria. Data collection involved surveys focused on PC knowledge, attitudes, facilitators, and barriers. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the data.ResultsThis study revealed significant gaps in knowledge and attitudes towards PC among HIV + women at NISA-MIRCs. Over 90% were unaware of PC services, but many saw its potential to offer hope (55%) and improve quality of life (56.5%). The key predictors of PC knowledge included education, occupation, religion, having fewer children, urban residence, type of residence, and having a high income (p < .05). Despite the willingness to access PC, barriers such as negative HC worker attitudes, perceived high cost, and limited decision autonomy could hinder integration. Facilitators included low-cost services, positive HCW attitudes, physician recommendations, and perceived necessity for personal well-being.ConclusionKnowledge gaps, diverse attitudes, and significant barriers highlight the need for targeted PC interventions for WLWH. Tailoring educational programs, addressing cost barriers, and improving healthcare infrastructure are crucial to enhancing PC accessibility and quality. These findings can guide policymakers and HC practitioners toward more effective and inclusive care strategies.

A rapid and low-cost method to fabricate well of the well (WOW) dishes with arbitrary 3D microwell shapes for improved embryo culture

Despite its high cost, the success rate for in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains < 33% in humans, driving the need for new techniques to improve embryo culture outcomes. The well-of-the-well (WOW) culture system is a platform for in-vitro mammalian embryo culture that has been shown to enhance the developmental competence of embryos and clinical pregnancy rates in humans. However, discovery and testing of the best design for optimal embryo culture quality is hindered by the lack of a method to flexibly produce WOW dishes of various designs. Here, we present a low-cost and simple method to fabricate WOW dishes with microwells of arbitrary shapes and dimensions. We use a low-cost 3D printing service to fabricate a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based WOW insert that can be paired with a standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) dish to create WOW dishes with new microwell shapes, including pyramidal and hemispherical designs. We validate the fabrication quality of the WOW inserts and demonstrate the utility of the assembled WOW dishes for observation and grading of mouse embryo quality. Moreover, our results indicate that WOW dishes with hemispherical microwells result in better culture outcomes than traditional flat-bottomed IVF dishes and those with other microwell shapes, including the semi-elliptical microwells used in commercial WOW dishes. The proposed fabrication strategy thus provides a way to rapidly fabricate and test new WOW dishes that may bolster IVF success rates.

Green Wearable Sensors and Antennas for Bio-Medicine, Green Internet of Things, Energy Harvesting, and Communication Systems.

This paper presents innovations in green electronic and computing technologies. The importance and the status of the main subjects in green electronic and computing technologies are presented in this paper. In the last semicentennial, the planet suffered from rapid changes in climate. The planet is suffering from increasingly wild storms, hurricanes, typhoons, hard droughts, increases in seawater height, floods, seawater acidification, decreases in groundwater reserves, and increases in global temperatures. These climate changes may be irreversible if companies, organizations, governments, and individuals do not act daily and rapidly to save the planet. Unfortunately, the continuous growth in the number of computing devices, cellular devices, smartphones, and other smart devices over the last fifty years has resulted in a rapid increase in climate change. It is severely crucial to design energy-efficient "green" technologies and devices. Toxic waste from computing and cellular devices is rapidly filling up landfills and increasing air and water pollution. This electronic waste contains hazardous and toxic materials that pollute the environment and affect our health. Green computing and electronic engineering are employed to address this climate disaster. The development of green materials, green energy, waste, and recycling are the major objectives in innovation and research in green computing and electronics technologies. Energy-harvesting technologies can be used to produce and store green energy. Wearable active sensors and metamaterial antennas with circular split ring resonators (CSSRs) containing energy-harvesting units are presented in this paper. The measured bandwidth of the matched sensor is around 65% for VSWR, which is better than 3:1. The sensor gain is 14.1 dB at 2.62 GHz. A wideband 0.4 GHz to 6.4 GHz slot antenna with an RF energy-harvesting unit is presented in this paper. The Skyworks Schottky diode, SMS-7630, was used as the rectifier diode in the harvesting unit. If we transmit 20 dBm of RF power from a transmitting antenna that is located 0.2 m from the harvesting slot antenna at 2.4 GHz, the output voltage at the output port of the harvesting unit will be around 1 V. The power conversion efficiency of the metamaterial antenna dipole with metallic strips is around 75%. Wearable sensors with energy-harvesting units provide efficient, low-cost healthcare services that contribute to a green environment and minimize energy consumption. The measurement process and setups of wearable sensors are presented in this paper.

Humanoid robot eyeballs driven by bubble artificial muscles

Currently, service robots play an increasingly significant role in human-computer interaction, and have their intelligent, humanized, emotional, and expressive capabilities have constantly improved. Eye movement is essential for humanoid service robot facial expression, which may significantly improve human-computer connection. This project aims to create bionic robot eyes powered by novel bubble artificial muscles (BAMs), resulting in low-cost and straightforward robot eyes with horizontal, vertical, and mixed ocular movement capabilities. By adjusting the air pressure input to the BAMs, an antagonistic mechanism composed of a BAM and a tension spring is meant to move an eyeball horizontally or vertically. The results of an experiment reveal that humanoid robot eyeballs can imitate human eye movement. This research will contribute to the development of a low-weight, low-cost humanoid service robot eyeball drive system that can realise the expression of robot facial expression by controlling the movement of robot eyeball, thereby enabling humanoid servers to effectively express their feelings and emotions in accordance with human needs and enhancing user interaction.

Citizen attitudes towards e-government services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case in Türkiye

E-government services are essential to societies because they save time, reduce corruption, provide efficient, low-cost, and fast service, increase transparency, and enhance trust in the government. These applications save time, which translates to cost savings by reducing bureaucratic crowds and fatigue and eliminating the need for citizens to travel for offline transactions. This study investigates various factors related to citizens' use of e-government services according to gender differences during and before COVID-19. The microdata set from the Survey on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage in Households conducted by TURKSTAT in 2018 and 2021 was used. Additionally, the binary logistic regression method was employed to analyze these factors. According to the research results, it has been determined that variables such as age, education level, occupation, e-commerce use, internet financial transaction status, number of people in the household, and region are associated with women's use of e-government services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that the significance and impact of these variables on the use of e-government services differ based on the gender of individuals and the periods. The study provides recommendations for IT professionals, staff of the interior ministries, and researchers interested in increasing the use of e-government services. This research may also pioneer efforts to identify priority areas for expanding e-government services.

Willingness to vaccinate and willingness to pay for vaccination against peste des petits ruminants in northern Senegal.

This study was carried out in Linguere department, Louga region of Senegal. Its objective was to explore the socio-economic factors that influence small ruminant producers' decisions on vaccination against peste des petits ruminants. We carried out a willingness to vaccinate and willingness to pay for vaccination using a choice experiment approach with 200 small ruminant producers. Results showed that the key factors that influence willingness to vaccinate, include perceived benefits of vaccination (98, 95%CI: 96-100%), the type of vaccinator (91, 95%CI: 87-95%), the access to information (86, 95%CI: 81-91%), the vaccine availability (80, 95%CI: 74-86%), and the possession of a vaccination certificate by the producer (76, 95%CI: 70-82%). Preferences of producers leaned toward home vaccination (preference weight = 0.74, p = 1%), individual herd vaccination (preference weight = 0.45, p = 1%), elective participation to vaccination (preference weight = 0.33, p = 0.01), and low-cost services (preference weight = -0.004, p = 0.1). Producers expressed a willingness to pay for vaccination per animal of XOF 184 (USD 0.3), XOF 113 (USD 0.18), and XOF 82 (USD 0.13) for home, individual herd, and elective vaccination, respectively. The findings underscore the importance of targeted awareness campaigns and bringing vaccination services closer to the producers.