Search Results (184)

Japan’s 8.5 million vacant homes (Akiyas) represent a paradox of scarcity amid surplus: while rural depopulation leaves properties abandoned, housing shortages and bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder their reuse. This study proposes AKI2ALL, an AI-blockchain framework designed to automate the circular repurposing of Akiyas into ten high-value community assets—guesthouses, co-working spaces, pop-up retail and logistics hubs, urban farming hubs, disaster relief housing, parking lots, elderly daycare centers, exhibition spaces, places for food and beverages, and company offices—through smart contracts and data-driven workflows. By integrating circular economy principles with decentralized technology, AKI2ALL streamlines property transitions, tax validation, and administrative processes, reducing operational costs while preserving embodied carbon in existing structures. Municipalities list properties, owners select uses, and AI optimizes assignments based on real-time demand. This work bridges gaps in digital construction governance, proving that automating trust and accountability can transform systemic inefficiencies into opportunities for community-led, low-carbon regeneration, highlighting its potential as a scalable model for global vacant property reuse. Full article

Background: Mobility limitation is a pivotal but under-documented dimension of disability in Saudi Arabia. Leveraging the 2017 National Disability Survey, this cross-sectional study provides a population-wide profile of mobility-related physical difficulty. Objectives: Five research aims were pursued: (1) estimate national prevalence and severity by sex; (2) map regional differentials; (3) examine educational and marital correlates; (4) characterize cause, duration, and familial context among those with multiple limitations; and (5) describe patterns of assistive-aid and social-service use. Methods: Publicly available aggregate data covering 20,408,362 Saudi citizens were cleaned and analyzed across 14 mobility indicators and three baseline files. Prevalence ratios and χ² tests assessed associations. Results: Overall, 1,445,723 Saudis (7.1%) reported at least one functional difficulty; 833,136 (4.1%) had mobility difficulty, of whom 305,867 (36.7%) had mobility-only impairment. Severity was chiefly mild (35% of cases), with moderate (16%) and severe (7%) forms forming a descending pyramid. Prevalence varied more than threefold across the thirteen regions, peaking in Aseer (9.4%) and bottoming in Najran (2.9%). Mobility difficulty clustered among adults with no schooling (36.1%) and widowed status (18.5%), with sharper female disadvantage in both domains (p < 0.001). Among those with additional limitations, chronic disease dominated etiology (56.3%), and 90.1% had lived with disability for ≥25 years; women were overrepresented in the longest-duration band. Aid utilization was led by crutches (47.7%), personal assistance (25.3%), and wheelchairs (22.6%), while 83.8% accessed Ministry rehabilitation services, yet fewer than 4% used home or daycare support. Conclusions: These findings highlight sizeable, regionally concentrated, and gender-patterned mobility burdens, underscoring the need for education-sensitive prevention, chronic-care management, investment in advanced assistive technology, and distributed community services to achieve Vision 2030 inclusion goals. Full article

This study aimed to compare cognitive, language, and motor development outcomes among children attending public and private Early Childcare Centers (ECCs), considering birth factors and family and daycare environments. Additionally, it examined the proximal and distal factors influencing children’s development. Cognitive, language, and motor skills were assessed in the children, along with evaluations of ECC quality, teacher practices, and knowledge of child development. Results indicated that children enrolled in public ECCs achieved higher scores in cognitive and language development, despite coming from families with lower socioeconomic status and having lower birth weights. They also benefited from longer periods of breastfeeding. Teachers in public ECCs demonstrated greater daily practices, providing enhanced movement opportunities for children. Private ECCs offered more suitable outdoor spaces, whereas public ECCs had better indoor spaces. Regression analysis revealed that daily practice, teachers’ experience, and the availability of gross motor toys explained 41% of the variance in motor development. The duration of breastfeeding explained 24% of the variance in cognitive development. Teachers’ knowledge about children’s development and attendance at public ECCs explained 31% of the variance in language development. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing teacher education in both public and private ECCs to optimize children’s overall development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oral health (OH) in early childhood is a key determinant of long-term well-being, shaped by parenting-related dietary and hygiene habits. While these influences are well-documented, they remain underexplored among Brazilian immigrant families in the United States (U.S.). Therefore, this study was designed to examine how Brazilian immigrant parents’ perceptions and practices regarding diet and oral hygiene affect their preschool-aged children’s OH. Methods: This qualitative study consisted of in-depth interviews with Brazilian immigrant parents of preschool-aged children (ages 2–5) living in the U.S. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed in Brazilian Portuguese. Two native Brazilian researchers experienced in qualitative methods conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts in Brazilian Portuguese using MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software. The analysis focused on identifying key perceptions, parenting practices, and barriers related to children’s diet and OH. Results: Parents strongly associated sugary foods with poor OH, identifying sugar as a major contributor to dental issues. Both mothers and fathers reported limiting sugar intake and encouraging good oral hygiene practices. While parents prioritized educating their children on healthy habits, barriers such as time constraints, reliance on external childcare, and economic limitations affected the consistent implementation of strategies. Conclusions: Brazilian immigrant parents understand the importance of diet and oral hygiene in in supporting their children’s early OH but face barriers in broader social contexts, such as daycare, preschools, and communities. Interventions should aim to support parents in their caregiving roles while simultaneously addressing systemic and environmental obstacles. Public health efforts should account for cultural, economic, and contextual factors to more effectively support Brazilian immigrant families in promoting their children’s OH. Full article

Background and Aim: Pneumococcal pneumonia is a major cause of death globally, emphasizing the importance of vaccination, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Iran, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is available exclusively through private healthcare systems, resulting in a lack of studies on the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) serotypes among vaccinated children. This research aimed to explore and compare the prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage, serotype distribution, and antibiotic resistance patterns in healthy PCV13-vaccinated and -unvaccinated children. Methods: From August 2023 to November 2024, a multi-center, cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Tehran, Iran. This study included 204 nasopharyngeal samples collected from children aged from 18 to 59 months, involving both cases of children vaccinated with PCV13 and unvaccinated populations. S. pneumoniae was identified through a combination of culture methods and biochemical tests, confirmed by real-time PCR. Serotyping was achieved using cpsB sequencing, and the minimum inhibitory concentration method was employed to assess antibiotic resistance. Results: This study revealed similar S. pneumoniae carriage rates between PCV13-vaccinated and -unvaccinated Iranian children (20.6% vs. 21.6%). Serotypes 23F and 19F were prevalent in unvaccinated children, while 15B/15C was more prevalent in PCV13-vaccinated children. The included S. pneumoniae serotypes in PCV13 were detected more in the unvaccinated group. PCV13-vaccinated children exhibited no penicillin-resistant pneumococcal isolates, although four isolates were non-susceptible in unvaccinated children. Both groups showed substantial resistance to erythromycin and SXT. Previous respiratory infections, daycare attendance, residence in Tehran, and a history of antibiotic consumption increased the risk of pneumococcal carriage. Conclusions: PCV13 vaccination influences pneumococcal serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility, although there was no significant difference regarding carriage rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. These findings highlight the critical importance of vaccination in reducing invasive serotypes and antimicrobial resistance in children under five years old, emphasizing the importance of national PCV vaccination programs alongside continuous serotype surveillance. Full article

This study involved the secondary data analysis of empirical results obtained from the 2023–2024 on-site evaluation of 26 community-based long-term day-care centers (referred to as day-care centers) in Taiwan to determine the status of performance. Although the on-site evaluation results used in this study were all qualified (an evaluation score ≥70 points), a score range of 73.625–96.625 points were widely observed. The evaluation was carried out from the following perspectives: management effectiveness, professional care quality, safe environment, and the protection of individual rights. The results showed that management effectiveness was positively correlated with professional care quality, safe environment, and the protection of individual rights (r = 0.498~0.596); professional care quality was moderately correlated with safe environment and the protection of individual rights (r = 0.482~0.495); and safe environment and the protection of individual rights had the lowest correlation (r = 0.296). A paired-samples t-test showed that the average difference between each pair (institutional self-evaluation and evaluation committee score) in the consensus benchmark was significant. These findings suggest that the overall service quality and management efficiency of day-care centers can be improved by strengthening internal self-assessment training, improving consensus benchmark definitions, and upgrading management processes so that the evaluation results reflect the actual implementation status. Full article

As polybrominated diphenyl ethers were phased out as flame retardants and plasticizers, increasing quantities of organophosphate triesters (OPEs) have been used as replacements. Despite a surge in reports on levels and profiles of OPEs, especially in indoor environments, and the potential exposure, there are still understudied areas with no data on the levels of these chemicals. We carried out the first study investigating levels and profiles of OPEs in indoor dust from such an area, the Tampa Bay (Florida) area. ∑₁₃OPEs measured at each site ranged from 545 to 502,086 ng g⁻¹, with overall medians and means over 64 sites of 15,447 and 36,135 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Alkyl OPEs were predominant, with lesser levels of chlorinated and aryl OPEs. Median levels were highest for tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) at 4641 and 1046 ng g⁻¹, respectively; lower for tris(1,3–dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), tris(2-chloropropyl) phosphate (T2CPP), and tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) at 530, 458, and 360 ng g⁻¹, respectively; with others ranging from 2 to 85 ng g⁻¹. There were differences in levels in different microenvironments (urban versus suburban; non-residential versus residential; apartments versus single-family homes; daycares versus residences and university rooms; building age; and rooms with different floor material). Estimated daily intakes for median and higher exposure scenarios for ∑₁₃OPEs (in ng kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹) were 12 and 552 for toddlers and 6 and 451 for adults, respectively. TBOEP accounted for 30% of total intake for toddlers and adults in a mean exposure scenario but 90% for high exposure scenario. Full article

(1) Background: Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention to promote relaxation and improve emotional well-being in this population. (2) Methods: This crossover study evaluated the effects of IVR on anxiety and psychological well-being in a sample of eight participants with mild dementia attending a day-care center. Participants underwent two conditions: an experimental condition involving relaxing nature-based VR scenarios (Nature Treks VR) and a control condition using personalized YouTube videos on a tablet. Each condition lasted 12 sessions. Assessments included heart rate (HR), the I-PANAS-SF, the reduced State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-r), behavioral observations, and a subjective response questionnaire. (3) Results: A significant reduction in HR over time was found during IVR exposure, suggesting a calming physiological effect not observed in the control condition. While changes in PANAS and STAI-r scores were not statistically significant, the PANAS score improvement in the experimental condition approached statistical significance (p = 0.054) and was just below the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), suggesting a potentially meaningful trend. Behavioral responses were higher during YouTube sessions, likely due to personalized content. All participants rated the IVR experience positively on the subjective questionnaire, indicating high acceptability, though social desirability bias cannot be excluded. (4) Conclusions: IVR appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention for individuals with dementia, warranting further investigation. Full article

Previous research has shown that antibiotic use during the first year is associated with infants’ difficult behavior, maternal low sensitivity, and infant insecure-ambivalent attachment. However, these results may depend on the extent and type of parental involvement, paternal stress related to infant care, or the infant’s exposure to infections. To explore this question, we analyzed the relationship between these factors and examined potential predictors of antibiotic use among demographic, health, and psychological variables. This study included 62 Portuguese infants and their fathers as participants. Demographic and health information was collected at birth, 3, 9, and 12 months. Father–infant interactive behavior was observed in free play at 3 months and infant attachment in Strange Situation at 12 months. Parental Stress and Parents’ Responsibility Scales were used at 9 and 12 months, respectively. Infants who received antibiotics in the first year were less cooperative, more difficult, and less passive in free-play interactions and were more likely to attend a center-based daycare than others. In this study, the predictors of antibiotic use are infant difficultness and daycare type. Full article

The impostor phenomenon, characterized by self-doubt and an external attribution of success, significantly impacts daycare center directors, influencing their leadership effectiveness and childcare quality. This qualitative study aims to explore how the impostor phenomenon manifests among Korean daycare center directors within an ecological framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Korean daycare center directors using grounded theory methods. Analysis identified the phenomenon across cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, revealing both negative self-perceptions and strategic, perfectionism-related behaviors consistent with previous research. This study proposes a contextual model based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, illustrating interactions at macrosystem, exosystem, mesosystem, microsystem, and chronosystem levels, with a detailed paradigm model further explaining microsystem and chronosystem interactions. These findings contribute to clarifying and contextualizing the impostor phenomenon, particularly highlighting situational influences and strategic manifestations. This research provides a foundation for future studies in South Korean contexts and practical insights for developing targeted leadership support programs for daycare center directors. Full article

Introduction: This study aimed to develop a service model for daycare centers for the elderly through community participation using participatory action research methods. The objectives were threefold: (1) to investigate the current situation of the elderly in the community and their needs for daycare center services, (2) to develop a daycare center for the elderly with active community involvement, and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the service delivery at the daycare center for the elderly. Methods: The study was conducted in Ban Kho Subdistrict, Phon Sawan District, Nakhon Phanom Province. Research participants included 210 elderly individuals surveyed to assess their situation, and 15 key informants, including elderly club leaders, subdistrict health promotion hospital staff, volunteers, subdistrict administrative organization officers, and village health volunteers, were specifically selected for in-depth insights. The research process was structured into three phases: Phase 1 focused on studying the situation of the elderly in the community and their service needs; Phase 2 was dedicated to developing the daycare center with community participation; and Phase 3 involved evaluating the service delivery of the daycare center. Results: The results indicated that the development process of the daycare center service model for the elderly, through community participation, involved four key mechanisms: elderly clubs, subdistrict health promotion hospitals, volunteer teachers or technicians, and village volunteers. Additionally, the supporting mechanisms included academic institutions, hospitals, temples, village heads, the Non-Formal Education Center, foundations, and the subdistrict administrative organization. The comprehensive service model encompassed five components: health, social, psychological, economic, and environmental aspects. Conclusions: The study successfully developed a daycare center service model for the elderly through community participation, which can be expanded and adapted to other semi-urban and semi-rural contexts. This model demonstrates the importance of community involvement in providing holistic care for the elderly, addressing various aspects of their well-being. Full article

The increasing demand for childcare facilities in Dubai, UAE, which is driven by urban expansion and workforce growth, calls for a focus on establishing standardized environmental and safety benchmarks. This study evaluated 28 daycare centers categorized by size (large, medium, and small), focusing on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), cleanliness, safety, and space utilization. Findings revealed that while air pollutants like carbon monoxide (0.57 ppm) and formaldehyde (45.8 µg/m³) remained within acceptable limits, carbon dioxide levels (averaging 1048.2 ppm, particularly in large centers) exceeded regulatory standards due to high occupancy rates and inadequate ventilation. Large facilities demonstrated better compliance with kitchen safety (8.8/10) and lighting efficiency, while small centers scored higher in restroom cleanliness (20.8/24, evaluated using eight criteria on a structured 3-point scale). However, spatial accessibility remained a critical challenge across all facility sizes, particularly regarding accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, excessive lighting levels (717.2 lux) and high indoor temperatures (27–28 °C) further highlighted the need for tailored guidelines. The study emphasizes improving ventilation systems, promoting universal design principles, and targeted investments to address these disparities. By aligning regulatory frameworks with actionable recommendations, this study provides insights for policymakers to enhance the safety, inclusivity, and environmental quality of daycare infrastructure in Dubai. Full article

The closure of educational institutions, playgrounds, and sports facilities has had a significant impact on children’s levels of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there are only a few studies available that address the consequences of these pandemic-related restrictions on the development of motor skills in younger children. The aim of the present study was to gain insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of children’s fine and gross motor skills by comparing cohorts of German preschoolers. For this purpose, data from annual (years 2015 to 2018 and 2020 to 2024) routine examinations of children’s (n = 1426; mean age: 5.46 ± 0.29 years) motor development conducted in the child daycare centers of the SportService des Landessportbund Brandenburg e.V. [Federal Sports Association of Brandenburg, Germany] were subjected to a secondary analysis. While no effects on overall motor performance as measured by the MOT 4–6, a standardized motor skills test, were found for the groups of preschoolers, a more detailed analysis revealed that the cohorts of children differed with respect to certain motor domains, i.e., jumping performance and fine motor skills. The findings are relevant for designing targeted remedial measures for children affected by the pandemic-related restrictions. Full article

Introduction: Childhood obesity has reached critical levels in Chile, particularly among preschoolers from low-income families who face barriers to nutritious food and physical activity. Early interventions are essential to mitigate long-term health risks. This study evaluates the Chile Active Intervention, a community-based program promoting physical activity and healthy eating among preschoolers attending public daycare centers in Antofagasta, Santiago, and Temuco. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a structured intervention in improving physical activity levels, dietary habits, and obesity-related risk factors in children aged 3 to 5 years old. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was implemented with intervention and control groups, including 1204 children from public daycare centers. The intervention-comprised educator training on healthy eating structured physical activity sessions tailored for young children and family engagement through “Healthy Days” events. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured anthropometric variables, body composition, physical activity, and dietary intake. Results: The intervention led to positive changes in weight-for-height Z-scores, body fat percentage, and skinfold thickness, particularly among high-risk children. Physical activity assessments showed reduced sedentary time and increased active play. Dietary improvements included higher fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced ultra-processed food intake. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that early, community-based interventions can effectively improve health behaviors in preschoolers. The program’s scalability across Chile is promising, with parental involvement and institutional support being key to sustaining impact. Long-term evaluations are recommended to assess its lasting effects on childhood health outcomes. Full article

At present, China is facing a serious aging problem. Although community daycare centers have been built, they generally have problems such as inadequate facilities, single-service provision, and insufficient environmental design. These problems make it impossible to meet the multifaceted needs of the elderly in their old age, enhance their sense of wellbeing, and achieve sustainable development. Therefore, relevant policies indicate that the elderly service model of community day care centers should be actively constructed and upgraded. However, most of the existing research focuses on service models or single-design practice studies, and there are relatively few studies that address the integration of restorative environmental design and sustainability. Therefore, this paper systematically explores the current research status of restorative environmental design in daycare centers for the elderly through macro quantitative bibliometric analysis and micro qualitative content analysis based on Web of Science (WOS) data, then proposes design practice strategies, implementation paths, and evaluation methods to enhance wellbeing. Through keyword network visualization analysis, this paper identifies eight main clusters: physical literacy, public preschool services, social support, elderly day care centers, hospice use, designing leisure products, risk factors, and communicative skills. The high-frequency keywords “health”, “elderly”, “cultural diversity”, “children”, and “quality of life” are further categorized into “caregiving”, “Alzheimer’s disease”, “adult day care”, and “daycare centers”, with the latter split into three further categories: design strategy, implementation approach, and evaluation. In addition, this paper combines SDG3 goals such as reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, achieving universal health coverage, etc., in order to explore the potential of resilience-based environmental design to promote the sustainable development of elderly daycare centers. This study not only complements the research related to restorative environmental design in daycare centers for the elderly but also provides specific guidelines and references for future environmental design, policy planning, and elderly service practices. Full article