Search Results (454)

Background: Eye-tracking (ET) devices are gaining attention in technology-based paediatric rehabilitation through their intrinsic ability to assess patients’ engagement and visual attention within motivating, technology-based environments. We conducted a systematic review of available evidence from 2004 to 2025 on the implementation of ET in rehabilitative trainings targeting paediatric populations with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. This paper aims to outline the rehabilitative outcomes pursued in the clinical populations considered. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were consulted to summarise the state of the art of the last 20 years. Selected articles were categorised according to the type of treated disorder and the rehabilitated function. Results: ET devices have been increasingly integrated into paediatric rehabilitation with promising results across multiple neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ASD, ADHD, cerebral palsy). These systems have proven effective not only in training gaze control, but also in enhancing executive functions, social cognition, communication, and participation. Furthermore, they promote personalised and data-driven solutions and support high levels of engagement, feasibility, and user satisfaction. Conclusions: ET represents a promising frontier for paediatric rehabilitation, addressing various neurodevelopmental disorders. The gaze-contingent protocols employed have demonstrated potential effects in promoting adaptive behaviour across multiple developmental areas. Further research is warranted to provide shared guidance and to strengthen practice recommendations. Full article

Science fairs have long been promoted as valuable platforms for fostering authentic science learning. With current standards emphasizing active engagement in Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), there is a growing need to examine how science fairs support students’ development in these areas. This pilot study investigated the learning outcomes of 166 students (grades 6–12) who participated in a statewide science and engineering fair. Using a retrospective pretest–posttest correlational design, the study assessed students’ growth in their perceived understanding of SEPs and their perceived engagement in STEM-related behaviors outside the classroom. Results from paired-samples t-tests indicated that both middle and high school students demonstrated significant gains in these two domains based on their self-reports. Multiple regression analyses further revealed that high school students’ gains in both perceived outcomes were positively associated with self-challenge and community-based motivations and negatively associated with teacher- or parent-initiated participation. In contrast, different yet comparable patterns emerged for middle school students. Together, these findings suggest that Self-Determination Theory should more intentionally incorporate developmental nuance when applied to K–12 STEM contexts, particularly with respect to how autonomy support functions across grade levels. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed. Full article

This study employs CiteSpace 6.3 R1 software to conduct a quantitative analysis of 645 cavitation-related centrifugal pump publications from the Web of Science Core Collection database (2007–2025) using bibliometric methods. The analysis encompasses publication volume statistics, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and keyword clustering. The results indicate that research on centrifugal pump cavitation is currently in a phase of rapid development. The annual number of publications related to centrifugal pump cavitation shows an overall fluctuating upward trend, with Jiangsu University emerging as the leading research institution. The research hotspots include fault diagnosis, impeller design, numerical simulation, and validation, forming four major developmental pathways. Research on cavitation in centrifugal pumps has gradually shifted its focus from numerical simulation to practical engineering issues such as pressure pulsation and cavitation, with hot topics evolving at an accelerated pace. Future efforts must address challenges like cavitation monitoring and high-precision simulation to comprehensively enhance the anti-cavitation performance and operational reliability of centrifugal pumps. Full article

This study aimed primarily to evaluate the performance of two Conformité Européenne—In Vitro Diagnostic (CE-IVD) multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) assays for the molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of human interest on ticks removed from human skin and collected through a citizen science-based approach. As a secondary objective, the aggregated results were used to describe tick species distribution, developmental stages, and seasonal TBP circulation in 2024 in the considered area. The comparison was conducted on 116 tick samples collected in 2024 voluntarily delivered to a hospital in northeastern Italy. Detected TBPs were further confirmed with in-house-validated PCR methods and, where applicable, resolved to the species level. Clinically relevant pathogen species were identified as single infections or coinfections. Overall, 33.6% of tick samples tested positive for at least one TBP, and 6.9% showed coinfections. Kit B exhibited a higher detection rate for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. targets, partly reflecting its broader diagnostic specificity, while statistically significant differences in cycle threshold values were observed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum detection. The most frequently involved ticks were Ixodes ricinus nymphs, and the most represented area was Verona province. Late spring and early summer were identified as the periods with the highest tick conferment and pathogen diversity. Overall, the results support the use of multiplex real-time PCR commercial kits combined with citizen science-based tick collection as an effective approach for both diagnostic screening and regional surveillance of circulating ticks and TBPs. Full article

Healthcare visualization has become a crucial approach for interpreting complex medical data, supporting informed clinical decision-making, and enhancing public health management. However, existing reviews tend to focus on specific technologies or application scenarios, offering limited insight into the field’s overall knowledge structure, developmental trajectory, and interdisciplinary integration. To address this gap, this study systematically reviews 1121 publications from 1994 to 2025 indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. By combining bibliometric analysis with qualitative assessment, it maps the field’s evolution and underlying research paradigms. The findings reveal a clear shift from early innovation in technical tools toward the realization of clinical value, giving rise to an integrated research system that connects technology, data, clinical practice, and public health. Recent research has progressed beyond initial explorations of medical imaging, standalone devices, and isolated techniques, moving instead toward core domains such as immersive medical visualization, medical data visualization and analytics, health information systems and decision support, AI-assisted epidemic prediction and diagnosis, and integrated IoT-based healthcare frameworks. Looking ahead, an assessment of future trends suggests that, among other directions, the deep integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) with visualization analysis, the development of IoT-driven real-time interactive systems, and the extension of visualization-enabled services from clinical applications toward inclusive population-level health coverage represent core driving forces for the future development of this field. These insights offer strategic guidance for future research, inform the design principles of next-generation visualization systems, and provide new models of interdisciplinary collaboration. The results also offer evidence-based support for health resource planning, technological innovation, and policy formulation. Full article

Background: Understanding physical fitness (PF) trajectories during childhood is essential because they reflect developmental differences and indicate whether early fitness levels predict later outcomes. Clarifying PF tracking is important for school monitoring, early identification of at-risk children, and planning targeted interventions. Objective: To synthesize evidence on change of PF among children aged 5–12 years and, secondarily, to descriptively analyze stability (tracking) of PF components. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science covering the last decade (to May 2025). Longitudinal studies assessing at least one PF component in children aged 5–12 years were included. Data extraction included study/sample characteristics, PF components, assessment tools, statistical methods, and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed with the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort Studies. Results: From 33,995 records, 18 studies met the criteria, with sample sizes from 147 to 1148 children and follow-up from 12 to 48 months. Most studies reported improvements in aerobic, musculoskeletal, and motor fitness, while flexibility showed mixed results. Boys generally outperformed girls in aerobic, motor, and musculoskeletal fitness, whereas girls performed better in flexibility. Stability coefficients, analyzed in a set of four studies, varied across PF components, and results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: PF generally improves during childhood, with sex-specific patterns and low-to-moderate stability, particularly for motor fitness. Full article

This practice-based implementation report describes the adoption of the My Abilities First (MAF) initiative for children with developmental delays in Taiwan. Grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, MAF emphasizes a strengths-based, participatory, and human rights-oriented approach to early childhood intervention. The purpose of this report is to describe the development of the MAF framework and the details of its innovative, culturally sensitive implementation in Taiwan, using implementation science principles to support the national adoption of My Abilities ID Cards (ABIDs). Central to the MAF initiative is the ABID, a tool that empowers children to express their abilities, preferences, and support needs using their own voice or preferred mode of communication. Guided by implementation science, the MAF team in Taiwan engaged stakeholders in urban and rural centers, developed training programs, and integrated ABID into early intervention and special education systems. Preliminary outcomes indicate that from 2021 to 2025, 140 training sessions reached a total attendance of 6961. Notably, satisfaction with training was high (>95%), and practitioner subjective competence adopting positive language improved. The number of children under age 12 creating ABIDs grew to approximately 700. Preliminary evidence suggests that ABIDs might increase systematic adoption of children’s opinions in assessments and interventions. Qualitative feedback from parents and professionals highlights the contribution of ABIDs, ensuring self-expression, motivation, and meaningful participation. The pioneering Taiwanese experience demonstrates the feasibility and impact of MAF and ABIDs in promoting children’s rights and participation, offering practical insights for global adaptation in diverse contexts. Full article

Fetal growth restriction (FGR), a condition in which the fetus fails to achieve its growth and developmental potential, affects 5% to 10% of pregnancies and is associated with high rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality. There is currently insufficient high-quality evidence to define the optimal approach for diagnosing fetal growth restriction. In 2016, with the aim of standardizing clinical practice and enabling comparability across scientific studies, an expert opinion-based consensus was published. This document proposed unified terminology and clear diagnostic criteria for early- and late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR). Because no effective treatment is available, careful assessment of fetal well-being and appropriate timing of delivery are the main tools for managing these fetuses. This decision should be based on gestational age and the severity of abnormalities identified on fetal surveillance tests, balancing the risks of prematurity against the risks of severe permanent sequelae or fetal death. The objective of this update is to analyze the most recent evidence on when and how to deliver pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction, emphasizing that specific abnormalities on fetal surveillance examinations warrant delivery at different gestational ages. To this end, a literature search of the PubMed/Medline and Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) databases was conducted using the terms fetal growth restriction, management, and delivery over the past ten years. Results were grouped into gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, and methods of labor induction. The main fetal surveillance abnormalities prompting delivery in each gestational-age range were discussed, leading to the development of management flowcharts. Despite the lack of consensus in the literature and the limited number of randomized clinical trials guiding clinical decisions in FGR, the available evidence was summarized to assist clinicians in managing pregnancies complicated by FGR. It should be emphasized that there are few randomized clinical trials to guide management decisions in FGR. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pediatric and adolescent obesity is a growing global health concern that is often associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities. Lifestyle interventions represent first-line therapy; however, many adolescents with moderate-to-severe obesity fail to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of surgical and endoscopic interventions for adolescent obesity. Materials and Methods: A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Studies reporting outcomes of bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric banding (AGB)) and endoscopic interventions (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and intragastric balloons (IGBs)) in patients ≤ 21 years were included. Data on weight loss, BMI reduction, metabolic outcomes, adverse events and follow-up were extracted and summarized. Results: Bariatric surgery remains the most effective intervention, with SG and RYGB achieving substantial and durable weight loss and high rates of comorbidity remission. ESG is an emerging intervention with preliminary short-term efficacy and safety data, though evidence is limited to small pediatric cohorts. IGBs provide reversible, non-surgical weight reduction with consistent short-term efficacy, but long-term durability is variable and largely dependent on adherence to behavioral programs. Across all interventions, psychosocial support, family involvement and multidisciplinary care significantly influence the outcomes. Conclusions: Procedural interventions play a pivotal role in adolescents with moderate-to-severe obesity. IGBs could represent a minimally invasive, reversible option, particularly as bridging or adjunctive therapy. Prospective, long-term studies are needed to optimize patient selection, evaluate developmental safety and determine sustainable outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a critical indicator of developmental progress, educational engagement, and psychosocial resilience. By identifying both shared and context-specific differences in HRQoL, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of well-being that can inform the development of assessment approaches and future research tailored to the diverse contexts in which children with disabilities live and learn. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore HRQoL and its putative influencing factors among youth with multiple disabilities across two distinct cultural settings, the United States and Iceland. Methods: Participants (N = 26; Icelandic = 50%; Mage = 16.34 ± 2.33 years) completed height, weight, the Test of Perceived Physical Competence (TPPC), Supine-to-Stand (STS), Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), and VISIONS QL. We conducted five, 2 group × 2 sex ANOVA and several independent samples t-tests within groups by sex for our variables of interest. Results: There was a significant difference between Icelandic boys and girls for BMI (p = 0.087, d = 0.65) and STS (p = 0.027, d = 1.04). Conversely, a significant difference was found in the American group between boys and girls for RAPA (p = 0.092, d = 0.81) and TPPC (p = 0.068, d = 0.92). Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that patterns in objective and self-reported health indicators may vary by context. These results highlight the importance of considering both measured performance and self-perceived health when examining HRQoL among adolescents with multiple disabilities, while underscoring the need for further research in larger samples to clarify these relationships. Full article

It has been widely demonstrated that primary school students face cognitive obstacles in scientific argumentation and often employ ineffective strategies. Scaffolding can effectively guide the scientific argumentation process, enhance its logical rigor, and facilitate students’ reflective thinking during argumentation. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of question prompts and worked examples on primary school students’ scientific argumentation skills, alongside their scientific achievement, learning motivation and cognitive load. Using a quasiexperimental design, this study involved 68 fourth-grade students and compared the effects of two types of scaffolding: question prompts and worked examples. The results show that both scaffolding strategies exerted positive effects on students’ scientific argumentation skills, scientific achievement and learning motivation. More importantly, the worked examples were significantly more effective than the question prompts in enhancing scientific argumentation skills, particularly in terms of evidence integration and logical reasoning, and they provided greater assistance to students with low levels of prior knowledge. Finally, the worked examples group exhibited significantly lower extraneous cognitive loads than the question prompts group did. This study provides empirical evidence for optimizing the scaffolding design of primary scientific argumentation teaching, confirming that worked examples offer more efficient and adaptive support for novice learners in primary schools in a short time period. From a long-term developmental perspective, it is necessary to gradually fade the support of worked examples and transition to question prompts in scientific argumentation instruction, so as to prompt students to invest more cognitive effort and foster their independent argumentation and critical thinking abilities. These findings have important implications for advancing science curriculum reform and designing targeted instructional interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: The attention of world science has been focused on human umbilical cord blood cell (hUCB) products for the treatment of various human diseases. The prospects for using hUCB stem from the availability of the material, non-invasive collection procedure, low immunogenicity, multipotency and non-tumorigenicity. But information about the acute toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity of hUCB mononuclear cells (MNCs) remains insufficient. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the reproductive and developmental toxicity of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells on Wistar rats. Methods: In the fertility and early embryonic development study, human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (hUCB-MNCs) were administered at dose levels of 4.28 × 10⁸ cells/kg and 8.57 × 10⁸ cells/kg to male and female rats during the pre-mating, mating and gestation period. In the embryo–fetal development study, the pregnant female rats also received hUC-MNCs at doses of 4.28 × 10⁸ cells/kg and 8.57 × 10⁸ cells/kg. Results: In gestational data, including fertility rate, pregnancy rate, corpora lutea and implantation sites counts, dead and absorption fetuses’ number, body weight and craniocaudal size of fetuses, anomalies in fetal development showed no statistically significant changes in 4.28 × 10⁸ cells/kg (low dose) and 8.57 × 10⁸ cells/kg (high dose) dose groups of hUCB-MNCs to negative control group. External, visceral and skeletal examination of the fetuses in all experimental groups also showed no changes. Embryo–fetal development study in low and high groups of hUCB-MNCs application also showed no changes in the negative control group. Conclusions: This reproductive and developmental toxicity study demonstrates that hUCB-MNCs administered intravenously at doses up to 8.57 × 10⁸ cells/kg do not cause adverse effects on fertility, embryo–fetal development, or postnatal offspring viability in Wistar rats. The absence of reproductive toxicity is mechanistically attributable to three intrinsic properties of hUCB-MNCs: their low immunogenicity, which prevents maternal immune activation; the protective function of the intact placental barrier; and their transient, paracrine-dominant mode of action, which limits exposure duration. Full article

Classical developmental psychology treats childhood animism—attributing life or mind to inanimate things—as a transient phase that recedes with schooling and the onset of concrete operations. The contemporary spread of lifelike AI has altered that background assumption, with particular implications for children and adolescents whose agency-detection systems and reality-testing capacities are still calibrating. Across interfaces, voices, avatars, and social robots, modern systems routinely exhibit contingent, context-sensitive behaviour that recruits developing social-cognitive systems during sensitive periods of identity formation and relational learning. Drawing on developmental psychology, cognitive science, human–AI interaction research, clinical psychiatry, and technology ethics, we: (1) present a mechanistic “hourglass model” showing how interactive AI engages animistic cognition with heightened effects during childhood and adolescence, including a developmental timing analysis of how differential maturation of agency detection, Theory of Mind (ToM), and prefrontal reality-testing creates windows of particular vulnerability; (2) disaggregate five distinct phenomena along an anthropomorphism-to-delusion trajectory with operational boundary criteria; (3) specify a graded psychopathology continuum with a fourth, orthogonal zone addressing adversarial design—itself disaggregated into three tiers with distinct regulatory implications; (4) identify conditions under which anthropomorphic engagement may be beneficial, including for youth; and (5) advance cognitive safety–inspired design with developmentally appropriate protections for minors. We introduce the IDAQ-CF-Tech, a twelve-item screener for AI-specific mind attribution offered as a provisional instrument for validation across age groups, and close with a phased research agenda emphasising longitudinal developmental outcomes, impacts on adolescent identity formation, and cross-cultural variation in techno-animism. Full article

Paediatric orbital fractures require careful reconstruction to prevent long-term functional and aesthetic sequelae. Material selection is critical due to the anatomical and developmental considerations unique to children. Comparative data to guide decision making remain sparse and inconclusive. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase (through February 2025), following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting outcomes and/or complications associated with implant materials used in the reconstruction of paediatric orbital fractures were included. Outcomes included postoperative diplopia, enophthalmos, restriction of eye movements, removal of material, and return to theatre (RTT). In total, 54 studies encompassing a total of 562 patients and 563 implants were included. Polymers (n = 169), alloplasts (n = 167) and autologous (n = 166) implants were the most commonly used reconstructive material. Late postoperative diplopia occurred in 7% of polymers (12/169), 6% of alloplasts (10/167), 29% of allografts (6/21), 24% of xenografts (6/25) and 33% of metals (2/6). Reported enophthalmos was highest in the autologous group (8%) but was only reported in 34 of the 54 studies. Infection, removal of implant material and RTT were low across all groups (1–4%). No donor site morbidity was reported. Robust studies with standardised outcomes and adequate follow-up are needed to inform evidence-based material selection in paediatric orbital reconstruction. Full article

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children, though uncommon, pose distinct challenges due to their unique pathological and clinical features, which often differ from adult cases. Effective management of pediatric CNS tumors can be complicated, with complete surgical resection remaining a critical goal, in conditions like cerebra cavernous malformation (CCM), where it significantly impacts recurrence risk. However, achieving complete resection can be difficult, as preserving the surrounding healthy tissue is vital to avoid long-term neurological deficits, a particular concern in the developing brains of children. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment for pediatric CNS tumors due to its ability to selectively target tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. PDT uses a photosensitizing agent. This targeted approach is advantageous in pediatric cases as it minimizes collateral damage, potentially reducing the long-term neurological and cognitive impacts seen with conventional treatments such as radiation. Despite its promise, the application of PDT for pediatric CNS tumors remains underexplored. Research is limited, primarily due to the rarity of these tumors in children and the ethical challenges involved in conducting pediatric trials. The current understanding of PDT’s effectiveness in CNS tumors largely stems from adult studies, which may not fully apply to children’s unique developmental and physiological characteristics, including differences in the tumor biology, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics of photosensitizers. To address this gap, our study conducted a comprehensive review of the available literature using PubMed, Google Scholar, and additional databases like Web of Science, aiming to summarize the existing knowledge on PDT for pediatric CNS tumors, incorporate recent advancements from the last years, and identify areas where further research is essential. The updated review includes new insights from ongoing sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which complements PDT by using ultrasound to enable deeper penetration. Full article