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This study aims to explore how the Metaverse platform could be applied to the field of online education, the benefits it brings, and the challenges posed by the application of Metaverse to online education. The study analyzes the benefits of immersive learning brought about by Metaverse and its potential to save education costs, enhance efficiency and students' interest in learning, and explores the application of Metaverse technology in education in relation to the characteristics of online education. The results show that Metaverse technology can support several aspects of online classrooms with realistic senses, personalized teaching models, realistic 3D identities, interactive communication, virtual reality (VR) technology, and gamified learning. This research also presents the problems faced by the Edu-Metaverse, including technology development difficulties, interaction issues, content production, game addiction, privacy, and ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how blockchain technology can be applied in the area of training in organizations, the benefits it brings, and the management challenges that blockchain technology raises. By exploring the decentralized, transparent, and intelligent contract nature of blockchain technology, we analyzed the application of blockchain technology to organizational training. The results show that organizations can achieve training resource sharing, supply and demand balancing, training certification, and intelligent contract enforcement based on blockchain technology. However, it also presents potential challenges, mainly regarding engagement across sectors, support from all members, global technology rollout, staff competency, data confidentiality, and return on investment. Case and industry analysis further validates the content of our research and demonstrates the potential and challenges of blockchain technology in the field of organizational training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on the implementation of youth football policies in China following the 2015 national football reform. It asks the question 'To what extent have contextual and organisational factors facilitated and/or constrained the effective implementation of Chinese youth football policies?' Guided by a critical realist ontology, we conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the implementation process of the youth football policy including members of the national and local football associations, schools, and professional football clubs. The findings reveal a number of policy conflicts that restricted an effective implementation of the youth football policies. The main conflict lay in the ambiguous intertwinement of two dominant policy coalitions (i.e. sport and education), which consequently led to confusion and conflicts among key implementers in the three pathways. Other factors such as the continuous mismatch of traditional values and beliefs held by actors towards youth football participation, as well as the emphasis on excellence over participation by some actors are also identified as having potentially inhibited effective implementation. This paper contributes to the debate of the positioning of youth sport in an increasingly elite-driven sporting context. It argues that policymakers, implementers, and the overall society, even if they are willing to foster a positive youth sport development, can also generate an adverse effect if they do not work together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is anticipated to have a significant impact on human resource management (HRM) in the era of Industry 4.0. This study employs a literature review methodology and examines 42 relevant publications to identify key areas where blockchain technology can be applied in HRM. The findings reveal several crucial applications of Blockchain in HRM. Firstly, blockchain technology can effectively prevent interview fraud and enhance the reliability of the recruitment process. Secondly, it can improve training and certification processes, address pay equity issues, ensure fair performance evaluations, and facilitate employee relations. These applications are vital in enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of HRM practices. However, the study also highlights certain management concerns related to adopting blockchain technology, such as management's commitment, stakeholder collaboration, and data breach risks. Building upon these findings, a comprehensive discussion is initiated, summarising the contributions and critical findings of the research and emphasising the potential advantages of integrating blockchain technology into HRM. Additionally, the study examines the contributions made by existing literature and proposes directions for future research. Finally, a research agenda is put forth to explore the effective implementation of blockchain technology in practical HRM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the opportunities and challenges that the cross-border integration of "Metaverse + hotel" brings to visitors and the hospitality industry. The study analyses the engagement differences between Metaverse hotels and traditional online/offline strategies regarding engagement immersion, community interaction, personalization, environmental perception, and participation. Metaverse hotel brings the impact of realistic environmental simulation, personalized service, customer engagement, and consumer follow-up feedback. Further, it brings to the hospitality industry the impact of enhancing organizational performance, co-creating value for stakeholders, influencing customer relationship management, and changing how managers communicate. Finally, Metaverse technology raises challenges of security issues, technical barriers, high costs, and uncertain user needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on aspirin's effects on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the association between aspirin and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in individuals with MAFLD. Data were acquired from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. MAFLD diagnosis was consistent with that of international expert consensus. The independent association between aspirin and all-cause and CVD mortality in participants with MAFLD was evaluated by multiple Cox regression. Stratified analyses and interaction tests were performed to investigate whether covariates modified the association between aspirin and MAFLD mortality. Of 4594 eligible participants, 3,162 (68.83%) never took aspirin (0 times/month), 962 (20.94%) took it occasionally (1–14 times/month) and 470 (10.23%) took it regularly (≥15 times/month). Multiple cox regression showed that aspirin was not associated with overall mortality for MAFLD individuals. Stratified analysis revealed that in middle-aged (45–59 years) participants with MAFLD, occasional aspirin use was associated with low all-cause mortality risk (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43–0.86), while there was no significant association between aspirin and all-cause mortality among the young or the elderly. We found that the association between aspirin and all-cause MAFLD mortality varies by both age and frequency of administration. More prospective studies are needed to explore aspirin's influence on MALFD mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is the most common glioma with high mortality and poor prognosis. Radiation resistance is one of the large challenges in the treatment of glioma. The study aimed to identify whether DNA polymerase ζ affects glioma cell radiosensitivity. The mRNA and protein levels of REV3L and REV7 were examined using quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. After REV3L and REV7 knockdown in a GBM cell line (A172), we assessed cell viability, colonies, apoptosis, and immune escape. The underlying mechanisms were evaluated using western blot and were confirmed using rescue experiments. The results showed that REV3L and REV7 levels were increased in glioma and related to poor survival. γ-ray treatment inhibited cell viability, survival fraction, and immune escape, and induced apoptosis of glioma cells from a GBM cell line, whereas knockdown of REV3L or REV7 enhanced these effects. Mechanically, silencing of REV3L or REV7 inactivated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. IGF-1 treatment abrogated the effects on cell viability, colonies, and apoptosis induced by REV3L or REV7 knocking down. Taken together, silencing of REV3L and REV7 inhibited radiation resistance via inactivating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, suggesting that targeting DNA polymerase ζ may be a new strategy to reduce the radiotherapy resistance of glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]