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The comparative analysis of Sino-Japanese football policies from the perspective of policy instruments

Football development depends heavily on strong policy support, rendering policy analysis and evaluation of significant practical importance. This study uses Nvivo11 software and the PMC index model to conduct a quantitative comparative analysis of 31 Sino-Japanese football policy texts, focusing on policy instruments, content characteristics, and overall quality. The findings reveal that both countries prioritize football development, social participation, and club construction; China emphasizes campus football, while Japan focuses on elite player development and league performance. PMC evaluation indicates that Chinese policies score higher in system design and institutional capacity, whereas Japan performs better in implementation clarity and community linkage. Both countries share shortcomings in insufficient policy clarity and vague long-term competitive goals. The research results provide empirical evidence for the optimization of Chinese football policies and a reference for drawing on international experience.

Impact of peer assessment on Chinese university students’ English writing ability: chain-mediation effects of learning engagement and writing self-efficacy

Pattern of opioid prescriptions among patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer diagnosed with pre-existing chronic non-cancer pain

Background Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) due to comorbid conditions presents a barrier to optimal pain management in patients with cancer. While opioid is widely used for the treatment and management of CNCP, it is also associated with misuse and addictions. Therefore, we determined the impact of CNCP on opioid prescribing patterns in patients with the three most common cancer types- breast, lung, and colorectal cancers. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare (2006–2019) linked database. Patients, at least 66 years old with histologically confirmed incidental diagnoses of breast, lung, or colorectal cancer from 2007 to 2017, were included in the study. Patients with cancer in baseline period, in palliative care, or those who died in the follow-up period were excluded from the study. Patients with CNCP were identified in the baseline period. Patients without CNCP during the study period were included in the no-CNCP group. The follow-up period was one year after cancer diagnosis (index date) and the primary outcome was opioid prescribing patterns defined as: any opioid use, high-dose opioid use, total count of opioid prescriptions filled, and chronic opioid use. Inverse probability weighting (IPTW) method was used to balance the covariates (age at the cancer diagnosis time, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, cancer type, cancer stage, metropolitan status, year of cancer diagnosis, chronic cancer-treatment-related pain, neoplasm pain, and cancer treatment modalities) between the CNCP and no-CNCP group. Logistic and Poisson regressions were used to compare opioid use and opioid prescription patterns among the two groups. Results A majority of patients included in the study were breast cancer (CNCP = 38230, no-CNCP = 56157), lung cancer (CNCP = 17255, no-CNCP = 24602), colorectal cancer (CNCP = 16660, no-CNCP = 29037). Among cancer patients, the prevalence of CNCP was highest in those with lung cancer (41.2%) followed by breast cancer (40.1%) and colorectal cancer (36.4%). Descriptive analysis demonstrated patients with lung cancer had consistently higher rates across opioid prescribing patterns, followed by patients with colorectal and breast cancer. The result of logistic regression after weighting showed that the odds of any opioid use were higher among lung cancer patients with CNCP (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.5–1.6; p < 0.01) compared to the no-CNCP group with lung cancer. Patients with breast cancer and CNCP had higher odds of chronic opioid use followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer (OR 2.7; 95% CI 2.6–2.8; p < 0.01, OR 2.4, 95% CI 2.3–2.5; p < 0.01, and OR 2.4; 95% CI 2.3–2.5; p < 0.01) respectively compared to patients without CNCP but respective cancer. Conclusion CNCP adds an additional burden in opioid prescription in active cancer patients which necessitates a meticulous approach to opioids prescribing.

Recovery of rare earth elements from european coal mining waste

Abstract Rare earth elements (REEs) are strategic raw materials for clean-energy technologies and high-value industrial applications. In this context, coal waste has attracted increasing attention as a potential secondary resource within circular-economy strategies for European coal regions. This study evaluates fine coal-waste materials from three European mining regions within the framework of the GreenJOBS and CRMsDataSpace RFCS projects. Four samples were analysed: two Spanish hard-coal wastes from La Matona and El Batán, one Polish hard-coal waste, and one Slovenian lignite-related waste. Total REE concentrations were determined in bulk materials and in selected particle-size fractions. Weighted average total REE contents ranged from 159.72 ppm in El Batán to 221.89 ppm in La Matona, with values of 202.39 ppm and 217.98 ppm for the Polish and Slovenian samples, respectively. Among the investigated materials, La Matona showed the highest total REE content and was therefore selected for laboratory-scale physical separation, exploratory leaching, and mineralogical characterisation. However, gravity, magnetic, electrostatic, and flotation tests produced only negligible REE enrichment. Leaching with water and acetic acid was ineffective, whereas hydrochloric acid at 60 °C increased dissolved REE concentrations but did not achieve extraction levels suitable for practical recovery under the tested conditions. SEM–EDS and XRD analyses indicate that REEs occur as scarce, fine-grained phases closely associated with quartz- and aluminosilicate-rich matrices. This textural association explains the limited response to conventional beneficiation techniques and the relatively homogeneous REE distribution among particle-size fractions, in contrast to many coal-related materials reported in the literature. Overall, the results suggest that the studied European coal wastes cannot be considered straightforward substitutes for primary REE ores.

Examining the joint impact of missing data mechanisms and item parameter drift on the accuracy of item response theory-based test equating

Maintaining score comparability across different test administrations is essential in large-scale educational and psychological assessment. Two major threats to equating accuracy are item parameter drift (IPD), reflecting changes in anchor item characteristics over time, and missing item responses, which commonly occur in operational testing. Although each factor has been studied separately, their joint impact on equating accuracy has not been systematically evaluated. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted using a nonequivalent groups with anchor test design. Data were generated under a three-parameter logistic model with 2,000 examinees per form and 500 replications per condition. The Stocking–Lord method was used to estimate equating constants across 25 conditions, varying IPD rate (0%, 10%, 20%), IPD magnitude (0, 0.25, 0.50), missing data mechanism (MCAR vs. MAR), and missing data rate (0%, 10%, 20%). Missing responses were addressed using multiple imputation by chained equations. Equating accuracy was evaluated using bias and root mean square error. Results indicated that the B constant was highly sensitive to the missing data mechanism: MCAR conditions produced near-zero bias, whereas MAR conditions introduced substantial positive bias, particularly at higher missing rates. IPD alone did not result in meaningful bias but increased estimation variability. When IPD and MAR co-occurred, equating error exceeded the sum of their individual effects, indicating an interaction rather than a purely additive relationship. Although multiple imputation reduced error under MCAR, it did not fully eliminate bias under MAR conditions. In contrast, the scale constant remained stable across all conditions. Overall, the missing data mechanism had a stronger impact on equating accuracy than either the rate of missingness or the degree of item drift alone. When both factors were present, their combined influence led to increased error that could not be fully corrected through imputation. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating missing data mechanisms, selecting appropriate imputation strategies, such as MICE, and monitoring anchor item stability to ensure accurate score equating, particularly in psychological assessment contexts where even small errors may affect individual-level decisions.

2D finite-element analysis of back-to-back mechanically stabilized earth walls

Dual biocontrol and osmotic stress mitigation by endophytic Aspergillus micronesiensis and Penicillium momoi against fusarium pathogens

Global challenges associated with crop diseases and abiotic stress necessitate sustainable agricultural solutions. This study investigated the biocontrol and osmotic-stress mitigation potential of two endophytic fungi, which were isolated from native plants and subsequently identified as Aspergillus micronesiensis and Penicillium momoi . Their antagonistic activities against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), and F. pseudograminearum (FPS) were evaluated. Complementary antagonistic mechanisms were observed: P. momoi primarily inhibited pathogen growth through direct mycelial competition, while A. micronesiensis predominantly exerted effects through antibiosis. In dual-culture assays, A. micronesiensis inhibited FOL, FORL, and FPS by 39.05%, 39.93%, and 54.59%, respectively, whereas P. momoi caused inhibition rates of 51.84%, 64.74%, and 60.66%, respectively, demonstrating strong biocontrol potential. The salt tolerance assay revealed that both endophytes were able to grow on media containing up to 3 M NaCl. Although, optimal growth for both isolates occurred at 1 M NaCl, A. micronesiensis showed a greater increase in growth relative to the control (2.06 times). In contrast, P. momoi maintained more consistent growth across the 0–1 M NaCl range. However, growth of both isolates declined at higher salt concentrations. The developed wettable powder formulation maintained high spore viability for at least 27 months under room-temperature conditions. This research highlights A. micronesiensis and P. momoi as promising agents for managing Fusarium diseases and enhancing plant salinity tolerance. Further metabolomics investigations are recommended to clarify the functional roles of these endophytes in crop protection under stress conditions.

Safety design guidelines for clinician–AI interaction in computer-aided diagnosis systems using system-theoretic framework with explainability validation

Abstract Ensuring the safety of Artificial Intelligence-enabled Computer-Aided Diagnosis systems is critical because diagnostic errors can have serious consequences for patient care. However, existing regulatory and risk management frameworks often do not sufficiently address the complex socio-technical interactions between clinicians and Artificial Intelligent systems, leaving key human-centered safety challenges underexplored. This paper presents a systematic and human-centered approach to deriving safety design guidelines for clinician-Artificial Intelligence interaction in Computer-Aided Diagnosis systems using System-Theoretic Process Analysis. Through this analysis, we identify critical hazards associated with clinician–Artificial Intelligence collaboration, including automation bias on system recommendations, and misinterpretation of explanations. Based on the identified unsafe control actions, we formulate a set of actionable and traceable safety design guidelines that promote transparency, coherent explanations, and calibrated trust in Artificial Intelligence-assisted decision-making. To bridge safety analysis and system design, the proposed guidelines are operationalized within a Computer-Aided Diagnosis interaction framework. The framework includes a safety-oriented Graphical User Interface that integrates multiple explanation methods and interactive mechanisms to promote clinician engagement. Furthermore, we introduce a safety-oriented evaluation approach that uses consistency across multiple explanation methods as a quantitative indicator of potentially unreliable or ambiguous explanations. By linking System-Theoretic Process Analysis, interaction design, and explainability evaluation, this work provides a unified and reusable framework for improving the safety and reliability of Artificial Intelligence-driven Computer-Aided Diagnosis systems.

Systematic multi-parameter optimization of an injectable thermosensitive CS/β-GP/HEC hydrogel for 3D cell culture applications

Injectable thermosensitive hydrogels have been widely investigated as minimally invasive scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. In this study, we systematically screened a chitosan (CS)/β-glycerophosphate (β-GP)/hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) ternary hydrogel system using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. By evaluating gelation kinetics, injectability, and structural stability through a weighted scoring model, two superior formulations (G1 and G3) were selected for their ability to balance rapid gelation at 37 °C with reliable room-temperature injectability. Subsequent biological evaluations demonstrated that, compared to conventional 2D cultures, the 3D hydrogels supported robust cellular viability and spatial proliferation through Day 10. The stable biomimetic matrix provided essential physical anchorage, enabling Huh7 cells to self-assemble into dense tumor spheroids and BMSCs to establish spatial networks. This study presents a structured formulation-screening strategy and demonstrates the effectiveness of the CS/β-GP/HEC hydrogel as a reliable platform for in vitro 3D cell culture applications.

EEG evidence for reproducible neural states during Buddhist Highest Yoga Tantra meditation

Efficacy and safety of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics on hemoglobin and anemia in the pediatric population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics on hemoglobin levels and anemia in the pediatric population. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched up to August 2025. We included RCTs assessing prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics on hemoglobin or anemia in children. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE and minimal important differences. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251108276). Results Nineteen RCTs involving 4188 children were included. Compared to placebo or standard care, prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics (alone or with iron) showed no important effects on hemoglobin, hematocrit, or ferritin (certainty: high to very low). However, probiotics versus placebo may reduce anemia (1 RCT; RD: -−6 per 100; 95% CI: -−15 to +6, low certainty). No serious adverse events were reported; observed events were mainly mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics do not provide clinically important benefits on hemoglobin or anemia in children, although they appear safe. Larger, high-quality trials in high-risk populations are needed.

A dual moderation model of the relationship between depression and adolescent social media addiction

Chiral 3d–4f Clusters with NIR-III Magneto-Optical Activity Driven by Lanthanide f–f Transition

Abstract Chiral molecular materials with strong magneto-optical responses in the near-infrared III (NIR-III, 1600–2500 nm) region are attractive for applications in photonics, biomedicine, and advanced optical materials, but molecular magneto-optical phenomena in this spectral window remain largely unexplored. Here, we report six pairs of chiral 3d–4f molecular clusters, R/S-Ln3Mn4 and R/S-Ln12Mn12 (Ln = HoIII, TbIII, and YIII), and systematically investigate their chiroptical and magneto-optical properties in the NIR-III region. Circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy reveal that R/S-Ho3Mn4 and R/S-Ho12Mn12 clusters exhibit pronounced CD and MCD responses in the NIR-III region arising from long-wavelength HoIII f–f transitions, whereas R/S-Tb3Mn4 and R/S-Tb12Mn12 show strong MCD responses but no resolved CD signals. These findings identify long-wavelength lanthanide f–f transitions as the origin of the NIR-III chiroptical and magneto-optical activity. Notably, the R/S-Ln12Mn12 series exhibits larger gMCD values and stronger NIR-III MCD responses than the corresponding R/S-Ln3Mn4 analogues. This enhancement may arise from the change in local LnIII coordination geometry from D4d in Ln3Mn4 to D2d in Ln12Mn12, which favors a stronger Zeeman-perturbed MCD response, along with cooperative LnIII-MnII weak magnetic interactions in Ln12Mn12. This work provides the first molecular example of f–f-transition-driven chiroptical and magneto-optical activity across the NIR-III window and establishes chiral 3d–4f clusters as structurally defined platforms for tuning long-wavelength magneto-optical responses.

General healthcare preferences for people aged 50 and over in England: English longitudinal study of ageing

Background Treatment outcomes and satisfaction improve when healthcare decisions align with patient preferences. However, little is known about general health preferences in older adults, and eliciting patient preferences is time consuming. Aim To describe the distribution of preferences for healthcare in general, and associations between preferences and patient characteristics in adults aged 50 years and over in England. Design and setting Data were collected in wave 8 (2016/2017) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a biennial longitudinal survey of people aged 50 and over living in private households in England that began in 2002/2003 and is designed to be nationally representative. Method Data were collected from ELSA participants using face-to-face interviews and a short self completion questionnaire. Amongst other items, the questionnaire contained six measures of general healthcare preferences that had not been asked in previous ELSA waves: risk aversion, future orientation, quality or length of life, body function compared to looks, openness to experimental treatments, and preference to leave treatment decisions to a doctor. Results Healthcare preferences varied substantially, with some systematic patterns by age and sex: women were less likely than men to want to delegate decisions to doctors, and more likely to prioritise quality of life over length of life; participants aged over 75 years were more likely than younger participants to want to delegate decisions to doctors, and more likely to want to avoid risks. Conclusion The systematic sex and age differences offer a useful starting point for eliciting healthcare preferences in a busy clinical environment, but cannot replace asking about individual preferences.

Tunable temperature coefficient of resistance in PdSe2 films enabled by strain engineering

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, owing to their exceptional physical properties, show tremendous promise for developing high-performance bolometers and temperature sensors. Yet the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), the figure of merit that dictates the sensitivity of such thermosensitive devices, is typically fixed once the material is synthesized, precluding post-fabrication optimization for specific applications. Herein, we demonstrate that the TCR of PdSe 2 can be continuously and reversibly tuned in both directions through strain engineering. Under compressive strain the bandgap widens, whereas it narrows under tensile strain. This band structure reconfiguration translates directly into a controllable shift in TCR. Flexible PdSe 2 sensors fabricated on plastic substrates exhibit exceptionally wide TCR tunability: a modest − 0.63% compressive strain boosts the TCR value by 24.3% (from − 3.7% to − 4.6% °C − 1 ), while 0.56% tensile strain suppresses it by 18.9% (from − 3.7% down to − 3.0% °C − 1 ). Such excellent TCR tunability, together with the advantages of low-temperature and large-area fabrication, makes the PdSe 2 films highly promising for developing reconfigurable electronic skins, adaptive temperature sensors, and next-generation smart wearable sensing devices.

Smart Pickering Emulsions Co-Stabilized by Chalcogenoviologen Surfactants and Single-Atom Pt-Decorated g-C3N4 for Switchable Biphasic Photocatalysis

Abstract Interfacial reaction microenvironments play a critical role in determining photocatalytic performance beyond the intrinsic properties of photocatalysts. However, emulsion-based photocatalytic platforms that simultaneously offer structural robustness, switchable operation, and efficient interfacial charge-transfer regulation remain rare. Herein, smart-responsive Pickering emulsions are developed by costabilization of chalcogenoviologen surfactants (SV2+-UDA/SeV2+-UDA/TeV2+-UDA) and single-atom platinum-decorated graphitic carbon nitride (Pt SAs@g-C3N4) for biphasic photocatalysis. The resulting emulsions exhibit outstanding stability in strong acidic and alkaline media as well as in saturated brine while allowing reversible demulsification and re-emulsification under an external electric field, thereby enabling switchable catalysis and catalyst recovery. The optimized emulsion achieves a hydrogen evolution rate of up to 7824 μmol·h–1·g–1 under visible-light irradiation, corresponding to a 3.0-fold enhancement over the bulk aqueous, viologen-free system, while retaining over 90% of its activity across a wide pH range and under seawater salinity. More importantly, the emulsion functions as a bidirectional microreactor, coupling aqueous hydrogen evolution with oil-phase oxidative coupling of benzylamine without sacrificial reagents, and delivers imine yields above 85% together with a hydrogen evolution rate of 3892 μmol·h–1·g–1. The enhanced performance highlights the critical role of interfacial synergy. The surfactant/photocatalyst costabilization strategy provides a versatile platform for robust, switchable, and synergistic biphasic photocatalysis.

Pronunciation assessment in foreign language learning: Reliability and scoring bias in human–generative AI evaluation

This study examines the reliability and scoring bias of generative AI (Gen-AI)-based pronunciation assessment compared with human raters, addressing whether AI-generated scores can be trusted in real educational settings. Sixty students participated in a 12-week program. A total of 180 pronunciation samples were evaluated across eight subcomponents (individual phonemes, stress, rhythm, intonation, linking, reduction, fluency, and clarity) by three standardized human raters and Gen-AI using the same 7-point rubric. Quantitative analyses (intraclass correlation coefficients, paired-samples t-tests, and Pearson correlations) assessed reliability and bias, while semi-structured interviews with raters provided explanatory qualitative insights. Gen-AI demonstrated moderate reliability with human raters across most components, showing the highest agreement in fluency and the weakest in individual phonemes. However, Gen-AI consistently assigned significantly higher scores than human raters across all subcomponents. Qualitative findings revealed that discrepancies originated from Gen-AI’s limited discriminative power, systematic flaws in handling missing data, decontextualized scoring approach, lack of sensitivity to L1 interference, and inability to interpret pragmatic context. While Gen-AI cannot fully replace human expertise, it can function as a complementary tool for formative assessment and autonomous practice. A hybrid assessment model integrating Gen-AI’s efficiency with human raters’ contextual and interpretive insights is recommended for effective foreign language pronunciation education.

Genomic landscape of resistance and virulence in clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae from Ghana

From productive landscape to cultural space: The heterogeneous coupling of heritage value perception and tourist experience demand in the Grand Canal Cultural Route

In the context of rapid urbanization, the transformation of linear hydraulic heritage from productive landscapes to high-quality cultural spaces is a pivotal issue for sustainable development. Taking the Huai’an section of the China Grand Canal as a case study, this research explores the coupling mechanism between heritage value perception and tourist experience demand within a non-Western cultural route. Addressing the insufficient attention paid by existing literature to the dynamic evolution of production-and-transport heritage, this study adopts a systems theory perspective. It utilizes Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) to reveal the holistic mapping relationship between two sets of multidimensional variables. The findings indicate that the relationship between heritage value perception and experience demand is not a simple linear correspondence, but rather a significant heterogenetic driving mechanism. Particularly, the strong coupling effect of narrative value and the spirit of place on educational experience demands identifies the core variables through which Grain Transport Cultural Route enhances local identity and spatial perception. The study further reveals the constraints of social stratification on heritage consumption, confirming the moderating effects of cultural capital and social background in the “perception-demand” transformation process. By challenging static preservation views, this study proposes a dynamic, multidimensional evolutionary model of heritage cognition. It provides an analytical framework and policy guidelines for soft-power transformation and segmented protection of linear heritage in non-European contexts, offering a significant theoretical contribution to heritage functional activation in urban sustainable development.

Biocompatibility of a novel directly printed orthodontic aligner at variable material thicknesses

Abstract Direct printed aligners (DPAs) represent a revolution in aligner orthodontics, enabling in-office fabrication of customized removable orthodontic appliances and precise, region-specific thickness modulation within a single aligner. Accordingly, this study assessed whether the manufacturer’s standard 20-minute UV post-cure is adequate to ensure biocompatibility of DPAs made from LuxCreo DCA resin (LuxCreo Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) as appliance thickness increases up to 6 mm. Specimen discs (Ø 10 mm) of varying thickness (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 mm) were 3D printed and post-processed according to the LuxAlign (LuxCreo Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) closed end-to-end workflow. Thickness was verified by digital caliper and biocompatibility was assessed using the AlamarBlue assay on human gingival fibroblasts. Printed specimens closely matched nominal dimensions and cell viability always remained above 70%, the ISO 10993-5 threshold for non-cytotoxicity. No significant differences were observed between the standard 0.5 mm and thicker groups (1–6 mm), indicating that increased thickness did not further impair biocompatibility. These findings demonstrate that the standardized LuxAlign workflow, including a 20-minute UV-curing, produces dimensionally accurate, non-cytotoxic appliances from LuxCreo DCA resin up to 6 mm thickness, supporting safe clinical use without extending post-curing.