Emilio Aguinaldo College

This study explores the integration of metaverse technology in enhancing educational quality assurance at a primary school in China and its impact on quality assurance effectiveness. A total of 120 teachers participated in a survey assessing six domains of metaverse integration—pedagogical design, technological infrastructure, teacher competence, student engagement, school leadership, and psychosocial impact—and their relationship with nine domains of educational quality assurance. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between pedagogical design, technological infrastructure, teacher competence, and school leadership with key quality assurance areas such as professional development, resource optimization, policy alignment, and data-driven decision-making. Overall, the degree of metaverse integration (r = 0.34) showed a positive correlation with improved educational quality assurance delivery, suggesting that as metaverse technology is further integrated, educational quality assurance is perceived to improve. This study fills a research gap by linking metaverse integration with educational quality assurance and offers actionable recommendations for school administrators, teachers, and technology developers to foster the digital transformation of quality assurance systems in primary education.

The management of Physical Education (PE) in high schools faces significant challenges in the post-pandemic era, particularly in developing regions like Guizhou, China. This study investigates the specific problems and possibilities in PE management as perceived by the teachers implementing these programs. Methods:​ A quantitative survey was administered to 55 PE teachers from three high schools in Guizhou. The questionnaire assessed their perceptions of challenges and potential solutions across five domains: budget management, resource allocation, professional development, teaching strategies, and curriculum design. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analysis. Results:​ Teachers identified budget management and allocation as the most significant challenge (M=2.71), while also rating it as the area with the lowest potential for immediate resolution. In contrast, curriculum design and innovation were seen as a moderate challenge (M=3.01) but held the highest potential for improvement. A significant positive correlation was found between teachers' assessment of challenges and their belief in the possibility of addressing them. Discussion:​ The findings indicate that while systemic issues like funding are major obstacles, teachers are optimistic about solutions within their control, particularly pedagogical innovation. The study concludes that effective PE management improvement should involve strategic budget advocacy by administrators while empowering teachers to develop context-specific, innovative curricula that maximize existing resources.

Buddhism is one of the major religions in China, introduced to China during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Buddhist culture has a close relationship with Chinese Wushu, and Shaolin Wushu best embodies the "Zen" culture formed under the influence of Buddhism's localization in China. As a major representative of Chinese Wushu, Shaolin Wushu has five main dissemination channels: dissemination among master and disciple in temples, dissemination among the folk in the jianghu (the community of martial artists), dissemination in ancient battlefields, dissemination in film and television works, and dissemination in foreign exchanges. The dissemination of Shaolin Wushu not only enables Chinese people to have a better understanding of Shaolin culture, but also makes the world view China with new admiration.

This study examined the relationship between primary education leadership practices of school administrators and the teacher professional development (TPD) initiatives implemented by the university. Specifically, it assessed leadership across four dimensions—instructional, transformational, distributed, and socio-political—and explored how these influenced various aspects of professional development, including continuous learning, collaborative practices, technology integration, and contextual responsiveness. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were gathered from 200 primary education teachers through structured survey instruments. Results indicated that instructional leadership was the most prominently practiced, while transformational and distributed leadership showed moderate implementation. Teacher professional development was rated positively overall, with contextual influences and technology integration emerging as the strongest areas, though continuous learning showed relative weaknesses. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in assessments based on sex or age, but notable variations were observed by teaching experience, particularly in perceptions of instructional leadership and collaborative practices. Importantly, correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between leadership practices and teacher professional development, especially in the domains of instructional and socio-political leadership with technology integration and continuous learning. These findings underscore the critical role of adaptive and inclusive leadership in shaping effective professional development environments. The study concludes by proposing an Enhanced Leadership Capacity-Building Program to strengthen school leadership and ensure more relevant, sustained, and impactful teacher development efforts.

This study examines the relationship between personal brand development and business resiliency in a sporting goods retail company in Yunnan Province, China. Using a descriptive-correlational design, we analyzed five dimensions of personal branding (social media engagement, content creation, professional expertise, emotional components, and trust) and six aspects of business resiliency (risk management, supply chain resilience, technological integration, soft controls, social capital, and entrepreneurial characteristics). Results showed moderate integration of personal branding among employees, with social media engagement (WM=3.03) and emotional components scoring highest, while trust (WM=2.87) and professional expertise showed room for improvement. Business resiliency was similarly moderate (Overall WM=2.89), with entrepreneurial characteristics (WM=3.18) and social capital (WM=3.01) as strengths, while risk management (WM=2.63) needed attention. A significant positive correlation (r=0.318, p<0.001) was found between personal branding and business resiliency, highlighting their interdependence. Gender and position influenced perceptions, with females rating technological integration higher and senior employees showing stronger entrepreneurial alignment. The findings suggest that targeted personal branding training, enhanced risk management strategies, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture could strengthen organizational resilience. These insights provide practical guidance for retail companies seeking to leverage employee branding for competitive advantage.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is exerting an increasingly profound influence on education. However, existing research lacks a systematic investigation into postgraduate students’ behavioral patterns and influencing mechanisms in academic writing. Addressing this gap, the first phase of this study collected 49 qualitative responses from Chinese postgraduates, identifying six key constructs: perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, information privacy risk, security risk, attitude, and distrust. In the second phase, drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Distrust Theory, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted with 382 survey responses. The findings reveal that attitude, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, and security risk are significant direct predictors of intention to use GenAI. Attitude fully mediates the effect of distrust and partially mediates the effects of facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, and security risk. This model explains 67.9% of the variance in usage intention. Highlighting attitude and risk perception as key mechanisms, this study contributes by integrating TAM with Distrust Theory, providing novel evidence from the Chinese postgraduate context and offering practical implications for higher education.

Background and objectiveAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) poses a significant health risk, particularly in aging populations. This study aims to quantify the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and AAA development through a systematic review and meta-analysis, emphasizing numerical results for clarity.MethodFollowing PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, SCOPUS, Medline and Embase searches were conducted. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using standardized tools. Statistical analysis involved calculating a pooled risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to determine the association between H. pylori infection and AAA development.ResultAmong the 8 selected studies, H. pylori infection exhibited a statistically significant overall RR of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.14–2.08, P = 0.005) for AAA development. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to address high heterogeneity, revealing consistent results. The event rate analysis across studies showed an overall rate of 41%, (95% CI: 0.293 to 0.547) with significant variability observed among individual study populations.ConclusionThe meta-analysis confirms a significant association between H. pylori infection and AAA development, with an elevated risk ratio of 1.54. These findings underscore the importance of further research to elucidate underlying mechanisms and inform preventive strategies and interventions aimed at mitigating the risk of AAA in individuals with H. pylori infection.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-025-05148-y.

This research delves into the experiences, motivations, and challenges of Muslim women in the Philippines who wear the niqab. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study focuses on the perspectives of ten professional Muslim women from the Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug communities. The results reveal that wearing the niqab is a deeply personal and spiritual choice, closely tied to religious commitment, cultural identity, and individual preference. However, niqab-wearing Muslim women often face significant social prejudice, workplace discrimination, and exclusion, particularly in multicultural settings. Despite these challenges, they have shown resilience and regard the niqab as a powerful symbol of their faith. This study contributes to the existing literature on religious identification, gender, and social inclusion by shedding light on the Philippine context, an area often underrepresented in global discourses on veiling and Islamophobia. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing how religious expression shapes the social and professional experiences of Muslim women, particularly in pluralistic societies. The findings underscore the need for increased social awareness, greater acceptance, and the promotion of religious diversity. Practically, the study calls for inclusive policies in workplaces and educational institutions, as well as culturally sensitive community programs that affirm the dignity and rights of Muslim women who wear the niqab. Future research may explore the role of the niqab in leadership, mobility, and digital spaces to gain deeper insights into the sociological transformations it influences in modern society.

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes permanent lung damage and is a global health issue. Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) with Zephyr valves has increased COPD treatment choices for individuals with persistent symptoms despite maximal drug therapy.Objectives:This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated available Zephyr valve data in severe emphysema patients.Data and methods:We searched Cochrane, PubMed, Google Scholar, Lilacs, and Science Direct extensively and included eight randomized control trials (RCTs).Results:This meta-analysis comprises 1083 patients 669 Zephyr valve-treated and 414 control. The mean difference in 6-minute walking distance was 37.53 meters (95% CI: 22.14–52.90, P < 0.001). Statistically significant improvements were also observed in FEV1 predicted percentage (mean difference: 13.64, 95% CI: 8.51–18.77, P < 0.001) and BODE index change (mean difference: −0.79, 95% CI: −1.33 to 0.26, P < 0.05), mMRC dyspnea scale (mean difference: −0.27, 95% CI: −0.55 to 0.02, P < 0.01) and residual volume (mean difference: −0.14, 95% CI: −0.64 to 0.35, P < 0.01). The quality of life measured by SGRQ also improved significantly (mean difference: −6.69, 95% CI: −9.69, −4.23, P < 0.001). While COPD exacerbation rates (OR:1.41, 95% CI: 0.87–2.30, P > 0.05) and pneumonia rates (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.7–4.23, P > 0.05) were similar between valve and control groups, pneumothorax risk was significantly higher in the treatment arm (OR: 11.06, 95% CI: 4.10–29.80, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the groups (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 0.53–5.38, P > 0.38).Conclusion:Zephyr valves may improve lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients suffering from severe emphysema. However, the increased risk of pneumothorax requires careful patient selection and rigorous post-intervention monitoring.

This study investigates the relationship between inter-organizational business networks and operational efficiency among 300 employees across various industries in Beijing, China. Using a quantitative comparative correlational design, the research revealed high implementation levels of inter-organizational networks in risk management with a mean of 2.89, advocacy at 2.89, innovation at 2.90, and flexibility at 2.74. Operational efficiency demonstrated strong performance in production with a mean of 3.12 and supply chain management at 3.08, while inventory management scored lower at 2.73. Demographic analysis showed employees with 5-10 years of service perceived network effectiveness 15% higher than newer colleagues, and female respondents reported 8% greater satisfaction with collaborative advocacy. The study identified three key mechanisms connecting networks to efficiency: resource sharing with a beta of 0.42, knowledge transfer at 0.38, and joint problem-solving at 0.35. These findings indicate that while inter-organizational networks significantly enhance operational performance, their impact varies across business functions and employee demographics. The research proposes a strategic implementation plan featuring inventory optimization software, supply chain visibility platforms, and cross-functional advocacy teams, with an estimated budget of 900,000 yuan to maximize network benefits.