Table of Contents: Volume 18; Issue 09; September, 2026

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oilseed crop that, valued for its edible seeds, could serve as a genuine source of income for farmers. However, its cultivation is threatened by numerous pathogens which limit its yield. This study aims to improve sesame crop productivity by identifying pathological constraints affecting the agronomic performance of farmers' seed varieties from a major production area in Côte d’Ivoire. Sesame samples were collected from producers in ten villages. The pH and moisture content of these seeds were determined. Seed-deteriorating fungi were then identified, and sensitivity tests against Sclerotium rolfsii and Alternaria sp. were conducted. The results obtained revealed that seed moisture content ranged from 1.45% to 5.82%, with a slightly acidic pH ranging from 5.24 to 5.91. Three fungal spoilage species were isolated from the seeds as epiphytic microflora, namely Aspergillus sp. (66.6%), Alternaria sp. (50%), and Sclerotium rolfsii (25%), whilst four (4) fungal species were identified in the endophytic microflora, namely Aspergillus sp. (50.67 per cent), Mucor sp. (30%), Phoma sp. (13.33%) and Penicillium sp. (06%) were isolated from the seeds. With regard to susceptibility tests, the plants grown in holes inoculated with Sclerotium rolfsii and Alternaria sp. showed symptoms of disease, unlike the control plants, which appeared healthy. The average weight of 1,000 grains was 2.51 g for the control plants and 1.31 g for the inoculated plants. The control plants produced an average of 16 grains per capsule, compared with 7 grains and 6 grains for plants inoculated with Sclerotium rolfsii and Alternaria sp. respectively. Plants inoculated with Alternaria sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii produced an average of 21 and 19 capsules respectively, compared with an average of 42 capsules for the controls. Furthermore, accessions A4 and A5 were the least susceptible to attacks by Sclerotium rolfsii and Alternaria sp., respectively.

The Koyli-Alpha Community Nature Reserve, located in northern Senegal, is a major site for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation within the Great Green Wall zone. This study establishes a baseline assessment of the reserve’s woody vegetation based on 29 systematic sampling plots covering a cumulative area of 7.25 ha. Floristic composition, diversity, stand structure, and natural regeneration were analyzed. A total of nine species, belonging to three families and five genera, were recorded, including six species in the adult compartment and eight in the regeneration layer. The adult stand exhibited a strong oligodominance of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana and Balanites aegyptiaca, which accounted for 95.4% of individuals, 97.5% of basal area, and 97.0% of canopy cover. Adult stand density reached 106.9 individuals•ha⁻¹, with a basal area of 3.00 m²•ha⁻¹ and canopy cover of 28.6%. Natural regeneration was relatively abundant (229.4 individuals•ha⁻¹) but remained dominated by the same species, which accounted for 90.1% of young individuals. Floristic richness was comparable to that reported by Kébé et al. (2020), despite differences in secondary species composition and stand density. These findings indicate an active but still poorly diversified regeneration dynamic. The conservation of less abundant species, monitoring of seedling survival and recruitment, and assessment of herbivory by reintroduced wildlife are essential for evaluating the reserve’s restoration trajectory. Establishing permanent monitoring plots inside and outside the reserve would further strengthen long-term ecological monitoring.

This researchoffers a behavioral reading of Anne Hillerman’s Song of the lion(2017) by framing the Hopi and Diné communities’ responses to anact of ecoterrorism through Murray Bowen’s family systems theory. The bombing at Shiprock Hight School, initially perceived as an environmental protest, is revealed as a calculated strategy to inflame intertribal tensions and disrupt economic negotiations tied to Grand Canyon development. Rather than treating adversity as a simple external threat, the analysis positions it as a compound force that tests the emotional and relational cohesion of the Navajo Nation, the novel’s core community.While instigating an atmosphere of enmity and separation of the initially close-knit groups, the adversitydoes notinferthe final stage ofthearisen conflictwithin the community. Itratherunveils the family and community ties that maintain the unity of the group members ready to confront the forces jeopardizing the harmony and theirrelationship. By applying Bowen’s family systems theory to contemporary Native American crime fiction, this study bridges behavioral psychology and literary analysis to illuminate how Hillerman’s narrative models intertribal solidarity under duress.The article proceeds along three interrelated lines of inquiryincluding defining adversity and its literary function in the novel, Analyzing Navajo (Diné) and Hopi behavioral responses and Consolidation of community ties and resilience.

This study investigates the structural, commercial, and spatial dynamics of Chhattisgarh—a landlocked, natural-resource-abundant province in Central India—using harmonized macroeconomic, banking, and trade records across the 2011–12 constant series. Despite accounting for a major share (approximately 13.4% based on recent Indian Bureau of Mines and state economic surveys) of India’s total mineral production value and maintaining base load electricity surpluses, the state exhibits classic sub-national resource enclave dynamics. Analysis of Gross Value Added reveals an industrial sector generating over 50% of real output, while modern commercial services—specifically Trade, Repair, and Hospitality (LQ = 0.67) and Financial Intermediation (LQ = 0.60)—exhibit persistent structural deficits. Outbound merchandise trade displays high commodity concentration (longitudinal mean HHI* = 0.294), with over 81% of export value concentrated in primary metals and bulk rice. Spatially, commercial bank credit is heavily polarized along the central urban spine (absorbing 68.4% of credit with a Credit-Deposit ratio of 88.6%), while peripheral agrarian and forested belts register ratios between 42.5% and 48.2%. The analysis clarifies that while decentralized public grain procurement cushions farm receipts, low credit deployment in peripheral belts reflects statutory collateral constraints under Fifth Schedule (PESA) land protections in tribal areas, alongside agricultural crop-financing dynamics in rural plains, rather than simple capital flight. We conclude by outlining targeted non-distortionary policy interventions in multi-modal logistics and non-timber forest produce supply chains to support regional economic diversification.

Rehabilitation of distal extension partial edentulism prosthetically has remained a significant challenge over the years. Conventional partial dentures are not accepted satisfactorily by the patient due to lack of adequate retention and stability and reduction in bite force particularly in the mandible. Implant retained overdentures can bridge the gap between traditional removable prosthesis and fixed implant restorations.

This article analyses the development of management, performance and methodological adaptation within the Porto Sul Social Incubator (ISPS), an outreach project of the State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), developed in partnership with Bahia Mineração (BAMIN) between 2023 and the first half of 2026. This is an applied, descriptive and analytical study employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, conducted through a case study, documentary research and a literature review. Management plans, reports, activity records, spreadsheets, training materials and institutional dashboards were analysed. The results recorded 653 mobilisation activities, reaching 8,645 people across 28 communities, with 16 entrepreneurs selected and 18 training topics delivered. A substantial increase in advisory sessions was observed, from seven in 2023 to 22 in 2025, accompanied by an increase in average participation. Methodological adaptations were also identified, including the replacement of a formal public call with invitation letters, cohort restructuring, the expansion of training content and the introduction of complementary activities. The study concludes that the ISPS underwent progressive organisational structuring, intensified participant support and demonstrated adaptive capacity, although more systematic indicators of participant retention and enterprise outcomes are still required.

Uganda, a democratic republic with a decentralized governance structure, has implemented policies aligned with its Vision 2040 to uplift community welfare as part of its transition to middle-income status. Despite government, and NGO efforts, challenges persist in achieving sustainable community livelihoods, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Asset-based approaches represent a shift from deficit-oriented frameworks, focusing on mobilizing existing community strengths rather than addressing needs only. This paper investigates the impact of asset-based approaches on enhancing quality community livelihoods in Uganda, focusing on community assets like people, natural resources, technology, and knowledge. The paper used a cross-sectional, mixed-methods design, collecting data from 338 respondents in Kabaale Township, Buseruka Sub-County, to analyze the relationship between asset-based approaches and community well-being. Results indicate a strong, positive correlation between asset-based strategies and livelihood quality (r=0.833, p<0.01), suggesting that investments in community assets significantly improve socio-economic conditions. Factor analysis showed that people’s involvement in productive activities, access to natural resources, the adoption of technology, and knowledge on asset management are key components influencing community livelihoods. Regression analysis further revealed that asset-based approaches account for a substantial proportion of livelihood improvement variance (adjustedR² = 0.741). The paper concludes that asset-based approaches are critical to enhancing community resilience, self-sufficiency and livelihood outcomes and empower communities to become active agents of change within their socio-economic landscapes. It recommends a shift in community development practices towards asset mobilization and empowerment to foster sustainable growth, aligning with Uganda’s broader socio-economic goals.

Employee retention is a strategic concern in knowledge-intensive information technology (IT) organizations because the loss of skilled employees can disrupt organizational knowledge, project continuity, team cohesion and innovation. This study examines the relationship between transformational leadership and talent retention among IT employees in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India, with employee engagement examined as an explanatory mechanism. Drawing on transformational leadership theory and Social Exchange Theory, transformational leadership is represented by idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used with 379 valid responses obtained from IT employees through stratified sampling. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, covariance-based structural equation modelling and Hayes PROCESS analyses were used. Transformational leadership was perceived moderately positively (M = 3.5008, SD = 0.54965), while talent retention was also relatively favourable (M = 3.5482, SD = 0.68869). Transformational leadership was significantly correlated with talent retention (r = .606, p < .001), and the full regression model explained 63.3% of the variance in talent retention (R² = .633; F = 91.296, p < .001). Intellectual stimulation (β = .204, p < .001) and individualized consideration (β = .144, p = .017) were significant positive unique predictors. Employee engagement significantly mediated the leadership–retention relationship: the bootstrapped indirect effect was .581, 95% CI (.452, .715), and approximately 77% of the total effect operated through engagement. In contrast, the interaction between leadership and engagement was not significant (b = .0368, p = .466), indicating no moderation. The findings suggest that IT organizations should develop leaders who stimulate employee thinking, provide individualized developmental support and deliberately cultivate engagement. Importantly, the article treats intention to stay as one component of the broader talent-retention construct rather than incorrectly equating the two.