March 2026

Purpose: This study examines the moderating effect of customer satisfaction on the relationship between informal sector employee dynamics and the performance of food processing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kakamega County, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational survey design. The target population comprised 68,420 informal sector employees working within food processing SMEs across Kakamega County. A sample of 384 respondents was drawn using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) formula, with stratified random sampling employed to ensure representation across the county's twelve sub-counties. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Version 27 with Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 1) for moderation analysis. Findings: The results revealed that informal sector employee dynamics (skills development, job security perception, and workplace conditions) significantly predict food processing SME performance (β = 0.342, p < 0.001). Customer satisfaction significantly moderates this relationship (ΔR² = 0.047, p < 0.01), with the interaction effect accounting for 4.7% of the variance in SME performance. The conditional effect of employee dynamics on performance strengthens as customer satisfaction increases, indicating that customer satisfaction amplifies the positive impact of effective employee management. Practical Implications: Food processing SME owners in Kakamega County should invest in both employee welfare and customer satisfaction simultaneously, as their interaction produces superior performance outcomes. County government policies should support integrated approaches to SME development that address both internal (employee) and external (customer) stakeholders. Value: This is the first study to examine the moderating role of customer satisfaction in the informal sector employee-performance nexus within Kenya's food processing subsector, providing novel insights for theory and practice in the 2026 context of devolved economic development.

To isolate the Aflatoxin producing Aspergillus species in different infected food materials, ground nuts, maize and coconut endosperm are infected with different types of fungal species in which some are contaminated with aflatoxin producing aspergillus species. The aflatoxin production was observed the plates are exposed to UV light followed TLC method. Then the aflatoxin producing species are identified by their growth on coconut agar medium blue fluorescence was observed when exposed to a UV-light, Aflatoxins are highly toxic, carcinogenic compounds produced by certain fungi (Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus) that grow on crops, particularly in warm, humid conditions. They commonly contaminate ground nuts, maize, coconut, peanuts, corn, tree nuts, and spices, posing serious liver cancer risks to humans and animals.

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the information landscape and redefining the roles and responsibilities of library professionals. From automated cataloguing, intelligent discovery systems, and chatbots to predictive analytics and personalized user services, AI technologies are increasingly embedded in library operations and services. This chapter examines the impact of AI on the future of library professionals, focusing on how traditional roles are evolving into technology-enabled, data-driven, and user-centric functions. It explores emerging competencies such as AI literacy, data stewardship, algorithmic awareness, and ethical decision-making, which are essential for librarians in the digital age. The chapter also discusses challenges associated with AI adoption, including bias, data privacy, transparency, workforce reskilling, and the digital divide. By highlighting real-world applications and future trends, the study emphasizes the need for continuous professional development and institutional support to ensure that library professionals remain relevant and resilient. The chapter concludes that AI should be viewed not as a replacement but as an augmentative tool that empowers library professionals to enhance access to information, improve service quality, and strengthen their role as facilitators of knowledge in an AI-driven society.

This study explores the impact of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) on the economy of Bangladesh, focusing on the Khulna (Sundarbans) and Kushtia (Lalon&Khuti bari). CBT is a community-owned tourism model designed to foster economic development through the preservation of local culture and nature. Utilizing a primary survey of 50 participants alongside secondary data, the research evaluates how CBT influences income, employment, and poverty alleviation. Key findings indicate a significant positive shift in the demographic and economic status of participants. After joining CBT programs, unemployment among respondents plummeted from 42% to 6%, while self-employment rose from 26% to 50%. Income levels also saw substantial growth, with 44% of respondents moving into the Tk. 21,000–30,000 annual net income bracket and 84% reporting that their income had become sufficient to meet their needs. Despite these gains, the study identifies challenges such as the fragile state of the national tourism industry and lower participation rates among women and older age groups. The research concludes that with integrated national policies, public-private partnerships, and improved infrastructure, CBT can serve as a vital tool for sustainable rural development and foreign exchange earnings in Bangladesh.

The study was aimed at investigating the relationship between gender stereotype and students’ psychological wellbeing in the University of Buea. The study was guided by two research objectives which were to; find out how teachers attitude affects students’ psychological wellbeing and to determine how students’ self-esteem affects their psychological wellbeing. This study employed the convergent parallel design. The population of the study was made up of all the undergraduate students and lecturers teaching undergraduate from the University of Buea. The target population consisted 8254 undergraduate students from two selected faculties and a college, The accessible population was made up of 1222 level 200 students. The sample size was 260 students selected using simple randomly sampling technique and 9 lecturers were selected using purposive sampling technique. The data were collected using a questionnaire that was made up of close-ended items for students and an interview guide for lecturers. Data we reanalysed inferentially and thematically, For the inferential statistics, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to analysis the data while the qualitative data were analysis using thematic analysis.Findings showed that there is a significant and positive relationship between teacher attitude and students’ psychological wellbeing. The positive sign of the correlation value implies that the psychological wellbeing of student increases when their teacher’s attitudes toward them are positive, findings also showed that there is a significant and positive relationship between self-esteem and students’ psychological wellbeing. The positive sign of the correlation value implies that the students’ psychological wellbeing increases when their self-esteem is positive. Based on the above findings, it was recommended that; training should be organize on gender sensitive techniques through workshops for teachers to change their attitudes and behaviours toward all gender and government should develop and implement gender sensitive polices in all academic institutions.

The review deals mainly with the intriguing facts of complex mechanism of interaction of the Gut-microbiota, Blood group antigens and Dietary interventions; further as per charismatic effect of yoga, its role in regulating the human metabolism cannot be denied. On the basis of the extensive work carried on in the past decade, and vast experience of the researchers of the institute, the present review has been sketched to establish a meaningful correlation between Gut-Microbiome, Histo-Blood Group and Diet, with intervening effect ofYoga, useful to evolve a holistic approach to deal with several chronic diseases and health problems.

The correlation between Artificial Intelligence and digital humanities paves the way to the pivotal transformations in the 21st Century. New technologies and AI tools are being used for assistance in writing and analysingtext through digital tools, which are stepping into the educational sector. The borders separating digital computation and humanistic understandings are reduced. This paper precisely examines the role of AI tools in the field of digital humanities and how they reconstruct the learning process, innovative mind and critical thinking of learners. The study includes some of the theories such as constructionism, universal design for learning, situated learning and cultural history activity theory. These literary frameworks showcase the process of learning through digital mediation, socio-interaction, and a comprehensive environment for learning and collaborative engagement. Moreover, learning through AI in the digital era emphasises knowledge through a collaborative learning approach and aims to enhance the futuristic learning environment. The incorporation of AI in academics fosters the learning and interactions of students as well as protects the emotions, critical thinking and cultural understandings when supervised by the moral frameworks and thoughtful pedagogy. This paper keenly sums up with the futuristic recommendations for academicians, scholars and industrialists seeking to maintain the balance between human and non-human intelligences in the digitalised era.

O presente artigo científico analisa o impacto do Instituto de Defesa Nacional (IDN) na preservação da Defesa e Segurança Nacional em Angola, destacando o seu papel na formação estratégica de quadros civis e militares, na consolidação das Políticas Públicas de Defesa e Segurança Nacional e no fortalecimento do Sistema de Segurança Nacional. A investigação adopta uma abordagem qualitativa, baseada em revisão bibliográfica, análise documental e enquadramento jurídico-institucional angolano. Conclui-se que, num contexto marcado por desafios como o terrorismo, o crime organizado transnacional, a cibercriminalidade e as ameaças híbridas, o IDN assume-se como um centro de excelência para a produção de conhecimento estratégico e para o fortalecimento da soberania nacional, através da andragogia e estratégias lineares por se constituir um pilar essencial na consolidação da Defesa e Segurança Nacional em Angola, contribuindo para a estabilidade institucional, a preservação da paz e o desenvolvimento sustentável do país. o IDN afirma-se como pilar basilar e fundamental na promoção da cultura estratégica, na articulação interinstitucional e na capacitação técnica para a governação da segurança, contribuindo directamente para a estabilidade, soberania e desenvolvimento nacional.

Okra is a vegetable renowned for its nutritional properties. It helps improve the standard of living of rural populations in Côte d'Ivoire. However, okra cultivation faces a major challenge in the form of the pest Podagrica decolorata. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the damage caused by P. decolorata in both the dry and rainy seasons over two consecutive years with a view to proposing effective control strategies at specific times. Sampling was carried out on 32 central plants, eliminating the plants at the edges. The study revealed that P. decolorata attacks all parts of the okra plant, with a preference for the leaves, with an attack rate of up to 100% at the flowering-fruiting stage. The extent of damage to the leaves revealed that in the dry season, the leaves are heavily attacked by P. decolorata at the pre-flowering and flower bud stages. The results of this study offer a good perspective in the control of this pest and thus improve okra production in Côte d'Ivoire.

Driven by the national "Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality" strategy and the Ministry of Education's "New Engineering" initiative, the traditional training model for environmental engineering talents faces structural transformation pressure, urgently requiring a shift towards a new engineering paradigm that cultivates interdisciplinary knowledge integration capabilities, outstanding engineering practical abilities, and cutting-edge innovative thinking. Taking the environmental engineering program at Hunan Institute of Technology as an empirical research object, this study identifies core issues in current talent cultivation through systematic investigation and in-depth analysis, including curriculum systems lagging behind industrial technology iterations, scattered practical teaching resources disconnected from real engineering scenarios, lack of interdisciplinary knowledge integration mechanisms, and evaluation orientations emphasizing knowledge memorization over ability innovation. Based on this, a "Knowledge-Ability-Platform" trinity practical and innovative ability training model oriented towards the "Dual Carbon" goals is constructed. Through modular curriculum restructuring, building a "Four-Dimensional Integrated" practical teaching platform, implementing interdisciplinary project-driven teaching, and innovating multi-dimensional dynamic evaluation mechanisms, this model forms a closed-loop system that organically connects the education chain and talent chain with the industrial chain and innovation chain. Over three years of practice have shown that this model significantly enhances students' comprehensive literacy in low-carbon technology application, complex environmental problem-solving, and teamwork, with graduates demonstrating markedly improved employment competitiveness, scientific research transformation capabilities, and social service effectiveness, providing a referable and scalable reform paradigm for cultivating environmental new engineering talents in local application-oriented undergraduate institutions.

Background: Childbirth rituals are profoundly embedded in cultural traditions. These traditions cover a diverse array of beliefs, rituals, and societal conventions that influence the experiences and choices of women throughout pregnancy, labour, and delivery. Sacred rituals, folklore, and customs handed down through the ages all have an impact on culture. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the traditional and cultural practices followed during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. Methodology: Purposive sampling was used to choose the study participants. Data were gathered through comprehensive interviews. Thematic analysis was used to examine and understand the interview transcript and field notes. The researcher meticulously reviewed the transcript multiple times to enhance comprehension of the context and subsequently identified the principal themes and subthemes. Result: Respondents reported many cultural, traditional and religious practices experienced by the women of Deoria district during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. Practices like restriction, tying black cloth around arm, wearing small knife, food taboos, burying of umbilical cord, confinement in a room after delivery, drinking holy water, praying to god and body massage were some of the practices followed by the women. Conclusion: Traditional and cultural practices significantly influence women's experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in the Deoria district. Numerous behaviours provide emotional and social support; nonetheless, it is crucial to comprehend them to ensure that maternal healthcare interventions are safe and culturally respectful.