esearch examines the ongoing democratic decline in three West African nations—Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Niger—that have experienced significant setbacks despite the democratic progress made during the 1990s regional liberalization wave. These countries have suffered from authoritarian regression, military coups, and widespread citizen disillusionment, even after establishing multiparty systems and pursuing constitutional reforms. Using a historical-institutionalist framework and combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the study analyzed data from Afrobarometer surveys and democratic indices from V-Dem and Freedom House to assess the scope of democratic challenges and reform potential. The findings reveal that deeply rooted authoritarian traditions, weak state institutions, and socio-cultural factors like clientelist political networks have systematically obstructed democratic development, creating reinforcing patterns of political dysfunction where elite manipulation and institutional weakness persist as dominant features. While the research identifies some encouraging modernization trends, including growing political awareness among youth and increased civic engagement in urban areas, these positive developments remain overshadowed by structural impediments. The study concludes that without comprehensive structural transformation and meaningful citizen empowerment, sustainable democratic consolidation will remain out of reach for these nations, though potential pathways exist through youth activism, constitutional reform, and enhanced regional oversight mechanisms.

This study investigated the effects of organic mulching on weed suppression, growth, and yield of upland rice (UPN 304) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A randomized complete block design with four treatments (sawdust, wood shavings, dried guinea grass, and control) and four replications was employed. Mulch materials were applied at 2kg per plant with 2cm thickness at 2 weeks after planting. Data were collected on growth parameters (plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, and tillers), yield components (fresh and dry weight of tillers, number and weight of panicles, 100-grain weight), and weed biomass at two-week intervals from 4-12 weeks after planting. Results showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in growth parameters among treatments, though sawdust achieved the highest plant height (45.20 cm). Dried grass mulch significantly increased fresh tiller weight (6788.89 kg/ha) compared to control (3166.67 kg/ha), while wood shavings produced the highest 100-grain weight (45333.33 kg/ha). Unexpectedly, control plots demonstrated better weed suppression than mulched treatments, possibly due to late mulch application. Wood shavings and dried grass are recommended for enhanced rice yield, though application timing requires optimization for effective weed management.

In computational catalysis, machine learning potentials (MLPs) have become increasingly important and disruptive because they offer a way to advance the promise of quantum mechanics to solve problems of catalysis with high accuracy at very low cost in terms of computation time. The review explores the current trends of the MLP architectures, training, and their implementations in modeling catalytic reactions. We talk about the conceptual tenets of ML-based force fields, how it can be used in any catalytic system, and the obstacles on the way to data efficiency, transferability, and uncertainty quantification. Precious applications such as single-atom catalyst, transition metal complex and high-throughput screening utilize a case study in recent times. MLPs combined with quantum mechanical calculations, automated reaction elucidation and foundation model technologies are areas of potential improvements in catalytic reaction knowledge.

Access to clean water remains a critical global challenge, with over 2 billion people lacking safely managed drinking water services . Conventional water treatment technologies often prove economically and technically unfeasible for resource-limited communities . This paper examines the potential of adsorption-based water treatment systems utilizing low-cost adsorbent materials as sustainable solutions for community-scale applications. Through comprehensive analysis of natural materials, agricultural wastes, and industrial byproducts, we demonstrate their effectiveness in removing diverse contaminants including heavy metals, organic pollutants, dyes, and pathogens . Key findings indicate that materials such as activated carbon from agricultural residues, modified clay minerals, and biochar can achieve removal efficiencies exceeding 90% for various contaminants while maintaining cost-effectiveness below $0.50 per cubic meter of treated water. Case studies from India, Nigeria, and Peru reveal successful community deployment models with high user acceptance rates (>85%) when coupled with appropriate training and maintenance protocols . The synthesis highlights critical design considerations including regeneration strategies, contaminant-specific limitations, and integration with existing treatment systems . These low-cost adsorbent technologies present viable pathways for achieving sustainable water security in underserved communities, offering scalable solutions that align with local resource availability and technical capacity . Future research should focus on optimizing material performance, developing standardized quality assessment protocols, and establishing sustainable supply chains for widespread implementation. 

Heavy metal contamination in water sources represents a critical environmental and public health concern worldwide. This review synthesizes recent advances in chemometric techniques for analyzing heavy metal contamination patterns and their integration with risk assessment frameworks. A comprehensive literature search was conducted focusing on studies published between 2020-2025, revealing significant developments in multivariate statistical analysis, machine learning approaches, and probabilistic risk assessment methods. The analysis of 30 recent studies demonstrates that chemometric techniques, particularly Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), are increasingly being combined with Monte Carlo simulation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for comprehensive risk assessment. Key findings indicate that multivariate statistical approaches effectively identify contamination sources, with 70-85% variance explanation in most studies. Risk assessment integration shows that Monte Carlo simulation provides robust probabilistic estimates, with children showing 2-3 times higher health risks than adults. The review identifies emerging trends including artificial intelligence applications, real-time monitoring systems, and integrated decision support platforms. Challenges include data quality standardization, model interpretability, and uncertainty quantification. Future research should focus on developing standardized protocols, enhancing model interpretability, and creating user-friendly decision support tools for environmental managers and policymakers.

This study investigates the relationship between transformational leadership, interpersonal communication skills, and entrepreneurial success among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 170 SME owners and managers across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The findings reveal that transformational leadership (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and interpersonal communication skills (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) significantly correlate with entrepreneurial success, influencing key performance areas such as innovation, customer retention, and business growth. Multiple regression analysis confirmed both variables as strong predictors, explaining 48.5% of the variance in entrepreneurial success, with transformational leadership having a slightly stronger influence (β = 0.41) than communication skills (β = 0.33). The study underscores the critical role of leadership and communication competencies in enhancing SME performance in Nigeria, recommending targeted training and development for SME leaders to achieve sustainable growth.

This systematic review examines the critical role of standardized laboratory animal diets in ensuring research reproducibility and validity. Analyzing peer-reviewed literature from 2015-2024, the study explores how diet formulation impacts biochemical and toxicological outcomes across various laboratory species. Key findings reveal that standardized reference diets significantly improve result consistency while supporting animal welfare. The review identifies challenges in cross-species diet standardization and evaluates the benefits and limitations of custom versus purified diets. Quality control emerges as a crucial component of feed standardization, with contaminants potentially introducing significant experimental variability. The paper concludes with recommendations for research institutions to adopt purified-ingredient diets with robust quality control protocols to enhance research reliability while maintaining ethical standards in animal care. This comprehensive analysis provides a foundation for improving diet protocols in laboratory settings to advance scientific research integrity.

The human gut microbiome represents one of the most enzymatically diverse ecosystems on Earth, harboring millions of microbial genes encoding thousands of distinct enzymes. These microbial enzymes play crucial roles in carbohydrate metabolism, protein degradation, lipid processing, and the biosynthesis of essential metabolites that significantly impact host physiology. This comprehensive review examines the enzymatic landscape of the gut microbiome, focusing on carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), proteases, lipases, and secondary metabolite-producing enzymes. We analyzed the functional diversity of microbial enzymes across different bacterial phyla, their substrate specificities, and their roles in maintaining gut homeostasis. Our findings demonstrate that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominate the enzymatic activities related to complex carbohydrate degradation, while Proteobacteria contribute significantly to amino acid metabolism and xenobiotic detoxification. The enzymatic profile of the gut microbiome varies considerably between individuals and is influenced by diet, age, geography, and health status. Understanding these enzymatic functions provides insights into personalized nutrition, therapeutic interventions, and the development of enzyme-based treatments for gastrointestinal disorders. This research highlights the critical importance of microbial enzymes in human health and their potential as targets for precision medicine approaches.

This study explores the synthesis of a zinc(II) complex by reacting zinc sulfate with oxyquinoline as a ligand. The synthesis was carried out using the reflux method, which resulted in the formation of a stable zinc-oxyquinoline complex. The synthesized complex was characterized by melting point determination, solubility testing, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The solubility test showed that the complex was soluble in ethanol and methanol, slightly soluble in DMSO, and insoluble in water. The melting point of the complex was observed to be 381°C, indicating a stable structure. FTIR analysis revealed key functional groups, such as C=N and O-H stretches, confirming the coordination of the zinc ion with the ligand. Elemental analysis showed close agreement with the theoretical values for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, further supporting the proposed structure of the zinc complex. This work highlights the successful synthesis of the zinc complex and provides a basis for future studies on metal-ligand coordination.

This study evaluates the impact of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on quality conformance and customer satisfaction. Using a mixed-method approach, the research collected data from a sample of 51 respondents across industries, focusing on key TQM dimensions such as employee involvement, continuous process improvement, and supplier management. Quantitative analysis, including Pearson correlation, revealed a moderately strong positive correlation between TQM practices and both quality conformance (r = 0.506, p < 0.001) and customer satisfaction (r = 0.506, p < 0.001). Additionally, a stronger correlation was observed between TQM practices and employee satisfaction (r = 0.621, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the effective implementation of TQM enhances organizational outcomes by improving product quality, customer loyalty, and employee engagement. The study concludes that TQM should be adopted as a long-term strategy to sustain quality standards and customer satisfaction.