The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of single and mixed infections of nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), fungus (Fusarium oxysporum) and bacterium (Xanthomonas axonopodis) on nodulation and pathological parameters of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrenea (L.) Verdc.) in field condition. Nematode infested field was used while other pathogens were obtained from diseased plants. The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was adopted in a 5 × 9 × 5 factorial design (5 blocks, 9 treatments and 5 replicates per treatments) resulting in 225 experimental units. In each experimental unit, three seeds were sown to a depth of 5cm and thinned to one plant per planting hole after germination at day 7. Treatments were inoculated into test plant following standard methods. As a result, the control treatment recorded the highest number of nodules (64.0 ± 6.91), followed by bacterium (45.2 ± 5.11) while N + F + B had the lowest number of root nodules (23.4 ± 2.42). Simultaneous treatment (N + F + B) gave the highest percentage reduction in nodulation (63.44%), followed by treatment N + F7 (56.25%). Fungus treatment recorded the highest mean wilted plants (3.8 + 0.20) followed by N + F7 treatment (3.40 + 0.40). Gall formation in the nematode treatment increased proportionately by 56.33% as the highest recorded, followed by treatment N + F7 with 50.0%. Treatment N + F7 had the highest reproduction factor (Rf) value of 9.30 followed by nematode (8.30), N + B7 (7.40), N + F + B (6.80) and N + F14 (6.50). Zero (0) Rf value was recorded in fungus, bacterium and control treatments. The observed differences in nodulation and pathological parameters among the treatments are significant (P < 0.05). The data provided in this work is important in the control of the three pathogens affecting the productivity of Bambara nut. Formulation of a single protectant should be designed to have potent effects on the three pathogens to achieve effective protection and good production of Bambara nut.

The ultimate objective of the study was to investigate the effects of being landlocked on the living standards in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2019. Adopting the two-step estimation technique of System GMM (generalized method of moments), the study found that being landlocked has a negative and significant effect on the living standards in SSA countries when using GDP per capita as the living standard measure. Moreover, the historical living standard experiences of SSA countries have a positive and significant influence on the current living standard level. In addition, the population growth rate has a positive and significant effect on the living standards in SSA countries. On the other hand, the official exchange rate, broad money as a percentage of GDP, and inflation have a negative and significant effect on the living standards in SSA countries. Generally, the estimated result reveals the existence of a significant variation in the living standards in landlocked and coastal SSA countries. This study suggests that regional integration between landlocked and transit countries should be improved to minimize entry costs and increase access to global markets for landlocked countries. We argue that this study is of interest to landlocked and coastal countries to increase trade integration and promote the development of both groups, and it will contribute to the scarce empirical evidence.

In the context of Vietnam’s extensive international integration, economic concentration emerges as a pivotal strategy employed by businesses across various sectors, notably the retail industry, to foster expansion and bolster competitiveness within the market. As this trend evolves, it necessitates the formulation by the Vietnamese Government of a comprehensive and stringent legal framework tailored to regulate economic concentration among enterprises. Such measures are imperative to preclude the curtailment of market competition, which could potentially undermine the equity and vitality of the business environment in Vietnam. This paper meticulously examines and elucidates theoretical nuances surrounding economic concentration in the retail sector. Additionally, it scrutinizes the current landscape, assessing the impact of extant legislation governing economic concentration and the efficacy of enforcement activities in this realm within the Vietnamese retail sector. Consequently, the paper proffers judicious recommendations to enhance the efficacy of legal mechanisms governing economic concentration to foster competition and fortify Vietnam’s overall economic prowess, particularly within the retail sector.

The ongoing dissemination of globalization and digitalization may suggest that personal relationships are becoming less crucial in the context of retail banking and financial services. In Hungary, in addition to private banking, which is associated with high income levels, personal banking also plays an important role. The objective of this study is to develop a model that can identify the factors that determine customer satisfaction and their relative importance. Furthermore, the aim is to incorporate gender and age as moderator variables to identify demographic differences in satisfaction. The analysis was conducted via a questionnaire survey in October to November 2023 employing a purposive sampling approach in a university environment, as the respondents are likely to possess the highest level of existing financial knowledge within this population. The 214 valid responses were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, with the objective of contributing to the development of theory in this field of study. The results demonstrate that perception (β = 0.519) and reliability (β = 0.253) collectively explained 51.8% of the variance in satisfaction. Moreover, the results indicate that perception accounts for 49.2% of the variance in reliability, suggesting the existence of an indirect effect on satisfaction. Therefore, the findings suggest that, despite the advent of digital banking, face to face service remains a pertinent concern in Hungary, and financial institutions should prioritize the factors that shape customer satisfaction. The study contributes to the literature and to the development of customer loyalty strategies for banks based on these findings.

With the deepening of the teaching reform work, the core literacy education concept is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. While bringing innovative development opportunities and indicating the development direction for the junior high school geography curriculum reform, it also puts forward higher requirements for junior high school geography curriculum teaching activities. Under this situation, junior high school geography teachers should effectively cultivate students' comprehensive thinking ability in the teaching of geography courses, help junior high school students develop their thinking ability, and become qualified socialist builders and socialist successors as soon as possible. Based on this, this paper deeply analyzes the practical strategies for cultivating students' comprehensive thinking ability in the teaching of junior high school geography courses, for the reference of colleagues in the education field.

The application of optimization algorithms is crucial for analyzing oil and gas company portfolio and supporting decision-making. The paper investigates the process of optimizing a portfolio of oil and gas projects under economic uncertainty. The literature review explores the advantages of applying various optimizers to models that consider the mean and semi-standard deviations of stochastic multi-year cash flows and revenues. The methods and results of three different optimization algorithms are discussed: ranking and cutting algorithms, linear (Simplex) and evolutionary (genetic) algorithms. Functions of several key performance indicators were used to test these algorithms. The results confirmed that multi-objective optimization algorithms that examine various key performance indicators are used for efficient optimization in oil and gas companies. This paper proposes a multi-criteria optimization model for investment portfolios of oil and gas projects. The model considers the specific features of these projects and is based on the Markowitz portfolio theory and methodological recommendations for project assessment. An example of its practical application to oil and gas projects is also provided.