Koladaisi University

PurposeThis study aims to examine how digitalization, globalization, natural resources rent (NRR), public investment and institutional quality shape gross domestic product per capita in 15 African landlocked countries (LLDCs) from 1996 to 2023 and whether institutions condition the growth returns to digitalization and globalization.Design/methodology/approachUsing a balanced panel dataset, the analysis employs dynamic fixed effects with a lagged dependent variable and internal lag instruments (panel instrumental variable/two-stage least squares), complemented by including Driscoll-Kraay and panel-corrected standard errors for robustness. Both level and semi-log specifications are estimated, incorporating lagged regressors and interaction terms to explicitly capture complementarities between institutional quality and structural drivers.FindingsThe results reveal that income is highly persistent (lagged dependent variable 0.65 in semi-log). Digitalization and institutional quality exert consistently positive and significant effects on economic growth. While globalization's standalone impact is modest, its effect is substantially strengthened in the presence of stronger institutions. Lagged public investment supports growth, whereas NRR and the labor force exhibit weak, inconsistent effects. The results support a complementarities narrative in which institutional capacity is a prerequisite for translating digital adoption and external integration into higher living standards in landlocked contexts.Originality/valueFocusing exclusively on African LLDCs, this study is among the first to jointly assess digitalization and globalization through the lens of institutional moderation. By establishing that institutional quality conditions the effectiveness of digital and global openness strategies and highlighting the conditional role of investment and the limited contribution of resource rents, the findings offer policy-relevant evidence on reform sequencing for structurally disadvantaged economies.

ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major contributor to cancer‐related mortality worldwide and is closely linked to oxidative stress and progressive hepatic dysfunction. This study investigated the effects of plumbagin on antioxidant defense systems and hepatic function markers in an N‐nitrosodiethylamine–thioacetamide (NDEA‐TAA)‐induced experimental model of HCC and compared its efficacy with that of sorafenib. Male Wistar rats were assigned to five groups: normal control, plumbagin‐only, HCC control, HCC treated with plumbagin, and HCC treated with sorafenib. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced using NDEA‐TAA, after which antioxidant parameters including reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated alongside hepatic function markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin (ALB). The HCC control group exhibited significant reductions in GSH, GST, GPx, CAT, and SOD activities, accompanied by elevated MDA and ALT levels and decreased ALB concentrations ( p ≤ 0.05), indicating severe oxidative stress and hepatic injury. Treatment with plumbagin significantly restored antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced lipid peroxidation, and improved hepatic function relative to the untreated HCC group. These effects were comparable to, and in certain parameters exceeded, those observed following sorafenib administration. The findings demonstrate that plumbagin possesses substantial antioxidative and hepatoprotective properties capable of mitigating oxidative damage and improving liver function in experimental HCC. These findings support further investigation of plumbagin as a redox‐modulating candidate in HCC and a basis for future studies incorporating combination treatment, molecular validation and translational models.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by synaptic dysfunction, glial cell activation, and deterioration of neurons. Multiple pathways contribute to its pathophysiology, including β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque formation, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, oxidative neuronal damage, and inflammatory responses. While Aβ deposition is considered an early trigger in the disease cascade, clinical symptom progression correlates more strongly with tau pathology and inflammatory responses. Recent concerns over data integrity in several high-profile AD studies have prompted critical re-evaluations of widely accepted hypotheses, emphasizing the urgent need for scientific transparency, reproducibility, and independent validation. In compiling this review, we prioritized findings supported by converging evidence from multiple experimental approaches and replication across independent cohorts. The hypothesis that an imbalance between Aβ42 synthesis and clearance is a central factor in AD has gained support from recent evidence, despite ongoing debate over the amyloid β-protein hypothesis. Dominant mutations associated with early-onset AD are primarily found in the amyloid precursor protein, which serves as the substrate for Aβ production, or in presenilin, the protease responsible for Aβ formation. The identification of presenilin as the catalytic site for β-secretase has provided crucial insights into AD pathogenesis. This review synthesizes current understanding of AD mechanisms, highlights emerging insights from multi-omics and spatial transcriptomic technologies, and discusses the evolving therapeutic landscape. Despite setbacks, the field continues to advance through methodological innovation and a revived interest in AD research integrity, offering hope for early diagnosis, more targeted treatments, and ultimately, disease-modifying therapies.

This study examined the effect of audit committee characteristics on the financial performance of listed Nigerian deposit money banks, measured by ROA and ROE. The study was motivated by ongoing debates about therole of audit committee size, meeting frequency, independence, and expertise in improving governance and performance in emerging economies with evolving regulations. A quantitative panel design was used, utilising secondary data from the audited annual reports and financial statements of 12 listed deposit money banks from 2015 to 2024. The study employed Fixed Effects,Random Effects and Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation methods. The findings revealed that the frequency of audit committee meetings was negatively related to both ROA and ROE at the 5% significance level. In addition, auditor size was negatively associated with ROE. Audit committee financial expertise exhibited a highly significant negative relationship with the performance measures at the 1% level. Overall, the study could not reject the null hypothesis; rather, it concluded that the audit committee's attributes negatively affect financial performance. The study finds that while stronger governance mechanisms can enhance oversight and accountability, they may also reduce short-term profits for Nigerian deposit money banks. The results support the Banking Governance Framework and indicate that effective governance relies not only on structural adherence but also on its practical implementation. The study suggests that regulators and bank boards should adopt a balanced, unique approach to audit committee governance, taking into account each bank's operational realities and strategic goals.

Unemployment is a global issue affecting many nations, and various factors contribute to the increase in unemployment rates, particularly among young people. This article examines how access to educational support can impact youth employment rates over time. A discrete-time difference equation is developed and analysed for stability. A simulated numerical experiment demonstrates that educational interventions, such as educational support, can improve youth employment. Thus, policy recommendations are proposed to facilitate the successful implementation of educational supports for youths. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 74(2): 295–300, 2026 (July)