This paper explores the integration of digital technologies and tools in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning in Jordanian Higher Education through a qualitative open-ended online survey. It highlights the perceptions of 100 Jordanian EFL instructors, each with a minimum of five years of experience, on the digital transformation in the EFL learning process. The survey, consisting of ten open-ended questions, gathered in-depth insights on the benefits, challenges, and implications of this transformation. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data, revealing varied levels of experience, the use of diverse digital tools, and both technical and pedagogical challenges. Key findings include the positive impact of digital tools on teaching and learning experiences, enhanced student engagement, and opportunities for personalized learning and collaboration. The study concludes that leveraging digital resources can enhance EFL learner engagement and learning outcomes, inform future pedagogical practices, and shape the landscape of digital transformation in EFL Higher Education for years to come.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and poses a severe public health problem. Nigeria has the highest number of global cases. Geospatial technology has been widely used to study the risks and factors associated with malaria hazards. The present study is conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The objective of this study is to map out areas that are at high risk of the prevalence of malaria by considering a good number of factors as criteria that determine the spread of malaria within Ibadan using open-source and Landsat remote sensing data and further analysis in GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation (MCE). This study considered factors like climate, environmental, socio-economic, and proximity to health centers as criteria for mapping malaria risk. The MCE used a weighted overlay of the factors to produce an element at-risk map, a malaria hazard map, and a vulnerability map. These maps were overlaid to produce the final malaria risk map, which showed that 72% of Ibadan has a risk of malaria prevalence. Identification and delineation of risk areas in Ibadan would help policymakers and decision-makers mitigate the hazards and improve the health status of the state.

By reviewing US state-level panel data on infrastructure spending and on per capita income inequality from 1950 to 2010, this paper sets out to test whether an empirical link exists between infrastructure and inequality. Panel regressions with fixed effects show that an increase in the growth rate of spending on highways and higher education in a given decade correlates negatively with Gini indices at the end of the decade, thus suggesting a causal effect from growth in infrastructure spending to a reduction in inequality through better access to education and opportunities for employment. More significantly, this relationship is more pronounced with inequality at the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution. In addition, infrastructure expenditures on highways are shown to be more effective at reducing inequality. By carrying out a counterfactual experiment, the results show that those US states with a significantly higher bottom Gini coefficient in 2010 had underinvested in infrastructure during the previous decade. From a policy-making perspective, new innovations in finance for infrastructure investments are developed, for the US, other industrially advanced countries and also for developing economies.

In this study, robust and defect-free thin film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes have been successfully fabricated using ceramic hollow fibers as the substrate. Polydopamine (PDA) coating under controlled conditions is effective in reducing the surface pores of the substrate and making the substrate smooth enough for interfacial polymerization. The pure water permeability (A), solute permeability (B), and structural parameter (S) of the resultant FO membrane are 0.854 L·m^–2·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹ (LMH/Bar), 0.186 L·m^–2·h⁻¹ (LMH), and 1720 µm, respectively. The water flux and reverse draw solute flux are measured using NaCl and proprietary ferric sodium citrate (FeNaCA) draw solutions at low and high osmotic pressure ranges. As the osmotic pressure increases, a higher water flux is obtained, but its increase is not directly proportional to the increase in the osmotic pressure. At the membrane surface, the effect of dilutive concentration polarization is much less serious for FeNaCA-draw solutions. At an osmotic pressure of 89.6 bar, the developed TFC membrane generates water fluxes of 11.5 and 30.0 LMH using NaCl and synthesized FeNaCA draw solutions. The corresponding reverse draw solute flux is 7.0 g·m^–2·h⁻¹ (gMH) for NaCl draw solution, but it is not detectable for FeNaCA draw solution. This means that the developed TFC FO membranes are defect-free and their surface pores are at the molecular level. The performance of the developed TFC FO membranes is also demonstrated for the enrichment of BSA protein.

The study builds on Deborah Stone’s foundational work exploring the mechanics of causal narratives and their implications for framing problems, assigning responsibility, and guiding policy solutions. The purpose of this research is to unravel the complexities of causal narratives in contemporary politics and understand their profound influence on public policy and society at large. In the digital age, where information is abundant and the traditional gatekeeping role of media has diminished, causal narratives have become increasingly multifaceted. The study aims to explore how these narratives, influenced by the intersections of natural phenomena, human actions, politics, risk, and media, shape public understanding and policy directions. The study employs an extensive review of existing literature, covering works from political science, media studies, and public policy. This includes analyzing seminal texts like Deborah Stone’s “Policy Paradox” and recent studies on media’s evolving role in political discourse. Today’s causal narratives are multifaceted, influenced by a myriad of factors including political agendas, scientific findings, and media portrayals. In conclusion, the research highlights the dynamic nature of causal narratives in the digital age and their significant impact on public policy and societal outcomes. It underscores the need for nuanced understanding and strategic approaches in crafting and interpreting these narratives.