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- This study explores the access and adoption of emerging technologies for curriculum delivery in a rural South African university through the diffusion of innovation lens. It explores how first-year undergraduate students at the selected rural university experience the integration of digital tools into their learning experiences. Located in the rural higher education context, the research focuses on the interplay between the access of emerging technologies and the persisting digital divide. Qualitative design data collection was done using semi-structured interview questions with 20 students from four faculties, namely Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Science and Agriculture; and Commerce and Law. The study adopts Diffusion of Innovation Theory as the theoretical framework that underpins how learners encounter, adopt and interpret technological innovations for curriculum delivery. Results reveal patterns of adoption based on the constraints of limited digital infrastructure, old devices, and a non-existent support structure. Part of the students’ comments included dependency on informal peer learning, with frustration dealing with inconsistent connectivity and training access. This interaction is also urgent for context-specific technology orientation programs and needs for strategic infrastructure development and pedagogical models which are inclusive and sensitive to rural realities in the fight to narrow the digital divide.
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- uMhlathuze River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a critical freshwater resource supporting industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities. However, its water quality is under threat from various anthropogenic pressures. This review synthesises existing literature to assess the river’s water quality, focusing on key contaminants, spatial and temporal trends, ecological impacts, and socio-economic implications. Key pollutants identified include elevated levels of nitrates (>10 mg/L), phosphates (>2 mg/L), heavy metals such as lead (Pb > 0.01 mg/L) and chromium (Cr > 0.05 mg/L) (Nsibande et al. Afr. J. Aquat. Sci. 2024, 262–274, 3.), and microbial contaminants with faecal coliforms exceeding 1,000 CFU/100 mL (Mthembu et al., Afr. J. Microbiol. Res. 2012, 2020–2026, 9.). Seasonal variations exacerbate these issues, with higher pollutant loads observed during rainy periods due to increased runoff from industrial, agricultural, and urban areas. Figures illustrating contaminant trends by season or location could complement these findings. The degraded water quality has led to declines in biodiversity, including fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates, and poses significant public health risks for communities reliant on the river for drinking water and sanitation. Maps of pollution hotspots and biodiversity loss would aid in visualizing these impacts. Key knowledge gaps include inconsistent sampling methodologies, insufficient long-term data, and the absence of a region-specific Water Quality Index (WQI). This review highlights the need for standardised WQI frameworks, advanced monitoring technologies, and pollution tracking mechanisms to address these challenges. Additionally, socio-economic studies and community-based conservation initiatives are recommended to mitigate pollution impacts and improve water resource sustainability. These findings serve as a foundation for targeted research and policy actions to protect and sustainably manage the uMhlathuze River system.
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- The sensitivity of mosquito-borne disease in Puerto Rico is studied in relation to dewpoint temperature Td, wind velocity, and other climate fields across the Caribbean since 1979. Weekly reported clinically diagnosed cases, largely contributed by dengue, are analyzed for the seasonal cycle that crests from July to October. Monthly clinically diagnosed cases are summed into annual statistics for comparison with dewpoint temperature assimilated by the European Reanalysis v5. Correlation mapping illustrates that annually summed case numbers in Puerto Rico tend to spike at 3–6-yr intervals when dewpoint temperatures are above normal in spring and cloud fraction is below normal in late summer. Statistical analysis with tropical east Pacific sea surface temperatures indicates that high case numbers or epidemics follow 6–9 months after El Niño. Composite atmospheric circulations were mapped for the top 10 years with high case numbers, and sharp spatial gradients of coastal Td and wind were analyzed to explain how capital cities experience localized outbreaks. Long-term trends in dewpoint temperature are markedly upward at +0.2°C yr−1, and the 22°C Td threshold has surrounded the Antilles Islands under the influence of global warming. Mosquito-borne virus infections are likely to increase in the future, but the statistical outcomes reported here make it possible to anticipate epidemics and constrain health impacts.
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- A restoration in a postmodern condo in Puerto Rico is described. The case study outlines the steps taken to receive collective guidance, and presents plans and photos, before and after. The original jalousie windows in the garden-facing dining room were blown ajar by hurricanes. Without eaves, frequent heavy rainfall had infiltrated and damaged interior furniture and fittings. The window was restored to fixed pane in the approved tripanel frame with hurricane-resistant security glass. In addition to eliminating rain infiltration, the new window reduced termite activity and improved the garden view with a 10-fold cost benefit. Legal issues are covered that distinguish cosmetic from structural renovations. Performance evaluations were done for heat transfer, water infiltration, and market value. A path is outlined to enable design improvements within the constraints of condo associations that blend with existing architectural features, stand up to environmental stress, and offer multifaceted benefits.
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