• Applied Microscopy
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• v.49
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• pp.2.1-2.11
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• 2019

Nanomaterials (NMs) find widespread use in different industries that range from agriculture, food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and electronics to cosmetics. It is the exceptional properties of these materials at the nanoscale, which make them successful as growth promoters, drug carriers, catalysts, filters and fillers, but a price must be paid via the potential toxity of these materials. The harmful effects of nanoparticles (NPs) to environment, human and animal health needs to be investigated and critically examined, to find appropriate solutions and lower the risks involved in the manufacture and use of these exotic materials. The vast number and complex interaction of NM/NPs with different biological systems implies that there is no universal toxicity mechanism or assessment method. The various challenges need to be overcome and a number of research studies have been conducted during the past decade on different NMs to explore the possible mechanisms of uptake, concentrations/dosage and toxicity levels. This review article examines critically the recent reports in this field to summarize and present opportunities for safer design using case studies from published literature.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.3-9
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• 2020

Big Data is a new concept in the global and local area. This field has gained tremendous momentum in the recent years and has attracted attention of several researchers. Big Data is a data analysis methodology enabled by recent advances in information and communications technology. However, big data analysis requires a huge amount of computing resources making adoption costs of big data technology. Therefore, it is not affordable for many small and medium enterprises. We survey the concepts and characteristics of Big Data along with a number of tools like HADOOP, HPCC for managing Big Data. It also presents an overview of big data like Characteristics of Big data, big data technology, big data management tools etc. We have also highlighted on some challenges and opportunities related to the fields of big data.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.139-152
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• 2015

With the advancement of the Internet/IT technologies and the increased computation power, massive data can be collected, stored, and processed these days. The availability of large databases has brought forth a new era in which companies are hard pressed to find innovative ways to utilize immense amounts of data at their disposal. Indeed, data has opened a new age of business operations and management. There are already many cases of innovative businesses reaping success thanks to scientific decisions based on data analysis and mathematical algorithms. Big Data is a new paradigm in itself. In this article, Big Data is viewed as a new perspective rather than a new technology. This value centric definition of Big Data provides a new insight and opportunities. Moreover, the Business Analytics, which is the framework of creating tangible results in management, is introduced. Then the Internet of Things (IoT), another innovative concept of data collection and networking, is presented and how this new concept can be interpreted with Big Data in terms of the value centric perspective. The challenges and opportunities with these new concepts are also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.50-69
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• 1998

Dimethomorph is a novel fungicide with a high level of activity against diseases induced by certain Oomycetes, including fungal populations that are resistant to other products. In several ways, this fungicide illustrates the opportunities and challenges presented by many modern pesticides. The specific mode of action, which affects cell wall formation, is associated with a very high level of performance and low dose rates under field conditions. These low dose rates, combined with a low level of toxicity to non-target organisms present an outstanding safety profile. This same highly-specific mode of action, however, limits the spectrum of activity and suggests the need for a resistance management plan, both of which must be addressed in new product development. In addition, the biological and physiochemical properties of this, and other new products are not adequately described by the traditional classification of fungicides into“protectant”and“systemic”types. These unique profiles provide novel and useful products for disease control.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.123-142
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine how computer conferencing might facilitate collaborative learning for students to engage in meaningful discussion. The participants in this study consisted of the instructor and the students in a graduate level course. Different sources of evidence were used to triangulate the data: in-depth interviews, content analysis of transcripts of discussion, and other archival data including course syllabus, presentation materials, and lecture notes. Participants perceived web-based learning as collaborative process, providing opportunities to share the idea, respect and evaluate different perspectives, and co-construct new insights. Analysis of the data revealed several challenges related collaboration in a web-based learning environment: absence of a sense of community, technical problems, adaptability to different types of learner, and managing the discussion. The data also indicated that a variety of strategies were used to facilitate learning: building a sense of community, technical support, developing instructional methodologies, class size, and design of the content.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.91-94
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• 2024

For nearly four decades, Ugandans have experienced a period marked by hope, conflict, and resilience across various aspects of healthcare reform. The health insurance system in Uganda lacks a legal framework and does not extend benefits to the entire population. In Uganda, community-based health insurance is common among those in the informal sector, while private medical insurance is typically provided to employees by their workplaces and agencies. The National Health Insurance Scheme Bill, introduced in 2019, was passed in 2021. If the President of Uganda gives his assent to the National Health Insurance Bill, it will become a significant policy driving health and universal health coverage. However, this bill is not without its shortcomings. In this perspective, we aim to explore the complex interplay of challenges and opportunities facing Uganda's health sector.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.101-111
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• 2024

Multilingual Knowledge Graphs (MKGs) have emerged as a crucial component in various natural language processing tasks, enabling efficient representation and utilization of structured knowledge across multiple languages. One can get data, information, and knowledge from various sectors, like libraries, archives, institutional repositories, etc. Variable quality of metadata, multilingualism, and semantic diversity make it a challenge to create a digital library and multilingual search facility. To accept these challenges, there is a need to design a framework to integrate various structured and unstructured data sources for integration, unification, and sharing databases. These are controlled using linked data and semantic web approaches. In future, multilingual knowledge graph overcomes all the linguistic nuances, technical barriers like semantic interoperability, data harmonization etc and enhance cooperation and collaboration throughout the world. Through a comprehensive analysis of the current state-of-the-art techniques and ongoing research efforts, this paper aims to offer insights into the future directions and potential advancements in the field of Multilingual Knowledge Graphs. This paper deals with a multilingual knowledge graph and how to build up a multilingual knowledge graph. It also focuses on the various challenges and opportunities for designing multilingual knowledge graphs.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2020

In developing countries especially in African continent, rapid population growth in cities is a major concern. Majority of governments in Africa have made more effort to develop urban areas as compared to the rural ones. Social and economic activities are more concentrated in urban areas. This is a pushing factor for the rapid population growth in cities as many people, especially young generation, tend to migrate from rural to urban. This growth leads to excessive exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation and increased pressure on social services. Rapid increased population acts as an encouragement to construct smart cities for achieving needs for present and future generations. Tanzania as one of the developing countries in Africa has taken initiatives in establishing smart cities. The aim of this study therefore, is to examine opportunities and challenges in the development of Smart cities in Tanzania with a case study of Mbeya city. In addition, conceptualization about development of smart cities is proposed to prioritize the planning of smart grid among other smart city infrastructure systems. Conclusively, Mbeya city has a full potential of many strengths and opportunities for successful development as a smart city.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.3-8
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• 2001

The mineral industry of the United States is going through a challenging time. The US as an industrial nation faces with increasing demand in raw materials to fuel various industrial sectors but, at the same time, meeting environmental constraints associated with excavating and extracting these raw materials. In addition, gradual depletion of material resources. and the necessity of handling more complex forms of resources of primary origin have led to a decline in her resource productivity, once a strategic advantage of the U.S. As a result. the United States currently relies heavily upon foreign importation of various materials such as precious and strategic metals. However, since the US is the major consumer of most of these materials, the recovery of these values from scrap would help renew her position as a resource-producing nation, and ultimately help spur its domestic economy. Furthermore. recycling would also help maintain a clean environment and reduce energy consumption. In this paper. the author attempts to discuss opportunities and challenges lied ahead of the US mineral in relation to recovering their much-needed resources from secondary sources. The need and demand in various metals in the US will be reviewed and discussed. The implication of resource recovery from secondary sources will also be discussed. Extraction methods treating secondary sources are inherently different from those for primary sources. There is a need for new technologies which are metallurgically efficient and environmentally benign in treating secondary sources. Ways to meet such a need will be examined and key factors to be considered in approaching these challenges will be discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.65-76
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• 2023

Purpose: This study examines the opportunities and challenges of sharia-based regional development bank spin-offs in supporting economic growth and income distribution through a board of commissioner's approach. Research design, data, and methodology: The research design is qualitative research with the main data collection technique through in-depth interviews. Results: The results of the study show that Bank Nagari can support the performance of the West Sumatra government, especially in regional finance. The positive influence is shown in the benefit aspect of 31% and the opportunity of 28% which is the priority value. The challenges that must be faced are technology services, improving the quality of human resources, socialization, and application of local wisdom which is by the philosophical values of the people of West Sumatra Adat Basandi Syara' Syara' Basandi Kitabullah. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the local government of West Sumatra has an essential contribution to the conversion of Bank Nagari to RDB Syariah as a whole. The expected implication is that the local government and shareholders cooperate well in supporting the transformation to realize West Sumatra Mandani through the populist economy of the people of West Sumatra.