Internet of Things for Sustainable Mining

The sustainable mining Internet of Things deals with the applications of IoT technology to the coupled needs of sustainable recovery of metals and a healthy environment for a thriving planet. In this chapter, the IoT architecture and technology is presented to support development of a digital mining platform emphasizing the exploration of rock–fluid–environment interactions to develop extraction methods with maximum economic benefit, while maintaining and preserving both water quantity and quality, soil, and, ultimately, human health. New perspectives are provided for IoT applications in developing new mineral resources, improved management of tailings, monitoring and mitigating contamination from mining. Moreover, tools to assess the environmental and social impacts of mining including the demands on dwindling freshwater resources. The cutting-edge technologies that could be leveraged to develop the state-of-the-art sustainable mining IoT paradigm are also discussed

Potential Contribution of Tamale International Airport to the Development of Northern Ghana

Empirical analysis of the socio-economic benefits and challenges of air transport in Ghana has not received much attention. This is in spite of the fact that policy makers and aviation operators need such analysis to implement regional development initiatives. The general objective of this study, therefore, is to examine the economic effects and challenges of air transport in Ghana, with the feasibility of the proposed development of the Tamale Airport to International status as the prime focus. Information is derived from the literature, work place counts and resource persons. Amajor finding of the study is that air transport contributes immensely to economic growth and poverty alleviation--through direct and indirect employment and through tax revenue generation (from its catalytic impact on other industries like tourism). It is argued that developing TamaleAirport must be considered as a complete business environment and a leading West African main Airport, by virtue of its strategic location. This is crucial to the growth prospects of the three regions of Northern Ghana expressed in the establishment of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).Keywords · Aviation · Economic growth and development · Ghan

Analysis of spatial interactions between the Shea industry and mining sector activities in the emerging north-west gold province of Ghana

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. The spatial interactions between valuable trees and large-scale mining sector activities provides risks and uncertainties on rural economic livelihood. This generates public clamour and resistance to mineral resource development in developing countries. Hence, this paper analyses the spatial interactions and magnitude of the impacts of large-scale mining industry activities on the Shea as an economic tree. A case study is conducted at the emerging north-west gold province of Ghana. Both primary and secondary data were obtained during two fieldworks. Whereas there is a robust Location Association (La)=70 between a Shea-led manufacturing industry and the wholesale and retail sector, a weak location association is found with mining and quarrying, and the manufacturing sectors. The associated industries are inter-dependent for inputs from the Shea tree, though the spatial analysis reveals that a minimum of 22,460 Shea trees and 806,407 kg of fruits would be displaced. The displacements would affect both manufacturing and wholesale and retail sectors, basically dominated by rural women. Albeit, the findings of the study can improve the levels of communication between local communities, mining companies and governments

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Not AvailableAquaculture serves as a sustainable source of good quality wholesome food and major input is feed. In recent years, considerable quantities of plant sources have been attempted for inclusion in shrimp feed, due to high demand and high cost of fishmeal. Plant-based ingredients are in general poor in attractability and palatability to aquatic species compared to marine sources. It is desirable to develop an economical and nutritious feed that is attractive and palatable for ensuring reduction of feed wastage. Chemoattractants nowadays are unavoidable in commercial shrimp feeds and are included either individually or in combination. The present review revealed that the various marine sources, in particular krill meal would be more effective for aquatic species, compared to those derived from vegetable origin and chemical compounds. In addition to acting as a feed attractant, marine sources serve as a potential fishmeal substitute due to their rich nutritional composition. However, certain biogenic amines present in these marine-based ingredients need to be examined before their use, since these amines when present in high concentrations reduces feed intake by producing undesirable odour. Use of a combination of chemoattractants would give a better effect, rather than using them individually and compounds from plant origin have limited beneficial effects. The present review concludes that incorporation of chemoattractants would be beneficial in formulation of enriched and economical feeds with better attractability and palatability. The selection of suitable attractant and their supplementation at correct proportion is significantly more important to avoid undesirable effects in cultured shrimp. Further field-based research is needed to predict the actual effects of chemoattractants on farmed shrimp and to provide a sustainable base for the expansion of shrimp aquaculture sector, by reducing feed wastage.Not Availabl

Prevalence of gastric precancerous lesions in Ardabil, a high incidence province for gastric adenocarcinoma in the northwest of Iran

Background/Aims: Ardabil Province, in northwestern Iran, has the highest rate of gastric (predominantly cardia) adenocarcinoma in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of endoscopic screening and to look for associated Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric precancerous lesions. Methods: One thousand one hundred and five adult volunteers, residents of Ardabil and Meshkinshahr, districts, 40 years old and above were selected and invited by a simple random household canvass in rural and urban locations. Informed consents were obtained and upper gastrointestinal video endoscopy was performed to biopsy all visible lesions and standard sites in the antrum, corpus, and cardia Results: One thousand and eleven of the invited individuals agreed to participate, including 494 men and 517 women, with a mean (SD) age of 53.32 (10.39) years. Endoscopy was well tolerated by all subjects; 96.7% of antral and 80.7% of cardia mucosal biopsies were satisfactory. The urease test or histology for H pylori was positive in at least 89.2% of subjects. Histological evidence of mucosal atrophy was seen in 39.3% of antral and 21.9% of cardia samples. Chronic gastritis with or without activity, reactive atypia of glandular epithelium, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and cancer were found in 95.1%, 38.0%, 8.7%, 0.2%, and 0.3% of antral and 85.3%, 22.9%, 3.8%, 0.3%, and 0.1% of cardiac biopsies, respectively. Conclusion: Endoscopic screening for upper gastrointestinal diseases was feasible and well tolerated in Ardabil, Iran. Most subjects showed H pylori infection. Atrophic gastritis, reactive atypia, and intestinal metaplasia were common in antrum, corpus, and cardia subsites