Although interest in value-added dairy products is increasing, empirical evidence regarding their economic viability remains limited. Specifically, there is a lack of research on the economic viability and cost structure of traditional fermented dairy products, such as sweet curd (Mishti Doi), within regional value chains. This study aims to assess the economic viability of sweet curd production across four blocks in the Terai District of West Bengal, India, by analysing cost structures, profitability, market concentration, and seasonal production dynamics. Primary data were collected from 31 purposively selected dairy processing units over one year (April 2024 to March 2025) using structured interview schedules. Data were analyzed using benefit-cost ratio analysis, market concentration indices (CR4, HHI, Gini coefficient), and the seasonal index. The results indicate that variable costs constitute 98.6% of total production costs, with fluid milk accounting for 59–62% (Rs 44–51/kg). Regional production costs range from Rs 71.84/kg in Coochbehar-II to Rs 86.35/kg in Alipurduar-I, driven largely by milk procurement price differentials (Rs 36.61–42.91/L). Benefit-cost ratios range from 1.44 to 1.72, confirming economic viability across all blocks, with Coochbehar-II recording the highest profit margin at 71.9% (net profit: Rs 51.68/kg). Low Gini coefficients (0.07–0.15) indicate equitable distribution of market shares. Seasonal indices range from 86% during the monsoon (July–September) to 112.57% during the festive season (September–December). Labor costs account for 9.24% of total production expenses, combining family and hired Labor. Spoilage rates are effectively managed below 0.64%. The study concludes that sweet curd production is economically promising across the Terai region, with an average benefit-cost ratio of 1.61 and weighted average profit margins of 37.9%. Improving milk procurement strategies and adopting adaptive seasonal management are critical to enhancing long-term profitability and sustainability within the dairy value chain.

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising class of therapeutics with diverse biological functions, including antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-tumoral activities. Previous works demonstrated the successful repurposing of the two synthetic AMPs 19-2.5 and 19-4LF for cutaneous leishmaniasis, when the compounds were administered in solution on skin lesions caused by Leishmania major in a BALB/c mouse model. In this research project, we assessed the activity of 19-4LF, 19-2.5, and their hybrid 19-2.5LF derivative when formulated as a cream for topical administration in the same animal model. Methods: The peptides were formulated in DAC cream and applied to the wound of BALB/C mice for 30 days. Lesion progression was monitored using a digital caliper. Parasite burden was measured by qPCR. Parasite viability was assessed using MTT and microscopy imaging assays. Results: The three peptides in cream formulation succeeded in reducing the skin lesion. Peptide 19-4LF was the most potent, followed by 19-2.5LF and then 19-2.5. In addition, 19-4LF was able to significantly reduce the parasite burden in the skin lesions of infected mice, as measured by quantifying L. major Lm18S ribosomal gene mRNA levels using qPCR. Moreover, when combined, the peptides exhibited synergistic effects on L. major promastigotes and significantly reduced the number of amastigotes in infected macrophages. Conclusions: These studies support the approach of repurposing these AMPs as antileishmanial drugs and identify 19-4LF as a lead candidate for further studies. While historical barriers to peptide therapeutics included high production costs, recent advancements in biological fermentation and synthesis strategies have significantly improved their economic viability. Furthermore, the use of nanotechnology delivery systems can reduce the required dosage, further making peptide therapy a sustainable option for neglected diseases, including leishmaniasis.

ABSTRACT The climate crisis and global commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 have intensified the focus on renewable energy. However, Australia’s renewable energy sector faces significant challenges, particularly reliance on imported materials and technologies. This study evaluates trends and policy developments, identifies challenges to Australia’s renewable energy transition and proposes strategic recommendations to enhance economic viability and environmental sustainability. A review of 45 selected studies based on the energy transition theory, sustainable supply chain management and global-local interdependencies, reveals key barriers such as reliance on fossil fuels, grid integration issues and regional disparities. These findings highlight the need for technological innovation, policy reforms and strategic investments to strengthen grid resilience and build sustainable supply chains. Australia has strong potential to lead the global renewable energy transition by expanding domestic manufacturing capacity, upgrading infrastructure and fostering coordinated action between government and industry. A comprehensive conceptual framework is presented to guide sustainable sector development. This study also identifies priorities for future research, including advanced grid technologies, local production systems, recycling practices and region-specific energy strategies to support a resilient and competitive renewable energy ecosystem.

Abstract This study presents a practical framework for integrating ecosystem indicators into fisheries management and applies it to the demersal fishery of the Eastern Ionian Sea (EIS) in Greece. The EIS represents a typical Mediterranean multispecies, mixed fishery exploited by two main fleets: a large-scale industrial fleet and a small-scale coastal fleet (SSF), primarily catching European hake, red mullets, and deep-water rose shrimp. The framework combines the outputs of an ecosystem (EwE) and a bio-economic model (FLBEIA) both parameterized with the same historical stock assessment data and projected under the same effort control and climatic scenarios. It applies a multispecies management approach in which the pretty good yield (PGY) ranges for key stocks are further constrained by additional management objectives. Through extensive simulations, a wide range of ecosystem, biological, socio-economic, and global indicators were estimated and analyzed across varying effort levels. By overlaying PGY ranges of key stocks with optimal ranges of ecosystem and socioeconomic indicators, a multi-objective optimal effort zone was identified, whereby ecological sustainability, economic viability, and broader ecosystem goals align. The optimal effort zone is projected to shrink under future climatic scenarios, mostly affecting the viability of the SSF. Results highlight the critical role of SSF management, though its marginal economic viability and data limitations necessitate finer-scale monitoring of individual métiers to support more targeted measures. This study represents the first application of the pretty good multispecies yield concept in input controlled Mediterranean fisheries, and a preliminary attempt towards the implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management in the EIS. As a next step, alternative management objectives can be explored within the optimal effort zone, offering flexibility to address diverse goals and the potential to incorporate stakeholder input into the decision making process.

ABSTRACT Boilers frequently encounter challenges such as combustion instability, water-wall slagging, and excessive NOX emissions under low-load conditions, which in severe cases can lead to flameout, thereby compromising the operational safety and economic viability of the unit. To address these issues, this study proposes the integration of a self-sustaining burner into a 660 MW four-cornered tangentially fired boiler. The proposed burner features a ‘five-stage stepwise amplification with staged air distribution structure, achieving a synergistic effect between instantaneous plasma ignition and multi-stage pyrolysis. This approach aims to enhance low-load combustion stability and mitigate NOX emissions to meet environmental protection and deep peak regulation requirements. The self-sustaining burner generates strong, rigid airflow under varying loads. The optimal operating parameters are determined by optimizing the plasma ignition temperature and excess air coefficient. At a plasma ignition temperature of 2800 K and an excess air coefficient of 0.3, the CO mole fraction at the burner outlet reaches 18.38%, providing sufficient reducing gas for the furnace. The outlet flow rate is stable at 79.89 m/s, ensuring airflow rigidity, and the self-sustaining burner operates at optimal performance. The entire 660 MW boiler furnace model is then constructed, with the boundary condition of the self-sustaining burner outlet used as the boiler inlet boundary condition. The combustion characteristics under conventional operation and with the self-sustaining burner at 50% and 30% load are systematically analyzed. Results show that after the boiler is equipped with a self-sustaining burner, the primary air nozzle speed increases by 15%-20%, significantly enhancing flame stability. The core mechanism of NO reduction by self-sustaining burners through high-concentration CO and H2 generation is revealed through reaction kinetics analysis. Measured data show that after transformation, the NOX concentration at the furnace outlet at 50% load decreases from 168 mg/Nm3 to 57 mg/Nm3 (a 66% reduction), and at 30% load, it decreases from 221 mg/Nm3 to 98 mg/Nm3 (a 57% reduction), both meeting emission standards.

Arsenic Removal Technologies: A Critical Review of Environmental Impacts, Economic Viability, and Scale-Up Challenges

Performance, Durability, and Economic Viability of Sustainable Concrete Incorporating Rice Husk Biochar and Tire Char: Experimental and Machine Learning Assessment

Abstract The incorporation of energy-efficient technologies (EETs) is essential for global climate change mitigation and sustainable development. Nonetheless, there is a substantial deficiency in delivering the benchmarked economic validation of these practices within Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) campus. This paper tackles this issue to some extent by providing an analytical summary of important EETs that can be used in institutional buildings. It overviews all modern technologies that include solar rooftop, rainwater harvesting, waste management, water conservation, and electric vehicles. The study highlights their utilisation in practical applications including their economic, and environmental benefits. The work is supported by a thorough, quantified case study. The MAHE Campus has put into place many sustainability practices. The main finding shows that the campus is very financially viable, saving about Rs. 154 crores (about $18.5 million USD) per year and cutting CO 2 emissions by 220.7 tonnes. This research presents an essential framework for sustainable infrastructure planning, delivering vital insights into economic feasibility, scalability, and obstacles to implementation for institutions aiming to transition to climate-resilient built environments.

What monitoring, reporting & verification (MRV) systems can reduce costs and enhance scalability of carbon farming?

Integrated blood transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal potential biomarkers associated with residual feed intake in meat ducks.

Iron-mediated modulation of Anammox systems: Mechanistic insights into microbial interactions and process intensification for enhanced nitrogen removal.

Abstract The growing global energy demand has placed an unprecedented strain on conventional power grids, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable and resilient energy solutions. Renewable energy sources, particularly solar power offers a promising alternative. However, their inherent intermittency and variability pose significant challenges to grid stability, leading to potential outages and inefficiencies. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology has emerged as an effective solution by enabling bidirectional power flow between electric vehicles (EVs) and the grid, thereby providing ancillary services such as peak shaving and load balancing. 
This study presented a smart charging framework that integrates renewable energy-powered Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V) systems with advanced control algorithms to foster a sustainable and efficient EV charging infrastructure. At the core of this framework is a hierarchical control system where a low-level Artificial Neural Network–Terminal Sliding Mode Control (ANN-TSMC) controller maximizes solar energy capture and a high-level Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) provides strategic energy management. The efficacy of this integrated approach was confirmed through comprehensive simulations. The ANN-TSMC controller demonstrated superior performance, delivering a 3.6% higher energy capture from the PV system compared to the conventional Perturb and Observe (P&O) method. Simultaneously, the FLC's intelligent management of charging and discharging cycles proved highly effective, reducing peak reliance on conventional power by 20%. The system operated at a high charging efficiency of 94% with a rapid response time of 0.12 seconds. Furthermore, by optimizing charging protocols and mitigating battery stress, the framework offers an estimated 18.5% extension in battery lifespan, a critical factor for both economic viability and sustainability. This research confirms that the strategic integration of hierarchical intelligent controls with renewable energy sources is a highly effective method for advancing EV charging technology. The proposed framework provides a robust path toward developing resilient, grid-friendly charging infrastructures that enhance renewable energy utilization and promote intelligent battery management

Advances in carbon capture, conversion, and utilization: A review of sustainable chemical production pathways.

Dynamic performance and economic viability analysis of distributed solar thermal-power plants: Thermocline storage integration and multi-technology scheme comparison

Regulation mechanisms for simultaneous rapid carbon sequestration and premium biomass production.

Theoretical investigation of alternative 177Lu production methods using proton accelerator: A Monte Carlo study.

A tobacco-rapeseed rotation model for economically sustainable phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated farmland.

A comprehensive analysis on feasibility and economic viability of commercial-scale MXene synthesis

Obtaining and characterizing bacuri (Platonia insignis) seed flour: a strategy for valuing fruit co-products from a sustainable food perspective.

International shipping is indispensable to global commerce, yet it remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Although waste heat recovery has been applied in other industries, its performance and economic viability in shipping are not yet fully understood, particularly across different vessel sizes and engine loads. This study evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental potential of waste heat recovery (WHR) systems onboard ships with main engine power above and below 25,000 kW. Thermodynamic analysis and computational simulations were employed to estimate electricity generation, fuel savings, and emission reductions under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, using operational data from four representative vessels. The results indicate that larger ships achieve the most significant benefits, with power ratios up to 10%, substantial CO2 reductions, and viable payback periods. Smaller vessels, constrained by thermal and spatial limitations, show reduced efficiency and less favorable financial performance, although they still achieve meaningful environmental gains. The findings confirm that waste heat recovery is a mature and effective technology for improving ship energy efficiency and reducing emissions. The study contributes to scientific knowledge by quantifying performance differences between vessel types and providing a structured framework to support maritime decarbonization strategies.