Socio-economic Feasibility Research Articles

A Novel Management Challenge in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Artificial Intelligence and Expert Prediction of Geographic Atrophy

PurposeThe progression of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is highly variable among individuals. Prediction of the progression is critical to identify patients who will benefit most from the first treatments currently approved. The aim of this study was the investigation of the value and difference in predictive power between ophthalmologists and artificial intelligence (AI) to reliably assess individual speed of GA progression. DesignProspective, expert and AI comparison study. ParticipantsEyes with natural progression of GA from a prospective study (NCT02503332). MethodsOphthalmologists predicted yearly growth speed of GA, as well as selecting the potentially faster growing lesions from two eyes based on fundus autofluorescence (FAF), near-infrared reflectance (NIR), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). A deep learning algorithm predicted progression solely on the baseline OCT (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). Main Outcome MeasuresAccuracy, weighted kappa (κ), and concordance index (c-index) between the prediction made by ophthalmology specialists, ophthalmology residents and the AI. ResultsA total of 134 eyes of 134 patients from a phase II clinical trial were included, among those 53 were from the sham arm and 81 from untreated fellow eyes. 2880 gradings were performed by four ophthalmologists. Human experts reached an accuracy of 0.37, 0.43, 0.41 and a κ of 0.06, 0.16, 0.18 on FAF, NIR+OCT and FAF+NIR+OCT, respectively. On a pairwise comparison task, human experts achieved a c-index of 0.62, 0.59 and 0.60. Automated AI-based analysis reached an accuracy of 0.48 and a κ of 0.23 on the first task, and a c-index of 0.69 on the second task solely utilizing OCT imaging. ConclusionsPrediction of individual progression will become an important task for patient counseling, most importantly with treatments becoming available. Human gradings improved with the availability of OCT. However, automated AI performed better than ophthalmologists in several comparisons. AI-supported decisions improve clinical precision, access to timely care for the community, and socioeconomic feasibility in the management of the leading cause for irreversible vision loss.

Cost benefit analysis of reducing speed limits in Athens to 30 Km/h

The objective of this research is to investigate public acceptance and socio-economic feasibility of reducing speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h in certain parts of the road network of Athens, Greece. A questionnaire was developed based on the method of stated preference for various hypothetical scenarios of time, fuel consumption and the probability of road crash to investigate road user preferences towards the reduction of speed limit and identify the most important influencing factors preferences. A total of 408 respondents were asked to choose among three alternative proposals: a) Reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h throughout the urban network except on major arteries, b) Reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h throughout the urban network and c) No Reduction (do nothing). For the analysis, two binomial logistic regression models and two multinomial logistic regression models were developed. The results indicate that increase in travel time, the importance of speed in causing a crash, the number of crashes the user has been involved in, the respondent’s driving habits are the main determinants of the users’ preferences. Furthermore, a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted to understand the sustainability implications of the implementation of lower speed limits (i.e., 50 to 30 km/h). In terms of socio-economic impacts, the CBA considered safety-related metrics, namely the number of road casualties of all severity levels, and environmental-related metrics, namely reductions in CO2, NOx, PM levels as well as in road user surplus metrics namely travel time increase and fuel consumption reduction. Costs considered in the analysis result from increased time spent on the road. Consequently, the investment and the operational costs along with the socio-economic impact are estimated and monetized, up to the year 2030. The positive Net Present Value (NPV) and the high Internal Rate of Return (IRR), i.e. 64.5 %, obtained as well as the sensitivity analysis results, indicate the feasibility of this policy over time. Therefore, speed limit reductions are economically viable and so, should be encouraged.

New Assessment Model of Financing Treatment of Patients with Complete Tooth Loss

According to the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of complete tooth loss is estimated to be 7% among individuals aged 20 years and older, while for those aged 60 and over, this rate significantly increases to 23%. This study is relevant due to the psychological trauma, social challenges, and functional limitations caused by tooth loss, as well as the uneven availability of dental care worldwide. The goal of this research is to develop and implement a new model to assess the socioeconomic feasibility of investing in digital technologies for diagnosing and treating patients with complete tooth loss using removable polymer prostheses produced through additive 3D printing. The study employs scenario analysis, the clustered rankings coordination method, statistical methods, expert opinion assessment using Kendall’s coefficient of rank concordance, system analysis and design, questionnaires, sociometry, and functional modeling. The practical significance of this research lies in providing a quantitative assessment of economic opportunities for effectively using RPDs in three groups: RPDs without additional fixation means; those with special adhesive agents for improved fixation; and implant-supported prosthetics with conditionally removable dentures similar to RPDs. The scientific novelty of this study is the development of a new evaluation model that justifies the choice of prosthetic treatment technology for patients with complete tooth loss, enabling the most rational use of resources. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-05-014 Full Text: PDF

Promoting the potabilization of drinking water at home using local materials as an alternative solution for combating waterborne diseases: Socioeconomic feasibility study in Dschang, West Cameroon

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the socioeconomic feasibility of promoting locally produced water filters to promote their local production. It appears that 69.8% of participants did not know that water filters were produced locally and 92.3% were ready to buy them with efficiency as the main motivation (39.8%). In addition, being aged [46–60 years old] (OR = 19.17; IC = 3.13–37.81; p = 0.008), being female (OR = 1.67; IC = 1.02–2.77; p = 0.041), student/pupil (OR = 2.32; IC = 1.13–4.78; p = 0.021), employed in the private sector (OR = 3.68; IC = 1.32–11.16; p = 0.015), and civil servant (OR = 3.28; IC = 1.09–10.99; p = 0.041) significantly increased the odds of having ever used a water filter in their household. In addition, we found that 71.7% of participants had ever used an imported ceramic water filter in their households and the main reason given by these participants for abandoning or renewing these filters within their households was that they felt that they had already become old and inefficient. The valorization of locally manufactured filters could therefore constitute a logical alternative that can contribute to solving a certain number of socioeconomic and health problems in our country.

Carbon cycle feedbacks in an idealized simulation and a scenario simulation of negative emissions in CMIP6 Earth system models

Abstract. Limiting global warming to well below 2 ∘C by the end of the century is an ambitious target that requires immediate and unprecedented emission reductions. In the absence of sufficient near-term mitigation, this target will only be achieved by carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere later during this century, which would entail a period of temperature overshoot. Aside from the socio-economic feasibility of large-scale CDR, which remains unclear, the effects on biogeochemical cycles and climate are key to assessing CDR as a mitigation option. Changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate alter the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the underlying carbon reservoirs of the land and the ocean. Here, we investigate carbon cycle feedbacks under idealized and more realistic overshoot scenarios in an ensemble of Earth system models. The responses of oceanic and terrestrial carbon stocks to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration and changes in surface climate (the carbon–concentration feedback and the carbon–climate feedback, quantified by the feedback metrics β and γ, respectively) show a large hysteresis. This hysteresis leads to growing absolute values of β and γ during phases of negative emissions. We find that this growth over time occurs such that the spatial patterns of feedbacks do not change significantly for individual models. We confirm that the β and γ feedback metrics are a relatively robust tool to characterize inter-model differences in feedback strength since the relative feedback strength remains largely stable between phases of positive and negative emissions and between different simulations, although exceptions exist. When the emissions become negative, we find that the model uncertainty (model disagreement) in β and γ increases more strongly than expected from the assumption that the uncertainties would accumulate linearly with time. This indicates that the model response to a change from increasing to decreasing forcing introduces an additional layer of uncertainty, at least in idealized simulations with a strong signal. We also briefly discuss the existing alternative definition of feedback metrics based on instantaneous carbon fluxes instead of carbon stocks and provide recommendations for the way forward and future model intercomparison projects.

ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИЯ И КАЧЕСТВЕННЫЙ АНАЛИЗ РИСКОВ ESG

The article is devoted to the identification and application of standard methods of qualitative analysis in relation to risks generated by the environmental, social and corporate activities of an organization (ESG - environmental, social, governance). The purpose of the work is to systematize procedures for conducting qualitative risk analysis as part of the implementation of the organization’s ESG principles. Subject of research: organizational and economic relations that generate risks for an organization’s implementation of ESG principles. The research methodology is based on the works of domestic and foreign authors devoted to the theoretical justification of ESG principles and the socio-economic feasibility of their implementation in the management framework of the organization. Analytical materials and statistical reports of existing industrial enterprises, industry associations, the Bank of Russia, Rosstat and executive authorities were used as source data. The research hypothesis is to increase the efficiency of an organization’s implementation of ESG principles by using the results of a qualitative analysis of the risks generated by this process. As a result of the analysis, typical risks generated by the implementation of ESG principles by an economic entity, as well as their potential sources and consequences, were identified and grouped. The findings and recommendations of the study can be used by private and institutional investors, financial institutions, state executive authorities and local governments when assessing the feasibility of investments and financing.

Mathematical modelling of water-based biogas scrubber operating at digester pressure

Abstract The socio-economic feasibility of biogas as a renewable source of energy has been analyzed for the energy security of India. The impact of Indian government schemes such as the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) for the implementation of Bioenergy has been discussed in detail. The feasibility of a water-based scrubber (high as well as low pressure) for Bio-methane production in the Indian scenario was analyzed. Theoretical modeling for Steady-State Digester Pressure Water-based Biogas Scrubber (DP-WBS) was performed using the Sum Rate Method. Design parameters for a DP-WBS-based scrubber having a capacity of 60 Nm3/h were optimized at the digester pressure of 110 mm of the Water Column (WC). Modeling for raw biogas (CH4 64 %, CO2 30 %, H2S 1000 ppm) scrubbing was done with and without water recirculation. Sensitivity analysis shows that a 90 m3/h water flow rate and a total of 7 theoretical stages are required to reduce the CO2 concentration in biogas from 30 % to <2.58 % and H2S concentration from 1000 ppm to <20 ppm. H2S removal efficiency in the scrubber was found to be highly dependent on operating conditions at the regeneration section.

Exploring socioeconomic and political feasibility of aviation biofuel production and usage in Malaysia: A thematic analysis approach using expert opinion from aviation industry

Aviation biofuel, which is derived from renewable feedstocks, is typically seen as being fundamentally sustainable. However, a variety of industries are involved in its creation, and several societal actors are involved as well. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend and assess not just the process's consequences on the environment but also its economic and political ones. Studies examining the social and political implications of aviation biofuel are now uncommon in scholarly literature. The aim of this study, therefore, is to assess key effects of economic, social and politics in aviation biofuel production and usage in aviation industry in Malaysia. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the issues with pertaining to economic, social, and political effects of using biofuels in aviation, usage, adoption, and challenges in aviation industries. A grounded theory approach in qualitative data analysis was used to examine 20 interviews with experts of varying roles and experiences in aviation. Semi-structured were used to interview experts to answer, respond to or comment on them in a way that they think best. Discourse analysis method was used for data collection and analysed using thematic analysis. A total of 21 themes were identified with the first dataset (socioeconomic feasibility) had 16 themes and second dataset (political feasibility) had a total of 5 themes. The study revealed that experts had mixed reactions on the adoption level of biofuels in the aviation industry with most of them indicating that the level of adoption of biofuels in Malaysian aviation industry is high.

Socio-Economic Feasibility for Implementation of Environmental Legislation along the Riparian Buffer Zones in Urban Rivers of Northern Tanzania

The development of socio-economic activities within the 60 m buffer zone has imposed change on the characteristics of rivers in northern Tanzania, subjecting rivers to collateral and irreversible damage due to their prolonged exposure to anthropic activities. Time series satellite images were classified to analyze land use/cover (LULC) changes and anthropic development along the buffer zone from 2000 to 2020. Structured questionnaires were used to identify the encroachment factors and level of compliance with alleged environmental legislation. Furthermore, focus group discussions were used to acquire information on the concurrent barriers to environmental legislation implementation. The land use/cover change along the buffer zone showed that agriculture and artificial areas had a credible increase of about 43% and 30% from 2000 to 2020, respectively. Furthermore, forest and semi-natural areas decreased by 71% from 2000 to 2020, whereas wetlands decreased by about 2% within the same timeframe. On the other hand, artificial and agricultural areas increased by 24.5% and 19.5%, respectively. Forest and semi-natural areas decreased by about 44%, whereas wetlands and water showed a flimsy increase from 2000 to 2020. This trend shows that high land use/cover changes occurred along the riparian buffer zone. The results suggest that urbanization is the main driving force for riparian buffer zone encroachment, threatening ecological well-being and water resource sustainability in urban rivers. The findings of this study are useful for advancing regional and national policies and practices for sustainable water resource management.

Carbon sequestration and water management in Texas—One size does not fit all

AbstractClimate‐smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to sustainably meeting food, fiber, and feed production needs. The technical and socioeconomic feasibility of different CSA strategies depends on local conditions, and there is no one‐size‐fits‐all approach. Here, we review two key aspects of CSA with a focus on Texas: soil C sequestration and water management. Carbon sequestration potential is highly variable across Texas as it depends on local biophysical conditions and soil management practices in place, for example, tillage and cover crops. Grasslands also have an important role to play in C sequestration. Important co‐benefits of effective soil management for C sequestration, such as reduced CO2 emissions, enhanced soil structure, and increased microbial activity, can positively impact soil fertility and productivity. The economic and political realities of C sequestration will have a strong influence on the implementation of technically feasible strategies. The major challenge for water management is the sustainable allocation of increasingly scarce resources. Expanded irrigation is a short‐term solution, but in many cases, the existing water supply is insufficient to meet future demand. A drying Texas, and aquifer depletion, portends lower future supplies. The Panhandle, Llano Estacado, and Rio Grande regions have the greatest projected gaps between future supply and demand. Increasing water‐use efficiency and using drought‐tolerant crops are important management goals and precision agriculture with site‐specific management measures could help improve drought resiliency. Texas’ geographic diversity is reflected in the variety of agricultural commodities produced by the state, and CSA activities are likely to be equally diverse.

Development of strategic air quality improvement framework for urban hotspots

The success of any policy intervention depends on its emission reduction potential, ease of enforcement, scale of implementation and socio-economic feasibility. However, all these parameters are not considered in an integrated manner in the air quality management practices followed in Indian cities. The existing policies are at the city-scale which turn out to be ineffective in addressing extreme air pollution problems at hotspot locations within a city. The present study is an attempt to develop a coherent framework for effective air quality management at identified air pollution hotspot. The study methodology includes sources information, data collection, emission inventorization, control scenario simulations using dispersion modeling, socio-economic assessment, ease of enforcement and ranking of the actions for implementation. The suggested process has been applied at an urban industrial area, (also identified PM2.5-APH) in Delhi city. Estimation of micro-level emission inventory in the surrounding area (2 km × 2 km) of the PM2.5-APH suggests highest anthropogenic emissions from road dust (45–56%) followed by multiple type of industries (18–21%). The maximum reduction in PM2.5 concentrations can be achieved by allowing industrial operations at full capacity during day-time only (24–40%) and road dust cleaning by mechanized vacuum machines (30–31%). An integrated criteria is developed for prioritization/ranking of control actions. The most effective actions are found to be i) road dust cleaning by mechanized vacuum machine, ii) operation of industries with full capacity during day time only, iii) installation of cyclone dust collector in industrial stacks and iv) increase in stack height by 50%. This strategic framework can aid air quality managers in selection of the most suitable and appropriate policy interventions for an air pollution hotspot. Further, it can be replicated at other hotspot to prioritize the control actions for effective air quality management in any city.

Assessing the Productivity and Socioeconomic Feasibility of Cocoyam and Teak Agroforestry for Food Security

Limited agricultural land areas combined with increasing demands for food require breakthroughs in land use development using agroforestry systems. Intercropping root crops with trees could be an alternative for food production in forest areas. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) farming on dry land within 12- and 42-year-old teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests to support local food security. The feasibility assessment took into account both productivity and socio-economic aspects. The agroforestry land productivity was measured using the land equivalent ratio (LER), and our analysis of the cocoyam farming within the teak stands was carried out using the revenue/cost ratio (R/C) at the demonstration plot scale. Furthermore, we also surveyed farmers’ perceptions of the production of cocoyam for food security. The results showed that the R/C values of cocoyam tuber production in agroforestry systems were lower than 1. However, the production rates of cocoyam tubers in the 12-year-old teak stand (48.3% light intensity) and the 42-year-old teak stand (62.5% light intensity) were 2.64 and 2.76 tons/ha, respectively. The overall yields from the teak and cocoyam agroforestry systems were more profitable than those of the monoculture system, as indicated by the LER values of 1.61 and 1.85. Cocoyam production was socially acceptable (77% of respondents) as a smallholder subsistence agroforestry practice to meet food demand. Increasing cocoyam productivity in teak forests requires the adoption of agroforestry silvicultural technology to achieve food security for rural communities. To increase their farming production and income, farmers could apply intensive silvicultural practices. Governmental support that could be provided includes encouraging product diversification and providing assistance for the processing and marketing of cocoyam products.

Financial or Socio-Economic Feasibility? Potential Assessment of Renewable Energy Investment in Algeria

This study examines the objectives behind the Algerian government’s investment in renewable energy—whether the investment decision is for financial or socio-economic feasibility. The study applies the Net Present Value (NPV) method to provide an answer. The findings show that socio-economic feasibility, rather than financial feasibility, is sought from the investment in renewable energy. The latter remains an inappropriate criterion for assessing a project’s success or failure. The findings are helpful for future studies to build on and will likely attract the attention of policymakers in Algeria.

Effect of processed sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) grain supplementation on growth performance and socioeconomic feasibility of Doyogena sheep in Ethiopia.

BackgroundThe experiment evaluated the effect of supplementing sheep fed natural pasture hay withprocessed sweet lupin grain on growth performance and its economic feasibility. The finding revealed that use of steamed lupin shown to improve the nutritivevalue of the grain and sheep performance.MethodsThe experiment was carried out using 24 yearling lambs with initial body weight of 27.53 ± 2.67 kg (mean ± SD) for 126 days (21 days quarantine, 15 days of adaptation and 90 days growth trial followed by 7 days digestibility trial). The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design consisting of four treatments and six blocks. Treatments comprised the feeding of natural pasture hay ad libitum + concentrate mix 440 g (T1), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day roasted, coarsely ground sweet lupin grain (T2), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day sweet lupin grain soaked in water for 72 h (T3), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day steamed sweet lupin grain (T4).ResultsThere was improvements in total dry matter intake and digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in sheep supplemented with processed sweet lupin grains compared (T4) by 58.49%, 24.66%, 39.39%, 22.97% and 39.68%, respectively, over the control group. Specifically sheep supplemented with T4 had significantly higher (p < 0.001) average daily gain (by 51.04%), feed conversion efficiency (46.34%) and daily weight gain (144.78 g/day) compared to the control treatment, respectively. All processing methods resulted in favourable average daily gain and net return, thus can be employed in feeding systems depending on their availability and relative cost.ConclusionsSupplementing sheep fed natural pasture hay with 440 g/day steamed sweet lupin grains improved growth performance and fattening economics of Doyogena sheep compared to T2 (roasted sweet lupin grain), T3 (soaked sweet lupin grain) or the control (T1).

Topical aspects of laboratory diagnosis of urinary tract infections in pregnancy (literature review)

Numerous scientific studies, as well as practical experience in public health, have determined that proper and timely diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy often determines obstetric and perinatal outcomes, and affects maternal and perinatal mortality rates. Urinary tract infections are common, with a prevalence in pregnancy ranging from 8 to 10%. During pregnancy and delivery, patients with UTIs can develop a number of complications such as anaemia, spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetoplacental insufficiency, premature delivery and postpartum septic complications. UTIs also have adverse effects on the fetus, causing fetal hypoxia, delayed intrauterine development and intrauterine infection. Prenatal screening for UTIs is included in the standard of care for pregnant women throughout the world and in some countries, women are screened more than once. Such early diagnosis for asymptomatic bacteriuria is thought to reduce obstetric, perinatal and urological complications by up to a factor of five. However, in some European countries, the socioeconomic feasibility of routine screening of pregnant women for asymptomatic bacteriuria has recently been raised.

Modeling And Simulation Of Plastic Wastes Generation For Operational Planning And Management In The Bonaberi Industrial Region, Cameroon

A review of waste management literature in use today shows that new techniques are needed in the process of planning strategic goals and objectives to technical goals and objectives. One of these techniques is the method which involves the modeling and simulation of wastes generated in our communities. This study uses the ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average), model to model and simulates plastic wastes generated in the Bonaberi industrial zone, of Cameroon for operational planning and management. Attention was also paid to their composition and uses as important resources for recycling industries. The monthly municipal plastic waste data from 2014 to 2020 was used to create a parsimonious ARIMA model. Different performance measures such as mean absolute deviation (MAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R-squared) were used to evaluate the performance of these models. Following this, ARIMA (1, 1, 1) model showed a superior prediction performance. According to this model, if current production and waste management trends continue, approximately 5468 Kg/month, 95% CI (2843, 9581) could be attained by December 2021.The results contribute to the process of planning strategic goals and objectives to technical goals and objectives in the region. The model developed can help decision-makers to take better measures and develop policies regarding waste management practices in the future. However, technical, environmental, and socio-economic feasibility studies to explore the technical options available, and to determine the factors that are considered important for the economic success of the project, and causing significant environmental problems resulting from improper disposal, namely burning or dumping, could also direct future investors in the region.

Provision of Capacity Territorial Communities in Ukraine

The article examines the essence of the concept of capacity of territorial communities in Ukraine in the context of local government reform. It is noted that one of the main tasks of local governments in the context of local government reform is to strengthen the capacity of the territorial community, which is able to ensure respect for the rights and interests of its inhabitants, as well as their protection. It is proved that strengthening the capacity of territorial communities is a process of increasing the ability of local governments to act within the law, implementing the rule of law. Gathering more powers and resources for the implementation of the united territorial communities, as well as responsibilities, should be the main result of the decentralization reform in Ukraine. That is why today the provision of the capacity of territorial communities is an urgent goal of both residents of territorial communities and local governments. It is noted that the territorial community, as an administrative-territorial unit of the basic level, is the integrity of the components: territorial-natural, demographic, economic, social and cultural-mental, and therefore is created by the criteria of historical certainty and socio-economic feasibility. It is proved that the capacity of the local community is the availability of budgetary, financial, resource, infrastructure and personnel conditions that determine the ability of the local community to provide quality public services to the population, as well as the ability to use their own potential — managerial, financial, economic, investment, human, public participation. It is noted that this area of research in the context of local government reform remains extremely relevant for further research.

Probabilistic techno-economic assessment of anaerobic digestion predicts economic benefits to smallholder farmers with quantifiable certainty.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology holds numerous potential benefits for farmers, however, challenges persist in terms of implementation costs and sustainability in developing countries. This paper presents a probabilistic techno-economic assessment tool for AD. A clear distinction is made between direct financial feasibility and wider (socio) economic feasibility. The tool identifies the technical- and economic factors influencing the returns of a particular AD process as well as the sensitivity of model predictions to variations in the value of the identified factors using a Monte Carlo approach. The tool is applied to assess the feasibility of a smallholder farm-based AD installation under a variety of substrates and operating conditions as an illustrative case study, where on-going flows of costs and benefits were considered over a 15-year period and discounted at a rate of 8%. The results of the case study revealed that the installation of a 10m3 smallholder farm-based anaerobic digester are likely to be financially and economically viable with a financial benefit-cost ratio of 1.30-1.38 and an economic benefit-cost ratio ranged from 5.49 to 6.01. Risk assessment results confirmed the strong economic feasibility of a smallholder farm-based AD implementation: under the most conservative cost estimates, there is a 73% probability of achieving a financial benefit-cost ratio>1, while there is a 96.6% probability of achieving an economic benefit-cost ratio>1. The case study demonstrated the utility of probabilistic techno-economic assessments for informed decision making, a tool which can be readily generalized to other settings.

Global Strategies to Minimize Environmental Impacts of Ruminant Production.

Demand for ruminant products (dairy products, beef, and sheep meat) is increasing rapidly with population and income growth and the acceleration of urbanization. However, ruminant animals exert the highest environmental impacts and consume the most resources in the livestock system. Increasing studies have focused on various measures to reduce ammonia, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion from ruminant production to consumption. This review offers supply- and demand-side management strategies to reduce the environmental impact of ruminant products and emphasizes the mitigation potential of coupling livestock production with cultivation and renewable energy. On a global scale, more attention should be paid to the green-source trade and to strengthening global technology sharing. The success of these strategies depends on the cost effectiveness of technology, public policy, and financial support. Future studies and practice should focus on global database development for sharing mitigation strategies, thus facilitating technology innovations and socioeconomic feasibility.

Integrated spatial planning for biodiversity conservation and food production

Integrated spatial planning for biodiversity conservation and food production