Conservative Behavior Research Articles

Role of education and awareness programs in fostering energy conservation behavior in cities: Empowering urban sustainability using deep learning approach

This paper introduces a pioneering framework that emphasizes the critical role of education in promoting energy conservation behavior within urban environments. By synergizing deep learning methodologies with education-awareness formulations and algorithm, the framework aims to bolster energy conservation security in cities. A central aspect of this framework is the development of an advanced Intrusion Detection System (IDS) model, utilizing Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBMs) tailored to enhance energy consumption security. Through six strategic integrations of educational components, the IDS not only identifies but also mitigates potential threats to energy systems with unprecedented efficiency. Additionally, the research introduces a novel evolutionary feature selection method based on Memetic Algorithms (MAs), which strategically identifies crucial features for RBM training, ensuring optimal model performance. The incorporation of Memetic Algorithms facilitates individual learning and problem-specific knowledge transmission, further enhancing the adaptive capabilities of the system. This multifaceted approach underscores the pivotal role of education in fostering urban sustainability, pushing the boundaries of energy conservation security. By proactively responding to emerging threats, the proposed framework contributes significantly to the overarching goal of sustainable and secure urban energy management.

Write your paper on the motherland?

ABSTRACT ‘Write your paper on the motherland’ is an influential Chinese slogan encouraging researchers to focus on domestic issues and prioritize local applications of their work, though interpretations differ. The 2024 ‘International Journal Early Warning List’ update sparked renewed debate over the slogan’s meaning. This letter argues that misinterpreting this slogan as merely promoting domestic journal submissions could lead to a more conservative submission behavior and a more closed academic system. This reflects a common challenge among non-English-speaking countries to balance international reach with local contributions in publications.

Does spending time with nature affect people’s desire to protect it? A case study of Nigerian beachgoers

ABSTRACT This study explores the intricate relationship between beach conservation and human behaviour, focusing on beachgoers in Lagos State, Nigeria. It underlines the importance of nature connection in determining people’s willingness to pay (WTP) for the management and preservation of coastal ecosystems. As well as providing spaces for recreation, beaches provide vital ecosystem services such as flood protection and contributions to biodiversity, but they are often threatened by human-induced actions such as pollution. The research investigates pathways through which individuals connect with nature, highlighting beauty, compassion, emotion, contact and meaning. It reveals that participants primarily establish their connection through the aesthetic appeal of beaches. Additionally, the study uncovers a positive WTP for beach management, with most participants willing to contribute modest amounts. The study’s implications point to the need for holistic beach management strategies in Nigeria that balance economic development and environmental conservation. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of strengthening connections between individuals and the natural world to foster pro-environmental behaviour and financial contributions to conservation efforts.

Non-conservative behavior of organic matter and its interaction with metals in an equatorial estuary, Brazil.

Droughts are becoming more intense and frequent in the Brazilian semiarid because of El Niño and global climate changes. The Jaguaribe River estuary is a semiarid ecosystem that experiences a reduction in freshwater discharges due to droughts and river damming. The decrease in freshwater fluxes has increased metal availability through the water residence time increase in the Jaguaribe River estuary. Then, this study aimed to evaluate the dissolved organic matter quality and its interaction with metals in the Jaguaribe River estuary after a severe drought period. It was performed through carbon analyses, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultrafiltration technique, and determinations of metals by ICP-MS. Optical analysis showed that the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was preponderantly composed of terrestrial-derived humic compounds, while the low ratio between the particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll-a indicated that POC was predominantly phytoplankton-derived. DOC and POC presented non-conservative removal during the estuarine mixing. DOM and dissolved elements were mostly distributed within the LMW fraction and presented a low percentage in the colloidal fraction. Li, Rb, Sr, Mo, and U showed conservative behavior, while Cu, Fe, Cr, and V had non-conservative behavior with a significant positive correlation with DOM, suggesting DOM as a relevant driver of metal availability at the Jaguaribe River estuary even during the rainy season.

Utilizing Ant Forest technology to foster sustainable behaviors: A novel approach towards environmental conservation

Amidst mounting environmental threats and exacerbated global risks from climate change, the urgency for sustainable behaviors has never been more critical, demanding concerted efforts to cultivate individual actions for environmental conservation. Ant Forest technology, a groundbreaking innovation for sustainable lifestyles, stands at the forefront of this battle, harnessing technological advancements to drive positive environmental impact and must be championed. This research investigates the dynamics of environmental conservation behaviors facilitated by Ant Forest Technology. Employing a theoretical framework integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study explores the impact of autonomous and controlled motivation on attitudes, intentions, and conservation behaviors. Furthermore, the research assesses the influence of knowledge disseminated through Ant Forest Technology on users' intentions and behavior toward conservation behaviors. The study utilized the partial least square structural equation modeling in its analysis. Findings reveal that both motivational factors and knowledge significantly shape users' engagement in conservation behaviors activities through perceived ease of use and usefulness. These insights contribute to the development of effective policies and interventions aimed at harnessing Ant Forest Technology as a powerful tool for fostering widespread environmental conservation behaviors.

Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network.

Philopatric kin-based societies encourage a narrow breadth of conservative behaviours owing to individuals primarily learning from close kin, promoting behavioural homogeneity. However, weaker social ties beyond kin, and across a behaviourally diverse social landscape, could be sufficient to induce variation and a greater ecological niche breadth. We investigated a network of 457 photo-identified killer whales from Norway (548 encounters in 2008-2021) with diet data available (46 mixed-diet individuals feeding on both fish and mammals, and 411 exclusive fish-eaters) to quantify patterns of association within and between diet groups, and to identify underlying correlates. We genotyped a subset of 106 whales to assess patterns of genetic differentiation. Our results suggested kinship as main driver of social bonds within and among cohesive social units, while diet was most likely a consequence reflective of cultural diffusion, rather than a driver. Flexible associations within and between ecologically diverse social units led to a highly connected network, reducing social and genetic differentiation between diet groups. Our study points to a role of social connectivity, in combination with individual behavioural variation, in influencing population ecology in killer whales.

Effectiveness of Pro-Environmental Interventions to Improve Ecological Behavior

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of Pro-Environmental Behavior intervention in improving ecological behavior. The interventions provided are in the form of psychoeducation and individual tasks related to aspects of pro-environmental behavior which include recycling, energy conservation, and vicarious social behavior towards conservation. This research uses a quasi-experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design. Sampling was carried out using a purposive sampling method which was determined through inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants selected in this study were 8 members of Fishing Community X who showed low ecological behavior as measured by the General Ecological Behavior Scale (GEB). The data analysis used in testing the pre-test and post-test data was the paired sample t-test. In this study, t-count > t-table was obtained, namely 8,683 > 2.365. The results of this analysis show that pro-environmental behavior interventions have proven effective in improving the ecological behavior of research participants through providing psychoeducation and activities that provide benefits to the environment.

Resident water conservation behaviors among different age groups in rural areas of the Weibei arid belt, China

Understanding water conservation behaviors across various age groups is crucial for developing effective water resource management strategies particularly in arid and semiarid zones. Based on a semi-structural questionnaire survey of 445 households in China's Weibei arid belt and extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model, a Structural Equation Model (SEM) was constructed to elucidate the age-related impact of water conservation knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control on water-saving behaviors. The results show that (1) youth group prioritizes personal hygiene and laundry activities whereas the elderly exhibit lower such requirements. (2) Water consumption varies significantly by age, with the elderly group consumes the least, averaging 62.26 L per capita per day (Lpcd), followed by the middle-aged group at 73.95 Lpcd, and the youth at the highest consumption rate of 84.60 Lpcd. (3) Influential factors on water conservation behavior differ substantially by age: Among the youth, water conservation behavior is strongly influenced by attitude in this domain (standardized path coefficient [SPC] = 0.32). The middle-aged group is influenced by subjective norms (SPC = 0.27) and attitudes toward water conservation (SPC = 0.27). Conversely, the elder group's behavior is dominated by knowledge (SPC = 0.35) and perceived control (SPC = 0.32). Given such distinct perceptions and behaviors of household water consumption, tailored water conservation strategies are essential of water conservation education through social media for youth, tiered pricing for the middle-aged, and water-saving subsidies to the elderly in the case areas.

Movement strategies during obstacle crossing in people with Parkinson disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Navigating obstacles involves adjusting walking patterns, particularly when stepping over them. This task may be particularly challenging for people with Parkinson disease (PD) for several reasons.This review aims to compare the spatiotemporal gait parameters of people with and without PD while stepping over obstacles. A systematic literature search was conducted in six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, and SciELO) from inception to September 2023. Studies were selected that evaluated gait parameters of people with and without PD while walking over obstacles. Two independent researchers evaluated the eligibility and extracted gait parameters during obstacle crossing. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2-tests. Random effects models were determined for effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMD). Twenty-five studies were included in the review and 17 in the meta-analysis. Most of the studies (58%) showed a low risk of bias. People with PD exhibit a shorter step when landing after crossing an obstacle (SMD = -0.50 [-0.69 to -0.31]). Compared to people without PD, people with PD also widen their support base (SMD = 0.27 [0.07-0.47]) and reduce gait velocity (SMD = -0.60 [-0.80 to -0.39]) when crossing the obstacle. People with PD adopt a more conservative motor behavior during obstacle crossing than those without PD, with a shorter step length when landing after crossing an obstacle, greater step width and lower crossing speed.

Safety enhancement for nonlinear systems via learning-based model predictive control with Gaussian process regression

This paper proposes a novel safe Gaussian process model predictive control scheme for discrete-time nonlinear systems subject to additive uncertainties. The scheme is implemented using an online learning framework that provides safety guarantees based on a nominal model, and employs Gaussian process regression (GPR) to learn the uncertainties to improve the control performance. The advantage of this framework lies in the ability to decouple safety and performance in the robust controller design. Furthermore, the inaccuracy measure given by GPR can be used to adaptively tighten the constraints, leading to the less conservative behaviors. A rigorous analysis of the constraint satisfaction, recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability is also presented. Two simulation examples, including a regulation problem of a nominally linear system and a tracking problem of a car whose model is nonlinear, are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Promoting Waterbird Conservation Behavior: The Effects of Internet Memes and Co-Creation Engagement on Biodiversity-Led Sustainability

Waterbird plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem services and serves as a bioindicator of ecological conditions. However, people are not fully aware of the benefits waterbirds bring to ecosystem and how biodiversity conservation contributes to sustainability. This study aims to promote waterbird conservation behavior by using participatory internet memes. The internet memes feature humor and participatory culture, and they have been used to promote environmental campaigns. This study explores how co-creation engagement interacts with different types of memes regarding the online civic engagement in an animal conservation campaign and the underlying mechanisms in that process. A 3 (meme types: high humor meme without text vs. low humor meme without text vs. typical high humor meme with text) X 2 (engagement: co-creation engagement vs. non-co-creation engagement) between subject online experiment was used in this study. The results showed three causal routes—absorption, perceived humor, and perceived cuteness—that mediated the effect between high humor memes and online civic engagement. Furthermore, this study revealed under what circumstance low humor memes are effective in promoting civic engagement in environmental communication.

Tracking and tracing water consumption for informed water sensitive intervention through machine learning approach

To develop a water conscious strategy, it is critical to track and trace water from its source to the end users, understand water conservation behaviors, and identify the factors that influence water consumption. However, in developing nations, little research has been done to provide a quantitative picture of how water is consumed and transformed in urban households, as well as the water sensitive interventions needed to improve access to clean water. Hence, the main objective of the study was to determine the most significant residential water consumption variables and to predict residential water consumption in a way that can generate water consumption information for water sensitive intervention decision making using the case study of Adama city in Ethiopia. A combination of top down and bottom up data collection techniques were employed as the data collection instrument. Machine learning was integrated with spatial and socioeconomic analytic techniques to estimate daily household water consumption and identify the factors that significantly influence household water consumption. The results show that there is only “one source option” for the city’s clean water supply and that different water harvesting methods are not likely to be developed. The average daily water consumption per person is 69 liters which falls below the national standard of 80 liters allocated per person per day. The result reveals that the water distribution network covers only 45% of the city master plan. About 38% of the water demand is unmet and 30% of households only receive water once every three days or fewer. This shows that the city is experiencing physical and economic water scarcity. The results demonstrated that family size, housing quality, income, number of rooms, legal status of the parcel, supply reliability, climate, and topographical features are the most important factors in predicting residential water consumption. This study further demonstrates how well supervised machine learning models, such as the Random Forest Regression algorithm, can predict the household’s daily water consumption. The findings also showed that there is a need for significant improvements in water saving habits of the households. Another conclusion that can be drawn is that as long as the city’s business as usual water consumption practice doesn’t change, the water supply problem will worsen over time.

Extending the decision-making process during yellow phase from human drivers to autonomous vehicles: A microsimulation study with safety considerations

One of the main factors affecting the safety of signalised intersections is the stop/go behaviour during the yellow interval. Although previous research has exhaustively examined drivers' stop/go decision-making, the expected autonomous vehicles' (AVs') stop/go behaviour has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Through a series of simulation experiments developed for conventional and autonomous vehicles using different car-following, lane-changing, lateral placement and stop/go model parameter values, we examine here whether the default VISSIM stop/go parameter values can adequately replicate the observed drivers' behaviour at the considered intersection and assess the suitability of using the currently available options, albeit referring to human drivers, to simulate the expected stop/go behaviour of AVs. We also propose a policy framework for determining the desired behaviour of AVs in yellow interval, which is integrated into an AVs logic and achieved in the last simulation to explore the effect of automation on the stop/go outcome and, hence, on the safety level of signalised intersections. Several data analysis and modeling techniques were used for the formulation of certain scenarios, including binary choice models. The default stop/go parameter values were found unfit to replicate the observed stop/go behaviour and subjected to calibration. Compared to the currently available options, the proposed AVs logic proved to produce the most accurate results, in terms of the stop/go simulation outcome. Regarding the impact of automation on the stop/go outcome, the simulation experiments showed that AVs preferred a more conservative behaviour in favor of road safety, as indicated by the significant reduction (≈15%) in the number of vehicles crossing the stop line during the yellow light and zero instances of red light violation. However, compared to the conservative drivers represented by the default stop/go parameter values, AVs preferred a more rational behaviour in favor of intersection capacity without compromising road safety.

Understanding and Enhancing Food Conservation Behaviors and Operations

This study explores the dynamics of food conservation behaviors and operations, shifting the lens from the prevalent narrative of food waste reduction to a marketing perspective that emphasizes consumer engagement in sustainable operations. Amidst the rapid urban transformation and economic progress of many countries, this research examines factors influencing individual behaviors toward responsible food operations. It aims to delineate the motivational drivers and deterrents affecting residents’ engagement in food conservation and operations, utilizing an adapted framework based on the theory of planned behavior. We employ partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze responses from 390 residents. We find that perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and attitudes significantly enhance intentions to conserve food. Moreover, environmental concerns amplify both attitudes and perceived behavioral control, while green marketing communications and knowledge elevate attitudes, environmental mindfulness, and conservation actions. A connection to nature is substantiated as a reinforcing factor for pro-environmental attitudes and operations. Notably, attitudes are identified as a critical mediator among the examined constructs. This investigation enriches sustainability scholarship by introducing a positive behavior-focused approach, advancing the discourse on sustainable operations. It offers actionable insights for market-driven interventions, policy-making (such as China’s lastest national policies on food security and rural region revitalization in 2024), and educational endeavors to mitigate food wastage and reinforce food supply chain resilience globally.

The impact of the new trend of urban‐to‐urban migration on fertility behaviors

AbstractIn China, urban‐to‐urban migration is an emerging migration trend that may have different impacts on fertility behavior. Based on the China General Social Survey, this study provides an in‐depth examination of the impact of urban‐to‐urban migration on fertility behavior. The findings show that urban‐to‐urban migrants tend to adopt more conservative fertility decisions, including lowering the likelihood of having children, delaying the age of first birth, and lengthening birth intervals. Traditional catch‐up and interference hypotheses fail to account for these results, whereas findings from the selectivity hypothesis suggest that urban‐to‐urban migrants anticipate lower numbers of children and maintain more open attitudes towards sexuality, potentially contributing to the conservative fertility behaviors. In addition, the study also reveals that urban‐to‐urban migration appears to promote a more open and liberal attitude towards childbearing, particularly weakening discriminatory attitudes towards women entrenched in feudal notions. This study has not only enriched the theories of migrant fertility behavior but also offered a new perspective on the recent changes in China's fertility rate.

Spatial and temporal variation in surface nitrate and phosphate in the Northern Gulf of Mexico over 35 years

Dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations in the surface waters (0 to 5 m) of the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) were analyzed from 1985 to 2019 (> 10,000 observations) to determine spatiotemporal trends and their connection to nutrients supplied from the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River (MAR). In the NGoM, annual mean dissolved inorganic P (DIP) concentrations increased significantly over time, while dissolved inorganic N (DIN) concentrations showed no temporal trend. With greater salinity, mean DIN:DIP decreased from above the Redfield ratio of 16 to below it, reflecting DIN losses and the more conservative behavior of DIP with salinity. Over the same time period, annual mean P (total dissolved P, DIP, dissolved organic P) loading from the MAR to the NGoM significantly increased, annual mean DIN and total dissolved N loading showed no temporal trend, and dissolved organic N loading significantly decreased. Though DIP increased in the MAR, MAR DIP alone was insufficient to explain the surface distribution of DIP with salinity. Therefore, increases in surface DIP in the NGoM are not simply a reflection of increasing MAR DIP, pointing to temporal changes in other DIP sources. The increase in NGoM DIP suggests greater N limitation for phytoplankton, with implications for N fixation and nutrient management.

Analysis of stakeholder-associated factors and their interactions in energy conservation behaviour of occupants: evidence from network analysis

Analysis of stakeholder-associated factors and their interactions in energy conservation behaviour of occupants: evidence from network analysis

Solving Non-rectangular Reward-Robust MDPs via Frequency Regularization

In robust Markov decision processes (RMDPs), it is assumed that the reward and the transition dynamics lie in a given uncertainty set. By targeting maximal return under the most adversarial model from that set, RMDPs address performance sensitivity to misspecified environments. Yet, to preserve computational tractability, the uncertainty set is traditionally independently structured for each state. This so-called rectangularity condition is solely motivated by computational concerns. As a result, it lacks a practical incentive and may lead to overly conservative behavior. In this work, we study coupled reward RMDPs where the transition kernel is fixed, but the reward function lies within an alpha-radius from a nominal one. We draw a direct connection between this type of non-rectangular reward-RMDPs and applying policy visitation frequency regularization. We introduce a policy-gradient method, and prove its convergence. Numerical experiments illustrate the learned policy's robustness and its less conservative behavior when compared to rectangular uncertainty.

Land Tenure, Loans, and Farmers’ Cropland Conservation Behavior: Evidence from Rural Northwest China

The pivotal role of farmers’ cropland conservation behavior (CCB) in advancing green agricultural practices is well-recognized. This paper underscores the critical role of stable land tenure in enhancing farmers’ CCB, exemplified by the practice of mulch recycling. Drawing on a survey of 349 cotton farmers in Xinjiang, Northwest China, it offers a systematic examination of how land tenure stability influences CCB and its underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between land tenure stability and CCB. Notably, this relationship is mediated by the facilitation of land mortgages, wherein written contracts and extended land tenure durations enhance farmers’ participation in land mortgages, thereby bolstering CCB. Furthermore, the stabilizing effect of land tenure on CCB also mitigates the negative impacts of risk aversion and time preference. The study additionally highlights the differential effects of land tenure stability based on farm size and technical training; its facilitative role in CCB is more pronounced among larger-scale farmers and those engaged in technical training.

The playing out of distributional, procedural and recognitional equity and the acceptance of protected areas by local people: Evidence from the Giant Panda National Park, China

This paper examines how perceived social equity (distributional equity, procedural equity, and recognitional equity) affects acceptance of protected areas by local communities. We also consider the consequences of these perceptions on the behaviour of local people in relation to biodiversity conservation. Despite increasing importance being given to social issues in protected area management, there is limited evidence about the effect of perceived equity on local support for conservation initiatives. Questionnaires (mostly face-to-face interviews) were undertaken with 426 households living in and around the Giant Panda National Park, which lies across the Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansu provinces of China. Structural equation modelling revealed that local residents with positive perceptions of procedural and distributional equity were more willing to support conservation and engage in conservation behaviours. Surprisingly, perceived recognitional equity had no effect on acceptance and negatively impacted conservation behaviour. This highlights that, although it is essential to promote recognitional equity, the complexities around this must be considered further. The context (e.g. age, education, village of residence) moderates the relationships between procedural equity, distributional equity and local acceptance. We suggest that, in order to achieve better park-people relationships, in addition to addressing equity concerns, it is also necessary to implement supplementary measures, such as community co-management and benefit sharing with host communities.