Sorting Behavior Research Articles

223 Impacts of Active Dry Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on Gut Permeability in Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objectives of this study were to examine the impacts of active live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a dietary feed additive on dry matter intake, feed sorting, gut permeability, ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, as well as fecal pH and VFA concentration in cattle fed a high-grain finishing diet and subjected to a ruminal acidotic challenge. Fifteen Hereford X Charolais heifers were blocked by BW into three blocks. Heifers were randomly assigned within block to one of two dietary treatments; CON (no additive), or YST (3 g· animal-1· day-1 of active live S. cerevisiae) added to a steam-flaked corn diet (83% steam-flaked corn, 8% wheat straw, 5% soybean meal protein mix, 4% vitamin and minerals on a DM basis). The experimental timeline was as follows: 30 d adaptation (ADPT), 5 d baseline (BASE), 5 d ruminal acidosis challenge (CHAL), and three subsequent 5 d recovery phases (REC1, REC2, and REC3). On day 2 of each phase and days 2 and 4 of CHAL, 179 mM Cr-EDTA and 360 mM Co-EDTA were infused into the omasum and rumen, respectively, as gut permeability markers. Within each phase, in-dwelling pH probes were used to capture reticulo-ruminal pH every 5min for 96 consecutive hours, rumen fluid and fecal grab samples were collected once for every 3 h in a 24 h period, and blood was collected at 2, 4, 12, and 24 h after each Co and Cr infusion. Dry matter intake and feed sorting were measured daily for each animal. Statistical analysis was conducted using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS as a randomized complete block design with block, treatment, and phase as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. Ruminal acidosis was successfully induced using this method, as suggested by the statistically significant reduction in minimum pH and increase in pH range in the CHAL phase compared with other phases of the experiment (P ≤ 0.02). Recovery from the ruminal acidosis challenge was detected within the REC1 phase when comparing minimum pH (CHAL 5.25 vs. REC1 5.54; P = 0.001). Additionally, the sorting behavior of some particle sizes was significantly impacted by phase (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, the addition of yeast to the diet did not impact feed intake, sorting behavior, spot ruminal and fecal pH, volatile fatty acid concentrations in ruminal fluid or feces, or the uptake of Cr-EDTA and Co-EDTA. These results suggest that adding live S. cerevisiae yeast at this dose in a high-grain finishing diet does not impact feed intake, gut permeability, or the production of VFA when ruminal acidosis is induced.

Effect of pre- and postpartum supplementation of a pure glycerol product to dairy cows on feeding behavior, lying behavior, and reticulorumen pH

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of supplementing a low level of dry glycerol product pre- and postpartum on the feeding behavior, lying behavior, and reticulorumen pH of dairy cows. Multiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 60) were enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial design study. Twenty-one days before expected parturition, cows individually received a dry cow diet with (1) 250 g/d glycerol supplementation (GLY; 66% pure glycerol, United States Pharmacopeia grade), or (2) no supplementation (CON). Following parturition, cows were individually assigned to either (1) 250 g/d glycerol product (GLY; 66% pure glycerol), or (2) no supplementation (CON) to their partial mixed ration (PMR) for the first 21 d in milk (DIM). All cows were milked by an automated milking system and offered a target of 5.4 kg/d pellet (23% of target total dry matter intake [DMI]). For both treatment periods, cows were individually assigned to automated feed bins to measure PMR feeding behavior. Rumination time and lying behavior were monitored with electronic sensors for the whole study (-21 to 21 DIM). Reticulorumen pH boluses were administered to a subset of cows (n = 40) where pH was recorded every 10 min from 21 d prepartum to 21 d postpartum. Prepartum, cows fed GLY had fewer, larger meals and spent 20.2% more time feeding than CON while consuming feed at a similar rate. Cows on the CON diet prepartum spent more time lying down in more frequent bouts in the 21 d before calving. Following parturition, cows that received GLY prepartum continued to devote more time to eating, while tending to spend less time ruminating per kilogram of DMI. Cows receiving CON postpartum had larger meals with longer intervals between meals. In the first 21 DIM, cows receiving CON prepartum tended to have shorter, but significantly more frequent, lying bouts than cows fed GLY prepartum. Glycerol supplementation pre- and postpartum resulted in less time spent lying down following parturition. Minimal differences between treatments were observed for pre- and postpartum sorting behavior or reticulorumen pH. Overall, supplementation of glycerol pre- and postpartum altered cow time budgets, with cows spending more time eating pre- and postpartum, less time lying pre- and postpartum, and having fewer, larger meals prepartum when receiving glycerol prepartum, and with cows having slower feeding rates and smaller meals following parturition with postpartum glycerol supplementation.

Food waste ‘Warriors’, ‘Strugglers’ and ‘Slackers’: Segmenting households based on food waste generation and sorting behaviours

Food waste is a largely avoidable global issue with adverse environmental and economic impacts. Households are the main generators of food waste, with two main food waste behaviours contributing to the issue: generation and sorting. Online survey data from 939 households was used to segment households based on two measures of food waste generation (total food waste volume and the proportion of total food waste that is avoidable) and one measure of sorting behaviour (proportion of food waste sorted sustainably). Three segments were identified: ‘Warriors’ (39.6%), ‘Strugglers’ (19.6%), and ‘Slackers’ (40.8%). Warriors have low total and avoidable food waste and sort it sustainably (i.e. sorting into a kerbside organics bin, composting, and feeding to pets). Slackers have low food waste but sort little of it sustainably. Strugglers have high food waste and a medium level of sustainable sorting. These segments were profiled based on the Motivation – Opportunity – Ability framework with motivation based on the three goal-framing motivations (i.e. gain, hedonic, and normative goals) for reducing and sorting food waste between segments. These findings can help inform the design of interventions aimed at reducing and sorting food waste in specific segments of municipal populations.

Training on Instilling Waste Sorting Behavior to Optimize Waste Processing in Desa Bogares Kidul Tegal

Bogares Kidul is an industrial center village with a substantial residential populations, that generates a significant volume of waste. However, the waste bank in Bogares Kidul remains underutilized, as trash continues throw away without any sorting process. Sorting waste behavior is a behavior that involves the categorization and separation of waste by type that presents a potential solution to the waste processing challenges in Bogares Kidul. Consequently, a waste sorting training program held involving 26 participants who are PKK cadre members with an average age of 42.5 years. The research encompasses a series of critical steps, including needs analysis, the formulation of approaches and objectives, training program design, and subsequent implementation and evaluation. Evaluation procedures involve assessing participants' knowledge, attitudes, and abilities through questionnaires and their practical skills through hands-on exercises. Furthermore, PKK cadre members as role models play a pivotal role in enhancing motivation among local families and residents, fostering the practice of waste sorting, and ultimately optimizing waste processing efforts in the community. Keyword: Waste Processing, Waste Sorting Behavior, Bogares Kidul Village

Analysis of the Influencing Factors of the Garbage Sorting Behavior on Campus in the Post-Epidemic Period

With the rapid development of the economy and the rise of peoples con-sumption level, the problem of garbage is becoming a more and more severe challenge. Meanwhile, colleges, as a place with a high concentration of stu-dents, have also more serious garbage sorting problems. Therefore, this paper will be devoted to analyzing the factors that influence college students gar-bage sorting behavior in the post-epidemic period. To start with, a question-naire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model was made to collect students data. Then the KMO tests and AMOS Structural Equation Fitting were conducted to verify the validity of the data and structure. After confirming that the data is effective, the data will be analyzed by building models including the Measurement Model of Empirical Analysis Framework, Overall model fitting, Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) model and original Model. Lastly, with the optimization of the mediation effect and confirmatory factor analysis, the conclusion can be drawn that the student participants tend to adopt garbage-sorting behavior in both willingness and action. And the results show that they also have a positive attitude, good subjective norms, and strong perceived behavior control for the garbage sorting behavior on campus.

Composition analysis (pick analysis) of waste generated from household: A pilot study in Ujjain city, India

Waste segregation is an essential function in improving waste management. Waste segregation not only facilitates recycling and reduces waste going to landfills, rather it can benefit our environment and human in various ways. A pick analysis of waste composition is used to characterize the household waste stream and thus can analyze the segregation rate among the residents. In addition, it can measure the actual waste sorting behaviour at the household/community level. The objective of the study was to assess feasibility of a large-scale waste composition study, identify methodological and operational challenges, and estimate the resources needed to conduct the main waste composition study in order to obtain and get indicative figures about waste generation, composition, and miss-sorted proportions. The study team went door-to-door to collect waste in colour coded bags. We also collected the socio-demographic data of the households. The collected waste was weighed and segregated to analyze the waste composition. The analysis was done among 45 households, and it was found that the per capita waste generation per day is 0.25 kg (0.24 kg from slum and 0.27 kg from non-slum). Challenges identified in conducting waste composition study were lack of standard waste fraction classifications, difficulty in recruitment of personnel to conduct study due to social taboo around waste, challenge in co-coordinating with Ujjain Municipal Corporation waste collection vehicle for collection of waste. 53 household activities were completed in 5 and half hours with INR 24685 (USD 300.5). Pick analysis could be adopted by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation after cost effective analysis to generate precise estimate of waste generation, resource recovery, efficient resource allocation and will help in future interventions and informed policy decision making to improve segregation.

Circular economy is key! Designing a digital artifact to foster smarter household biowaste sorting

Waste volumes are rising. This is a problem, as they worsen environmental challenges such as climate change. At the same time, however, waste bears valuable resources – yet untapped. The concept of a circular economy bears the potential to unleash these resources. In the short run, only changing the waste sorting behavior of citizens can effectively contribute to circular resource flows, as waste management companies cannot ensure the purity of waste by purely technical means. Aligned with the digital realm, this work focuses on designing a digital artifact that contributes to improved household waste sorting. Using a design science research approach, we develop the artifact's design with input from theory, 23 interviews with potential users and practitioners, and evaluate a prototypical instantiation in a large German city. We contribute to literature and theory by generating design knowledge on information systems for improved biowaste and residual waste sorting by individuals. We derive as key design principles the importance of awareness and transparency, social influence, education and confirmation, and incentives. Our solution embracing those principles enhances the awareness of circular economy processes and the relevance of correct waste sorting. At the same time, our solution is relevant to solving waste management companies' current challenges such as the incineration of valuable biowaste as part of residual waste.

HEXACO that associate with individual waste sorting behaviour

HEXACO that associate with individual waste sorting behaviour

Variability in chewing, ruminal fermentation, digestibility and bacterial communities between subacute ruminal acidosis-susceptible and acidosis-tolerant sheep.

Sorting behaviour is a common phenomenon observed in ruminants when they are provided with a total mixed ration, which contributes to variations in the severity of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Pelleted total mixed ration (PTMR) reduces sorting, but high-grain content increases acidosis risk. However, whether the variability in the severity of SARA exists in sheep fed the same high-grain PTMR is less understood. This study aimed to investigate SARA variability among individual sheep offered a high-grain PTMR, considering chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, bacterial communities and nutrient digestibility. Twenty ruminally cannulated male Hu sheep were individually housed in cages and fed a PTMR comprising 80% concentrate mix and 20% roughage. A 14-day adaptation period to the diet and facilities was provided before a 10-day sample collection period. Continuous monitoring of ruminal pH was conducted for 48h, during which time chewing activity was also recorded. Ruminal fluid samples were collected for analysis of volatile fatty acid and microbial DNA extraction. Faecal samples were collected to measure nutrient digestibility. Based on their acidosis index, the sheep were classified into two groups: SARA-susceptible group (n=6) and SARA-tolerant group (n=6). The SARA-susceptible sheep exhibited a lower ruminal mean pH and minimum pH than the SARA-tolerant sheep (P<0.05). Additionally, the SARA-susceptible group increased the acidosis index, duration and areas of pH below 5.8 and 5.6 compared to the SARA-tolerant group (P<0.05). The SARA-susceptible group also exhibited a longer ruminating time than the SARA-tolerant group (P<0.05). The SARA-susceptible group exhibited a tendency to increase the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P=0.089), while simultaneously decreasing the copy number of Fibrobacter succinogenes in the rumen, as well as the digestibility of NDF and ADF compared to the SARA-tolerant group (P<0.05). The acidosis index was found to be positively correlated with ruminating time (min/kg DM intake (DMI)) and total chewing time (min/kg DMI), but negatively correlated with the copy number of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus in the rumen. These findings indicate that there exists variability in the SARA severity among sheep when fed a high-grain PTMR, as evidenced by varied chewing activity, bacterial communities and nutrient digestibility. Ruminating time, total chewing time per kilogram of DMI as well as the copy number of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus in the rumen hold potential as indicators for assessing the severity of SARA.

Exploration of Categorization and Category-Based Induction on Waste Sorting: A Follow-Up Observation by NeuroSky MindWave.

Waste sorting, as an embodiment of behavioral cognition, is regulated by two cognitive processes, namely, Categorization (C) and Category-Based Induction (CBI). This study employed the event-related potential (ERP) technique to assess whether there is a transformation between C and CBI in waste sorting cognition, in order to help individuals establish a correct waste sorting behavior. We reported a case of intervention in waste sorting education with a 58-year-old Chinese woman to discriminate whether such intervention facilitates the transition between C and CBI. The results showed that the waste sorting cognition follows a developmental model as C-CBI-C, where education may help the subject build a cognitive framework for waste sorting by altering inherent misperceptions and filling gaps in classification knowledge. The results also noticed that FN400 is identified as a characteristic waveform in the CBI process, by which it is indicated that the first 4 to 7 days of education is a critical period for establishing the cognitive framework. Through a comparison of the ERP waveforms at different stages of intervention, the results are insightful to help individuals improve their cognition of waste sorting.

Propionic acid-based additive with surfactant action on the feeding value of rehydrated corn grain silage for dairy cows performance

Eighteen Holstein cows with 218 ± 106 days in milk (mean ± SD) and average daily milk yield of 22 ± 7.6 kg (mean ± SD) were assigned to six 3 × 3 Latin squares to evaluate the effects of using a propionic acid-based additive with surfactant action (Mycoflake™; Kemin South America, Indaiatuba, SP, Brazil) at the ensiling of rehydrated corn grain on its nutritional value and animal performance. Dry ground corn grain (998 μm) was rehydrated to reach 400 g/kg fresh matter of moisture, with or without the additive, and ensiled in 200-L plastic drums. Treatments were prepared as follows: rehydrated corn grain silage (RCGS) stored for 30 d as a negative control (30CON), RCGS stored for 60 d as a positive control (60CON) and RCGS treated with Mycoflake™ at 2 L/t and stored for 30 d (30MYC). The animals were offered a total mixed ration containing 399 g/kg whole-plant corn silage, 98 g/kg Tifton haylage, 207 g/kg RCGS (according to treatment), 98 g/kg citrus pulp, 173 g/kg soybean meal and 25 g/kg mineral-vitamin mix in total diet dry matter (DM). Ruminal DM disappearance (DMD) of RCGS was evaluated in situ using two canulated Holstein cows after 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation. Total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of nutrients was determined using the indigestible neutral detergent fiber content as a marker measured after 288 h of incubation in a canulated Holstein cow. Although no change in soluble protein content was observed for the 30MYC silage, its NH3-N content was greater than 30CON in both DM (P = 0.01) and total N (P = 0.02) basis, and did not differ from 60CON. The proportion of NH3-N in soluble N of 30MYC was the highest compared to both 30CON (P = 0.02) and 60CON (P < 0.01). The 30MYC RCGS presented lower geometric mean particle size and greater surface area than both 30CON (P < 0.01) and 60CON (P < 0.01). Although the pH of 30MYC RCGS did not differ from 30CON and 60CON, its lactic acid content (11.9 g/kg DM) was greater than both 30CON (9.28 g/kg DM; P = 0.05) and 60CON (8.10 g/kg DM; P = 0.01). No changes in ruminal DMD were observed for 30MYC RCGS against 30CON. There were no changes on dairy cows performance fed the 30MYC RCGS against 30CON. Cows fed 30MYC RCGS presented a different pattern of sorting behavior against 30CON and 60CON, resulting in lower intake of physically effective fiber than both 30CON (P = 0.01) and 60CON (P = 0.02), although no effect on ruminating and chewing activities was observed. No effect on TTAD of nutrients was observed for cows fed 30MYC RCGS against 30CON. Mycoflake™ hampered the formation of aggregates in RCGS, and did not enhance proteolysis. Despite changes in sorting behavior, the additive did not affect performance of dairy cows.

Improving recycling sorting behaviour with human eye nudges

This paper tests whether visual nudges help direct attention towards existing instructions designed to increase waste sorting accuracy. The study was conducted in a quasi-experimental setting over a period of 9 weeks in two buildings of a large UK university campus. Two treatments on recycling behaviour were tested against a control group: one considered the impact of visual nudges in the form of human eyes; the other one combined human eye with pre-existing sorting instructions. Results show that for mixed recycling the combination of visual and information nudges decreased sorting errors by 7 percentage points. In contrast, visual nudges alone increased sorting errors by 4.5 percentage points. These findings indicate that, when combined, information and a visual nudge are cost-effective tools to significantly improve waste sorting behaviour. This paper adds to existing experimental evidence based on neuroscientific theories.

Controlling Cell Organization in 3D Coculture Spheroids Using DNA Interactions.

The role of stromal and immune cells in transforming the tumor microenvironment is a key consideration in understanding tumor cell behavior and anticancer drug development. To better model these systems in vitro, 3D coculture tumor spheroids have been engineered using a variety of techniques including centrifugation to microwells, hanging drop, low adhesion cultures, and culture of cells in a microfluidic platform. Aside from using bioprinting, however, it has remained more challenging to direct the spatial organization of heterotypic cells in standalone 3D spheroids. To address this, we present an in vitro 3D coculture tumor model where we modulated the interactions between cancer cells and fibroblasts through DNA hybridization. When native heterotypic cells are simply mixed, the cell aggregates typically show cell sorting behavior to form phase separated structures composed of single cell types. In this work, we demonstrate that when MDA-MB-468 breast cancer and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts are directed to associate via complementary DNA, a uniform distribution of the two cell types within a single spheroid was observed. In contrast, in the absence of specific DNA interactions between the cancer cells and fibroblasts, individual clusters of the NIH/3T3 cells formed in each spheroid due to cell sorting. To better understand the effect of heterotypic cell organization on either cell-cell contacts or matrix protein production, the spheroids were further stained with anti-E-cadherin and antifibronectin antibodies. While the amounts of E-cadherin appeared to be similar between the spheroids, a significantly higher amount of fibronectin secretion was observed in the coculture spheroids with uniform mixing of two cell types. This result showed that different heterotypic cell distributions within 3D architecture can influence the ECM protein production that can again alter the properties of the tumor or tumor microenvironment. The present study thus describes the use of DNA templating to direct the organization of cells in coculture spheroids, which can provide mechanistic biological insight into how heterotypic distribution in tumor spheroids can influence tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance.

Literature mapping of waste sorting and recycling behavior research: a visual analysis using CiteSpace

As the severity of global waste pollution continues to escalate, governments are increasingly prioritizing the promotion of waste sorting. This study engaged in the literature mapping of waste sorting and recycling behavior research currently available on the Web of Science using CiteSpace. First, studies on waste sorting behavior have grown rapidly since 2017. The top three continents publishing on this topic were Asia, Europe, and North America. Second, the top journals, Resources Conservation and Recycling and Environment and Behavior, were important to this field. Third, analyses of waste sorting behavior were mainly conducted by environmental psychologists. Ajzen had the highest co-citation count, as the theory of planned behavior has widely been used in this field. Fourth, the top three co-occurring keywords were "attitude," "recycling behavior," and "planned behavior." There was also a recent focus on "food waste." The research trend was found to be refined and accurately quantified.

Conformity or differentiation? The effect of competitive strategy on hotel performance

Hotels often stay close to each other to exploit the agglomeration benefit. However, geographical proximity also parallels competition. This study used annual longitudinal hotel data from the 2016–2019 Indonesian Accommodation Survey to examine the relationship between competitive strategy and hotel performance. We constructed a capacity and quality distance index to capture hotel strategies and used the panel fixed effect method to address possible sorting behavior. Our estimates broadly suggest that conformity corresponds to a higher total revenue per available room. We attribute the result to labor pooling and lower consumer searching cost mechanisms. The results show that hotels that implement a conformity strategy in capacity or quality with neighboring hotels tend to have a higher total revenue per available room. It implies that a hotel’s conformity strategy can be a reference for investors and hoteliers in planning a profitable hotel business and creating sustainable and quality tourism.

Dynamics of chewing and eating behavior, lying behavior, and salivary characteristics associated with duration of high grain feeding in cows with or with no phytogenic supplement

This study evaluated the adaptive changes in chewing and eating behavior, lying behavior, and salivary properties due to the switch from forage to high grain and the duration of high grain feeding in cows, with or without a phytogenic feed additive. Nine non-lactating cannulated Holstein cows were used in a cross-over design with two experimental periods. Each period included one week of forage feeding, one week of diet transition, and four weeks of high grain feeding (35:65 forage to concentrate ratio; DM basis). Cows were either not supplemented (CON) or supplemented with a phytogenic additive (PHY) characterised by menthol, thymol and eugenol. Switching to high grain decreased (P < 0.01) rumination time compared to forage feeding; however, compared to week 2, rumination time increased (P < 0.01) by 73.8 and 53.21 min/d in weeks 3 and 4 on high grain, respectively. In week 4 on high grain, the PHY-supplemented cows tended (P = 0.08) to ruminate (263 vs. 204 min/d) and chew (406 vs. 347 min/d) longer compared to CON counterparts. The change to high grain increased (P < 0.05) sorting for long and medium size feed particles compared to forage diet, and there was a further increase (P < 0.05) in sorting for long and medium size feed particles in week 3 and 4 on high grain compared to the initial stage of the high grain challenge. Interestingly, PHY supplementation contributed to a more uniform intake of the diet by reducing (P < 0.05) the sorting of both medium and fine particles. Compared to week 1, lying time increased (P < 0.05) by 50 min/d in week 3 on high grain. High grain diet decreased (P < 0.05) salivary pH in week 1, while PHY supplementation helped maintaining this variable at physiological level during this initial grain challenge. Salivary bicarbonate was lower (P < 0.05) in weeks 3 and 4 compared to week 2 on high grain. Overall, the switch to high grain and the duration of feeding influenced chewing and eating behavior, lying behavior and salivary characteristics. Effects were still found 3 or 4 weeks after the diet switch; whereas PHY supplementation contributed to a more uniform nutrient intake by decreasing sorting behavior, which was reflected in stabilized salivary pH at the beginning of the grain challenge, and a tendency for increased chewing activity. However, more research is warranted to evaluate the positive role of PHY supplementation in decreasing feed sorting on metabolic health status and welfare of high-producing dairy cows, which are commonly affected due to high grain feeding.

Pay for elite private schools or pay for higher housing prices? Evidence from an exogenous policy shock

This study provides the first direct empirical evidence on whether private school lottery enrollment program affects school district house prices and residential sorting behaviors. Although the new lottery enrollment policy for private schools in China aims to promote equal and affordable education, it also introduces uncertainty. We assessed the policy impact using the panel data of residential housing transactions from the largest real estate agent in Chengdu during 2018–2020 and controlling for grid-level demographic and economic variables from mobile Internet data. We found that the lottery-based private school enrollment uncertainty leads to a substantial rise in the value of the key and elite school district house (SDH) prices. The house price premiums of the key SDH and elite SDH increased by 2.8% and 7.8% in the post-policy period, respectively. We also observed a significant intensification of residential sorting behavior within the elite public school districts afterwards. These results suggest that parents pay higher house prices when access to quality private schools becomes uncertain.

Effects of Incentives and Penalties on Farmers’ Willingness and Behavior to Separate Domestic Waste-Analysis of Farm Household Heterogeneity Based on Chain Multiple Intermediary Effects

It is important to investigate the influence of incentives and penalties on farmers’ willingness and behavior towards domestic waste separation and the mechanism of influence. It is helpful for the government to formulate policies to guide farmers to actively participate in domestic waste separation, solve the problem of rural domestic waste pollution, and improve the effectiveness of rural waste separation management. By using the public data of 2020CLES, we analyzed the influence of incentives and penalties on farmers’ willingness and behavior towards domestic waste separation by using the Probit model, based on the technology acceptance model, using a chain of multiple mediating effects. The results are as follows. Firstly, the net effect of incentives and penalties on farmers’ willingness and behavior to separate household waste was 6.86%, and the net effect of separation behavior was 33.37%. Relatively speaking, the strengthening effect of incentives and penalties on farmers’ domestic waste sorting behavior is stronger than the promotion effect on farmers’ domestic waste sorting intention. Secondly, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness had significant chain mediating effects, with perceived ease of use having the strongest mediating effect. Thirdly, the incentives and penalties have a stronger effect on promoting the willingness of female farmers, elderly farmers, and farmers with low education to separate domestic waste. Finally, the influence of individual and household characteristics of farmers on their willingness and behavior to separate household waste varies. Accordingly, suggestions for improving the willingness and behavior of farmers to separate domestic waste are proposed in the following aspects: improving the reward and punishment system, making good use of market instruments, and increasing farmers’ awareness level and value recognition of domestic waste separation.

Improvement on Waste Segregation Knowledge by Verbal and Visual Prompt in Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L)

In the face of the detrimental effect from the abundant waste, humans were left with no choice but to cycle them. Waste sorting, an important step to maximize the recyclables resources, is essential to be performed. To reinforce the waste sorting behavior, this study observed the impact of verbal prompt intervention. The experiment was done at a higher education institution, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L), that integrates sustainability education into their curriculum. This study observed convenient sampling of one group, pre- and post- intervention. Volunteers stand by and notify wrong waste generators for one hour in the communal cafeteria for one month, after one week of baseline observation. The observation revealed a sufficient number of knowledge on waste sorting on the pre-intervention baseline (75%). The presence of the prolonged intervention increased the number of correct waste sorting to 89.68% in the fourth week of intervention. Nonetheless, a survey conducted to confirm the cause of change, disclosed that the community’s heightened proper waste behavior is independent of the direct reminder, but rather due to the presence of the notifying volunteer. Therefore the root of waste segregation behavior improvement was more than just from verbal reminder, but from the presence of the rangers that enforces the rules.

Influencing Factors on Waste Sorting Behaviour at Soran University in Kurdistan, Iraq

In this work, the effect of age, gender, monthly income, and education level on the waste sorting behavior (WSB) of 163 employees and students at the Soran University of Kurdistan in Iraq was investigated. Also, respondents' opinions were collected regarding government policies for waste sorting (WS) and increasing people's awareness. The results showed that WSB improves with age. Also, women categorize garbage more than men. No significant correlation was observed between monthly income and education level with WSB. Although 77% of the respondents are willing to participate in WS activities, only 28% of them sort their waste. They consider the main reason for not separating waste to be the lack of special facilities for WS and recycling in most areas of Kurdistan, and few people consider WS tiring and timeconsuming. 75% of the respondents believe that the government's efforts to increase the environmental awareness of citizens are insufficient. This result is consistent with the fact that WS is an unconventional behaviour in Kurdistan.