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This study aims to bridge the gap between governmental policymaking and citizens’ environmental attitudes by providing scientific advice to governments on how to encourage community engagement in sustainable waste management (SWM) programs. It seeks to integrate citizens’ class preferences, based on their environmental awareness, into SWM programs. The study employs comprehensive data analysis, including factor identification based on class attitudes, preference determination through environmental awareness, importance-performance analysis, and probit and logit models. Through this analysis, the study identifies the nexus between societal attitudes and environmental concerns as crucial for the success of SWM in metropolitan cities. The research consists of several stages of data analysis, such as identifying factors and classes based on citizen attitudes, analyzing preferences through an importance-performance analysis of SWM programs, and creating models using probit and logit methods. The analysis reveals two critical factors for the success of SWM in metropolitan cities: societal attitudes and environmental concerns. From the analysis, two distinct societal classes emerge: proactive ’Sustainable Supporters’ and more passive ’Indifferent Citizens’. The policy implications derived from the study suggest that while ’Sustainable Supporters’ can be further mobilized through an advanced SWM platform that emphasizes awareness, collection optimization, and waste processing, the ’Indifferent Citizens’ require strategies focused on bolstering digital SWM programs that simplify waste disposal and recycling. To encourage broader participation and ensure the effectiveness of SWM, governments and relevant organizations are advised to raise public awareness of SWM, improve infrastructural and technological capabilities in waste management, and formulate policies that unequivocally support SWM.

Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) may cause severe social and health problems. Therefore, providing adequate treatments for people with SUDs to change their drug use behaviors is important. This study examined the effectiveness of Kawa Model based therapy among people with SUDs in Taiwan. Methods Participants were recruited from people with SUDs who violated the Controlled Drugs Act in Taiwan were mandated to abstinence services by law from January 2016 through October 2021 in Southern Taiwan. Each participant selected a 2-hour for 4 times or 8-hour for one day compulsory treatments and received either the Kawa model based treatment ( n = 55; 9 women; mean ± SD age = 36.73 ± 10.42 years) or psychoeducation courses ( n = 42; 8 women; mean ± SD age = 27.57 ± 5.78 years), respectively. Stages of change was assessed using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment before and after treatments. Results There were no significant differences in the stages of change scores at baselines between the 2 groups ( p = .06–0.20). After treatments, participants who received the Kawa Model based treatment had higher scores in specific stages of change than did those who received the psychoeducation course in the domains of ‘contemplation’ ( p = .001), ‘action’ ( p = .001), and ‘readiness’ ( p = .002). Conclusion The present study demonstrated initial and preliminary findings that the Kawa Model based therapy may improve readiness for changing drug use behaviors in people with SUDs.

Objectives: Alcohol consumption is a public health challenge, contributing to the global burden of diseases and about three million deaths worldwide in 2016. Drunk driving has great morbidity, mortality, and social consequences. In this study, we intended to identify predictors of recidivism among male driving under influence (DUI) offenders and to focus on the interplay between sociodemographic factors, alcohol or tobacco use, and other health risk behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done in male DUI offenders referred from the Tainan Detention Center, Tainan, Taiwan, between January 2014 and June 2018. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug-taking Confidence Questionnaire-8 for Alcohol to assess study participants’ alcohol consumption patterns and coping self-efficacy. We also did logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of drunk driving recidivism and to examine factors of sociodemographic characteristics, smoking habits, and other health risk behaviors. Results: The study included 1,435 male participants, with a recidivism rate of 10%. Factors significantly associated with recidivism included lower education levels (p < 0.01), unemployment (p < 0.01), and tobacco use (p < 0.01). The results of logistic regression on those variables showed that tobacco use, odd ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 11.07 (3.14–39.02), p < 0.01, and unemployed individuals, OR (95% CI) = 6.8 (4.48–10.3), p < 0.01, had significantly higher odds of recidivism. Conclusion: This study identifies key predictors of male DUI recidivism, emphasizing that individuals who are unemployed, with taboo use, and who have lower levels of education are more likely to be recidivists. The recurrence of drunk driving among individuals who also use tobacco suggests that tobacco use might influence the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol, a relationship that warrants further exploration. Recidivist offenders have specific characteristics, indicating that the therapeutic interventions are necessary for considering the circumstances of individual cases.

Coexistence between humans and wildlife is the ultimate conservation goal. However, management approaches often centre on protecting species and their habitats rather than considering the perspectives of impacted communities. Working towards sustainable solutions, this study aimed to develop local-driven adaptive management plans that maximise conservation success without sacrificing local well-being, using a case study of the endangered leopard cat in Taiwan. We integrated the adaptation framework for human–wildlife coexistence into a choice experiment to examine farmers’ preferences for various adaptation strategies to identify optimal conservation efforts for social welfare. In addition, we explored the determinants of their willingness to participate in different management alternatives. Our results confirmed the existence of heterogeneity in farmers’ preferences and heterogeneity factors were subsequently identified. Behaviour change interventions should be carefully customised for specific social groups, considering their distinct perspectives. Findings also reveal the most preferred strategies: ‘Installation of appropriate fencing system to protect poultry’ and ‘Alternative non-invasive methods to control rodents to reduce secondary poisoning of wildlife’. The maximum willingness to participate in these two strategies was 11.058 and 9.267 hours/month/household, respectively. We then developed three future scenarios for coexistence in accordance with respondents’ favoured strategies, serving as guidelines for effective and adaptive conservation programmes. Our empirical evidence provides insights into local preferences for wildlife management, specifically leopard cats, as well as practical recommendations for policymakers and conservation professionals.

The transition towards a circular economy within the tourism industry is increasingly seen as essential to achieving sustainable development goals. This study explores the relationships between various design strategies, tourists' willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable practices, and their participation in circular economy activities. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data collected from 640 tourists in Bali, the research identifies the critical factors that influence tourists' engagement with sustainability. The findings reveal that design strategies focused on longevity, serviceability, reusability, and material recovery significantly enhance WTP for sustainable practices. In turn, WTP is shown to be a key driver of participation in circular economy activities, such as purchasing recycled items and green purchasing behaviors. However, barriers such as cost concerns, lack of awareness, and limited incentives pose significant challenges to widespread adoption.

Amidst global pushes for sustainable land development, Jakarta confronts pressing municipal solid waste management (MSWM) issues, with limited landfill capacities and rampant illegal dumping in slum and non-slum areas, exacerbating land consumption challenges. This context underscores the urgency to explore adaptive MSWM strategies that align with broader sustainable land planning objectives. This research aims to distinguish and shed light on the MSWM preferences of Jakarta’s non-slum and slum residents. The emphasis is placed on their importance-performance (I-P) preferences related to adaptive MSWM strategies. An in-depth evaluation involved twelve indicators across five adaptive capacity dimensions, correlating them with the I-P metrics and the participant demographics. Both slum and non-slum communities underscored the importance of bolstering the circular economy and waste segregation. However, a pronounced awareness regarding waste treatment was observed among non-slum residents. On the other hand, individuals from slum locales indicated a greater need for focused encouragement and resources to engage in waste segregation initiatives effectively. The insights from this study are pivotal for urban planners, policymakers, and scholars. Recommendations span from instituting self-reminder systems, enhancing collection services, and ensuring strict regulatory compliance to endorsing waste bank participation and mobilizing local community leaders, or cadres, to lead sustainable MSWM endeavors. By fostering a harmonious MSWM ecosystem, smart cities like Jakarta can ensure equitable and progressive MSWM for all its residents, thus moving closer to a sustainable urban future.

Komodo National Park is at the forefront of balancing environmental conservation with the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism. This research delves into the attitudes and engagement levels of the local communities within Komodo's distinctive ecological context, aiming to unravel the factors that drive or hinder their involvement in sustainable tourism and conservation activities. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, we distilled key influences on community engagement, followed by a K-Mean Cluster Analysis to segment the community by their involvement levels. Logistic Regression was then employed to explore the likelihood of continued participation in these initiatives. The analysis identified three primary factors affecting community participation: the degree of involvement in sustainable tourism activities, the extent of community and environmental involvement, and the level of awareness regarding tourism development policies. The Cluster Analysis illuminated diverse engagement patterns across demographic lines, revealing how differences in settlement type, income levels, marital status, gender, and age contribute to varied participation rates. Interestingly, the logistic regression pointed to a paradox where higher engagement in sustainable tourism correlates with a lower probability of future participation, hinting at possible sustainability fatigue among highly active community members. These intricate dynamics of community engagement in sustainable tourism within Komodo National Park, highlight the importance of tailored, demographic-specific approaches to foster inclusive participation in conservation efforts. The insights gained underscore the complexity of promoting sustainable tourism in sensitive ecological areas and offer critical recommendations for policymakers and conservation stakeholders aiming to enhance sustainable development in Komodo and similar settings globally.

AimsThis investigation aimed to clarify the intricate relationship among depression, cognitive function, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their combined influence on methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).MethodsUtilizing a battery of psychological tests, this study ascertained the impact of ACEs on the condition of 76 people with MUD who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, aged 42.17 on average. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Conners’ Continuous Performance-II (CPT-II), the self-report Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for these evaluations. Individuals involved in the study were categorized into two discrete cohorts, mild (ME) and severe (SE), based on the extent of their ACEs exposure. This study employed the PROCESS regression, the independent t-test andχ2 tests for the analysis.ResultsThe findings revealed notable discrepancies in the psychological consequences between the two groups with different degrees of ACEs; however, no substantial differences were observed in the demographic parameters. The SE group exhibited elevated BDI-II scores, more evident indications of MUD, and a higher degree of CPT-II cognitive perseveration. The PROCESS model revealed that cognitive perseveration moderated the impact of depression on ACEs and subjective MUD severity, explaining 20.2% of the variance. The ACEs and depression predicted 28.6% of the variance in MUD symptoms. However, no statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups regarding the parameters in the IGT-2 assessment.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the interaction between cognitive and depressive factors mediates the effect of ACEs on subjective MUD severity but not on MUD symptoms. The ACEs significant impact on mental health severity perception is explained by cognitive and depressive factors. This implies that MUD treatment and rehabilitation should address cognitive dysfunction and developmental trauma.

Public perception of endangered species is crucial for successful management of community-based conservation and sustainability of national parks. By the method of choice experiment, our study evaluated conservation preferences and willingness to donate money for flagship and non-flagship species using a choice experiment with 409 residents living near the Lanstang river source of Sanjiangyuan National Park, China. We found that flagship species such as the Snow leopard (Pristine plateau) and White-lipped deer (Przewalskium albirostris) generated more conservation funds than non-flagship species. However, not all flagship species were accepted. Respondents disliked Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus) due to direct human-wildlife conflicts such as bodily injury and property damage. Heterogeneity of preference was influenced by household income, religious beliefs, ethnicity, culture, and conservation awareness. Results can be used to establish a local community-participative framework by combining conservation motivations that alleviate human-wildlife conflict.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) poses a significant threat to the conservation of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) and the well-being of local communities in the tropical forests of Asia. As local communities play a crucial role in HEC reduction, their engagement is essential for the success and sustainability of HEC management strategies. This study employs exploratory factor analysis and a logistic regression model to examine the key determinants influencing the participation of locals in HEC management within the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve (DNBR), Vietnam. The findings indicate that improvements in elephant habitat and land use have the most substantial positive impact on locals' participation in HEC management, followed by policies for HEC reduction, local perception of the benefits associated with elephants, and measures for HEC prevention and mitigation. In terms of demography, individuals' education levels exhibit the highest positive influence on their involvement in HEC management, followed by income, and occupation. These research findings contribute to a broader understanding of human-wildlife conflicts and underscore the significance of community engagement in conservation efforts. By identifying the factors that influence local participation in HEC management, this study aims to inform future initiatives and policies aimed at mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants, while promoting coexistence and sustainable development in the DNBR, Vietnam.

In this study, we utilized the choice experiment (CE) method to evaluate the effectiveness of different solid waste management (SWM) programs in promoting adaptive capacity toward carbon reduction. We investigated three hypothetical scenarios for SWM programs, including the waste warriors program, carbon credits for waste reduction, and the carbon-trade SWM program. Our analysis unveiled distinct preferences among citizen groups regarding adaptive SWM programs. Incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) within the study further enhances our understanding of the relationship between adaptive capacity and SWM. NbS approaches leverage natural processes and ecosystems to address environmental challenges, including climate impacts. By engaging citizens in comparing management options regarding climate impacts, our study fosters a greater understanding of the efficacy of different SWM approaches. Citizen participation plays a crucial role in identifying novel and innovative SWM solutions that effectively mitigate climate impacts. This collaborative involvement facilitates knowledge exchange, empowers communities, and strengthens adaptive capacity. The findings of our study offer valuable insights into SWM practices, policy development, and decision-making processes. By prioritizing adaptive SWM programs that align with citizen preferences and incorporating NbS principles, we can develop more effective strategies for carbon reduction.

Abstract Human‐wildlife conflict is a global issue that poses a major threat to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Wildlife adapted to human‐modified landscapes in developing countries can threaten the safety and livelihood of local communities. In such landscapes, where people and wildlife compete for resources, community involvement is promoted to achieve workable coexistence. We used a choice experiment methodology approach to identify community‐preferred policy alternatives in Chitwan National Park in south‐central Nepal. The results indicated that conflicts between the local community and wildlife are on the rise, crop damage being the highest form of damage and most perceived compensation and fencing as conflict‐mitigation tools. The choice experiment showed that residents have a positive preference for enhancing livelihood diversification skills, cultivating buffer crops, promoting alternative livelihoods, and strengthening rapid response teams. We identified concerned mitigators who are younger age group, encountered and concurred that HWC is increasing, and agreed that fencing and compensation are conflict‐mitigation tools. We designed scenario planning using community‐preferred policy alternatives to assist the park management. This is the first‐choice experiment study to design an evaluation framework under community resilience perspectives to achieve workable coexistence. Our study has potential implications for promoting coexistence in a human‐dominated landscape.

This study aims to conduct an importance-performance evaluation framework under the theoretical aspects of adaptive capacity for community-based plastic waste management (CBPWM). Additionally, we identified the matrix of the importance-performance levels of CBPWM, and estimated the community’s adaptive behavior towards CBPWM. The results indicate that residents have a high perception of the importance of all adaptation indicators in CBPWM, but perceive the indicators’ implementation is plagued by poor performance. The respondents emphasize the significance of several adaptation indicators that can enhance the adaptive capacity for CBPWM, namely, “developing waste collection systems”, “building connections between resident associations”, “collaborating among stakeholder’s groups”, “adopting a zero-waste lifestyle”, and “empowering independent waste collectors”. The study also reveals that socioeconomic, perceptual, and behavioral factors related to adaptation indicators impact residents’ willingness to participate in CBPWM strategies. This study is valuable as a starting point for building community adaptive capacity for plastic waste management. It is relevant to addressing both current and future plastic pollution problems in Vietnam, as it is based on actual assessments of the community. Determining the importance and performance of adaptive indicators provides valuable insights for policymakers in developing mechanisms and promoting opportunities for CBPWM.

Highlight Research: • The potential calorific value of marine debris obtained from calculating the total waste is 12.05 MJ/kg, which still falls within the incinerator application's standard criteria. Abstract Marine debris, a global environmental issue today, is a major threat to Bali's seas which are famous for its natural beauty and aggravated by the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of marine debris in Bali Island, especially in the southern region and to analyze the feasibility of incineration as one of the waste treatment processes. This research was conducted by utilizing secondary data and literature reviews from related previous studies. Water content and caloric value were measured directly using the ASTM E 790-15 and ASTM D 5865-11a standards. Marine debris generation from 2013 to 2019 tends to decrease from 1.22 kg/km.day to 0.46 kg/km.day. Organic waste (59.4%) comprised the largest marine debris followed by plastic waste (13.4%) and diapers (11.9%). Thermal technology such as incineration can be introduced to treat marine debris. The standard application of incinerator technology is moisture content and caloric value. The water content of marine debris is reportedly 54.56%, therefore, further preliminary processing is needed, especially for waste with high moisture content, such as diapers and organic waste. The potential calorific value of marine debris during the COVID-19 pandemic obtained from calculating the total waste was 12.05 MJ/kg which still did not meet the incinerator application's standard criteria.

In this paper, a framework for authorization and personal image protection that applies user accounts, passwords, and personal I-vectors as the keys for ciphering the image content was developed and connected. There were two main systems in this framework. The first involved a speaker verification system, wherein the user entered their account information and password to log into the system and provided a short voice sample for identification, and then the algorithm transferred the user’s voice (biometric) features, along with their account and password details, to a second image encryption system. For the image encryption process, the account name and password presented by the user were applied to produce the initial conditions for hyper-chaotic systems to generate private keys for image-shuffling and ciphering. In the final stage, the biometric features were also applied to protect the content of the image, so the encryption technology would be more robust. The final results of the encryption system were acceptable, as a lower correlation was obtained in the cipher images. The voice database we applied was the Pitch Tracking Database from the Graz University of Technology (PTDB-TUG), which provided the microphone and laryngoscope signals of 20 native English speakers. For image processing, four standard testing images from the University of Southern California–Signal and Image Processing Institute (USC-SIPI), including Lena, F-16, Mandrill, and Peppers, were presented to further demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the smart image encryption algorithm.

Preparing communities around mines to face the impacts of mine closures is crucial in order to reduce disruptions to their livelihoods. Building the adaptive capacity of these communities will alleviate the burden on governments or mining companies in the future. Unfortunately, adaptive capacity has not yet been integrated into post-mining planning policies. This research aims to develop an adaptive capacity framework for post-mining planning in local communities, focusing on a case study conducted in Indonesia. We developed this framework using the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method. The findings indicate that the adaptive capacity framework provides a comprehensive approach to building the capacity to adapt and thrive in post-mining situations. This highlights the importance of continuing to disseminate post-mining plan information, prioritizing access to capital and former mine sites, fostering collaboration, and creating job opportunities. Simultaneously, efforts to increase skills should be reduced, and reallocation of efforts towards community institution building, establishing information centers, and improving community bonds should be prioritized in more important fields and programs. By adopting this framework, communities around mines in Indonesia are expected to enhance their resilience and ability to effectively respond to changing circumstances.

Balancing the sustainable practices of whale watching and cetacean species conservation is an enormous challenge for the countries that rely on whale watching tourism industry. In this study, we employ the choice experiment method to estimate the tourists' heterogeneity preferences (THP) on different attributes to establish an impact mitigation program in Taiwan. We found that the scenario of integrated cetacean conservation and sustainable whale-dolphin watching has the highest welfare effects among all the proposed scenarios. Features that affect the differentiation of THP are: (1) tourists' awareness, and conservation attitudes, (2) nationality, and (3) monthly income. The findings from this research could assist the government and tour operators to tailor their policy and management strategy that respond to the present issues by focusing on time schedule management, vessel slowdown distance, set up maximum boat numbers, build-up operational guidance, and by establishing a conservation fund.

Southeast Tibet is significant in maintaining key ecological functions and providing irreplaceable ecosystem services but is also extremely vulnerable and susceptible to the impacts of human activities. Understanding the attitudes of local residents toward ecosystem conservation is considered essential for nature resource management. We therefore aimed to conduct an evaluation framework under hypothetical scenarios to measure communities’ willingness to participate in ecosystem conservation using the contingent valuation method (CVM). Second, this study determined the underlying factors that might affect local’s willingness to participate and then compared the willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to work (WTW) for different types of nature reserves. We found that income, education, community attachment, and acceptance of a payment scheme are significant factors determining the average amount that residents are willing to pay for ecosystem conservation, while their income, acceptance of a work scheme, and education are significant factors influencing the average service time that residents are willing to devote to work. Our results revealed that community residents have considerable willingness to participate in ecosystem conservation, which points not only to the great value attached to the ecosystem service function of Southeast Tibet nature but also suggests that people’s willingness to participate is influenced by a conglomeration of socio-economic characteristics and their previous experience. The information herein can be used to implement conservation planning that involves community co-management and policymaking for sustainable development and will be beneficial to the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of Tibetan nature reserves.

Warts are a common skin problem and are caused by infection with a virus. Warts are currently mainly treated by therapies involving ablating tissue or interrupting cellular division. However, all these existing treatments are either invasive or cause skin pain and tissue destruction. Imiquimod is a synthetic compound that belongs to the imidazoquinolinone family. It has been successfully used as a topical drug to treat external anogenital warts. However, topical imiquimod cream for warts is restricted by low skin permeability, and several side effects such as itching, pain, and erosions occur most frequently following topical treatment. Microneedle technology, a minimally invasive drug delivery system, has the potential to overcome the barrier of the stratum corneum. This technique would also offer a painless treatment choice and provide personalized therapies. In the study, we loaded imiquimod within dissolving microneedles using the molding method. Gelatin was used as a structural material for microneedle formation without adding a crosslinker. To our knowledge, this is the first study of using dissolving microneedles and exploring their utilization with imiquimod for the treatment of warts. First, we added fluorescent dye and trypan blue into the microneedles to evaluate the status of drugs in the microneedles and the degradation property of microneedles made of gelatin, respectively. Here we also prove the strength of the imiquimod microneedles and study their capability to penetrate the skin. The results show no apparent differences in mechanical failure after an additional imiquimod-loaded. Besides, we provide evidence that imiquimod microneedles induce secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) in the RAW 264.7 macrophages. Gelatin does not affect the imiquimod in microneedles; a similar immune response was affected by the imiquimod alone or imiquimod complexed with gelatin. Our research demonstrates a proof of concept of using imiquimod microneedles for future warts treatment.

Earthquake disasters remain a persistent global challenge, requiring innovative approaches to disaster management. Community-based earthquake disaster management (CBEDM) integrates social, environmental, and political factors, emphasizing residents’ adaptive capacity and disaster prevention preferences. This study employs the Choice Experiment (CE) method within an adaptive capacity framework to “quantify residents’ preferences, adaptive behaviours, and willingness to participate (WTP)” in CBEDM scenarios. Using the Random Parameter Logit (RPL) model, the research reveals strong community support for CBEDM programs and highlights three key findings: first, “collaboration between local governments, non-profits, and communities enhances disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery”; second, “active community participation reduces disaster impact and raises awareness”; third, “empowering social organizations ensures efficient recovery services and social inclusion.” These insights provide evidence-based recommendations for aligning disaster management strategies with residents’ preferences and fostering adaptive behaviours to mitigate earthquake risks.

This research examines the complex interplay among community empowerment, economic development, and sociodemographic factors in tourist post-mining development. Using a comprehensive methodological approach, we collected and analyzed data from 420 households in Bantar Karet Village, Nanggung Subdistrict, Bogor Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) explored how economic incentives, community empowerment, and customized engagement strategies based on educational and income levels impact community readiness to support sustainable transitions from mining to tourism. The findings underscore the importance of investing in human capital, primarily through targeted educational programs to enhance skills necessary for environmental stewardship and tourism-related activities. The study advocates for integrated development policies promoting economic, educational, and environmental sustainability in tourism. Policymakers are encouraged to create multidimensional, cooperative, and participatory interventions that align with the community's diverse needs. The research highlights the necessity for continuous monitoring, evaluating, and promoting sustainable tourism-based livelihoods as alternatives to mining dependency. This shift reflects a broader move towards resilience and long-term environmental conservation within the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]