Determinants of Sustainable Energy Saving Behavior among University Students in Malaysia: A Case Study of Management & Science University (MSU)

The increasing energy demand and its impact on climate change pose serious challenges to environmental sustainability. University students, as future leaders and decision-makers, have the potential to adopt and promote sustainable energy-saving behavior in their communities. However, the factors influencing their energy-saving practices are poorly understood, especially in the Malaysian context. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this research examines the factors influencing energy-saving behavior among students of MSU. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to MSU students, covering demographic details and variables related to energy-saving behavior and its determinants. The study employed stratified random sampling and used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis. The results show that social norms and perceived control over students’ behaviors are the only significant factors affecting sustainable behavior to save energy among students. At the same time, environmental awareness, energy literacy, and personal attitudes have no significant effect. Social norms are the strongest driver of energy-saving behavior, followed by perceived behavioral control. The findings suggest that interventions and policies to foster sustainable energy-saving behavior among students should focus on enhancing social norms and perceived behavioral control. This research fills the knowledge gap by offering specific insight into sustainable energy-saving behavior among Malaysian university students

Exploring local stakeholders’ views on the prospects of China's Belt & Road Initiative on tourism development in Kazakhstan

This exploratory study examines the attitudes of tourism, civic and business stakeholders in Kazakhstan to China’s proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It aims to determine the applicability of Social Exchange Theory (SET) in measuring local attitudes towards the likely impacts of the multi-sectoral, transboundary mega projects of the BRI on tourism development in the destination. In addressing this gap in research on attitudes to tourism development in this wider regional context, the study confirms the utility of SET as an explanatory framework in benchmarking stakeholders’ attitudes towards the implications of the BRI for tourism development. The findings suggest that while there is a strong support for the economic value of China’s BRI for the sector, there are some concerns that it may undermine local autonomy and Kazakhstan’s distinctive brand as a tourist destination

Pre-breeding foraging and nest site habitat selection by Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor in mature woodland blocks in England

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor have dramatically declined and retracted in range in Britain. Pre-breeding foraging may be critical and, although work has been carried out elsewhere in Europe our knowledge of habitat requirements for British birds is limited.We aim to describe foraging behaviour and selection of foraging locations in the pre-breeding period; and to provide descriptions of nest sites and wider habitat selection for nesting.We recorded foraging behaviour, attributes of foraging trees and nest site characteristics and compared them with random areas within woods. Small branches of live oaks at heights usually in the upper third of the tree were most frequently used for foraging. At a wider scale, areas selected contained more deadwood. Nest cavities were usually placed in the upper half of a tree, and oak was commonly used. For nesting, open areas were selected with more dead trees and a mature structure. Many of the attributes important for foraging and nesting have changed in English woodlands in the direction expected to have negative impacts on this species, except for deadwood. Further work shouldmeasure food availability in areas of differing structures. Knowledge of declining species' resource requirements allows targeted and informed management for conservation

Synthesis and biological evaluation of polysulfated oligosaccharide glycosides as inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth

A series of polysulfated penta- and tetrasaccharide glycosides containing alpha(1 -> 3)/alpha(1 -> 2)-linked mannose residues were synthesized as heparan sulfate (HS) mimetics and evaluated for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The compounds bound lightly to angiogenic growth factors (FGF-1, FGF-2, and VEGF) and strongly inhibited heparanase activity. In addition, the compounds exhibited potent activity in cell-based and ex vivo assays indicative of angiogenesis, with tetrasaccharides exhibiting activity comparable to that of pentasaccharides. Selected compounds also showed good antitumor activity in vivo in a mouse melanoma (solid tumor) model resistant to the phase III HS mimetic 1 (muparfostat, formerly known as PI-88). The lipophilic modifications also resulted in reduced anticoagulant activity, a common side effect of HS mimetics, and conferred a reasonable pharmacokinetic profile in the rat, as exemplified by the sulfated octyl tetrasaccharide 5. The data support the further investigation of this class of compounds as potential antiangiogenic, anticancer therapeutics