Sabah Environmental Trust

Risk prediction models for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitalised children are limited, especially in upper-middle-income countries. We developed a PaEdiatric Pneumonia Severity (PEPS) score to aid early risk stratification and examined its discriminatory ability. Prospective cohort study. Between April 2022 and April 2023, children aged 1 month to <12 years hospitalised with radiographic-confirmed CAP were enrolled in Sabah, Malaysia. Key clinical factors were collected to develop risk profiles for mild, moderate, and severe CAP. The PEPS score was derived from the final multivariable model and its ability to discriminate CAP severity assessed. Among 868 children, 639 (73.6%) had mild, 83 (9.6%) moderate, and 146 (16.8%) severe CAP. Independent factors associated with moderate/severe CAP were age <6 months (adjusted OR (ORadj)=6.81, 95% CI 4.65 to 9.98), partial/unvaccinated status (ORadj=2.66, 95% CI 1.47 to 4.81), vomiting/refusal of feeds (ORadj=1.77, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.61), hypoxaemia (oxygen saturation 90-93% (ORadj=2.38, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.64); <90% (ORadj=28.88, 95% CI 13.37 to 62.35)) and anaemia (ORadj=1.76, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.67). The model demonstrated excellent discrimination in identifying risk of children having moderate/severe CAP (c-statistic=0.81, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.84). The developed PEPS score (0-13) stratified children into low-risk (score 0-1), moderate-risk (score 2-4) and high-risk (score ≥5) groups with observed rates of moderate/severe CAP 10.9%, 29.1%, and 76.9%, respectively, and demonstrated strong predictive performance for moderate/severe CAP (c-statistic=0.81, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.84). The PEPS score, the first developed in an upper-middle-income country using radiographic-confirmed CAP, accurately discriminates mild from moderate/severe hospitalised CAP. It may support case management in similar settings, but requires external validation before broader implementation.

Reading is one of the fundamental skills that students must master from the early stages of education. Good reading ability not only supports students’ understanding of various subjects but also contributes to the development of critical thinking skills. However, low reading interest and limited reading comprehension abilities remain significant challenges in primary education. This condition affects the quality of learning and limits students’ ability to understand information in depth. Therefore, the use of engaging and effective learning media is necessary to improve students’ reading abilities. This study aims to examine the effect of using flashcard media on the reading comprehension ability of fourth-grade elementary school students. The research employed a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design. The research population consisted of all fourth-grade students, with a total sample of 36 students, divided into 17 students in the experimental group and 19 students in the control group. Data were collected through a pretest and a posttest, and then analyzed using tests of normality, homogeneity, and hypothesis testing. The results of the study indicate that the use of flashcard media has a significant positive effect on students’ reading comprehension ability. These findings suggest that interactive visual media can serve as an effective pedagogical strategy to improve the quality of reading instruction and strengthen literacy skills among elementary school students.

Kajian ini meneliti fenomena peralihan bahasa dalam kalangan pelajar pribumi di sebuah Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) dengan menggunakan teori peralihan bahasa oleh Fishman (1991) dan diukur dengan menggunakan kerangka EGIDS (Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale). Kajian ini, Berdasarkan reka bentuk kaedah campuran dengan pendekatan urutan penerokaan (sequential exploratory), reka bentuk urutan penerokaan dimulakan dengan kajian kualitatif menggunakan pemerhatian turut serta dan rakaman tidak sedar terlebih dahulu dan diikuti oleh kajian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan soal selidik untuk mengukuhkan dapatan kajian. Dalam kajian ini pengkaji telah mengenal pasti pola penggunaan bahasa serta tahap ancaman kepupusan bahasa melalui instrumen pemerhatian, rakaman tidak sedar, dan soal selidik. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa bahasa etnik semakin kurang digunakan oleh generasi muda dan hanya bertahan dalam domain adat dan kekeluargaan. Kajian ini mencadangkan intervensi linguistik melalui pendidikan dan dokumentasi bagi mengelakkan bahasa tersebut daripada pupus.

The combination of human population growth and environmental destruction, climate change, and international business monitoring of sustainability standards has elevated human resource management (HRM) into a key driver of organizational change. Eco-friendly human resource (Eco-HR) emerges as a new concept explained in this chapter that establishes a direct link between organizational human resource (HR) strategies and ecological as well as social elimination goals. HRM sustainability integration follows essential principles as it requires culture transformation alongside practice modifications to succeed. The analysis includes HR management functions, including green recruitment, along with talent and performance management, and employee engagement to showcase their potential for environmental-minded organization development. A sustainability-focused corporate mission requires HR departments to join forces with other departments to build an overall sustainability strategy. The study addresses hurdles of implementing Eco-HR through analysis of organizational push-back as well as funding restrictions and skill deficits by showcasing solutions such as executive-level participation, continuing education, and digital system implementation. It evaluates how Eco-HR influences employer branding, organizational well-being, and workforce sustainability. Recommendations for advancing Eco-HR are provided for HR professionals and executives as well as researchers throughout the concluding chapter. The study establishes that HRM needs to transform from basic operational functions into a strategic sustainability enabler that ensures extended advantages for organizations and environmental conservation.

Language is a fundamental determinant of effectiveness in Islamic da‘wah, functioning not only as a means of conveying religious messages but also as a strategic instrument that shapes understanding, emotional response, and behavioural change among da‘wah recipients (mad‘u). This paper examines the phenomenon of da‘wah failure resulting from preachers’ inadequate mastery of language, emphasizing that ineffective da‘wah often stems not from weaknesses in religious content but from inappropriate linguistic approaches. Drawing on Qur’anic principles, Prophetic traditions, and relevant empirical studies, the discussion highlights how the use of overly technical terminology, uncontextualized Arabic expressions, harsh or judgmental language, and culturally insensitive communication can create language barriers, distort meaning, and lead to rejection of da‘wah messages. The paper further demonstrates that such linguistic challenges are particularly significant in multicultural, multilingual, and digital contexts, where audiences possess diverse educational, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. In contrast, effective da‘wah language is grounded in Qur’anic and Prophetic values of wisdom (ḥikmah), gentleness (rifq), clarity, and contextual adaptation. Language that is simple, persuasive, relatable, and culturally responsive is shown to foster trust, enhance comprehension, and strengthen the acceptance of Islamic teachings. In the contemporary era, the study underscores the need for preachers to adapt da‘wah language to modern communication platforms, including digital and social media, to reach younger and global audiences effectively. Ultimately, this paper argues that mastery of da‘wah language is a core competency for preachers and a crucial factor in ensuring that Islamic da‘wah remains relevant, inclusive, and impactful in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

This study aims to explore the relationship between integrity and fasting in Islam, emphasizing the role of fasting as a medium for shaping individual character, moral values, and spirituality. The study employs a qualitative research approach through a literature analysis method, which involves examining primary sources such as the Qur’an and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as well as secondary sources including Islamic scholarly works, academic journal articles, and previous studies discussing aspects of integrity, self-discipline, trustworthiness, and social responsibility. This methodological approach allows for an in-depth understanding of the concept of integrity in the context of fasting from an Islamic perspective. The findings indicate that fasting is not merely a physical ritual but a comprehensive spiritual and psychological exercise that cultivates internal integrity. Fasting trains honesty, sincerity, accountability, self-discipline, control of desires, time management, and heightened social awareness. Observing fasting with integrity encourages individuals to maintain ethical behaviour even without external supervision, thereby strengthening their relationship with Allah SWT and enhancing their responsibilities toward themselves and society. Additionally, fasting contributes to the formation of an integrity-based society by fostering empathy, justice, and social care. Thus, fasting functions as a vital instrument for moral and spiritual education in developing personal and societal integrity. Practicing fasting grounded in integrity can produce God-conscious, disciplined, and responsible individuals, in line with Islam’s aim of cultivating noble character and promoting social well-being.

This paper presents the implementation of the Work Management Mobile (WMM) application by Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd. as part of its digital transformation in field service operations. WMM replaces manual, paper-based workflows with a real-time mobile system integrated with Systems, Applications and Products (SAP), enabling on-site task updates and immediate synchronization. The adoption of WMM led to a 33.3% improvement in workforce efficiency by reducing mater installation time from three to two working days, and a 100% reduction in paper usage, saving RM 66,081.60 annually. The process was also streamlined from eight to three steps, contributing to faster service fulfilment, improved data accuracy, and enhanced environmental sustainability, aligned with Sabah Electricity’s ESG goals.

The research assesses the effectiveness of English as a Second Language (ESL) writing instruction via the internet among the teachers in the public and private sector schools in Sabah, Malaysia. Quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and through 117 ESL teachers (102 public, 15 private), it was studied how they understood their online teaching efficacy amid COVID-19. The outcome stated that it is moderately effective, with the average (mean) scores being a bit higher in the case of public-school teachers (M=3.10) than in the case of private school teachers (M=2.99), but the independent t-test did not show statistically significant differences (t (115) =0.566, p=0.572). Issues like poor quality internet access, infrastructure foundations in digital resources and challenges in student engagement stood out, especially in rural places. The research highlights the requirement of heightened professional development of teaching staff, equal advancement of infrastructure, and mixed learning models to maximise online ESL writing classes. These results add to the debate on equity in education provisions in resource-stressed environments and provide some useful policy suggestions to the decision-makers.

Despite anti-tuberculous treatment (ATT), central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) still causes permanent neurological deficits and death. To identify prognostic factors, we profiled a prospective cohort of pediatric HIV-negative tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and non-TBM patients. We found significantly increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in TBM patients with neuroradiological abnormalities and poor outcomes. To dissect mechanisms, we used our existing CNS-TB murine model, which shows neutrophil-rich necrotizing pyogranulomas with MMP-9 and NETs colocalizing, as observed in human CNS-TB pathology. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of both human and murine CNS-TB demonstrates a highly-inflamed and neutrophil-rich microenvironment of inflammatory immune responses, extracellular matrix degradation and angiogenesis within CNS-TB granulomas. Murine CNS-TB treated with ATT and MMP inhibitors SB-3CT or doxycycline show significantly suppressed NETs with improved survival. MMP inhibition arms show attenuated inflammation and well-formed blood vessels within granulomas. Adjunctive doxycycline is highly promising to improve CNS-TB outcomes and survival.Graphical abstractSupplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03548-7.