Key Elements of Corporate Real Estate Sustainable Management for Office Buildings

Green corporate real estate (CRE) provides many benefits, especially the environment. However, this benefit cannot be optimally achieved if the manager poorly manages the building.  Numerous factors need to be considered to ensure the building can perform well and contribute to a positive financial return to the companies.  Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the key elements of corporate real estate sustainable management (CRESM) to facilitate CRE managers in efficiently managing and enhancing the existing management of their office buildings. Thus, a semi-structured interview with thirteen experts in CRESM was carried out. Then, the data was analysed through thematic content analysis using Atlast. Ti software. The findings highlight nine key elements of CRESM for office buildings

Synergizing Community Empowerment: Unveiling the Holistic Framework of Waqf Zakat and Infaq-Funded Agricultural Mosque Projects

This qualitative study explores how mosque-managed cash waqf and zakat funds empower asnaf in the mosque district. Cash waqf resources are donated for larger projects and zakat aid asnaf farmers through mosque-managed agriculture. NVIVO 12-analysed mosque XYZ manager interviews highlight their role in innovative asnaf farmer financial mechanisms for Islamic socioeconomic development. Crowdfunded mosque waqf , zakat  and infaq improve agricultural sustainability and social welfare. The findings guide policymakers, religious institutions, and financial institutions on scalability in other agricultural communities

Isolation of Candida species in children and their biofilm-forming ability on nano-composite surfaces

Candida species including Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida glabrata are opportunistic microorganisms that inhabit oral cavity. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of dental caries on Candida spp. biofilm-forming ability on nano-composite with the hypothesis that dental caries enhances the colonization of Candida spp. To assess Candida spp. colonisation in the oral cavity of the paediatric patient, samples were obtained from 30 subjects aged five to six years old from Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The samples were collected from buccal mucosa, palate and tooth surfaces using sterile swabs. 10 mL of patient’s saliva suspension was also collected. Following that, the samples were inoculated on CHROMagar and incubated for 24 h at 37 ºC. Candida biofilm of caries isolate C. albicans (HNFC2), and C. albicans ATCC 32354 were developed on three different types of nano-composites. The study showed that no C. albicans was isolated from the caries-free oral cavity while 76% of children with caries possessed Candida spp. 65% of the yeasts were isolated from the tooth surface. Only 35% of the total isolates were obtained from soft tissues, including palatal and buccal mucosa. C. albicans is the most isolated Candida spp. with 82% and 67% of the yeast were obtained from the tooth surface and buccal mucosa, respectively. Besides, HNFC2 significantly colonised the nano-composites more than the ATCC (P < 0.05). In the comparison of the three types of nano-composites, nano-hybrid-based containing pre-polymerised filler (cB) exhibited the least C. albicans HNFC2 cells colonisation with 7.7 x 10³ cells mL-1. In contrast, the nano-composite that contained bulk-filled nanohybrid (cC) was the most colonised with 14.3 x 10³ cells mL-1. In conclusion, dental caries enhances the colonization of Candida spp. in children's oral cavity, and that caries isolate form more biofilm on nano-composites compared to the lab strain C. albicans

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

Content Validation of the Competencies Component of Building Maintenance Management for Waqf-based Religious Schools

The competency of school administrators in maintaining a school building is paramount in ensuring the safety and comfort of the students and teachers. It also safeguards the functionality of the school facilities towards providing an effective teaching and learning process. Therefore, this research embarked on a quantitative approach to develop and validate building maintenance competency components, focusing on Islamic religious schools using the content validation technique. There are nine components of building maintenance management competencies with forty elements from the literature. Six experts were chosen to evaluate and validate all the items. The result of the study emphasizes the technical and behavioral competencies among the school administrators, which significantly contribute to the effectiveness of Islamic religious schools in Malaysia. Keywords: Building Maintenance Management Competencies; Waqf; Islamic Ethics; Content Validation eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2023. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v8i23.4504

Visual perception development and its relationship with academic achievement among kindergarten children

The main objectives of this study are to analyze the differences in visual perception between 4 years old and 6 years old children in a kindergarten in Selangor and to investigate the correlations between visual perception and academic achievement. This study is a between-subject design experiment in which the subjects were purposively selected and the test is conducted individually to each subjects with guidance and instruction from the researchers. Subjects consisted of 19 children aged four and six years old. The Kindergarten Readiness Test test was used to identify children’s visual cognitive perceptual development. The gathered quantitative data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22. The academic achievement data of the children were supplied by the class teacher. Findings show that there are significant differences in visual perception between 4 years old and 6 years old children and there is a significant relationship between visual perception among 4 years old children and their academic scores but visual perception does not significantly correlate with 6 year old children’s academic attainment indicating that visual perceptual development plays an important role in academic achievement in the early years of kindergarten

The effect of dental caries on the colonization of Candida species: an in vitro study

Introduction: Candida species are opportunistic microorganisms that inhabit oral cavity. The species of Candida that are normally isolated from the oral cavity include Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida glabrata. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of caries towards colonization of Candida spp. with the hypothesis that dental caries enhance the colonization of Candida spp. Materials and methods: To assess the colonization of Candida spp. in the oral cavity of paediatric patient, samples were obtained from 30 subjects aged five to six years old from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Dental Clinic and Adik Arif Kindergarten in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The samples were collected from buccal mucosa, palate and tooth surfaces using sterile swab. In addition, 10 mL of patient’s saliva suspension was also collected. Following that, the samples were inoculated aseptically on CHROMagar and incubated for 24 h to 48 h at 37 ºC. Finally, the colour, morphology and colony forming unit were determined. Results: This study has shown that no C. albicans was isolated from caries-free oral cavity. Meanwhile, 76% of children with caries possessed Candida spp. in their oral cavity with 65% of Candida spp. isolated was from the tooth surface. Only 35% of the total isolates were obtained from soft tissues including palatal and buccal mucosa. In addition, 82% and 67% of the yeast isolated from the tooth surface and buccal mucosa, respectively were C. albicans. Conclusion: In conclusion, dental caries enhances the colonization of Candida spp. in children’s oral cavity

A review on the improvement of cladocera (Moina) nutrition as live food for aquaculture: using valuable plankton fisheries resources

Since formulated feed for this purpose has not yet been established effectively, the features of live feeds in the performance of marine and freshwater larval rearing is essential. Hence, to succor growth productivity and to introduce newly livestock species into aquaculture industry, support for the stage of larval rearing must be improved and, better nutritional options must be applied. Furthermore, the natural feeding habits of fish needs live food rich in protein for improved growth, enhanced reproduction as well as survival. Common enrichment protocols, such as oil emulsion, are relatively expensive and consequently, increase overall production cost in hatcheries. The above factors have moved scientists to focus more on development of low-cost, live feed substitutions to ensure success of larval feeding in aquaculture. Larval feed performance depends directly on improvements in finding a better low-cost live feed technology for a better zooplankton and phytoplankton production. Cladocerans like Moina sp. have recently been explored as a potential live feed alternative to boost fish and shrimp larval cultivation in hatcheries. The increase in demand for fish as a source of protein for human consumption requires advancement in the development of aquaculture technologies and, emphasis is well placed on improving supply of live food organisms to assist in the larval development process

The effect of dental caries in children on the colonisation of Candida species

Objective: To determine the effect of caries towards colonization of Candida spp. Methods: To assess the colonization of Candida spp. in the oral cavity of paediatric patient, samples were obtained from 30 subjects aged five to six years old from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Dental Clinic and Adik Arif Kindergarten in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The samples were collected from buccal mucosa, palate and tooth surfaces using sterile swab. In addition, 10 mL of patient’s saliva suspension was also collected. Following that, the samples were inoculated aseptically on CHROMagar and incubated for 24 h to 48 h at 37 ºC. Finally, the colour, morphology and colony forming unit were determined. Results: This study has shown that no C. albicans was isolated from caries-free oral cavity. Meanwhile, 76% of children with caries possessed Candida spp. in their oral cavity with 65% of Candida spp. isolated was from the tooth surface. Only 35% of the total isolates were obtained from soft tissues including palatal and buccal mucosa. In addition, 82% and 67% of the yeast isolated from the tooth surface and buccal mucosa, respectively were C. albicans. Meanwhile, only C. albicans (1.2 0.5 x 105 cfu mL-1) was isolated from saliva of children with caries. Conclusions: Dental caries enhance the colonization of Candida spp. particularly C. albicans in children’s oral cavity