function _update_user_points($table = '', $uid = '', $points_to_subtract = 0) {
        // Ensure table and UID are provided to avoid errors
        if (empty($table) || empty($uid)) {
            return FALSE; // Return false if table or uid is not specified
        }
    
        // Create the SQL query to update points with parameterized query
        $sql = "UPDATE $table 
                SET points = GREATEST(points - ?, 0) 
                WHERE uid = ?";
    
        // Execute the query with bound parameters
        $this->db->query($sql, array($points_to_subtract, $uid));
    
        return TRUE;
    }
    function _get_uid_check_points($table = '', $data = array()) {
        // Assuming $data['uid'] contains the user ID
        if (isset($data['uid'])) {
            // Create the SQL query to get the total points for the user
            $sql = "
                SELECT 
                    uid, 
                    SUM(points) AS total_points 
                FROM $table 
                WHERE uid = ? 
                GROUP BY uid";
            
            // Execute the query with the user ID as a bound parameter
            $qry = $this->db->query($sql, array($data['uid']));
            $row = $qry->row();
            
            if ($row) {
                // Determine point status based on total points
                $point_status = ($row->total_points > 0) ? 'valid' : 'not';
                
                $res = array(
                    'uid' => $row->uid,
                    'total_points' => $row->total_points,
                    'point_status' => $point_status
                );
                return $res;
            } else {
                return FALSE; // User not found
            }
        } else {
            return FALSE; // UID not provided in the data array
        }
    }