Polyurethane is a multipurpose polymer with valuable mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability, and countless other physical features. Polyurethanes can be processed as foam, elastomer, or fibers. This innovative overview is designed to uncover the present state and opportunities in the field of polyurethanes and their nanocomposite sponges. Special emphasis has been given to fundamentals of polyurethanes and foam materials, related nanocomposite categories, and associated properties and applications. According to literature so far, adding carbon nanoparticles such as graphene and carbon nanotube influenced cell structure, overall microstructure, electrical/thermal conductivity, mechanical/heat stability, of the resulting polyurethane nanocomposite foams. Such progressions enabled high tech applications in the fields such as electromagnetic interference shielding, shape memory, and biomedical materials, underscoring the need of integrating these macromolecular sponges on industrial level environmentally friendly designs. Future research must be intended to resolve key challenges related to manufacturing and applicability of polyurethane nanocomposite foams. In particular, material design optimization, invention of low price processing methods, appropriate choice of nanofiller type/contents, understanding and control of interfacial and structure-property interplay must be determined.  

Delay is the leading challenge in completing Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects. Delay can cause excess costs, which reduces company profits. The relationship between subcontractors and the main contractor is a critical factor that can support the success of an EPC project. The problematic financial condition of the main contractor can cause delay in payments to subcontractors. This research will set a model that combines the system dynamics and earned value method to describe the impact of subcontractor advance payments on project performance. The system dynamics method is used to model and analyze the impact of interactions between variables affecting project performance, while the earned value method is applied to quantitatively evaluate project performance and forecast schedule and cost outcomes. These two methods are used complementarily to achieve a holistic understanding of project dynamics and to optimize decision-making. The designed model selects the optimum scenario for project time and costs. The developed model comprises project performance, costs, cash flow, and performance forecasting sub-models. The novelty in this research is a new model for optimizing project implementation time and costs, adding payment rate variables to subcontractors and subcontractor performance rates. The designed model can provide additional information to assist project managers in making decisions.

This paper focuses on the analysis of educational institutions’ communication on social media, with an emphasis on the individual type of content used by these institutions to increase engagement and interaction with current and potential students. The authors examine how educational institutions tailor their communication content on Facebook and Instagram to meet the expectations and needs of their target audience. The analysis includes content evaluation, frequency of posts, user interaction, and integration of multimedia elements. In our research we focused on private school segment from kindergartens, through primary to secondary schools. The paper also presents an analysis of the differences of communication on different platforms (Facebook and Instagram) and their impact on the digital communication strategy of private schools. The results suggest that despite the increasing popularity of Instagram and higher interaction, educational institutions are communicating more on Facebook.

The bubble milk tea industry in Malaysia which was thought to have slowed down in the recent years since its first appearance in 2010 has made a comeback. At the point of conducting this research, there are almost 100 brands of bubble milk tea in Malaysia and it is not surprising that some of these shops are selling more than a thousand cups a day. However, there has been limited research conducted on factors influencing brand equity on bubble milk tea brands in Johor Bahru. This study is to investigate whether brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness and brand association influence brand equity on bubble milk tea brands in Johor Bahru through distribution of online questionnaires. This study novelty is at the examining the factors influencing brand equity in the context of bubble milk tea in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Data derived from responses of 400 respondents through sampling were analysed using SPSS v29. Hypotheses testing performed through simple linear regression revealed that brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness and brand association have significant effect on brand equity of bubble milk tea brands in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It was also demonstrated that perceived quality has the most significance influence on brand equity. Organizations in the bubble milk tea industries are able to benefit from these findings by prioritizing their marketing strategies to gain competitive edge over their competitors. With findings that perceived quality having the most significance influence, marketers with limited resources can narrow down their options and focus on this specific dimension to increase their brand value.

This research presents an innovative perspective on vocational education by merging the Instructional System Design (ISD) model with Innovation in Thailand Vocational Education and Training (InnoTVET) principles. Targeted at nursing students, the course aims to cultivate entrepreneurial skills while connecting vocational training with healthcare policy development. It aligns with global movements in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), addressing the increasing demand for nurse entrepreneurs who can devise creative healthcare solutions within established policy frameworks. By employing mastery learning techniques alongside design thinking, the course effectively bridges theoretical concepts with practical applications. The mixed-methods study underlines relevant contribution in students’ entrepreneurial mindsets. Results from t-tests reveal the students’ ability to identify opportunities, engage in innovative thinking, and work within policy frameworks. Findings are supported by qualitative data, which demonstrate enhanced confidence, improved problem-solving capacities, and a deeper understanding of healthcare market dynamics. Although expert evaluation of student projects is scheduled for future iterations, the initial outcomes reinforce the course’s success. The course is structured into seven modules spanning 45 hours, featuring active learning components, five business-oriented assignments, and a final innovation project that integrates the curriculum’s core elements. This design ensures students develop both practical expertise and interdisciplinary insights critical to healthcare innovation. The integration of InnoTVET and ISD principles in nursing education sets a precedent for vocational education reform. This example of a successful nursepreneurship initiative provides a scalable model for enhancing vocational programs in diverse fields, fostering innovation and sustainability.