There is a growing trend among elderly people to live alone and this trend is expected to increase in the future. Social isolation and limited support can have a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of older adults. The increasing life expectancy and expanding geriatric population necessitate the development of innovative solutions to support their health, independence, and autonomy. This article addresses the key challenges and issues confronting the elderly and analyzes various IoT technologies and solutions proposed to enhance their lives. Smart home technologies improve the quality of life and enable older adults to live independently in their own homes while their adult children are at work. This article presents a smart home model for the elderly in Kazakhstan, based on their needs, concerns, and financial capabilities. The proposed prototype will be developed using an accessible, open-source intelligent system that includes health monitoring, medication adherence monitoring, alerting family members in case of falls or deteriorating health indicators, and video surveillance. Another advantage of this system is the automation of processes such as automatic lighting control, voice command functionality, home security, and climate control. Preliminary testing of the hardware model shows promising results, with plans for continuous improvement and evaluation as it is deployed. Key criteria for its implementation include affordability, accessibility, and feasibility. Based on Kazakhstan’s unique socio-cultural and economic context, this paper proposes a sophisticated smart home model tailored to the specific needs and financial capabilities of elderly Kazakhs.

Purpose: This paper articulates a model that maximizes the use of e-HRM to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. It examines the indirect effects of e-HRM use on sustainable competitive advantage, through job satisfaction, employee performance, and perceived organizational politics. Design/methodology/approach: A survey approach was used to collect data from 30 organizations. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study sample. The SPSS PROCESS Macro for running mediation analysis was used to analyze data. Findings: The findings show the indirect effect of e-HRM on sustainable competitive advantage through job satisfaction, employee performance, and perceived organizational politics. Job satisfaction has the biggest effect on achieving strategic outcomes. For organizational excellence, e-HRM use should complement other HRM practices. Practical implications: Management should pay attention to employee outcomes during the implementation of e-HRM. This study broadens the scope of the interaction between e-HRM use and sustainable competitive advantage. This study was conducted in a developing economy and demonstrated that the effects of e-HRM use on sustainable competitive advantage are not limited to developed economies. Originality/value: This study is one of the pioneering efforts to develop a model that maximizes organizational outcomes in developing countries. In addition, this study contributes to the understanding of intervening variables necessary to enhance information technology’s potential within the HR function.

As Bangladesh faces its current energy crisis, public-private partnerships (PPPs) emerge as a promising solution, bridging the strengths of both sectors toward a brighter, more electrified future. This research focuses on the challenges in Bangladesh’s power sector: increasing electricity demand and the imperative for a consistent supply of renewable energy sources. The research employs content analysis, exploring various aspects, including policy documents, regulatory frameworks, stakeholder engagements, and resource assessments, with a specific focus on three key variables: regulatory framework, stakeholder engagement, and informed policymaking. Drawing on the ‘resource-based view’ theory, the study emphasizes the significance of ‘mitigating resource risks’ through ‘resource assessment.’ Empirical support is derived from an extensive review of literature in reputable journals and research articles, enhancing the research’s credibility with real-world evidence. The study provides a practical roadmap for stakeholders navigating Bangladesh’s power sector, addressing energy challenges, and promoting sustainability.

This paper proposes an incentive model to involve communities and industries in effectively managing coastal waste in Makassar, Indonesia. The model seeks to incentivize stakeholders to invest in waste management solutions and enable public stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the progress of waste management activities. The model actively encourages participation from all stakeholders and builds upon existing efforts to promote environmental accountability. The proposed model includes several key components. It focused on public and private partnerships that should be fostered to coordinate stakeholder approaches and provide capital investment. It also focused on a financial reward scheme that should be adopted to incentivize businesses and individuals that invest in waste management initiatives. Performance bonus awards and tax incentives are proposed as possible incentive schemes. Lastly, a regulatory framework should be developed to ensure environmental standards are met and regulated. The framework should include regular reporting and auditing requirements and the implementation of penalties for those who fail to comply. The proposed incentive model seeks to engage stakeholders in effectively managing coastal waste in Makassar, Indonesia, through public and private incentive schemes.

In today’s manufacturing sector, high-quality materials that satisfy customers’ needs at a reduced cost are drawing attention in the global market. Also, as new applications are emerging, high-performance biocomposite products that complement them are required. The production of such high-performance materials requires suitable optimization techniques in the formulation/process design, not simply mixing natural fibre/filler, additives, and plastics, and characterization of the resulting biocomposites. However, a comprehensive review of the optimization strategies in biocomposite production intended for infrastructural applications is lacking. This study, therefore, presents a detailed discussion of the various optimization approaches, their strengths, and weaknesses in the formulation/process parameters of biocomposite manufacturing. The report explores the recent progress in optimization techniques in biocomposite material production to provide baseline information to researchers and industrialists in this field. Therefore, this review consolidates prior studies to explore new areas.

Solid waste has become a major environmental concern globally in recent years due to the tremendous increase in waste generation. However, these wastes (e.g., plastics and agro-residues) can serve as potential raw materials for the production of value-added products such as composites at low cost. The utilization of these waste materials in the composite industry is a good strategy for maintaining the sustainability of resources with economic and environmental benefits. In this report, the environmental impacts and management strategies of solid waste materials are discussed in detail. The study described the benefits of recycling and reusing solid wastes (i.e., plastic and agro-waste). The report also reviewed the emerging fabrication approaches for natural particulate hybrid nanocomposite materials. The results of this survey reveal that the fabrication techniques employed in manufacturing composite materials could significantly influence the performance of the resulting composite products. Furthermore, some key areas have been identified for further investigation. Therefore, this report is a state-of-the-art review and stands out as a guide for academics and industrialists.