Epoxy resins were reinforced with different ZnO nanofillers (commercial ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), recycled ZnO and functionalized ZnO NPs) in order to obtain ZnO–epoxy composites with suitable mechanical properties, high adhesion strength, and good resistance to corrosion. The final properties of ZnO–epoxy composites depend on several factors, such as the type and contents of nanofillers, the epoxy resin type, curing agent, and preparation methods. This paper aims to review the preparation methods, mechanical and anti-corrosion performance, and applications of ZnO–epoxy composites. The epoxy–ZnO composites are demonstrated to be valuable materials for a wide range of applications, including the development of anti-corrosion and UV-protective coatings, for adhesives and the chemical industry, or for use in building materials or electronics.

This study evaluated the individual and psychosocial impacts of personal protective equipment on firefighters by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. While PPE is necessary for the protection of firefighters, it can also lead to a number of challenges, which may be both physical and psychological. This assessment incorporates insights from several studies that discuss the factors of stress related to the use of PPE by firefighters. The key aspects of the assessment include the adverse effects of overheating, the restriction of free movements, the inability to speak normally, and various other factors that increase stress. Studies have revealed that the use of PPE increases physical and mental stress levels by 10–25%, which increases overall anxiety by 35% and stress levels by 20–30%. The results suggest that the use of PPE is correlated with heightened levels of both physical and mental stress, leading to a 35% increase in anxiety and a 20–30% increase in stress. This study highlights the need to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to address and reduce the effects of PPE use on stress. Policy directions are aimed at improving PPE design, applying stress prevention programs, and controlling organizational strategies to protect firefighters’ safety and well-being.

Occupational exposure to soil-borne pesticides remains a critical safety and process-management challenge in industrial and agro-industrial settings. This work proposes a process-integrated analytical workflow that couples comparative instrumental identification of soil xenobiotics with an occupational risk assessment framework. We comparatively evaluate GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry), HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry), and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) against matrix complexity, sensitivity, cost, and throughput, and implement the Quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe (QuEChERS) method-based sample preparation followed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to demonstrate applicability on representative soil and food-chain samples. Complementary risk tools (toxicity–probability matrices, exposure pathway diagrams) and an integrated monitoring scheme that combines environmental data with biomonitoring are used to link concentrations to exposure potential and control priorities. In a soil case sample, low-level organochlorines were detected with total DDT at 0.010 mg/kg and total HCH at 0.003 mg/kg, illustrating how analytical outputs feed decision matrices for prioritizing interventions. Case analyses from agricultural and industrial contexts indicate that targeted substitution, optimized application, ventilation and dust control, PPE (personal protective equipment) adherence, and worker training can measurably reduce symptoms and biomarkers of exposure. Overall, a complementary, process-analytical approach—integrating sensitive multi-technique detection with exposure assessment and continuous monitoring—supports proactive risk management and aligns with process systems and monitoring themes. Recommendations include standardizing workflows, coupling routine environmental monitoring with biomonitoring where feasible, and embedding preventive policies and training into industrial management systems.

This study examines how intellectual property protection and quality management interact inside a modern public hospital, and how the two can be integrated through a single operational framework. Medical technology, especially in neurosurgery and imaging, increasingly arrives bound by patents, software licences, and exclusivity clauses that shape what the hospital can buy, repair, or interconnect. The international literature on intellectual property in healthcare is mostly legal-theoretical or strictly clinical, while the pragmatic perspective of the hospital manager, who has to reconcile clinical imperatives, accreditation standards, and contractual constraints, remains underdeveloped, particularly in the Romanian setting. The research followed a retrospective, observational design over five years, from 2020 to 2025, in a Romanian county emergency hospital. The sample combined 53 public procurement files with 643 patient observation records, drawn from three departments selected for their high exposure to intellectual property issues. Three hypotheses were tested, on the cost-quality relationship of patented technology, the hidden risks of unmanaged intellectual property inside the quality management system, and the role of open innovation in softening monopolistic effects. All three hypotheses received empirical support. The cost-quality relationship proved non-linear, with diminishing clinical returns past a threshold of technological “newness". Unmanaged intellectual property generated hidden costs and operational risks: equipment downtime, vendor lock-in, and accreditation findings tied to non-compliance. Open innovation, value-based negotiation, and shared-intellectual-property partnerships emerged as realistic paths to soften the monopoly without restricting access to modern technology. The paper proposes an integrated intellectual property management cycle inside the quality management system of a public hospital, treating intellectual property as a structural variable on the same level as clinical and financial risk. The framework offers hospital managers and policy-makers a working tool for reconciling innovation, accessibility, and accountability in publicly funded medical institutions.

Air traffic control (ATC) simulators are essential tools for controller training, operational research and higher education, enabling realistic practice without affecting live air traffic. Although commercial simulation platforms are widely available, limited research has addressed structured engineering methodologies for designing university-based ATC simulation facilities that integrate regulatory, ergonomic, and technical requirements. This paper proposes a systems engineering framework for the conceptual design of university ATC simulators, combining stakeholder requirements, international aviation regulations, human factors principles, and engineering design within a requirement-driven workflow. The framework supports the design process from requirements analysis and functional decomposition to architectural layout, visualization system design, and technical infrastructure planning. Its applicability is demonstrated through the conceptual development of a 360° panoramic ATC simulator for higher education, comprising a 6.90 m diameter cylindrical screen driven by eight synchronized 4K laser projectors (effective horizontal resolution 19,968 pixels, 1.08 arcmin/pixel), a total usable floor area of approximately 278 m², and an estimated installed electrical power of 25 kW. Furthermore, the framework incorporates universal design principles and specialized accessibility guidelines to ensure full ergonomic and physical accommodation for students with special needs. The proposed solution integrates the main functional areas of the simulation facility, including visualization, operator workstations, communication systems, and supporting infrastructure, while ensuring compliance with relevant standards and educational requirements. The proposed framework provides a structured and reusable methodology for the development of university ATC simulators and can support future educational and research simulation projects by improving design consistency, traceability, and scalability.

Evaluating production costs is a critical phase in the product development life-cycle and market launch. This study presents a comparative techno-economic analysis of manufacturing a lever-type component using four distinct materials and technologies: traditional CNC machining (steel and aluminum alloy) and additive manufacturing via Fused Filament Fabrication (PLA and carbon fiber composites). The economic model comprehensively evaluates direct material procurement, labor, energy consumption, waste recovery, and indirect manufacturing overheads. The results demonstrate that economic viability is highly sensitive to production volume and technology-specific overheads. While additive manufacturing (PLA) proves highly cost-effective for small to medium batches due to minimal indirect costs, traditional subtractive machining (steel) maintains economic dominance for large-scale production. This paper establishes a quantitative decision-making framework, clearly distinguishing between direct material expenses and total manufacturing costs, to optimize technology selection in modern industrial environments.