The efficient use of municipal waste is becoming increasingly important for sustainable environmental quality. An integral part of the process of recycling waste material is its quality sorting. Nowadays, both manual and automated sorting methods, especially optical sorting, are used worldwide for sorting mixed waste. This article presents the application of the NIR/VIS optical sorting system through a description of this processing equipment integrated into a specific plastic waste processing line. The aim of the article was to select the optimal mode of operation generally applicable to mixed waste, and, specifically, to compare the quality of sorting of plastic waste in automated and manual sorting modes. In order to compare the efficiency of the sorting system, significant parameters of the sorting process were proposed. The measurement of the plastic waste sorting purity parameter was based on data obtained by weighing selected control samples, and the evaluation of the results of these measurements showed, in particular, the dependence of the concerned parameter not only on the sorting mode, i.e., automated and manual, but also on the conveyor belt speed/waste material flow, on the pre-sorting methods and, in the case of manual sorting, on the operating shift. The subsequent economic assessment of both sorting processes clearly declared the investment in automated sorting systems in the optical system operation mode not only as profitable, but also as extremely advantageous both for the production economy and the environment.

Background: This paper presents a generic Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision-making, which can be applied to a wide range of HTA studies, regardless of the healthcare technology type under consideration. Methods: The HTA Core Model^® of EUnetHTA was chosen as a basis for the development of the MCDA model because of its common acceptance among European Union countries. Validation of MCDA4HTA was carried out by an application with the HTA study group of the Turkish Ministry of Health. The commitment of the decision-making group is completed via an online application of 10 different questionnaires. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to determine the weights. Scores of the criteria in MCDA4HTA are gathered directly from the HTA report. The performance matrix in this application is run with fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), and goal programming MCDA techniques. Results: Results for fuzzy VIKOR, fuzzy TOPSIS, and goal programming are 0.018, 0.309, and 0.191 for peritoneal dialysis and 0.978, 0.677, and 0.327 for hemodialysis, respectively. Conclusions: Peritoneal dialysis is found to be the best choice under the given circumstances, despite its higher costs to society. As an integrated decision-making model for HTA, MCDA4HTA supports both evidence-based decision policy and the transparent commitment of multi-disciplinary stakeholders.

The evolution of 3G and Long Term Evolution (LTE) has brought a remarkable advantage to mobility-based digital solutions by providing ubiquitous Internet services to a plethora of users with various needs. Nowadays, the dramatic adoption of smart devices and increasing consumption of mobile Internet have been accelerating mobile technology development activities toward a 5G ecosystem. Therefore, industry players need to make managerial decisions and design strategies based on forecasts related to the introduction of 5G technology. The aim of this research is to enhance the understanding of technological forecasting and technology life cycle in the mobile telecommunication industry. Specifically, the study was carried out in Turkey to contribute to the engineering management field on the topic. This contribution will be realized by forecasting the ideal launch time of 5G services for a leading telecommunication company in the market, which has been integrating new mobile technologies and densifying its existing network at an unprecedented rate in recent years. Our findings reveal that the most appropriate time for the 5G deployment and launch of mobile telecommunication services in Turkey would be in August 2020. This is the time when most of the forecast parameters used for making decisions on network investments are predicted to reach maturity.

This study investigates the effects of post-curing temperatures on the tensile properties of hybrid basalt-jute-glass-carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). Composite specimens were post-cured at 60 °C and 100 °C for 60 min, and their tensile behavior was assessed using a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Numerical simulations using the Abaqus software V6.14 were also conducted to compare experimental and computational results. The findings indicate that post-curing heat treatment enhances ductility due to increased polymer cross-linking, but excessive heat treatment at 100 °C negatively impacts elongation at fracture. The results revealed that specimens post-cured at 60 °C exhibited the optimal balance between strength and ductility, with increased elongation and moderate tensile strength. However, at 100 °C, while tensile strength improved in some cases, a significant decrease in elasticity and an increased risk of brittleness were observed, suggesting that extreme heat treatment may degrade polymer integrity. Natural fiber composites, particularly jute-based samples, outperformed synthetic composites in terms of elongation and overall mechanical stability. The numerical simulations provided further insights but showed discrepancies with experimental results, mainly due to fiber property variations and fabric waviness, underscoring the challenges of accurately modeling woven composites. The study highlights the importance of controlled post-curing temperatures in optimizing the mechanical performance of FRP composites, with 60 °C identified as the most effective condition for achieving a favorable balance between tensile strength, flexibility, and material durability. These findings offer valuable insights for material scientists and engineers working on the development of high-performance composite materials for structural and industrial applications.

Medical errors negatively affect patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare establishments. Therefore, all healthcare service members should be attentive to medical errors. Research has revealed that most medical errors are caused by the system, rather than individuals. In this context, guaranteeing patient safety and preventing medical faults appear to be basic elements of quality in healthcare services. Healthcare institutions can create internal regulations and follow-up plans for patient safety. While this is beneficial for the dissemination of patient safety culture, it poses difficulties in terms of auditing. On the other hand, the lack of a standard patient safety management system, has led to great variation in the quality of the provided service among hospitals. Therefore, this study aims to create an index system to create a standard system for patient safety by classifying medical errors. Due to the complex nature of healthcare and its processes, interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy logic is used in the proposed index system. Medical errors are prioritized, based on the index scores that are generated by the proposed model. Because of this systematic study, not only can the awareness of patient safety perception be increased in health institutions, but their present situation can also be displayed, on the basis of each indicator. It is expected that the outcomes of this study will motivate institutions to identify and prioritize their future improvements in the patient safety context.

The effectiveness of a machining process can be determined by analysing the quality of the generated surface and the rate of tool wear. Stellite is highly challenging to machine, which is why it is primarily processed through grinding methods. This study concentrates on the impact of cutting parameters and tool wear (VB_b, KB_b) on the created surface roughness surface (Rt, Ra, Rz) during the orthogonal cutting of Stellite 6, which is overlaid on a steel surface, C45, prepared by means of HP/HVOF (JP-5000). The results indicate that the dominant influence on the change in the total roughness profile height value (Rt) is the mutual interaction of cutting speed and depth of cut at 16% (p < 0.000). The greatest impact on the change in the mean arithmetic deviation of the roughness profile (Ra) value is the interaction of cutting speed, tool front angle, and depth of cut with a 15% share (p < 0.000), as well as on the change in the Rz value (15%) and tool wear VB_b (25%). This investigation lays the groundwork for potentially substituting the processing of flat surfaces with hardened layers created by thermal spraying (such as Stellite 6) with grinding or methods that offer greater efficiency from both economic and technological perspectives.