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This study provides empirical evidence and guidelines for assessing the influence of green supply chain management (GSCM) techniques on organizational performance in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry of Bangladesh. The study method is conducted to extract essential GSCM variables from field data, evaluate the factors that have a positive effect on organizational performance, and construct a model that connects both critical components and performance indicators. The data collection approach used in this study is survey method. A diagnostic research survey instrument has been developed and is being used to collect data from Bangladesh based FMCG firms that have installed or experienced GSCM. The authors not only constructed the model but also attempted to optimize it, ran a structural model analysis on it, and evaluated its predictive capacity for patterns and possible trends. The primary contribution of this work is the discovery, modeling, and validation of guiding elements that influence various manufacturing techniques and have a significant impact on organizational performance. The study provides valuable insights and recommendations on how industries should link essential GSCM elements and performance measurements to achieve perceived business success and improve overall organizational performance.

In this study, a system for measuring small-sized holes with a 17–21 mm diameter and 1000 mm length was constructed. The system comprises a laser interferometer to detect hole accuracy, a probe connected to a measurement bar, and an optical apparatus for detecting the probe attitude (position and inclination). The probe was supported by supporting pads. A steel workpiece with 18 -mm diameter and 800 mm length was used for the performance test. During the experiment, errors were found in terms of hole deviation and roundness profile. Further experiments, using new experimental apparatus and analysis, revealed the causes of errors: electrical noise that increased with time, two periodic stylus swings in the longitudinal direction of the hole per rotation of the measurement unit, and the excessive spring force pushing the tip of the stylus, causing a large frictional force with the hole wall, etc. If these errors are corrected, high accuracy in the measurement of hole deviation and roundness can be achieved.

This study investigated the suitability of using waste plastics as an additive in biodiesel through assessing the performance, emissions and combustion characterises of a diesel engine. Firstly, the waste plastics were dissolved into different biodiesels. Then, the dissolved solution was mixed with standard diesel to make diesel-biodiesel-plastic blends. These plastic blends were then tested in a 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, diesel engine. These analyses indicated that waste plastics can potentially be used as fuel additives along with the diesel-biodiesel blends in diesel engines. There exists little research in this field, so the comprehensive study reported in this thesis is important and significant. The novelty of this work lies in identifying the biodegradable solvents that can properly dissolve waste plastics and demonstrate the beneficial effects of plastics in reducing harmful gas emissions and improving engine performance.

The different levels of arsenic (As) had a significant effect on the yield, yield reduction and As accumulation of different potato varieties. The yield was negatively affected by the As contamination and decreased with the increasing As levels in the soil, but remained statistically similar up to 25 mg kg-1 soil of As and thereafter drastically decreased with the increasing As levels. The yield reduction (%) and accumulation of As in the tuber peels and flesh increased with the increasing As levels. Among the fourteen potato varieties, 'Felsina' had the maximum yield and showed the lowest percentage of yield reduction; 'Jam alu' and 'Cardinal' accumulated the least amount of As in their peels and flesh, respectively. Among the treatment combinations, 'Felsina' cultivated in an As-free soil had the highest yield/plant (454.8 g fresh weight). 'Laura' grown in 25 mg kg-1 soil of As showed the lowest yield reduction (%). Although 'Jam alu' and 'Cardinal' produced a slightly lower yield compared to some other varieties, these two varieties accumulated the least amount of As, both in the peels and flesh, when grown in 25 mg kg-1 soil of As. Los diferentes niveles de arsénico (As) tuvieron efecto significativo sobre el rendimiento al disminuir la producción y acumularse el As en las diferentes variedades de papa. El rendimiento fue negativamente afectado por la contaminación de suelo con As observándose una reducción de la producción con el incremento de As en el suelo. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el rendimiento hasta 25 mg kg-1 As en el suelo pero en mayores cantidades el rendimiento se redujo drásticamente. El rendimiento fue reducido, se acumuló el As en la cáscara y en la pulpa del tubérculo en la medida que aumentaba el nivel As en el suelo. Entre las 14 variedades evaluadas, 'Felsina' presentó el máximo rendimiento y, 'Jam alu' y 'Cardinal' la menor acumulación de As tanto en cáscara como en pulpa del tubérculo. Entre los diferentes tratamientos, 'Felsina' se obtuvo el máximo rendimiento en un suelo sin As con 454,8 g peso fresco/planta, mientras 'Laura' presentó la menor reducción del rendimiento cuando en el suelo tenía 25 mg kg-1 de As. Aunque 'Jam alu' y 'Cardinal' presentaron el mejor rendimiento frente a las otras variedades, fueron las que mayor acumulación de As presentaron tanto en cáscara como en pulpa del tubérculo cuando fueron cultivadas en suelo con 25 mg kg-1 de As.

Recently, there has been growing demand for wearable electronic devices/strain sensors in soft robotics, body-health monitoring, human–machine interfaces, and human motion detection. Wearable strain sensors feature fast and multistimuli sensitivity, high flexibility, ultrastretchability, and biocompatibility. Although progress in flexible strain sensors is exponential, the production of wearable sensors faces several challenges, such as reliability and reproducibility. An in-depth understanding of the sensing mechanisms of flexible strain sensors based on’ polymeric nanocomposites is needed to fabricate reliable and reproducible sensors and move from the prototype phase into the industry phase. In this review, types of strain sensors and key parameters such as linearity, gauge factor (sensitivity), hysteresis, and durability are explained in the context of recently published work. In addition, current challenges and perspectives in relation to wearable strain sensors are delineated.