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Production of green tyres by replacing carbon black (CB) with silica in natural rubber (NR) has gathered attention in automotive industries in the recent past. Incorporating high dosages of silica in NR by solid-state mixing is a huge challenge. In green tyre technology, abrasion resistance index (ARI) is crucial alongside rolling resistance, wet grip, and heat build-up. In this study, two new non-silane coupling agents have been introduced to replace bis(3-Triethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide (TESPD). Amidst them, chemical-A (sorbitol) as an alternate coupling agent of TESPD effectively achieved most properties except ARI. Hence, the naturally obtainable sustainable and cost effective chemicals A and B (B-sorbic acid) are incorporated during mastication, acting as blocking agents. Consequently, chemical-A as a blocking agent executed remarkable improvement in crucial properties, including ARI. Furthermore, the optimization study of sorbitol is accomplished based on curing time, FTIR, and XPS analysis. Subsequently, using similar quantity (0.5 phr) sorbitol in silica-CB filled NR compound evidenced better performances as tyre tread compound.

(1) Background: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rising globally. The current evidence indicates that GDM, especially in conjunction with maternal overweight, can alter the composition of infants’ gut microbiota, potentially increasing the risk of inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurodevelopmental issues later in life. Probiotic supplantation early in life might establish eubiosis and mitigate future complications. To best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated the effects of probiotics on gut dysbiosis in the infants of mothers with GDM. (2) Methods: This study will be a single-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolling sixty neonates born after 35 weeks of gestation to mothers with GDM. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a triple-strain probiotic or a placebo for four months. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in correcting gut dysbiosis in the infants of mothers with GDM at four months of age. Faecal microbiome composition shall be estimated using 16SrRNA and shotgun sequencing. The secondary outcomes will include the quantification of faecal short-chain fatty acids at birth and at four months, as well as growth and developmental assessments at four, twelve, and twenty-four months. (3) Trial registration: This trial protocol is registered (ACTRN12624000930583p) in the Australian Clinical Trials registry (ANZCTR).