Abstract Biobinders are increasingly gaining attention in the pavement community as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived asphalt binders. While complete replacement of asphalt binder remains challenging, growing environmental concerns and energy crises demand at least partial substitution with renewable and ecofriendly materials. In this context, this study explores the use of pomegranate molasses (PM), a natural biobased product, as a novel asphalt binder modifier. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to evaluate the chemical, thermal, rheological, and mechanical effects of PM incorporation at three dosages (10%, 20%, and 30% by weight of asphalt binder) compared with a reference binder. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of oxygenated functional groups (O─H, C═O, S═O) introduced by PM, while thermogravimetric analysis showed that the modifier is thermally stable under asphalt mixing and compaction temperatures. Binder-level testing revealed improved viscosity and high-temperature performance with PM addition, along with enhanced fatigue life at moderate dosages. At the mixture level, Marshall stability increased by about 11%, wheel-tracking results showed up to a 45% reduction in rut depth, and cracking resistance evaluated through the asphalt flexibility ratio improved at PM10% and PM20% before declining at PM30%. The tensile strength ratio (TSR) remained above the 80% threshold for all mixes, while the resilient modulus increased with PM content. One-way ANOVA confirmed that PM had a statistically significant effect on rutting resistance ( p - value = 0.011 ) but no significant effect on fatigue, TSR, or stiffness. Overall, PM demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable biomodifier, with 20% PM (by weight of the asphalt binder) identified as the optimum dosage, offering the best balance of resistance to rutting, fatigue, cracking, and moisture damage. Further field validation is required to translate these laboratory findings into practical applications.
Optical fiber integrated photodetectors are attracted considerable attention for next generation optical communication, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing applications particularly in harsh environments where conventional electronic devices exhibit limited reliability. However, achieving efficient light to electrical energy conversion within the confined geometry of an optical fiber remains a significant challenge. In this work, a high performance H-shaped side polished optical fiber photodetector was developed by partially removing the fiber cladding exposing the fiber cladding to enhance the evanescent field interaction. The exposed region was functionalized with a hybrid graphene oxide (GO) nanolayer and a gold nanoparticle (Au) film to exploit the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. The GO layer provides broadband optical absorption while the Au layer enhances electron photon coupling through localized surface plasmon resonance. Experimental results demonstrated a peak responsivity and quantum efficiency of 2.48 and 558,93 A/W, respectively, at 550 nm across the visible wavelength range of 380–750 nm. The proposed hybrid architecture enhances light absorption, accelerates the photo response, and improves photoelectric conversion efficiency, demonstrating its potential as a robust platform for high performance optical fiber photodetectors in environmental sensing and biomedical monitoring applications.
Moringa oleifera leaves have long been used in conventional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including fever and sore throat. The close relationship between plants and human health has promoted the development of plant-based therapies, such as pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, thereby advancing traditional medicine and adding value to agriculture. In the present study, novel thiadiazole, Schiff base, and tetrazoline derivatives (H1, H2, and H3) were synthesized from nitrile-containing precursors obtained from the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves. The synthesis involved the reaction of the nitrile compound with thiourea in the presence of glacial acetic acid to form a heterocyclic thiadiazole intermediate, followed by condensation with an aromatic aldehyde to yield Schiff bases, and subsequent reaction with sodium azide to produce tetrazoline derivatives. The synthesized compounds were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), melting point determination, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The biological activities of derivatives H1–H3 were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), and the fungal strain Candida albicans. Compared with standard drugs—ciprofloxacin for antibacterial activity and ketoconazole for antifungal activity—compound H3 exhibited superior antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, H3 demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity relative to ascorbic acid. POM analysis was further employed to identify promising pharmacophore sites within the synthesized compounds, highlighting their potential for pharmaceutical applications.
Several studies linking periodontitis and ocular diseases have been conducted over recent years, but the full extent of this relationship has not yet been established. Careful analysis of available data is required to explore the nature of the association and to develop an understanding of the possible biological mechanisms connecting periodontitis with ocular diseases. Accordingly, this review aimed to investigate reported relationships and explore biological mechanistic links between periodontitis and ocular diseases. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, yielded 231 papers of which 26 met the eligibility criteria used for evidence synthesis. Periodontitis represents a source of elevated inflammatory cytokines and systemically translocated oral pathobionts in the circulation, which may negatively affect distant organs and systemic disease states, potentially including ocular diseases. Periodontitis is likely to be associated with a significantly higher prevalence of multiple ocular diseases. Current evidence is insufficient to establish a causal link between periodontitis and ocular diseases, but it provides a foundation for high-quality, large-scale, multi-center prospective cohort studies and clinical trials to further explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
