The Effect of Encapsulated Powder of Goji Berry () on Growth and Survival of Probiotic Bacteria.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential prebiotic action of Goji berry powder on selected probiotic bacteria grown in a nutritive synthetic substrate and in simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Different probiotic strains of and were grown in these substrates with or without the addition of encapsulated goji berry extracts of different polysaccharide and polyphenol contents. The results proved that the addition of the extracts promoted the proliferation of probiotic strains and, in particular, increased the number of bacterial colonies of (Bb), (Bb), and by 2, 0.

Chemical Properties, Fatty-Acid Composition, and Antioxidant Activity of Goji Berry ( L. and Mill.) Fruits.

In this study, the content composition and antioxidant activity of goji berry fruits from two species ( and ) were assessed. The total carbohydrate and phenolic contents were evaluated using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, while the antioxidant activity of fruits was examined with two in vitro methods, which are based on the scavenging activity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•⁺) free radicals. The fatty-acid profile was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Unraveling the materials and techniques of post-Byzantine wall paintings: Is there a sole pictorial phase at the catholicon of Stomion, Central Greece?

Saint Demetrius of Stomion is a historical monastery placed in the geographical area of Larissa town, Greece, with a remarkable presence from its founding until nowadays. The monastery's present catholicon (main church) has been dated in the 16th century and its surviving wall paintings were constructed in 1758. In addition to the characterization of the materials applied, the purpose of this study is to determine the existence of a sole pictorial phase, that of the mid-18th century, or the occurrence of overpaintings.

Investigation of the Cross-Section Stratifications of Icons Using Micro-Raman and Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy.

The cross-section stratifications of samples, which were removed from six icons, are studied using optical microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and micro-Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The icons, dated from the 14th to 19th centuries, are prominent examples of Byzantine painting art and are attributed to different artistic workshops of ​​northern Greece. The following materials are identified in the cross-sections of the icon samples using micro-Raman spectroscopy: anhydrite; calcite; carbon black; chrome yellow; cinnabar; gypsum; lead white; minium; orpiment; Prussian blue; red ochre; yellow ochre; and a paint of organic origin which can be either indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria L.

Waterborne Superhydrophobic and Superoleophobic Coatings for the Protection of Marble and Sandstone.

Silica nanoparticles were dispersed in an aqueous emulsion of alkoxy silanes and organic fluoropolymer. The dispersion was sprayed onto white marble and sandstone. The deposited composite coatings exhibited (i) superhydrophobicity and superoleophobicity, as evidenced by the high (>150°) static contact angles of water and oil drops as well as (ii) water and oil repellency according to the low (<7°) corresponding tilt contact angles.

Spectroscopic Investigation Leading to the Documentation of Three Post-Byzantine Wall Paintings.

The main churches of three monasteries in Thessalia, Central Greece, were decorated with wall paintings in the post-Byzantine period. The main goal of the present study is to characterize the inorganic and organic materials present in the paint layers of areas that have been gilded. Optical microscopic examination was carried out on samples taken from the gilded decoration of the paintings to view their layer build-up.

From hydrophobic to superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic siloxanes by thermal treatment.

The cross-influence effects of treatment temperature and time on the wettability of a siloxane elastomer is investigated in detail, through static and tilt contact angle measurements. The material is heated at 400, 500, 600, 650, 700, and 800 °C for various periods, ranging from 1 to 300 s. The siloxane surface is subjected to multiple wettability transitions with treatment time: from intrinsic hydrophobicity to superhydrophobicity (and water repellency) and then through intermediate stages (hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity) to superhydrophilicity.