Slit in a Nest Site Influences the Nest Site Selection in Cavity Nesting Ant Colonies.

For ants, nests provide a refuge against predators and protection from environmental factors. Thus, choosing a good nest site is important for an ant colony, but nest sites are limited resources. Ants of the genus Temnothorax inhabit small cavities in, e.g., acorns, twigs and under rocks. Earlier, it was shown that the ants are able to choose a superior site. In this study, using binary choice tests, we studied the nest site selection by Temnothorax crassispinus ant colonies that typically inhabit empty acorns. For this purpose, we used artificial nest sites without and with an additional slit in the nest wall, mimicking the cracks in potential nest sites under natural conditions. We found that the ant colonies preferred artificial nest sites without these slits. However, no difference in the number of colonies inhabited nest sites with a slit vs. those without a slit was found when the slits were closed using transparent food foil, which prevented the air flow while keeping an inflow of light. What is more, additional light through the hole in the red filter covering the artificial nest sites had no influence on the nest site selection. The results of this study suggest that the air flow through a slit in the nest site wall, rather than additional light, influences the nest site selection. The absence of cracks, e.g., in acorns, could be an indication of the durability of potential nest sites. Thus, choosing a cavity without such damage could be beneficial for the ant colonies.

Sequential effects of autoclaved heat treatment and electron beam irradiation on acorn starch: Multiscale structural differences and related mechanisms.

In this study, the differences in the modification effects and related mechanisms of different times (20 and 40 min) of autoclaved heat (AH) treatment and different doses (2 and 4 kGy) of electron beam irradiation (EBI) in different sequences of effects on acorn starch were investigated. The results showed that both AH and EBI reduced the amylose content (22.70 to 19.59%) and enthalpy (10.28 to 1.84%) of starch but increased the resistant starch content (53.69 to 64.11%). AH treatment made the crystalline regions of the residual starch granules denser, which was resistant to the action of amylase enzymes. EBI degraded the long chain of starch, which increased the solubility. Notably, EBI pretreatment improves the reactive sites by inducing depolymerization and disorder in starch internal structure, thus increasing the modification extent of AH-modified starch, forming starch with lower viscosity, better hydration, and digestibility resistance, therefore being used as an ingredient for functional foods.

The effect of local habitat and spatial connectivity on urban seed predation.

PREMISE: During the last centuries, the area covered by urban landscapes is increasing all over the world. Urbanization can change local habitats and decrease connectivity among these habitats, with important consequences for species interactions. While several studies have found a major imprint of urbanization on plant-insect interactions, the effects of urbanization on seed predation remain largely unexplored. METHODS: We investigated the relative impact of sunlight exposure, leaf litter, and spatial connectivity on predation by moth and weevil larvae on acorns of the pedunculate oak across an urban landscape during 2018 and 2020. We also examined whether infestations by moths and weevils were independent of each other. RESULTS: While seed predation varied strongly among trees, seed predation was not related to differences in sunlight exposure, leaf litter, or spatial connectivity. Seed predation by moths and weevils was negatively correlated at the level of individual acorns in 2018, but positively correlated at the acorn and the tree level in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sets the baseline expectation that urban seed predators are unaffected by differences in sunlight exposure, leaf litter, and spatial connectivity. Overall, our findings suggest that the impact of local and spatial factors on insects within an urban context may depend on the species guild. Understanding the impact of local and spatial factors on biodiversity, food web structure, and ecosystem functioning can provide valuable insights for urban planning and management strategies aimed at promoting urban insect diversity.

Proteomic comparison of the organic matrices from parietal and base plates of the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite.

Acorn barnacles are efficient colonizers on a wide variety of marine surfaces. As they proliferate on critical infrastructure, their settlement and growth have deleterious effects on performance. To address acorn barnacle biofouling, research has focused on the settlement and adhesion processes with the goal of informing the development of novel coatings. This effort has resulted in the discovery and characterization of several proteins found at the adhesive substrate interface, i.e. cement proteins, and a deepened understanding of the function and composition of the biomaterials within this region. While the adhesive properties at the interface are affected by the interaction between the proteins, substrate and mechanics of the calcified base plate, little attention has been given to the interaction between the proteins and the cuticular material present at the substrate interface. Here, the proteome of the organic matrix isolated from the base plate of the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite is compared with the chitinous and proteinaceous matrix embedded within A. amphitrite parietal plates. The objective was to gain an understanding of how the basal organic matrix may be specialized for adhesion via an in-depth comparative proteome analysis. In general, the majority of proteins identified in the parietal matrix were also found in the basal organic matrix, including nearly all those grouped in classes of cement proteins, enzymes and pheromones. However, the parietal organic matrix was enriched with cuticle-associated proteins, of which ca 30% of those identified were unique to the parietal region. In contrast, ca 30-40% of the protease inhibitors, enzymes and pheromones identified in the basal organic matrix were unique to this region. Not unexpectedly, nearly 50% of the cement proteins identified in the basal region were significantly distinct from those found in the parietal region. The wider variety of identified proteins in the basal organic matrix indicates a greater diversity of biological function in the vicinity of the substrate interface where several processes related to adhesion, cuticle formation and expansion of the base synchronize to play a key role in organism survival.

Characterization of feruloylated arabinoxylan - acorn starch double network gel composite film and its application in postharvest preservation of Agaricus bisporus.

To obtain efficient natural food packaging materials, we utilized acorn starch (AS)-based film strengthened by feruloylated arabinoxylan (FAX) gel and additional retrogradation treatment to extend the shelf life of Agaricus bisporus (A. bisporus). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that due to the strong hydrogen bonding between FAX and starch molecules, physical crosslinking occurred between FAX and starch molecules in the composite film, and the microstructure became more compact. Thermogravimetric, tensile strength and swelling degree analyses indicate that the composite film exhibits better thermal stability, mechanical properties, and waterproofing compared to the pure AS film. Consequently, after five days of storage, the moisture content of the A. bisporus packaged with our composite film was 7.53 times and 5.73 times higher than that of the control group and the commercially available PEF group, respectively. Moreover, it delayed the respiration or transpiration of A. bisporus (lower weight loss, relative conductivity, MDA content). This packaging film developed with the objective of eco-friendly and biodegradability has considerable application potential in food and other industries.

Verified hypotheses on the "nurse" and "burial" effects on introduced Quercus rubra regeneration in a mesic Scots pine forest.

A previous study on the encroachment of North American northern red oak Quercus rubra L. into the mesic Scots pine forest (in central Poland) revealed high abundances of seedlings and saplings under shrubs, with lower abundances in open areas or clumps of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. It was unclear whether the regeneration success of Q. rubra is enhanced by the presence of shrubs due to their "nurse effect", and how burying acorns of different sizes in soil or moss affects the survival of oak seeds and seedlings (a "burial effect"). Results of a previous observational study were verified in an experimental study: a pool of 900 large-, medium-, and small-sized acorns was sown under moss cover in open areas and within bilberry clumps and in soil under shrubs in 2018 and monitored for 3 years in natural conditions. The majority of sown acorns were lost, mainly due to acorn pilferage, lack of germination and the death of sprouting acorns. However, acorn and seedling survival depended significantly on acorn size and differed among the microsites studied. Viable seedlings were twice as likely to develop from large- and medium-sized as from small-sized acorns, and they grew mainly from acorns sown under moss cover, confirming a positive "burial effect." Seedling survival was three times higher in bilberry and open areas, than under shrubs; however, seedlings "nursed" by shrubs were less threatened by large ungulates. Only a small part of the pool of sown acorns contributes to the reproductive success of Q. rubra in the mesic Scots pine forest. Microsites characteristic to this type of forest are suitable for northern red oak regeneration; however, bilberry favors acorn survival and germination and early seedling growth, moss cover favors acorn survival and germination, while shrubs protect surviving seedlings from herbivory.

The Potential of Acorn Extract Treatment on PUFAs Oxidative Stability: A Case Study on Fish Cooking Wastewater.

Fish byproducts are valuable sources of Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Their valorization potentially alleviates pressure on this sector. This study uses a circular economy approach to investigate the oil fraction from sardine cooking wastewater (SCW). Analysis of its fatty acid (FA) profile revealed promising PUFA levels. However, PUFAs are highly susceptible to oxidation, prompting the exploration of effective and natural strategies to replace synthetic antioxidants and mitigate their associated risks and concerns. An antioxidant extract from acorn shells was developed and evaluated for its efficacy in preventing oxidative degradation. The extract exhibited significant levels of total phenolic compounds (TPC: 49.94 and 22.99 mg TAE or GAE/g DW) and antioxidant activities (ABTS: 72.46; ORAC: 59.60; DPPH: 248.24 mg TE/g DW), with tannins comprising a significant portion of phenolics (20.61 mg TAE/g DW). LC-ESI-UHR-QqTOF-MS identified ellagic acid, epicatechin, procyanidin B2 and azelaic acid as the predominant phenolic compounds. The extract demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the peroxide index and inhibit PUFA oxidation, including linoleic acid (LA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This approach holds promise for developing stable, functional ingredients rich in PUFAs. Future research will focus on refining oil extraction procedures and conducting stability tests towards the development of specific applications.

Nutritional composition and staling properties of gluten-free bread-added fermented acorn flour.

The present study aimed to improve the nutritional quality of gluten-free bread with the addition of acorn flour and to determine the characteristics of the final product. Formulations were adjusted with separately non-fermented and two different fermented acorn flours at different levels (0, 15, 30, and 45%). The breads were assessed in terms of their chemical and physical properties, and their staling characterization was also estimated. Results showed that the fermentation of acorn flour before adding it to the formulation affected some chemical properties, and the addition of increasing amounts of acorn flour generally had a positive effect on the chemical composition. Furthermore, the highest protein, total phenolic content, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and Fe values were obtained from breads, including fermented acorn flour with chickpea yeast (FAC). However, compared to non-fermented acorn flour (AF), FAC and fermented acorn flour without chickpea yeast (FA) addition caused decreases in weight and volume of breads. Both crust L* and crumb L* values showed a significant reduction with increased acorn addition levels (from 71.88 and 77.22 to 42.26 and 41.15, respectively). The highest initial and final hardness values (T 0 and T ∞) were observed with FAC-added samples, and Avrami exponent n was higher than 1 for only FAC-added breads. Although fermented acorn addition had positive effects on the nutritional profile of breads, the sensory properties of the samples were negatively affected.

Effect of sulfuric acid hydrolysis on the structure and Pickering emulsifying capacity of acorn starch.

The acid-hydrolyzed acorn starch samples (HAS-1, HAS-2, HAS-3, and HAS-4) were prepared from natural acorn starch (NAS) at sulfuric acid concentrations of 1, 2, 3, and 4 mol/L for 2 d. The particle characteristics and structures of HAS were investigated, and Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) based on HAS were constructed and characterized. The results showed that with an increase in sulfuric acid concentration, the size, yield, amylose content, molecular weight, and amylopectin chain length of HAS gradually decreased. HAS retained an A-type crystal structure, and its relative crystallinity and short-range order degree gradually increased with increasing sulfuric acid concentration. Acid hydrolysis treatment improved the wettability of NAS, and its effect was positively correlated with the sulfuric acid concentration. HAS-3 and HAS-4 could stabilize the Pickering HIPEs with an oil phase volume fraction of 80% at c ≥ 1.5%. The mechanical properties of the HIPEs were positively correlated with c.

ACORN SDOH survey: Terminological representation for use with NLP and CDS.

Objective: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) greatly influence health outcomes. SDOH surveys, such as the Assessing Circumstances & Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) survey, have been developed to screen for SDOH in Veterans. The purpose of this study is to determine the terminological representation of the ACORN survey, to aid in natural language processing (NLP). Methods: Each ACORN survey question was read to determine its concepts. Next, Solor was searched for each of the concepts and for the appropriate attributes. If no attributes or concepts existed, they were proposed. Then, each question's concepts and attributes were arranged into subject-relation-object triples. Results: Eleven unique attributes and 18 unique concepts were proposed. These results demonstrate a gap in representing SDOH with terminologies. We believe that using these new concepts and relations will improve NLP, and thus, the care provided to Veterans.

Retrospective Study of 25 Cases of Acorn Intoxication Colitis in Horses between 2011 and 2018 and Factors Associated with Non-Survival.

The aim of this study is to describe clinical data associated with acorn intoxication and to find variables associated with survival. Data from horses presented at CISCO-ONIRIS from 2011 to 2018 with a diagnosis of acorn intoxication were included. Diagnosis was based on the following: season, the presence of acorns in the environment, clinical and hemato-biochemical parameters suggestive of a digestive/renal disease, the co-morbidity of companion animals, and post-mortem findings. Statistical analysis was completed using Student's t-test for mean comparisons and a Chi-square test for group comparisons (p < 0.05). A total of 25 horses were included, and seasonality suggests that the intoxication may vary from year to year. Clinical signs associated with acorn intoxication were signs of circulatory shock (lethargy, tachycardia, abnormal mucous membrane, tachypnea), digestive signs (diarrhea, ileus, colic), and abnormal temperature. Clinical pathological findings included increased hematocrit, WBC, creatinine, BUN, GGT, AST, CK and decreased albumin. Overall, 44% (11/25) of horses survived. The majority (13/14) of non-survivors died, or were euthanized, during the first 48 h. Findings significantly associated with non-survival were age, heart rate, hemorrhagic diarrhea, ileus, hematocrit, creatinine, blood lactate, and thickness of the colon wall at ultrasonography. This study provides equine practitioners with valuable prognostic information in cases of acorn intoxication.

Effects of Animal Diet and Processing Methods on the Quality Traits of Dry-Cured Ham Produced from Turopolje Pigs.

The Turopolje pig (TP) is a local Croatian pig breed that almost became extinct in the second half of the 20th century. Today, the TP is still endangered, and a new conservation strategy based on products with higher added value is needed to preserve the breed. There is little information on the quality of TP meat products such as smoked and dry-cured ham, including the impact of natural feeds or processing innovations such as smoke reduction. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of the animal's diet (either conventionally fed or acorn-supplemented) and the processing method (standard or lightly smoked) on the quality traits of dry-cured TP ham. Twenty hams, evenly distributed among the treatments, were processed for 15 months and then analysed for physicochemical and textural traits, volatiles and sensory profile. The hams from acorn-supplemented pigs lost less weight during processing (p ≤ 0.05). Otherwise, the diet had no significant effect on most examined ham traits. The exceptions were protein content and the texture parameter hardness, which decreased (p ≤ 0.05), and the degree of proteolysis and colour parameters, which increased (p ≤ 0.05) as a result of acorn supplementation. However, these effects were generally small and varied between the inner (m. biceps femoris) and outer (m. semimembranosus) muscles. Furthermore, acorn supplementation was associated with less typical ham odour and lower sensory scores for sweetness and colour uniformity (p ≤ 0.05). The smoke reduction had no effect on the physicochemical and colour properties but resulted in a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in the volatile phenolic compounds and an improved texture to the hams. This was reflected both in reduced (p ≤ 0.05) hardness, identified in the instrumental analysis, and in an increased (p ≤ 0.05) softness, solubility and moistness, identified in the sensory evaluation. To summarize, the quality of the TP ham under the conditions studied was only slightly affected by acorn supplementation, whereas reduced smoking had a more significant effect, which was mainly reflected in an improved texture.

Structure and properties of Quercus robur acorn starch extracted by pulsed electric field technology.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) technology was used to extract starch from Q. robur flours using low-intensity electric fields (0 and 0.1 kV/cm) and study the impact of PEF on the structure and properties of acorn starch concerning commercial starch. PEF technology is an advantageous method for starch extraction than the aqueous steeping from an industrial perspective since reduces extraction time and allows for continuous processing of larger suspension volumes. PEF technology preserved the amylose and amylopectin contents, hydrogen bonds, and diffraction patterns, as well as the starch native properties. Hence, PEF could be used to obtain native starches, but future studies should verify its economic viability. Acorn starches have lower damaged starch content, gelatinization temperatures, enthalpies, improved pseudoplastic behavior, reduced in-vitro digestibility, and lower resistance to deformation compared to commercial corn starch. The higher solubility and swelling power of acorn starches up to 80 °C make them a suitable food additive in fermented yogurt and milk products and thus help to value acorn and acorn starches. Hence, acorns can be used to obtain native starches, a food ingredient with a wide range of food and non-food usage, using PEF.

Nut Cracked? Does the ACORN Trial End the Debate Surrounding Vancomycin and Piperacillin-Tazobactam Combination Therapy and Increased Risk for Acute Kidney Injury?

Observational data published over the past decade have suggested that concomitant receipt of piperacillin-tazobactam with vancomycin significantly increases the risk for vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury. Importantly, however, there is significant controversy surrounding this association, and debate continues about the veracity of the risk. Given this ongoing debate, the recently published "Cefepime vs Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Adults Hospitalized With Acute Infection: The ACORN Randomized Clinical Trial" is of tremendous interest to the infectious diseases community. In ACORN, the authors conclude that there was no association between receipt of cefepime or piperacillin-tazobactam and the primary outcome of acute kidney injury or death by day 14, despite the fact that >75% of the population received concomitant vancomycin. In this perspective, we provide a brief history on the controversy, provide a critical analysis of the ACORN findings, and ultimately discuss how these data help inform the ongoing debate.

The first record of a Konservat-Lagerstätten in which early post-settlement stages of fossil archaeobalanids (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) are preserved.

A diverse sessile barnacle fauna from a Miocene shallow-water deposit at Dolnja Stara vas in Slovenia is described. It includes the first descriptions of early post settlement juveniles of Actinobalanus sloveniensis attached to mangrove leaves. These represent three distinct growth phases, the earliest being interpreted as being less than 24 h post settlement, the others being 1 to 2 days post settlement. An assessment of their taphonomy is provided. Associated adult balanomorphs are attached to a variety of organic substrates, including mangrove leaves and branches, fragments of the conifers ?Taxodioxylon, Carapoxylon, pine cones, molluscs, and cetacean bones. The barnacles include A. sloveniensis, Amphibalanus venustus, and Perforatus perforatus-many with opercula retained within the shells. A. venustus retains some of the original shell color. This is the second record of barnacle-plant associations from the Central Paratethys from Kamnik and Trbovlje. The paleoecology and paleogeography of the site are discussed.

Digestive System Anatomy and Feeding Mechanism of Quatuoralisia malakhovi (Hemichordata, Torquaratoridae).

The digestive system was anatomically studied in the deep-sea enteropneust Quatuoralisia mala-khovi. It was shown that lateral collar lips are twisted in such a way that they form a ciliary groove that leads to an internal channel, through which collected detritus particles are transferred to peripheral pharyngeal channels. The size of the selected particles ranges from 1-6 to 100-200 µm, which corresponds to feeding on the remains of planktonic diatoms. A fecal cord was observed to act as an anchor that holds the heavily watered jelly-like body of Torquaratoridae at the sea floor during feeding.

Formulation development and characterization of plant-based alternatives to pâté using forest ingredients.

Due to the expanding global population and environmental concerns about meat production from livestock, there is a great demand for alternative ingredients. Beech achene (BA) and sessile oak acorn (SOA) were recently proposed as protein- and carbohydrate-rich novel food ingredients. This study used their roasted kernels to develop and characterize four formulations of spreadable vegetable paste (with 10% BAK, 10% SOAK, 5% SOAK + 5% BAK, and control-just with roasted sunflower kernel). The substitution of sunflower kernel with 10% BAK caused a decrease in the energy value of vegetable paste, while 10% SOAK and 5% SOAK + 5% BAK, an increase. Syneresis was higher in formulations with forest ingredients, most notably in those containing BAK. The SOAK also caused a decrease in the pH of vegetable pastes that included it. All forest formulations had a large total colour difference compared to the control sample, driven by its intensity decrease (less in that with BAK than in the other two). The acceptance rate was reasonable for all formulations, although the overall score was significantly lower (slightly liked) in the vegetable paste formulated only with BAK than in the others (moderately liked); thus, the consumer's purchase intention too (only 4.9% for that with 10% SOAK). Formulation with 10% BAK had a higher hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness than the others, while that with the 5% SOAK and 5% BAK mixture showed the most robust network structure. In conclusion, BA and SOA kernels are suitable for manufacturing plant-based alternatives to pâté if used in proper concentrations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05852-7.

How much do field mice prefer dwarf bamboo seeds? Two-choice experiments between seeds of Sasa borealis and several tree species on the forest floor.

Bambusoideae is a taxon of mass-flowering monocarpic perennials with a long life cycle. Forest ecosystems are affected by Bambusoideae seeding and death events in various ways, including an increased abundance of Apodemus spp. The utilization and preference of dwarf bamboo seeds over tree seeds by field mice remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether field mice prefer dwarf bamboo to tree seeds. We examined one dwarf bamboo species (Sasa borealis) against four tree species with varying acorn/fruit traits (Castanea crenata, Quercus crispula, Fagus crenata, and Lindera triloba). The seeds were placed in a container in a forest among dead S. borealis culms, with an automatic camera monitoring the setup. The examined seeds were mainly foraged by two field mouse species, Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus, with preference in the following order: C. crenata, L. triloba, S. borealis, F. crenata, and Q. crispula. Our findings indicated that during S. borealis mast seeding years, predation pressure on F. crenata and Q. crispula seeds could be considerably reduced. This suggests that mast seeding might disrupt the normal pattern of survival, and seed dispersal patterns, potentially altering the forest vegetation composition.

In vitro anti-biofilm properties of the peel of fruite wall of acorn against Streptococcus mutans.

Dental caries is a multi-factorial infectious disease. The primary cause is dental plaque, a complex of biofilm. It was postulated that the ethanolic extract of fruite wall of acorn may represent a new substance to prevent caries. Hence, the study was performed to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of fruite wall of acorn against biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans, which is associated with dental plaque. The cytotoxicity of the ethanolic extract was determined against Vero cells resulting in an inhibitory concentration of 50 (IC50) of 55 µg/ml. After bacterial collection, different concentrations under the IC50 from the extract were evaluated against biofilm formation of S. mutans. 3 µg/ml of the extract inhibited the biofilm formation of S. mutans, and 1 to 3 µg/ml caused a decrease in gtfB and brpA biofilm-production genes. This study showed the potency of the ethanolic extract of fruite wall of acorn against biofilm formation by S. mutans.