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Have you seen my acorn?
Squirrel seeks help from his woodland friends as he searches for his missing acorn.
BOOK
The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Bee Pollen from Acorn
Aging is a complex biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physical function and an increased risk of age-related chronic diseases. Additionally, oxidative stress is known to cause severe tissue damage and inflammation. Pollens from acorn and darae are extensively produced in Korea. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these components under the conditions of inflammation and oxidative stress remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bee pollen components on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. This study demonstrates that acorn and darae significantly inhibit the LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in RAW 264.7 cells. Specifically, bee pollen from acorn reduces NO production by 69.23 ± 0.04% and PGE2 production by 44.16 ± 0.08%, while bee pollen from darae decreases NO production by 78.21 ± 0.06% and PGE2 production by 66.23 ± 0.1%. Furthermore, bee pollen from acorn and darae reduced active oxygen species (ROS) production by 47.01 ± 0.5% and 60 ± 0.9%, respectively. It increased the nuclear potential of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, treatment with acorn and darae abolished the nuclear potential of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and reduced the expression of extracellular signal-associated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Specifically, acorn decreased NF-κB nuclear potential by 90.01 ± 0.3%, ERK phosphorylation by 76.19 ± 1.1%, and JNK phosphorylation by 57.14 ± 1.2%. Similarly, darae reduced NF-κB nuclear potential by 92.21 ± 0.5%, ERK phosphorylation by 61.11 ± 0.8%, and JNK phosphorylation by 59.72 ± 1.12%. These results suggest that acorn and darae could be potential antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
Journal Article
The promise
On a mean street in a mean, broken city, a young girl tries to snatch an old woman's bag. But the frail old woman, holding on with the strength of heroes, says the thief can't have it without giving something in return: the promise, which is the beginning of a journey that will change the thieving girl's life--and a chance to change the world, for good.
Book
A Comprehensive Review of Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Quercus Species
The Quercus genus provides a large amount of biomaterial with many applications in fields like pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and foodstuff areas. Due to the worldwide dissemination of the genus, many species were used for centuries in traditional healing methods or in the wine maturing process. This review aims to bring together the results about phytoconstituents from oak extracts and their biological applicability as antioxidants, antimicrobial, anticancer, etc. The literature data used in this paper were collected via PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct (2010–June 2020). The inclusion criteria were papers published in English, with information about phytoconstituents from Quercus species (leaves, bark and seeds/acorns) and biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiobesity, anti-acne vulgaris, antifungal, anticancer, antiviral, antileishmanial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory. The exclusion criteria were the research of other parts of the Quercus species (e.g., galls, wood, and twigs); lack of information about phytochemistry and biological activities; non-existent Quercus species reported by the authors. The most studied Quercus species, in terms of identified biomolecules and biological activity, are Q. brantii, Q. infectoria and Q. robur. The Quercus species have been reported to contain several phytoconstituents. The main bioactive phytochemicals are phenolic compounds, volatile organic compounds, sterols, aliphatic alcohols and fatty acids. The, Quercus species are intensely studied due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities, provided by their phytochemical composition. The general conclusion is that oak extracts can be exploited for their biological activity and can be used in research fields, such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical.
Journal Article
Squirrel's family tree
\"What makes an oak tree an oak tree and what makes a squirrel a squirrel? In [this book], things aren't always what they seem. As squirrel searches for, finds, and hides her acorn treasures beneath the shadows of the great oak trees in the forest, little does she know the role she plays in creating the very environment she forages in\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Simulated predation of Quercus variabilis acorns impairs nutrient remobilization and seedling performance irrespective of soil fertility
Background and aims Predators may partially orcompletely consume Quercus spp. acorns, but effectson nutrient remobilization and seedling performance arepoorly understood. We investigated interactions betweensoil fertility and the removal of Quercus variabilisacorn cotyledons at different early developmental stageson seedling nutrition and development.Methods Seedlings were grown in two soils of contrastingfertility and the kinetics of acorn nitrogen, phosphorusand potassium remobilization, and seedling survival,growth and nutrient content were analyzed.Results Acorn mass and macronutrients decreased remarkably<2 weeks after emergence, with nitrogen andphosphorus remobilizing faster than potassium. Acornremoval at or 1 week after emergence inhibited seedlingsurvival, growth and fine root formation, whereas removalfrom 2 to 10 weeks after emergence had minor effects. Acorn macronutrient remobilization and effects of acorn removal on seedling performance were not reversed under high soil fertility. When acorns were removed ≥ 2 weeks after emergence, fertilization increased root surface and seedling nitrogen content. Conclusions. Acorn nutrients are more important than soil nutrients during very early seedling development. Cotyledon damage at emergence impairs seedling performance despite no direct damage to the remainder of the seedling. This effect cannot be reverted by high soil fertility and has potential ecological and practical implications for oak regeneration.
Journal Article
Hector the collector
Hector begins collecting acorns of different sizes and shapes and is teased about it when his classmates find out, until their teacher explains about collections and asks who else has one. Includes author's note about various kinds of collections.
Book
Ciliary transition zone evolution and the root of the eukaryote tree: implications for opisthokont origin and classification of kingdoms Protozoa, Plantae, and Fungi
I thoroughly discuss ciliary transition zone (TZ) evolution, highlighting many overlooked evolutionarily significant ultrastructural details. I establish fundamental principles of TZ ultrastructure and evolution throughout eukaryotes, inferring unrecognised ancestral TZ patterns for Fungi, opisthokonts, and Corticata (i.e., kingdoms Plantae and Chromista). Typical TZs have a dense transitional plate (TP), with a previously overlooked complex lattice as skeleton. I show most eukaryotes have centriole/TZ junction acorn-V filaments (whose ancestral function was arguably supporting central pair microtubule-nucleating sites; I discuss their role in centriole growth). Uniquely simple malawimonad TZs (without TP, simpler acorn) pinpoint the eukaryote tree's root between them and TP-bearers, highlighting novel superclades. I integrate TZ/ciliary evolution with the best multiprotein trees, naming newly recognised major eukaryote clades and revise megaclassification of basal kingdom Protozoa. Recent discovery of non-photosynthetic phagotrophic flagellates with genome-free plastids (Rhodelphis), the sister group to phylum Rhodophyta (red algae), illuminates plant and chromist early evolution. I show previously overlooked marked similarities in cell ultrastructure between Rhodelphis and Picomonas, formerly considered an early diverging chromist. In both a nonagonal tube lies between their TP and an annular septum surrounding their 9+2 ciliary axoneme. Mitochondrial dense condensations and mitochondrion-linked smooth endomembrane cytoplasmic partitioning cisternae further support grouping Picomonadea and Rhodelphea as new plant phylum Pararhoda. As Pararhoda/Rhodophyta form a robust clade on site-heterogeneous multiprotein trees, I group Pararhoda and Rhodophyta as new infrakingdom Rhodaria of Plantae within subkingdom Biliphyta, which also includes Glaucophyta with fundamentally similar TZ, uniquely in eukaryotes. I explain how biliphyte TZs generated viridiplant stellate-structures.
Journal Article
Acorn Weevil Species Diversity and Host Affinity in the Semi-Humid Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests of Southwest China
Acorn weevils critically impact forest regeneration in semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forests (SEBFs) by parasitizing and consuming acorns before dispersal. Despite their ecological significance, research on the species diversity of acorn weevils within SEBFs remains limited. To address this gap, we assessed the species diversity and host affinity of acorn weevils across six dominant oak species at 18 locations. We performed DNA extraction and mitochondrial COI gene sequencing on weevil larvae and analyzed acorn functional traits (AFTs) from host acorns. Six acorn weevil species across four genera and two families were identified within the dominant acorns of SEBFs. Curculio dentipes showed the lowest host specificity, while Niphades castanea and Cyllorhynchites ursulus were specialist species. Notably, the species diversity of acorn weevils was significantly lower in Quercus franchetii than in others. Acorn volume and three secondary metabolite contents, including total phenols, total flavonoids, and tannins, were the primary AFTs influencing weevil species diversity. This study not only advances our comprehension of acorn weevil species diversity and their ecological interactions with oak hosts, but also provides valuable insights for the ecological management of SEBFs in southwest China.
Journal Article
Wandering woodpeckers
In many cooperatively breeding taxa, nonbreeding subordinates, or helpers, use extra-territorial forays to discover dispersal opportunities. Such forays are considered energetically costly and foraying birds face aggression from conspecific members of the territories they visit. In contrast, breeders in cooperatively breeding taxa are expected to foray seldomly. We used novel tracking technologies to follow 62 acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a cooperatively breeding bird, to study extra-territorial foray behavior. Both helpers and breeders engaged in extra-territorial forays routinely and often several times per day. Helpers forayed earlier in the day and invested more time when foraying to high-quality territories. Unexpectedly, breeders forayed as often and as far as helpers. Breeders from high-quality territories forayed closer to their home territories than breeders from low-quality territories, reflecting a potential trade-off between foraying and territory defense. Such a routine pattern of extra-territorial forays in both helpers and breeders suggests that the motives behind forays differ by sex and social status and involve more than simply searching for dispersal opportunities.
Journal Article