Cranberry is reported to have health benefits including prevention of urinary tract infections and other chronic diseases, due to the high content of polyphenols including flavonols and flavan-3-ols. The aim of this study was to determine the clearance of flavonol glycosides and flavan-3-ols and/or their metabolites in human urine. Ten healthy women volunteers ingested 240 ml cranberry juice containing flavonol glycosides. Urine samples were collected at 0, 90, 225 and 360 minutes post-ingestion. While flavan-3-ols were not detected, five flavonol glycosides common in cranberry were identified. Quercetin-3-galactoside, the most abundant cranberry flavonol, exhibited highest peak urine concentration (Cmax) of 1315 pg/mg creatinine, followed by quercetin-3-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-arabinoside, myricetin-3-arabinoside and myricetin-3-galactoside. Quercetin-3-arabinoside showed delayed clearance, Cmax at 237 min (Tmax), relative to other flavonols (90-151 min). Both aglycone and conjugated sugar moiety structure mediates the flavonol's bioavailability. Inter-individual variation for bioavailability and clearance is also apparent. Metabolites, e.g. glucoronides, were not detected.

Background In the developing central nervous system, pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes sample candidate nerve axons by extending and retracting process extensions. Some contacts stabilize, leading to the initiation of axon wrapping, nascent myelin sheath formation, concentric wrapping and sheath elongation, and sheath stabilization or pruning by oligodendrocytes. Although axonal signals influence the overall process of myelination, the precise oligodendrocyte behaviors that require signaling from axons are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated whether oligodendrocyte behaviors during the early events of myelination are mediated by an oligodendrocyte-intrinsic myelination program or are over-ridden by axonal factors. Methods To address this, we utilized in vivo time-lapse imaging in embryonic and larval zebrafish spinal cord during the initial hours and days of axon wrapping and myelination. Transgenic reporter lines marked individual axon subtypes or oligodendrocyte membranes. Results In the larval zebrafish spinal cord, individual axon subtypes supported distinct nascent sheath growth rates and stabilization frequencies. Oligodendrocytes ensheathed individual axon subtypes at different rates during a two-day period after initial axon wrapping. When descending reticulospinal axons were ablated, local spinal axons supported a constant ensheathment rate despite the increased ratio of oligodendrocytes to target axons. Conclusion We conclude that properties of individual axon subtypes instruct oligodendrocyte behaviors during initial stages of myelination by differentially controlling nascent sheath growth and stabilization.

Background. In the developing central nervous system, pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes sample candidate nerve axons by extending and retracting process extensions. Some contacts stabilize, leading to the initiation of axon wrapping, nascent myelin sheath formation, concentric wrapping and sheath elongation, and sheath stabilization or pruning by oligodendrocytes. Although axonal signals influence the overall process of myelination, the precise oligodendrocyte behaviors that require signaling from axons are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated whether oligodendrocyte behaviors during the early events of myelination are mediated by an oligodendrocyte-intrinsic myelination program or are over-ridden by axonal factors. Methods. To address this, we utilized in vivo time-lapse imaging in embryonic and larval zebrafish spinal cord during the initial hours and days of axon wrapping and myelination. Transgenic reporter lines marked individual axon subtypes or oligodendrocyte membranes. Results. In the larval zebrafish spinal cord, individual axon subtypes supported distinct nascent sheath growth rates and stabilization frequencies.Oligodendrocytes ensheathed individual axon subtypes at different rates during a two-day period after initial axon wrapping. When descending reticulospinal axons were ablated, local spinal axons supported a constant ensheathment rate despite the increased ratio of oligodendrocytes to target axons. Conclusion. We conclude that properties of individual axon subtypes instruct oligodendrocyte behaviors during initial stages of myelination by differentially controlling nascent sheath growth and stabilization.

Much of our understanding of cell and tissue development, structure, and function stems from fluorescence microscopy. The acquisition of colorful and glowing images engages and excites users ranging from seasoned microscopists to STEM students. Fluorescence microscopes range in cost from several thousand to several hundred thousand US dollars. Therefore, the use of fluorescence microscopy is typically limited to well-funded institutions and biotechnology companies, research core facilities, and medical laboratories, but is financially impractical at many universities and colleges, primary and secondary schools (K-12), and in science outreach settings. In this study, we developed and characterized components that when used in combination with a smartphone or tablet, perform fluorescence microscopy at a cost of less than $50 US dollars per unit. We re-purposed recreational LED flashlights and theater stage lighting filters to enable viewing of green and red fluorophores including EGFP, DsRed, mRFP, and mCherry on a simple-to-build frame made of wood and plexiglass. These devices, which we refer to as glowscopes, were capable of 10 µm resolution, imaging fluorescence in live specimens, and were compatible with all smartphone and tablet models we tested. In comparison to scientific-grade fluorescence microscopes, glowscopes may have limitations to sensitivity needed to detect dim fluorescence and the inability to resolve subcellular structures. We demonstrate capability of viewing fluorescence within zebrafish embryos, including heart rate, rhythmicity, and regional anatomy of the central nervous system. Due to the low cost of individual glowscope units, we anticipate this device can help to equip K-12, undergraduate, and science outreach classrooms with fleets of fluorescence microscopes that can engage students with hands-on learning activities.

The aroma of vanilla compliments its taste making it one of the most popular flavoring agents globally, and consequently vanilla is a product of great economic importance. The compounds in vanilla vary in both type and abundance depending on the growing location and condition of the plant, with V. planifolia being the species used in vanilla extracts. This study sought to measure vanilla extract olfactory characteristics and sensory preference. Subjects (19.3±2.6 years; female = 100, male = 22) took part in a double blind olfactory analysis of an artificial vanilla product in water (A) and of pure vanilla extracts in ethanol (B and C). On a preference scale (1‐low to 10‐high) the overall rating of vanillas A, B, and C were 6.17±1.7, 5.27±1.93, and 4.79±1.81 (p=0.0001), with A > C (p=0.0001), A > B (p=0.0001), and B > C (p =0.0142). Subjects smelled each vanilla sample two times and were asked to rate the strength (1‐low to 5‐high) of six different aroma characteristics (floral, fruity, liquor, metallic, sweet, woody) in a randomized order. Vanilla A was perceived as being sweet (3.26±1.49) and floral (1.63±1.49), B as liquor (2.26±1.67) and sweet (2.22±1.65), and C as liquor (2.6±1.57) and sweet (1.81±1.6). Subjects preferred the ethanol‐free vanilla A (sweet and floral), while the presence of ethanol in B and C was associated with the prominent perception of liquor (alcohol). This study provides a set of word descriptors that were associated with the aroma of vanilla samples could be used to help determine point of origin or growing condition. Future studies may wish to standardize the alcohol content of all vanilla samples or use dealcoholized preparations.