Advanced Reproduction Research Articles

Advanced assisted reproduction technologies in endangered mammalian species.

A new synergistic approach of classical conservation strategies combined with advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART) allows for protection and rescue of endangered keystone species at the brink of extinction, which can help to safeguard complex ecosystems. Reproduction biology and management in mammal species is not only challenging in regards to their diverging sizes, anatomy, and often unknown physiology; it also requires customized training or chemical restraint protocols for safe handling. Besides these general challenges, there are several new assisted reproduction techniques (ART) specifically tailored to critically endangered mammals. The current portfolio of ART in these mammalian taxa is ranging from sexual cycle characterization and manipulation, semen collection and cryopreservation, artificial insemination, biobanking of living cells, oocyte collection, invitro fertilization (IVF), and embryo production, embryo transfer as well as stem cell-derived invitro gametogenesis for generating gametes in culture. The article covers advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART), success and challenges, as well as ethical implications.

THE TENDENCIES OF OBJECTIFIED LABOR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DIGITALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY AND FACTORS AFFECTING IT

Topicality. Researchers increasingly define the economy of developed countries as industrial, and the current stage of its development is characterized as new industrialization. At the same time, new industrialization is defined as a necessary development model for the transformational economy of Ukraine. The meaning of the new industrialization is associated with the processes of significant, radical changes in the productive forces, which accelerated in the last decade. Among the features that characterize the development of productive forces, the main one is considered a radical change in technology. Such a change requires first significant resources invested in basic and applied science, and then huge investments in new fixed capital. Those manufacturers, economies and countries that manage to adapt new achievements of scientific and technological progress to their business processes in a timely manner will win in the competition.Aim and tasks. To study the trends of changes in embodied labor under the influence of the digitalization of the economy and to single out the factors affecting it.Materials and Methods. The results of the analysis and theoretical generalization of developments, scientific approaches to the analysis of trends in changes in embodied labor under the influence of digitalization of the economy, which are covered in publications of a fundamental, analytical, and practical nature, as well as official statistical data, analytical materials of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Center for Economic Development, McKinsey&Company reports, UNIDO and Robo Advisor Statistics form the material and methodological basis of the research. The study of trends in changes in embodied labor under the influence of digitalization of the economy and influencing factors was carried out using methods of scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis.Research results. On the basis of the use of the method of scientific abstraction (dialectical materialism), analysis and synthesis, the trends of changes in embodied labor under the influence of the digitalization of the economy and influencing factors were studied and systematized, namely: the study of automation and robotization of enterprises was carried out; the emergence of digital means in production and the impact of the Internet of Things are considered; analyzed the change in the structure of reproduction under the influence of digitalization of production; the emergence of global digital platforms and the creation of value-added chains are considered; the transition from labor to capital and the growth of the organic structure of capital are investigated.Conclusion. Today, a system of advanced reproduction of high technologies is being formed in the world, the basis of which are automated, robotic, waste-free and unmanned productions. Therefore, a practical way to solve the problems of socio-economic development in Ukraine is the formation of a system of extended reproduction of the neo-industrial type. The immediate object that it must reproduce will be the combined high-tech national industrial capital - state and private. Each of these capitals must fulfill its role in the national economy. Public capital must function where private capital is unable to shoulder the social costs paid for by taxpayers and other members of society. Instead of fitting into other people's inter-industry chains of added value, it is necessary to form our own, which are able to integrate into national and transnational corporations. Maximization of added value will mean that its main elements - wages, state budget revenues and capital investments – will increase. Aggregate final demand and its components - the incomes of employees and the state and the internal accumulation fund - will grow. The basic products of the new industrialization are automated, robotic, digital energy-saving, cognitive technologies and workplaces. The production of these high-tech products can be the basis of the country's national revival strategy.

Building an effective model of intelligent entrepreneurship development in digital economy

This paper explores peculiarities in the formation and development of intelligent entrepreneurship as a new social phenomenon of national economies and the imperatives of its manifestation in the economic environment. The relationship between intelligent, informational, and innovative activities that shape the environment of modern entrepreneurship has been established. A new understanding of the essence of "intelligent entrepreneurship" and "talent management" categories has been proposed. The value of human capital, the realization of intelligent capabilities of the individual is recognized as the basic value of intelligent entrepreneurship. It has been proven that in modern conditions the most promising for national economies is the transition to open innovation models. It is noted that the development and effective use of intelligent potential are due to the need to increase the efficiency of innovation, science, and education systems, which ensures the economic growth of the national economy. The structure of intelligent potential of entrepreneurship under the conditions of digital transformation of the economy has been built. Original views on the essence and significance of the talent management system are presented. It is noted that intelligent entrepreneurship requires a holistic approach. The classification of communities of intelligent practitioners has been devised. The system of management of advanced reproduction of the latest knowledge of business entities has been formed. The directions of digital transformation of intelligent entrepreneurship have been outlined. A system-integrated methodological approach to determining the Index of digital transformation of business entities has been devised. The study results build on the theoretical and practical aspects of intelligent entrepreneurship, contribute to the effective use and development of the intelligent potential of entrepreneurial organizations and their network associations.

Conservation Research in Times of COVID-19 – The Rescue of the Northern White Rhino

Abstract COVID-19 has changed the world at unprecedented pace. The measures imposed by governments across the globe for containing the pandemic have severely affected all facets of economy and society, including scientific progress. Сonservation research has not been exempt from these negative effects, which we here summarize for the BioRescue project, aiming at saving the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), an important Central African keystone species, of which only two female individuals are left. The development of advanced assisted reproduction and stem-cell technologies to achieve this goal involves experts across five continents. Maintaining international collaborations under conditions of national shut-down and travel restrictions poses major challenges. The associated ethical implications and consequences are particularly troublesome when it comes to research directed at protecting biological diversity – all the more in the light of increasing evidence that biodiversity and intact ecological habitats might limit the spread of novel pathogens.

Sperm count and future challenges for cancer patients

Cancer has significantly harmful effects on sperm count, motility and sexual life of the survivor, thereby adversely affecting the fertility and post cancer quality of life. Use of safer chemotherapeutic agents, protection from radiation damage, cryopreservation of sperm and testicular tissue and use of protective drugs to reduce testicular damage is recommended. More research is needed to safeguard fertility of cancer affected children as testicular tissue cryopreservation is the only fertility preservation option. Advanced understanding of in vitro sperm production is needed. In this era of advanced assisted reproduction, the minimum requirement for fertilization is one healthy sperm for one oocyte. Children born after chemotherapy do not have statistically significant increase in malignant neoplasms. Proper cancer counseling and referral for fertility preservation are of high importance to protect fertility. The focus of this review is to share knowledge of sperm formation, importance of sperm count, nature of damage to male fertility, remedies to overcome damage and to improve post cancer quality of life of male cancer survivors.

Effects and applications of spatial acuity in advanced spatial audio reproduction systems with loudspeakers

Spatial audio reproduction systems using loudspeakers produce coloration effects at high frequencies due to spatial interference between loudspeakers, in both those based on panning and those based on field synthesis. As a response to this problem and in order to reduce coloration, this paper studies the feasibility of an alternative approach where high-frequencies are reproduced from a single loudspeaker, with a different direction from that of its panned low-frequency counterpart. Listening tests are conducted to investigate the localization and quality of the source in the case that frequencies higher than 1.5 kHz are reproduced from a different direction than the low frequencies. In this context, the human ability to discriminate the spatial direction of low/high frequency bands and the error in the perceived direction of arrival for different separation angles is evaluated and quantified. The resulting data has been analyzed with ANOVA, providing significant results that allow us to establish a threshold in the angular separation of the high and low frequency parts where subjects do not perceive source location artifacts. The term just noticeable band splitting angle (JNBSA) is defined and introduced. It represents the minimum angle of separation between high and low frequencies from which the listener starts to perceive artifacts in the reproduction of a sound source using loudspeakers.

Feather moult and bird appearance are correlated with global warming over the last 200 years

Global warming alters various avian phenological processes, including advanced reproduction and migration schedules. In birds, individual appearance is largely determined by plumage, influencing, for example, bird attractiveness, social status and camouflage. Juveniles of most passerine species replace their nest-grown plumage during the first months of life, a process that is called post-juvenile feather moult. Using data from ten natural history collections, we show that the extent of the post-juvenile moult has increased significantly over the last 212 years (1805–2016), a trend that is positively correlated with the temperature of the environment. Therefore, it seems that birds replaced more feathers under warmer conditions, causing juveniles to appear more similar to adult birds. Moreover, in several species, we describe a male–female switch in the extent of moult, with females currently replacing more feathers than males compared to the past. These results demonstrate different biological responses to climate warming by different phenotypes.

Ten-Year Responses of Underplanted Northern Red Oak to Silvicultural Treatments, Herbivore Exclusion, and Fertilization

Establishing adequate advanced oak reproduction prior to final overstory removal is crucial for regenerating oak forests in the eastern U.S. Many management approaches exist to this end, but benefits associated with any individual technique can depend on the suite of techniques employed and the geographic location. At four mixed-hardwood upland forest sites in central and southern Indiana, we tested factorial combinations of deer fencing, controlled-release fertilization, and various silvicultural techniques (midstory removal, crown thinning, and a shelterwood establishment cut) for promoting the growth and survival of underplanted red oak seedlings. Crown thinning resulted in slow growth and low survival. Midstory removal and the shelterwood establishment cut were nearly equally effective for promoting seedling growth. Seedling survival was strongly influenced by fencing, and differences in survival between silvicultural treatments were minimal when fencing was employed. Fertilization had minimal effects overall, only increasing the probability that unfenced seedlings were in competitive positions relative to surrounding vegetation. We suggest that underplanting oak seedlings can augment natural reproduction, but the practice should be accompanied by a combination of midstory removal and fencing, at a minimum, for adequate growth and survival.

Early Red Spruce Restoration Research by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, 1922–1954

This photograph (Fig. 1), taken in June of 1923 by E.S. Ship, depicts a red spruce (Picea rubens) stand with advanced reproduction near the summit of Mount Mitchell in the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina. According to Hopkins (1899), the original extent of red spruce encompassed as much as 1,500,000 ac in the southern Appalachians; by 1895, this had been reduced to 225,000 ac. To help restore this ecosystem, the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station (AFES) was established in 1921. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the AFES covered an area of 120 million ac in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina and parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Earl Frothingham was the first AFES director, and one of his first hires was Clarence Korstian. Red spruce studies brought Korstian to cutover lands owned by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in West Virginia and Champion Paper land in North Carolina (Maunder 1969).

Erratum: Spatial Patterns of Irradiance and Advanced Reproduction along a Canopy Disturbance Severity Gradient in an Upland Hardwood Stand. Forests 2016, 7, 73

Due to a mistake during the production process, there was one error in paragraph 3 of the introduction in the original published version [1].[...]

On the equivalence of unidirectional rogue waves detected in periodic simulations and reproduced in numerical wave tanks

This paper deals with the reproduction of unidirectional extreme events in a numerical wave basin. From a rogue wave measurement at a given location, experiments or numerical simulations are conducted with the same wave profiles using reproduction procedures. Although it is recognized that many different physical mechanisms may be at play in freak wave formation, reproduction procedures generally use frequency focusing to generate these high waves. This paper intends to assess the validity of this approach. In particular, it will focus on the relationship between an accurate reproduction of the free surface elevation and the accuracy of the corresponding wave kinematics inside the fluid domain. A highly nonlinear model is used to compute the occurrence of unidirectional freak waves in large periodic domain, which are reproduced in a 2-D numerical wave tank and compared. The study presents an advanced reproduction procedure that deals with rogue waves embedded in an irregular sea state. It shows that, using the appropriate reproduction procedure, it is possible to accurately reproduce free surface elevation as well as kinematics induced by this extreme event.

Spatial Patterns of Irradiance and Advanced Reproduction along a Canopy Disturbance Severity Gradient in an Upland Hardwood Stand

Regeneration failure of Quercus in mature Quercus-dominated forests has been reported throughout the temperate zone. Quercus seedlings are often abundant in these forests, yet frequently fail to recruit to larger size classes despite canopy disturbances. To examine intra-stand patterns of advanced reproduction, competition, and irradiance in an upland Quercus stand, we installed a 2 ha plot that captured the canopy disturbance severity gradient caused by a wind event. To quantify disturbance severity and stand conditions, we inventoried all living and dead woody stems ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh, 1.37 m above the surface) and quantified irradiance in 25 m2 quadrats (n = 800) using synchronized ceptometers. To inventory patterns of advanced reproduction within the plot, we recorded the species of every woody stem >1 m in height and <5 cm dbh. We also documented the species and height of every Quercus stem ≥0.5–<5 cm dbh and the species, height, and distance to each stem nearest the focal Quercus stem. At the genus-level, Quercus was the most common nearest neighbor. However, at the species-level, the most common nearest neighbors were Acer saccharum and Ostrya virginiana. Competition index values significantly differed by species (p < 0.01), but did not significantly differ by disturbance severity class and we found no significant interactions between species and disturbance class. Quercus advanced reproduction was significantly clustered through the study plot and cluster locations overlapped with clusters of high irradiance, but these patterns were scale-dependent. Our results indicate that an appreciation for intra-stand heterogeneity may improve forest management planning.

Cellular reprogramming in farm animals: an overview of iPSC generation in the mammalian farm animal species.

Establishment of embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines has been successful in mouse and human, but not in farm animals. Development of direct reprogramming technology offers an alternative approach for generation of pluripotent stem cells, applicable also in farm animals. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent practically limitless, ethically acceptable, individuum-specific source of pluripotent cells that can be generated from different types of somatic cells. iPSCs can differentiate to all cell types of an organism’s body and have a tremendous potential for numerous applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. However, molecular mechanisms behind the reprogramming process remain largely unknown and hamper generation of bona fide iPSCs and their use in human clinical practice. Large animal models are essential to expand the knowledge obtained on rodents and facilitate development and validation of transplantation therapies in preclinical studies. Additionally, transgenic animals with special traits could be generated from genetically modified pluripotent cells, using advanced reproduction techniques. Despite their applicative potential, it seems that iPSCs in farm animals haven’t received the deserved attention. The aim of this review was to provide a systematic overview on iPSC generation in the most important mammalian farm animal species (cattle, pig, horse, sheep, goat, and rabbit), compare protein sequence similarity of pluripotency-related transcription factors in different species, and discuss potential uses of farm animal iPSCs. Literature mining revealed 32 studies, describing iPSC generation in pig (13 studies), cattle (5), horse (5), sheep (4), goat (3), and rabbit (2) that are summarized in a concise, tabular format.

Intelligent Acoustic Interfaces With Multisensor Acquisition for Immersive Reproduction

Immersive speech communication systems have been gaining increasing attention due to their ability to reproduce enhanced acoustic images, and thus achieving good performance in terms of sound quality and accuracy. In this context , a fundamental role is played by intelligent acoustic interfaces (IAIs), which aim at acquiring and/or reproducing desired acoustic information with enhanced perception. The recent widespread availability of multimedia devices, equipped with different kind of sensors, has broadened the range of data processing methods, thus giving a chance for developing advanced IAIs. In this paper, we propose an immersive communication system composed of two IAIs: the first one exploits microphones and cameras, together with a signal processing system, to reduce unwanted noise and enhance the speech quality of the desired information in the transmitting room; the second one is an advanced reproduction system based on a loudspeaker array and on an effective wave field synthesis technique capable of reproducing the spatial perception of the desired speech source in the receiving room. The whole system has been assessed in simulated and real immersive communication scenarios: objective and subjective evaluations have been shown the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Impacts of Wildfire Recency and Frequency on an Appalachian Oak Forest

Cabwaylingo State Forest in southern West Virginia has experienced numerous anthropogenic wildfires over the past 36 years. In this case study, we assessed the relationship between fire frequency and recency and stand composition and structure, with emphasis on oak and its competitors. Frequent and recent fire was significantly correlated with reduced red maple overstory stem density and basal area. Overstory oak density did not significantly vary with either fire frequency or recency. Total overstory basal area was greatest in areas of either no fire or nonrecent fire. Oak sapling density was significantly greater with high frequency and recent fire. Red maple sapling densities were greatest when fires were infrequent and recent, and red maple seedlings were greatest in no fire and low-frequency nonrecent fire areas. Our results suggest that recurring fire can enhance the development of large oak advanced reproduction. However, frequent fires without a sufficient fire-free interval could prevent the recruitment of oaks into the overstory.

Age-dependent trait variation: the relative contribution of within-individual change, selective appearance and disappearance in a long-lived seabird.

Within populations, the expression of phenotypic traits typically varies with age. Such age-dependent trait variation can be caused by within-individual change (improvement, senescence, terminal effects) and/or selective (dis)appearance of certain phenotypes among older age classes. In this study, we applied two methods (decomposition and mixed modelling) to attribute age-dependent variation in seven phenological and reproductive traits to within-individual change and selective (dis)appearance, in a long-lived seabird, the common tern (Sterna hirundo). At the population level, all traits, except the probability to breed, improved with age (i.e. phenology advanced and reproductive output increased). Both methods identified within-individual change as the main responsible process, and, within individuals, performance improved until age 6-13, before levelling off. In contrast, within individuals, breeding probability decreased to age 10, then levelled off. Effects of selective appearance and disappearance were small, but showed that longer-lived individuals had a higher breeding probability and bred earlier and that younger recruits performed better throughout life than older recruits in terms of both phenology and reproductive performance. In the year prior to death, individuals advanced reproduction, suggesting terminal investment. The decomposition method attributed more age-dependent trait variation to selective disappearance than the mixed-modelling method: 14-36% versus 0-8%, respectively, which we identify to be due to covariance between rates of within-individual change and selective (dis)appearance leading to biased results from the decomposition method. We conclude that the decomposition method is ideal for visualizing processes underlying population change in performance from one age class to the next, but that a mixed-modelling method is required to investigate the significance and relative contribution of age effects. Considerable variation in the contribution of the different age processes between the seven phenotypic traits studied, as well as notable differences between species in patterns of age-dependent trait expression, calls for better predictions regarding optimal allocation strategies with age.

Effects of intermediate-scale wind disturbance on composition, structure, and succession in Quercus stands: Implications for natural disturbance-based silviculture

Forest disturbances are discrete events in space and time that disrupt the biophysical environment and impart lasting legacies on forest composition and structure. Disturbances are often classified along a gradient of spatial extent and magnitude that ranges from catastrophic events where most of the overstory is removed to gap-scale events that modify local environmental conditions only. Without question, a paucity of data is available on disturbance events of the intermediate scale (i.e. those events too localized to be classed as catastrophic and too widespread to be considered gap scale). The specific objectives of this study were to quantify and compare canopy structure, understory light regimes, woody species composition, and tree species diversity along a gradient of canopy disturbance caused by an EF1 tornado and to analyze the influence of intermediate-scale disturbance on the successional trajectory of an upland Quercus forest. Statistically significant differences in diversity measures between control (no storm damage), light, or moderate damage class plots were only found in the sapling layer. We documented significant differences (P<0.01) in percent of intercepted PAR between the control and moderate damage classes and between moderate and light classes. Three growing seasons post-disturbance, the understory light regime had largely returned to pre-disturbance conditions. The disturbance event acted primarily as a release mechanism for advanced reproduction in the understory and for stems in the midstory. Our results provide quantitative information on disturbances of this extent and magnitude and can be used to guide silvicultural systems designed to emulate natural disturbance processes, which is an increasingly popular management approach especially on public lands.

Maternal non-Mendelian inheritance of a reduced lifespan? A hypothesis.

A negative correlation exists between advanced maternal age and reproduction. Current data suggest that this correlation is due to a decline in oocyte quality with respect to female age. Since a new individual is derived from the fusion of a single sperm and egg, we tested whether the quality of this material could influence the long-term physiological health of offspring, by examining whether a link between parental age and lifespan of offspring exists. We requested a search from the Swedish demographic database POPUM 3 maintained by the University of Umeå, Sweden between years 1700 and 1900. Parameters requested included mothers' and fathers' age at gestation, the lifespan of the children, cause of death of children and the region of birth. Complete data was obtained for 30,512 children born to 12,725 mothers and fathers. Kaplan-Meier estimators demonstrated a strong relationship between mother's age at gestation and the longevity of offspring. Extrinsic factors such as century of birth also had an effect on the data. The forward stepwise procedure on Cox's model of proportional hazards suggested that most significant intrinsic factors were mother's lifespan and mother's age at gestation. These data demonstrate that intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the lifespan of children. Among intrinsic factors, mother's lifespan and age at gestation had a significant influence on the data. The influence of intrinsic factors remained significant despite a strong extrinsic influence. We suggest that the influence of the mother on the lifespan of offspring is due to extra-genomic factors.

First births with a simplified culture system for clinical IVF and embryo transfer

This study reports the outcome results from a pilot clinical trial using a simplified laboratory method for human IVF. This system reproducibly generates de novo the atmospheric and culture conditions that support normal fertilization and preimplantation embryogenesis to the hatched blastocyst stage without the need for specialized medical-grade gases or equipment. Development from insemination to the hatched blastocyst stage occurs undisturbed in a completely closed system that enables timed performance assessments for embryo selection in situ that, in this study, involved single-embryo transfers on day 3. With the simplified culture system, 8/23 embryos implanted, one miscarried at 8weeks of gestation and seven healthy babies have been born. The methodology and results are discussed with regard to how this simplified system can be adopted worldwide to meet the growing need for accessible and affordable IVF.A common notion concerning the demographics of infertility is that it is largely a phenomenon associated with developed countries, where infertility treatments are commonplace. In fact, most infertile couples reside in developing/low-resource countries where infertility diagnosis and treatment is nonexistent, inaccessible or unaffordable by the vast majority of young men and women in need. The irony of this situation is that bilateral tubal occlusions, for which IVF was originally indicated and is the most effective treatment, is by far the most common cause of their infertility. We have addressed one aspect of this issue, the IVF laboratory, as part of a wider effort by the Walking Egg Project to design and establish small, dedicated centres in developing countries to provide assisted reproduction technologies that are affordable and accessible to a wider proportion of the population in need. The methods for conventional IVF designed to addresses tubal obstructions are relatively simple and free of complex instrumentation and the highly developed infrastructure common to high-resource centres. This simplified IVF system self-generates culture conditions in a closed system. After prolonged preclinical testing, a pilot clinical study was initiated in 2012 in Genk, Belgium. The findings suggest that a significant first step has been achieved in the effort to bring advanced assisted reproduction to developed countries using a low-resource but highly effective IVF system capable of bringing modern reproductive medicine to infertile couples in low-resource societies.

No Easy Choice: A Story of Disability, Parenthood, and Faith in an Age of Advanced Reproduction

No Easy Choice: A Story of Disability, Parenthood, and Faith in an Age of Advanced Reproduction