Microfluidic thermotaxic selection of highlymotile sperm and in vitro fertilization

The selection of the most motile and functionally competent sperm is an essential basis for in vitro fertilization(IVF)and normal embryonic development.Widely adopted clinical approaches for sperm sample processing intensely rely on centrifugation and wash steps that may induce mechanical damage and oxidative stress to sperm.Although a few microfluidic sperm sorting devices may avoid these adverse effects by exploiting intrinsic guidance mechanisms of sperm swimming,none of these approaches have been fully validated by clinical-grade assessment criteria.In this study,a microfluidic sperm sorting device that enables the selection of highly motile and functional sperm via their intrinsic thermotaxis is presented.Bioinspired by the temperature microenvironment in the fallopian tube during natural sperm selection,a microfluidic device with controllable temperature gradients along the sperm separation channel was designed and fabricated.This study investigated the optimal temperature conditions for human sperm selection and fully characterized thermotaxis-selected sperm with 45 human sperm samples.Results indicated that a temperature range of 35–36.5℃along the separation channel significantly improves human sperm motility rate((85.25±6.28)%vs.(60.72±1.37)%;P=0.0484),increases normal sperm morphology rate((16.42±1.43)%vs.(12.55±0.88)%;P<0.0001),and reduces DNA fragmentation((7.44±0.79)%vs.(10.36±0.72)%;P=0.0485)compared to the nonthermotaxis group.Sperm thermotaxis is species-specific,and selected mouse sperm displayed the highest motility in response to a temperature range of 36–37.5℃ along the separation channel.Furthermore,IVF experiments indicated that the selected sperm permitted an increased fertilization rate and improved embryonic development from zygote to blastocyst.This microfluidic thermotaxic selection approach will be translated into clinical practice to improve the IVF success rate for patients with oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia.

High-yielding Cultivation and Fertilization Technology of Lvhan No.1 in Angola

[Objective] The aim was to research high-yielding cultivation and fertilization technology for Lvhan No.l, a new Chinese rice cultivar, in Angola. [Method] In rainy season of 2012, high-yielding cultivation and fertilization technology of Lvhan No.l, a new cultivar of earlier ripe and drought resistant rice, was researched in CATETE farm of Luanda suburb with pot experiment method. [Result] In CATETE farm, Lvhan No.1 rice were directly sown in black clay and the rice can be significantly improved in plant height, grain weight of single plant, biological yield of single plant, ear length, total grain number per ear, number of filled grain per ear and thousand seed weight, as well as economic coefficient and ratio of grain to straw, if applied with base fertilizer made up of DAP （N：P2Os=14：43）, or compound fertilizer of N, P and K （N：P2Os：K^O=15：15：15） and with Duannai fertilizer and ear-grain fertilizer made up of urea. If DAP is taken as base fertilizer, the optimal quantity is 300 kg/hm2. If compound fertilizer of N, P and K is taken as base fertilizer, the optimal quantity is 450 kg/hm2, but urea at 75 kg/hm2 should be applied as Duannai fertilizer and ear- grain fertilizer, respectively, on time. [Conclusion] The research provides technical ref- erences for planting of Chinese rice cultivars in Angola.

Clinical study of different fertilization methods of assisted reproductive technology on neonatal birth defects

Objective:To investigate the incidence of neonatal birth defects in assisted reproductive technology(ART)by in vitro fertilization(IVF)and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI).Methods:The clinical data of 4229 cases of singleton deliver by infertile patients under 35 years old who received IVF/ICSI-ET in our center were analyzed.According to different fertilization methods,they were divided into IVF group(2967 cases)and ICSI group(1262 cases).The general situation of birth,birth defects and the location of defects were compared between the two groups.Results:a total of 38 cases of neonatal birth defects were found,the incidence of birth defects was 0.89%,including 30 cases(1.01%)in IVF group and 8 cases(0.64%)in ICSI group.There was no significant difference in the incidence of birth defects between the two groups(P>0.05).There was also no significant difference in birth weight,gestational age and gender ratio between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Different fertilization methods in assisted reproductive technology do not increase the incidence of neonatal birth defects.

Present Situation, Existing Problems and Recommendations for Orchard Fertilization Technology

This paper summarizes the development process and research status of orchard fertilization technology,introduces many kinds of fertilization methods,such as soil testing and fertilizer recommendation method,and nutrition diagnosis method,probes into the main problems existing in orchard fertilization,and puts forward some suggestions for solving them. The development of orchard fertilization technology in China is also projected.

Application of waterborne acrylic emulsions in coated controlled release fertilizer using reacted layer technology

Waterborne acrylic emulsions modified with organic siloxanes and aziridine crosslinker were synthesized and applied as coating of controlled release fertilizer. The free films were characterized and the nutrient release profiles of the coated fertilizers were determined. The results show that methyl silicone oil and methylsilanolate sodium could not improve water resistance performance and glass transition temperature Tgof coatings, while the firmness is enhanced. Aziridine crosslinker improves the water resistance performance, firmness and Tg. Incorporation of methyl silicone oil and aziridine crosslinker gives an excellent aqueous acrylic emulsion for coated controlled release fertilizer, with the 30-day cumulative nutrient release reduced to 16% and an estimated nutrient release duration over 190 days. Therefore, this waterborne coating is promising to meet the requirements for controlled release of nutrient and environmental protection.

The barriers of joining in vitro fertilization programs among infertile couples in developing countries:A scoping review

Objective:To determine the barriers of joining in-vitro fertilization(IVF)programs among infertile couples in developing countries.Methods:This study assessed infertile couples and the barriers or associated factors resulting in delayed decision-making of joining IVF program by searching databases PubMed,ScienceDirect,EBSCO,ClinicalKey,and Cochrane Library from inception until December 31,2021.Additional search strategies were snowballing literature search and citation tracking.Results:Eleven articles were included in the scoping review.The cost was the greatest barrier of joining IVF program.Limited access and lack of assisted reproductive technology centers,few qualified infertility trained staff,insufficient government support,low priority in government policy,along with sociocultural factors,such as religion and false beliefs or myths were also majorly considered to be associated obstacles.Conclusions:The main barrier associated with IVF program among infertile couples in developing countries is the high cost of the IVF services.

Application Effect of Integrated Water and Fertilizer Technology for Tomato

Integrated water and fertilizer technology has the advantages of saving water,fertilizer and labour,which is widely applied in tomato plantation. Integrated water and fertilizer technology in topdressing and whole process of big and small tomatoes were studied,and their application effects were contrasted and analyzed,and application advantages and scopes of the two models were concluded.

Human circBOULE RNAs as potential biomarkers for sperm quality and male infertility

Reliable molecular biomarkers to predict fertility remain scarce.The current study investigated the potential of testis-specific circBOULE RNAs as biomarkers for male infertility and sperm quality.Using reverse transcription-PCR and real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays,we identified seven circular RNAs from the human BOULE gene in human sperm.We observed that the expression level of circEx3-6 was significantly reduced in asthenozoospermia,while the expression levels of both circEx2-6 and circEx2-7 were decreased in terato-zoospermia,compared with the controls.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the expression level of circEx2-6 was negatively correlated with the sperm DNA fragmentation index,and the expression level of circEx2-7 was correlated with both fertilization and cleavage rates in those treated with the assisted reproductive technologies.Further functional analyses in a transgenic fly model supported the roles of circBOULE RNAs in sperm development and human male fertility.Collectively,our findings support that sperm circBOULE RNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for assessing sperm motility and DNA quality.Therefore,clinical application and significance of sperm circBOULE RNAs in the assisted reproductive technologies warrant further investigation.

Analysis of Low Fertility Rates in Advanced Economies

In economics,opportunity cost means the maximum value of choosing one behavior over others in the situation where resources are limited(Parkin,2016).In the process of making reproductive decision,opportunity cost reveals the trade-off between time,resources,and economic benefits that individuals face when choosing to have children or not.During this process,the technological changes make the paths of career development diverse and rapidly changing,remarkably increasing the opportunity cost of childbirth and parenting.This leads to individuals more inclined to postpone or reduce childbirth when balancing their careers and families,thereby resulting in low fertility rates in developed economies.

Treatment of gasification effluent of fertilizer with biochemical united technology

Introduced the technology and application of treating the gasification effluent offertilizer with the physical-chemistry and biochemistry united technology.The technology issimple and viable, and occupies less land.When the main equipment runs normally, thegasification effluent of fertilizer treated with the united technology reached the requirementby second-degree discharge standard of the'Discharge standard of water pollutants forsynthesize ammonia industry'.

Effects of Integrated Technology of Medicine and Fertilizer on Bacterial Wilt of Tobacco

In order to validate the control effects of integrated technology of medicine and fertilizer on tobacco bacterial wilt,field experiments were conducted by using youmeili and tetracycline as the test agents.The results obtained were listed as follows:(1)The incidence rate of bacterial wilt ascended more quickly after July 10 th,the incidence of CK reached 78.30%on July 25 th.(2)The control effect of“youmeili 3 g+tetramycin 200 times liquid”reached 69.47%,significantly higher than other treatments.(3)The output value of“Youmeil 3 g+tetramycin 200 times liquid”served as 1635.66 yuan/667m^2,with the highest economic character in all treatments.In a word,integrated technology of medicine and fertilizer was a feasible approach to control tobacco bacterial wilt.

Evaluation of Variable Rate Technology for Fertilizer Application in Permanent Pastures

This paper describes the field tests carried out to evaluate the new Vicon RS-EDW centrifugal fertilizer spreader, to be used in Precision Agriculture. The results of initial dynamic calibration tests showed a significant and systematic difference between the application rates of the two discs （about 20%）. This difference had to be corrected by the manufacturer that carried out the necessary changes to the electric actuators. The fertilizer spreader had good distribution homogeneity, considering different working velocities and different positions in the parcel. The pattern distribution curve for 18% super phosphate fertilizer led to an effective working width of 28 meters, with a coefficient of variation of 15%. The longitudinal test, under experimental working conditions led to a machine delay time of 6-7 seconds. The results show an actual fertilization application density between 74%-90% of that determined for each location. These results confirm that the spreader can be used to spread fertilizer differentially in the field.

Effects of Soil Testing and Formulated Fertilization on Yield and Economic Benefit of Major Crops in Burundi

[Objectives]The purpose of this study was to provide technical support for high-yield cultivation of major crops in Burundi,thereby increasing local farmers'income and promoting sustainable development of agriculture in Burundi.[Methods]In the IMBO and MOSO test stations of the Burundi Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Burundi Fruit and Vegetable Extension and Service Center,soil testing and formulated fertilization test and demonstration was carried out in rice,maize and cabbage.The test set up three treatments,soil testing and formulated fertilization(STFF),local routine fertilization(RF)and non-fertilization(CK)to investigate the effects of soil testing and formulated fertilization on the yield and economic benefit of the crops.[Results]In the plot test,the yield and net economic benefit of rice,maize and cabbage were both highest in the STFF treatment.Compared with those in the RF treatment,the yield of rice,maize and cabbage increased by 19.0%,25.7%and 33.0%,respectively,and the net economic benefit increased by 4292,2837 and 8232 yuan/ha,respectively.In the field test,the yield and net economic benefit of rice,maize and cabbage were also both highest in the STFF treatment.The yield increased by 18.1%,24.3%and 25.9%,respectively,and the net economic benefit increased by 4142,2881 and 8665 yuan/ha,respectively compared with those in the RF treatment.[Conclusions]Soil testing and formulated fertilization not only increased rice,maize and cabbage yield per unit area,but also increased farmers'income in Burundi.It is one of the important technical measures to promote the increase of agricultural production and income in Burundi.

A RCK Model with Endogenous Fertility and Exogenous Technological Change

The technological change as an exogenous variable is introduced into the RCK model with endogenous fertility in this paper. It is proved that the model has at least a nonzero steady state and the nonzero steady state is unique when the parameters satisfies some conditions. By phrase protrait analysis, the unique nonzero steady state is saddle and the economy has a unique optimal growth path. The results obtained implies that the relationship between the technological change and population growth rate determinated by the economic structure and the parental ethies. For the economy in which the parents is selfish, promoting the technological change rate decreases the fertility at the steady state. On the other hand, for the economy in which the parents is less selfish, the fertility increases as the technological change rate increases.

Secondary sex ratio of assisted reproductive technology babies

Objective: To assess the secondary sex ratio (SSR) of assisted reproduction technology babies within a fertility clinic in Melbourne, Australia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 3369 babies who were born following single embryo transfer between 2011 and 2016. Variables examined included embryo creation date, maternal and paternal ages, maternal body mass index (BMI), type of infertility, sperm parameters, fertilization method, type of embryo and stage of transfer. Multivariate regression analysis was performed on the data set using STRATA V9.2. Results: More males were found to be born to embryos created in summer (adjusted odds ratio=1.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.95;P=0.01). Lower BMI of mother (≤30 kg/m 2) and younger age of parents (≤35 years) were associated with an increase in SSR (50.1% vs. 47.1%;50.6% vs. 48.8%;50.0% vs. 48.9%) respectively. Decreased SSR value was associated with primary subfertility, using in-vitro fertilization procedure and fresh embryo compared to those with secondary subfertility, using intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure and thawed embryo (49.3% vs. 50.6%;47.1% vs. 50.8%;49.4% vs. 50.1%) respectively. Conclusions: The fertilization methods, type of embryo, stage of embryo transfer, parameters of the sperm and status of subfertility do not significantly affect the SSR. SSR is affected by the seasonality, maternal age, and BMI.

Study on In-vitro Production Technology of Embryos from Young Dorper Sheep

This study was conducted to investigate the in-vitro production technology of embryos from young Dorper sheep, so as to provide technical support for the utilization of ovarian follicles in young Dorper sheep. Tests were conducted from the induction of Dorper sheep of 4 to 8 weeks old using follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and pregnant horse serum(PMSG), collection of oocytes, in-vitro oocyte maturation-fertilization-zygote cultivation and 2-4-cell-stage fertilized ovum transfer. The results showed that 585 oocytes were collected from eight Dorper sheep at the age of 4 and 8 weeks, with an average of 73.13 oocytes/sheep. 346 of the 2-4-cell-stage fertilized eggs were obtained, whose cleavage rate was 59.15%. 77 in-vitro fertilized eggs at 2-4-cell stage were transplanted into 17 recipient sheep, seven of which were pregnant and gave birth to 13 "test-tube sheep" with a conception rate of 41.18%. It is indicated that the hormone induction technique, in-vitro oocyte maturation-fertilization-zygote cultivation technique and 2-4-cell-stage fertilized ovum transfer technique used in this study can serve as effective techniques for the in-vitro production of embryos from Dorper sheep of 4-8 weeks old.

Awareness and Attitudes Toward In Vitro Fertilization in Patients with Infertility:A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective:To investigate the awareness and attitudes of patients with infertility toward in vitro fertilization(IVF).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with infertility at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital.Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire that consists of patient background information,methods of obtaining relevant IVF information,and patients’awareness of IVF treatment as well as the law and ethics.Results:A total of 198 participants of different backgrounds were enrolled in the study,and IVF information was obtained through different means;however,most of the participants had a lack of awareness and improper attitude toward IVF.The participants had higher estimations of treatment expenses(Pearson λ^(2)=22.132,P<0.05)and time(Pearson λ^(2)=47.992,P<0.05)during the initial consultation,while those with treatment experience expressed fewer concerns about IVF therapy(Pearson λ^(2)=9.467,P<0.05),particularly about the genetic risks of having IVF.Conclusion:Measures should be taken to improve patients’awareness and attitudes toward IVF,and a large-scale and multicenter clinical study should be conducted in the future.

中国钾盐资源开发利用现状及建议

钾是保证农作物生长的必须营养元素,钾盐资源主要用于钾肥生产。作为钾肥消费大国,中国钾资源匮乏,钾盐已经被列入战略性矿产目录,钾盐资源供应安全对国家安全保障具有重要意义。列举了全球和国内钾盐资源的基本情况,分析了全球和国内钾肥的生产和消费情况,介绍了中国钾盐资源制备钾肥的主要生产技术,并结合中国钾盐生产现状,对未来中国钾盐行业提出了一些建议,包括持续加快接续资源选区评价、持续关注盐湖卤水品位变化、加强工艺技术研究等。

新阶段植物营养学的研究重点

植物营养学是研究营养元素在土壤-植物系统迁移、转化和利用规律的基础性学科,是支撑全球粮食安全、耕地质量安全、生态环境安全的重要学科。以组学技术和人工智能为代表的学科前沿不断拓展了植物营养学的研究范畴,同时,耕地高强度利用下如何实现作物高产、养分高效、生态健康等多重目标成为新阶段植物营养学的研究重点和难点。本文回顾了近年来植物营养学在营养遗传、养分循环、新型肥料、高效施肥等方向取得的创新进展,同时,基于我国植物营养学研究短板,提出了新阶段植物营养学研究的重点任务,主要包括作物养分高效与抗逆分子调控网络、土壤养分循环与微生物组功能挖掘、新型绿色高效肥料创制与应用、农田养分协同优化原理与方法等方面,旨在推动农业高质量发展,为保障粮食安全和农业绿色发展提供科技支撑。

基于PLC控制下水肥一体化智能监控系统设计

水肥一体化系统通过实时监测土壤湿度、植物生长状态等参数,精确控制水肥供给,避免过量使用水和肥料,这对于解决水资源短缺和减少农业生产对肥料的依赖具有重要意义。通过深入分析PLC技术,基于西门子S7-1200作为控制核心,采用先进的传感器技术,实现了对土壤湿度、植物生长状态等关键参数的实时监测,通过智能设备,实时监测农田状态,并远程调整水肥系统的运行参数。试验结果表明,基于PLC控制的水肥一体化智能监控系统能够显著提高水肥利用率,减少资源浪费,降低生产成本,可以为农业生产提供一种先进、高效的管理方案,不仅有助于解决当前农业面临的水资源和肥料管理难题,也为实现可持续农业发展贡献重要的技术手段。