Measuring Male-to-Male Differences in Fertility or Effects of Semen Treatments.

Fertility is a convenient but meaningless term unless the outcome measure is stipulated and accounts for dependence of male fertility on the female population. We describe outcome measures and detail the impacts of the physiological status of each female and her external environment, as well as management imposed by humans. We explain the dominant role of the female reproductive tract as a series of hurdles for sperm seeking an ovum.

Survival of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) spermatozoa incubated at room temperature from drones exposed to miticides.

We conducted research to examine the potential impacts ofcoumaphos, fluvalinate, and Apilife VAR (Thymol) on drone honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), sperm viability over time. Drones were reared in colonies that had been treated with each miticide by using the dose recommended on the label.

Insemination factors related to timed AI in cattle.

Six-day-old bovine ova/embryos were recovered non-surgically and used as biomonitors to evaluate time of artificial insemination. These embryos/ova provided information regarding fertilization status and embryo quality, as well as quantitative and qualitative data regarding associated accessory sperm. Both sperm access to the ovum (addressed by accessory sperm) and fertilization status/embryo quality were important in addressing pregnancy rate for specific intervals from the onset of estrus to insemination.

Sperm morphology: Its relevance to compensable and uncompensable traits in semen.

The nature of subfertility due to the male or inseminate is as complex as that of the female. Fertilization failure, and failure in embryogenesis, are both of seminal origin. Males also differ in the number of sperms required to reach their maximum fertilization rate.

CASIDA AWARD: Thoughts on the components of a graduate education: importance of the professional family.

A major component of a successful graduate education is the student's professional family developed throughout the graduate program. Not only important to the student are those directly guiding him or her, such as the advisor and graduate committee, but also those who directly or indirectly influence the student's competence, philosophy, ethics, outlook, and professional development in the chosen field. A comparison of this professional family with the student's own blood relatives and extended family is discussed with an introduction to the word mishpucha, a Yiddish term describing this large personal family and its influence.