Factors Influencing the In Vitro Maturation (IVM) of Human Oocyte

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is a promising assisted reproductive technology (ART) deemed as a simple and safe procedure. It is mainly used in patients with impaired oocyte maturation and in fertility preservation for women facing the risk of losing fertility. However, to date, it is still not widely used in clinical practice because of its underperformance. The influencing factors, such as biphasic IVM system, culture medium, and the supplementation, have a marked effect on the outcomes of oocyte IVM. However, the role of different culture media, supplements, and follicular priming regimens in oocyte IVM have yet to be fully clarified and deserve further investigation.

Protein Hydrolysates from Flaxseed Oil Cake as a Media Supplement in CHO Cell Culture

This is the first report about flaxseed protein hydrolysates applied as media supplements in CHO cell culture. The hydrolysates were produced by three separate enzymatic digestions of proteins isolated from flaxseed oil cake. The enzymes used were Alcalase, Neutrase, and Protamex, and the most efficient hydrolysis was achieved with Alcalase. The three hydrolysates were first tested as a partial substitute for serum in basal media in order to evaluate their effects on the adherent IgG-producing CHO cell line. The cells that grew in such media reached higher density than the cells in media supplemented with serum only. Consequently, the increased cell number improved the final IgG titer. In the next experiment, the impact of hydrolysates was evaluated in suspension CHO culture adapted to chemically defined media. In this preliminary investigation, the cells showed no response to the hydrolysate addition concerning the growth rate and productivity. Despite this outcome, we speculate that low molecular mass components in the hydrolysates, besides nutritive, may have a cell-protective function.

The influence of disinfection methods and liquid phase media on Paphiopedilum insigne seeds germination and media supplements on morphological features of protocorms in tissue culture

Paphiopedilum is a very original orchid, which labellum resembles a slipper. It is cultivated as a cut flower or a pot plant. The aim of the presented work was to estimate the influence of a disinfection method and addition of a liquid media on germination of Paphiopedilum insigne seeds in vitro. The whole seed capsules were disinfected with the use of 0.5% of AgNO3 for 20 min, 0.1% of HgCl2 for 5 s, 1% NaOCl for 30 min or immersed in a 96% ethanol and burned in a direct flame. The disinfected seeds were placed on a 1/4 MS (Murashige and Skoog) solidified media on top of which a liquid phase containing 1/4 MS elements, GA3 in concentration of 400 mg·dm–3 or distilled sterile water were added. The media without the liquid phase was also tested. It was noted that all methods of disinfection used effectively reduced contaminations of Paphiopedilum insigne seeds. The highest germination rate was observed when capsules were direct flamed and the liquid phase was added on top of the solidified media. The influence of growth regulators (BA, TDZ, KIN and 2,4-D) and casein hydrolysate added to the media on the morphological features of the obtained plants was also tested. It was observed that the most regenerated protocorms of the best quality were obtained when the media was supplemented with 1 mg·dm–3 of BA + 2 mg·dm–3 of TDZ or 5 mg·dm–3 of KIN + 1 mg·dm–3 of BA.

Growing human trophoblasts in vitro: a review of the media commonly used in trophoblast cell culture

Trophoblasts are unique epithelial cells found only in the placenta. It has been possible to isolate and maintain human trophoblasts in in vitro culture for many decades. During this period there have been a vast array of media and supplements reported for trophoblast culture and often the reasons for using the media and specific supplements employed in any given laboratory have been lost in the ‘mists of time’. After a gradual development over many years this field has recently changed, with the publication of several reports of the isolation, growth and differentiation of human trophoblast stem or stem-like cells. This advance was made largely because of a greater understanding of the molecular pathways that control human trophoblasts and availability of media supplements that can be used to manipulate those pathways. We have searched the literature and here summarise many of the different media and supplements and describe how and why they were developed and are used to culture human trophoblasts.

Reflections From the Field of New Media and Sociology

The traditional, formal approach to music learning has been via music schools and private tutoring. The newer, more informal way uses digital media—such as email, Facebook, Skype, and YouTube—as an adjunct to teacher-student interactions. In such an approach, digital media supplements in-person contact while preserving the master-student relationship. In both of these situations, there is in-person contact and the master-student hierarchy is preserved. This response considers these and other key points from Jonathan Savage’s chapter from a social science and digital media perspective.

Comparison of Two Online Courseware Instructional Methods Using Propensity Score Matching

This study used propensity score matching to compare two online courseware systems intended for use as supplements to either face-to-face or online courses. One courseware system focused on adaptive features available to students while completing assignments; whereas the other system was an interactive courseware that provided embedded media supplements and assessments. Participants were students enrolled in a psychology course taught by an instructor who used the adaptive courseware in Fall 2013, switching to the interactive courseware in Fall 2015 and 2016. Propensity score matching was used to match students in 2015 with students in 2013. A separate matching process was done for the 2016 versus 2013 students. The use of propensity score matching was successful in allowing comparison across groups. However, the only consistent finding across the two matched samples was that students appeared to spend less time in the interactive courseware than the adaptive courseware. The most likely reason for the difference is a function of the requirements of the two courseware systems.