Comparison of different extenders with defined protein composition for storage of stallion spermatozoa at 5°C

To maintain the fertility of stallion spermatozoa during cooled storage, extender media are added to semen. In this study, three semen extenders were compared: EquiPro which contains defined caseinates and whey proteins instead of dried skim milk. The extender is provided in dry form and dissolved in distilled water prior to use. EquiPro TM has the same composition as EquiPro but is provided in a sterilized ready-to-use liquid form. AndroMed-E contains soybean lecithin as protein source. Semen was collected from seven stallions. Ejaculates were divided into three aliquots, diluted with the different extenders and stored at 5°C for 4 days. Total motility, membrane integrity, average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear-velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), distance average path (DAP), distance curved line (DCL) and distance straight line (DSL) were determined by computer-assisted analysis. Total motility decreased in all extenders during storage. The parameters VAP, VCL, VSL, DAP, DCL and DSL in semen diluted in EquiPro TM at most times and in semen diluted in AndroMed-E at some times were lower than in semen diluted in EquiPro (p < 0.05). Viability on days 0 and 4 was lowest in semen diluted in AndroMed-E (p < 0.05). Velocity decreased faster when semen had been diluted in the sterilized liquid extender EquiPro TM or in AndroMed-E compared with the dry formula of EquiPro. Therefore the liquid sterilized EquiPro despite no difference in its chemical composition differs from the dry, non-sterilized EquiPro extender. Heat sterilization apparently changes effects of the extender on spermatozoa

TeleFOT, field operational tests of aftermarket nomadic devices in vehicles, early results

This paper presents the European Large Scale Collaborative Project TeleFOT, describing its status and its first results. The paper is structured into two main sections: The first paragraph briefly introduces the justification and core elements of TeleFOT, showing the scope and primary objectives of the project. Significant research and development in Europe in recent years have been focusing on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), since they are contributing to a change in mobility. The number of devices supporting transportation is increasing. In particular, the market penetration of aftermarket nomadic devices as personal navigation devices (PND) or smart phones is growing exponentially according to the market trends, but no scientific evidence of impacts directly related to the use of aftermarket and nomadic devices in vehicle exist yet. Therefore there is a need to test via Field Operational Tests (FOT) the impacts of driver support functions on the driving task, including future interactive traffic services that will become part of driving environment systems. The second paragraph of this paper illustrates the Field Operational Tests to be conducted in TeleFOT and progress reached so far in the project. These include (but are not limited to) large scale test sites in 8 member states, FOT framework creation, benchmarking, piloting and data analysis planning