In the field of assisted reproductive techniques (ART), computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems have proved their utility and potential for assessing sperm quality, improving the prediction of the fertility potential of a seminal dose. Although most laboratories and scientific centers use commercial systems, in the recent years certain free and open-source alternatives have emerged that can reduce the costs that research groups have to face. However, these open-source alternatives cannot analyze sperm kinetic responses to different stimuli, such as chemotaxis, thermotaxis or rheotaxis. In addition, the programs released to date have not usually been designed to encourage the scalability and the continuity of software development. We have developed an open-source CASA software, called OpenCASA, which allows users to study three classical sperm quality parameters: motility, morphometry and membrane integrity (viability) and offers the possibility of analyzing the guided movement response of spermatozoa to different stimuli (useful for chemotaxis, thermotaxis or rheotaxis studies) or different motile cells such as bacteria, using a single software. This software has been released in a Version Control System at Github. This platform will allow researchers not only to download the software but also to be involved in and contribute to further developments. Additionally, a Google group has been created to allow the research community to interact and discuss OpenCASA. For validation of the OpenCASA software, we analysed different simulated sperm populations (for chemotaxis module) and evaluated 36 ejaculates obtained from 12 fertile rams using other sperm analysis systems (for motility, membrane integrity and morphology modules). The results were compared with those obtained by Open-CASA using the Pearson’s correlation and Bland-Altman tests, obtaining a high level of correlation in all parameters and a good agreement between the different used methods and the OpenCASA. With this work, we propose an open-source project oriented to the development of a new software application for sperm quality analysis. This proposed software will use a minimally centralized infrastructure to allow the continued development of its modules by the research community. In the field of the biology of reproduction, it is very important to develop new methods that allow us to predict the breeding capacity of males of certain species. In recent years, the use of Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis systems (that allow the user to analyze certain parameters of sperm that have been shown to be related to fertility), has been fundamental in advancing this knowledge. In addition, new parameters are being investigated that are believed to help characterize seminal quality. However, most of the software used to analyze these parameters is commercial and private, and the user is not allowed to add new features. Although there were already open source alternatives to analyze certain parameters of seminal quality, in this work we have integrated several tools into one, with an easy-to-use interface for the user, which we hope will help the scientific community to develop new functionalities and methods. The tool is free and open-source.

There is a need to develop more integrative sperm quality analysis methods, enabling researchers to evaluate different parameters simultaneously cell by cell. In this work, we present a new multi-parametric fluorescent test able to discriminate different sperm subpopulations based on their labeling pattern and motility characteristics. Cryopreserved semen samples from 20 Holstein bulls were used in the study. Analyses of sperm motility using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA-mot), membrane integrity by acridine orange-propidium iodide combination and multi-parametric by the ISAS®3Fun kit, were performed. The new method allows a clear discrimination of sperm subpopulations based on membrane and acrosomal integrity, motility and morphology. It was also possible to observe live spermatozoa showing signs of capacitation such as hyperactivated motility and changes in acrosomal structure. Sperm subpopulation with intact plasma membrane and acrosome showed a higher proportion of motile sperm than those with damaged acrosome or increased fluorescence intensity. Spermatozoa with intact plasmalemma and damaged acrosome were static or exhibit weak movement. Significant correlations among the different sperm quality parameters evaluated were also described. We concluded that the ISAS®3Fun is an integrated method that represents an advance in sperm quality analysis with the potential to improve fertility predictions.

J Indian Prosthodont Soc, Official publication of Indian Prosthodontic Society

Computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems can reduce errors occurring in manual analysis. However, commercial CASA systems are frequently not applicable at the forefront of challenging research endeavors. The development of open source software may offer important solutions for researchers working in related areas. Here, we present an example of this, with the development of three new modules for the OpenCASA software (hosted at Github). The first is the Chemotactic Sperm Accumulation Module, a powerful tool for studying sperm chemotactic behavior, analyzing the sperm accumulation in the direct vicinity of the stimuli. This module was validated by comparing fish sperm accumulation, with or without the influence of an attractant. The analysis clearly indicated cell accumulation in the treatment group, while the distribution of sperm was random in the control group. The second is the Sperm Functionality Module, based on the ability to recognize five sperm subpopulations according to their fluorescence patterns associated with the plasma membrane and acrosomal status. The last module is the Sperm Concentration Module, which expands the utilities of OpenCASA. These last two modules were validated, using bull sperm, by comparing them with visual counting by an observer. A high level of correlation was achieved in almost all the data, and a good agreement between both methods was obtained. With these newly developed modules, OpenCASA is consolidated as a powerful free and open-source tool that allows different aspects of sperm quality to be evaluated, with many potential applications for researchers.

The concept of agency is of fundamental importance for Cognitive Science. However, usual definitions of agency are loose and the work to capture and measure it using mathematical tools is still in its infancy. Recently, the framework of integrated information theory has been proposed to capture the causal boundaries of biological autonomous systems. Here, we test measures of integrated information theory in a minimal model to test its capacity to identify and delimit an autonomous agent interacting with an environment. Doing so, we reformulate some aspects of current definitions of agency using insights from integrated information in our models. Specifically, we propose a redefinition of how we capture the ability of an agent to modulate its interaction with the environment in terms of the control of the emergent causal structure of the agent-environment system. In this way, we propose an operational definition of agency based on the capacity of a system to modulate its causal boundary, extending and reducing it by functionally open and closing sensorimotor loops, and coupling the agent to different environmental processes. This allows us to formulate a tentative measure for our definition of agency and test it in minimal models of sensorimotor interaction, which we test in a minimal agent evolved to solve a simple task. The concept of agency is of fundamental importance for Cognitive Science. However, usual definitions of agency are loose and the work to capture and measure it using mathematical tools is still in its infancy. Recently, the framework of integrated information theory has been proposed to capture the causal boundaries of biological autonomous systems. Here, we test measures of integrated information theory in a minimal model to test its capacity to identify and delimit an autonomous agent interacting with an environment. Doing so, we reformulate some aspects of current definitions of agency using insights from integrated information in our models. Specifically, we propose a redefinition of how we capture the ability of an agent to modulate its interaction with the environment in terms of the control of the emergent causal structure of the agent-environment system. In this way, we propose an operational definition of agency based on the capacity of a system to modulate its causal boundary, extending and reducing it by functionally open and closing sensorimotor loops, and coupling the agent to different environmental processes. This allows us to formulate a tentative measure for our definition of agency and test it in minimal models of sensorimotor interaction, which we test in a minimal agent evolved to solve a simple task. The concept of agency is of fundamental importance for Cognitive Science. However, usual definitions of agency are loose and the work to capture and measure it using mathematical tools is still in its infancy. Recently, the framework of integrated information theory has been proposed to capture the causal...