Recent years have witnessed a remarkable technology shift with immersive technology applications like Metaverse across industries and sectors. As 3D-based virtual reality environments, these applications create digital pairs of the physical world and provide an immersive experience to users with technological competencies supporting daily and social activities by means of their virtual avatars and with real-virtual environments and human-machine interactions. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, educational systems are actively engaged in integrating modern and emerging technologies with traditional teaching methods. The pandemic has significantly altered the landscape of education by introducing a new era of virtual environments and interactions, which has placed new demands on learning settings. Immersive technologies have added new dimensions to the learning process. This current study delves into the feasibility of incorporating immersive technologies, such as the Metaverse, into education, and it assesses the overall academic experience for both educators and learners. The primary aim is to investigate whether immersive technologies are a suitable choice for contemporary and future digital learning environments. To achieve this, the study conducts: a) a thorough examination of existing knowledge through systematic literature research, b) analysis of case studies from selected educational institutions, and c) an exploration of the benefits, challenges, and potential of the Metaverse in various learning environments. The findings endorse the promising opportunities that the Metaverse and other immersive technologies offer for present and future educational innovations, as well as interdisciplinary research possibilities.

Objective: The aim of study was to investigate the effects of season and single layer centrifugation (SLC) before cryopreservation on post-thaw bull sperm quality in Thailand.Methods: Semen was collected from 6 bulls (Bos indicus) in summer, rainy season and winter 2014 through 2016. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology, sperm kinematics, viability, chromatin structure and mitochondrial membrane were evaluated. Meteorological data were available from the local meteorological station;Results: Season had an effect on semen characteristics in the raw ejaculate, with higher proportions of normal spermatozoa and lower abnormalities in winter than in the other two seasons. Sperm kinematics, viability, DNA fragmentation index, and mitochondrial membrane potential were not different between seasons. Sperm samples selected by SLC had greater normal morphology and a lower proportion with bent tails than controls and higher values of progressive motility (PRO), beat cross frequency, linearity, straightness, wobble (WOB), and lower values of slow motility, velocity average path (VAP), velocity curved line, and amplitude of lateral head displacement than controls. In addition, SLCselection had a favorable effect on PRO, VAP, and WOB that differed among seasons.Conclusion: Our results suggested that these bulls were well adapted to their location, with season having an effect on sperm morphology. Moreover, SLC could be used prior to cryopreservation, regardless of season, to enhance normal morphology and kinematics of bull sperm samples without adversely affecting other parameters of sperm quality. However, there was considerable variation among bulls in DNA fragmentation index, mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm viability. In addition, SLC had a positive effect on sperm morphology and sperm kinematics, which could be expected to influence fertility.

Estrus synchronization of gilts can be achieved by feeding the orally active progestogen altrenogest (AT) to cycling gilts at 20 mg/day for 14 to 18 days with gilts usually returning to estrus 4 to 8 days after the last feeding. In practice, gilts failing to exhibit estrus by 6 days after AT withdrawal may compromise weekly breeding targets. The cause of prolonged intervals to estrus are unknown but may involve prolonged suppression due to the release of progesterone (P4), and by extension AT, from adipose tissues. The present study examined relationships between gilt P2 backfat depth (17 mm groups), the AT withdrawal to estrus interval, and subsequent reproductive performance in gilts. We noted longer intervals to estrus in gilts with greater P2 backfat depths (p < 0.0001), and higher serum P4 concentrations on the last day of AT feeding and at estrus detection (p < 0.05). Total born litter sizes were unaffected by backfat depth, but pigs born alive progressively decreased with increasing backfat depth with the fattest gilts producing the fewest liveborn pigs (p < 0.05). Taken together, these data suggest that adipose tissues may provide a reservoir of steroid, with its release from fatter gilts having potential negative effects on their subsequent reproductive performance.

For experiment one, blood samples were obtained from 200 gilts at 90, 120, 150, 180, and 200 days of age. Serum samples from the 30 youngest (166.1 ± 0.7 days) and 30 oldest (198.8 ± 0.6 days) gilts exhibiting estrus by 200 days, and a further 18 gilts that remained anestrus at 200 days, were assayed for serum concentrations of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2). Gilts younger at puberty had higher (p < 0.05) AMH levels than those older at puberty, and both groups had higher AMH levels than anestrus gilts (p < 0.05). Regardless of age, serum E2 was higher (p < 0.05) in gilts that achieved puberty than in gilts remaining anestrus. At spontaneous pubertal estrus detection, there was no effect of pubertal age on the number of preovulatory ovarian follicles. For experiment two, 152 prepubertal gilts received an intramuscular (IM) injection of 400 IU eCG plus 200 IU hCG and then received fence-line boar contact to detect estrus onset. Serum AMH concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in the first 25 gilts to exhibit puberty than the last 28 gilts, with the first gilts also having more preovulatory follicles (p < 0.0001). Taken together, these data support an association between serum AMH concentrations and degree of physiological maturity and ovarian follicular development in gilts.

A compact optical sensor coated with a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) is proposed for the detection of progesterone molecules. The MIP solution, containing the progesterone template, is deposited on a cost-effective sensor, which consists of a small glass substrate with dimensions of 0.5 cm in width and 1 cm in length, using the drop-casting method. The characteristic properties of the MIP-coated sensor are investigated for its morphology, and chemical bonding using a scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The MIP-coated optical sensor is tested and compared with a nonimprinted polymer to realize the sensitivity of the sensor. This fabricated sensor works based on wavelength interrogation by detecting the wavelength shift in various progesterone concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 20 ng/mL, which is the range in adult women. The proposed sensor achieves a sensitivity of 1.21 nm/(ng/mL) with a detection limit of 7.4 ng/mL, showing the potential to be used as a screening and monitoring device for progesterone level detection.