Grand Rapids Public Museum

Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples, yet male fertility assessments often rely on semen analysis alone, which has limited predictive value for treatment success. This study evaluates an epigenetic tool for assessing sperm quality, aiming to provide a more comprehensive view of male fertility and improve personalized treatment strategies. De-identified pregnancy outcomes from 537 couples treated at 10 US fertility clinics were analyzed. Partner ages, total motile sperm count, treatment type, and sperm epigenetic quality were considered to assess associations with fertility treatment outcomes. Men with abnormal sperm epigenetic profiles had significantly lower pregnancy success rates with intrauterine insemination (IUI) compared to those with normal profiles, despite similar sperm motility and concentration. In contrast, pregnancy rates did not differ between abnormal and normal profiles among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), suggesting that ICSI may overcome sperm epigenetic quality issues. This real-world analysis was limited by the availability of detailed clinical and phenotypic data, which may introduce potential confounders. Nevertheless, the findings highlight the clinical value of epigenetic sperm assessment as part of male fertility evaluation and support its potential to guide more effective, personalized fertility treatment pathways.

For people with visual impairment, environmental features create barriers to inclusion and participation in public places such as museums. This study gathered direct feedback on accessibility from people with visual impairment to inform a major renovation at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. This study used a participatory action research design. Data collection included a guided walk and semi-structured interviews. A descriptive numerical summary and qualitative thematic analysis were used to summarize the results. Twelve participants were assigned to three categories of visual impairment: low vision, legally blind, and totally blind. The primary barriers to accessibility included inaccessible signage, lack of multi-sensory information, and staff training. Suggestions for improving accessibility include adding assistive technology and increased staff involvement. Identifying barriers to accessibility requires involving people with visual impairment in the decision making process. Understanding the unique needs of people with visual impairment will promote inclusion and participation in museum settings.