Morphokinetic characteristics of embryos derived from in-vitro-matured oocytes and their in-vivo-matured siblings after ovarian stimulation.

Research Question: Does delayed maturation of aspirated metaphase I (MI) oocytes, completed in vitro, adversely affect early embryo development?

Design: Time-lapse microscopy was used to compare morphokinetic variables between embryos derived from oocytes with delayed maturation after ovarian stimulation and from in-vivo-matured metaphase II (MII) sibling oocytes from the same IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle.

Results: A total of 1545 injected oocytes in 169 cycles from 149 patients were included. The in-vitro-matured oocytes had lower normal fertilization rates than the MII aspirated oocytes (50.

Prolonging oocyte in vitro culture and handling time does not compensate for a shorter interval from human chorionic gonadotropin administration to oocyte pickup.

Objective: To assess the impact of oocyte aspiration, denudation, and sperm injection timing in relation to oocyte hCG exposure time on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary medical center.

Integration of Environmental Assessment into the Regional Development Planning Process of the Galilee.

/ The Galilee region on the northern edge of Israel constitutes more than 15% of the state's territory, supplies more than half of its drinking water needs, and is an important recreational resource and destination for Israelis. One of the main objectives of the plan for the Galilee was to devise a regional physical and economic development strategy for the years 1992-2007 that would arrest the trend of emigration of its residents, attract newly arrived immigrants to the region, and at the same time protect natural resources and environmental quality. This paper is limited to discussion of the environmental aspects of the plan.

Congestion, air pollution, and road fatalities in urban areas.

The continuous rapid growth in vehicle miles travelled coupled with the rapid increase in traffic congestion on highways of virtually every large urban area, explain a major portion of the observed deterioration of urban air quality. To halt this deterioration and to secure safe and healthy environments and improve the quality of life in our cities, it is useful to initiate and implement programs that treat jointly traffic congestion, air quality, and road safety. Market-based strategies, driven by price mechanisms, have been proposed as the best and most efficient way to decrease traffic congestion and to reduce vehicle emission.