Abstract: The present invention relates to the competence of oocytes to fertilization, uterine implantation and development into a living being. The invention describes ovarian markers whose expression is predicative of oocyte competency that are detected and/or measured in follicular fluid, cumulus cells and/or follicular cells of a mammal. Also described are methods for evaluating competence of mammalian oocytes, methods for selecting a mammalian oocyte for assisted reproduction (AR), and screening methods for identifying stimulatory or inhibitory compounds to mammalian oocyte competence.

Abstract: A child-proof gas lighter has a lever operating a gas valve, for opening and closing the gas valve in an open and close position. An interfering piece is movably mounted on the lighter, in space relation to the lever. That interfering piece has a portion for jamming the lever, as to prevent displacements of that lever for opening the valve when moving in one direction. When moving the interfering piece counter to that direction, the lever becomes displaceable in that open position, to allow opening of the valve, thus the interfering piece is displaceable from an open unlock position to a close lock position. A retractable pen having such lighters is also described.