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The paper examines behavioral experiments of guessing game for different-sized groups in electricity markets. The subjects simultaneously took decisions, while being part of a group, and as part of a subgroup. The three-factor design (with two blocking factors) shows that subjects choose different numbers for a large group and a subgroup. The numbers in the subgroups are less (and closer to equilibrium) than the numbers in large groups. Subjects make more rational decisions, being in larger groups.

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by new-onset hypertension in association with elevated natural killer (NK) cells and inflammatory cytokines, which are likely culprits for decreased fetal weight during PE pregnancies. As progesterone increases during normal pregnancy, it stimulates progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF). PIBF has been shown to decrease inflammation and cytolytic NK cells, both of which are increased during PE. We hypothesized that PIBF reduces inflammation as a mechanism to improve hypertension in the preclinical reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of PE. PIBF (2.0 µg/mL) was administered intraperitoneally on gestational day 15 to either RUPP or normal pregnant (NP) rats. On day 18, carotid catheters were inserted. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and samples were collected on day 19. MAP in NP rats ( n = 11) was 100 ± 2 mmHg and 105 ± 3 mmHg in NP + PIBF rats ( n = 8) and 122 ± 1 mmHg in RUPP rats ( n = 10), which improved to 110 ± 2 mmHg in RUPP + PIBF rats ( n = 11), P < 0.05. Pup weight was 2.4 ± 0.1 g in NP, 2.5 ± 0.1 g in NP + PIBF, 1.9 ± 0.1 g in RUPP, and improved to 2.1 ± 0.1 g in RUPP + PIBF rats. Circulating and placental cytolytic NK cells, IL-17, and IL-6 were significantly reduced while IL-4 and T helper (TH) 2 cells were significantly increased in RUPP rats after PIBF administration. Importantly, vasoactive pathways preproendothelin-1, nitric oxide, and soluble fms-Like tyrosine Kinase-1 (sFlt-1) were normalized in RUPP + PIBF rats compared with RUPP rats, P < 0.05. Our findings suggest that PIBF normalized IL-4/TH2 cells, which was associated with improved inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and blood pressure in the RUPP rat model of PE.

Analyze the effect of paternal immunotherapy treatment (PIT) in primary and secondary unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and unexplained infertility (UI).A retrospective study analyzed a two-year follow-up between the generation of MLR-Bfs after PIT treatment (or controls first consultation) and a live birth. Recruited patients included primary URSA with two or more miscarriages at12 weeks gestation, secondary URSA with previous live birth before two or more miscarriages, and UI with inability to conceive after 2 years of regular unprotected intercourse or in vitro fertilizations (IVF). PIT treated were compared with untreated controls.Primary URSA: live birth was 241/416 (58%) versus 64/282 (23%) controls (p .0001). Up to age 35, success was 158/217 (73%) and 37/144 (26%) controls (p .0001). With 3 or more previous URSA, success was 90/135 (67%) versus 17/79 (22%) controls (p .0001). Between ages 36 and 40, success was 69/147(47%) versus 22/98 (22%) controls (p .0003), with 3 or more previous URSA live birth was 45/95 (47%) versus 6/46 (13%) controls (p .0001). In UI, live birth was 99/298 (33%) versus 54/263 (21%) in controls (p .0009) that increased under age 35 to 53/116 (46%) in treated versus 26/101 (26%) controls (p .0056). In PIT treated, IVF success required a median of 1 (1.37 ± 0.67) versus a median of 3 IVF procedures (2.75 ± 0.84) in controls.PIT is a successful treatment for primary and secondary URSA, and UI. PIT reduced the number of IVF required for achieving pregnancy.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity in the U.S. While the pathogenesis remains unclear, PE is characterized by new onset hypertension associated with progesterone deficiency, elevated cytolytic natural killer cells (cNK), inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Progesterone is essential in the initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. We have shown that progesterone supplementation regulates endothelial function and suppresses endothelin-1 (ET-1) and stimulates nitric oxide (NO) in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy. In addition, progesterone signals the synthesis and release of progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) from lymphocytes in order to regulate the proinflammatory balance of early pregnancy. However the role of PIBF in PE pathology is not well examined. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of PIBF causes inflammation and increases markers of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension during pregnancy. Rabbit anti-PIBF IgG (0.25, low dose-LD or 0.50 mg/mL, high dose-HD) was administered intraperitoneal on gestation day (GD) 15 to normal pregnant Sprague Dawley (NP) rats, on GD 18 carotid catheters were inserted and on GD 19 blood pressure (MAP) and samples were collected. MAP in NP rats (n=7) was 99 + 3 mmHg, which increased to 116 + 2 in NP+ anti-PIBF LD (n =10) and 113 + 4 mmHg in NP+ anti-PIBF HD (n=6), p+ 8 pg/mL in NP rats and increased to 84 + 21 pg/mL in NP+ Anti-PIBF HD (n=4), p+ 11 in NP rats (n=4), which decreased to 36 + 4 in NP+ Anti-PIBF HD however, cytolytic NK cells were 0.6 + 0.2 in NP which were increased to 3.0 + 1 in NP+ Anti-PIBF HD, p+ 11 μM in NP rats (n=5), which significantly decreased to 21 + 1 μM in NP+ Anti-PIBF (n=6) HD, p

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by new onset hypertension in association with placental ischemia, reduced fetal weight, elevated soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental mitochondrial (mt) dysfunction and oxidative stress (ROS). Infusion of sFlt-1 causes hypertension and other characteristics of PE in pregnant rodents. However a role for sFlt-1 in causing mt dysfunction and ROS is unknown. Progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF), is a product of progesterone signaling which lowers inflammatory processes. We have shown that PIBF lowers blood pressure in a rat models of PE. This study was designed not only examine the role of mt ROS in sFlt-1 induced hypertension during pregnancy but to also examine the effect of PIBF to improve mt function and hypertension in response to elevated sFlt-1 during pregnancy. sFlt-1 was infused into normal pregnant (NP) Sprague-Dawley rats (3.7 μg·kg –1 ·day –1 for 6 days, gestation days (GD) 13-19 ) in the presence or absence of PIBF (2.0 μg/mL) administered intraperitoneal on GD 15 to sFlt-1 induced hypertensive pregnant rats. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), placental and endothelial mt ROS and function were measured on GD 19. Infusion of sFlt-1 into NP rats increased MAP to 112 + 2 (n=11) compared with control NP rats 98 + 2 mmHg (n=15, p+ 1 mmHg in the presence of sFlt-1(n=5, p+ 6 in NP (n=4), 429 + 32 in NP+ sFlt-1(n=3) and reduced to 234 + 15 in NP+ sFlt-1+ PIBF (n=3). State 3 respiration, which is indicative of ATP production, was reduced in placentas of sFlt-1 infused rats versus NP, but was improved with PIBF. Moreover, sera from NP+sFlt-1 treated with PIBF attenuated endothelial cell mtROS ( 29 + 8 % gate) compared with sera from NP+sFlt-1 (54 + 15 % gate (n=4)). Our study indicates a role of sFlt-1 induced hypertension during pregnancy to reduce placental and endothelial cell mt function. Importantly, supplementation of PIBF improved mt function and ROS which was associated with improved blood pressure in sFlt-1 induced hypertensive pregnant rats indicating the efficacy of improved progesterone signaling as a potential therapeutic for PE.

Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF), which plays an important role in maintaining healthy pregnancies, has shown great promise as a prognostic biomarker for threatened miscarriage. To better characterise the physiological trends of progesterone and PIBF, we analysed serum progesterone and PIBF concentrations in healthy non-pregnant and pregnant women across trimesters. We saw increasing concentrations of progesterone and PIBF in pregnant women with advancing trimesters. The serum progesterone and PIBF percentiles across gestational age in healthy pregnancies can be used as a guide for the formulation of reference ranges. We also demonstrated a significant positive correlation between progesterone and PIBF levels. This study demonstrates increasing progesterone and PIBF concentrations in later trimesters and underscores the importance of progesterone and PIBF in healthy pregnancies. Characterisation of progesterone and PIBF across gestational age in healthy pregnant women may help to prognosticate pregnancy viability and support further research into the importance of progesterone and PIBF in the maintenance of healthy pregnancies. Ministry of Health (MOH) National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Published version The authors would like to acknowledge the Singapore Government’s Ministry of Health Industry Alignment Fund (Grant number: NMRC/MOHIAFCat1/0045/2016) for funding this research work. The authors would like to thank KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for the institutional support received during this study. Special thanks go out to Ms. Trish Koon Hui Ping, Ms. Erica Nuriyah Fadziulah, and Ms. Doris Ong Mah Lay who provided invaluable administrative support and coordination in this study. The authors would also like to express their gratitude towards all study participants for their time and assistance.

The role of progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)-mediated Th1/Th2 balance in delivery outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, 73 infertile women with successful IVF-ET were enrolled (16 fetal arrests and 57 live births). PIBF and IL-4 levels were significantly lower in the fetal arrest group than in the live birth group (p 0.05). TNF-α level and Th1/Th2 ratios were significantly higher in the fetal arrest group than in the live birth group (p 0.05). High TNF-α level and Th1/Th2 ratios were risk factors for fetal arrest, whereas increased PIBF and IL-4 levels were protective factors (P 0.05). Increased TNF-α/IL-4 exhibited relatively strong predictive value for fetal arrest (AUC, 0.855; sensitivity, 93.8%; specificity, 71.9%). In summary, the PIBF-mediated Th1/Th2 balance is closely correlated with delivery outcomes of IVF-ET. TNF-α/IL-4 may be a predictive marker of fetal arrest.

A search of the literature and abstracts from national oncology meetings was conducted to determine what types of human cancers have been reported to show some type of palliative benefit from treatment with progesterone (P) receptor antagonists. Though the original concept was to try P receptor antagonists for cancers known to be associated with the classic nuclear P receptor, recent data suggest that the real beneficial target is a membrane P receptor that helps produce a unique immunomodulatory protein called the progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) that inhibits natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment and thus may allow cancer cells to metastasize. The following human cancers known to be associated with the classic nuclear receptor that have responded to either the P receptor modulator mifepristone or onapristone, include breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Human cancers not associated with the classic nuclear P receptor that have demonstrated significant palliative benefits and/or increased longevity following P receptor modulator therapy include colon, thymic cell epithelial cancer, transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis, leiomyosarcoma, pancreatic carcinoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme grade IV, renal cell carcinoma, fibrous osteosarcoma, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (including those negative for tumor markers, or those positive for PD-1, or positive for the EGFR mutation). The wide variety of very advanced cancers that have responded to the P receptor modulators as evidenced by extension of a better quality of life despite the fact that they had progressed despite standard chemo or immunotherapy, is consistent with the concept that PIBF may be a protein needed by a large variety of cancers to advance or metastasize, and thus may provide a unique target to treat with P receptor modulators, and thus provide significant palliative benefit. In contrast to most anti-cancer agents, P receptor antagonists are extremely well tolerated, and are without serious risk of complications. Larger series are needed to determine the true beneficial effect of this type of therapy. Positive beneficial effects in case reports, at least provide the basis for selection of which cancers to evaluate in a larger series. Citation Format: Jerome H. Check, Diane Check, Carrie Wilson. Evidence that a wide variety of cancers may use the progesterone induced blocking factor protein to escape immune surveillance as evidenced by significant palliation following treatment with progesterone receptor antagonists in advanced metastatic treatment resistant cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 605.

Actual medical and social problem of modern obstetrics is threatening abortion. In its treatment, analogues of progesterone are used. Activation of progesterone receptors induces the production of anti-abortive protein-progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF). The dynamics of PIBF in 28 patients with the diagnosis of threatening abortion was analyzed. Women were treated by natural micronized progesterone depending on the features of the clinical course and single nucleotide polymorphism of the progesterone receptor gene rs590688. The quantitative content of PIBF in urine in pregnant women with threatening abortion was determined, namely, the increase in the content of this factor is associated with the prolongation of pregnancy. At the time of initiation of therapy, the concentration of PIBP was 28.8±1.5 (95% CI 26.7-29.2) ng/ml, and on the 7th day of therapy its concentration was 29.4±0.1 (95% CI 29.2-29.5) ng/ml. The increase in PIBF has reached a degree of statistical significance (T-W=15.0, p Исследование прогестерон индуцированного блокирующего фактора при лечении женщин с угрожающим абортом с учетом полиморфизма гена рецептора прогестерона. КривопустовА.С.Актуальной медико-социальной проблемой современного акушерства является угрожающий аборт. В его лечении используются аналоги прогестерона. Активизация рецепторов прогестерона индуцирует выработку антиабортивного протеина - прогестерон индуцированного блокирующего фактора (ПИБФ). Проанали­зирована динамика ПИБФ у 28 пациенток с диагнозом угрожающего аборта. Женщинам проводилась терапия препаратом натурального микронизированного прогестерона в зависимости от особенностей клинического течения и однонуклеотидного полиморфизма гена рецептора прогестерона rs590688. Определяли коли­чественное содержание ПИБФ в моче у беременных с угрожающим абортом, именно рост содержания данного фактора ассоциируется с пролонгацией беременности. На момент начала терапии концентрация ПИБФ составляла 28,8±1,5 (95% ДИ 26,7-29,2)нг/мл, а на 7-й день терапии его концентрация составила 29,4±0,1 (95% ДИ 29,2-29,5) нг/мл. Увеличение уровня ПИБФ достигло степени статистической значимости (T-W=15,0; p

The article researches the essence of the term «provision of pensions». The author finds out the imperfection of conceptual and categorical apparatus of certain issues leading to the conflict between the interpretations and is the blocking factor for the pension system. The paper reveals that there is no single interpretation of the term «investment», but the suggested definitions are grouped according to the following approaches: investment as input, costs and the definition of investment at the micro and macro levels. A large number of authors define investment as investing in anything for profit. It was found out that the category of «financial leasing» is multifaceted and multifold, but considering it in the context of nonbank financial institutions, it should be noted its significant characteristic, which is a financial service.

Marine energy technologies can contribute to meeting sustainability challenges, but they are still immature and dependent on public support. This paper employs the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) framework to analyze the development and diffusion of Swedish marine energy up until 2014. While there were promising device developers, relevant industrial capabilities, and world-class research, the system suffered from weaknesses in several important innovation processes. Finally, the analysis identifies the lack of informed political direction as a critical blocking factor and highlights its connection to domestic market potential.

Preeclampsia (PE) affects 5-7% of all pregnancies in the U.S and it is characterized by new onset hypertension in association with progesterone deficiency, elevated natural killer (NK) cells and inflammatory cytokines. Despite being a leading cause of maternal death and perinatal morbidity, the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of PE are unclear. Progesterone is crucial for establishing and maintaining pregnancy and it exerts immune modulatory effects by the lymphocyte-derived protein progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF). Its immunological effects include inhibition of natural killer (NK) cell activity and can regulate the proinflammatory balance. PIBF has been shown to act through IL-4/TH2, which are reduced during PE and increased during normal pregnancy, however the role of PIBF deficiency in PE pathology is not well examined. Thus, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that PIBF blockade stimulates cytolytic NK cells to cause the symptoms of PE during pregnancy. Rabbit anti-PIBF IgG (0.25, low dose-LD or 0.50 mg/mL, high dose-HD) was administered intraperitoneal on gestation day 15 to normal pregnant Sprague Dawley (NP) rats and on day 18 carotid catheters were inserted and on GD 19 blood pressure and samples were collected. MAP in NP rats (n=7) was 99± 3 mmHg, which increased to 116± 2 in NP+ anti-PIBF LD (n =10) and 113±4 in NP+ anti-PIBF HD (n=4), p

In multi-tower heliostat fields, although heliostats are capable of aiming at different receivers during the day, due to different orientations, neighboring heliostats might affect shading and blocking efficiency of each other reciprocally. In the proposed method of this paper, considering the mentioned effects and based on a group decision-making approach, each heliostat chooses the best receiver thus ensuring the highest possible instantaneous efficiency of the field. As a case study, this method is applied for the optimal design of a multi-tower field. Then, the field performance is simulated in a case where heliostats make decisions individually without considering the interactions. Finally, these results are compared with separated single tower fields' energy performance. Results of the case study show that, due to the high dependency on shading and blocking factor, the annual efficiency of the multi-tower field without considering the interactions is only slightly higher than the two separated single tower fields. However, using the proposed method, the optical performance of the multi-tower field improves and the annual efficiency of 54.58% is reachable, which is 0.21% higher than the case without considering the interactions and 0.26% higher than the separated single tower fields.

An approach to estimating the blocking factor impact on feasibility of software applications in real-time systems on multi-core processors is described. An option for compound blocking to occur is demonstrated for the priority inheritance protocol as well as for other known protocols for access to shared resources. A method to estimate the impact of chained blocking on feasibility of particular application tasks and the application as a whole is described. A method to estimate the blocking factor value for systems with compound and chained blocking on multi-core processors is presented.

Earlier data suggest a relationship between PIBF concentrations and the outcome of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to compare serum and urine concentrations of PIBF in women with successful pregnancy after IVF with those of women without pregnancy after IVF procedure, and to evaluate the potential relation between PIBF and the outcome of pregnancy. Urine and serum were collected from 120 women, undergoing IVF. 87.5% of patients had primary infertility. 69.2% faced female causes of infertility: 10.8% tubal cause, 11.7% ovulation disorder, and 46.7% other causes of infertility. 30.8% of patients had male factor of infertility. Among non-pregnant women (42) mean concentrations of PIBF in urine and serum were significantly lower (15.8 ng/mL; 148.4 ng/mL) than in women with positive beta HCG value (78) (19.1 ng/mL; 225.9 ng/mL). In 49 patients pregnancy terminated with a term delivery, in 10 patients with pretem delivery, while in 19 patients the pregnancy terminated with a miscarriage. PIBF concentrations in urine (13.9 ± 2.8 ng/mL) and serum (124.6 ± 46.7 ng/mL) samples of women with miscarriage were significantly lower of those with preterm delivery (180.6 ± 54.4 ng/mL; 18.1 ± 4.4 ng/mL) and of those with term delivery (20.4 ± 8.5 ng/mL; 208.7 ± 114.3 ng/mL). Successful pregnancy after IVF procedure is predictable by measuring of urine and serum PIBF concentrations and could be important for predicting of early implantation and pregnancy outcome after IVF procedure and maybe to protect the risk pregnancy.

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by new onset hypertension in association with elevated natural killer (NK) cells and inflammatory cytokines which are likely culprits for decreased fetal weight during PE pregnancies. Progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) increases during normal pregnancy and has been shown to decrease inflammation and cytolytic NK cells, both of which are increased during PE. Currently, there is no effective treatment for PE except for early delivery of the fetal placental unit, making PE the leading cause for premature births worldwide. We have previously shown that progesterone supplementation with 17-OHPC improves inflammation, fetal weight and blood pressure in the preclinical RUPP rat model of PE. However the mechanism where by progesterone improves the pathophysiology of PE has never been determined. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PIBF reduces inflammation while improving hypertension in response to placental ischemia. To test this hypothesis, PIBF (2.0 μg/mL) was administered intraperitoneally on gestation day 15 to RUPP or normal pregnant (NP) rats and on day 18 carotid catheters were inserted and on GD 19 blood pressure and samples were collected. MAP in NP rats (n=9) was 101 + 3 and 110 + 3 in NP+PIBF (n=5), 122 + 2 in RUPP rats (n=7), which improved to 110 + 3 mmHg in RUPP+PIBF (n=9), p+ 0.1 g in NP, 2.5 + 0.1 in NP+PIBF, 1.9 + 0.1 in RUPP and improved to 2.2 + 0.1 in RUPP+PIBF. Neither placental weight nor litter size was affected by PIBF. Fetal reabsorption was lower in RUPP+PIBF compared to RUPP rats. Total placental NK cells were 31 + 9 in NP (n=4), 31 + 5 in NP+PIBF (n=4), 42 + 8 in RUPP rats (n=4) and reduced to 26 + 2 in RUPP+PIBF (n=6). Placental cytolytic NK cells were 0.8 + 0.1 in NP, 0.2 + 0.1 in NP+PIBF, and 1.4 + 0.1 in RUPP rats, which decreased to 0.4+0.1 in RUPP+PIBF. CD4 + T cells were decreased from 21 + 6 in RUPP rats (n=4) to 8 + 2 gate in RUPP+PIBF (n=7). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that PIBF, a produce to progesterone receptor stimulation by progesterone, could be a mechanism to improve fetal growth restriction, inflammation as indicated by CD4+ T cells and cytolytic NK cells while normalizing blood pressure in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy.

Background: Progesterone-induced blocking factor, which is released from maternal lymphocytes during pregnancy mediates the immune effect of progesterone. According to new reports, it is suggested that proliferating cells, such as human trophoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and malignant tumors, can excrete progesterone-induced blocking factor at high ratio to escape from maternal immunity. It is shown in recent studies that progesterone-induced blocking factor is overexpressed in many malignant tumors such as breast, cervical, lymphoma, and leukemia. There are no data about progesterone-induced blocking factor expression in ovarian cancer cells. Hence, it is aimed to determine the progesterone-induced blocking factor expression levels in epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: The study which was a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a University Hospital. Twenty tissue specimens of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and 20 tissue specimens of patients with healthy ovary were included in the study. Primary rabbit polyclonal anti- progesterone-induced blocking factor antibody was used to incubate the sections at a ratio of 1:300. Results: When the tissue sections were compared based on immunostaining with progesterone-induced blocking factor, we detected high stromal progesterone-induced blocking factor expression in the epithelial ovarian cancer group as check against to the normal ovarian group (P = .007). Similarly, we found high glandular progesterone-induced blocking factor expression in the epithelial ovarian cancer group as check against to the normal ovarian group (P < .001). Conclusion: Proving the existence of progesterone-induced blocking factor expression in epithelial ovarian cancer cells may lead new visions or new studies for epithelial ovarian cancer immunotherapy. As a result, epithelial ovarian cancer cells have greater levels of expression of progesterone-induced blocking factor protein than normal ovarian tissue according to immunohistochemistry. Further research is needed to understand the clinical importance of this finding, to learn outcomes of high levels of progesterone-induced blocking factor, and to investigate its underlying mechanisms.

A total of 2,575 beef heifers (BW = 568 ± 28.1 lb; 258 ± 12.7 kg) at high-risk of developing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) were enrolled in a randomized complete-block design study at a commercial feedlot to evaluate the effect of 3 vaccine programs on health, growth performance, and carcass characteristics. Dates of arrival to the feedyard served as the blocking factor and 10, 3-pen blocks were enrolled in the study (n = 10 replications per vaccine program). Chute- order randomization was used during arrival processing to assign heifers to 1 of 3 vaccine programs that differed by vaccine products or timing of the pentavalent modified-live viral vaccination: 1) Pyramid® 5 and Presponse® SQ during arrival processing (PRE), 2) Titanium® 5 and Nuplura® PH during arrival processing (TNA), and 3) Nuplura® PH during arrival processing with Titanium® 5 delayed until 28 days- on-feed (TND). No booster vaccinations were administered. Overall mortality, BRD morbidity, and BRD treatment success risks did not differ among the vaccine programs (P>0.13). There were numerically fewer mortalities attributable to acute interstitial pneumonia in TNA heifers than the TND and PRE heifers (probability of difference = 0.99 and 1.00, respectively). Mortality attributable to BRD did not differ between vaccine programs (probability of difference < 0.48). Endotoxin concentrations were measured in the Mannheimia haemolytica vaccines, and were lower in Nuplura® PH than Presponse® SQ. An arrival vaccine program implementing Titanium® 5 and Nuplura® PH had similar efficacy on BRD- related health outcomes as vaccinating with Pyramid® 5 and Presponse® SQ. Delaying a pentavalent viral vaccine until 28 days-on-feed did not affect health or growth-performance outcomes in this study., The Bovine Practitioner, Vol. 52, No. 2 (2018 Summer)

Objective: To determine the role of progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) in women with threatened abortion. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The blood serum of two groups, the first one was women with normal gestation of  20 weeks, and the second one was those with imminent abortion in Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou Hospital, and Subcenter Hospital in Manado, was collected. Samples were processed with PIBF ELISA-kit. Results: PIBF serum value of women in normal gestation  20 weeks is (47.15323.830)ng/ml and threatened abortion is (11.540 4.892) ng/ml, with p value = 0.000. Conclusion: PIBF serum value of women with threatened abortion is significantly lower compared to women of normal gestation  20 weeks. This study showed that PIBF has an important role in maintaining pregnancy and can be used as a biologic marker of a pathologic process in pregnancy.Keywords: early pregnancy, pregnancy immunology, progesteroneinducedblocking factor, threatened abortion

Progesterone plays an important role in maintaining pregnancy. The success of pregnancy depends on the balance of immune response between the mother and the fetus. Progesterone regulates the immunological response through progesteroneinduced blocking factor (PIBF) which is synthesized by lymphocytes. Progesterone-induced blocking factor inhibits the production of arachidonic acid, reduced NK cell activity, and modulates the cytokine balance by increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10) level that is produced by Th2. This study aims to determine the roles of natural progesterone administration on PIBF and IL-10 levels and the increase in gestational length. This is an experimental research with pre- and post-test design. Subjects were pregnant women who met the criteria (n = 22). The treatment was done for 7 days. Progesteroneinduced blocking factor and IL-10 levels were measured before and after the administration of natural progesterone and the length of gestation were noted. The study was conducted at Dr Hasan Sadikin Hospital within July to December 2013. Results showed that after the administration of natural progesterone, there were increases on PIBF (p = 0.039) and IL-10 levels (p = 0.031). A positive correlation was noted between PIBF and IL-10 levels (r = 0.549; Spearman rank correlation test). There was also positive correlation between PIBF serum level (moderate strength correlation) and the length of gestation (r = 0.428; Point biserial correlation test). Progesterone-induced blocking factor serum level had more influence on the prolongation of the pregnancy compared to IL-10 level (OR: 1.016, 95% CI: 1.001 to 1.03; p = 0.033). Increased levels of PIBF and IL-10 after the administration of natural progesterone on the impending preterm delivery may prolong the gestation. Progesterone-induced blocking factor serum level have more dominant role in prolongation of gestation compared to IL-10. How to cite this article Thipasary Y, Effendi JS, Anwar AD. The Role of Natural Progesterone Administration on the Levels of Progesterone-induced Blocking Factor, Interleukin-10 and the Prolongation of Gestational Length in Impending Preterm Delivery. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2015;7(3):118-125.

The behavior of immunologically castrated barrows (IC; with Improvest; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) was compared with that of intact males (IM), physically castrated barrows (PC), and gilts (G). The study used 160 commercial crossbred pigs in a randomized complete block design (blocking factor was start date of study) and was performed over an 8-wk period from 16 wk of age (67.2 ± 2.50 kg BW) to a final BW of 126.5 ± 6.05 kg. The first Improvest dose was given to IC at the start of the study (d 0), and the second dose was given 28 d later. Pigs were housed in single-gender groups of 4 and had ad libitum access to feed and water. General, aggressive, and sexual behaviors were observed over a 12-h period from 0600 to 1800 h by the same trained investigators on d -1 (d prior to first dose), 13, 27 (day prior to second dose), 34, 41, and 55 of study (end of test). General behaviors (number of pigs lying, sitting, standing, at feeder, and at drinker) were recorded every 10 min in all pens (10 pens/gender), and aggressive (bites, head butts, and fights) and sexual (mounts) behaviors were recorded continuously over the 12-h period on a subsample of 4 pens/gender. There was no difference (0.05) between the genders for lying, sitting, or drinker-related behavior. For the 4-wk period prior to second dose, a greater percentage of PC and G were at the feeder (0.05) than IC or IM (8.0%, 7.4%, 10.2%, and 9.3% for IC, IM, PC, and G, respectively; SEM = 0.44). However, after the second dose, the percentage of pigs at the feeder was similar (0.05) for IC, PC, and G and was greater (0.05) for those genders than IM (10.1%, 7.1%, 10.0%, and 8.8%, respectively; SEM = 0.50). Prior to the second dose, the incidence of aggressive behaviors was generally greater for IC and IM compared with PC and G; however, after the second dose, the incidence of aggressive behaviors was similar for IC and PC and lower (0.05) for those genders than for IM. The frequency of mounts for IC was greater (0.05) than for PC before (25.5, 27.3, 2.5, and 1.5 total mounts/pen, respectively; SEM = 4.37) but not after (0.05; 3.3, 33.3, 0.25, and 0.25 total mounts/pen, respectively; SEM = 1.15) the second dose. These results suggest that prior to the second Improvest dose, the behavior of IC was similar to that of IM and transitioned to become more similar to the behavior of PC after the second dose.

Objective: Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) may be the mediator of the pregnancy maintenance effects of progesterone. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential value of measuring the maternal serum concentration of PIBF at 11–13 weeks’ gestation in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery. Method: The maternal serum concentration of PIBF at 11–13 weeks was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 25 singleton pregnancies which subsequently delivered spontaneously before 34 weeks, and 75 controls who delivered at or after 37 weeks. The values in the 2 groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The median maternal serum concentration of PIBF in women who subsequently delivered before 34 weeks (157.5, interquartile range 99.5–208.8 ng/ml) was not significantly different from the control group delivering at term (167.5, interquartile range 105.0–212.0 ng/ml; p = 0.519). Conclusions: In women who have a spontaneous early preterm delivery, the maternal serum levels of PIBF are not altered at 11–13 weeks of gestation.

Problem The objective of this study was to compare serum concentrations of progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF), anti-inflammatory (IL-10), and pro-inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ) cytokines of women with threatened pre-term delivery, with those of women with normal pregnancy and to evaluate the impact of PIBF on the outcome of pregnancy. Method of study A prospective study was conducted on a sample of 30 women with threatened pre-term delivery (study group) and 20 healthy pregnant women (control group) between the 24th and 37th gestational weeks. Serum PIBF, anti-inflammatory (IL-10), and pro-inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ) cytokine concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Thirteen of 30 patients (43.3%) with symptoms of threatened pre-term delivery, and one of 20 patients (5%) in the control group delivered before the 37th week of gestation. Mean PIBF concentrations in serum samples of patients with threatened pre-term delivery were significantly lower than in those of healthy pregnant women (171.12 ± 162.06 ng/mL versus 272.85 ± 114.87 ng/mL; P

In a breach-of-containment nuclear reactor accident, the near-field exposure is primarily through inhalation of radioiodine. Thyroid blockade by oral potassium iodide (KI) is a practical and effective protective measure for the general public in such an emergency. The retention functions incorporating the thyroid blocking effects by KI have been derived using a standard three-compartment model of iodine metabolism. This allows more accurate estimation of the thyroid dose by calculating the blocking factor.

The serum of a 12-year-old boy with CID, reconstituted by a bone marrow graft from an HL–A identical sibling, was studied for the presence of blocking and cytotoxic antibodies. After grafting, the patient's serum inhibited the response of autologous and of normal lymphocytes in the MLC. A non-HL–A lymphocytotoxic antibody was detected at the time severe GVHR. It reacted with lymphocytes from the patient's father, mother, sisters, and with 70 % of unrelated allogeneic lymphocytes. It was not reactive with the donor lymphocytes, suggesting that it was formed against a non-HL–A antigen present on the recipient tissues but absent on the donor cells. Prolonged bone-marrow allograft tolerance may depend upon active inhibition mediated by a humoral factor.

The loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies, known as recurrent miscarriage (RM), affects approximately 1 % of couples. Aetiology can be varied but in up to 50 % of the cases the cause remains unexplained. Progestogen supplementation has been used for more than half a century for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage in different doses and routes of administration. Progesterone activity is mediated via specific progesterone receptors, and is considered crucial for the development of an endometrial environment suitable for implantation. Progesterone regulates endometrial receptivity, and induces uterine quiescence. In addition, the immunomodulatory properties of progesterone, controlled by progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF), seem to be also important for the maintenance of early pregnancy. In women with RM there may be a degree of immunological intolerance, progesterone may benefit these women by altering the immune response to the embryo. Despite favourable meta-analyses on the use of progestogens in RM, the evidence is not considered to be solid and data from ongoing research are awaited.

The objective of this study was to analyze the maternal serum concentration of progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) with regard to the prediction and the interval between sampling and the onset of preterm birth. A prospective study was conducted on a sample of 37 women with threatened pre-term birth and 41 healthy pregnant women between the 24th and 28th gestational weeks. Out of 37 patients with threatened preterm birth 11 delivered pre-term and three groups of patients were formed: the preterm delivery group, patients with threatened preterm delivery, and healthy pregnant women. In samples that were taken within 5 days before labor started (6/11, 54.5%), PIBF concentrations were significantly lower than in those obtained more than 5 days before labor (5/11, 45.5%; the mean interval between sampling and the onset of labor was 4.1 ± 1.8 days). Multiple regression analysis of the individual contributions of each observed parameter for preterm delivery demonstrated the significant contribution of a lack of PIBF to preterm birth (p = 0.002). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PIBF for the prediction of preterm birth of women with symptoms of pre-term delivery. The PIBF demonstrated an excellent diagnostic value in the prediction of preterm birth with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.956 (95% CI = 0.884-0.989; p0.0001). Our data suggest that pregnancy termination can be predicted by lower than normal pregnancy PIBF values within 5 days before labor and can contribute to the diagnosis of preterm birth.

A new hybrid methodology for Knowledge Discovery in Serial Measurement (KDSM) and the results of applying it to psychiatry are presented in this paper. In the application domain where serial measurements are repeated and very short (i.e. very few parameters), traditional measuremethods for series analysis are inappropriate. Moreover, some information is non-serial but is closely connected to serial measurements. For this reason, common statistical analysis (time series analysis, multivariate data analysis ...) and artificial intelligence techniques (knowledge based methods, inductive learning) used independently provide often poor results because of the characteristics above and it is necessary a suitable way of analyzing these situations. KDSM is built as an hybrid methodology, specially designed to obtain knowledge from repeated very short serial measurement, in order to overcome the limitations of Artificial Intelligence or Statistics techniques. Novel knowledge about electroconvulsive therapy behavior was obtained once KDSM was applied to this specific domain. Thus, KDSM gives a possible solution to a knowledge problem.

Problem: The therapeutic value of progestogens in threatened abortion is still under debate. In the presence of sufficient progesterone levels during pregnancy, lymphocytes synthesize a mediator [progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)] that is anti-abortive in mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dydrogesterone on pregnancy outcome of threatened aborters. Method of study: Twenty-seven threatened aborters were treated for 10 days with dydrogesterone (30-40 mg/day). Sixteen healthy pregnant controls received no treatment. Serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations as well as urine PIBF concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Pregnancy outcomes in dydrogesterone-treated threatened aborters did not statistically differ from those in healthy controls. Serum progesterone concentrations in control patients, but not those in threatened aborters increased as pregnancy progressed. Following dydrogesterone treatment, initially low PIBF concentrations of threatened aborters significantly increased (P = 0,001) to reach the PIBF level found in healthy controls.

To study changes in the expression rate of PIBF by peripheral lymphocytes in healthy pregnant women after administration of mifepristone for non-surgical termination of pregnancy at 5-8 wks of gestation.Patients requesting early social termination of pregnancy, in a 3-month period, were included. A first venous blood sample was taken before oral administration of 600 mg of mifepristone (day 0). A second venous blood sample was taken 2 days later. PIBF on lymphocytes was determined by immunocytochemistry using a PIBF-specific polyclonal antibody.Termination of pregnancy was successful and complete in all cases. In 17 out of 21 patients, the percentage of PIBF positive lymphocytes decreased after anti-progesterone administration. The percentage of PIBF-expressing lymphocytes significantly decreased from 52.8%+/-21.6% (day 0) to 39.8%+/-18.2% by day 2 (p=0.001).These data suggest a strong relationship between early termination of pregnancy induced with mifepristone and disturbances of progesterone-mediated immunosuppression.

Problem: The therapeutic value of progestogens in threatened abortion is still under debate. In the presence of sufficient progesterone levels during pregnancy, lymphocytes synthesize a mediator [progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)] that is anti-abortive in mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dydrogesterone on pregnancy outcome of threatened aborters. Method of Study: Twenty-seven threatened aborters were treated for 10 days with dydrogesterone (30–40 mg/day). Sixteen healthy pregnant controls received no treatment. Serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations as well as urine PIBF concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Pregnancy outcomes in dydrogesterone-treated threatened aborters did not statistically differ from those in healthy controls. Serum progesterone concentrations in control patients, but not those in threatened aborters increased as pregnancy progressed. Following dydrogesterone treatment, initially low PIBF concentrations of threatened aborters significantly increased (P = 0.001) to reach the PIBF level found in healthy controls. Conclusions: These data suggest that by inducing PIBF production, dydrogesterone might improve pregnancy success rates in threatened aborters.

Purpose Specific immunoglobulin G4 (sIgG4) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-blocking factors produced by subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) play a critical role in the induction of allergen tolerance. However, comparative studies of available SCIT reagents on the induction of sIgG4 are limited. We compared increases in sIgG4 for three different house dust mite (HDM) SCIT reagents. Materials and Methods Seventy-two HDM sensitized allergic patients were enrolled and classified into four groups: 1) control (n=27), 2) SCIT with Hollister-Stier® (n=19), 3) Tyrosine S® (n=16), and 4) Novo-Helisen® (n=10). Levels of specific IgE (sIgE), sIgG4, and IgE blocking factor to Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) were measured using ImmunoCAP (sIgE, sIgG4) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (IgE-blocking factors). Levels were measured before and 13.9±6.6 months after the SCIT. The allergen specificity and the induction levels of sIgE and sIgG4 were confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Results After SCIT, sIgG4 levels to D. farinae increased significantly; however, the increases differed significantly among the SCIT groups (p

The problems of seafood processing sector in Turkey and suggestions In Turkey, consumption of seafood is significantly lower than the other countries. Inadequate transport of fresh seafood due to the insufficient cold chain conditions is probably the most blocking factor of seafood consumption and trade. Developing of seafood processing sector and cold chain conditions will improve the consumption and exportation of seafood. In order to increase the market share and competitive strength of processed seafood, consistent governmental policies should be sustained. To improve seafood industry, cooperation must be provided, taxes, and fees should be decreased, and convenient supporting system should be maintained. Obligating food safety system for seafood processing establishments and for wholesale fish markets, improving the cold chain conditions are necessary.

There is evidence that treatment with mifepristone a P receptor antagonist will provide a marked palliative effect for many human and murine spontaneous cancers. One proposed mechanism is that it may work by suppressing the expression of a unique immunomodulatory protein that amongst other things stabilizes perforin granules in natural killer (NK) cells and thus negates their cytolytic activity. In humans exposure to P causes a rapid rise in the serum of this protein called the PIBF. The origin for the circulating PIBF is from gamma/delta T cells and is initiated with P interacting with P receptors on gamma/delta T cells. PIBF exists as a 90 kDa nuclear protein occupying a centrosomal position in near proximity to BRCA-1 and is found in all rapidly growing cells including cancer cells. A 34-36 kDa splice variant is found in the cytoplasm of all cancer cells tested. Mifepristone has been found to provide marked palliation despite the absence of evidence of circulating PIBF in some cancers not known to be positive for P receptors. One possible mechanism is suppression of the formation of the 34-36 kDa intracytoplasmic form from the parent 90 kDa form. The objective of the present study was to determine if tumors known to be P receptor positive may demonstrate circulating PIBF. In a blinded manner, serum PIBF was measured in 21 serum samples of women with breast cancer obtained prior to surgery using a research ELISA assay for PIBF. The PIBF levels were then compared according to estrogen (E) and P receptor status. The mean level of PIBF (ng/mL) for those who were ER positive but P receptor negative in 7 cases was 31.0+49.7 with a range of 2.1 to 142.5. For 7 cases that were ER positive and P receptor positive the mean level +SD was 24.8+37.46 and the range 2.4 to 108.32. For ER negative and P receptor positive for 7 cases, the mean PIBF was 24.6+28.3 and the range 6.0 to 86.9. There were no significant differences by ANOVA. It is not clear as yet if P receptor antagonist therapy will provide better palliative effect for P receptor positive vs. P receptor negative tumors, but if so, the mechanism (if it is immunologic) does not seem to be related to suppressing increased levels of circulating PIBF. Thus, testing serum with this new ELISA assay does not seem to be a helpful method to determine which patients may benefit from P receptor antagonist therapy. Some recent data suggest that the P receptor antagonist may suppress intracellular PIBF but not circulative PIBF. Thus, these data do not exclude the possibility that PIBF may play a vital role in escape of cancer cells from immune surveillance but it is the intracytoplasmic form that provides immune protection. Citation Format: Jerome H. Check, Anne Rosenberg, Ann DiAntonio, Hallgeir Rui, Rachael Cohen, Gabrielle DiAntonio. Serum levels of the immunomodulatory protein, the progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) are not higher in women with progesterone (P) receptor (R) positive vs. negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1281. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1281

Most challenges are related with management in Higher Education institutions and the difficulty of considering students as “clients” more than “users” and definitely different of “products”.

The paper presents the knowledge discovery in serial measures (KDSM) methodology as an easy and optimal way for analyzing repeated very short serial measures with a blocking factor. An application to labor the domain is described using KDSM. A novel knowledge about labor domain's behavior was obtained once KDSM was applied to this specific domain. KDSM is a hybrid methodology (statistic and artificial intelligence) that gives a possible solution to a knowledge problem, especially when seemingly there are no relevant attributes.

This paper is an introduction of Knowledge Discovery in Serial Measurement (KDSM) methodology for analyzing repeated and very short serial measures with a blocking factor in ill-structured domains (ISD). KDSM arises from the results obtained in a real application of psychiatry (presented in the previous issue of CCIA [11]). In this application domain, common statistical analysis (time series analysis, multivariate data analysis...) and artificial intelligence techniques (knowledge based methods, inductive learning), employed independently, are often inadequate due to the intrinsic characteristics of ISD. KDSM is based on both the combination of statistical methods and artificial intelligence techniques, including the use of clustering based on rules (introduced by Gibert in 1994).

Decreased production of blocking factors (BF) is a common manifestation of immune dysfunction in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA), and this disorder may be corrected by lymphocyte immunotherapy performed with paternal lymphocytes (LIT). Our previously data show, in a half of RSA cases, BF deficiency is not associated with a reduced MLC response, being detected not only in RSA, but also in primary infertility of unknown origin. In this work we have investigated the effect of LIT upon BF activity and evaluated clinical efficacy of immunotherapy in women with RSA and primary unexplained infertility, taking into account the efficiency of BF production. The lymphocytes immunotherapy was accompanied by the appearance of BF in women with RSA (75%) and in women with primary unexplained infertility (74%). BF were detected at similar frequency in the groups of women with intact and reduced response in MLC. Clinical efficacy (number of births) was – 65.5% in RSA group, and 40% in primary infertility. The rate of successful pregnancy in both groups was shown to be significantly higher in women positive for BF as compared with the BF-negative women, including women with RSA (70% vs 28%) and primary infertility (50 vs 9%). Hence, LIT in BF-negative women is accompanied by enhanced production of blocking factors, thus being associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, both in females with history of RSA, and in women with unexplained infertility

A graphic formalism «itinerary nets» is expounded for representation of real–time software application structures. The formalism is oriented to verification of static and dynamic properties of task interfaces. The bounds are defined for applicability of verification that is based on using of states and transitions graphs. A method is defined for assessing the value of blocking factor in systems with concatenated critical intervals of access to shared resources. The method is based on introduce of task profile feature.