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This paper presents a design optimization of valveless micropump using Genetic Algorithms (GA). The micropump is designed with a diaphragm, pumping chamber and diffuser/nozzle element functions as inlet and outlet of micropump with outer dimension of (5×1.75×5) mm3. The main objectives of this research are to determine the optimum pressure to be applied at micropump’s diaphragm and to find the optimum coupling parameters of the micropump to achieve high flow rate with low power consumption. In order to determine the micropump design performance, the total deformation, strain energy density, equivalent stress for diaphragm, velocity and net flow rate of micropump are investigated. An optimal resonant frequency range for the diaphragm of valveless micropump is obtained through the result assessment. With the development of GA-ANSYS model, a maximum total displacement of diaphragm, 5.3635 µm, with 12 kPa actuation pressure and optimum net flowrate of 7.467 mL/min are achieved.

Aim: To describe the dietary intakes of women with Type 1 diabetes before and during pregnancy. Methods: This was a pre‐specified subgroup analysis of CONCEPTT involving 63 women planning pregnancy and 93 pregnant women from 14 sites in England, Scotland and Ireland. Two hundred and forty‐six 3‐day food diaries (104 planning pregnancy, 142 pregnant) were matched to data source and food reference codes, and analysed using dietary software. Participants were informed that food diaries would be de‐identified and used only for research purposes. Results: Mean (sd) daily energy intake was 1588 (346) kcal and 1673 (384) kcal in women planning pregnancy and pregnant women respectively. Total carbohydrate intake was consistent with dietary guideline recommendations [180 (52) g planning pregnancy, 198 (54) g pregnant], but non‐recommended sources (e.g. sugars, preserves, confectionery, biscuits, cakes) contributed to 46% of total daily carbohydrate intake. Fat consumption exceeded guideline recommendations [70 (21) g planning pregnancy, 72 (21) g pregnant]. Fibre [15.5 (5.3) g planning pregnancy, 15.4 (5.1) g pregnant], fruit and vegetable intakes [3.5 (2.2) and 3.1 (1.8) serves/day] were inadequate. Twelve women planning pregnancy (19%) and 24 pregnant women (26%) did not meet micronutrient requirements. Conclusions: The diets of pregnant women from England, Scotland and Ireland are characterized by high fat, low fibre and poor‐quality carbohydrate intakes. Fruit and vegetable consumption is inadequate, with one in four women at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Further research is needed to optimize maternal nutrition for glycaemic control and for maternal and offspring health. What's new?: Maternal glycaemic control is the main modifiable determinant of pregnancy outcomes in Type 1 diabetes. Maternal diet influences insulin dosing and glycaemia; and contributes to the overall health of the mother, yet this has not been described previously.This study demonstrates that pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes have higher than recommended intakes of fat and inadequate intakes of fibre, fruit and vegetables.One in four women are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies suggesting substantial scope for improvement.Further research is required to understand how to optimize maternal nutrition both for achieving glucose control targets and for improving overall maternal and infant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on polycarbonate (PC) containing sodium montmorillonite (NaMMT) and maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MA) were prepared by melt compounding method followed by injection molding. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed the formation of intercalated nanocomposites. Incorporation of SEBS-g-MA into the PC/MMT nanocomposites enhanced ductility and impact strength but slightly reduced tensile strength and stiffness. The glass transition temperature (Tg - detected from DMTA) and onset temperature (Tonset - detected from TGA) of the PC nanocomposites was increased in the presence of SEBS-g-MA. For this PC/NaMMT system, SEBS-g-MA could act as an effective toughening agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppression of growth of a number of different murine tumours, injected subcutaneously or into the foot pad, was induced by prior intraperitoneal or intravenous immunisation with Salmonella enteritidis URX. The effect of immunisation on tumour growth was relatively minor. but could be enhanced by addition of 11BX antigen preparations to the suspensions of tumour cells used for challenge. The significance of these findings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to Krebs ascites tumour, sarcoma S180) (ascitic form) and PC6 plasmacytoma can be induced with prior immunisation with live Salmonella enteritidis 11RX. One thousand to ten thousand more tumour cells are needed to give an LD50, after immunisation. Resistance to PC6 could be recalled 1.37 days after intravenous immunisation with 11RX protein antigen intraperitoneally as measured by prolonged survival or monitoring the death of 5[131I]-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine labelled tumour cells in vivo. The range of tumours to which resistance can be produced by 11RX immunisation suggests that the mechanism of resistance does not involve antigens common to the tumours and Salmonella enteritidis 11RX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibodies of the CD9 cluster recognize a 24 kD protein (p24) found on platelets and endothelium. and expressed by lymphocytes at restricted stages of maturation and activation. In this study, we explore the possibility that p24 is involved in the response of lymphocytes to signals delivered by lymphokines. p24 is expressed only very weakly by resting B lymphocytes. We found no increase in expression when cells were activated with anti-immunoglobulin together with interleukin-4, or induced to proliferate by low-molecular weight B cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF). Culture of activated B cells with B cell differentiation factor was associated with an increased mean expression of p24. In cells from a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), culture with LMW-BCGF up-regulated p24 expression. Resting T cells (p24-negative) were induced to express p24 strongly when activated with antibody against CD3. CD9 antibody did not modulate B or T cell responses to activation stimuli. The results suggest that the p24 molecule is not involved in the primary interaction of cells with lymphokine, but rather may be involved in a secondary reaction, such as ion flux, which follows as a consequence of the action of lymphokines on cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BLCa is an antigen expressed on the surface of B lymphocytes and certain carcinomas, in this study we have demonstrated that BLCa is distinct from known B cell antigens classified by `clusters of differentiation' (CD), In particular, the monoclonal antibody MA6. which identifies BLCa. can be distinguished from antibodies of the CDw40 group. which detect an antigen of similar molecular weight expressed also on B cells and certain carcinomas. The expression of BLCa on B cells was measured as tonsil B cells were activated (by anti-Ig and interleukin-4 (IL-4)), induced to proliferate (by low molecular weight B Cell Growth Factor (LMW-BCGF). and induced to differentiate (by B Cell Differentiation Factor. BCDF). Expression of BLCa increased in response to LMW-BCGF. The effect of inclusion of MA6 antibody in cultures with the B cell stimuli was also investigated. MA6 showed an anti-proliferative effect which was antibody-dose dependent. but did not otherwise inhibit or co-operate with anti-Ig, IL-4, LMW-BCGF or BCDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C1q binding assay and the nephelometric monoclonal rheumatoid factor assay were able to discriminate 79% and 57% respectively of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from healthy blood donors. In addition these assays could distinguish those patients with active arthritis from those with inactive disease, and the C1q binding assay correlated significantly with other laboratory indices of the rheumatoid process, including the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, low molecular weight or 7S IgM, and the rheumatoid factor titre. High levels of C1q binding were also seen in rheumatoid vasculitis. Both assays gave higher mean values in synovial fluid compared with the corresponding serum, but it appeared from ultracentrifugal analysis and from a lack of a consistent correlation between these assays that each assay was measuring different forms of immunecomplex-like material which may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of this disease. The C1q binding assay is of some value in the laboratory assessment of rheumatoid arthritis and appears to offer greater advantages than the monoclonal rheumatoid factor assay, although the usefulness of this latter assay may be very dependent on the monoclonal rheumatoid factor used. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Laser nephelometric estimation of IgM in the eluate fractions following Sepharose 6B chromatography has enabled the calculation of the proportion of low molecular weight IgM (7S IgM) in normal and pathological sera. This figure has then been used to determine the absolute amount of 7S IgM. Twenty-seven of 36 (75%) patients with rheumatoid arthritis had 7S IgM with a mean value of 17 mg/100 ml (170 mg/l) (range 2.5-59 mg/100 ml). No sera from 10 healthy controls were found to contain 7S IgM. Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis had significantly more 7S IgM than those with inactive disease, but there was no significant difference between those patients with and without rheumatoid vasculitis. Significant correlations occurred between 7S IgM and the absolute IgM level (P < 0.01), the Rose-Waaler titre (P < 0.01), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.01). However, there was no significant correlation with the age of the patient, the duration of the disease, or the level of circulating immune complexes as measured by the Clq binding assay. It is concluded that 7S IgM commonly occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, and it is postulated that a common immunological stimulus is responsible for the production of 7S IgM and rheumatoid factors, serological abnormalities that characterise this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The unstimulated random migration and the serum-induced chemokinesis of neutrophils obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 19) was not different from those of controls (ii = 20). However, neutrophils obtained from the joint fluid of rheumatoid patients (n = 10) demonstrated a reduced serum-induced chemokinesis which was correlated with the amount of immune complexes present in the synovial fluid. The chemotactic response of peripheral blood neutrophils from subjects with rheumatoid arthritis taking aspirin (n = 11) was increased while that of those rheumatoid subjects not taking aspirin (n = 8) was the same as controls. It is concluded that although there is no impairment of the in vitro migratory capacities of peripheral blood neutrophils obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, neutrophils obtained from synovial fluids exhibit a marked defect in chemokinesis which may be related to the ingestion of immune complexes within the joint space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis inhibited the migration of human neutrophils in 63% (twenty-two out of thirty-five) of the cases tested. The inhibition was not due to a toxic effect of the serum as it was reversed by a chemotactic stimulus. There was a strong correlation between the degree of inhibition of neutrophil migration and the amount of immune complexes present in the sera its determined by the Clq binding activity. It is suggested that the inhibition of neutrophil migration is due to the presence of circulating immune complexes, and that the capacity of immune complexes to inhibit neutrophil migration in vitro may also contribute to the accumulation of neutrophils at sites of immune complex formation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]