Lymph node swelling combined with temporary effector T cell retention aids T cell response in a model of adaptive immunity

Swelling of lymph nodes (LNs) is commonly observed during the adaptive immune response, yet the impact on T cell (TC) trafficking and subsequent immune response is not well known. To better understand the effect of macro-scale alterations, we developed an agent-based model of the LN paracortex, describing the TC proliferative response to antigen-presenting dendritic cells alongside inflammation-driven and swelling-induced changes in TC recruitment and egress, while also incorporating regulation of the expression of egress-modulating TC receptor sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1. Analysis of the effector TC response under varying swelling conditions showed that swelling consistently aided TC activation. However, subsequent effector CD8 + TC production was reduced in scenarios where swelling occurred too early in the TC proliferative phase or when TC cognate frequency was low due to increased opportunity for TC exit. Temporarily extending retention of newly differentiated effector TCs, mediated by sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 expression, mitigated any negative effects of swelling by allowing facilitation of activation to outweigh increased access to exit areas. These results suggest that targeting temporary effector TC retention and egress associated with swelling offers new ways to modulate effector TC responses in, for example, immuno-suppressed patients and to optimize of vaccine design.

Composite filler by pre-flocculation of fiber fines and PCC and its effect on paper properties

A composite filler was developed by pre-flocculation of fiber fines and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles with flocculants such as cationic polyacrylamide (cPAM) and bentonite. The composite filler was compared with a conventional loading method in terms of physical properties of handsheet and filler retention. The handsheets using the composite filler showed higher strength properties than that using a conventional loading at a similar paper ash content level, implying that paper ash content can be increased maintaining same level of paper strength. Optical properties such as opacity and brightness of the paper with the composite were quite similar with the paper with the conventional loading. Filler retention of the composite filler was slightly higher than that of the conventional loading even though retention aids were not used for the composite filler. Paper formation of the composite filler was better than the case of the conventional loading. However, the sheet with the composite filler showed lower bulk than that with the conventional loading. Conclusively, the composite filler technology by pre-flocculation of fines and filler has a potential to be utilized to produce a high loaded paper.

Industrial Application of Nanocelluloses in Papermaking: A Review of Challenges, Technical Solutions, and Market Perspectives

Nanocelluloses (NC) increase mechanical and barrier paper properties allowing the use of paper in applications actually covered by other materials. Despite the exponential increase of information, NC have not been fully implemented in papermaking yet, due to the challenges of using NC. This paper provides a review of the main new findings and emerging possibilities in this field by focusing mainly on: (i) Decoupling the effects of NC on wet-end and paper properties by using synergies with retention aids, chemical modification, or filler preflocculation; (ii) challenges and solutions related to the incorporation of NC in the pulp suspension and its effects on barrier properties; and (iii) characterization needs of NC at an industrial scale. The paper also includes the market perspectives. It is concluded that to solve these challenges specific solutions are required for each paper product and process, being the wet-end optimization the key to decouple NC effects on drainage and paper properties. Furthermore, the effect of NC on recyclability must also be taken into account to reach a compromise solution. This review helps readers find upscale options for using NC in papermaking and identify further research needs within this field.

The wet strength of water- and foam-laid cellulose sheets prepared with polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin

Some paper and paperboard grades require strength also when rewetted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of web forming method, different foaming agents, polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) wet strength resin, and retention aids on the strength development of hand sheets. Only a slight, if any, improvement in dry tensile strength due to PAE resin was observed. PAE improved the wet strength of the water-laid sheets, and the retention systems had a minor but positive impact. Although wet strength was lower at given PAE addition levels, the trend was similar with the sheets foam-laid with an anionic foaming agent, except at high PAE levels. With the non-ionic surfactant the maximum level of wet strength was reached already at a low PAE addition level and use of retention aids decreased wet strength. Such differences between the water- and foam-laid sheets are most likely due to the chemical interactions between PAE, foaming agents, and other additives.

Forming fabric weave-scale variations in paper filler content

A series of experiments were conducted on handsheets to investigate small-scale variations in filler concentration on the surface of paper. The surface distribution of two types of filler material was investigated: precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and kaolin clay (Al2Si2O5(OH)4). The effect of retention aids, dewatering rate, and forming fabric geometry on filler distribution was tested. Local filler concentration was found to be strongly correlated with the relative flow velocity during formation. In samples formed by gravity and vacuum drainage, kaolin displayed a significantly greater variation in local concentration than precipitated calcium carbonate, though the difference was reduced under vacuum drainage conditions. The distribution on the top side of the paper was comparable between the filler types, independent of drainage velocity. Under vacuum drainage, retention aids did not improve filler uniformity on the wire side. However, on the top side of the paper, a moderate reduction in spatial variation was observed. Additionally, on the wire side of samples made with gravity drainage, the addition of retention aids produced a significant improvement in the uniformity of the filler material. These filler distribution trends are believed to be related to variable filler retention as a function of filler type, drainage velocity, and chemical retention aids. Additionally, samples made with an industry forming fabric showed the same distribution trends and an improvement in the uniformity of the filler material.

Synergetic Performance of Retention Aids on Reconstituted Tobacco by Papermaking Process

In this work, the effects of four kinds of additives including polyethyleneimine, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, and chitosan on the retention performance of reconstituted tobacco pulp and strength character of final base sheet were discussed. The results showed that the filler retention efficiency and first pass retention efficiency increased by 17.7% and by 5.8% at chitosan dosage of 0.2%, respectively. Moreover, the tensile index showed a distinct increase in chitosan retention system. The largest strength index was found to be in carboxymethylcellulose retention system, the tensile index was increased from 6.5 N•m/g to 8.67 N•m/g, and the wet tensile index was increased from 0.37 N•m/g to 0.51 N•m/g.

New insights into retention aids dosage and mixing

In this work, critical design and operational parameters for retention aids dosage are studied through a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimentation and pilot-scale production trials. In the first part of this work, three different retention aids dosage strategies are investigated in conjunction with pilot scale production trials. In all dosage strategies, a maximum in the percentage filler retention was observed at a speed ratio of 1.1, while considerably lower retention levels were observed when the speed ratio was greater than 2.2. However, the different dosage strategies led to markedly different retention of filler material. In the second part of this work, two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to model the three different dosage strategies implemented in the pilot production trials. The location and magnitude of maximum strain in each nozzle was determined and for each dosage case this was found to occur just outside the dosage nozzle at the point of impingement between the dosage and outer flows. In the third part of this work, conditions leading to the onset of retention polymer degradation were determined using an experimental flow loop. The effect of dosage speed and elongational strain created inside the dosage nozzle were studied systematically. These experiments showed that the effect of relative dosage velocity on polymer degradation was minimal. However, large levels of polymer degradation were observed when the elongational strain in the dosage nozzle was increased, i.e. when the exit nozzle diameter was decreased. Together, the three sets of experiments suggest that elongational strain during dosage degrades retention aids polymers and therefore hinders filler retention during production.