713 research outputs found
On phase behavior and dynamical signatures of charged colloidal platelets
We investigate the competition between anisotropic excluded-volume and
repulsive electrostatic interactions in suspensions of thin charged colloidal
discs, by means of Monte-Carlo simulations and dynamical characterization of
the structures found. We show that the original intrinsic anisotropy of the
electrostatic potential between charged platelets, obtained within the
non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann formalism, not only rationalizes the generic
features of the complex phase diagram of charged colloidal platelets such as
Gibbsite and Beidellite clays, but also predicts the existence of novel
structures. In addition, we find evidences of a strong slowing down of the
dynamics upon increasing density.Comment: 6 pages, 6 Figure
Cooperative Stimulation of Dendritic Cells by Cryptococcus neoformans Mannoproteins and CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides
While mannosylation targets antigens to mannose receptors on dendritic cells (DC), the resultant immune response is suboptimal. We hypothesized that the addition of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands would enhance the DC response to mannosylated antigens. Cryptococcus neoformans mannoproteins (MP) synergized with CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides to stimulate enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines from murine conventional and plasmacytoid DC. Synergistic stimulation required the interaction of mannose residues on MP with the macrophage mannose receptor (MR), CD206. Moreover, synergy with MP was observed with other TLR ligands, including tripalmitoylated lipopeptide (Pam3CSK4), polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (pI:C), and imiquimod. Finally, CpG enhanced MP-specific MHC II-restricted CD4+ T-cell responses by a mechanism dependent upon DC expression of CD206 and TLR9. These data suggest a rationale for vaccination strategies that combine mannosylated antigens with TLR ligands and imply that immune responses to naturally mannosylated antigens on pathogens may be greatly augmented if TLR and MR are cooperatively stimulated.National Institutes of Health (RO1 AI25780, RO1 AI37532, K08 AI 53542
Interplay of anisotropy in shape and interactions in charged platelet suspensions
Motivated by the intriguing phase behavior of charged colloidal platelets, we
investigate the structure and dynamics of charged repulsive disks by means of
Monte-Carlo simulations. The electrostatic interactions are taken into account
through an effective two-body potential, obtained within the non-linear
Poisson-Boltzmann formalism, which has the form of anisotropic screened Coulomb
potential. Recently, we showed that the original intrinsic anisotropy of the
electrostatic potential in competition with excluded volume effects leads to a
rich phase behavior that not only includes various liquid-crsytalline phases
but also predicts the existence of novel structures composed of alternating
nematic-antinematic sheets. Here, we examine the structural and dynamical
signatures of each of the observed structures for both translational and
rotational degrees of freedom. Finally, we discuss the influence of effective
charge value and our results in relation to experimental findings on charged
platelet suspensions.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figure
A novel vaccine platform using glucan particles for induction of protective responses against Francisella tularensis and other pathogens
Vaccines are considered the bedrock of preventive medicine. However, for many pathogens, it has been challenging to develop vaccines that stimulate protective, long-lasting immunity. We have developed a novel approach using beta-1,3-D-glucans (BGs), natural polysaccharides abundantly present in fungal cell walls, as a biomaterial platform for vaccine delivery. BGs simultaneously provide for receptor-targeted antigen delivery to specialized antigen-presenting cells together with adjuvant properties to stimulate antigen-specific and trained non-specific immune responses. This review focuses on various approaches of using BG particles (GPs) to develop bacterial and fungal vaccine candidates. A special case history for the development of an effective GP tularaemia vaccine candidate is highlighted
Mean first-passage time of surface-mediated diffusion in spherical domains
We present an exact calculation of the mean first-passage time to a target on
the surface of a 2D or 3D spherical domain, for a molecule alternating phases
of surface diffusion on the domain boundary and phases of bulk diffusion. The
presented approach is based on an integral equation which can be solved
analytically. Numerically validated approximation schemes, which provide more
tractable expressions of the mean first-passage time are also proposed. In the
framework of this minimal model of surface-mediated reactions, we show
analytically that the mean reaction time can be minimized as a function of the
desorption rate from the surface.Comment: to appear in J. Stat. Phy
Nuclear forward scattering in particulate matter: dependence of lineshape on particle size distribution
In synchrotron Moessbauer spectroscopy, the nuclear exciton polariton
manifests itself in the lineshape of the spectra of nuclear forward scattering
(NFS) Fourier-transformed from time domain to frequency domain. This lineshape
is generally described by the convolution of two intensity factors. One of them
is Lorentzian related to free decay. We derived the expressions for the second
factor related to Frenkel exciton polariton effects at propagation of
synchrotron radiation in Moessbauer media. Parameters of this Frenkelian shape
depend on the spatial configuration of Moessbauer media. In a layer of uniform
thickness, this factor is found to be a simple hypergeometric function. Next,
we consider the particles spread over a 2D surface or diluted in non-Moessbauer
media to exclude an overlap of ray shadows by different particles. Deconvolving
the purely polaritonic component of linewidths is suggested as a simple
procedure sharpening the experimental NFS spectra in frequency domain. The
lineshapes in these sharpened spectra are theoretically expressed via the
parameters of the particle size distributions (PSD). Then, these parameters are
determined through least-squares fitting of the line shapes.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure
Chord distribution functions of three-dimensional random media: Approximate first-passage times of Gaussian processes
The main result of this paper is a semi-analytic approximation for the chord
distribution functions of three-dimensional models of microstructure derived
from Gaussian random fields. In the simplest case the chord functions are
equivalent to a standard first-passage time problem, i.e., the probability
density governing the time taken by a Gaussian random process to first exceed a
threshold. We obtain an approximation based on the assumption that successive
chords are independent. The result is a generalization of the independent
interval approximation recently used to determine the exponent of persistence
time decay in coarsening. The approximation is easily extended to more general
models based on the intersection and union sets of models generated from the
iso-surfaces of random fields. The chord distribution functions play an
important role in the characterization of random composite and porous
materials. Our results are compared with experimental data obtained from a
three-dimensional image of a porous Fontainebleau sandstone and a
two-dimensional image of a tungsten-silver composite alloy.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Kinetics of active surface-mediated diffusion in spherically symmetric domains
We present an exact calculation of the mean first-passage time to a target on
the surface of a 2D or 3D spherical domain, for a molecule alternating phases
of surface diffusion on the domain boundary and phases of bulk diffusion. We
generalize the results of [J. Stat. Phys. {\bf 142}, 657 (2011)] and consider a
biased diffusion in a general annulus with an arbitrary number of regularly
spaced targets on a partially reflecting surface. The presented approach is
based on an integral equation which can be solved analytically. Numerically
validated approximation schemes, which provide more tractable expressions of
the mean first-passage time are also proposed. In the framework of this minimal
model of surface-mediated reactions, we show analytically that the mean
reaction time can be minimized as a function of the desorption rate from the
surface.Comment: Published online in J. Stat. Phy
Towards deterministic equations for Levy walks: the fractional material derivative
Levy walks are random processes with an underlying spatiotemporal coupling.
This coupling penalizes long jumps, and therefore Levy walks give a proper
stochastic description for a particle's motion with broad jump length
distribution. We derive a generalized dynamical formulation for Levy walks in
which the fractional equivalent of the material derivative occurs. Our approach
will be useful for the dynamical formulation of Levy walks in an external force
field or in phase space for which the description in terms of the continuous
time random walk or its corresponding generalized master equation are less well
suited
Aging dynamics in a colloidal glass of Laponite
The aging dynamics of colloidal suspensions of Laponite, a synthetic clay, is
investigated using dynamic light stattering (DLS) and viscometry after a quench
into the glassy phase. DLS allows to follow the diffusion of Laponite particles
and reveals that there are two modes of relaxation. The fast mode corresponds
to a rapid diffusion of particles within "cages" formed by the neighboring
particles. The slow mode corresponds to escape from the cages: its average
relaxation time increases exponentially fast with the age of the glass. In
addition, the slow mode has a broad distribution of relaxation times, its
distribution becoming larger as the system ages. Measuring the concomitant
increase of viscosity as the system ages, we can relate the slowing down of the
particle dynamics to the viscosity.Comment: 9 pages, 8 Postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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