PPLATE: a computer program for analysis of parallel-plate flow chamber experimental data.

PPLATE is a computer program developed to analyze raw cell adhesion data obtained from the parallel-plate flow chamber. It is based on a mathematical model described elsewhere (Zhang and Neelamegham, 2002a). The objective of this software is to analyze raw data on cell rolling, firm-arrest and cell transmigration to determine four frequency and probability parameters, namely, primary capture frequency, firm-arrest frequency, cell–cell capture probability and rolling-release frequency. These parameters are analogous to the ‘‘adhesion efficiency’’ used to quantify the rate of cellular aggregation in suspension. Overall, while the raw cell rolling and firm-arrest data are a function of the physical features of the experiment system that control the rate of cell–substrate and cell–cell collisions such as inlet cell concentration and wall shear stress, the frequency and probability parameters are purely functions of the biological adhesivity of cells and their response to fluid shear U