4,238 research outputs found
Evaluation of the North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Service: July 1993 - October 1994
Agricultural Finance,
Conversations, dialog and deliberation : leaders moving towards the democratization of school reform
This work emerged over the course of the conference, Re/forming Education: Linking Schools, Universities and Communities for Democratic School Reform. During sessions held as part of the conference, participants were asked to engage in dialog about the issues presented. These dialog sessions, held most often in small groups, included note taking and group writing. As a result, this piece is the product of the multiple voices (Superintendent, Principal, Professor, Non-governmental Organizations) present during the conference. While the piece in no way reflects the complete thoughts of one individual, it does share some of the essence of the deliberation that occurred
Macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion is enhanced following interaction with autologous platelets
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Macrophages are the dominant phagocyte at sites of wound healing and inflammation, and the cellular and acellular debris encountered by macrophages can have profound effects on their inflammatory profile. Following interaction with apoptotic cells, macrophages are known to switch to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Activated platelets, however, are also a major component of inflammatory lesions and have been proposed to be pro-inflammatory mediators. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that macrophage interaction with activated platelets results in an inflammatory response that differs from the response following phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) were co-incubated with autologous activated platelets (AAPs) and the platelet-macrophage interaction was examined by electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-23 were also measured during LPS-activated hMDM co-incubation with AAPs, which was compared to co-incubation with apoptotic lymphocytes. Cytokine secretion was also compared to platelets pre-treated with the gluococorticoid dexamethasone.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Macrophages trapped and phagocytized AAPs utilizing a mechanism that was significantly inhibited by the scavenger receptor ligand fucoidan. LPS-induced macrophage secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-23 was inhibited by co-incubation with apoptotic cells, but enhanced by co-incubation with AAPs. The platelet-dependent enhancement of LPS-induced cytokines could be reversed by pre-loading the platelets with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The interaction of human macrophages with autologous platelets results in scavenger-receptor-mediated platelet uptake and enhancement of LPS-induced cytokines. Therefore, the presence of activated platelets at sites of inflammation may exacerbate pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. The possibility of reversing macrophage activation with dexamethasone-loaded platelets is a promising therapeutic approach to treating unresolved inflammation.</p
Nanoparticle growth following photochemical α‐ and β‐pinene oxidation at Appledore Island during International Consortium for Research on Transport and Transformation/Chemistry of Halogens at the Isles of Shoals 2004
Nanoparticle events were observed 48 times in particle size distributions at Appledore Island during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation/Chemistry of Halogens on the Isles of Shoals (ICARTT/CHAiOS) field campaign from 2 July to 12 August of 2004. Eighteen of the nanoparticle events showed particle growth and occurred during mornings when peaks in mixing ratios of α‐ and β‐pinene and ozone made production of condensable products from photochemical oxidation probable. Many pollutants and other potential precursors for aerosol formation were also at elevated mixing ratios during these events, including NO, HNO3, NH3, HCl, propane, and several other volatile organic carbon compounds. There were no consistent changes in particle composition, although both submicron and supermicron particles included high maximum concentrations of methane sulfonate, sulfate, iodide, nitrate, and ammonium during these events. Nanoparticle growth continued over several hours with a nearly linear rate of increase of diameter with time. The observed nanoparticle growth rates varied from 3 to 13 nm h−1. Apparent nanoparticle aerosol mass fractions (yields) were estimated to range from less than 0.0005 to almost 1 using α‐ and β‐pinene as the presumed particle source. These apparent high aerosol mass fractions (yields) at low changes in aerosol mass are up to two orders of magnitude greater than predictions from extrapolated laboratory parameterizations and may provide a more accurate assessment of secondary organic aerosol formation for estimating the growth of nanoparticles in global models
Characterizing the Youngest Herschel-detected Protostars I. Envelope Structure Revealed by CARMA Dust Continuum Observations
We present CARMA 2.9 mm dust continuum emission observations of a sample of
14 Herschel-detected Class 0 protostars in the Orion A and B molecular clouds,
drawn from the PACS Bright Red Sources (PBRS) sample (Stutz et al.). These
objects are characterized by very red 24 \micron\ to 70 \micron\ colors and
prominent submillimeter emission, suggesting that they are very young Class 0
protostars embedded in dense envelopes. We detect all of the PBRS in 2.9 mm
continuum emission and emission from 4 protostars and 1 starless core in the
fields toward the PBRS; we also report 1 new PBRS source. The ratio of 2.9 mm
luminosity to bolometric luminosity is higher by a factor of 5 on
average, compared to other well-studied protostars in the Perseus and Ophiuchus
clouds. The 2.9 mm visibility amplitudes for 6 of the 14 PBRS are very flat as
a function of uv-distance, with more than 50\% of the source emission arising
from radii 1500 AU. These flat visibility amplitudes are most consistent
with spherically symmetric envelope density profiles with
~~R. Alternatively, there could be a massive unresolved
structure like a disk or a high-density inner envelope departing from a smooth
power-law. The large amount of mass on scales 1500 AU (implying high
average central densities) leads us to suggest that that the PBRS with flat
visibility amplitude profiles are the youngest PBRS and may be undergoing a
brief phase of high mass infall/accretion and are possibly among the youngest
Class 0 protostars. The PBRS with more rapidly declining visibility amplitudes
still have large envelope masses, but could be slightly more evolved.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 40 pages, 9 Figures, 4 Table
Evolution of Mass Outflow in Protostars
We have surveyed 84 Class 0, Class I, and flat-spectrum protostars in
mid-infrared [Si II], [Fe II] and [S I] line emission, and 11 of these in
far-infrared [O I] emission. We use the results to derive their mass outflow
rates. Thereby we observe a strong correlation of mass outflow rates with
bolometric luminosity, and with the inferred mass accretion rates of the
central objects, which continues through the Class 0 range the trend observed
in Class II young stellar objects. Along this trend from large to small
mass-flow rates, the different classes of young stellar objects lie in the
sequence Class 0 -- Class I/flat-spectrum -- Class II, indicating that the
trend is an evolutionary sequence in which mass outflow and accretion rates
decrease together with increasing age, while maintaining rough proportionality.
The survey results include two which are key tests of magnetocentrifugal
outflow-acceleration mechanisms: the distribution of the outflow/accretion
branching ratio b, and limits on the distribution of outflow speeds. Neither
rule out any of the three leading outflow-acceleration,
angular-momentum-ejection mechanisms, but they provide some evidence that disk
winds and accretion-powered stellar winds (APSWs) operate in many protostars.
An upper edge observed in the branching-ratio distribution is consistent with
the upper bound of b = 0.6 found in models of APSWs, and a large fraction
(0.31) of the sample have branching ratio sufficiently small that only disk
winds, launched on scales as large as several AU, have been demonstrated to
account for them.Comment: Version submitted to ApJ: 36 pages, 3 tables, 8 figure
HOPS 383: An Outbursting Class 0 Protostar in Orion
We report the dramatic mid-infrared brightening between 2004 and 2006 of HOPS
383, a deeply embedded protostar adjacent to NGC 1977 in Orion. By 2008, the
source became a factor of 35 brighter at 24 microns with a brightness increase
also apparent at 4.5 microns. The outburst is also detected in the
submillimeter by comparing APEX/SABOCA to SCUBA data, and a scattered-light
nebula appeared in NEWFIRM K_s imaging. The post-outburst spectral energy
distribution indicates a Class 0 source with a dense envelope and a luminosity
between 6 and 14 L_sun. Post-outburst time-series mid- and far-infrared
photometry shows no long-term fading and variability at the 18% level between
2009 and 2012. HOPS 383 is the first outbursting Class 0 object discovered,
pointing to the importance of episodic accretion at early stages in the star
formation process. Its dramatic rise and lack of fading over a six-year period
hint that it may be similar to FU Ori outbursts, although the luminosity
appears to be significantly smaller than the canonical luminosities of such
objects.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters, 6 pages, 4 figures; v2 has an updated email
address for the lead autho
Conversations, Dialog and Deliberation: Leaders Moving Towards the Democratization of School Refo
This work emerged over the course of the conference, Re/forming Education: Linking Schools, Universities and Communities for Democratic School Reform. During sessions held as part of the conference, participants were asked to engage in dialog about the issues presented. These dialog sessions, held most often in small groups, included note taking and group writing. As a result, this piece is the product of the multiple voices (Superintendent, Principal, Professor, Non-governmental Organizations) present during the conference. While the piece in no way reflects the complete thoughts of one individual, it does share some of the essence of the deliberation that occurred
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