Long-term in vitro 3D hydrogel co-culture model of inflammatory bowel disease

The in vitro study of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires a cell model which closely reflects the characteristics of the in vivo intestinal epithelium. This study aimed to investigate the application of L-pNIPAM hydrogel as a scaffold to develop a long-term 3D co-culture model of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells under conditions analogous to inflammation, to determine its potential use in studying IBD. Monocultures and co-cultures were layered on L-pNIPAM hydrogel scaffolds and maintained under dynamic culture conditions for up to 12 weeks. Treatments with IL-1β, TNFα, and hypoxia for 1 week were used to create an inflammatory environment. Following prolonged culture, the metabolic activity of Caco-2 monoculture and 90% Caco-2/10% HT29-MTX co-cultures on L-pNIPAM hydrogels were increased, and finger-like structures, similar in appearance to villi were observed. Following treatment with IL-1β, TNFα and hypoxia, ALP and ZO-1 were decreased, MUC2 increased, and MUC5AC remained unchanged. ADAMTS1 was increased in response to hypoxia. Caspase 3 expression was increased in response to TNFα and hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, L-pNIPAM hydrogel supported long-term co-culture within a 3D model. Furthermore, stimulation with factors seen during inflammation recapitulated features seen during IBD

Analysis of Work-related Injury and Illness, 2001 to 2014. Sectoral Analysis No. 4: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector. ESRI and Health and Safety Authority, April 2018

The following analysis draws on the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) to explore workrelated accidents and illnesses in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (see Box 1 for details on data sources and measures). The results are based on workers’ self-reports of work-related illness and injury. All injuries and illnesses are included, regardless of whether or not they resulted in an absence from work, as many people continue to work while sick or injured. Findings across the economy as a whole are explored in Russell et al. (2015 and 2016). This research briefing provides a within-sector picture of the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector over the period 2001–2014

Analysis of Work-related Injury and Illness, 2001 to 2014. Sectoral Analysis No. 2: Construction Sector. ESRI and Health and Safety Authority, April 2018

The following analysis draws on the Central Statistics Office’s (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) to explore work-related accidents and illnesses in the construction sector (see Box 1 for details on data sources and measures). The results are based on workers’ self-reports of work-related illness and injury. All injuries and illnesses are included, regardless of whether or not they resulted in an absence from work, as many people continue to work while sick or injured. Findings across the economy as a whole are explored in Russell et al. (2015 and 2016).i This research briefing provides a within-sector picture of the construction sector over the period 2001–2014

Analysis of Work-related Injury and Illness, 2001 to 2014. Sectoral Analysis No. 3: Industry Sector. ESRI and Health and Safety Authority, April 2018

The following analysis draws on the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) to explore workrelated injuries and illnesses in the industry sector (see Box 1 for details on data sources and measures). The results are based on workers’ self-reports of work-related illness and injury. All injuries and illnesses are included, regardless of whether or not they resulted in an absence from work as many people continue to work while sick or injured. Findings across the economy as a whole are explored in Russell et al. (2015 and 2016).i This research briefing provides a within-sector picture of the industry sector over the period 2001–2014. This sector consists of manufacturing, utilities and mining

Analysis of Work-related Injury and Illness, 2001 to 2014. Sectoral Analysis No. 5: Transport Sector. ESRI and Health and Safety Authority, April 2018

The following analysis draws on the Central Statistics Office’s (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) to explore work-related accidents and illnesses in the transport and storage sector over the period 2001 to 2014 (see Box 1 for details on data source and measures). The results are based on workers’ self-reports of work-related illness and injury. All injuries and illnesses are included, up to those requiring lengthy work absences, and regardless of whether or not there was no absence or only a short absence from work, as many people continue to work while sick or injured. Findings across the economy as a whole are explored in Russell et al. (2015 and 2016). This research briefing provides a within-sector picture of the transport and storage sector over the period 2001–2014

Physical disruption of intervertebral disc promotes cell clustering and a degenerative phenotype

© 2019, The Author(s). To test the hypothesis that physical disruption of an intervertebral disc disturbs cell-matrix binding, leading to cell clustering and increased expression of matrix degrading enzymes that contribute towards degenerative disc cell phenotype. Lumbar disc tissue was removed at surgery from 21 patients with disc herniation, 11 with disc degeneration, and 8 with adolescent scoliosis. 5 μm sections were examined with histology, and 30-µm sections by confocal microscopy. Antibodies were used against integrin α5beta1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, MMP-3, caspase 3, and denatured collagen types I and II. Spatial associations were sought between cell clustering and various degenerative features. An additional, 11 non-herniated human discs were used to examine causality: half of each specimen was cultured in a manner that allowed free ‘unconstrained’ swelling (similar to a herniated disc in vivo), while the other half was cultured within a perspex ring that allowed ‘constrained’ swelling. Changes were monitored over 36 h using live-cell imaging. 1,9-Di-methyl methylene blue (DMMB) assay for glycosaminoglycan loss was carried out from tissue medium. Partially constrained specimens showed little swelling or cell movement in vitro. In contrast, unconstrained swelling significantly increased matrix distortion, glycosaminoglycan loss, exposure of integrin binding sites, expression of MMPs 1 and 3, and collagen denaturation. In the association studies, herniated disc specimens showed changes that resembled unconstrained swelling in vitro. In addition, they exhibited increased cell clustering, apoptosis, MMP expression, and collagen denaturation compared to ‘control’ discs. Results support our hypothesis. Further confirmation will require longitudinal animal experiments

The BlackHat Library for One-Loop Amplitudes

We present recent next-to-leading order (NLO) results in perturbative QCD obtained using the BlackHat software library. We discuss the use of n-tuples to separate the lengthy matrix-element computations from the analysis process. The use of n-tuples allows many analyses to be carried out on the same phase-space samples, and also allows experimenters to conduct their own analyses using the original NLO computation.Comment: Talk given at ACAT 2013, Beijing, China, May 16--21, 2013; 6 pages, 2 figures; added reference

Universality in W+Multijet Production

We study $W$-boson production accompanied by multiple jets at 7 TeV at the LHC. We study the jet-production ratio, of total cross sections for $W$+$n$- to $W$+($n-1$)-jet production, and the ratio of distributions in the total transverse hadronic jet energy $H_{\rm T}^{\rm jets}$. We use the ratios to extrapolate the total cross section, and the differential distribution in $H_{\rm T}^{\rm jets}$, to $W$+6-jet production. We use the BlackHat software library in conjunction with SHERPA to perform the computations.Comment: Merge of Moriond 2014 and Loops & Legs 2014 proceedings, 6 pages, 2 figure

Next-to-Leading Order Jet Physics with BlackHat

We present several results obtained using the BlackHat next-to-leading order QCD program library, in conjunction with SHERPA. In particular, we present distributions for vector boson plus 1,2,3-jet production at the Tevatron and at the asymptotic running energy of the Large Hadron Collider, including new Z+3-jet distributions. The Z+2-jet predictions for the second-jet P_T distribution are compared to CDF data. We present the jet-emission probability at NLO in W+2-jet events at the LHC, where the tagging jets are taken to be the ones furthest apart in pseudorapidity. We analyze further the large left-handed W polarization, identified in our previous study, for W bosons produced at high P_T at the LHC.Comment: Presented at RADCOR 2009 - 9th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (Applications of Quantum Field Theory to Phenomenology), October 25 - 30 2009, Ascona, Switzerland}, 12 pages, 9 figures, LaTeX, v2 updated small correction to polarization effect plo