In Silico Approach to Identify the Relationships between COVID-19 and Coronary Artery Disease/Rheumatoid Arthritis

Global public has been threatened by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which led to nearly 15 million deaths around the world. People with complex and chronic diseases usually have more severe COVID-19 symptoms than the general population. Mounting evidence indicates individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have worse COVID-19 outcomes yet the underlying mechanism still needs to be explored. The aim of our study is to reveal in silico evidence for the molecular mechanisms shared by COVID-19, CAD and RA pathogenesis which may aggravate the COVID-19 disease severity. Public datasets (GSE164805 and GSE23561) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed for differential expression analysis (DEG). Identified differential expressed genes (DEGs) were further analyzed to find common DEGs, common pathways, hub genes, transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Our study identified common hub genes, miRNAs, TFs and shared mechanisms in both mild and severe COVID-19-CAD patients and mild and severe COVID-19-RA patients. We also uncovered that mild and severe forms of COVID-19 differ in potential biomarkers, mechanisms, miRNAs and TFs in both CAD and RA patients. Our study is the first study investigating the potential shared mechanisms, biomarkers, TFs and miRNAs between COVID-19 and CAD patients and COVID-19 and RA patients. Our results could shed on light to the patient management strategies with CAD with COVID-19 and patients with RA with COVID-19 based on the severity of the COVID-19 disease. © 2023 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY NC) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

CAD and creativity: does the computer really help?

We are frequently told by its exponents that computeraided design (CAD) liberates designers and gives them new ways of envisioning their work, but is this really true? CAD in architecture is examined to see to what extent it has enhanced creativity in design. This is partly done by applying a test of creativity advanced by contemporary architect Herman Hertzberger. In this analysis, CAD is found somewhat wanting, and some suggestions are made as to why this might be so

Thinking outside the blocks

This paper outlines an ongoing PhD research with the aim to develop an alternative fashion design and garment construction process for the initial design stages, using a practice initiated in three dimensions. The paper was partly triggered by views that meanwhile, especially in design education, there is a need to underline more the practical aspects of the design and making process, for example pattern cutting skills. One industry commentator said: “We have often taken on ex-fashion students either as staff or for work experience, and the majority have never been taught pattern-cutting, yet expecting glittering careers in design” (Everett, 2008) The nature of this design practice research utilizes tacit knowledge. It was therefore necessary to find a method to express such tacit knowledge in a tangible form. Due to its exploratory nature and the need for substantial iterative practical work, the reflective, practice-oriented approach of Action Research was used as lead methodology

Architectural authorship in generative design

The emergence of evolutionary digital design methods, relying on the creative generation of novel forms, has transformed the design process altogether and consequently the role of the architect. These methods are more than the means to aid and enhance the design process or to perfect the representation of finite architectural projects. The architectural design philosophy is gradually transcending to a hybrid of art, engineering, computer programming and biology. Within this framework, the emergence of designs relies on the architect- machine interaction and the authorship that each of the two shares. This work aims to explore the changes within the design process and to define the authorial control of a new breed of architects- programmers and architects-users on architecture and its design representation. For the investigation of these problems, this thesis is to be based on an experiment conducted by the author in order to test the interaction of architects with different digital design methods and their authorial control over the final product. Eventually, the results will be compared and evaluated in relation to the theoretic views. Ultimately, the architect will establish his authorial role

Implications of C1q/TNF-related protein superfamily in patients with coronary artery disease.

The C1q complement/TNF-related protein superfamily (CTRPs) displays differential effects on the regulation of metabolic homeostasis, governing cardiovascular function. However, whether and how they may serve as predictor/pro-diagnosis factors for assessing the risks of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. Therefore, we performed a clinical study to elaborate on the implication of CTRPs (CTRP1, CTRP5, CTRP7, and CTRP15) in CAD. CTRP1 were significantly increased, whereas CTRP7 and CTRP15 levels were decreased in CAD patients compared to the non-CAD group. Significant differences in CTRP1 levels were discovered between the single- and triple-vascular-vessel lesion groups. ROC analysis revealed that CTRP7 and CTRP15 may serve as CAD markers, while CTRP1 may serve as a marker for the single-vessel lesion of CAD. CTRP1 and CTRP5 can serve as markers for the triple-vessel lesion. CTRP1 may serve as an independent risk predictor for triple-vessel lesion, whereas CTRP15 alteration may serve for a single-vessel lesion of CAD. CTRP1 may serve as a novel superior biomarker for diagnosis of severity of vessel-lesion of CAD patients. CTRP7, CTRP15 may serve as more suitable biomarker for the diagnosis of CAD patients, whereas CTRP5 may serve as an independent predictor for CAD. These findings suggest CTRPs may be the superior predictive factors for the vascular lesion of CAD and represent novel therapeutic targets against CAD

Comorbidities of psychiatric and headache disorders in Nepal: implications from a nationwide population-based study

Background Headache disorders, anxiety and depression – the major disorders of the brain – are highly comorbid in the western world. Whether this is so in South Asia has not been investigated, but the question is of public-health importance to countries in the region. We aimed to investigate associations, and their direction(s), between headache disorders (migraine, tension-type headache [TTH] and headache on ≥15 days/month) and psychiatric manifestations (anxiety, depression and neuroticism), and how these might affect quality of life (QoL). Methods In a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of the adult Nepalese population (N = 2100), trained interviewers applied: 1) a culturally-adapted version of the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire to diagnose headache disorders; 2) a validated Nepali version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to detect anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D) and comorbid anxiety and depression (HADS-cAD); 3) a validated Nepali version of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised Short Form-Neuroticism (EPQRS-N); and 4) the World Health Organization Quality of Life 8-question scale (WHOQOL-8). Associations with headache types were analysed using logistic regression for psychiatric caseness and linear regression for neuroticism. Adjustments were made for age, gender, household consumption, habitat, altitude and use of alcohol and marijuana. Results HADS-A was associated with any headache (p = 0.024), most strongly headache on ≥15 days/month (AOR = 3.2) followed by migraine (AOR = 1.7). HADS-cAD was also associated with any headache (p = 0.050, more strongly among females than males [p = 0.047]) and again most strongly with headache on ≥15 days/month (AOR = 2.7), then migraine (AOR = 2.3). Likewise, neuroticism was associated with any headache (p < 0.001), most strongly with headache on ≥15 days/month (B = 1.6), followed by migraine (B = 1.3). No associations were found between HADS-D and any headache type, or between TTH and any psychiatric manifestation. Psychiatric caseness of any sort, when comorbid with migraine or TTH, aggravated the negative impact on QoL (p < 0.001). Conclusion Headache disorders are highly comorbid with anxiety and show associations with neuroticism in Nepal, with negative consequences for QoL. These findings call for reciprocal awareness, and a holistic coordinated approach to management and in the health service. Care for common headache and common psychiatric disorders should be integrated in primary care.publishedVersion© 2016 Risal et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Innovation, design and CAE in new product development

There seems to be a need for clarification on a number of issues that are seminal for the design community: for example, the constructs of invention, of creativity and of innovation (or innovative) appear to be used interchangeably. They are all a vital interest for design but they are different things. Furthermore there is a failure to distinguish between what design has a legitimate interest in or should contribute to and that which is its direct responsibility. The authors of this paper will seek to clarify these and other issues. One of these interests is the increasing demand for sustainable practice: design has a crucial role here and this paper will explore how computer aids can be a powerful tool in this area and also more generally in both design and manufacture