Emotional working memory updating in individuals with borderline personality features

Background and objectives Individuals with features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are highly sensitive to social rejection. Working memory (WM) may play a critical role in processing emotional interpersonal information in BPD. Yet, little is known about how emotional WM operations are related to sensitivity to rejection cues and BPD features. Therefore, this study examined relationships among emotional WM operations, rejection sensitivity, and BPD features. Methods Participants with BPD features (n = 39 with non-suicidal self-injury history; n = 47 without non-suicidal self-injury history) and healthy participants (n = 46) completed an emotional two-back task before and after a social exclusion induction (the Cyberball game). Results. Results showed that participants with BPD features were slower at discarding faces expressing anger and pain from WM compared to healthy individuals before the social exclusion induction. Participants with BPD features and a history of self-injury were also slower at entering happy faces into WM compared to the other participants. Moreover, across participants, slower WM discarding of angry and pain faces was associated with higher levels of rejection sensitivity. Finally, no group differences emerged with respect to WM entering and discarding operations for emotional faces in response to social exclusion. Limitations This study was conducted in a sample of undergraduate students and did not consider comorbidity with other forms of psychopathology. Conclusions These findings cast light on how emotional WM difficulties may be involved in how individuals with BPD process emotional interpersonal information

System Interface Design For CAD/CAM-Simulink Data Exchange System Using MATLAB

Integration between advanced control system theory and automation tools and technology brings about advancement in machining technology in tandem with requirement for smart and flexible manufacturing system. The integration takes in the form of seamless and automatic data communication between a CAD/CAM system and the more advanced control systems technology. This paper presents an interface design of a novel CAD/CAM-Simulink Data Exchange System (CS-DES) which links part geometry design using CAD/CAM technology with position controller scheme and algorithm designed in Matlab/Simulink environment. The proposed CS-DES system enhances data automation through formation of the graphical user input reference interface of the machine tools control system using NC manufacturing codes data as the reference input signal. The framework and role of CS-DES are elaborated and described in detail including pseudocodes generation for the CAD drawing graphical data integrated with the controller scheme designed in Simulink. The CS-DES interface was designed using MATLAB graphical user interactive development platform. Functions related to the user interface design are discussed in this paper. Finally, the system interface design of the data exchange system is expected to further enhance versatility of existing control system performance of a machine tool via creation of flexible input reference forms hence improving system accuracy, efficiency and productivity

The impact of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir or ribavirin in patients with severe COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are direct-acting antivirals highly effective against hepatitis C virus. There is some in silico and in vitro evidence that suggests these agents may also be effective against SARS-CoV-2. This trial evaluated the effectiveness of sofosbuvir in combination with daclatasvir in treating patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR or bilateral multi-lobar ground-glass opacity on their chest CT and signs of severe COVID-19 were included. Subjects were divided into two arms with one arm receiving ribavirin and the other receiving sofosbuvir/daclatasvir. All participants also received the recommended national standard treatment which, at that time, was lopinavir/ritonavir and single-dose hydroxychloroquine. The primary endpoint was time from starting the medication until discharge from hospital with secondary endpoints of duration of ICU stay and mortality. RESULTS: Sixty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria, with 35 enrolled in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm and 27 in the ribavirin arm. The median duration of stay was 5 days for the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group and 9 days for the ribavirin group. The mortality in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group was 2/35 (6%) and 9/27 (33%) for the ribavirin group. The relative risk of death for patients treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir was 0.17 (95% CI 0.04-0.73, P = 0.02) and the number needed to treat for benefit was 3.6 (95% CI 2.1-12.1, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given these encouraging initial results, and the current lack of treatments proven to decrease mortality in COVID-19, further investigation in larger-scale trials seems warranted