Disgust implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Psychiatric classificatory systems consider obsessions and compulsions as forms of anxiety disorder. However, the neurology of diseases associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms suggests the involvement of fronto-striatal regions likely to be involved in the mediation of the emotion of disgust, suggesting that dysfunctions of disgust should be considered alongside anxiety in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive behaviours. We therefore tested recognition of facial expressions of basic emotions (including disgust) by groups of participants with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS) with and without co-present obsessive-compulsive behaviours (GTS with OCB; GTS without OCB). A group of people suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety were also included in the study. Both groups with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD; GTS with OCB) showed impaired recognition of facial expressions of disgust. Such problems were not evident in participants with panic disorder and generalized anxiety, or for participants with GTS without obsessions or compulsions, indicating that the deficit is closely related to the presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Participants with OCD were able to assign words to emotion categories without difficulty, showing that their problem with disgust is linked to a failure to recognize this emotion in others and not a comprehension or response criterion effect. Impaired recognition of disgust is consistent with the neurology of OCD and with the idea that abnormal experience of disgust may be involved in the genesis of obsessions and compulsions

МОДЕЛЬ КОМПЛЕКСНОЙ ОЦЕНКИ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ГОТОВНОСТИ ИННОВАЦИОННЫХ НАУЧНОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ПРОЕКТОВ

The article describes the model of integrated assessment of technological readiness of innovative scientific and technological projects, which is an integral part of the methodology of expert evaluation of projects. The model can be used both at the stage of selection of applications for project financing, and for creating tools for measuring the level of technological readiness of projects in the course of their implementation. The application of the proposed model will make it possible to formulate unified approaches and requirements to the formation of a system of criteria for the expert evaluation of innovative scientific and technological projects at various stages of their life cycle that can be used by various development institutions, and for project implementers –  to determine the degree of readiness of the results obtained for industrial implementation.В статье описана модель комплексной оценки технологической готовности инновационных научнотехнологических проектов, являющаяся составной частью методики экспертной оценки проектов. Модель может быть использована как на этапе отбора заявок на финансирование проектов, так и для создания инструментов измерения уровня технологической готовности проектов в ходе их выполнения. Применение предложенной модели позволит сформировать единые унифицированные подходы и требования к формированию системы критериев для экспертной оценки инновационных научно-технологических проектов на различных стадиях их жизненного цикла, которые могут быть использованы различными институтами развития, а для исполнителей проектов –  определить степень готовности полученных результатов к промышленному внедрению

КОМПЛЕКСНАЯ ОЦЕНКА СОСТОЯНИЯ НАУЧНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИХ ПРОЕКТОВ ЧЕРЕЗ УРОВЕНЬ ГОТОВНОСТИ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ

The balanced methodology for assessing the Technology Project Readiness Level for commercialization (TPRL) is proposed. TPRL allows to determine the dynamics and balance of development projects that use the standardized approaches used in assessing the readiness of the technology. Validation of the methodology undertaken for the projects of Federal target programs “Research and development on priority directions of development of scientific-technological complex of Russia for 2007–2013” and “Research and development on priority directions of development of scientific-technological complex of Russia for 2014–2020”. The obtained results showed the possibility of application of the methodology for the evaluation of projects, improving efficiency of expert activity in the evaluation of projects, monitoring the status of individual project and group of projects (portfolio). The application of the methodology allowed us to improve the management of individual project and portfolio of projects.Methodology TPRL will allow the implementers, industry partners, investors, and innovative industrial companies to improve the efficiency of its activities.В статье предложена сбалансированная методология оценки уровня готовности научно-технических инновационных проектов для коммерциализации (TPRL), позволяющая определить динамику и сбалансированность развития проектов, использующая унифицированные подходы, применяемые при оценке готовности технологий.Проверка методологии проведена на проектах Федеральных целевых программ «Исследования и разработки по приоритетным направлениям развития научно-технологического комплекса России на 2007–2013 годы» и «Исследования и разработки по приоритетным направлениям развития научно-технологического комплекса России на 2014–2020 годы». Полученные результаты показали возможность применения методологии для оценки проектов, повышения эффективности экспертной деятельности при оценке проектов, осуществления мониторинга состояния отдельного проекта и совокупности проектов (портфель). Применение методологии позволило повысить эффективность управления отдельным проектом и портфелем проектов.Применение методология TPRL позволит исполнителям проектов, промышленным партнерам, инвесторам и инновационным промышленным компаниям повысить эффективность своей деятельности

К вопросу о разработке механизмов и инструментов расширения ценности научно-технологических проектов полного цикла с использованием методологии TPRL

The article proposes institutional tools for solving the problem of forming a competitive and well-functioning sector of applied research and development. The proposed approaches are based on using the methodology of integrated assessment of scientific and technological projects, the so-called. TPRL methodologies as the basis for designing interfaces between stages of fullcycle projects that can ensure the seamless integration of full-cycle projects between various development institutions. To increase the value of the results of scientific and technological projects it was proposed to use a network of technology brokers. The use of professional competences of techno-brokers is confirmed by the positive experience of the Program for the Development and Commercialization of Projects of the Federal Targeted Program “Research and Development in Priority Areas of the Scientific and Technological Complex of Russia for 2014–2020” (hereinafter the Federal Target Program) and the practice of similar domestic and foreign networks. The results and conclusions obtained in the article can be applied in the planning and coordination bodies of various development institutions to increase the effectiveness of their work in terms of creating working mechanisms for the implementation of the implementation of full-cycle projects.В статье предложены институциональные инструменты решения задачи формирования конкурентоспособного и эффективно функционирующего сектора прикладных исследований и разработок. Предлагаемые подходы основаны на использовании методологии комплексной оценки научно-технологических проектов, т.н. методологии TPRL, как основы для проектирования интерфейсов между стадиями проектов полного цикла, способных обеспечить «бесшовную» интеграцию проектов полного цикла между различными институтами развития. Для повышения ценности результатов научно-технологических проектов предложено использовать сеть технологических брокеров. Использование профессиональных компетенций техноброкеров, подтверждено положительным опытом Программы развития и коммерциализации проектов Федеральной целевой программы «Исследования и разработки по приоритетным направлениям научно-технологического комплекса России на 2014–2020 годы» и практикой деятельности подобных отечественных и зарубежных сетей. Результаты и выводы, полученные в статье, могут применяться в органах планирования и координации различных институтов развития для повышения эффективности их работы с точки зрения создания работающих механизмов реализации выполнения проектов полного цикла.

Lignin biomarkers as tracers of mercury sources in lakes water column

This study presents the role of specific terrigenous organic compounds as important vectors of mercury (Hg) transported from watersheds to lakes of the Canadian boreal forest. In order to differentiate the autochthonous from the allochthonous organic matter (OM), lignin derived biomarker signatures [Lambda, S/V, C/V, P/(V ? S), 3,5-Bd/V and (Ad/Al)v] were used. Since lignin is exclusively produced by terrigenous plants, this approach can give a non equivocal picture of the watershed inputs to the lakes. Moreover, it allows a characterization of the source of OM and its state of degradation. The water column of six lakes from the Canadian Shield was sampled monthly between June and September 2005. Lake total dissolved Hg concentrations and Lambda were positively correlated, meaning that Hg and ligneous inputs are linked (dissolved OM r2 = 0.62, p\0.0001; particulate OM r2 = 0.76, p\0.0001). Ratios of P/(V ? S) and 3,5-Bd/V from both dissolved OM and particulate OM of the water column suggest an inverse relationship between the progressive state of pedogenesis and maturation of the OM in soil before entering the lake, and the Hg concentrations in the water column. No relation was found between Hg levels in the lakes and the watershed flora composition—angiosperm versus gymnosperm or woody versus non-woody compounds. This study has significant implications for watershed management of ecosystems since limiting fresh terrestrial OM inputs should reduce Hg inputs to the aquatic systems. This is particularly the case for largescale land-use impacts, such as deforestation, agriculture and urbanization, associated to large quantities of soil OM being transferred to aquatic systems

β-Diversity and Species Accumulation in Antarctic Coastal Benthos: Influence of Habitat, Distance and Productivity on Ecological Connectivity

High Antarctic coastal marine environments are comparatively pristine with strong environmental gradients, which make them important places to investigate biodiversity relationships. Defining how different environmental features contribute to shifts in β-diversity is especially important as these shifts reflect both spatio-temporal variations in species richness and the degree of ecological separation between local and regional species pools. We used complementary techniques (species accumulation models, multivariate variance partitioning and generalized linear models) to assess how the roles of productivity, bio-physical habitat heterogeneity and connectivity change with spatial scales from metres to 100's of km. Our results demonstrated that the relative importance of specific processes influencing species accumulation and β–diversity changed with increasing spatial scale, and that patterns were never driven by only one factor. Bio-physical habitat heterogeneity had a strong influence on β-diversity at scales <290 km, while the effects of productivity were low and significant only at scales >40 km. Our analysis supports the emphasis on the analysis of diversity relationships across multiple spatial scales and highlights the unequal connectivity of individual sites to the regional species pool. This has important implications for resilience to habitat loss and community homogenisation, especially for Antarctic benthic communities where rates of recovery from disturbance are slow, there is a high ratio of poor-dispersing and brooding species, and high biogenic habitat heterogeneity and spatio-temporal variability in primary production make the system vulnerable to disturbance. Consequently, large areas need to be included within marine protected areas for effective management and conservation of these special ecosystems in the face of increasing anthropogenic disturbance

Cognitive behavioural therapy versus supportive therapy for persistent positive symptoms in psychotic disorders: The POSITIVE Study, a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial

Background: It has been demonstrated that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a moderate effect on symptom reduction and on general well being of patients suffering from psychosis. However, questions regarding the specific efficacy of CBT, the treatment safety, the cost-effectiveness, and the moderators and mediators of treatment effects are still a major issue. The major objective of this trial is to investigate whether CBT is specifically efficacious in reducing positive symptoms when compared with non-specific supportive therapy (ST) which does not implement CBT-techniques but provides comparable therapeutic attention. Methods: The POSITIVE study is a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, parallel group, randomised clinical trial, comparing CBT and ST with respect to the efficacy in reducing positive symptoms in psychotic disorders. CBT as well as ST consist of 20 sessions altogether, 165 participants receiving CBT and 165 participants receiving ST. Major methodological aspects of the study are systematic recruitment, explicit inclusion criteria, reliability checks of assessments with control for rater shift, analysis by intention to treat, data management using remote data entry, measures of quality assurance (e.g. on-site monitoring with source data verification, regular query process), advanced statistical analysis, manualized treatment, checks of adherence and competence of therapists. Research relating the psychotherapy process with outcome, neurobiological research addressing basic questions of delusion formation using fMRI and neuropsychological assessment and treatment research investigating adaptations of CBT for adolescents is combined in this network. Problems of transfer into routine clinical care will be identified and addressed by a project focusing on cost efficiency. Discussion: This clinical trial is part of efforts to intensify psychotherapy research in the field of psychosis in Germany, to contribute to the international discussion on psychotherapy in psychotic disorders, and to help implement psychotherapy in routine care. Furthermore, the study will allow drawing conclusions about the mediators of treatment effects of CBT of psychotic disorders. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN2924287