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A process development unit (PDU) with 10 kg/h biomass capacity was designed, built and operated for fast pyrolysis of biomass. A twin-screw type reactor, in earlier applications used for treatment of coal, oil shale, oil sand and oil refinery residues, was used. Test campaigns with a variety of biomass types were performed. The results with hard-wood, softwood, wheat straw and wheat bran are reported and discussed in this paper, verifying the suitability of the twin screw reactor along with a new product recovery procedure. Liquid pyrolysis condensate, termed bio-oil, is the main product of FP and the yields are about 65 ± 10 wt.% for wood but only about 50 ± 10 wt.% for cereal straw, which is a typical result for all fast growing types of biomass with higher ash content. These product yields and properties are similar to those found for other FP reactor types and recovery procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regard to climate protection and saving of fossil resources, renewable and sustainable sources for energy, materials and chemicals are required. Among them, biomass is the only renewable carbon source and should be used preferentially for chemicals and materials production on a long term. Also, biomass can significantly contribute to mobility by different types of biofuels. By gasification of biomass or suitable bio-based intermediates the whole variety of today's fuels is accessible on a synthetic basis by appropriate syntheses such as Fischer–Tropsch or methanol reactions. In recent process developments, gasification, gas cleaning and conditioning and syntheses processes are conducted at elevated pressures up to 100 bar. Regarding the special features by using biomass as a feedstock, partly with high temperatures and at increased pressure a variety of specific scientific and technical questions arise along such a process chain. At the example of the bioliq ® pilot project actually developed at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for synthetic fuels production from biomass, spotlights are provided giving insight into the manifold multidisciplinary area of high pressure research and technology in this field of research and development. In this context, high pressure aspects in gasification, gas cleaning and synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphisms in the CHRNA4 gene coding the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α4 have recently been suggested to play a role in the determination of smoking-related phenotypes. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a genetic association study in three large samples from the German general population (N1=1412; N2=1855; N3=2294). Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms in CHRNA4 were genotyped in 5561 participants, including 2707 heavily smoking cases (regularly smoking at least 20 cigarettes per day) and 2399 never-smoking controls (100 cigarettes over lifetime). We examined associations of the polymorphisms with smoking case–control status and with the extent of nicotine dependence as measured by the Fagerstrom test of nicotine dependence (FTND) score (N=1030). The most significant association was observed between rs2236196 and FTND (P=0.0023), whereas the closely linked rs1044396 had most statistical support in the case–control models (P=0.0080). The consistent effect estimates across three independent cohorts elaborate on recently published functional studies of rs2236196 from the CHRNA4 3′-untranslated region and seem to converge with accumulating evidence to firmly implicate the variant G allele of this polymorphism in the intensification of nicotine dependence.The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2009) 9, 219–224; doi:10.1038/tpj.2009.6; published online 17 March 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Narcolepsy is a severe sleep disorder that in most patients is characterized by the deficiency of central orexin. Clinically, narcolepsy is associated with obesity. Currently, there is a literature controversy about the potential alteration of leptin levels in narcoleptic patients. Theoretically, diminished leptin levels could partially contribute to the observed overweight of patients. Two studies have reported decreased leptin levels, whereas a larger, recent study failed to detect differences between patients and controls. Methods: To help settle the controversy, we have measured peripheral leptin levels in 42 narcoleptic patients and in 31 body mass index-matched controls. Results: No significant differences in leptin levels between the groups were observed. Mean leptin levels were 16.0 +/- 14.9 ng/mL in the narcoleptic men and 30.4 +/- 17.8 ng/mL in the narcoleptic women. The corresponding values for the controls were 21.2 +/- 17.0 ng/mL (P = 0.49, men) and 33.9 +/- 16.9 ng/mL (P = 0.31, women). In addition, no correlation was found between leptin levels and clinical symptomatology in the narcoleptic patients. Conclusions: Taken together, the data argue against a major deterioration of leptin secretion in narcoleptic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously we have reported an increased prevalence of migraine in narcoleptic patients. Because of the theoretical and clinical implications of this finding we recruited an independent new study sample of 100 patients with proven narcolepsy and conducted a structured 26-item interview based on the international diagnostic criteria for headache disorders, the Kiel Headache Questionnaire. Narcolepsy symptoms were measured by means of the Stanford Centre for Narcolepsy Sleep Inventory. Migraine prevalence was twofold to fourfold increased in the narcoleptic patients and amounted to 44.4% in women and 28.3% in men. The onset of narcolepsy symptoms was 12.3 +/- 11.4 years before the onset of migraine symptoms. The results might be regarded as indicative of a common pathophysiological pathway relevant to both of the two disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a contribution to the exploration of the parametric Kalman filter (PKF), which is an approximation of the Kalman filter, where the error covariances are approximated by a covariance model. Here we focus on the covariance model parameterized from the variance and the anisotropy of the local correlations, and whose parameters dynamics provides a proxy for the full error‐covariance dynamics. For this covariance model, we aim to provide the boundary condition to specify in the prediction of PKF for bounded domains, focusing on Dirichlet and Neumann conditions when they are prescribed for the physical dynamics. An ensemble validation is proposed for the transport equation and for the heterogeneous diffusion equation over a bounded 1D domain. This ensemble validation requires to specify the auto‐correlation time‐scale needed to populate boundary perturbation that leads to prescribed uncertainty characteristics. The numerical simulations show that the PKF is able to reproduce the uncertainty diagnosed from the ensemble of forecast appropriately perturbed on the boundaries, which show the ability of the PKF to handle boundaries in the prediction of the uncertainties. It results that Dirichlet condition on the physical dynamics implies Dirichlet condition on the variance and on the anisotropy. Plain Language Summary: This work addresses the question of the uncertainty prediction in bounded domains. It contributes to explore a theoretical formulation of the uncertainty prediction, the parametric Kalman filter, that opens the way to data assimilation in real applications where the boundaries are important, such as in radiation belts predictions, air quality, or wild‐land fire; or the exploration of the coupling of the uncertainty in the atmosphere‐ocean coupled system. Key Points: The parametric Kalman filter (PKF) is studied in a 1D limited domain for Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions (BC)An auto‐correlation time‐scale of the BC perturbation for ensemble forecast is proposed for the anisotropy of the ensemble Kalman filter to match the PKF BCsDirichlet (Neumann) BC on the physical dynamics implies Dirichlet (Neumann) BC on the variance and Dirichlet condition on the anisotropy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SEIS (seismic experiment for the interior structure of Mars) experiment on the NASA InSight mission has catalogued hundreds of marsquakes so far. However, the detectability of these events is controlled by the weather which generates noise on the seismometer. This affects the catalogue on both diurnal and seasonal scales. We propose to use machine learning methods to fit the wind, pressure and temperature data to the seismic energy recorded in the 0.4–1 and 2.2–2.6 Hz bandwidths to examine low- (LF) and high-frequency (HF) seismic event categories respectively. We implement Gaussian process regression and neural network models for this task. This approach provides the relationship between the atmospheric state and seismic energy. The obtained seismic energy estimate is used to calculate signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) of marsquakes for multiple bandwidths. We can then demonstrate the presence of LF energy above the noise level during several events predominantly categorized as HF, suggesting a continuum in event spectra distribution across the marsquake types. We introduce an algorithm to detect marsquakes based on the subtraction of the predicted noise from the observed data. This algorithm finds 39 previously undetected marsquakes, with another 40 possible candidates. Furthermore, an analysis of the detection algorithm's variable threshold provides an empirical estimate of marsquake detectivity. This suggests that events producing the largest signal on the seismometer would be seen almost all the time, the median size signal event 45–50 per cent of the time and smallest signal events 5−20 per cent of the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic activity of a planet can be described by the corner magnitude, events larger than which are extremely unlikely, and the seismic moment rate, the long‐term average of annual seismic moment release. Marsquake S1222a proves large enough to be representative of the global activity of Mars and places observational constraints on the moment rate. The magnitude‐frequency distribution of relevant Marsquakes indicates a b $b$‐value of 1.06. The moment rate is likely between 1.55×1015Nm/a $1.55\times {10}^{15}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{a}$ and 1.97×1018Nm/a $1.97\times {10}^{18}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{a}$, with a marginal distribution peaking at 4.9×1016Nm/a $4.9\times {10}^{16}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{a}$. Comparing this with pre‐InSight estimations shows that these tended to overestimate the moment rate, and that 30% or more of the tectonic deformation may occur silently, whereas the seismicity is probably restricted to localized centers rather than spread over the entire planet. Plain Language Summary: The seismic moment rate is a measure for how fast quakes accumulate deformation of the planet's rigid outer layer, the lithosphere. In the past decades, several models for the deformation rate of Mars were developed either from the traces quakes leave on the surface, or from mathematical models of how quickly the planet's interior cools down and shrinks. The large marsquake that occurred on the 4th of May 2022 now allows a statistical estimation of the deformation accumulated on Mars per year, and thus to confront these models with reality. It turns out that, although there is a considerable overlap, the models published prior to InSight tend to overestimate the seismic moment rate, and hence the ongoing deformation on Mars. Possible explanations are that 30% or more of the deformation occurs silently, that is, without causing quakes, or that not the entire planet is seismically active but only specific regions. Key Points: A single large marsquake suffices to constrain the global seismic moment ratePre‐InSight estimations tended to overestimate the moment rateEither a significant part of the ongoing deformation occurs silent, or seismic activity is restricted to some activity centers, or both [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two ’130-meter-diameter impact craters formed on Mars during the later half of 2021. These are the two largest fresh impact craters discovered by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since operations started 16 years ago. The impacts created two of the largest seismic events (magnitudes greater than 4) recorded by InSight during its 3-year mission. The combination of orbital imagery and seismic ground motion enables the investigation of subsurface and atmospheric energy partitioning of the impact process on a planet with a thin atmosphere and the first direct test of martian deep-interior seismic models with known event distances. The impact at 35°N excavated blocks of water ice, which is the lowest latitude at which ice has been directly observed on Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impulsive aggression belongs to the key features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). In the development of BPD, serious life events are known to play a major role. Acute and chronic stress has been suggested to inhibit hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis and to mediate neural plasticity in response to adverse social experiences. Recently it has been reported that the frequency of violent suicide attempts is higher in adult suicide attempters reporting severe childhood sexual abuse and carrying the Val66Val genotype of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. In this study we analysed modulating effects of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on the effects of physical maltreatment, rape and childhood sexual abuse on impulsive aggression. One hundred and fifty-nine BPD patients from Germany and of Caucasian descent were included. Impulsive aggression was assessed by the Buss-Durkee-Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Childhood sexual abuse accounted for 23.6% of the variance of BDHI sum score. Childhood sexual abuse decreased BDHI sum score in BDNF Val/Val carriers but not in Met carriers. In contrast to previous findings this study analysing a specific gene × environment interaction in BPD patients suggests a decreasing effect of childhood sexual abuse on impulsive aggression in BPD patients, particularly in BDNF Val/Val carriers. The interrelations between serious life events, impulsive aggression and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism as well as their implication for BPD are far from understood and require further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) seismometer deployed at the surface of Mars in the framework of the NASA-InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission has been continuously recording the ground motion at Elysium Planitia for more than one martian year. In this work, we investigate the seasonal variation of the near-surface properties using both background vibrations and a particular class of high-frequency seismic events. We present measurements of relative velocity changes over one martian year and show that they can be modelled by a thermoelastic response of the Martian regolith. Several families of high-frequency seismic multiplets have been observed at various periods of the martian year. These events exhibit complex, repeatable waveforms with an emergent character and a coda that is likely composed of scattered waves. Taking advantage of these properties, we use coda wave interferometry (CWI) to measure relative traveltime changes as a function of the date of occurrence of the quakes. While in some families a stretching of the coda waveform is clearly observed, in other families we observe either no variation or a clear contraction of the waveform. These various behaviors correspond to different conditions of illumination at the InSight landing site, depending on the season. Measurements of velocity changes from the analysis of background vibrations above 5 Hz are consistent with the results from CWI. We identify a frequency band structure in the power spectral density (PSD) that can be tracked over hundreds of days. This band structure is the equivalent in the frequency domain of an autocorrelogram and can be efficiently used to measure relative traveltime changes as a function of frequency. We explain how the PSD analysis allows us to circumvent the contamination of the measurements by the Lander mode excitation which is inevitable in the time domain. The observed velocity changes can be adequately modelled by the thermoelastic response of the regolith to the time-dependent incident solar flux at the seasonal scale. In particular, the model captures the time delay between the surface temperature variations and the velocity changes in the subsurface. Our observations could serve as a basis for a joint inversion of the seismic and thermal properties in the first 20 m below InSight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of applying char obtained from wheat straw fast pyrolysis as charge carbon in an electric arc furnace (EAF) for the production of steel was investigated. Fast pyrolysis char represents a by-product which could be made available at reasonable cost. It is characterized by higher volatile content than slow pyrolysis char. Prior to application in the EAF, agglomerates with good strength characteristics were formed from the char by adding water and molasses as binder material. Minerals content, specifically potassium, was increased by this procedure which possibly limits the use in an EAF. The burn-off characteristics of these agglomerates in the EAF proved to be feasible. Further experiments in industrial scale can be recommended based on the results of this pilot study with special focus on balancing the minerals in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Heat and Mass Transfer during Condensation of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors," by Y. Ille and colleagues is presented.

Variation in genes coding for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits affect cognitive processes and may contribute to the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CHRNA4 gene that codes for the alpha4 subunit of alpha4/beta2-containing receptors have previously been implicated in aspects of (mostly visual) attention and smoking-related behavioral measures. Here we investigated the effects of six synonymous but functional CHRNA4 exon 5 SNPs on the N100 event-related potential (ERP), an electrophysiological endophenotype elicited by a standard auditory oddball. A total of N = 1,705 subjects randomly selected from the general population were studied with electroencephalography (EEG) as part of the German Multicenter Study on nicotine addiction. Two of the six variants, rs1044396 and neighboring rs1044397, were significantly associated with N100 amplitude. This effect was pronounced in females where we also observed an effect on reaction time. Sequencing of the complete exon 5 region in the population sample excluded the existence of additional/functional variants that may be responsible for the observed effects. This is the first large-scale population-based study investigation the effects of CHRNA4 SNPs on brain activity measures related to stimulus processing and attention. Our results provide further evidence that common synonymous CHRNA4 exon 5 SNPs affect cognitive processes and suggest that they also play a role in the auditory system. As N100 amplitude reduction is considered a schizophrenia-related endophenotype the SNPs studied here may also be associated with schizophrenia outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments with a process development unit for fast pyrolysis of biomass residues of 10 kg h −1 have been performed to quantify the impact of two different product recovery options. Wheat straw, miscanthus and scrap wood have been used as feedstock. A separate recovery of char increases the organic oil yield as compared to a combined recovery of char and organic condensate (OC). Furthermore, it allows for an alternative use of the byproduct char which represents an important product fraction for the high ash biomass residues under consideration. The char produced shows little advantage over its biomass precursor when considered as energy carrier due to its high ash content. Significant value can be added by demineralizing and activating the char. The potential to increase the economic feasibility of fast pyrolysis is shown by an assessment of the bioliq® process chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For Major Depression, current guidelines recommend treatment durations of 3-8 weeks until optimisation in case of insufficient outcome. Many retrospective studies indicate that improvement (HAMD-17 decrease ≥20%) occurs usually within 10-14 days and that non-improvement after 14 days of treatment is highly predictive for poor clinical outcome. Methods: In level 1 of the EMC trial, non-improvers after 14 days of antidepressant treatment will be randomised to “early medication change” (EMC) strategy or treatment according to current guidelines (TAU). EMC schedules treatment optimisations on day 15 and day 29 in case of non-improvement. TAU schedules a medication change after 28 days in case of non-response (HAMD-17 decrease < 50%). Both interventions will last 42 days. In levels 2 and 3, EMC strategies will be compared with TAU strategies in improvers on day 14, who experience a stagnation of improvement during the course of treatment. The EMC trial is a multi-centre, multi-step, randomised controlled trial investigating for the first time prospectively, whether non-improvers after 14 days of antidepressant treatment with EMC are more likely to attain remission on treatment day 56 compared to patients with TAU. The trial is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), will be conducted in cooperation with the BMBF supported Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Trials (IZKS) Mainz and at six trial sites in Germany. Results/conclusions: If the EMC strategy leads to significantly more remitters, consecutive revision of guidelines, clinical practice and research settings for the treatment of MD can be expected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Coffee consumption is a model for addictive behavior. We performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on coffee intake from 8 Caucasian cohorts (N=18 176) and sought replication of our top findings in a further 7929 individuals. We also performed a gene expression analysis treating different cell lines with caffeine. Genome-wide significant association was observed for two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 15q24 region. The two SNPs rs2470893 and rs2472297 (P-values=1.6 × 10−11 and 2.7 × 10−11), which were also in strong linkage disequilibrium (r2=0.7) with each other, lie in the 23-kb long commonly shared 5′ flanking region between CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes. CYP1A1 was found to be downregulated in lymphoblastoid cell lines treated with caffeine. CYP1A1 is known to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are important constituents of coffee, whereas CYP1A2 is involved in the primary metabolism of caffeine. Significant evidence of association was also detected at rs382140 (P-value=3.9 × 10−09) near NRCAM-a gene implicated in vulnerability to addiction, and at another independent hit rs6495122 (P-value=7.1 × 10−09)-an SNP associated with blood pressure-in the 15q24 region near the gene ULK3, in the meta-analysis of discovery and replication cohorts. Our results from GWASs and expression analysis also strongly implicate CAB39L in coffee drinking. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significantly enriched ubiquitin proteasome (P-value=2.2 × 10−05) and Parkinson's disease pathways (P-value=3.6 × 10−05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A better understanding of the factors underlying habitual tobacco smoking may further new strategies to go about this major health problem. The P300 event-related potential (ERP) has emerged as a valuable (endo)phenotype in neuropsychiatric research. Previous studies suggested the P300 ERP to be reduced in smokers. The main purpose of the present study was to provide an in-depth description of smoking-related behavioral, biological and electrophysiological phenotypes with an emphasis on the P300 ERP and its mutual relationship with other smoking-related parameters. In this case–control study N=1318 participants (smokers and never-smoking controls) were investigated at 6 German academic institutions. Study participants were randomly selected from the general population. Subjects with mental disorders including alcoholism and drug abuse were excluded. The main outcome measure was the P300 global field power (GFP). We found a lower P300 GFP in current smokers compared to never-smoking controls. Furthermore a correlation between measures of smoking severity and P300 GFP reduction was found. Non-addicted smokers exhibited normal P300 ERP measures. This study provides further evidence that the P300 ERP is reduced in current smokers even in the absence of potentially confounding psychiatric comorbidity. Thus, P300 amplitude reduction clearly is part of the electrophysiological phenotype of smokers. Our results provide the phenotypical groundwork for future multidimensional analyses of genotype–phenotype relationships in the field of smoking and nicotine dependence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wagner S, Baskaya Ö, Anicker NJ, Dahmen N, Lieb K, Tadić A. The catechol o-methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism modulates the association of serious life events (SLE) and impulsive aggression in female patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Objective: We analyzed i) the effects of serious life events (SLE) on impulsive aggression, and ii) modulating effects of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism on the association between SLEs and impulsive aggression in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Method: One hundred and twelve female BPD patients from Germany were included in this study. Impulsive aggression was assessed by the Buss-Durkee-Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Results: Childhood sexual abuse was associated with lower BDHI sum score ( P = 0.003). In COMT Val158Val carriers, but not in Val/Met and Met/Met carriers, childhood sexual abuse and the cumulative number of SLEs were associated with lower BDHI sum scores ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study analyzing a specific gene × environment interaction in female BPD patients suggests an association between SLEs and impulsive aggression, as well as a modulating effect of the COMT Val158Val genotype on the relation between SLEs and impulsive aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are conjugated ethanol metabolites formed in low amounts after alcohol consumption. Compared with ethanol, EtG and EtS are excreted in urine for a prolonged time, making them useful as sensitive alcohol biomarkers. This study determined the detection times for EtG and EtS in alcoholic patients undergoing alcohol detoxification. Methods: Alcohol-dependent patients (n = 32) with an initial alcohol concentration ⩾1 g/L based on breath testing were followed during detoxification. Urine samples for determination of EtG, EtS, ethanol and creatinine were collected on admission to the hospital and thereafter once daily for several days. EtG and EtS measurements were performed by liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LC-MS) and EtG also using an immunochemical assay (DRI-EtG ETA, ThermoFisher/Microgenics). Results: The detection time for urinary EtG was weakly correlated (r = 0.434, P = 0.013) with the initial alcohol concentration (range 1.0-3.4 g/L). For EtG, the individual time range until return to below the applied cut-off limit (<0.5 mg/L) was ∼40-130 h (median 78) with a similar time course observed for EtS. After correction for urine dilution, the time until an EtG/creatinine ratio <0.5 mg/g was ∼40-90 h (median 65). The detection times after an estimated zero ethanol concentration were ∼30-110 h (median 66) for EtG and ∼30-70 h (median 56) for EtG/creatinine. The EtG results by LC-MS and the immunoassay were in good agreement. Conclusions: During alcohol detoxification, EtG and EtS remained detectable in urine for several days. The detection times showed wide inter-individual variations, also after adjusting values for urine dilution and to the estimated times for a completed ethanol elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a major degrading enzyme in the metabolic pathways of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. This study investigated whether the functionally relevant Val108/158Met gene variant is associated with differential antidepressant response to mirtazapine and/or paroxetine in 102 patients with major depression (DSM-IV criteria) participating in a randomized clinical trial with both drugs. In patients treated with mirtazapine, but not paroxetine, allelic variations in the COMT gene were associated with differential response. COMTVAL/VAL and COMTVAL/MET genotype carriers showed a better response than COMTMET/MET-bearing patients in the mirtazapine group. Moreover, carriers of the COMTVAL/VAL or COMTVAL/MET genotype had significantly greater HAMD-17 (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17 item version) score reductions than COMTMET/MET homozygotes from week 2 to 6, respectively, in the mirtazapine group. Time course of response and antidepressant efficacy of mirtazapine, but not paroxetine, seem to be influenced in a clinically relevant manner by this allelic variation within the COMT gene.The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2005) 5, 49-53. doi:10.1038/sj.tpj.6500289 Published online 2 November 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narcolepsy is a debilitating sleep disorder that affects up to 0.05% of individuals in Caucasian populations. It is highly associated with the HLA-DR2 group antigen or the HLA-DRB1*1501-DQB1*0602 haplotype, respectively. However, the HLA association by itself cannot sufficiently explain the increased risk to family members, as HLA-DR2 is quite common in the general population and most people harboring the respective genotype do not develop any symptoms of narcolepsy. Situated in the HLA class II region, the TNFA gene is translated into the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. TNFA promoter polymorphisms have been linked to several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We analyzed three SNP of the TNFA promoter and one adjacent microsatellite in 103 patients and 96 controls. The T-allele of the C-857T polymorphism was strongly associated with narcolepsy in the subgroup of DRB1*15/16 (HLA-DR2 type) negative patients, but not in DRB1*15/16 positive patients. These results point towards an etiological influence of TNFA alleles in narcolepsy and support previous findings suggesting genetic heterogeneity and differences in pathophysiological characteristics of HLA-DR2 positive and negative narcolepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth in population and urbanization, a development in sustainable treatment of sewage sludge has become an urgent environmental concern globally. Lipid extraction has been investigated in order to valorize waste sewage sludge treatment through a pathway that leads to biodiesel. In this work, an integrated approach that combines lipid extraction of sewage sludge with hydrothermal liquefaction of the lipid-extracted sludge was studied in order to maximize valorization. The hydrothermal process was performed at temperatures ranging from 250 to 350 °C with 20 min. Regarding the bio-crude: below 300 °C, similar values are found with and without lipid-extraction, with the former variant containing more nitrogenated compounds stemming from Maillard reactions, while the latter more hydrocarbons; at 350 °C, higher bio-crude is obtained from raw sewage sludge owning to the conversion of lipids. Palmitic acid was selected as a model lipid to elucidate the role of lipids during the process, as well as to provide an improved understanding of the reaction network. Energy recovery reached values of 85.4% for hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge and 98.3% for integrated approach considering the whole range of biofuel products. The energy consumption ratio was applied to estimate energetic efficiency for the combined process, making it possible to estimate the breakeven point of the process, plus the efficiency of both the hydrothermal process on its own in comparison with the combined option. Image 1 • Raw sewage sludge was submitted to lipid extraction. • Raw and lipid-extracted sewage sludge, and a model lipid were subjected to HTL. • Combined process (HTL + extraction) yielded 29.3 wt% liquid fuel-like products. • Combined process showed an energy recovery up to 98% based on HHV comparison. • Energy consumption ratio shows a significant temperature dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of lipids on the fate of N during HTL was investigated. • Maillard reaction products are decreased by the addition of lipids. • Maillard reactions were suppressed by amidation. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of carbohydrate (lactose), protein (lysine), and lipid (palmitic acid) surrogates was carried out in batch reactors for 20 min in a temperature range of 250–350 °C in order to understand interactions in hydrothermal reactions. A binary mixture of lysine and lactose leads to a higher bio-oil yield when compared to experiments made with isolated compounds, indicating a relevant contribution by Maillard reactions (MRs). Emulsification happens to proteins and lipids during HTL, making it difficult to separate and collect bio-oil products at low temperatures. When testing the ternary mixture, the nitrogen content of the bio-oil is negligibly affected by the changes of temperature, presenting a constant value of 5.3 wt. %. However, adding lipids dramatically changes the bio-oil composition. This is indicated by an increasing amount of fatty acid amides and a decrease in Maillard reaction products, suggesting a strong competition between amidation and MRs. A reaction scheme was proposed based on the final products and assumed reaction pathways. These findings here can contribute to a better understanding of the HTL of biomasses with complex organic compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular Psychiatry (2003) 8, 11–12. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001245 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]