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Background: The ROAdmap for MEntal health Research in Europe project aimed to create an integrated European roadmap for mental health research. Leading mental health research experts across Europe have formulated consensus-based recommendations for future research within the public mental health field. Methods: Experts were invited to compile and discuss research priorities in a series of topic-based scientific workshops. In addition, a Delphi process was carried out to reach consensus on the list of research priorities and their rank order. Three web-based surveys were conducted. Nearly 60 experts were involved in the priority setting process. Results: Twenty priorities for public mental health research were identified through the consensus process. The research priorities were divided into summary principles—encompassing overall recommendations for future public mental health research in Europe—and thematic research priorities, including area-specific top priorities on research topics and methods. The priorities represent three overarching goals mirroring societal challenges, that is, to identify causes, risk and protective factors for mental health across the lifespan; to advance the implementation of effective public mental health interventions and to reduce disparities in mental health. Conclusions: The importance of strengthening research on the implementation and dissemination of promotion, prevention and service delivery interventions in the mental health field needs to be emphasized. The complexity of mental health and its broader conceptualisation requires complementary research approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration to better serve the needs of the European population.Topic: mental health, prevention

The effect of raw material and pretreatment procedure on the structure and properties of industrial lignins was evaluated by detailed chemical and physical characterization. The application potential of studied lignins was considered based on those. Hydrolysis lignin and steam exploded lignins had clearly distinct characteristics compared to the spent liquor lignins; higher molar mass, significantly higher amount of native aryl ether linkages and thereby low phenol content. The hydrolysis lignin also contained significant amount of carbohydrate and protein residues, which may affect the applicability. For resin applications, the kraft lignins seem most reactive in respect of high phenol content. The high molar mass of hydrolysis lignin and steam exploded lignins could be beneficial for dispersants and composites

LignoFibre (LGF) organosolv process is a potential novel fractionation method for biomass, yielding cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses. Depending on the solvent used, the LGF fractions have potential in numerous biomaterial and chemical applications. Unbleached acetic acid LGF cellulose fibres showed promising results as reinforcement fibres in composites, while bleached fibres could be used for dissolving pulps and cellulose derivatives as well as for nanocellulose manufacturing. Ethanol LGF pulps are suitable material for enzymatic hydrolysis and further fermentation of the monomeric sugars into bioethanol. Based on its material properties, sulphur-free LGF lignin has potential as an additive in bioplastics or in resin applications. The sugar-based compounds could serve as platform chemicals and studies on their recovery from the cooking liquor at high yield and purity are currently on-going.

The emerging concepts regarding bioproducts from lignocellulosics are very suitable for existing pulp manufacturing facilities, to take advantage of infrastructure and process integration. The LignoDeco project is a partnership among 5 countries (Brazil, Finland, Denmark, Spain and France – Fig. 1), promoted by the EC FP7 programme. It focus on the development of pre-treatments for deconstruction of high productivity and fast-growing Brazilian eucalypt clones and elephant grass, aiming at production of special pulps and bioproducts, using modern analytical techniques for in-depth identification of the changes produced in the main plant polymers. The project is now on the 30th month and resulted 3 patents, 12 peer-reviewed papers, 28 oral/visual presentations, and many other dissemination activities., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 1211-1215

Oxidative polymerization of two isolated lignans, secoisolariciresinol, and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, as well as the lignan macromolecule, by a high redox potential Trametes hirsuta laccase was studied with different analytical methods. The reactivity of laccase with the different compounds was studied by an oxygen consumption measurement. The polymerization of laccase-treated lignans was evidenced by size exclusion chromatography, reversed phase - high performance liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation - time of flight mass spectrometry. The data showed that the selected substrates could be oxidised by laccase. Secoisolariciresinol and secoisolaricires-inol diglucoside were polymerized by laccase to a similar extent. The lignan macromolecule reacted to a lesser extent. Polymerization of the macromolecule proceeded mainly via its secoisolariciresinol diglucoside moieties. Furthermore, it was shown that ferulic acid can be linked to polymerized secoisolariciresinol via decarboxylation by laccase. This investigation showed that lignans can be enzymatically modified by Trametes hirsuta laccase.