Abstract: Methods for improving mitochondrial function, decreasing iron accumulation, and/or decreasing oxidative stress by exposing cells or treating a subject to compounds or compositions of the general formula (I) are described that are beneficial in treating, for example, diseases and conditions such as Friedreich's ataxia, normal aging, and various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, such compounds are useful as probes for identifying defects in mitochondrial metabolism, mitochondrial iron accumulation, cellular stress among other mitochondrial diseases and helping to identify compounds active in overcoming such defects.

Abstract: This invention provides expression vectors for a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule comprising a double-stranded region of random sequence, sets and libraries of same, methods of generating same, and methods for identifying an RNA therapeutic or RNA molecule that has an ability to affect a biological parameter, for identifying a drug target for a disease or disorder of interest, and for identifying a variant of an RNA molecule that has an altered ability to affect a biological parameter of interest.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin copolymers composed of nonhydrolyzable monomer units and hydrolyzable monomer units, the latter resulting from copolymerization of monomers containing a linkage that is hydrolytically cleavable in the presence of aqueous base or aqueous acid. Generally, the hydrolyzable monomer units represent a significant fraction of the copolymer, such that upon hydrolysis, a substantial portion of the copolymer is degraded into low molecular weight fragments. Also provided are degradable articles that are at least partially composed of a degradable copolymer in which hydrolyzable monomer units represent at least 20 mole % of the copolymer.

Abstract: A continuous feed volumetric heating and convection oven for heating articles includes an oven body, a conveyor for moving the articles therethrough, a volumetric heating source for delivering microwave or other volumetric heating energy to the oven body, and a ventilation system for delivering a flow of heated air to the oven body. The ventilation system includes a heater and at least one damper associated with an exhaust whereby air may be partially recirculated and partially exhausted from the oven body. Microwave chokes and microwave suppression tunnels are provided for limiting the escape of volumetric heating energy such as microwave energy into the surrounding area and into the ventilation system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin copolymers composed of nonhydrolyzable monomer units and hydrolyzable monomer units, the latter resulting from copolymerization of monomers containing a linkage that is hydrolytically cleavable in the presence of aqueous base or aqueous acid. Generally, the hydrolyzable monomer units represent a significant fraction of the copolymer, such that upon hydrolysis, a substantial portion of the copolymer is degraded into low molecular weight fragments. Also provided are degradable articles that are at least partially composed of a degradable copolymer in which hydrolyzable monomer units represent at least 20 mole % of the copolymer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin copolymers composed of nonhydrolyzable monomer units and hydrolyzable monomer units, the latter resulting from copolymerization of monomers containing a linkage that is hydrolytically cleavable in the presence of aqueous base or aqueous acid. Generally, the hydrolyzable monomer units represent a significant fraction of the copolymer, such that upon hydrolysis, a substantial portion of the copolymer is degraded into low molecular weight fragments. Also provided are degradable articles that are at least partially composed of a degradable copolymer in which hydrolyzable monomer units represent at least 20 mole % of the copolymer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin copolymers composed of nonhydrolyzable monomer units and hydrolyzable monomer units, the latter resulting from copolymerization of monomers containing a linkage that is hydrolytically cleavable in the presence of aqueous base or aqueous acid. Generally, the hydrolyzable monomer units represent a significant fraction of the copolymer, such that upon hydrolysis, a substantial portion of the copolymer is degraded into low molecular weight fragments. Also provided are degradable articles that are at least partially composed of a degradable copolymer in which hydrolyzable monomer units represent at least 20 mole % of the copolymer.

Abstract: A method is provided for the polymerization of olefins substituted with a functional group using a transition metal catalyst that, by virtue of one or more stabilizing groups incorporated within the catalyst structure, “fixes” the stereoconfiguration of each olefinic monomer relative to the transition metal complex during each successive reaction in the polymerization process. The invention substantially reduces the likelihood of olefin rearrangement at the active site of the catalyst during polymerization. In one particular embodiment, the functional group is a polar, electron-donating group and the stabilizing group is a Lewis acid substituent; examples of polymers that can be prepared with such a system include poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(vinyl ethers). Novel complexes and catalyst systems useful in the polymerization method are also provided.

Abstract: Workstation, apparatuses and methods for the high-throughput synthesis, screening and/or characterization of combinatorial libraries. The invention relates to an array, which permits various high-throughput methods for synthesis, screening and/or characterization in the same array, without requiring sample transfer from the array. In a preferred embodiment, the synthesis, screening, and/or characterization steps are carried out in a highly parallel fashion, where more than one compound is synthesized, screened, and/or characterized at the same time. The invention may be practiced at the microscale. The array may comprise thermal channels, for regulating the temperature of the wells in the array. The wells of the array may comprise a membrane, which is used in various screening and characterization methods. The invention also relates to a covered array, comprising the array and an array cover, as well as an apparatus comprising the array, which comprises the array, an array cover and a stage.

Abstract: Novel compounds are provided that are useful as catalysts, particularly in the polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers such as olefinic or vinyl monomers. The compounds are multinuclear complexes of transition metals coordinated to at least one unsaturated nitrogenous ligand. Catalyst systems containing the novel compounds in combination with a catalyst activator are provided as well, as are methods of using the novel compounds in the preparation of polyolefins.

Abstract: Novel compounds are provided which are useful as catalysts, particularly in the polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers such as olefinic or vinyl monomers. The compounds are complexes of a mid-transition metal coordinated to at least two ligands, at least one of which is an unsaturated nitrogenous ligand. Depending on ligand substitution, stereospecific catalysts can be provided, including isospecific catalysts and syndiospecific catalysts. Catalyst systems containing the novel compounds in combination with a catalyst activator are provided as well, as are methods of using the novel compounds in the preparation of polyolefins.

Abstract: Carbon disulfide and hydrogen are reacted in the presence of a catalyst to form methyl mercaptans. The catalyst may be V2O5, Re2O7, or MnO supported on a substrate of CeO2, ZrO2, TiO2, Nb2O5, Al2O3, SiO2, Ta2O5, SnO2, or mixtures thereof High conversions of carbon disulfide and high selectivities to methanethiol are obtained by the present invention.

Abstract: A method is provided for the polymerization of olefins substituted with a functional group using a transition metal catalyst that, by virtue of one or more stabilizing groups incorporated within the catalyst structure, “fixes” the stereoconfiguration of each olefinic monomer relative to the transition metal complex during each successive reaction in the polymerization process. The invention substantially reduces the likelihood of olefin rearrangement at the active site of the catalyst during polymerization. In one particular embodiment, the functional group is a polar, electron-donating group and the stabilizing group is a Lewis acid substituent; examples of polymers that can be prepared with such a system include poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(vinyl ethers). Novel complexes and catalyst systems useful in the polymerization method are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for the polymerization of olefins substituted with a functional group using a transition metal catalyst that, by virtue of one or more stabilizing groups incorporated within the catalyst structure, “fixes” the stereoconfiguration of each olefinic monomer relative to the transition metal complex during each successive reaction in the polymerization process. The invention substantially reduces the likelihood of olefin rearrangement at the active site of the catalyst during polymerization. In one particular embodiment, the functional group is a polar, electron-donating group and the stabilizing group is a Lewis acid substituent; examples of polymers that can be prepared with such a system include poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(vinyl ethers). Novel complexes and catalyst systems useful in the polymerization method are also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin copolymers composed of nonhydrolyzable monomer units and hydrolyzable monomer units, the latter resulting from copolymerization of monomers containing a linkage that is hydrolytically cleavable in the presence of aqueous base or aqueous acid. Generally, the hydrolyzable monomer units represent a significant fraction of the copolymer, such that upon hydrolysis, a substantial portion of the copolymer is degraded into low molecular weight fragments. Also provided are degradable articles that are at least partially composed of a degradable copolymer in which hydrolyzable monomer units represent at least 20 mole % of the copolymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to encoding methods using up-converting phosphors for high-throughput screening of catalysts. In particular, the invention relates to polymerization catalysts. In one embodiment of the invention, a monomer is combined with at least one labeled catalyst particle. The labeled catalyst particle comprises an up-converting phosphor label and a catalyst. The up-converting phosphor label identifies a particular catalyst. The monomer is polymerized to form a polymer bead surrounding the labeled catalyst particle. According to the invention, it is possible to combine two or more labeled catalyst particles in a commercially relevant large scale reactor to obtain direct comparison of different catalysts, and to avoid reactor effects that may occur when performed on the microscale. After the reaction, the resulting polymer beads are sorted, based on their size and/or phosphor labels.

Abstract: A process is provided for use in the conversion of alkanes into alkylene oxides, having particular utility in the conversion of propane to form propylene oxide, using a lanthanide-promoted, supported, silver catalyst prepared via precipitation. A preferred embodiment uses silver nitrate and lanthanum nitrate to form the catalyst on a BaCO3 support.

Abstract: Novel compounds are provided that are useful as catalysts, particularly in the polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers such as olefinic or vinyl monomers. The compounds are multinuclear complexes of transition metals coordinated to at least one unsaturated nitrogenous ligand. Catalyst systems containing the novel compounds in combination with a catalyst activator are provided as well, as are methods of using the novel compounds in the preparation of polyolefins.

Abstract: Workstation, apparatuses and methods for the high-throughput synthesis, screening and/or characterization of combinatorial libraries. The invention relates to an array, which permits various high-throughput methods for synthesis, screening and/or characterization in the same array, without requiring sample transfer from the array. In a preferred embodiment, the synthesis, screening, and/or characterization steps are carried out in a highly parallel fashion, where more than one compound is synthesized, screened, and/or characterized at the same time. The invention may be practiced at the microscale. The array may comprise thermal channels, for regulating the temperature of the wells in the array. The wells of the array may comprise a membrane, which is used in various screening and characterization methods. The invention also relates to a covered array, comprising the array and an array cover, as well as an apparatus comprising the array, which comprises the array, an array cover and a stage.

Abstract: A process is provided for use in the conversion of alkanes into alkylene oxides, having particular utility in the conversion of propane to form propylene oxide, using a lanthanide-promoted, supported, silver catalyst prepared via precipitation. A preferred embodiment uses silver nitrate and lanthanum nitrate to form the catalyst on a BaCO3 support.