Abstract: Processes for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof in a liquid phase reaction medium, wherein the reaction medium comprises a finite amount of water, a homogeneous catalyst, an alkyl halide promoter, and a catalyst stabilizer/co-promoter comprising an imidazolium cation R1R2Im+ as an iodide salt, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not the same.

Abstract: Processes for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof in a liquid phase reaction medium, wherein the reaction medium comprises a finite amount of water, a homogeneous catalyst, an alkyl halide promoter, and a catalyst stabilizer/co-promoter comprising an imidazolium cation R1R2Im+ as an iodide salt, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not the same.

Abstract: Adiponectin variants comprising one or more amino acid modifications to corresponding wild-type adiponectins at positions having predetermined hydrophobicity, predetermined polarity, predetermined electrostatic potential, Met, aromatic amino acid, Cys corresponding to position 152 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid affecting isoelectric point of the wild-type or variant adiponectin, amino acid affecting beta sheet formation, helix capping, or dipole interactions, or a combination thereof, wherein the adiponectin variants exhibit improved stability, solubility or soluble expression, expression yield, the ability to induce phosphorylation of AMPK, or a combination thereof, as compared to the corresponding wild-type adiponectins.