Abstract: The present invention is directed to certain Oxazole derivatives which are useful as modulators of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) and as FAAH imaging agents. The invention is also concerned with pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds as active ingredients and the use of the compounds and their formulations in the treatment of certain disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, skeletomuscular pain, and fibromyalgia, as well as acute pain, migraine, sleep disorder, Alzheimer Disease, and Parkinson's Disease.

Abstract: Methods for activating and/or reactivating a metal oxide surface for deposition, immobilizing, and/or growing a biological sample (e.g., an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, functionalized particle, a polymer, etc.) thereon are disclosed. The metal oxide surface (e.g., zirconium oxide) can be activated and/or reactivated by exposing the metal oxide surface to various activation and/or treatment protocols capable of enhancing a slide's activity relative to the activity of an untreated slide. The activation and/or treatment protocol can include subjecting the slide (or at least the metal oxide layer) to an oxygen plasma treatment and/or a peroxide solution for an amount of time sufficient to activate and/or reactivate the metal oxide surface. Activated sequencing slides capable of incorporation, for example, into various embodiments of a flow cell for use in NGS platforms are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for loading a particulate catalyst into a vertical catalyst tube includes (i) introducing catalyst loading apparatus into a vertical catalyst tube, (ii) loading catalyst particles into the top of the tube whereinafter they contact the apparatus as they pass down the tube, forming a uniform bed of catalyst beneath the apparatus and (iii) simultaneously removing the apparatus from the catalyst tube in timed relationship to the catalyst loading, wherein the apparatus includes one or more deflector units, each deflector unit including a plurality of inclined deflector plates arranged on a rigid elongate member such that all the catalyst particles are deflected by one or more of the plates as they pass through the or each unit.