Compositions comprising ketone bodies and/or their metabolic precursors are provided that are suitable for administration to humans and animals and which have the properties of, inter alia, (i) increasing cardiac efficiency, particularly efficiency in use of glucose, (ii) for providing energy source, particularly in diabetes and insulin resistant states and (iii) treating disorders caused by damage to brain cells, particularly by retarding or preventing brain damage in memory associated brain areas such, as found in Alzheimer's and similar conditions.

These compositions may be taken as nutritional aids, for example for athletes, or for the treatment of medical conditions, particularly those associated with poor cardiac efficiency, insulin resistance and neuronal damage. The invention further provides methods of treatment and novel esters and polymers for inclusion in the compositions of the invention.

A composition comprising at least two trimeric cyclic ketone peroxides: a trimeric cyclic methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (3MEK-cp) of formula (I) and at least one peroxide satisfying formula (II) wherein R.sup.1 through R.sup.3 are independently selected from alkyl and alkoxyalkyl groups, said groups having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon plus oxygen atoms of R.sup.1?R.sup.2+R.sup.3 is in the range 7-15, and the molar ratio of 3MEK-cp to the total amount of peroxides satisfying formula (II) being in the range of from 10:90 to 80:20. ##STR00001##

A composition comprising at least two trimeric cyclic ketone peroxides: a trimeric cyclic methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (3MEK-cp) of formula (I) and at least one peroxide satisfying formula (II) wherein R.sup.1 through R.sup.3 are independently selected from alkyl and alkoxyalkyl groups, said groups having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon plus oxygen atoms of R.sup.1?R.sup.2+R.sup.3 is in the range 7-15, and the molar ratio of 3MEK-cp to the total amount of peroxides satisfying formula (II) being in the range of from 10:90 to 80:20. ##STR00001##

An onium salt having formula (1) is provided. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the onium salt as a PAG has improved lithography properties including sensitivity, acid diffusion control, MEF, and LWR when processed by photolithography using high-energy radiation. The resist composition having a high solvent solubility and a high sensitivity and being improved in lithography properties such as EL and LWR when processed by photolithography using high-energy radiation such as KrF or ArF excimer laser, EB or EUV; and a pattern forming process using the resist composition.

##STR00001##

An onium salt having formula (1) is provided. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the onium salt as a PAG has improved lithography properties including sensitivity, acid diffusion control, MEF, and LWR when processed by photolithography using high-energy radiation. The resist composition having a high solvent solubility and a high sensitivity and being improved in lithography properties such as EL and LWR when processed by photolithography using high-energy radiation such as KrF or ArF excimer laser, EB or EUV; and a pattern forming process using the resist composition.

##STR00001##

Reactive sulfur species have been recognized as an important regulator in redox biology, wherein the reactive sulfur species have been shown to be active in tumor suppressors, ion channels, and transcription factors. The disclosed invention is a novel composition of matter that allows for the detection of H.sub.2S and H.sub.2S.sub.n species in living cells. These novel compositions represent significant progress in the field of chemical, H.sub.2S and H.sub.2S.sub.n probes as they have both been successfully applied in the visualization sulfur species in living systems.

Reactive sulfur species have been recognized as an important regulator in redox biology, wherein the reactive sulfur species have been shown to be active in tumor suppressors, ion channels, and transcription factors. The disclosed invention is a novel composition of matter that allows for the detection of H.sub.2S and H.sub.2S.sub.n species in living cells. These novel compositions represent significant progress in the field of chemical, H.sub.2S and H.sub.2S.sub.n probes as they have both been successfully applied in the visualization sulfur species in living systems.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to periodate salt compositions for use in the chemical linearization of double-stranded polynucleotides in preparation for sequencing application, for example, sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS). Kits containing the periodate salt composition and methods of sequencing polynucleotides are also described.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to periodate salt compositions for use in the chemical linearization of double-stranded polynucleotides in preparation for sequencing application, for example, sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS). Kits containing the periodate salt composition and methods of sequencing polynucleotides are also described.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a method for preparing a crown ether, the method comprising: loading a resin having a resin functional group with a linking compound having a functional group selected for coupling to the resin functional group and at least two carbon atoms each having a substituent; coupling the linking compound to a polyethylene glycol having two terminal carbon atoms each bonded to an optionally protected terminal hydroxyl group to obtain a cyclized intermediate, whereby one said at least two carbon atoms or the substituent and an associated one of the two terminal carbon atoms or the hydroxyl groups undergo a coupling or substitution reaction; and removing the linking compound and the cyclized intermediate from the resin.