The present invention provides an energy device having excellent properties. Also provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing a compound represented by the following Formula (1), wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each independently represent an organic group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and R.sup.11 and R.sup.12, R.sup.11 and R.sup.13, or R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 are optionally bound with each other to form a 5-membered ring or a 6-membered ring, with a proviso that a total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 is 7 or less.

##STR00001##

A cyclic poly L-lactic acid composition having a pH of 6 to 7 by the polymer itself.

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.

The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

The invention provides a material comprising (i) a crown ether of formula (I), (ii) a crown ether of formula (II), and/or (iii) a crown ether of formula (III), or a salt thereof, wherein each m independently is an integer from 1 to 8, p is an integer from 1 to 1000, each designates an optionally present bond and/or structure, each X is an optionally present substituent, each * independently represents H, O, or a bond to a remainder of the material, provided that at least one * is a bond to the remainder of the material, and wherein the remainder of the material is bound via a sp3-sp3 carbon-carbon bond, a method of making the material, and a method of using the material.

The invention provides a material comprising (i) a crown ether of formula (I), (ii) a crown ether of formula (II), and/or (iii) a crown ether of formula (III), or a salt thereof, wherein each m independently is an integer from 1 to 8, p is an integer from 1 to 1000, each designates an optionally present bond and/or structure, each X is an optionally present substituent, each * independently represents H, O, or a bond to a remainder of the material, provided that at least one * is a bond to the remainder of the material, and wherein the remainder of the material is bound via a sp3-sp3 carbon-carbon bond, a method of making the material, and a method of using the material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel rotaxane and a polyurethane using the same. The present invention provides a rotaxane having a crown ether and a chain molecule piercing through the cyclic structure of the crown ether, wherein a hydroxyl group exists at one terminal of the chain molecule, and a hydroxyl group bonds to the cyclic structure of the crown ether. The present invention further provides a polyurethane using the rotaxane as a polyol component.

Polymeric ion conductors composed of a polymeric matrix associated with an isoindolinium moiety represented by Formula I as described in the specification are provided. Anion conducting compositions comprising an anion conducting polymer associated with, or threaded within and having mechanically interlocked therearound, a cyclic moiety are also provided. lonomeric materials, including, for example, ion exchange membranes such as anion exchange membranes, made of the polymeric ion conductor and/or the anion conducting composition, and electrochemical systems and articles-of-manufacturing containing the polymeric ion conductor, the anion conducting composition or the ion exchange membrane are also provided.