Disclosed is a compound for capturing carbon dioxide and improving the arability of soil. The compound includes a quantity of calcium hydroxide and a quantity of basalt. The calcium hydroxide improves the arability of soil by raising soil alkalinity and acting as a pH buffer to prevent it from becoming too acidic. The quantity of basalt sequesters carbon dioxide by providing reactive minerals capable of facilitating carbon mineralization. Also disclosed are methods of making and experimental results demonstrating the compound's efficacy.

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 present invention relates to a mechanochemically carbonated magnesium silicate which has a BET surface area within the range of 20 to 100 m.sup.2/g, preferably 30 to 80 m.sup.2/g, more preferably 40 to 70 m.sup.2/g, most preferably 45 to 65 m.sup.2/g and/or an amorphous content as determined by XRD of at least 30 wt. %, preferably at least 40 wt. %, more preferably at least 50 wt. %, even more preferably at least 60 wt. % a CO.sub.2 content of at least 3 wt. %. The invention further relates to methods of its production and uses thereof, for example as a filler in polymers. The compositions comprising the mechanochemically carbonated magnesium silicate and a polymer (such as a polyolefin) provide the benefits of being a CO.sub.2 negative material having excellent functional properties which can be used for a variety of purposes, for example as a component of clothing or apparel, or as a component of backpacks such as a buckle.

The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth—bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth—bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

A dielectric powder includes a core-shell structure including a core region formed in an inner portion thereof and a shell region covering the core region. The core region includes barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3) doped with a metal oxide, and the shell region is formed of a ferroelectric material.

A method for modulating production of a cytokine, or molecule upregulated or down regulated by a cytokine, in a patient in need thereof, including administering to a patient a composition comprising at least one of a strontium-containing compound, a cysteine-based antioxidant, a polyhydroxyphenol and beta hydroxybutyric acid to the patient, whereby an amount of a cytokine in the patient is modulated.

A method for modulating production of a cytokine, or molecule upregulated or down regulated by a cytokine, in a patient in need thereof, including administering to a patient a composition comprising at least one of a strontium-containing compound, a cysteine-based antioxidant, a polyhydroxyphenol and beta hydroxybutyric acid to the patient, whereby an amount of a cytokine in the patient is modulated.

A method of making a proppant-gel matrix comprising: a) hydrating a gelling agent to form a hydrated gelling agent; b) adding a basic compound to the hydrated gelling agent to form a basic hydrated gelling agent having a pH in the range of 11.5 to 14.0; c) mixing the basic hydrated gelling agent and a proppant to form a basic hydrated gelling system; and d) adding a crosslinking agent to the basic hydrated gelling system to form the proppant-gel matrix, is disclosed. The proppant-gel matrix can then be used as a fracturing fluid in a hydraulic fracturing process.