HAWAII ALGAL BIOFUEL

This report investigates the feasibility and affordability of producing algae-derived biofuel in Hawaii for military aviation. The authors evaluated methods for cultivation of algae, investigated the processes necessary to locally refine bio-oil into bio-kerosene, researched the environmental impacts of cultivation and refinement facilities in Hawaii, and studied the resultant cost per gallon of bio-kerosene production. Based on the current state of technology and the proposed system of systems architecture, this report estimates that bio-kerosene can be produced for $8.00 - 22.87/gal, indicating that although this system is technically feasible, it is unlikely to be affordable at current fuel prices without ongoing subsidy or further technical innovation.http://archive.org/details/hawaiialgalbiofu109453289

A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum versus placebo on solar lentigines

Background. Solar lentigines (SL) are benign signs of sun damage that many people find distressing.Aim. To assess the efficacy and safety of l-ascorbic acid 10% + phytic acid 2% for treating SL.Patients/Methods. A double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial in 30 healthy subjects with ≥2 SL. Subjects were randomly assigned to apply product to one side of the body and vehicle to the other twice daily for 3 months with follow-up of 2 months.Results. The pigmentation index for product-treated SL was reduced (maximum reduction 1.3 at 3 months [M3]), while that for vehicle-treated lesions remained stable. These differences were statistically significant for M1–M4 (P ≤ 0.003). Dermoscopy detected significant intergroup differences in pigmentation at M5 (P = 0.011). Colorimetry results indicated a statistically significant improvement in brightness (L*) between study drug and vehicle at M5. Fifteen subjects experienced 23 adverse events; six (mostly halo depigmentation) were judged possibly related to the study drug. There were six instances of mild-to-moderate intolerance in the study drug group and five in the vehicle-treated group.Conclusions. Study treatment was significantly more efficacious than vehicle in many respects and was well tolerated. Future, larger studies are needed to confirm these results and to compare the product with gold standard treatments.FLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

High GAD65 autoantibody levels in nondiabetic adults are associated with HLA but not with CTLA-4 or INS VNTR.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between genetic background and antibody levels in a nondiabetic population. We evaluated if high levels of autoantibodies against the 65 kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65Ab), were associated with high-risk genes, i.e. HLA, CTLA-4 and INS VNTR genes. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Seventy-five (M/F 39/36) subjects exceeding the 95th percentile of GAD65 autoantibody index and 75 age and sex matched subjects below the 95th percentile, randomly selected amongst participants in the Västerbotten Intervention Programme. METHODS: The GAD65 Ab were measured in a radioligand-binding assay. HLA class II typing was performed by an oligoblot hybridization method. CTLA-4 repeat length was analysed and divided into short forms and long forms. Class I and class III alleles of INS VNTR were detected. Differences in distribution were tested by Pearson chi-square with Yates correction. Odds ratios (OR) were used to compare groups calculated with Cochran's an