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Philosophy – Blu Homes

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Processing food extensively by thermal and nonthermal techniques is a unique and universal human practice. Food processing increases palatability and edibility and has been argued to increase energy gain. Although energy gain is a well-known effect from cooking starch-rich foods, the idea that cooking meat increases energy gain has never been tested. Moreover, the relative energetic advantages of cooking and nonthermal processing have not been assessed, whether for meat or starch-rich foods. Here, we describe a system for characterizing the energetic effects of cooking and nonthermal food processing. Using mice as a model, we show that cooking substantially increases the energy gained from meat, leading to elevations in body mass that are not attributable to differences in food intake or activity levels. The positive energetic effects of cooking were found to be superior to the effects of pounding in both meat and starch-rich tubers, a conclusion further supported by food preferences in fasted animals. Our results indicate significant contributions from cooking to both modern and ancestral human energy budgets. They also illuminate a weakness in current food labeling practices, which systematically overestimate the caloric potential of poorly processed foods.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1112128108

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CLEAN GREEN SCAMBiofuel producers and oil refiners were roiled last October when the federal government charged Rodney Hailey, the owner of Clean Green Fuel, with carrying out a $9 million scam involving the distribution of 32 million fake credits, or renewable identification numbers.Oil companies are required to purchase RIN credits from producers of renewable fuel to comply with federal targets for biofuel output.OceanConnect bought more than 27.7 million credits from Clean Green Fuel between November 2009 and December 2010, some of which it later resold to various companies.Companies that used the fake credits from Clean Green Fuel, including Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, to meet their renewable fuel obligations, were served with notices of violation from EPA in November of last year and now face fines of up to $37,500 a day per violation.Earlier this year, another company, Absolute Fuels, was also cited by the EPA for issuing more than 48 million fake credits.DUE DILIGENCE?The EPA has maintained that companies are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the credits they purchase are valid.The agency declined to comment on the OceanConnect lawsuit, but pointed out that 30 of 33 companies that used the fake credits to meet the renewable target have agreed to settle with the EPA and pay “modest” penalties.”When fuel credits are used that do not represent actual renewable fuel, regardless of a company’s good faith belief that the RINs were valid, it undermines Congress’ goals in creating the program, creates market uncertainty and is a violation of the standard,” the EPA said.With some OceanConnect customers demanding to be reimbursed for the fake credits, OceanConnect has charged that the EPA did not properly vet Clean Green.”As traders in these financial instruments we did our due diligence, unfortunately EPA didn’t do its due diligence in registering these individuals,” OceanConnect President Eric Rubury told Reuters.In its lawsuit, OceanConnect said the EPA was aware of the possible fraud for months before it notified market participants, and during some of this time Clean Green continued to sell fake credits.The EPA’s approach to fraud in the RIN market has been that companies have to replace the invalid credits that they may have used, Rubury said.”It is really nothing more than a fine on the parties who did no wrong, broke no laws, violated no regulations,” he said.The government’s response has basically frozen the market for renewable energy credits, threatening the survival of small biodiesel producers, Rubury added.Top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works committee have raised concerns about the EPA’s oversight of the renewable energy mandate since these fraud cases were revealed.

Trading firm sues US EPA over biofuel credit scam | Reuters

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Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark is a rich source of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins reported to exert a protective action against colon cancer. The present study characterizes different witch hazel tannins as selective cytotoxic agents against colon cancer. To cover the structural diversity of the tannins that occur in H. virginiana bark, the hydrolyzable tannins, hamamelitannin and pentagalloylglucose, together with a proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (F800H4) were selected for the study. Treatment with these compounds reduced tumor viability and induced apoptosis, necrosis, and S-phase arrest in the cell cycle of HT29 cells, with hamamelitannin being the most efficient. Owing to polyphenol-mediated H2O2 formation in the incubation media, the antiproliferative effect was determined in the presence and absence of catalase to rule out any such interference. The presence of catalase significantly changed the IC50 only for F800H4. Furthermore, at concentrations that inhibit the growth of HT29 cells by 50%, hamamelitannin had no harmful effects on NCM460 normal colonocytes, whereas pentagalloylglucose inhibited both cancerous and normal cell growth. Using the TNPTM assay, we identified a highly reactive phenolic position in hamamelitannin, which may explain its efficacy at inhibiting colon cancer growth.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np200426k

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If drivers switch from gasoline to biofuels, will it lessen the air pollution that shrouds cities around the world? Studies of auto emissions have indicated it might. But the first citywide air quality study of its kind, reported at the meeting, suggests that unless more than 26% of cars make the switch, it will have negligible effect.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.336.6079.292-c

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doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.336.6079.288

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