An asbestos free, calcium silicate insulating material suitable for use in the casting of molten non-ferrous metals, and suitable for use in applications where a fire resistant, heat insulating, electrical insulating, and corrosion resistant material is desirable. The HSOFC system is coupled to at least one DC load and to at least one AC load. A thin insulating coating is applied to a surface of the substrate and wherein said thin insulating coating has an outer surface that is spaced from said surface of the substrate. For example, changes to engine operation, such as rich operation, spark retarding, upspeeding, and variable valve timing, all serve to reduce the amount of anti-knock fluid required to eliminate knocking. Finally, an improved elution buffer for the purification of proteins produced in insect cells from a Concanavalin A column is provided.