Abstract: Systems and processes for purifying and concentrating a liquid feed stream are disclosed. In the systems, the concentrated liquid output from the high pressure side of a reverse osmosis stage is used as the draw solution in the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis stage in a configuration called osmotically assisted reverse osmosis. This reduces the osmotic pressure differential across the membrane, permitting high solute concentrations to be obtained, hastening the purification of the liquid. Reduced system pressures are also obtained by arranging multiple osmotically assisted reverse osmosis stages in a cross-current arrangement. Overall system energy consumption is reduced compared to conventional thermal processes for high concentration streams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus break down organic materials, typically contaminants, through oxidation. The method for the treatment of a volume of material, provides: a) introducing at least two electrodes into a location, the location containing the volume of material and the volume of material containing one or more species for treatment; b) providing connections between a voltage source and the at least two electrodes; c) applying a voltage of a first polarity to the connections for a first period of time, under the control of a voltage controller; d) applying a voltage of a second, reversed, polarity to the connections for a second period of time, under the control of the voltage controller; e) repeating steps c) and d) a plurality of times; preferably with steps c), d) and e) promoting oxidation of one or more of the one or more species for treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtration has a feed of sludge, containing liquid, solids and gases fed into a tank, the tank containing at least one spinning separation filter comprising a filter cone set having a filter screen, and a barrier cone, arranged roughly in parallel, and defining a conical workspace between them, the conical workspace having a peripheral opening to the tank and a central opening communicating with the interiors of one or more hollow shafts supporting the barrier cone and the filter cone, the upper shaft supporting the barrier cone having an upper axial channel for the exit of gases, the lower shaft supporting the center of the filter cone having a lower axial channel for the exit of liquid or oil, motor means for producing rotation in said at least one spinning separation filter, and a filtrate liquid reservoir located underneath the filter cone for capturing the filtrate passing through the filter screen.

Abstract: Method for dewatering sludge assisted by flocculating reagent, said method comprising an injection of flocculating reagent into the sludge and a step for dewatering said sludge, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step for mixing (4) said sludge so as to destructure it and reduce its viscosity. Installation for implementing this method.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing a glass ribbon includes a forming vessel including an upper portion including a pair of outside surfaces and a forming wedge portion including a pair of downwardly inclined forming surfaces converging along a downstream direction to form a bottom edge. An edge director is provided that includes a flow blocking portion. In some embodiments, the edge director also includes a flow directing portion.

Abstract: A apparatus for molding curved glass comprises: a plurality of mold units formed in a chamber for thermomolding and including a lower mold which has one or more cavities such that each of the cavities is injected with glass and an upper mold corresponding to the shape of glass to be processed and arranged on the upper side of the lower mold; and first and second processing apparatuses respectively including an inlet part for the plurality of mold units which are put, a preheating part for increasing the temperature of the glass, a molding part for molding the glass, a cooling part for cooling the molded glass and an outlet part for discharging the cooled glass, wherein the molding part can gradually decrease the increase rate of the heat applied to the plurality of mold units from the inlet part side to the cooling part side.

Abstract: A curved cover glass includes a plate-like glass body having a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface and at least one end face. The plate-like glass body has an average thickness of 5 mm or less. Among tangential directions on the first surface at an arbitrary point, when an X-axis is assumed to be a direction in which a first curvature radius R1 in cross-section of the first surface in an XZ plane is minimum, the first surface has a curvature part in which the surface is bent in the X-axis direction at least at one point on the first surface. The first curvature radius R1 is 10,000 mm or less. The curvature part includes at least one opening or concave part extending from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: Methods of forming a glass tube are described. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a glass boule to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the glass boule, drawing the glass tube from the glass boule in a vertically downward direction, and flowing a pressurized gas through a channel of the glass boule as the glass tube is drawn. The glass boule includes an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the glass boule and a channel extending through the glass boule defining an inner diameter of the glass boule. Drawing the glass tube decreases the outer diameter of the glass boule to an outer diameter of the glass tube and flowing the pressurized gas through the channel increases the inner diameter of the glass boule to an inner diameter of the glass tube. Glass boules, glass tubes, and apparatuses for making the same are also described.

Abstract: Silica-titania glasses with small temperature variations in coefficient of thermal expansion over a wide range of zero-crossover temperatures and methods for making the glasses. The method includes a cooling protocol with controlled anneals over two different temperature regimes. A higher temperature controlled anneal may occur over a temperature interval from 750-950° C. or a sub-interval thereof. A lower temperature controlled anneal may occur over a temperature interval from 650-875° C. or a sub-interval thereof. The controlled anneals permit independent control over CTE slope and Tzc of silica-titania glasses. The independent control provides CTE slope and Tzc values for silica-titania glasses of fixed composition over ranges heretofore possible only through variations in composition.

Abstract: A cooling frame for a bent glass sheet, includes a support track for the sheet and a removable bearing piece that is able, in a bearing position and during cooling of the sheet by air blowing, to bear on the top face of the sheet and at the periphery thereof. The bent sheet cooled on the cooling frame maintains contact with the frame during the cooling operation and its shape complies better with that which is desired.

Abstract: Provided is a silica glass member which exhibits high optical transparency to vacuum ultraviolet light and has a low thermal expansion coefficient of 4.0?10?7/K or less at near room temperature, particularly a silica glass member which is suitable as a photomask substrate to be used in a double patterning exposure process using an ArF excimer laser (193 nm) as a light source. The silica glass member is used in a photolithography process using a vacuum ultraviolet light source, in which the fluorine concentration is 1 wt % or more and 5 wt % or less, and the thermal expansion coefficient at from 20° C. to 50° C. is 4.0×10?7/K or less.

Abstract: Annealing treatments for modified titania-silica glasses and the glasses produced by the annealing treatments. The annealing treatments include an isothermal hold that facilitates equalization of non-uniformities in fictive temperature caused by non-uniformities in modifier concentration in the glasses. The annealing treatments may also include heating the glass to a higher temperature following the isothermal hold and holding the glass at that temperature for several hours. Glasses produced by the annealing treatments exhibit high spatial uniformity of CTE, CTE slope, and fictive temperature, including in the presence of a spatially non-uniform concentration of modifier.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a lead-free glass, which is a V2O5—TeO2—RO (at least one selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO)—ZnO glass and has a low softening point, comprising: 5-55 wt % of V2O5, 5-75 wt % of TeO2, 1-25 wt % of RO (at least one selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO) in total, 0.1-6 wt % of ZnO, and 0.1-3 wt % of R2O (at least one selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O) in total. This glass can be used as a sealing material providing fluidity which is capable of being sealed at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A method comprising: digital printing a heat curable aqueous composition onto a substrate, wherein the composition comprises: (a) at least one water soluble synthetic alkali metal silicate; and (b)(i) at least one pigment or (b)(ii) at least one additive selected from aluminum oxide, ceramic microspheres, recycled ground glass, or calcium carbonate; and wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from glass, ceramic, textile, polymeric, metal, wood, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are transparent conductors comprising a substrate, and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises a first conductive medium comprising a plurality of metal nanowires, and a second conductive medium comprising a plurality of conductive nanoparticles, and methods for forming the same.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating, and methods of making the same. In certain cases, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes nickel and/or titanium (e.g., NixTiyOz). The provision of a layer including nickel titanium and/or an oxide thereof may permit a layer to be used that has good adhesion to the IR reflecting layer, and reduced absorption of visible light (resulting in a coated article with a higher visible transmission). When a layer including nickel titanium oxide is provided directly over and/or under the IR reflecting layer (e.g., as a barrier layer), this may result in improved chemical and mechanical durability. Thus, visible transmission may be improved if desired, without compromising durability; or, durability may simply be increased.

Abstract: A glass-based article including a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface defining a thickness (t) of about 3 millimeters or less (e.g., about 1 millimeter or less), and a stress profile, wherein all points of the stress profile between a thickness range from about 0·t up to 0.3·t and from greater than about 0.7·t to t, comprise a tangent with a slope having an absolute value greater than about 0.1 MPa/micrometer. In some embodiments, the glass-based article includes a non-zero metal oxide concentration that varies along at least a portion of the thickness (e.g., 0·t to about 0.3·t) and a maximum central tension of less than about 71.5/?(t) (MPa). In some embodiments, the concentration of metal oxide or alkali metal oxide decreases from the first surface to a point between the first surface and the second surface and increases from the point to the second surface. The concentration of the metal oxide may be about 0.05 mol % or greater or about 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and to a system for eliminating the expandability of steel-plant slag, which comprises a primary crusher (3) to reduce the fragments according to their granulometry; a magnetic separator (4) to remove metallic fragments bigger than a determined granulometry (5); a rotary dryer (6) to dry slag free from bigger metallic fragments; an impact mill (11) to disaggregate and fragment slag particles that are bigger than a predetermined granulometry; a classifier (12) for aero-classification and drag of fine and superfine particles; a cooler (17) for cooling slag particles bigger than a predetermined granulometry by means of heat exchange and removal of the fine and superfine particles that were not collected by the impact mill (11); a vibrating sieve (21) provided with two or more decks (23, 24, and 25) with screens of predetermined sizes; low-intensity magnetic separators (26, 27 and 28), with generation of non-magnetic slag fractions free from metallic iron and from iron m

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic binder consisting essentially in a hydraulically active amorphous calcium silicate phase, having in its constitution less than 20% in weight of a crystalline material. The said hydraulically active amorphous calcium silicate phase is a continuous matrix that may contain embedded fractions of crystalline material, being the overall C/S molar ratio of this hydraulic binder comprised between 0.8 and 1.25. The crystalline fraction of this material is essentially composed by wollastonite in both of its polymorphic structures, ? and ?. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods of producing the hydraulic binder by liquefying the raw materials, in a specified C/S molar ratio, followed by fast cooling to room temperature. Finally, the invention relates to a building material made by setting the binder or a mixture containing this binder with water and subsequent hardening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing sintered material from organic raw materials, implemented in an apparatus comprising, a cyclone preheater, a rotary furnace and a grate cooler, and in which the raw materials are preheated in the cyclone preheater, the preheated material is calcined and sintered in the rotary furnace, and the calcined materials are cooled by blowing cooling air in the grate cooler, producing hot air. The hot air is separated into three upstream-to-downstream fractions, the three hot air fractions being at decreasing temperatures. The first air fraction acts as combustion air in at least the combustion zone of the rotary furnace and/or of the potential precalciner of the apparatus. The second air fraction is greater than the combustion air needs to produce energy. The third air fraction is directed at least in part to the combustion zone of the apparatus, providing combustion air with the first air fraction.

Abstract: The invention is an improved macrosynthetic fiber for concrete reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel multifunctional material for workability of geopolymeric system and its process thereof. The viscous characteristics in geopolymeric system are responsible for observed negligible workability of geopolymeric cement concrete system and which limits its broad application spectrum. The novel multifunctional material of the present invention prepared by digestion of siliceous agricultural waste i.e. Rice husk with aqueous alkaline materials involving simultaneous and synergistic chemical reactions among the various constituents of rice husk, aqueous alkaline compounds and optionally adding Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to obtain in-situ synthesis of desired nano-sized multi functional agents lignin, hemicelluloses, cellulose, sodium silicate necessary for addressing the issue of workability and also improving the engineering properties of geopolymeric system for broad application spectrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions of cement and concrete having properties of resistance, modulus and expansion which are significantly improved, using an additive for cement based on thermoplastic styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer in cationic latex, when compared with non-modified cement and concrete references.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods thereof that may include Portland cement, a melamine, and alumina. The compositions may further include silicon dioxide, supplementary cementitious material, polymer resin(s), hydrophobizers, preservatives, film-forming assistants, dispersants, foam stabilizers, defoamers, pigments, dyes, water, or combinations thereof. Typically, the compositions are coatings that may be applied to restore and preserve asphalt and cement road surfaces and pavements.

Abstract: Plastomer-modified asphalt binders meeting MSCR specifications, asphalt paving materials with such asphalt binders, and methods for fabricating such asphalt binders are provided. The asphalt binder contains a base asphalt and a plastomer. If the plastomer has a drop point no greater than about 139° C., the asphalt binder further contains sulfur; sulfur-containing compounds, such as hydrocarbyl polysulfides and thiuram disulfides; phenolic resins; metal oxides; or a combination thereof. The asphalt binder is substantially free of elastomer.

Abstract: The invention provides a pourable composition comprising calcium sulfate hemihydrate; optionally, cement; one or more anionic surfactants selected from alkyl anionic surfactants, alkyl ether anionic surfactants, alkyl aryl anionic surfactants, and combinations thereof; one or more set accelerator additives; and water.

Abstract: An insulator composition includes Al2O3 having a particle size of 120 to 500 nm. The insulator composition has a strength of 400 to 740 MPa and a particle size of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: Provided is a zirconia sintered body having both high translucency and high strength. The zirconia sintered body includes crystal grains that include a cubic domain and a tetragonal domain, wherein a stabilizer and lanthanum is dissolved as a solid solution therein. The sintered body can be obtained by a manufacturing method including: a mixing step of obtaining a mixed powder by mixing a zirconia source, a stabilizer source, and a lanthanum source; a molding step of obtaining a green body by molding the obtained mixed powder; a sintering step of obtaining a sintered body by sintering the obtained green body at a sintering temperature of 1650° C. or higher; and a temperature lowering step of lowering the temperature from the sintering temperature to 1000° C. at a temperature lowering rate exceeding 1° C./min.

Abstract: The present application provides vanadium dioxide doped with Ti, or vanadium dioxide further doped with other atoms selected from the group of W, Ta, Mo, and Nb. The vanadium dioxide of the present application is excellent in moisture resistance and in which deterioration of endothermic characteristics due to moisture is suppressed.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor structure configuring a pebble accommodating space of a pebble bed type nuclear reactor includes a core material including graphite and a ceramic/ceramic composition material covering a surface of the core material. According to a core material processing step (A) of processing the core material including graphite into a quadrangular prism, a bottom surface of which is an approximately isosceles trapezoid, a step (B) of obtaining a base material by covering the core material with an aggregate including a ceramic fiber, and a CVD step (C) of putting the base material into a CVD reactor and forming a SiC matrix in gaps of the aggregate, thereby forming a ceramic/ceramic composite material on a surface of the core material, the nuclear reactor structure capable of enhancing durability, preventing cracking, etc. from occurring, and preventing exposure of graphite as the core material from occurring, can be provided.

Abstract: A porous ceramic structure includes one sheet, and a porous ceramic aggregate bonded on the sheet. The porous ceramic aggregate includes a plurality of porous ceramic particles.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

Abstract: A porous ceramic structure includes one sheet, and a plurality of porous ceramic particles bonded on the sheet. A gap d formed between adjacent ones of the porous ceramic particles is 10˜80 ?m.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing organic fertilizer products, such as liquid and solid organic fertilizer, from animal manure are disclosed, together with the fertilizer products produced therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a composting device including a housing defining an interior with an access opening providing access to the interior, a composter bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening, and a user operated door slidably mounted to the housing and electrically powered to automatically slide along a sliding path between opened and closed position.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and system for a compost system to reduce operator time, reduce power utilization, increase intensity of land use by the compost system, increase efficiency of biological activity in bulk material composted by the compost system, reduce odor production by the compost system, and to reuse water applied to and which may leach out of bulk material. The compost system may comprise an aerated pad, a pivot arm attached to a center of the aerated pad, and a control module. The aerated pad may receive a bulk material to be composted into a compost product. The aerated pad may comprise an air nozzle and a drain to direct water from the bulk material to a water collection system. The pivot arm may deposit the bulk material on the aerated pad. The control module may manage a temperature inside the bulk material using the air nozzle.

Abstract: A process includes reacting a feed stream containing ethanol and optionally acetaldehyde in a dehydration reactor in the presence of a dehydration catalyst system having a Group 4 or Group 5 metal oxide and a support. The process includes obtaining a product stream containing butadiene from the dehydration reactor. Another process includes reacting a feed stream containing ethanol and optionally acetaldehyde in a dehydration reactor in the presence of a dehydration catalyst system containing a tungsten oxide supported on a zeolite or a tantalum oxide supported on a zeolite. The process includes obtaining a product stream containing butadiene from the dehydration reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ethene by vapour phase chemical dehydration of a feed comprising ethanol and optionally water and/or ethoxyethane, said process comprising contacting a dried supported heteropoly acid catalyst in a reactor with the feed-stream having feed temperature of at least 200° C.; wherein the pressure inside the reactor is at least 0.80 MPa but less than 1.80 MPa; and before the supported heteropolyacid catalyst is contacted with the feed-stream having a feed temperature of at least 200° C., the process is initiated by: (i) drying a supported heteropolyacid catalyst in a reactor under a stream of inert gas having a feed temperature of from above 100° C. to 200° C.; and (ii) contacting the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst with an ethanol-containing vapour stream having a feed temperature of from above 100° C. to 160° C.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprising i) a 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine transition metal compound complex and ii) an organoaluminum compound. A process comprising contacting i) ethylene, ii) a catalyst system comprising (a) a 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine transition metal compound complex, and (b) an organoaluminum compound, and iii) optionally hydrogen to form an oligomer product.

Abstract: A propane production method includes a hydrogenation reaction step of hydrogenation-reacting crude propylene and hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst to obtain gaseous crude propane containing impurities; and an impurity removal step of removing the impurities contained in the gaseous crude propane obtained in the hydrogenation reaction step to obtain purified propane. The impurity removal step includes an adsorptive removal stage of adsorbing and removing water, ethane and propylene contained as impurities in the gaseous crude propane by adsorption treatment in which the gaseous crude propane is brought into contact with an adsorbent, and a separation removal stage of separating and removing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and methane contained as impurities in the crude propane after the adsorption treatment by partial condensation or distillation of crude propane after the adsorption treatment in the adsorptive removal stage.

Abstract: A process includes hydrogenating, in a reaction zone, a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon received from a hydrocarbon stream to yield a product having an unsaturated hydrocarbon, the hydrogenating step occurring in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst which has a selectivity for conversion of the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon to the unsaturated hydrocarbon of about 90 mol % or greater based on the moles of the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon which are converted to the product, the hydrogenating step occurring in a reaction zone under conditions which include a flow index (IF) in a range of about 0.09 to about 35, wherein the IF is defined as: I F = F × [ CO ] V , wherein F is the flow rate of the hydrocarbon stream into the reaction zone in units of kg/h, [CO] is the concentration of carbon monoxide in the hydrocarbon stream in units of mol %, and V is the volume of the reaction zone in units of ft3.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

Abstract: A method of precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst in an olefin oligomerization reaction is provided. The method includes providing an effluent stream from an olefin oligomerization reaction. The effluent stream can include a polymer and an organometallic catalyst. The method can further include introducing sorbent particles into the effluent stream. The sorbent particles can include a deactivating agent. The deactivating agent can be water, an alcohol, an amine, an amino alcohol, or a combination thereof. At least about 10% of the sorbent particles can have a particle size in a range from 10 ?m and 60 ?m. The method can further include cooling the effluent stream, thereby precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst from the effluent stream to provide a precipitate that includes sorbent, polymer, and deactivated catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively separating a straight-chain conjugated diene with high purity from a mixture containing the straight-chain conjugated diene and at least one type of straight-chain olefin. The method involves separating the straight-chain conjugated diene from the mixture containing the straight-chain conjugated diene and the straight-chain olefin using a zeolite membrane composite. The composite contains a porous support and a zeolite layer formed on the surface and in the fine pores of the support, and the zeolite contains an alkali metal cation.

Abstract: Provided is a method for easily and safely removing, from a reactor, a catalyst used in a reaction that is performed using hydrogen fluoride in the presence of the catalyst. In a reaction performed in a reactor containing at least hydrogen fluoride and a catalyst, the catalyst is removed through a process comprising a heating step of performing heat-treatment so that the ambient temperature of the reactor is 80° C. or more after completion of the reaction, and a purge step of flowing inert gas into the reactor to discharge the hydrogen fluoride to the outside of the reactor after completion of the reaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for generating glycol and a method thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for generating glycol including (a) an aldol reactor; (b) an extractor for extracting an aldol product, unsaturated aldehyde, using an organic solvent that is not mixed with water; (c) a distillation column for removing a raw material from a solution extract that is discharged from the extractor; (d) a hydrogenation reactor for hydrogenating a solution extract that is discharged from the distillation column; and (e) a divided-wall distillation column for isolating glycol from a hydrogenated solution product that is discharged from the hydrogenation reactor, wherein the hydrogenation reactor is a fixed-bed catalytic reactor that is filled with a copper-based catalyst, and a method of preparing the same.

Abstract: Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A phosphorus ligand-free, mild, efficient and complete catalytic hydrogenation process is for the sustainable production of terminal diols from renewable terminal dialkyl esters with improved yield. Soluble, phosphorus ligand free Ru (II)-pincer type complexes can be used as catalysts in the hydrogenation process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of n-butanoland 1,4-butanediol, said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a catalytic composition, comprising at least one element selected from those in groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table on a solid support comprising an amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicate in an acidic form, wherein the catalyst does not contain metals selected from those in groups 6 and 7 of the periodic table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitius, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient.