A method for recovery of residual actinide element from chloride molten salts that are formed after electro-refining and/or electro-winning of a spent nuclear fuel and include actinide elements and rare-earth elements is provided. The method comprises conducting electrolysis using a liquid cadmium cathode (LCC) in the chloride molten salt that is formed after electro-refining and/or electro-winning of a spent nuclear fuel and contains rare-earth elements and actinide elements; electro-depositing the actinide elements contained in the chloride molten salt on the LCC in order to reduce a concentration of the actinide elements; and adding a CdCl2 oxidant to the chloride molten salt containing the LCC-metal alloy in order to oxidize the rare-earth elements co-deposited on the LCC, thereby forming the rare-earth chlorides in the chloride molten salt.

Compositions are provided that include nuclear fuel. Methods for treating nuclear fuel are provided which can include exposing the fuel to a carbonate-peroxide solution. Methods can also include exposing the fuel to an ammonium solution. Methods for acquiring molybdenum from a uranium comprising material are provided.

A method for design of a fuel assembly for nuclear reactors, including structural components made from zirconium alloy: the mean uniaxial tensile or compressive stress to which the components are subjected during the assembly life is calculated, the zirconium alloy of which the components are made is selected according to the following criteria: those components subjected to an axial or transverse compressive stress of between −10 et −20 MPa are made from an alloy with a content of Sn between Sn=(=0.025σ−0.25)% and Sn=−0.05σ%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 et −10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=traces and Sn=(0.05σ+1)%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 and +10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=0.05% and Sn=(0.07σ+1)%: and those components subjected to such a stress of between +10 and +20 MPa are made from an alloy the content of SN of which is between 0.05% and 1.70%. A fuel assembly made according to the method.

Compositions are provided that include nuclear fuel. Methods for treating nuclear fuel are provided which can include exposing the fuel to a carbonate-peroxide solution. Methods can also include exposing the fuel to an ammonium solution. Methods for acquiring molybdenum from a uranium comprising material are provided.

Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.

A method for measuring the neutron flux in the core of a nuclear reactor, the method including several steps recurrently performed at instants separated by a period, the method comprising at each given instant the following steps: acquiring a total signal by a cobalt neutron detector placed inside the core of the reactor; assessing a calibration factor representative of the delayed component of the total signal due to the presence of cobalt 60 in the neutron detector; assessing a corrected signal representative of the neutron flux at the detector from the total signal and from the calibration factor; assessing a slope representative of the time-dependent change of the calibration factor between the preceding instant and the given instant; the calibration factor at the given instant being assessed as a function of the calibration factor assessed at the preceding instant, of the slope, and of the time period separating the given instant from the preceding instant.

Disclosed embodiments include methods of assembling a vented nuclear fission fuel module. Given by way of non-limiting example and not of limitation, an illustrative method of assembling a vented nuclear fission fuel module includes receiving a nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product. A valve body is coupled to the nuclear fission fuel element, and the valve body defines a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product. A valve is disposed in communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum. A flexible diaphragm is coupled to the valve for moving the valve. A cap is mounted on the valve, and a manipulator extendable to the cap for manipulating the cap is received.

Described herein is a composition useful for inducing expression of genes whose expression is under control of an inducible promoter sequence and methods for the compositions preparation and use.

Capture compounds and collections thereof and methods using the compounds for the analysis of biomolecules are provided. In particular, collections, compounds and methods are provided for analyzing complex protein mixtures, such as the proteome. The compounds are multifunctional reagents that provide for the separation and isolation of complex protein mixtures. Automated systems for performing the methods also are provided.

The invention concerns a soluble pharmaceutical formulation comprising an insulin derivative wherein the formulation further comprises more than 4 zinc atoms per 6 molecules of the insulin derivative, and a citric acid monohydrate and/or a histidine compound used in an amount sufficient to increase the tendency of the insulin derivative to self-associate into dodecamers. The invention further comprises a process for preparing the soluble pharmaceutical formulation.

The present invention relates to antibody molecules against anticoagulants, in particular dabigatran, and their use as antidotes of such anticoagulants.

Acylated insulins wherein an acyl moiety is attached to the parent insulin and wherein the acyl moiety comprises repeating units of alkylene glycol containing amino acids and wherein there is only one lysine residue (K & Lys) in the parent insulin, having satisfactory properties when administered pulmonary.

To provide a diagnostic and therapeutic medicament, a bombesin analog peptide antagonist conjugate is provided which has general Formula (I), wherein A is a metal chelator comprising at least one radionuclide metal, B is a spacer linked to N-terminal of C or a covalent bond and C is a bombesin analog peptide antagonist having a sequence as claimed, where further x is an integer from 1 to 3 and n is an integer from 1 to 6. [A-(B)n]x—C (I)

A method of producing a molecularly-imprinted material comprises synthesizing a peptide, oligosaccharide or oligonucleotide on a disposable surface modified support to produce a support surface-attached peptide, oligosaccharide or oligonucleotide, providing a selected monomer mixture, contacting the monomer mixture with the support surface-attached peptide, oligosaccharide or oligonucleotide, initiating polymerisation or at least one crosslinking reaction, dissolving or degrading the support surface-attached peptide, oligosaccharide or oligonucleotide and support, and obtaining molecularly imprinted material.

This disclosure relates to temperature sensitive conjugates, compositions, and uses related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to conjugate polymers comprising a) a temperature sensitive polymer and b) an antibody. Typically the antibody has an epitope to a platelet receptor. The antibody may be a single-chain antibody wherein the platelet receptor is GPIIb/IIIa, such as an anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody. In certain embodiments, the antibody binds specifically to the activated conformation of GPIIb/IIIa, i.e., an activation-specific GPIIb/IIIa antibody.

The present invention relates to CX3CR1-binding polypeptides, in particular polypeptides comprising specific immunoglobulin domains. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides; to methods for preparing such polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such polypeptides; to compositions comprising such polypeptides; and to uses of such polypeptides or such compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human interleukin-12 (hIL-12) are disclosed. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-12 and neutralize hIL-12 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-12 and for inhibiting hIL-12 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-12 activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.

The present invention relates to a cyclosporine emulsion containing: i) a cyclosporine ii) a natural oil (long chain triglyceride) iii) a phosphatidylcholine, iv) glycerol, v) a pharmaceutically tolerable alkali salt of a free fatty acid, vi) a medium chain triglyceride-oil vii) optionally, hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment viii) water.

In an aspect, the invention relates to compositions and methods for permeabilizing membranes of cells. In an aspect, the invention relates to compositions and methods for killing cells. In an aspect, the invention relates to compositions and methods of permeabilizing the membranes of cancer cells or microbial cells.

A method of forming a cross-linked protein structures includes preparing a solution of protein dissolved in a benign solvent and forming an intermediate protein structure from the solution. The intermediate protein structure can be cross-linked by providing for a specific ratio of chemical cross-linking agents to form the cross-linked protein structure. The solution can be prepared by adding a cross-linker of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) at a ratio of two-to-one of NHS to EDC to alcohol. PBS buffer (20×) can be added to the solution until the volume ratio of PBS buffer (20×) to alcohol is about one-to-one. About 16 percent by weight of protein can be dissolved in the solution. The solution can be electrospun to form an intermediate protein structure. After a period of time, the protein structure can be cross-linked to form the cross-linked protein structure.

The present application relates to antigen-binding proteins that are capable of binding to mammalian IgG. The frame-work regions of the antigen-binding proteins of the application preferably correspond to those of antibodies naturally that are devoid of light chains as may e.g. be found in camelids. The application further relates to nucleic acids that encode such antigen-binding proteins, to immunoadsorbent materials that comprise such proteins, to the uses of such immunoadsorbent materials for the purification of mammalian IgG antibodies and for therapeutic apheresis.

The present invention relates to methods for forming dicarba bridges in organic compounds. This involves the use of a pair of complementary metathesisable groups on the organic compound, and subjecting the compound to cross-metathesis under microwave radiation conditions. In an alternative, the compounds contain a turn-inducing group between the pair of cross-metathesisable groups to facilitate the cross-metathesis.

An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be associated with a paired device and the paired device may comprise a browser. The ACR-enabled connected TV device may be operable to enable, utilizing an ACR system, the browser to display, within a section of a browser window, interactive content related to certain content being presented by the ACR-enabled connected TV device. The ACR-enabled connected TV device may be operable to enable, utilizing the ACR system, a viewer to interact with the interactive content. The section of the browser window may be changed dynamically. The certain content may comprise an advertisement of a particular product and the interactive content may comprise a link to a website and/or other information related to the particular product. The certain content may comprise a program associated with a network and the interactive content may comprise information on polling questions related to the program.

A digital television system is connected to a mobile computing and communication device through an ad hoc communication link. A program broadcasted by the television system includes a plurality frames delivered in a sequential manner. A user can freeze a frame by employing the mobile device. The frame can then be transmitted to the mobile device and be redisplayed on the mobile device. The redisplayed frame includes visible symbols pointing to displayed items associated with advertising messages. The frame can also be stored in a photograph folder for the user to view the frame and associated advertising messages in a later time.

A system and method in a television system for presenting information associated with a user-selected object in a television program is provided. An identity of a user-selected object in a television program being presented to a user is determined. Based at least in part on the identity of the user-selected object in the television program, information to present to the user is determined. The determined information is presented to the user on a television display.

A method of providing information including providing a communication session of at least one of audio and video media and applying automatic recognition to media transferred on the communication session. An advertisement is selected by a processor, based on the automatic recognition and non-advertisement information is selected by the processor, responsive to the automatic recognition. The selected advertisements and the selected non-advertisement information, are presented during the communication session.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for simultaneously broadcasting video components (VSs). In one example, a method includes an automation-system (AS) selecting a log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first VC, and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second VC; a recording-and-playout device (RAPD) retrieving the first VC; the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to an encoder; the encoder generating a first transport-stream (TS) having (i) program-identification (PID) data, and (ii) payload data including the sent first-VC; the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD); the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a transport-stream splicer; the AS loading the splicer with the second VC; the splicer generating a second TS having (i) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (ii) payload data including the loaded second-VC; and the splicer sending the generated second-TS to a second OBD.

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

A system and method are described that provide television content broadcast system subscribers with convenient access to aggregated web feed content. In one embodiment, a television content broadcast system (20) maintains a database (21) linking one or more particular subscribers with one or more sources of web feed content. The television content broadcast system (20) downloads web feed content for a subscriber from the one or more sources associated with the subscriber, either at the user's request or to a cache (22). The television content broadcast system (20) sends the downloaded web feed content through a web content interface (30(2)) to a television receiver (41), or through a web content interface (30(3)) to a local memory (51) in a set-top box (50). In another embodiment, the television content broadcast subscribers also have accounts on a web content aggregation system (10). Web content aggregation system (10) retrieves web feed content associated with the user, and sends the web feed content to television content broadcast system (20) for forwarding to the appropriate subscriber.

A display device such as a TV has both HDMI and IP network interfaces and uses the HDMI interface to exchange IP network parameters with an audio video application module (AVAM) upon HDMI connection. In this way, an IP-based peer-to-peer or client-server network connection can be automatically established to promote faster communication when sharing and executing applications between the devices than is typically available over the CEC link of HDMI.

An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict.

The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). Some aspects of the technology allow users to easily transfer displayed content from cell phone screens onto a television screens for easier viewing, or vice versa for content portability. Others enable users to participate interactively in entertainment content, such as by submitting plot directions, audio input, character names, etc., yielding more engaging, immersive, user experiences. Still other aspects of the technology involve a program directory database, compiled automatically from information reported by network nodes that watch and identify content traffic passing into (and/or out of) networked computers. By identifying content resident at a number of different repositories (e.g., web sites, TV networks, P2P systems, etc.), such a directory allows cell phone users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtained—some available on a scheduled basis, others available on demand. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the user—serving to identify sources for desired content, from which application software can pick for content downloading, based, e.g., on context and stored profile data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

A method of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a provisioning server is disclosed. In the method, a provisioning request is received from a STB, where the provisioning request includes a provisioning stream identifier, an authorization server identifier, and a STB address. The provisioning server requests a provisioning system generate a configuration for the STB, where the configuration includes a channel map and basic code. The provisioning server receives the configuration from the provisioning system. The provisioning server prepares provisioning information, including the configuration for the STB and sends the provisioning information to the STB using the identifier for the STB.

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

A method and apparatus for extracting advertisement keywords in association with situations of scenes of video include: establishing a knowledge database including a classification hierarchy for classifying situations of scenes of video and an advertisement keyword list, segmenting a video script corresponding to a received video in units of scenes, and determining a situation corresponding to each scene with reference to the knowledge database, and extracting an advertisement keyword corresponding to the situation of a scene of the received video with reference to the knowledge database.

Aspects of a method and system for data processing in a device with integrated set-top-box and femtocell functionality are provided. Data may be received via an integrated femtocell and set-top-box device and may be synchronously processed, utilizing a common clock, to perform one or more femtocell functions and/or set-top-box functions. The common clock may be derived from global navigation satellite system signals. The integrated femtocell and set-top-box device may convert the received data from a first to a second format. The converted data may be transmitted to a cellular enabled communication device via a cellular transmitter within said integrated femtocell and set-top-box device and/or to a multimedia device via a multimedia interface within said integrated femtocell and set-top-box device. The received data may comprise multimedia content. The integrated femtocell and set-top-box device may be operable to encode, decode, transcode, encrypt, decrypt, scramble, descramble, and present the received multimedia content.

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. The VOD Application Server, in response to viewer request, displays a high-order templatized display, and in response to viewer selection of a link, displays the lower-order display of specific content. The hierarchical templatized displays enable viewers to navigate to an end subject of interest while having a unique visual experience of moving through a series of displays to the end subject of interest.

Provided is an adhesive composition for a protective film including an acrylic emulsion resin capable of providing contamination resistance on the film and low peel strength and minimizing generation of static electricity during peeling of the protective film. The acrylic emulsion resin includes a mixture including 80 to 99.9% by weight of a polymer of a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer including a C1-C14 alkyl group and a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer including an alkylene oxide unit, and 0.1 to 20% by weight of a monomer including a carboxyl group and/or a hydroxyl group or a combination thereof, and 5 to 30 parts by weight of a reactive emulsifier having a double bond structure radical-polymerizable with the polymer and including an alkylene oxide unit based on 100 parts by weight of the mixture.

In one aspect, hollow nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a hollow nanoparticle comprises a metal shell and a cavity substantially defined by the shell, wherein the shell has a thickness greater than or equal to about 5 nm and the cavity has a curved surface. In another aspect, methods of making hollow nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of making hollow nanoparticles comprises forming a plurality of gas bubbles and forming a shell on the surface of at least one of the plurality of gas bubbles, wherein at least one of the gas bubbles is electrochemically generated. In another aspect, composite particles are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite particle comprises at least one nanoparticle and a polycrystalline metal shell substantially encapsulating at least one nanoparticle, wherein at least one surface of at least one nanoparticle is not in contact with the shell.

A generic route for synthesis of asymmetric nanostructures. This approach utilizes submicron magnetic particles (Fe3O4—SiO2) as recyclable solid substrates for the assembly of asymmetric nanostructures and purification of the final product. Importantly, an additional SiO2 layer is employed as a mediation layer to allow for selective modification of target nanoparticles. The partially patched nanoparticles are used as building blocks for different kinds of complex asymmetric nanostructures that cannot be fabricated by conventional approaches. The potential applications such as ultra-sensitive substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) have been included.

The invention relates to multi-layer elastic thermoplastic films, which consist of at least one layer of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE-U), at least one further layer of thermoplastic polyurethane which is blended with modified acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MABS), and optionally at least one support layer of thermoplastic polymer which is incompatible with TPE-U, and to the use thereof.

Self-assembled silica condensates are described as well as their use in coating compositions. The self-assembled silica condensates can be formed from the hydrolysis of medium to long chain trialkoxy silane compounds. Coating compositions containing the self-assembled silica condensates can provide coatings having improved scratch and mar resistance and can have excellent recoat adhesion.

The present invention relates to a triphenylene-based compound represented by the following Formula 1 and an organic electroluminescent device including the same, and the compound of the present invention has excellent hole injection and/or transporting ability, electron transporting ability, and/or light emitting ability, and particularly, green and red light emitting ability, and thus in an organic electroluminescent device containing the same as a light emitting host material, characteristics such as luminous efficiency, luminance, thermal stability, driving voltage, service life and the like may be improved. In the formula, each of A, L, X and R1 to R19 is the same as those as defined in Detailed Description.

The present invention discloses a new fluorene compound and organic EL device using the compound. The organic EL device employing the new fluorene compound as host material can lower driving voltage, prolong half-lifetime. The fluorene compound can functions as blue emitting host material of a light emitting layer and improve CIE color purity in blue emitting device. The fluorene compound are represented by the following formula(A): Wherein R1 to R6 are identical or different. R1 to R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halide, alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. R7˜R13 are identical or different R7 to R13 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, halide, alkyl group, aryl group, heteroaryl group. m and n are independently an integer of 0 to 3, X is selected from carbon or nitrogen.

A perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a graded-anisotropy recording layer (RL) formed of at least two ferromagnetically exchange coupled CoPtCr-oxide magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2) with two nucleation films (NF1 and NF2) between the magnetic layers. NF1 is a metal film, preferably Ru or a Ru-based alloy like RuCr, sputter deposited on MAG1 at low pressure to a thickness between about 0.1-1.5 nm. NF2 is a metal oxide film, preferably an oxide of Ta, sputter deposited on NF1 at high pressure to a thickness between about 0.2-1.0 nm. MAG2 is sputter deposited over NF2. NF1 and NF2 provide a significant reduction in average grain size in the RL from a graded-anisotropy RL without nucleation films between MAG1 and MAG2, while also assuring that MAG1 and MAG2 are strongly exchange coupled.

In some embodiments, an improved mechanical adhesion of copper metallization to dielectric with partially cured epoxy fillers is presented. In this regard, a substrate build-up film is introduced having epoxy material and a plurality of epoxy microspheres, wherein an interior of the microspheres is not fully cured. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

A liquid crystalline polyester composition containing at least 100 parts by weight of liquid crystalline polyester (A) and 10 to 100 parts by weight of talc (B). The talc (B) has a ratio (a1/a2) of oil absorption (a1) ml/100 g to specific surface area (a2) m2/g in a range of 14.0 to 26.0 (ml·g)/(100 g·m2) and has a number-average particle diameter of 10 to 30 μm.

Provided is a zinc-plated steel sheet for hot pressing having outstanding surface characteristics, comprising: a steel foundation plate comprising a metal surface diffusion layer of which the Gibbs free energy reduction per mole of oxygen during oxidation is less than that of Cr; an aluminum-rich layer containing at least 30 wt. % of aluminum formed on the surface diffusion layer, and a zinc plating layer formed on the aluminum-rich layer. In this way, a metal having a low affinity for oxygen is coated to an effective thickness prior to annealing and thus the creation of annealing oxides at the surface of the steel sheet is suppressed and a uniform zinc plating layer is formed, and alloying of the zinc plating layer is promoted during press-processing heat treatment. Cracking in the steel foundation plate during hot press molding is prevented.

A method of controlling a pump for a hybrid transmission includes commanding a first line pressure of the transmission and deriving a first torque value—an open-loop torque value—from the first line pressure command, and commanding the pump to operate at the first torque value. The method monitors actual speed of the pump and derives a second torque value—a closed-loop torque value—therefrom. A third torque value is derived from the first and second torque values, and the pump commanded to operate at the third torque value. A first speed value may be derived from the first line pressure command, and the second torque value derived from the difference between the monitored and the first speed values. Deriving the third torque value may include a substantially-linear combination of the first and second torque values.

A method for controlling a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission and engine includes automatically engaging a brake, locking the transmission in neutral and starting the engine, in response to a signal whose origin is remote from the vehicle representing a desired engine start; and automatically engaging a brake and locking the transmission in neutral in response to a second signal indicating that the driver has exited the vehicle while the engine is running.