Abstract: A vehicle environment detection system (3) including a control unit arrangement (8) and at least one sensor arrangement (4) that is arranged to be mounted in an ego vehicle (1) and to provide sensor detections (9, 12) for at least two preceding target vehicles (10, 11). The control unit arrangement (8) is arranged to determine a resulting TTC, time to collision, between the ego vehicle (1) and a closest preceding target vehicle (10), based on an ego velocity (v0) and an ego acceleration (a0) for the ego vehicle (1), a first distance (r1) between the ego vehicle (1) and the closest preceding target vehicle (10), and that target velocity (v1, v2) and corresponding target acceleration (a1, a2) for a preceding target vehicle (10, 11) among the target vehicles (10, 11) that provide a lowest TTC value.

Abstract: A system is provided for the storage and exchange of contracts and payments for an item. The processor of the system is configured to receive at least one communication and to present it to each of the owners associated with at least two items in a manner such that each of the owners are informed of every other of the items included in at least one communication from a potential purchaser/renter/user. The processor is further configured to receive an acceptance from any of the owners associated with the at least two items from the communication from the user. Upon acceptance the processor is configured to conduct a financial transaction between the user and the owner and communicating the same to the user and the owner.

Abstract: Method and System for detecting speaker change in a voice transaction is provided. The system analyzes a portion of speech in a speech stream and determines a speech feature set. The system then detects a feature change and determines speaker change.

Abstract: A method for fastening components (18, 20) at critical joints in a motor vehicle powertrain (24). An unthreaded hole (22) is provided in a first component part (20), and a clearance hole (16) in a second component part (18). The shank (14) of a screw (10) that has a multi-lobed lead capable of creating a thread in the unthreaded hole is passed through the clearance hole to engage the multi-lobed lead with the unthreaded hole. Axial force and rotary torque are applied to the screw to cause the lead to form a desired helical thread in the unthreaded hole.

Abstract: A method and system for securely recording a verbal transaction, the method including the steps of recording an offer and an acceptance of the transaction as a digital audio file, generating a voice security token from the recorded digital audio file, and providing the generated voice security token to a buyer and/or a seller, wherein the voice security token provides authentication of the transaction. The voice security token is generated by sampling audio frequency and intensity set of the recorded digital audio file and converting the sampled information from a current time domain spectrum to a frequency domain spectrum to condense the sampled information. Finally, a digital file is generated from the condensed information, and encrypted to produce the voice security token.

Abstract: A continuous or semi-continuous process for the production of triptane and/or triptene from methanol and/or dimethyl ether in the presence in a reactor of an effective concentration of catalyst active for the conversion of methanol and/or dimethyl ether to triptane and/or triptene in which process co-produced water is separated from the catalyst as a vapour phase whilst the catalyst is retained in a liquid or solid phase. Preferably, the catalyst comprises zinc halide and is maintained in said reactor in an active form and an effective concentration. Apparatus for use in the process may comprise a reactor having at least one reaction zone and at least one separation zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for securely recording a verbal transaction, the method including the steps of recording an offer and an acceptance of the transaction as a digital audio file, generating a voice security token from the recorded digital audio file, and providing the generated voice security token to buyer and seller, wherein the voice security token provides authentication of the transaction.

Abstract: A continuous process for the dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon and/or oxygenated hydrocarbon feed, comprising contacting the hydrocarbon and/or oxygenated hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperature in a reaction zone characterised in that the catalyst is capable of retaining hydrogen and (a) is contacted with a feed to form a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, at least some of the hydrogen formed being adsorbed by the catalyst and/or reacting therewith to reduce at least part of the catalyst; (b) the dehydrogenated product and any unadsorbed/unreacted hydrogen is removed from the reaction zone; (c) at least some of the adsorbed hydrogen is removed from the catalyst and/or at least some of the reduced catalyst is oxidised; and (d) reusing the catalyst from step (c) in step (a).

Abstract: Process for the liquid phase oxidation of butane to produce acetic acid in which oxygen and butane are reacted in the presence of a cobalt catalyst in a liquid reaction composition in an oxidation reaction zone at a temperature in the reaction zone in the range of 136.degree. to 150.degree. C., while continuously maintaining a concentration of oxygen throughout the reaction zone equivalent to a partial pressure of oxygen greater than two bar. The concentration of cobalt oxidation catalyst in the liquid reaction composition is at least 0.12% by weight cobalt and up to its limit of solubility in the liquid reaction composition.

Abstract: Ethylene and propylene are recovered from a mixture thereof with other hydrocarbons by: (a) feeding the mixture to a separation zone with a top and a bottom; (b) feeding to the top above the mixture an aqueous complexing solution to form Cu(I) complexes of ethylene and propylene; (c) feeding below the mixture ethylene to strip propylene from the propylene complex; (d) removing from the bottom below the stripping gas a first liquid stream containing the Cu (I) ethylene complex; (e) recovering ethylene from the Cu(I) complex using reduced pressure and/or elevated temperature; (f) removing from the separation zone between the the gaseous mixture and the complexing solution, a second liquid stream comprising Cu (I) propylene complex; (g) recovering propylene from the Cu(I) complex and producing a liquid recycle stream comprising copper (I) salt; and (h) recycling the liquid recycle stream from step (g) to the separation zone.