A device for constructing an assembly of building components includes an articulating arm unit and a gripper/nailer mounted on an end of the articulating arm unit. The gripper/nailer includes a gripping unit for grasping building components and positioning them in a predetermined arrangement and a nailing unit for inserting a fastener to secure the building components together.

Wall panels for the wall of a dwelling typically comprise a series of lumber boards arranged in a predetermined pattern and nailed together. Wall panel design varies from house to house because of consumer demand for individualized home design, although in some instances multiple wall panels for the same house will have the same arrangement. Most wall panels will include top and bottom horizontal boards and a number (often determined by a building code) of vertical boards to provide support. Often two or more vertical boards will be arranged in abutted fashion with the long axis of at least of one rotated 90° to form strengthened posts for corners and wall intersections. The horizontal and vertical boards are nailed together to form a panel. The panel is then installed in the dwelling at a desired time. Depending on the nature of the project, the panels may be fabricated on-site or remotely for subsequent transport and use.
Some wall panels include so-called "rough openings", which are openings within the frame of the panel for windows, doors and the like (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3, which show a wall panel 15 that includes an opening 16 for a door, and a wall panel 20 that includes a rough opening 21 for a window). The numbers and sizes of boards around rough openings are often regulated by building codes. Also, the locations and sizes of rough openings can vary significantly based on the personal preferences of the homeowner or builder. As a result, automation of the wall panel fabrication process has been limited.
It may be desirable to provide an automated process by which wall panels, and in particular wall panels with rough openings, can be constructed in a more extemporaneous fashion with reduced setup and change-over time from panel-to-panel.

Automated apparatus for constructing assemblies of building components


According to various aspects and technical advantages, an apparatus for electronic shelf labels includes a controller circuit for communicating with communication devices using a contactless communication protocol, a set of two or more antenna coils, each antenna coil located at a known position relative to the controller circuit, and a switch for selectively coupling the controller circuit to one or more of the set of antenna coils. The controller circuit is configured to determine a physical location of a communication device based on which antenna coil from the set of antenna coils the communication device is using to communicate with the controller circuit

Wireless communication systems are widely used to enable and provide data communication and support for various applications and types of communication content, such as voice, video, data and so on. These wireless communication systems can also be used to implement an electronic shelf label (ESL) based system for an enterprise. ESLs are used to display product information (e.g., price), as well as means for providing an effective way to update the ESLs via the communication network, such as a wireless communication network. An ESL system typically uses lower power processors and central processing units (CPUs) to lower overall power consumption. Also, since ESLs are typically powered by batteries, lower power consumption and maximizing battery life are very important design considerations. An ESL also uses various user interfaces and display units to convey pertinent information to an end user.
FIG. 1 illustrates an conventional, stand-alone ESL unit 100. Stand-alone ESL unit 100 contains a radio 102, a battery 104, and a display 106. The stand-alone ESL unit 100 can be programmed via the radio 102, e.g., to update the price or other information being displayed to shoppers. The conventional, stand-alone ESL unit 100 has several disadvantages, however. One disadvantage is that every stand-alone ESL unit 100 must contain its own radio 102, which increases the cost of each unit.
FIG. 2 illustrates one conventional approach to lower the cost of each ESL unit—namely to have one radio unit service multiple ESL units. In FIG. 2, system 200 includes a controller 202 coupled to a track 204 that includes a coil or loop antenna 206. The controller 202 includes the radio 102 and battery 104, as well as a transceiver (TRX) 208, which communicates with simplified ESL units 210 via a loop antenna 212. Each simplified ESL unit 210 has its own TRX 214 and a display 106. In the conventional approach shown in FIG. 2, each simplified ESL unit 210 can be placed anywhere along the track 204, which is typically a meter long. Multiple simplified ESL units 210 may be placed on the track 204, and the controller 202 uses the loop antenna 206 to provide power to, as well as communicate with, the simplified ESL units 210. Because a simplified ESL unit 210 does not contain a radio, the cost of each unit is lower than the cost of a stand-alone ESL unit 100.
In a typical deployment, the system 200 communicates with the simplified ESL units 210 using the near-field communication (NFC) protocol, and a simplified ESL unit 210 is referred to as a "NFC-ESL" (NESL). Each track 204 can support up to about 20 NESLs, which can be placed anywhere along the track 204. The controller 202 communicates with each NESL using NFC magnetic coupling.
The conventional approach shown in FIG. 2 has several disadvantages, however. One disadvantage is that the location of each simplified ESL unit 210 cannot be determined by the controller 202. Because the magnetic coupling has a very low carrier frequency, the controller 202 cannot use conventional techniques, such as time delay reflectometry, to determine the exact location of a simplified ESL unit 210 along the track 204. The best that the controller 202 can determine is whether or not the simplified ESL unit 210 in question is present on track 204 or not. This is a problem for supermarkets, which generally follow a planogram, which is a map that specifies what the location of every product in the store should be. Thus, supermarkets desire the ability to determine the position of an ESL unit to within 10 cm, or, barring that, the order of ESL units along the track 204, neither of which can be done by system 200.
Another disadvantage of system 200 is due to the poor coupling efficiency between the large loop antenna 206 on the track 204 and the small loop antenna 212 on each simplified ESL unit 210. Because of the poor coupling efficiency, the controller 202 must generate a large signal on the loop antenna 206 so that the loop antenna 212 can detect it. This results in larger power consumption and lower battery life for controller 202.

Electronic shelf label (ESL) antenna design


This disclosure describes to techniques to compensate for distortions introduced into received signals by one or more receiver components that have undesirable electrical responses, such as nonlinear phase response, sloped (or non-flat) amplitude response or both. An external device or other device with more power resources than an IMD filters signals to be transmitted to the IMD to pre-compensate for distortions introduced by the undesired electrical responses of the one or more receiver components of the IMD. In this manner, at least a portion of the burden of digital processing to compensate for undesired electrical responses of the receiver components is shifted from the IMD to the external device, which is better equipped to perform such heavy computationally complex functions.

A wide variety of IMDs that deliver a therapy to or monitor a physiologic or biological condition of a patient, or both, have been clinically implanted or proposed for clinical implantation in patients. The IMD may deliver therapy to or monitor a physiological or biological condition with respect to a variety of organs, nerves, muscles or tissues of the patients, such as the heart, brain, stomach, spinal cord, pelvic floor, or the like. The therapy provided by the IMD may include electrical stimulation therapy, drug delivery therapy or the like.
The IMD may exchange communications with an external device, such as a programming device or a monitoring device located in the vicinity of the patient. The information transmitted from the IMD to the external device may be information related to a condition of the patient, such as physiological signals measured by one or more sensors, or information related to a therapy delivered to the patient. This information may be previously stored or real-time information. The IMD may also receive information from the external device, such as configuration information that may be used to configure a therapy to be provided to the patient.
The IMD and the external device may exchange information using radio frequency (RF) communications. For example, the IMD and the external device may communicate in the 402-405 megahertz (MHz) frequency band in accordance with the Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS) band regulations. As another example, the IMD and the external device may communicate over the 401-402 MHz or 405-406 MHz frequency bands in accordance with the Medical External Data Service (MEDS) band regulations.

Precompensating for undesired electrical responses of receiver components of an implantable medical device


A computer system for authenticating, encrypting, and transmitting a secret communication, where the encryption key is transmitted along with the encrypted message, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a first transmitting processor encrypts a plaintext message to a ciphertext message using a data key, encrypts the data key using a key encrypting key, and sends a communication comprising the encrypted data key and the ciphertext message. A second receiving processor receives the communication and then decrypts the encrypted data key using the key encrypting key and decrypts the ciphertext message using the data key to recover the plaintext message.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
In many applications of encryption and/or authentication, the need to store cryptographic keys, and to fetch the appropriate key to process a particular message, is a performance bottleneck. In particular, when a network device receives an encrypted and/or authenticated message, it cannot process that message until it fetches the appropriate key from memory.
Authenticated encryption refers to a cryptographic transform which, in addition to providing confidentiality for the plaintext that is encrypted, provides a way to check its integrity and authenticity. For example, the combination of AES-CBC and HMAC-SHA1 are often combined to create an authenticated encryption method. Alternately, a dedicated Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) algorithm, such as Advanced Encryption Standard Galois/Counter Mode (AES-GCM) can be used.
AEAD adds the ability to check the integrity and authenticity of some Associated Data (AD), also called "additional authenticated data", which is not encrypted. For example, when AEAD is used to protect packets in a network protocol, the headers (which typically need to be left unencrypted) are considered associated data and comprise the AD input. When AEAD is used in Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP), the ESP Security Parameters Index (SPI) and Sequence Number fields are input as AD.
In general, an AEAD operation takes as input a secret key K, an associated data element A, a nonce N, and a plaintext message P, and returns a ciphertext message C. The decryption operation takes as input the secret key K, the associated data element A, the nonce N, and the ciphertext message C, and returns the plaintext message P, or returns an indication that there was an authentication failure. The nonce is selected by the encrypter, may be distinct for each distinct packet, is sent with the message, and is used by the decrypter. In many security protocols, such as AES-GCM-ESP, the nonce is carried in an Initialization Vector (IV). Examplary AEAD operations may be written symbolically as: encrypt: K, A, N, P→C; decrypt: K, A, N, C→P or FAIL. An example of an AEAD system is described in IETF RFC 5116, "An Interface and Algorithms for Authenticated Encryption."
When AEAD is used, the encrypting device uses certain unencrypted information (for example, the IV or the nonce) to encrypt the packet. This information is included in the packet by the encrypting device, so that the decrypting device has the all of the data that it needs to decrypt the packet. The decrypting device needs the same data in order to properly decrypt the packet.

Key transport in authentication or cryptography


Quick disconnect devices for high pressure fluid transfer, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative quick disconnect system includes a first connector and a second connector. The second connector can have an opening sized and shaped to receive a first end of the first connector. The second connector can include a poppet positioned to open the first connector when the first connector is connected to the second connector. The second connector can include an inner sleeve moveable between a first position wherein the poppet head forms a fluid-tight seal with the annular seat of the inner sleeve, and a second position wherein the second end portion is open to permit fluid flow through the end portion of the inner sleeve. In some embodiments, the inner sleeve is pressure balanced in every direction.

Rockets have been used for many years to launch human and non-human payloads into orbit. Such rockets delivered the first humans to space and to the moon, and have launched countless satellites into the Earth's orbit and beyond. Such rockets are used to propel unmanned space probes and more recently to deliver structures, supplies, and personnel to the orbiting international space station.
In order to reach orbit, rockets and other launch vehicles must be provided with fuel, hydraulic fluid, coolant, and/or other fluids, many of which are transferred and stored at very high pressures. One challenge associated with transferring high-pressure fluid to the rockets is avoiding fluid leaks at the connections between the rockets and fluid sources (e.g., tanks). Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to addressing this and other challenges.

Quick disconnect coupling systems and related methods


Soluble gas is introduced in a melt material which is then atomized and rapidly cooled. The cooling drives the gas from solution, further disintegrating the atomized material to an ultra-fine powder. In one embodiment the atomization and rapid cooling are effected using a gas atomization die. Introduction of the soluble gas may be effected by addition of reactive constituents to the melt, for reactively forming such gas. Finer powders with desirable metallurgical properties are formed using a metallic melt.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,167, issued for an invention of Niimi et al., discloses an apparatus for manufacturing hollow spherical particles. The apparatus provides a large number of individual linear water jets arranged in a ring and converging at a single point so that a molten (ferrous) system containing graphite may be passed through this ring of water jets and the converging point. The carbon in the molten metal particles reacts with dissociated water molecules to form carbon monoxide and dioxide in the particles. Those gases, plus the freed hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur dioxide gas, are said to form hollows in the particles. The particles range in size from 0.1 mm to 18 mm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,571, issued for an invention of Abbaschiaw, discloses a method for producing hollow metallic spheres. Porous articles of sufficient strength are formed of a particulate material containing at least one electrically conductive metal. The porous article is subjected to an electromagnetic field which has a frequency sufficient to induce in the article an eddy current of such intensity to produce heat sufficient to melt the electrically conductive material. Heating of the molten article is continued for a time sufficient to expand any gas contained in the pores to a volume such that all of the entrapped pores combine to produce a hollow molten metal sphere, and then the sphere is cooled to solidify the molten metal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,767 issued for an invention of Hendricks, discloses a method for producing small hollow spheres, the microspheres being made of glass, metal or plastic. In accordance with the invention, the sphere material is mixed with or contains as part of the composition a blowing agent which decomposes at high temperature. A droplet generator forms uniform size drops which then fall into an oven where water is removed leaving a solid particle. The solid particle then falls into a higher temperature zone of the oven where it is melted and the blowing agent decomposes. The gas from the decomposition blows the molten bubble into a microsphere of diameter ranging from 20 to 103 micrometers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,914, issued for an invention of Cremer, et al., discloses a process for making hollow metal microballoons that can be filled with deuterium and tritium and used as laser and electronic beam targets for a fusion reaction. The process involves the formulation of clean, unoxidized metallic powders followed by inflation of the particles in a plasma arc. Water is introduced into the plasma so that the water disassociates partially into nascent hydrogen and nascent oxygen. The hydrogen is absorbed by the molten metallic particles. Subsequently atomic hydrogen dissolves and/or becomes molecular hydrogen and inflates the particles as they cool. The process produces microdiameter spheres in the range of 50-1000 micrometers.

Fine hollow particles of metals and metal alloys and their production


The present invention relates to methods of preventing or inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter through the use of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative or metabolite thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of preventing or treating persistent chronic gastritis, ulcers and/or stomach cancer in subjects at risk for, or in need of treatment thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of preventing or inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter through the use of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative or metabolite thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of preventing or treating persistent chronic gastritis, ulcers and/or stomach cancer in subjects at risk for, or in need of treatment thereof.
2. Background of the Invention
Stomach cancer is the second most common form of cancer worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic, gram-negative bacterium of cosmopolitan distribution that causes persistent chronic gastritis. Carriers of H. pylori (in gastric mucosa) are at 3 to 6 times the risk for developing stomach cancer (gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) as non-carriers (J. Danesh et al., Cancer Surveys, 33:263-289 (1999); D. Forman et al., Br Med Bull, 54:71-78 (1998); S. Hansen et al., Scand J Gastroenterol, 34:353-360 (1999); J-Q Huang et al., Gastroenterology, 114:1169-1179(1998)). H. pylori causes inflammation of stomach tissue in carriers, resulting in increased blood flow, swelling and irritation. Inflammation of the lower part of the stomach leads to ulcers in about 10% of carriers. Inflammation of the upper part of the stomach leads to impaired acid secretion and ultimate die-off of acid-producing cells and leads to reduced stomach function and ultimately to cancer.
Helicobacter pylori was only first described following its cultivation from human gastric biopsy specimens in 1982 (J R Warren et al., Lancet, (1983), 1:1273-1275; B J Marshall et al., Microbios Lett. (1984), 25:83-88). Since then, as many as 26 related Helicobacter species have been described colonizing the mucosal surfaces of humans and other animals (J V Solnick, D B Schauer, Clin Microbiol Rev, (2001), 14:59-97). These organisms not only colonize gastric tissues of mammals, but are found in the intestinal tract and the liver of birds, as well as in mammals including humans, mice, ferrets, gerbils, dogs and cats. They have been implicated as agents responsible for inflammation, and in malignant transformation in immunocompetent hosts as well as immunocompromised humans and animals. However, H. pylori is now well-documented as one of the most prevalent human pathogens worldwide (R M Genta et al., Virchows Arch, 425:339-347 (1994)), and the causal agent for most gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as a risk factor for the development of gastric cancer (J Danesh, Cancer Surveys, 33:263-289 (1999)). The human stomach is the only known natural reservoir for H. pylori, although many mammalian species can be infected by related species. Antibiotic therapy aimed at eradication of H. pylori (e.g. amoxycillin and clarithromycin plus the H2 inhibitor omeprazol for 10-14 days) is now recommended for infected patients who have verified peptic ulcerations of the stomach or duodenum or who have gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas, and cure rates are on the order of 90% (Helicobacter Foundation, xe2x80x9cTreatment of Helicobacter pylori, p. 1-5 (1998)). However, a complex antibiotic therapy as described above may not be available in developing countries, where H. pylori infection rates can be as high as 70% of the population.
Thus a need exists for an economical dietary supplement, food or pharmaceutical that will naturally inhibit the growth and/or infection rates of H. pylori, both in the lumen of the stomach and within gastric epithelial cells where H. pylori may serve as a low-level, chronic reservoir for re-infection. This inhibition of eradication can in turn reduce the incidence of ulcers and stomach cancer or prevent reinfection of H. pylori.
The present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a Helicobacter infection, comprising administering to the subject an antibacterially effective amount of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof.
The present invention also relates to a method of preventing a Helicobacter infection in a subject, comprising treating the subject with an antibacterially effective amount of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof.
The present invention further relates to a method for inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter, comprising administering an antibacterially effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof.
N/A
The present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a Helicobacter infection, comprising administering to the subject an antibacterially effective amount of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof.
Helicobacter is a gram-negative bacterium with polar flagella, using oxygen as an electron acceptor, which cannot utilize carbohydrates as an energy source. The Helicobacter genus is fully characterized in Versalovic, et al, Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7th Ed., pp. 727-738 (1999) and Perez-Perez, et al., Medical Microbiology, 4th Ed., pp. 311-322 (1996), which are incorporated herein by reference. Helicobacter is used interchangeably with xe2x80x9cHelicobacter spxe2x80x9d herein.
As used herein, the terms subject or patient are used interchangeably and are used to mean any animal, preferably a mammal, including humans and non-human primates. In one embodiment of the current invention the subject having a Helicobacter infection is suffering from a peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers, as contemplated in the current invention include, but are not limited to, circumscribed breaks in the continuity of the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract. These breaks in the continuity of the mucosal layer can include breaks that extend below the epithelium, or breaks that do not extend below the epithelium, sometime referred to as xe2x80x9cerosions.xe2x80x9d The peptic ulcers may be acute, or chronic. Further, peptic ulcers can be located in any part of the gastrointestinal tract that is exposed to acid-pepsin gastric juice, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and after gastroenterostomy, the jejunum.
In another embodiment of the current invention the subject having the Helicobacter infection is suffering from, or at risk of developing, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. As stated previously, the portions of the gastrointestinal tract where cancer may be present are any areas where the tract is exposed to acid-pepsin gastric juice, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and after gastroenterostomy, the jejunum. As used herein the term cancer is used as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the term. Examples of cancers include, but are not limited to, neoplasias (or neoplasms), hyperplasias, dysplasias, metaplasias, hypertrophies. The neoplasms may be benign or malignant, and they may originate from any cell type, including but not limited to epithelial cells of various origin, muscle cells and endothelial cells.
The treatment envisioned by the current invention can be used for patients with a pre-existing Helicobacter infection, or for patients pre-disposed to a Helicobacter infection. Additionally, the method of the current invention can be used to correct or compensate for cellular or physiological abnormalities involved in conferring susceptibility to Helicobacter infection in patients, and/or to alleviate symptoms of a Helicobacter infection in patients, or as a preventative measure in patients.
As used herein, the phrase Helicobacter infection is used to mean an interaction between Helicobacter and the host organism (subject). The infections may be localized, meaning that the Helicobacter grows and remains near the point of initial interaction. The infection may also be generalized, where the Helicobacter may become more widespread beyond the initial point of interaction, including spreading to the surrounding tissue or organ and even being distributed and growing throughout the entire host organism. As used herein, the term interaction (of a host and microorganism) is used to mean a process where the Helicobacter grows in or around a particular tissue. To illustrate, the Helicobacter is considered to have infected the subject if the bacteria is able to penetrate the surface of cells of a particular tissue and grow within the cells of the tissue. An example of this type of infection includes, but is not limited to Helicobacter penetrating and growing within the epithelial cells lining the lumen of the stomach. Additionally, the Helicobacter can also be said to have infected the host organism by growing extracellularly to the tissue cells.
The method of the current invention comprises administering an antibacterially effective amount of a composition to treat a Helicobacter infection. As used herein, xe2x80x9can antibacterially effective amountxe2x80x9d is intended to mean an amount effective to prevent, inhibit, retard or reverse the growth of Helicobacter, and/or to reduce the number of viable Helicobacter cells within the stomach or at a site of infection without excessive levels of side effects. xe2x80x9cAntibacterially effective amountxe2x80x9d is also used to mean an amount effective to kill, reduce or ameliorate any existing infections of Helicobacter where the infection takes place prior to the administration of the compositions used in the current invention. Thus as the current invention contemplates, an antibacterially effective amount of the compositions of the current invention can be used as a treatment to a pre-existing Helicobacter infection. Effective amounts for use in these treatments can completely or partially prevent a pre-existing infection from spreading to surrounding tissue and beyond, and they can also be used to slow the growth and/or spread rate of the Helicobacter in the subject. Furthermore, the antibacterially effective amounts of the compositions used in the current invention can prevent a Helicobacter infection in subjects. Another aspect of xe2x80x9cantibacterially effective amount,xe2x80x9d as used in the current invention, means that the compositions administered to the subject are capable of preventing or reducing the cellular or physiological damage to the infected or surrounding tissue, caused by the toxins produced by the Helicobacter. In still another aspect, the phrase antibacterially effective amount can be used to mean an amount of the administered composition that can reduce or prevent the formation or efficacy of the virulence of the Helicobacter. By virulence is meant the ability of the Helicobacter to combat the host organism""s or cell""s natural defenses to the Helicobacter infection.
The method of treating a subject having a Helicobacter infection involves administration of compositions to the subjects. As used herein, composition can mean a pure compound, agent or substance or a mixture of two or more compounds, agents or substances. As used herein, the term agent, substance or compound is intended to mean a protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, lipid, polymer or a small molecule, such as a drug.
The compositions for use in the current invention comprise isothiocyanates, glucosinolates or derivatives or metabolites thereof such as, but not limited to: nitriles, carbamates, thiocarbamates, thiocyanates. As used herein derivatives include metabolites and/or analogs of isothiocyanates or glucosinolates. The term derivatives is used herein to encompass derivatives, analogs and metabolites of isothiocyanates or glucosinolates. Additionally, the compositions of the current invention also include combinations of different isothiocyanates, glucosinolates or derivatives thereof or their combination with other therapeutic moieties or agents. Isothiocyanates are compounds containing the isothiocyanate (xe2x80x94NCSxe2x88x92) moiety and are easily identifiable by one of ordinary skill in the art. An example of an isothiocyanate includes, but is not limited to sulforaphane or its analogs. The description and preparation of isothiocyanate analogs is described in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 36,784, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In a preferred embodiment, the sulforaphane analogs used in the present invention include 6-isothiocyanato-2-hexanone, exo-2-acetyl-6-isothiocyanatonorbornane, exo-2-isothiocyanato-6-methylsulfonyinorbornane, 6-isothiocyanato-2-hexanol, 1-isothiocyanato-4-dimethylphosphonylbutane, exo-2-(1xe2x80x2-hydroxyethyl)-5-isothiocyanatonorbornane, exo-2-acetyl-5-isothiocyanatonorbornane, 1-isothiocyanato-5-methylsulfonylpentane, cis-3-(methylsulfonyl)cyclohexylmethylisothiocyanate and trans-3-(methylsulfonyl)cyclohexylmethylisothiocyanate. Other isothiocyanates also include, but are not limited to, conjugates of isothiocyanates, which include, among others, glutathione-, cysteinylglycine-, cysteinyl-, and N-acetylcysteine-conjugates.
Glucosinolates, which are well-known in the art, are precursors to isothiocyanates. Examples of glucosinolates include, but are not limited to, glucoraphanin, glucoerysolin, glucoerucin, glucoiberin, glucoalyssin, glucoberteroin, glucoiberverin, glucocheirolin, glucoraphenin, 5-methylsulfinylpentyl glucosinolate, 6-methylsulfinylhexyl glucosinolate, 7-methylsulfinylheptyl glucosinolate, 8-methylsulfinyloctyl glucosinolate, 9-methylsulfinylnonyl glucosinolate, 10-methylsulfinyldecyl glucosinolate, phenylethyl glucosinolate, 4-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate, 3-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate, 2-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate, 4-(4xe2x80x2-O-acetyl-xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate as well as those reviewed in Table 1 of Fahey et al., Phytochemistry, 56:5-51 (2001) and corrigenda thereto, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and the products of their myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis (e.g. their cognate isothiocyanates, thiocyanates, nitrites, carbamates and thiocarbamates). Glucosinolates are easily recognizable and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art and are reviewed in Fahey et al., Phytochemistry, 56:5-51 (2001) and corrigenda thereto, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the isothiocyanate for use in the current invention is sulforaphane, or a derivative thereof. In a further embodiment, the isothiocyanate is sulforaphane.
Sulforaphane (4-methylsulfinylbutyl isothiocyanate or (xe2x88x92)-1-isothiocyanato-4(R)-(methylsulfinyl) butane) and sulforaphene (4-methylsulfinylbutenyl isothiocyanate) and their cognate glucosinolates (glucoraphanin and glucoraphenin, respectively), are known to be produced by plants, such as hoary cress, radish and other plants (Mislow et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 87:665-666 (1965); Schmid et al., Helvet. Chim. Acta, 31:1017-1028 (1942); Hansen et al., Acta Chem. Scand. Ser., B 28:418-424 (1974)). For the purposes of the present invention, they can be isolated from plants or synthesized. Bertoin, alyssin, erucin, erysolin, iberverin, iberin, and cheirolin can also be isolated from plants; these compounds appear to be less active as inducers than sulforaphane and sulforaphene, at least in cell culture.
Other synthetic analogues include compounds with sulfur-containing-, olefinic, aliphatic, and multiply glycosylated-side chains.
Other analogues of sulforaphane can be used which are not specifically shown. The relative ability of the compound to inhibit or prevent the growth of Helicobacter, or treat subjects with Helicobacter infections can be assessed as taught below, either by testing inhibition in cell lines, or in whole animals.
Provided by the present invention are food products which have been supplemented with a composition or agent of the present invention. The compositions or agents used as food supplements should contain isothiocyanates, glucosinolates or derivatives thereof. The supplement may be isolated from plants or synthesized. Also provided by the present invention are foods and/or plants that contain high levels of glucosinolates or isothiocyanates. Examples of plants that contain glucosinolates or isothiocyanates include, but are not limited to, Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), Moringaceae and Resedaceae, which collectively include, but are not limited to, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cauliflower sprouts, daikon, horseradish, kale, mustard seed, radish, wasabi, horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera), cabbage tree (M. stenopetala), mignonette (Reseda odorata), dyer""s rocket (R. luteola). Other families of plants that contain glucosinolates include, but are not limited to, Bataceae, Bretschneideraceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gyrostemonaceae, Limnanthaceae, Pentadiplandraceae, Phytolaccaceae, Pittosporaceae, Salvadoraceae, Tovariaceae and Tropaeolaceae. These high levels may occur naturally or plants may be bred to contain high levels or glucosinolates or isothiocyanates.
Glucosinolates and/or isothiocyanates can be purified from seed or plant extracts by methods well known in the art. (See Fenwick et al., CRC Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 18: 123-201 (1983) and Zhang et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 89: 2399-2403 (1992)). Purified or partially purified glucosinolate(s) or isothiocyanate(s) can be added to food products as a supplement. The dose of glucosinolate and/or isothiocyanate added to the food product preferably is in the range of 1 xcexcmol to 1,000 xcexcmol per serving. However, the dose of glucosinolate and/or isothiocyanate supplementing the food product can be higher.
The selection of plants having high levels of glucosinolates or isothiocyanates in sprouts, seeds or other plant parts can be incorporated into Brassica (Crucifer) breeding programs. In addition, these same breeding programs can include the identification and selection of cultivars that have high levels of glucosinolates or isothiocyanates. Strategies for the crossing, selection and breeding of new cultivars of Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) are well known to the skilled artisan in this field. (Brassica Crops and Wild Allies: Biology and Breeding; S. Tsunoda et al. (eds), Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo pp. 354 (1980); Biology of Brassica Coenospecies; C. Gomez-Campo (ed), Elsevier, Amsterdam p. 489 (1999)). Progeny plants are screened for high levels of glucosinolates or isothiocyanates produced at specific plant developmental stages. Plants carrying the trait of interest are identified and the characteristic intensified or combined with other important agronomic characteristics using breeding techniques well known in the art of plant breeding.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the composition used in the method of treating a Helicobacter infection can be in the form of a food, food supplement, a dietary supplement or food additive.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the composition administered to the subject is a pharmaceutical composition. Further, the pharmaceutical composition can be administered orally, nasally, parenterally, intrasystemically, intraperitoneally, topically (as by drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. The term xe2x80x9cparenteral,xe2x80x9d as used herein, refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion. The pharmaceutical compositions as contemplated by the current invention may also include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
By xe2x80x9cpharmaceutically acceptable carrierxe2x80x9d is intended, but not limited to, a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type.
A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention for parenteral injection can comprise pharmaceutically acceptable sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions as well as sterile powders for reconstitution into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents or vehicles include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), carboxymethylcellulose and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils (such as olive oil), and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.
The compositions of the present invention can also contain adjuvants such as, but not limited to, preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents, and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, and the like. It can also be desirable to include isotonic agents such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form can be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
In some cases, to prolong the effect of the drugs, it is desirable to slow the absorption from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This can be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, can depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.
Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues.
The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium just prior to use.
Solid dosage forms for oral administration include, but are not limited to, capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compounds are mixed with at least one item pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agarxe2x80x94agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example, acetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form can also comprise buffering agents.
Solid compositions of a similar type can also be employed as fillers in soft and hard filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.
The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They can optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.
The active compounds can also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-mentioned excipients.
Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms can contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethyl formamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof.
Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.
Suspensions, in addition to the active compounds, can contain suspending agents as, for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agarxe2x80x94agar, and tragacanth, and mixtures thereof.
Alternatively, the composition can be pressurized and contain a compressed gas, such as nitrogen or a liquefied gas propellant. The liquefied propellant medium and indeed the total composition is preferably such that the active ingredients do not dissolve therein to any substantial extent. The pressurized composition can also contain a surface active agent. The surface active agent can be a liquid or solid non-ionic surface active agent or can be a solid anionic surface active agent. It is preferred to use the solid anionic surface active agent in the form of a sodium salt.
The compositions of the present invention can also be administered in the form of liposomes. As is known in the art, liposomes are generally derived from phospholipids or other lipid substances. Liposomes are formed by mono- or multi-lamellar hydrated liquid crystals that are dispersed in an aqueous medium. Any non-toxic, physiologically acceptable and metabolizable lipid capable of forming liposomes can be used. The present compositions in liposome form can contain, in addition to the compounds of the invention, stabilizers, preservatives, excipients, and the like. The preferred lipids are the phospholipids and the phosphatidyl cholines (lecithins), both natural and synthetic. Methods to form liposomes are known in the art (see, for example, Prescott, Ed., Meth. Cell Biol. 14:33 et seq (1976)).
One of ordinary skill will appreciate that effective amounts of the agents of the invention can be determined empirically and can be employed in pure form or, where such forms exist, in pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug form. The agents can be administered to a subject, in need of treatment of a Helicobacter infection, as pharmaceutical compositions in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. It will be understood that, when administered to a human patient, the total daily usage of the agents or composition of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgement. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors: the type and degree of the cellular or physiological response to be achieved; activity of the specific agent or composition employed; the specific agents or composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the agent; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or coincidental with the specific agent; and like factors well known in the medical arts. For example, it is well within the skill of the art to start doses of the agents at levels lower than those required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and to gradually increase the dosages until the desired effect is achieved.
Dosing can also be arranged in a patient specific manner to provide a predetermined concentration of the agents in the blood, as determined by techniques accepted and routine in the art. Thus patient dosaging can be adjusted to achieve regular on-going blood levels, as measured by HPLC, on the order of from 50 to 1000 ng/ml.
It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts that other suitable modifications and adaptations to the methods and applications described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention or any embodiment thereof.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the Helicobacter infection from which the subject is suffering is Helicobacter pylori.
In another embodiment, the methods of the current invention may further comprise administering an antibiotic, an antibiotic regimen or another drug to the subject or Helicobacter. The current pharmaceutical regimen for treating H. pylori includes antibiotic therapy. As used herein, the phrase xe2x80x9cantibioticxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cantibiotic therapyxe2x80x9d is used as one of skill in the art would recognize such terms. Antibiotics for use in combination with the compositions or agents in the current invention include, but are not limited to, amoxycillin and clarithromycin. Other drugs that may be used in combination with the current invention include, but are not limited to, omeprazol.
The present invention also relates to a method of preventing a Helicobacter infection in a subject, comprising treating said subject with an antibacterially effective amount of a composition that comprises a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the method of preventing Helicobacter infection is performed on Helicobacter pylori.
As used herein the method of preventing a Helicobacter infection may be performed on subjects that have had previous infections, or on subjects with no history of Helicobacter infection.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the compositions used to prevent Helicobacter infection in a subject comprise sulforaphane or a derivative thereof. In a further embodiment, the composition is sulforaphane.
In another embodiment of the current invention, the composition used to prevent Helicobacter is a food, food supplement, dietary supplement or a food additive. In still another embodiment, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.
The current invention also relates to a method for inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter, comprising administering to said Helicobacter an antibacterially effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of a glucosinolate, a isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the Helicobacter is Helicobacter pylori.
As used herein, inhibition of growth is used to mean growth under in vitro, in vivo or in situ conditions. Furthermore, inhibition of growth is used to mean the process where the bacteria cells stop or slow their rate of mitosis or normal metabolic processes. Inhibition of growth can also mean cell death. The various forms and signs of cell death are obvious to those skilled in the art, but examples of cell death include, but are not limited to, programmed cell death (i.e., apoptosis), gradual death of the cells as occurs in diseased states (i.e., necrosis), and more immediate cell death such as acute toxicity. The inhibition of growth of Helicobacter for which the current invention provides can be a complete or partial inhibition of growth or a complete or partial causation of cell death.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the compositions used to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter infection in a subject comprise sulforaphane or a derivative thereof. In a further embodiment, the composition is sulforaphane.
In another embodiment of the current invention, the composition used to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter is a food, food supplement, dietary supplement or a food additive. In still another embodiment, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.
In another embodiment, the compositions of the current invention may be combined with antibiotics or other drugs to prevent the growth of Helicobacter.
The current invention also relates to a method of identifying an agent that modulates the growth of Helicobacter comprising treating Helicobacter with said agent and assaying for growth of said Helicobacter; treating said Helicobacter with a known modulator of Helicobacter growth and assaying for growth of said Helicobacter, wherein said known modulator of Helicobacter growth is selected from the group consisting of a glucosinolate, an isothiocyanate and a derivative thereof; and comparing the levels of Helicobacter growth in (a) and (b) to determine if said agent modulates said growth of Helicobacter. Preferably, the method of screening agents that modulate the growth of Helicobacter is used to screen agents that modulate the growth of Helicobacter pylori.
In one embodiment of the current invention, the method of identifying an agent that modulates the growth Helicobacter is performed on a single population of cells, and (b) is performed on the identical population after the agent in (a) is removed. In another embodiment of the invention, the method of identifying an agent that modulates the growth Helicobacter is performed on two nearly identical populations of cells, under the same conditions, where (a) is performed on one population and (b) is performed on another population, and (c) is a comparison of the levels of the growth Helicobacter between the two populations of cells. Preferably, the methods of identifying growth modulators of Helicobacter are performed on Helicobacter pylori.
In another embodiment, of the current invention, the method of identifying an agent that modulates the growth Helicobacter is performed on cells other than Helicobacter cells, that have been infected with the Helicobacter prior to the assay. The Helicobacter may be present inside these other cells or it may be present around, or near, the cells. Examples of situations where the Helicobacter may be present in or around the other cell types include, but are not limited to, co-culturing cells with Helicobacter, allowing the Helicobacter to infect the other cell types prior to performing the assay. The other cells can be prokaryotic or eukaryotic, but preferably eukaryotic, and even more preferably animal cells. The animal cells for use in the current invention can be any type of cell found in an animal, including, but not limited to, epithelial, neuronal, endothelial and muscle cells.
In an additional embodiment, the methods of identifying agents that modulate the growth of Helicobacter can be carried out on cells that are in culture, i.e. in vitro, or in cells occurring in situ or in vivo. The cells may be part of a tissue or a whole organ. As used herein, the term tissue is used to mean a tissue as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand it to mean. As envisioned in the current application, tissue is also used to mean individual or groups of cells, or cell cultures, of a bodily tissue or fluid (e.g. blood cells). Furthermore, the tissue may be within a subject, or biopsied or removed from a subject. The tissue may also be a whole or any portion of a bodily organ. Additionally, the tissue may be xe2x80x9cfreshxe2x80x9d in that the tissue would be recently removed from a subject without any preservation steps between the excision and the methods of the current invention. The tissue may also have been preserved by such standard tissue preparation techniques including, but not limited to, freezing, quick freezing, paraffin embedding and tissue fixation, prior to application of the methods of the current invention. Furthermore, the tissue may also be a xenograft or a syngraft on or in another host animal.
The types of agents or compounds which can be envisioned are limited only by their ability to modulate the growth of Helicobacter. The agents of the present invention may be identified and/or prepared according to any of the methods and techniques known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the agents of the present invention are selected and screened at random or rationally selected or designed using chemical modeling techniques, based on structure-activity relationships (SAR).
For random screening, candidate agents are selected at random and assayed for their ability to modulate the growth of Helicobacter. Any of the suitable methods and techniques known to those skilled in the art may be employed to assay candidate agents.
For rational selection or design, the agent is selected based on the chemical structure of known modulators of the growth of Helicobacter. Any of the suitable methods and techniques, or modifications thereof, known to those skilled in the art may be employed for rational selection or design. For example, one skilled in the art can readily adapt currently available procedures to generate peptides, pharmaceutical agents and the like capable of modulating the growth of Helicobacter.
In another embodiment, the known modulators for use in the assay of the current invention are isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, sulforaphene, erysolin, erucin, iberin, alyssin, berteroin, iberverin, cheirolin, 5-methylsulfinylpentyl isothiocyanate, 6-hexylsulfinyl isothiocyanate, 7-methylsulfinylheptyl isothiocyanate, 8-methylsulfinyloctyl isothiocyanate, 9-methylsulfinylnonyl isothiocyanate, 10-methylsulfinyldecyl isothiocyanate, phenylethyl isothiocyanate, 4-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate, 3-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate, 2-(xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate, 4-(4xe2x80x2-O-acetyl-xcex1-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate or a derivative thereof. The isothiocyanates, glucosinolates or derivatives thereof for use in the methods of identifying modulators of Helicobacter growth have been described previously herein. In still another embodiment, the known modulator is sulforaphane.
The following Examples serve only to illustrate the invention, and should not be construed, in any way, to limit the invention.

Treatment of helicobacter with isothiocyanates


Nucleotide sequences specific to Yersinia pestis that serve as markers or signatures for identification of this bacterium were identified. In addition, forward and reverse primers and hybridization probes derived from these nucleotide sequences that are used in nucleotide detection methods to detect the presence of the bacterium are disclosed.

Yersinia Pestis is the species of bacteria known to cause the plague, a highly contagious and often fatal disease. Since the attack on the World Trade Center in New York of Sep. 11, 2001, there has been a growing concern that terrorists or rogue governments will use the Yersinia pestis bacterium as a weapon of mass destruction and instrument of terror. Since the events of Sep. 11, 2001, the United States Government has been developing reliable methods and systems to detect the Yersinia pestis bacterium so that immediate and effective counter measures can be undertaken. The existing methods for detecting the Yersinia pestis bacterium are considered inadequate because of the higher than acceptable rate of false positive and false negative results. False positive results lead to confusion regarding whether the Yersinia pestis bacterium is actually present and whether protective measures should immediately be implemented. Conversely, false negative results would allow the Yersinia pestis bacterium to remain undetected with consequent adverse impacts. A more reliable method of detecting the Yersinia pestis bacterium would reduce the occurrence of false positive and false negative results and provide decision makers with greater confidence in implementing appropriate counter measures.

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A light emitting device having an anode, a cathode, a first organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode and a second organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode is provided. The first organic layer is a layer containing a compound (T) in which the absolute value of the difference between the energy level at the lowest triplet excited state and the energy level at the lowest singlet excited state is 0.5 eV or less and not containing a phosphorescent metal complex. The second organic layer is a layer containing a crosslinked body of a polymer compound containing a crosslink constitutional unit and the energy level at the lowest triplet excited state of the polymer compound is 2.25 eV or more.

Organic electroluminescent devices (hereinafter, referred to also as light emitting device) can be used suitably for applications of display and illumination, and have been researched and developed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a light emitting device having an organic layer containing a polymer compound (P-2) represented by the following formula and a light emitting layer containing a light emitting material having a carbazole skeleton.

Light emitting device and composition useful for production of same light emitting device


Antigenic molecules and compositions described herein protect against infection by typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars. Methods of immunization comprise the use of the antigenic molecules.

Salmonella is a genus of over 2000 serovars and includes organisms that cause a wide range of human and animal diseases. For example, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A and B cause enteric ("typhoid") fever. Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis are known as the non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) and cause salmonellosis—a gastroenteritis which is usually a self-limiting illness in healthy individuals.
As is the case with many gram-negative pathogens, Salmonella spp. use type III secretion systems (T3SSs) as virulence factors to deliver proteins into host cells and to subsequently cause/induce infection. The T3SS is a molecular "syringe and needle" apparatus, also known as a "type III secretion apparatus" (T3SA) which promotes uptake of the bacterium by the host cell, and then adaptation of the intracellular environment of the host cell to allow a productive infection. Salmonella has two functionally distinct T3SS's which are encoded by Salmonella "pathogenicity islands" 1 and 2 (SPI-1 and -2). The SPI-1 T3SS is central to the ability of Salmonella to invade nonphagocytic cells via the injection, from the bacteria and into the cell by way of the T3 SA conduit, effector proteins which trigger extensive actin rearrangements on the surface of host cells. While this allows ingress of the pathogen into the host cell, a second T3SS island, SPI-2, is essential for bacterial replication/proliferation inside host cells. Upon intracellular activation of SPI-2, the bacteria proliferate within membrane-bound vacuoles of phagocytic eukaryotic cells (Salmonella-containing vacuoles, SCVs), with macrophages being the main cell type supporting bacterial growth in vivo. Bacterial effector proteins are translocated across the vacuolar membrane via the SPI-2 T3SS apparatus and into the host endomembrane system and cytoplasm, causing systemic disease.
The Salmonella NTS serotypes are a primary cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide. In the U.S. NTS are a leading cause of hospitalization and death due to foodborne illnesses, with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium being the most frequent cause. 95% of the total cases of NTS are caused by contaminated food. Unfortunately, absolute protection from infection by enhanced agricultural surveillance is not feasible. Vaccines against these pathogens could provide a major weapon in controlling this disease. However, although some progress has been made in recent years, vaccines against Salmonella spp. have not proven to be broadly protective, and almost all are entirely directed only to the typhoid causing serovars. A Salmonella serotype-independent subunit vaccine that could target both typhoid and NTS serovars would be of tremendous public health value.

The Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University


A photographic information processing apparatus corrects photographic information based on temporarily determined photographic information relating to a photographing operation. The photographic information processing apparatus includes a photographic information correction determination unit determines whether correction of the photographic information is required based on an operation by an operator, an image data acquisition unit detects an X-ray having penetrated a body of a patient and acquires image data based on the detected X-ray, a photographic information correction unit corrects the temporarily determined photographic information based on patient information of the patient in a case where the correction of the photographic information is determined to be required, and an image data output unit outputs the image data after the correction of the temporarily determined photographic information is completed. The acquired image data is prevented from being output unless the temporarily determined photographic information is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographic information processing apparatus that can process photographic information to be used to capture a medical X-ray image. The present invention further relates to a photographic information processing method and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the medical field, for example, an advanced medical information management system, such as Hospital Information System (HIS) or Radiological Information System (RIS), can be effectively used to process digitized data of medical information. Advanced image acquisition apparatuses functioning as a modality (i.e., a medical device) have remarkable capability for processing digital data of medical images. Typically, a photographing operation for a medical purpose (e.g., X-ray imaging) is generally performed based on examination order information received from the medical information management system (e.g., HIS or RIS).
In general, the modality performs a photographing operation in response to examination order information received from the RIS and outputs the image data acquired in the photographing operation to an image storage server that may be referred to as Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). The examination order information, for example, includes patient information (e.g., patient ID, patient name, and other personal data) and photographic information (e.g., technical procedure usable in photographing operations).
In case of a medical emergency, it is generally difficult to know a name of a patient or to obtain a properly processed examination order beforehand. For example, in a case where the patient to be photographed is a seriously ill patient, such a patient may not be able to provide personal information. Accordingly, the RIS temporarily generates examination order information based on dummy photographic information to cause the modality to perform a photographing operation based on temporary examination order information. In this case, it may be required that the RIS performs processing for correcting the photographic information after completing the photographing operation.
In addition, there may also exist medical facilities that allow a modality to start a photographing operation before receiving examination order information. In this case, the medical facility receives examination order information after the modality has completed the photographing operation; and the modality corrects the photographic information based on the received examination order information. In many cases, the above-described processing is based on manual work performed by an operator, which is not included in an ordinary workflow and is not performed efficiently. As the photographing operation performed by the modality is done by manual work, it is not discriminated from an ordinary photographing operation. Therefore, image data may be erroneously output together with the dummy photographic information even in a case where the photographic information of the image data needs to be corrected upon completing the photographing operation.

Photographic information processing apparatus and photographic information processing method


A method of producing a multilayer ceramic electronic device, having a firing step for firing a pre-firing element body wherein a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers containing a base metal are alternately arranged, characterized in that the firing step has a temperature raising step for raising a temperature to a firing temperature, and hydrogen is continued to be introduced from a point in time of the temperature raising step. According to the method, it is possible to provide a method of producing a multilayer ceramic electronic device, such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor, wherein shape anisotropy and other structural defaults are hard to occur and electric characteristics are improved while suppressing deterioration thereof even if dielectric layers becomes thinner and stacked more.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor as an example of multilayer ceramic electronic devices is produced by alternately stacking, for example, ceramic green sheets and internal electrode layers having a predetermined pattern, then making the same one body to obtain a green chip and simultaneously firing the green chip.
The internal electrode layers of the multilayer ceramic capacitor as above are made to be one body with ceramic dielectrics by firing, so it has been necessary to select materials not reacting with ceramic dielectrics.
Conventionally, platinum, palladium and other precious metals have been used as materials for composing internal electrode layers. However, since precious metals are expensive, it has been a cause of high costs of produced capacitors.
While, in recent years, it became possible to use nickel and other inexpensive base metals as materials composing internal electrodes and a wide reduction of the costs has realized.
Conventionally, a variety of proposals have made on dielectric ceramic compositions wherein an inexpensive base metal can be used as a material of internal electrodes. For example, in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-45182, a dielectric ceramic composition wherein a dielectric oxide (note that 0≦x≦0.25, 0≦y≦0.05, 0.1≦z≦0.3, 1.000≦m≦1.020) indicated by a composition formula [(Ba1-x-yCaxSry)O]m(Ti1-zZrz)O2 is a main component is disclosed. In the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-342735, a dielectric ceramic composition wherein BaTiO3 is a main component is disclosed. In the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-335169, a dielectric ceramic composition wherein a dielectric oxide (note that 0≦x≦1.00, 0.9≦y≦1.00, 0.75≦m≦1.04) indicated by a composition formula (Sr1-xCax)m(Ti1-yZry)O3 is a main component is disclosed.
On the other hand, along with electronic devices getting more compact in recent years, a more compact and larger capacity multilayer ceramic capacitor has been demanded. To realize a more compact larger capacity multilayer ceramic capacitor, it is necessary to make a thickness of one dielectric layer as thin as possible and to increase the number of layers to be stacked in a predetermined size as much as possible (stacking more layers).
However, as dielectric layers get thinner and stacked more, a shape of an obtained ceramic capacitor is liable to cause anisotropy. When anisotropy arises in a shape of a capacitor, tractability at the time of mounting the capacitor on a substrate, etc. declines.
Also, as dielectric layers get thinner and stacked more, electric characteristics, such as static capacitance and insulation resistance, have been also liable to decline.
Furthermore, as dielectric layers get thinner and stacked more, cracks (particularly, inner cracks) have been liable to occur in an obtained capacitor. When a crack arises inside a capacitor, it cannot endure to be used as a capacitor.

Production method of multilayer ceramic electronic device


A new strain gage transducer comprises a support bar for measuring a load force. A base supports one end of the support bar in cantilever fashion in an orientation generally orthogonal to the direction in which the load force is to be applied. A load portion receives the load force and transmits it to the support bar, forcing it to flex. The amount of flexure is measured thereby allowing the amount of the load force to be determined. The base support includes a receiving portion mount on the base.

Strain gages are used with a number of devices to measure forces, such as the amount of tension exerted on an object, or the weight of an object. Typically, a strain gage comprises a transducer upon which an electrical bridge circuit is mounted. The transducer deforms as strain is applied. The bridge circuit includes a plurality of arms, each of which includes an electrical resistor which is also deformed in conformity with the deformation of the transducer. The deformation of the resistors causes variations in resistance in one or more of the arms of the electrical bridge, effectively unbalancing it. Electronic circuitry measures the amount of the unbalancing of the bridge and determines therefrom the degree of deformation of the structure. From the information relating to the degree of deformation, and from the transducer's materials and design, the amount of the strain being applied to the strain gage can be determined in a conventional manner. The structure of the transducer may be varied based on the particular application in which the strain gage is to be used.


The present invention relates to a method, computer program product and system for a general purpose dynamic memory allocator that is completely lock-free, and immune to deadlock, even when presented with the possibility of arbitrary thread failures and regardless of thread scheduling. Further the invention does not require special hardware or scheduler support and does not require the initialization of substantial portions of the address space.

Currently, most computer programs use memory management mechanisms for dynamically allocating and deallocating memory blocks from their address spaces. When a program needs to allocate a memory block of a certain size, a dynamic memory allocation mechanism searches the available regions of the address space for a contiguous region that is large enough to accommodate the desired memory block size, and further, updates its book keeping data to indicate that the allocated region is no longer available. When the program no longer needs a memory block that it has previously allocated, the dynamic memory allocation mechanism updates its book keeping data to indicate that the memory block is available for future allocation.
In multi-threaded programs, multiple threads can concurrently use the dynamic memory allocation mechanism. In order to maintain correct program operation, the proper synchronization between threads is required when concurrently using the dynamic memory allocation mechanism. Without proper synchronization between threads many serious problems may arise, such as the allocation of the same memory block more than once or at the same time, or losing the ability to reallocate a deallocated memory block. These problems may lead the program to crash or to produce incorrect results.
The conventional approach for synchronization of access to data shared among multiple threads is the use of mutual exclusion locking mechanisms. A mutual exclusion lock protecting one or more shared data items guarantees that, at any time, no more than one thread can access the protected data. Before a thread can access the protected data, it has to acquire a lock. When the thread is done with the data, it can release the lock. Further, at any time no more than one thread can hold the same mutual exclusion lock on a data item. If a primary thread holds a lock and other secondary threads need to acquire the same lock in order to access the data protected by the lock, then these secondary threads will have to wait until the primary thread releases the lock in order to acquire the lock to access the desired data.
A straightforward approach to synchronizing access to the dynamic memory allocation mechanism among multiple threads is to use a single lock. The use of a single lock ensures that whenever a thread needs to allocate or deallocate dynamic memory blocks it has to acquire that lock, perform its desired memory management operation and release the lock. For the sake of better throughput on multiprocessor systems, more sophisticated implementations of dynamic memory allocation use multiple locks in order to allow some concurrency of execution between threads running on different processors whenever these threads need to perform dynamic memory management.
A common problem of all the above mentioned implementations that use locking is that the delay or crashing of even one thread can cause the dynamic memory allocator to be deadlocked, which in turn may cause the program to be deadlocked or unable to allocate dynamic memory. For example, if a thread crashes while holding a lock, without special help from the operating system it will remain unavailable indefinitely to other threads that may seek to acquire it.
Even if no threads crash, it is possible that a thread can be interrupted while holding a lock. If the interrupt signal handler needs to acquire the same lock and the thread will not be scheduled until the signal handler completes, then this situation can lead to deadlock. The signal handler is waiting for a lock that will not be released while the thread holding the lock will not be scheduled to run until the signal handler completes. For this reason, most systems prohibit the use of dynamic memory allocation functions in signal handlers.
An unconventional alternative concept to using locks is lock-free synchronization. Lock-free synchronization dates back to the IBM System 370, in which all threads have unrestricted opportunity to operate on shared data object. If an object is lock-free then it is guaranteed that whenever a thread performs some finite number of step towards an operation on the object, some thread, possibly a different one, must have made progress towards completing an operation on the object, regardless of the delay or crash failure of any number of other threads that may be also operating on the object. Therefore, if the dynamic memory allocation mechanism is implemented in a lock-free manner, then it will be immune to deadlock even if threads may crash or get delayed arbitrarily, and irrespective of thread scheduling decisions made by the programming environment scheduler.
Dynamic memory allocators known in the art are not lock-free, require special support from the programming environment and are not generally applicable or make trivializing assumptions. For example, it is trivial to design a lock-free memory allocator where each thread owns a separate region of the address space and can only allocate blocks from that region, and when a thread deallocates a block it just adds it to its own available blocks. However, such design can lead to unacceptable cases where one thread ends up with all available memory, while other threads are unable to allocate new blocks.
What is needed is a dynamic memory allocator that is: completely lock-free, independent of special support from the programming environment, that uses only widely-supported hardware instructions, is general-purpose, is immune to deadlock even with the possibility of crash failures, is immune to deadlock regardless of the thread scheduling decisions of the programming environment, can support an arbitrary dynamic number of threads, is not restricted to supporting a limited size of dynamic memory and does not need to initialize the contents of significant parts of the address space.

Method for completely lock-free user-level dynamic memory allocation

International Business Machines Corporation


An image formation unit according to an embodiment may include: an image carrier unit in which an image carrier is supported; a developer carrier unit in which a developer carrier is supported; a first bias member provided at one end side in a longitudinal direction of the image formation unit and configured to bias the developer carrier unit toward the image carrier unit; a second bias member provided at the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the image formation unit and configured to bias the developer carrier unit toward the image carrier unit. A first bias direction of biasing the developer carrier unit toward the image carrier unit by the first bias member and a second bias direction of biasing the developer carrier unit toward the image carrier unit by the second bias member are not parallel to each other.

The disclosure may relate to an image formation unit and an image formation apparatus.
An electrophotographic image formation apparatus is provided with an image formation unit. The image formation unit includes an image carrier configured to carry a latent image on a surface thereof and a developer carrier configured to carry a developer on a surface thereof. The image formation unit presses the developer carrier against the image carrier to cause the developer carried on the developer carrier to adhere to and develop a latent image carried on the image carrier, thereby forming a developer image on the surface of the image carrier.
In a related art, there is an image formation unit that includes an image carrier unit that holds an image carrier and a developer carrier unit that holds a developer carrier, separately. In this image formation unit, the image carrier unit rotatably supports one end and the other end of the developer carrier unit in a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier unit. Further, the image formation unit is provided with bias members at the one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction in such a manner that the bias members are parallel to each other along a guide, so that the bias members bias the developer carrier unit toward the image carrier unit.
Thus, the image formation unit presses the developer carrier unit against the image carrier unit by means of the mutually-paralleled bias members respectively provided at the one end side and the other end side of the longitudinal direction, so that the developer carrier of the developer carrier unit is pressed against the image carrier of the image carrier unit (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-10254

Image formation unit and image formation apparatus


An optical beam splitter which splits a single light into a plurality of split beams including a plurality of transparent plates of uniform thickness arranged in a stack with fully reflective films coated on the transparent plates at both ends of the stack and semi-reflective films coated on the remaining transparent plates in the stack. The reflectivities of the individual semi-reflective films gradually increase from one end to the other in the stack and a beam entering the stack is first entirely reflected by the back-end fully reflective film, then passes through the semi-reflective films while being reflected partially by the semi-reflective films, and then finally entirely reflected by the front-end fully reflective film so that a single beam is split into a plurality of parallel split beams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam splitter used in recording halftone plate duplicate images.
2. Prior Art
There exists an optical beam splitter which is used in recording halftone plate duplicate images on a recording material by controlling a light-exposure device in accordance with image signals obtained by photoelectric manipulation of an original image so that a plurality of beams are independently modulated by the image signals.
In the conventional method, a multiple number of light beams, which are lined up in a row, are independently modulated by image signals so that they are relatively scanned on the surface of recording materials. In most cases, the multiple number of light beams are obtained by reflecting a single light beam, which comes from an argon laser, on a plurality of fully reflective and semi-reflective mirrors so that the beam is split by these mirrors. The light beams thus obtained are independently modulated by a modulator, reduced in diameter by a crystal optical system and then directed onto the surface of the recording material.
It is also a prior art practice for a single light beam to be split into a multiple number of light beams lined up in a row by repeating internal reflections of the light beam using a single optical beam splitter. This method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 52-122135 and 58-10713. In this art, one surface of a single glass plate is coated with a fully reflective film, while the other surface of the glass plate is coated in different regions with semi-reflective films having different reflectivities.
These semi-reflective film coatings are described in greater detail as follows:
When a single light beam is to be split into ten (10) light beams, for example, the first region is coated with a semi-reflective film having a reflectivity of 9/10 (i.e., a transmissibility of 1/10); the next region is coated with a semi-reflective film having a reflectivity of 8/9 (i.e., a transmissibility of 1/9). The next region is coated with a semi-reflective film having a reflectivity of 7/8 (i.e., a transmissibility of 1/8), and the successive regions are coated with semi-reflective films having reflectivities gradually decreasing in a numerical series so that the last region is coated with a semi-reflective film having a reflectivity of 1/2 (i.e., a transmissibility of 1/2).
The techniques in which a single laser beam generated by an argon laser is split into a multiple number of laser beams via mirrors and optical fibers as described above requires a large amount of space for installation of the apparatus. Also, adjustment of the mirrors and optical fibers requires a high degree of skill and considerable time and is therefore very inconvenient.
The above-mentioned spatial drawbacks are eliminated by the optical beam splitters described in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. 58-10713 and 52-122135. In these optical beam splitters, however, in order for a single light beam to be split into ten (10) light beams, semi-reflective coatings having different reflectivities as described above must be coated in nine extremely narrow regions, i.e. regions with a width of 2 mm or less. Flaw in the coating work, even to one region, is not permissible, and therefore, this coating process is extremely difficult.
The optical beam splitter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-122135 is advantageous in that there is no need to increase the size of the crystal optical system even if the single beam is split into a large number of beams. However, since the split light beams are not parallel, the modulation efficiency of the modulator drops, and light leakage may occur. Furthermore, the formation of the acoustic electrodes of the modulator is very difficult. It is also difficult to maintain the thickness and angular position of the two surfaces of this optical beam splitter at prescribed values with an ultrahigh degree of precision. Thus, the manufacture of this optical beam splitter involves great difficulty. If the thickness and angular positions of the two surfaces of the optical beam splitter differ even slightly from the predetermined values, the focal distances of the various light beams become greatly different. Thus, the spacing between the optical beam splitter and modulator, as well as the spacing between the modulator and crystal optical system, will be unavoidably different in each individual apparatus.


A butt pad apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the butt pad apparatus includes a plate and a recoil pad attachable to the plate such that a chamber is defined therebetween. The recoil pad with plate attached thereto may be adapted for attachment to a butt of a stock. In various aspects, the butt pad apparatus includes an insert removably receivable within the chamber, and the insert may be formed of an elastomeric material. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Various firearms including rifles, shotguns, and carbines recoil when discharged. When the firearm is employed, a stock of the firearm is placed against the shoulder, so that the recoil resulting from discharge of the firearm may drive the butt of the firearm's stock into the user's body thereby causing discomfort to the user. This discomfort may include impact upon the user's body, jarring, bruising, or other trauma. Even without injury, some shooters may anticipate the discomfort and "flinch" in anticipation of the shot, thereby impairing accuracy. The discomfort caused by recoil may be increased by rapid discharge of the firearm such as that of a semi-automatic. A large number of discharges such as a user may experience when engaged in target practice or in a shooting sport such as trap shooting may increase the discomfort to the user caused by recoil. Larger caliber or gauge firearms may also increase the discomfort to the user due to recoil.
Existing systems to reduce recoil use flexible materials to absorb recoil energy. Soft elastomeric materials generate more comfort, but are less durable, and are also "sticky" in that they overly grip the user's clothing. Firmer materials are less comfortable, but more durable, and enable the shooter to shift position of the pad on the shoulder more easily without "sticking."
The optimum level of recoil protection depends on several factors, including user stature and preference, rifle type, ammunition caliber, and clothing. Intended usage is also a factor. In bird hunting, many shots are taken, suggesting more comfortable recoil protection, while with deer hunting, few shots are taken, suggesting less recoil protection is needed. Even if a pad is available with optimal qualities for a given application, the owner may need a different pad for other uses.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus that reduces the discomfort to the user resulting from recoil of a firearm, while addressing the diverse needs for recoil protection.


The present disclosure provides for a sensor assembly for use in a wellbore. The sensor assembly may include a rotating sub, the rotating sub coupled to a drill string and a drive shaft, the drive shaft coupled to the rotating sub. The sensor assembly may also include a nonrotating sub where the nonrotating sub is positioned generally around the drive shaft and shaft and rotatably coupled to the drive shaft and the rotating sub. The nonrotating sub may include an outer cover. The outer cover is generally tubular. The nonrotating sub may further include a sensor collar. The sensor collar is positioned within and coupled to the outer cover. The sensor collar may be coupled to the outer cover by a drive assembly. The drive assembly may include a motor adapted to rotate the sensor collar relative to the outer cover. The nonrotating sub also includes at least one positioning sensor coupled to the sensor collar.

During the process of drilling a wellbore, information about the area surrounding the wellbore may be measured and logged to allow a driller to better understand the underground formation proximate the wellbore. In addition during drilling the wellbore, information regarding the location of structures including, for example and without limitation, wellbore casings or other metallic anomalies, commonly known as "fish," may also be measured and logged. The driller may use this information to locate known features in the Earth, identify material properties surrounding the wellbore, and avoid intersecting existing wells.
During certain drilling activities, a rotary steerable system (RSS) may be included as part of the bottom hole assembly (BHA) of a drill string. The RSS may be utilized to steer the drill bit as the wellbore is formed. Because of the length of the drill string, the continuous rotation of the drill string, and difficulty in obtaining reliable sensor readings in certain downhole conditions, the ability to orient the RSS with respect to the Earth may be used to ensure that the wellbore is progressing as desired. Additionally, by looking for known formations or other downhole features including fish, accurate orientation of the RSS may be achieved.

Method and apparatus for orienting a downhole tool


A system and method are provided for managing a concurrent streaming of a first media stream (031) and a second media stream (032). The media streams (031, 032) represent different recordings of an event. The concurrent streaming of the media streams (031, 032) is enabled by a resource having a resource limitation (080). To address this resource limitation, when it is determined that the resource limitation is exceeded by the concurrent streaming of the first media stream (031) streaming to a first streaming client (041) and the second media stream (032) streaming to a second streaming client (042), the first media stream (031) is selected for substituting the second media stream (032) in the streaming to the second streaming client (042). As a result of the substitution, the first and the second streaming client (041, 042) stream the same media stream rather than different media streams. This may have as advantage that the allocation of the resource is reduced, since the streaming of a same media stream to different streaming clients (041, 042) typically represents a lower resource allocation than the streaming of different media streams to different streaming clients.

Recording devices such as digital cameras and mobile phones are ubiquitous nowadays. Accordingly, an event, such as a show, concert, game, etc., may be simultaneously recorded by multiple recording devices, thereby obtaining multiple recordings of the same event. Such multiple recordings may differ in various ways. For example, the recordings may show the event from different viewing positions. Another example is that the type of recording may differ, being, e.g., a video recording, a stereoscopic video recording, an audio recording, etc. The recordings may also differ in quality. For example, the recordings may differ in content quality, e.g., by having a (un)restricted viewing angle or (un)suitable distance to the event. The recordings may also differ in recording quality, e.g., by originating from recording devices with different technical capabilities, being encoded with different bitrates, etc.
The different recordings of the event may be made available by means of streaming. In such a case, the different recordings may be represented by a plurality of media streams, with the plurality of media streams being accessible from a respective plurality of streaming sources. Examples of media streams include video streams such as camera-recorded streams, audio streams such as microphone-recorded streams, and multimedia streams comprising different types of media streams. For example, when using a streaming client having access to the plurality of media streams, a consumer may manually select a media stream, e.g., to switch camera view.
A number of media streams of the event may be streamed concurrently. For example, a first media stream may be streamed to a first streaming client, or to a first group of streaming clients, and a second media stream may be concurrently streamed to a second streaming client, or to a second group of streaming client. Here, the term 'concurrent streaming' refers to the streaming overlapping or coinciding in time.
The concurrent streaming may be enabled by a resource having a resource limitation. For example, multiple media streams may pass through a network link which is bandwidth-limited. Disadvantageously, the resource limitation may affect the concurrent streaming in that it may cause a degradation in streaming quality. For example, the streaming of one or more of the media streams may be interrupted, or may not start at all. Another example is that, in case a media stream is encoded using scalable video coding, the streaming of the media stream may revert to a lowest bitrate.
A specific example which serves to illustrate the above may be a large live event, such as a major sports game or a music festival. Visitors of such an event may use their mobile devices to record the event from their viewpoint, and may wish to share their experience with their friends and family, or with the public at large. Conversely, users away from the event may wish to view their friend's recordings of the event, thereby sharing their experiences. However, it may be challenging to provide the visitors of such an event with good connectivity for their mobile devices, since cellular networks and local WiFi networks may become overloaded. As such, it may not be possible to concurrently stream all media streams being recorded at the event.

Managing concurrent streaming of media streams

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