Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck, such as at the rear portion. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step provides clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Further, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer program products for article retrieval are provided. An example article retrieval device includes a frame and a pair of loading arms movably attached to the frame that move between a retracted position and an extended position. The device includes an engagement structure movably attached to at least one of the pair of loading arms that moves between a stored position and a deployed position. The device further includes a sensing device coupled with the pair of loading arms and a computing device operably coupled with the pair of loading arms, the at least one engagement structure, and the sensing device. The computing device causes the pair of loading arms to extend from the retracted position to a position proximate a first article and deploys the at least one engagement structure based upon sensor data generated by the sensing device.

Abstract: A retractable step and side bar assembly that can be used for raised vehicles, such as trucks. The retractable step can be configured to provide for significant reach in a deployed position to allow for a user to enter the raised vehicle. Further, in the stowed position the retractable step can be located within the side bar, thereby providing a low profile as well as an enhanced aesthetic appearance.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses and methods for multi-cast, multiple unicast, and unicast distribution of messages with time synchronized delivery are described. In some embodiments, the disclosed system and methods include a reference timekeeper providing a reference clock to one or more host computing devices. The one or more host computing devices host compute instances, and also contain respective isolated timing hardware outside the control of the compute instances. The isolated timing hardware of the one or more host computing devices then receive respective packets, and obtain the same time to deliver the respective packets. Each isolated timing hardware provides either the packet, or information to access the packet, to its respective destination compute instance subsequent to determining that the same specified time to deliver the packet has occurred. Thus, the respective packets are delivered near simultaneously to the one or more destination compute instances.

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. The SOD1 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of an SOD1 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more SOD1 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described SOD1 RNAi agents to central nervous system (CNS) tissue, in vivo, provides for inhibition of SOD1 gene expression and a reduction in SOD1 activity, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, for the treatment of various diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for automatic extrudate loading and alignment. An extrudate handling system includes a head end assembly and an imaging device (which may be part of the head end assembly). The imaging device is configured to image an end face of an extrudate, and generate, during translation of the extrudate, an imaging output signal indicative of a rotational position of the end face of the extrudate. The head end assembly includes a rotational effector to rotate the extrudate during translation thereof and a fixed effector rotationally fixed relative to a track. The extrudate handling system is able to determine the rotational position of the web angle of the extrudate and precisely adjust the rotational position while linearly translating the extrudate along the track. The extrudate handling system provides greater accuracy, reduced costs, and improved results.

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. The SOD1 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of an SOD1 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more SOD1 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described SOD1 RNAi agents to central nervous system (CNS) tissue, in vivo, provides for inhibition of SOD1 gene expression and a reduction in SOD1 activity, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, for the treatment of various diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.

Abstract: A peripheral device may implement storage virtualization for non-volatile storage devices connected to the peripheral device. A host system connected to the peripheral device may host one or multiple virtual machines. The peripheral device may implement different virtual interfaces for the virtual machines or the host system that present a storage partition at a non-volatile storage device to the virtual machine or host system for storage. Access requests from the virtual machines or host system are directed to the respective virtual interface at the peripheral device. The peripheral device may perform data encryption or decryption, or may perform throttling of access requests. The peripheral device may generate and send physical access requests to perform the access requests received via the virtual interfaces to the non-volatile storage devices. Completion of the access requests may be indicated to the virtual machines via the virtual interfaces.

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene. The DUX4 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of a DUX4 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more DUX4 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described DUX4 RNAi agents to skeletal muscle cells in vivo, provides for inhibition of DUX4 gene expression and a reduction in DUX4 levels, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, suffering from certain skeletal muscle-related diseases or disorders including Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSID).

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene. The DUX4 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of a DUX4 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more DUX4 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described DUX4 RNAi agents to skeletal muscle cells in vivo, provides for inhibition of DUX4 gene expression and a reduction in DUX4 levels, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, suffering from certain skeletal muscle-related diseases or disorders including Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing latency to service requests to execute code on an on-demand code execution system by maintaining snapshots of virtual machine instances in a ready state to execute such code. A user may submit code to the on-demand code execution system, which code depends on other software, such as an operating system or runtime. The on-demand code execution system can generate a virtual machine instance provisioned with the other software, and initialize the instance into a state at which it is ready to execute the code. The on-demand code execution system can then generate a snapshot of the state of the instance, and halt the instance. When a request to execute the code is received, the snapshot can be used to quickly restore the instance. The code can then be executed within the instance, reducing the need to initialize the instance or maintain the instance in an executing state.

Abstract: A merchant can use an e-commerce platform to sell products to customers, and customers can use the e-commerce platform to return items that they are unsatisfied with back to the merchant. These product returns have an associated cost. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to computer-implemented systems and methods to enable customer-to-customer product returns in an e-commerce platform. In a customer-to-customer return, a first customer that wants to return an item of a particular product is connected with a second customer that wants to purchase that product. The e-commerce platform then facilitates a shipment of the item from the first customer directly to the second customer. Embodiments of the present disclosure include online store implementations of customer-to-customer returns, online marketplace implementations of customer-to-customer returns, and customer-to-customer returns implemented using orders for returned items.

Abstract: A tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle can include a plurality of cross-members, a first upright, a second upright, and only one additional upright. Each of the cross-members can be vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the cross-members and can include a first beam, a second beam, and a central beam having a first end and a second end, the central beam positioned at least partially between the first and second beams. The first upright can secure the first beam of each of the cross-members to a first sidewall of the vehicle and the second upright can secure the second beam of each of the cross-members to a second sidewall of the vehicle. The additional upright can be positioned along the central beam of each of the cross-members between the first and second ends of the central beam.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses and methods for multi-cast, multiple unicast, and unicast distribution of messages with time synchronized delivery are described. In some embodiments, the disclosed system and methods include a reference timekeeper providing a reference clock to one or more host computing devices. The one or more host computing devices host compute instances, and also contain respective isolated timing hardware outside the control of the compute instances. The isolated timing hardware of the one or more host computing devices then receive respective packets, and obtain the same time to deliver the respective packets. Each isolated timing hardware provides either the packet, or information to access the packet, to its respective destination compute instance subsequent to determining that the same specified time to deliver the packet has occurred. Thus, the respective packets are delivered near simultaneously to the one or more destination compute instances.

Abstract: A merchant can use an e-commerce platform to sell products to customers, and customers can use the e-commerce platform to return items that they are unsatisfied with back to the merchant. These product returns have an associated cost. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to computer-implemented systems and methods to enable customer-to-customer product returns in an e-commerce platform. In a customer-to-customer return, a first customer that wants to return an item of a particular product is connected with a second customer that wants to purchase that product. The e-commerce platform then facilitates a shipment of the item from the first customer directly to the second customer. Embodiments of the present disclosure include online store implementations of customer-to-customer returns, and online marketplace implementations of customer-to-customer returns.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses and methods for trusted and/or attested packet timestamping are described. In some embodiments, the disclosed system and methods include a reference timekeeper providing a reference clock to host computing devices. The host computing devices host compute instances using a first set of computing resources, and also contain isolated timing hardware utilizing a different set of computing resources. The isolated timing hardware sets a hardware clock based on a signal corresponding to the reference clock from the reference timekeeper. The isolated timing hardware then receives a packet from a particular compute instance, creates a timestamp for the packet based at least in part on the hardware clock, where the timestamp is outside the control of the compute instances, and sends the packet and the timestamp through a data network to transmit to a packet destination.

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene. The DUX4 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of a DUX4 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more DUX4 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described DUX4 RNAi agents to skeletal muscle cells in vivo, provides for inhibition of DUX4 gene expression and a reduction in DUX4 levels, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, suffering from certain skeletal muscle-related diseases or disorders including Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD).

Abstract: Described are RNAi agents, compositions that include RNAi agents, and methods for inhibition of a matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7) gene. The MMP7 RNAi agents and RNAi agent conjugates disclosed herein inhibit the expression of an MMP7 gene. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more MMP7 RNAi agents, optionally with one or more additional therapeutics, are also described. Delivery of the described MMP7 RNAi agents to pulmonary cells, in vivo, provides for inhibition of MMP7 gene expression, which can provide a therapeutic benefit to subjects, including human subjects, for the treatment of various diseases including pulmonary inflammation diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Abstract: A peripheral device includes one or more processors and a memory storing program instructions that when executed implement an extension manager of a virtualized computing service. The extension manager establishes a secure network channel for communications between the peripheral device, which is located at a premise external to a provider network, and a data center of the provider network. The extension manager assigns a network address of the substrate network of the service to a hardware server at the external premise. The substrate address is also assigned to an extension traffic intermediary at the data center. In response to a command directed to the virtualized computing service, one or more compute instance configuration operations are performed at the hardware server.

Abstract: A tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle can include a plurality of cross-members, a first upright, a second upright, and only one additional upright. Each of the cross-members can be vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the cross-members and can include a first beam, a second beam, and a central beam having a first end and a second end, the central beam positioned at least partially between the first and second beams. The first upright can secure the first beam of each of the cross-members to a first sidewall of the vehicle and the second upright can secure the second beam of each of the cross-members to a second sidewall of the vehicle. The additional upright can be positioned along the central beam of each of the cross-members between the first and second ends of the central beam.