Abstract: A mobile lift column (200) is configured to automatically position itself with respect to a vehicle (112) to be lifted. A proximity and object sensor is used to identify a location of a vehicle and navigate obstructions while advancing to the vehicle. The column includes a set of automatically driven Mecanum wheels (222, 224) that can be variably controlled to provide precise movement in any direction without rotating the column. A camera (244) positioned on the column identifies a wheel of the vehicle, and an alignment beam is projected onto the wheel to verify centering on the wheel. Once positioned, the column may operate one of several lift members, including a pair of removable fork adapters (216, 218), to extend underneath the vehicle and contact the vehicle lifting points. With at least two columns properly positioned, each mobile column can simultaneously raise its lift member(s) to lift the vehicle to a desired height.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for creating and managing virtual appliances. A command to create a virtual machine image for a hosted instance of an application image is received. The virtual machine image is created in response to receiving the command. The virtual machine image can include an operating system; a container orchestration service configured to host the instance of the application image; and a configuration service. The configuration service can be configured to at least install a management agent in response to a first boot of the virtual machine and configure the management agent to download and install the application image.

Abstract: Provided are inhibitors of pathogenic, bacterial metabolite production and conjugates of the inhibitors. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the inhibitors or conjugates and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Provided are compounds that can inhibit pathogenic, bacterial metabolite production and conjugates of the same. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A lockable package delivery locker at a publicly accessible location facilitates secure delivery by a delivery user of a package for later pickup by a recipient user. While the package is inside the locker a disinfection system disinfects the package and potentially its contents. A plurality of disinfection systems may provide different types of disinfection, including UV, chemical, nanotechnology, based on the type of packaging material. An electronic message may facilitate positioning UV emitters or chemical dispersion nozzles relative to the package. A locking mechanism and the disinfection system(s) may be controllable remotely from a server to which a computer device of the locker is in communication with, locally via an application on a UE device, or manually via an interface of the locker. The delivery user may be an individual shipping the package or a delivery service personnel, with the recipient user typically being the other.

Abstract: Conventional vehicle lifts typically operate at a standard speed that is statically configured for the system, which may result in vehicles that are below the weight rating for the lift being raised at the standard speed while the lift motor is capable of safely raising at greater speeds. A set of lift controls may be configured to determine the load on the motor by a vehicle of an unknown weight during operation at a standard lift speed and use such information to determine a potential speed that the motor may raise the vehicle at while staying within safe operational levels for the motor. One or more of a magnitude of electrical power drawn, a pressure generated by a hydraulic lifting, or a sensed vehicle weight may be used to provide an indication of load on the motor and/or a higher potential speed.

Abstract: An assistance system uses cameras and sensors to identify a set of vehicle wheels within a lift area, then virtualizes the position and orientation of the vehicle relative to one or more lift posts. The system also determines a center of gravity for the vehicle and uses that center of gravity and other information associated with the vehicle to determine a position within the lift area at which the vehicle should be positioned. The system may also provide guidance to aid in positioning the vehicle at or near that position. Such guidance may be provided as one or more visual or audio indicators or via a software interface. The system may be integrated with lift arms allowing for automated rotation, extension, and elevation of lift adapters once the vehicle is positioned, and it may use distributed processing to locate relevant objects in captured images used in this calculation.

Abstract: A vehicle lift includes a base, a platform assembly, and an actuation member. The platform assembly includes a platform base, an adjustable bridge slidably coupled with the platform base, and a friction-reduction assembly that biases the adjustable bridge away from the platform base. The friction-reduction assembly may include a retractable flat surface, a ball, or other component made of a friction-reducing material, such as a plastic material, that recesses into the platform by way of compression springs, wave spring washers, Belleville washers, a rebounding material, or the like. A pair of lifts may be tied together by a brace at one end or both for additional structural support.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for creating and managing virtual appliances. A command to create a virtual machine image for a hosted instance of an application image is received. The virtual machine image is created in response to receiving the command. The virtual machine image can include an operating system; a container orchestration service configured to host the instance of the application image; and a configuration service. The configuration service can be configured to at least install a management agent in response to a first boot of the virtual machine and configure the management agent to download and install the application image.

Abstract: An automatic wheel changer robot has a includes a drive assembly, a torque gun, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The drive assembly has a mobile base and two wheel-clamping assemblies, each configured to engage a wheel. The controller generates a set of instructions based, at least in part, on information obtained from the sensor assembly. The drive assembly uses the set of instructions to cooperatively remove respective wheels from respective hubs on a vehicle and/or attach respective wheels to respective hubs on a vehicle. The device may have lidar sensors and Mecanum wheels that the controller is programmed to use to move between respective hubs and wheel storage locations install wheels, replace wheels, rotate tires, and perform similar operations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining whether a user of the mobile computing device is currently actively using an application on the mobile computing device; and if the user is not currently actively using an application on the mobile computing device, then automatically and without user input providing for display to the user on the mobile computing device a user interface (UI) including a number of interactive elements that each correspond to one of a number of social-networking functionalities provided at least in part by a social-networking system remote from the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A map image is displayed via a user interface. A user selection of a location marker or one of a set of textual driving directions is received via the user interface. In response to the received user selection, an interactive information window overlaid within the map image is generated. Generating the interactive information window includes providing additional information regarding a location related to the marker or to the one of the set of textual driving directions.

Abstract: This invention includes original systems and methodologies required to conduct perpetual online competitions within social networked marketplaces and economies. Among these systems and methodologies are: perpetual competition-based earnings model, Judges' ranking expiration and devaluation, Judges' ranking upvaluation, and perpetual competition-based business entities and exchanges. The first three inventions are intended to motivate and incentivize four groups of competition participants: Organizers, Contestants, Judges and Followers. The fourth invention provides entrepreneurs the systems and methods for creating a multifaceted business entity within the framework of an online social platform. All inventions function in tandem to form a dynamic and endlessly evolving competitive environment to maximize entertainment value and business development opportunities.

Abstract: A map image is displayed via a user interface. A user selection of a location marker or one of a set of textual driving directions is received via the user interface. In response to the received user selection, an interactive information window overlaid within the map image is generated. Generating the interactive information window includes providing additional information regarding a location related to the marker or to the one of the set of textual driving directions.

Abstract: A military communications unit that utilizes a relatively high-bandwidth digital communication networks (e.g., cellular networks) is capable of acting as a wireless communications hub for a soldier, vehicle, weapon, or other entity. The military communications unit can obtain data from multiple devices via close-range wireless technologies and communicate with training or operational networks. The military communications unit can be flexible in its capacity to relay data by formatting data in accordance with Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS), High-Level Architecture (HLA), and/or another distributed computer simulation standard. Moreover, the military communications unit may be further capable of “re-banding,” enabling communications using cellular protocols and/or standards in non-cellular frequency bands.

Abstract: Provided herein are molecular automaton systems for identification, isolation, or elimination of a target biological object. Some embodiments include modules specific for a target biological object having a first biological object surface marker and a second biological object surface marker. Some embodiments include modules specific for a target biological object having a first biological object surface marker but not a second biological object surface marker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aptamer-based assays to capture and/or detect analytes comprising primary and secondary aptamers, as well as compositions comprising such primary and secondary aptamers, wherein analytes comprise small molecules that offer limited mutually non-competitive epitopes to antibodies, that is, with limited ability to measure in non-competitive sandwich assays using primary and secondary antibodies or primary and secondary aptamers.

Abstract: A map image is displayed via a user interface. A user selection of a location marker or one of a set of textual driving directions is received via the user interface. In response to the received user selection, an interactive information window overlaid within the map image is generated. Generating the interactive information window includes providing additional information regarding a location related to the marker or to the one of the set of textual driving directions.