Abstract: A method for generating a sequence of an antimicrobial peptide is provided to solve the problem that conventional methods lack transparency and are therefore difficult to understand and adjust. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sets of antimicrobial peptide information from a database; calculating a corresponding isoelectric point and a helical structure ratio based on each set of the antimicrobial peptide information; statistically analyzing all of the isoelectric points and the helical structure ratios to establish a fitness function; optimizing an amino acid sequence based on the fitness function to generate a candidate sequence; and evaluating antimicrobial potential of the candidate sequence through an antimicrobial peptide index. An antimicrobial peptide having the amino acid sequence generated by the method is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a mesh network of beverage robots with one or more core vending locations are disclosed herein. For example, the method can include receiving an order for a beverage to be prepared by one or more beverage robots in a first vending location, wherein the beverage is associated with a recipe that is specific to a second vending location. Once received, the method can include retrieving the recipe for the beverage to allow the beverage robot(s) to prepare the beverage according to customer expectations at the second vending location and scheduling the beverage to be prepared by one of the beverage robot(s) in the first vending location. In some embodiments, the method includes scheduling the beverage to be prepared close to a planned and/or estimated pick-up time for the order.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation in portions. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically in portions.

Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit includes a first bootstrap capacitor, a second bootstrap capacitor, a storage capacitor, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a fifth transistor. The first bootstrap capacitor and first transistor are coupled to a first node. The second bootstrap capacitor is coupled to the first node and a second node. The storage capacitor is coupled to the second node. The second transistor is coupled to the first bootstrap capacitor. The third transistor is coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the first bootstrap capacitor. The fourth transistor is coupled to the second node and the storage capacitor. The fifth transistor is coupled to the first transistor, a first terminal of the third transistor, and the second node.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first casing including a first closed slot, a second casing assembled with the first casing and including a second closed slot, and an antenna module including a substrate and an antenna structure. The substrate is disposed in the first casing and covers the first closed slot, and an orthographic projection of the first closed slot on the substrate at least partially overlaps an orthographic projection of the second closed slot on the substrate. The substrate has opposing first and second surfaces, with the first and second surfaces facing the first and second closed slots. The antenna structure is disposed on the second surface, and an orthographic projection of the antenna structure on the substrate at least partially overlaps the orthographic projection of the first closed slot on the substrate. The antenna structure is configured to be excited to generate a first high frequency resonance mode.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation in portions. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically in portions. Different portions of the beverage may include different target ingredients.

Abstract: Beverage platforms for brands and vendors, and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for operating a network of production robots includes receiving, from a recipe generator, a preparation recipe associated with a beverage from the recipe generator, generating robot operating procedures based on the received preparation recipe, identifying one or more beverage-generating locations available to prepare the beverage based on ingredients available at individual beverage robots at each of the one or more beverage-generating locations, receiving, from the recipe generator, a selection of a beverage-generating location, and communicating the generated robot operating procedures to at least one beverage robot at the selected beverage-generating location to allow the at least one beverage robot to prepare the beverage according to the preparation recipe.

Abstract: Provided herein are kits and methods for determining a thalassemia genotype of a subject. The present kit includes at least primers that target ?2, ??1, ??2, ??1, ?2, ?1 and ?1 genes in ?-globin gene cluster, and primers that target variations in ?2-globin gene and ?-globin gene. Also encompasses herein is a method for determining a thalassemia genotype of a subject, in which gene copy number of each target sites in ?2, ??1, ??2, ??1, ?2, ?1 and ?1 genes in ?-globin gene cluster are determined by use of the present kit, and compared with those of normal or known thalassemia subject to arrive at the thalassemia genotype of the subject.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for blending beverage ingredients together with ice, such as producing a smoothie or other iced blended beverage, are disclosed. For example, the disclosed technology provides a system for blending liquid and ice within a blender cup chamber. The blender cup includes a lid integrated with a funnel for directing ingredients into the chamber, and a lid base with indentations around the edge of the base for pouring blended beverage from the blender cup into, for example, one or more serving cups. A blending component is integrated with the chamber for blending ice and beverage ingredients in the chamber. The system includes a processor and memory, which executes instructions for beverage ingredient dispensing, blending, and cleaning operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a mesh network of beverage robots with one or more core vending locations are disclosed herein. For example, the method can include receiving an order for a beverage to be prepared by one or more beverage robots in a first vending location, wherein the beverage is associated with a recipe that is specific to a second vending location. Once received, the method can include retrieving the recipe for the beverage to allow the beverage robot(s) to prepare the beverage according to customer expectations at the second vending location and scheduling the beverage to be prepared by one of the beverage robot(s) in the first vending location. In some embodiments, the method includes scheduling the beverage to be prepared close to a planned and/or estimated pick-up time for the order.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation in portions. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically in portions. Different portions of the beverage may include different target ingredients.

Abstract: Beverage systems, devices, and methods with cleaning features. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving an instruction for a cleaning process; and causing the cleaning process to be performed. In some embodiments, the beverage system may further include a cleaning solution feeder configured to discharge one or more cleaning solutions for cleaning at least a portion of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve mechanism and an operating method of the same configured for optionally sealing or opening a first opening port on a cavity. The valve mechanism comprises a displacement element, a carrier plate, a sealing disc and a guide element. The displacement element drives the sealing disc to reciprocate via the carrier plate, and the guide element correspondingly guides an orientation of a sealing surface of the sealing disc according to an orientation of a sealing surface of the first opening port on the cavity when the sealing disc reciprocates, so that the sealing surface of the sealing disc is parallel to the sealing surface of the first opening port on the cavity, thereby symmetrically applying force to seal the first opening port on the cavity.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation in portions. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically in portions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a mixer configured to mix the fluid and the one or more ingredients in the mixing chamber; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for decorating cups are described herein. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cup decoration system including an ingredient container and a cup decorating device. The cup decoration device can include a nozzle, a pump, a motor, and a controller. The nozzle can be coupled to receive ingredients, include an outlet, and be configured to be positioned adjacent to or partially inside a cup to be decorated. The pump can be coupled to drive the ingredients through the outlet of the nozzle. The motor can be coupled to rotate the nozzle relative to the cup. The controller can be operably coupled to the pump and the motor, and be configured to operate the pump and the motor such that the nozzle dispenses the ingredients onto an inner surface of the cup via the outlet to create a layer having a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: Ingredient blending devices and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an ingredient blending device includes a cup holder assembly, a straw displacement assembly, a gas pumping assembly, and a controller. The controller can be configured to (i) operate the straw displacement assembly to position a straw such that a proximal end of the straw is adjacent the gas pumping assembly and a distal end of the straw is at least partially inside a cup, (ii) operate the cup holder assembly to move the cup relative to the straw, (iii) operate the gas pumping assembly to pump the gas into the proximal end of the straw such that the gas exits at the distal end of the straw and into ingredients in the cup, thereby blending the ingredients, and (iv) operate the straw displacement assembly to dispense the straw into the cup.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for predicting a progression trajectory from acute kidney injury (AKI) to a kidney disease. The method includes the following steps: receiving a first set of features of a particular acute kidney injury (AKI) patient; selecting a second set of features from the first set of features using a preset algorithm; and predicting, using a first machine-learning model, a progression trajectory of a kidney disease of the particular AKI patient based on the second set of features.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a water-cooling plate having a first heat exchanging plate, a second heat exchanging plate and a main body. The first heat exchanging plate has a first fin structure. The second heat exchanging plate has a second fin structure. The main body has a partition plate, a first communication port and a second communication port, the main body has a first recess and a second recess, disposed at two sides of the partition plate. The partition plate has a communication opening communicated to the first recess and the second recess. The first fin structure is accommodated in the first recess to define a first channel, and the second fin structure is accommodated in the second recess to define a second channel. The first communication port, the first channel, the communication opening, the second channel, the second communication port are connected with each other sequentially.

Abstract: An impedance adjusting circuit and an impedance adjusting method for zero quotient (ZQ) calibration. The impedance adjusting circuit includes a reference resistor, a first pull-up impedance generator and a second pull-up impedance generator. The reference resistor is coupled between a first sensing node and a low reference voltage. In a first ZQ calibrating operation, the impedance adjusting circuit connects the first pull-up impedance generator to the first sensing node, and compares a first reference voltage and a sensing voltage on the first sensing node to generate the first calibration signal. In a second ZQ calibrating operation, the impedance adjusting circuit connects the second pull-up impedance generator to the first sensing node, and compares a second reference voltage and the sensing voltage to generate the second calibration signal.