Genetic Effects of Polymorphisms in Myogenic Regulatory Factors on Chicken Muscle Fiber Traits

Zhiqin Yang,Ying Qing,Qing Zhu,Xiao-Ling Zhao,Yan Wang,Diyan Li,Yi-Ping Liu,Huadong Yin 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

The myogenic regulatory factors is a family of transcription factors that play a key role in the development of skeletal muscle fibers, which are the main factors to affect the meat taste and texture. In the present study, we performed candidate gene analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the MyoD, Myf5, MyoG, and Mrf4 genes using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism in 360 Erlang Mountain Chickens from three different housing systems (cage, pen, and free-range). The general linear model procedure was used to estimate the statistical significance of association between combined genotypes and muscle fiber traits of chickens. Two polymorphisms (g.39928301T>G and g.11579368C>T) were detected in the Mrf4 and MyoD gene, respectively. The diameters of thigh and pectoralis muscle fibers were higher in birds with the combined genotypes of GG-TT and TT-CT (p<0.05). Moreover, the interaction between housing system and combined genotypes has no significant effect on the traits of muscle fiber (p>0.05). Our findings suggest that the combined genotypes of TT-CT and GG-TT might be advantageous for muscle fiber traits, and could be the potential genetic markers for breeding program in Erlang Mountain Chickens.

Design and analysis of cleaning mechanism for an intermittent screw-driven pipeline robot

Zhiqin Cai,Chao Lin,Dehong Huo,Caichao Zhu 대한기계학회 2017 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.31 No.2

For achieving the compact size and large traction force of cleaning robots, this paper presents an intermittent-cleaning robot based on the screw-driven mechanism. The robot has two working modes: Linear reciprocating cleaning (LRC) mode and Spiral reciprocating cleaning (SRC) mode. The working principle, kinematic analysis, traction and driving force calculations for both working modes, were obtained and compared. Furthermore, in order to ensure the working stability, the failure mode analysis was performed. Simulation and experiments were conducted to verify the proposed robotic mechanism. The results show that the proposed intermittent-cleaning robots can effectively complete the cleaning work of the pipeline.

A Novel Nonlinear Link Element for Direct Second-Order Analysis of Trusses Assembled by Weak Shear Stiffness Members

Ruijie Zhu,Feng Li,Zhiqin Zhao,Xingzhong Wang 대한토목학회 2020 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.24 No.11

The transverse shear effect and initial imperfection have significant influence on the post-buckling performance of weak shear stiffness struts such as pultruded fiber reinforced polyester (FRP) members and lattice column. A novel nonlinear link (NNL) element was proposed to perform direct second-order analysis of trusses assembled by such members. Adopting the Engesser approach to account for shear deformability, the expressions of transverse deflection under tensile and compressive load were obtained respectively. Taking the linear tension-compression deformation and bowing effect into account, the correction coefficients of axial stiffness for FRP truss member under tension and compression were obtained. Combined with ANSYS UPFs -user programmable features, the user-defined NNL element was established. Both pultruded FRP profiles and lattice column were modeled separately by standard commercial elements and the proposed NNL element. The comparison of the obtained results verified the convenience of the NNL element in modeling and computing. Moreover, the NNL element was adopted to model and calculate two FRP plane truss structures, and the calculation result was compared with test result. It demonstrated that the NNL element can accurately predict structural stiffness change and change points during successive buckling of certain truss members, showing the promising usage of NNL element in structural design of other FRP truss structures.

Polymorphisms in the Perilipin Gene May Affect Carcass Traits of Chinese Meat-type Chickens

Zhang, Lu,Zhu, Qing,Liu, Yiping,Gilbert, Elizabeth R.,Li, Diyan,Yin, Huadong,Wang, Yan,Yang, Zhiqin,Wang, Zhen,Yuan, Yuncong,Zhao, Xiaoling Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

Improved meat quality and greater muscle yield are highly sought after in high-quality chicken breeding programs. Past studies indicated that polymorphisms of the Perilipin gene (PLIN1) are highly associated with adiposity in mammals and are potential molecular markers for improving meat quality and carcass traits in chickens. In the present study, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all exons of the PLIN1 gene with a direct sequencing method in six populations with different genetic backgrounds (total 240 individuals). We evaluated the association between the polymorphisms and carcass and meat quality traits. We identified three SNPs, located on the 5' flanking region and exon 1 of PLIN1 on chromosome 10 (rs315831750, rs313726543, and rs80724063, respectively). Eight main haplotypes were constructed based on these SNPs. We calculated the allelic and genotypic frequencies, and genetic diversity parameters of the three SNPs. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.2768 to 0.3750, which reflected an intermediate genetic diversity for all chickens. The CC, CT, and TT genotypes influenced the percentage of breast muscle (PBM), percentage of leg muscle (PLM) and percentage of abdominal fat at rs315831750 (p<0.05). Diplotypes (haplotype pairs) affected the percentage of eviscerated weight (PEW) and PBM (p<0.05). Compared with chickens carrying other diplotypes, H3H7 had the greatest PEW and H2H2 had the greatest PBM, and those with diplotype H7H7 had the smallest PEW and PBM. We conclude that PLIN1 gene polymorphisms may affect broiler carcass and breast muscle yields, and diplotypes H3H7 and H2H2 could be positive molecular markers to enhance PEW and PBM in chickens.

Polymorphisms in the Perilipin Gene May Affect Carcass Traits of Chinese Meat-type Chickens

Lu Zhang,Qing Zhu,Yiping Liu,Elizabeth R. Gilbert,Diyan Li,Huadong Yin,Yan Wang,Zhiqin Yang,Zhen Wang,Yuncong Yuan,Xiao-Ling Zhao 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

Improved meat quality and greater muscle yield are highly sought after in high-quality chicken breeding programs. Past studies indicated that polymorphisms of the Perilipin gene (PLIN1) are highly associated with adiposity in mammals and are potential molecular markers for improving meat quality and carcass traits in chickens. In the present study, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all exons of the PLIN1 gene with a direct sequencing method in six populations with different genetic backgrounds (total 240 individuals). We evaluated the association between the polymorphisms and carcass and meat quality traits. We identified three SNPs, located on the 5′ flanking region and exon 1 of PLIN1 on chromosome 10 (rs315831750, rs313726543, and rs80724063, respectively). Eight main haplotypes were constructed based on these SNPs. We calculated the allelic and genotypic frequencies, and genetic diversity parameters of the three SNPs. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.2768 to 0.3750, which reflected an intermediate genetic diversity for all chickens. The CC, CT, and TT genotypes influenced the percentage of breast muscle (PBM), percentage of leg muscle (PLM) and percentage of abdominal fat at rs315831750 (p<0.05). Diplotypes (haplotype pairs) affected the percentage of eviscerated weight (PEW) and PBM (p<0.05). Compared with chickens carrying other diplotypes, H3H7 had the greatest PEW and H2H2 had the greatest PBM, and those with diplotype H7H7 had the smallest PEW and PBM. We conclude that PLIN1 gene polymorphisms may affect broiler carcass and breast muscle yields, and diplotypes H3H7 and H2H2 could be positive molecular markers to enhance PEW and PBM in chickens.

An Improved Consistent Subspace Identification Method Using Parity Space for State-space Models

Jie Hou,Fengwei Chen,Penghua Li,Zhiqin Zhu,Fei Liu 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2019 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.17 No.5

In this paper, an alternative consistent subspace identification method using parity space is proposed. The future/past input data and the past output data are used to construct the instrument variable to eliminate thenoise effect on consistent estimation. The extended observability matrix and the triangular block-Toeplitz matrixare then retrieved from a parity space of the noise-free matrix using a singular value decomposition based method. The system matrices are finally estimated from the above estimated matrices. The consistency of the proposedmethod for estimation of the extended observability matrix and the triangular block-Toeplitz matrix is established. Compared with the classical SIMs using parity space like SIMPCA and SIMPCA-Wc, the proposed method generallyenhances the estimated model efficiency/accuracy thanks to the use of future input data. Two examples arepresented to illustrate the effectiveness and merit of the proposed method.

Static performance of a new GFRP–metal string truss bridge subjected to unsymmetrical loads

Dongdong Zhang,Jiaxin Yuan,Qilin Zhao,Feng Li,Yifeng Gao,Ruijie Zhu,Zhiqin Zhao 국제구조공학회 2020 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.35 No.5

A unique lightweight string truss deployable bridge assembled by thin-walled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and metal profiles was designed for emergency applications. As a new structure, investigations into the static structural performance under the serviceability limit state are desired for examining the structural integrity of the developed bridge when subjected to unsymmetrical loadings characterized by combined torsion and bending. In this study, a full-scale experimental inspection was conducted on a fabricated bridge, and the combined flexural–torsional behavior was examined in terms of displacement and strains. The experimental structure showed favorable strength and rigidity performances to function as deployable bridge under unsymmetrical loading conditions and should be designed in accordance with the stiffness criterion, the same as that under symmetrical loads. In addition, a finite element model (FEM) with a simple modeling process, which considered the multi segments of the FRP members and realistic nodal stiffness of the complex unique hybrid nodal joints, was constructed and compared against experiments, demonstrating good agreement. A FEM-based numerical analysis was thereafter performed to explore the effect of the change in elastic modulus of different FRP elements on the static deformation of the bridge. The results confirmed that the change in elastic modulus of different types of FRP element members caused remarkable differences on the bending and torsional stiffness of the hybrid bridge. The global stiffness of such a unique bridge can be significantly enhanced by redesigning the critical lower string pull bars using designable FRP profiles with high elastic modulus.