Mobility Analysis of Altmann Overconstrained Linkages by Modified Grübler-Kutzbach Criterion

Developing a general mobility method/formula is a hot topic lasting for more than 150 years in kinematics. It is necessary to apply any mobility method to puzzling overconstrained mechanisms for verification of its generality. Altmann linkages are such recognized puzzling mechanisms that their mobility analysis is of important significance. A necessary condition for judging a general mobility method is that the method can be fit for Altmann linkages. Firstly, this study classes Altmann linkages into 17 types in terms of the numbers and types of kinematic pairs, and then Altmann overconstrained linkages are further classified into 4 types. Secondly, the mobility of Altmann overconstrained linkages is systematically analyzed by the Modified Grübler-Kutzbach criterion based on screw theory, where passive freedoms are defined as limb passive freedoms and mechanism passive freedoms. In addition, the full-cycle mobility is judged, which overcomes the shortcoming of instantaneous property of screw theory. It is shown that Modified Grübler-Kutzbach criterion not only obtains the correct numerical mobility, but also gives the mobility character by resolving reciprocal screws for the constraint system. This study lays the foundation of verification for the generality of Modified Grübler-Kutzbach criterion. Besides, Altmann overconstrained linkages almost comprise all kinds of modern parallel mechanisms and some classical mechanisms, which provides an important reference for mechanism mobility calculation.

Molecular Genetic Diagnostics of Prader-Willi Syndrome:a Validation of Linkage Analysis for the Chinese Population

Prader-Willi Syndrome （PWS） is a genetic disorder that is difficult to detect, particularly at an early age. PWS is caused by disruption of normal, epigenetically controlled gene function in the chromosome 15q11-q13 region. Clinical symptoms are difficult to diagnose in infants and only become clearer at later ages as the patients develop hyperphagia and morbid obesity. Molecular genetic tests are able to definitively diagnose PWS and allow early diagnosis of the syndrome. High resolution cytogenetic testing, methylation-specific PCR （MS-PCR）, and linkage analysis are routinely used to diagnose PWS. To establish a linkage analysis method for Chinese patients, this study identified a useful set of STR markers in the typical PWS deletion and adjacent area, for linkage analysis in two Chinese families with PWS offspring. Using this method, the authors confn＇rned that one patient had a paternal deletion in chromosome 15q 11-q 13 and the other patient had maternal uniparental heterodisomy of chromosome 15. MS -PCR and high resolution chromosome G-banding also confirmed this diagnosis. This linkage analysis method can detect both deletion and uniparental disomy, thus providing valuable information for genetic counseling and the opportunity to analyze the relationship between the genotype and phenotype of PWS.

KINEMATICS ANALYSIS OF GUIDED CHAIN DRIVE MECHANISM WITH LINKAGES

A method of analyzing the motion of guided chain drive mechanism with linkages is presented. The method studies the output motion of a point on connecting rod including motion track, velocity and acceleration.

An approach to incorporate linkage disequilibrium structure into genomic association analysis

In this study, we propose to use the principal component analysis （PCA） and regression model to incorporate linkage disequilibrium （LD） in genomic association data analysis. To accommodate LD in genomic data and reduce multiple testing, we suggest performing PCA and extracting the PCA score to capture the variation of genomic data, after which regression analysis is used to assess the association of the disease with the principal component score. An empirical analysis result shows that both genotype-based correlation matrix and haplotype-based LD matrix can produce similar results for PCA. Principal component score seems to be more powerful in detecting genetic association because the principal component score is quantitatively measured and may be able to capture the effect of multiple loci.

PROBABILISTIC ANALYSIS AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATION OF THE KINEMATIC ERROR IN A SPATIAL LINKAGE

The stochastic models of the usual joints are first established through intro-ducing the concepts of“clearance characteristic element”and“clearance space”.After de-riving the probability density function of the joint clearance and making the probabilisticanalysis of the resulted kinematic errors,the sampling formulas of the independent varia-bles of the joint clearances are further deduced.Through Monte Carlo simulation,the sta-tistical characteristics and frequency histograms of the kinematic errors are then analysedon computer.

Genetic dissection of the grain-filling rate and related traits through linkage analysis and genome-wide association study in bread wheat

Wheat grain yield is generally sink-limited during grain filling.The grain-filling rate(GFR)plays a vital role but is poorly studied due to the difficulty of phenotype surveys.This study explored the grain-filling traits in a recombinant inbred population and wheat collection using two highly saturated genetic maps for linkage analysis and genome-wide association study(GWAS).Seventeen stable additive quantitative trait loci(QTLs)were identified on chromosomes 1B,4B,and 5A.The linkage interval between IWB19555 and IWB56078 showed pleiotropic effects on GFR_(1),GFR_(max),kernel length(KL),kernel width(KW),kernel thickness(KT),and thousand kernel weight(TKW),with the phenotypic variation explained(PVE)ranging from 13.38%(KW)to 33.69%(TKW).198 significant marker-trait associations(MTAs)were distributed across most chromosomes except for 3D and 4D.The major associated sites for GFR included IWB44469(11.27%),IWB8156(12.56%)and IWB24812(14.46%).Linkage analysis suggested that IWB35850,identified through GWAS,was located in approximately the same region as QGFR_(max)2B.3-11,where two high-confidence candidate genes were present.Two important grain weight(GW)-related QTLs colocalized with grain-filling QTLs.The findings contribute to understanding the genetic architecture of the GFR and provide a basic approach to predict candidate genes for grain yield trait QTLs.

A Study of Dynamic Analysis Method for the Rigid-Flexible Coupled Bar Linkage System

In order to present a dynamic analysis method for the rigid-flexible coupled bar linkage system(RFCBLS),the flexible element motion equation was gotten by Lagrange Equation and the rigid element motion equation was gotten based on rigid constraint conditions.The multi-body system(MBS) is a complex mechanism and its components have quite different rigidities.If it is considered as a rigid MBS(RMBS) to do its dynamic analysis,elastic deformation's ignorance will lead to inaccurate analysis.If it is considered as a flexible MBS(FMBS) to establish,analyze,and solve the model,quite large system equations make it difficult to solve.The better method is as follows:the complex mechanism system is regarded as a rigid-flexible coupled system(RFCS) to make dynamic characteristic of rigid components be equivalent,system equation is established by FMBS' way,and system equation dimensions are reduced by transition matrices' introduction.A dynamic analysis method for rigid element and flexible element coupling was presented based on the FMBS.The analyzed crank slide-block mechanism results show that the dynamic analysis method for RFCBLS is quick and convenient.

FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE SPLINE MODEL METHOD OF KED ANALYSIS IN A PLANAR FLEXIBLE LINKAGE

This paper relates to the deep research on the Splinc Model Method of KED analysis. With the use of cubic B-splinc function as a link’s transverse deflection interpolation function, the principle of virtual displacement is presented as a basic theory for the general formulation of the equations of motion, and thus abandoned the kinematic assumption and the instantaneous structure assumption which arc used in the Spline Model Method. In thc same time, the nonlinear terms sue as coupling terms between thc rigid body motion and elastic deformation arc included. New member’s spline models are established. Mass matrix, Coriolis mass matrix, normal and tangential mass matrix, linear stiffness matrix, nonlinear stiffness matrix and rotation matrix arc derived. The kinematic differential equations of a member and system are deduced in the end. The Newmark direct integration method is used as the solution scheme of the kinematic differential equations to get the periodic response.

Genetic Linkage Analysis of the Natural Colored Fiber and Fuzzless Traits in Cotton

Genetic linkage relationship of the natural colored fiber and six fuzzless seed germplasms in obsolete backgrounds of Gossypium hirsutum(AD genome) and G.barbadense were analyzed in the

Genetic Linkage Map and Comparative Genome Analysis for the Atlantic Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Genetic linkage maps are valuable tools in evolutionary biology;however, their availability for wild populations is extremely limited. Fundulus heteroclitus (Atlantic killifish) is a non-migratory estuarine fish that exhibits high allelic and phenotypic diversity partitioned among subpopulations that reside in disparate environmental conditions. An ideal candidate model organism for studying gene-environment interactions, the molecular toolbox for F. heteroclitus is limited. We identified hundreds of novel microsatellites which, when combined with existing microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were used to construct the first genetic linkage map for this species. By integrating independent linkage maps from three genetic crosses, we developed a consensus map containing 24 linkage groups, consistent with the number of chromosomes reported for this species. These linkage groups span 2300 centimorgans (cM) of recombinant genomic space, intermediate in size relative to the current linkage maps for the teleosts, medaka and zebrafish. Comparisons between fish genomes support a high degree of synteny between the consensus F. heteroclitus linkage map and the medaka and (to a lesser extent) zebrafish physical genome assemblies.

Dynamic Analysis of aSelected Spatial One-DOF Linkage Mechanism with Friction in Joints

The dynamic analysis of a one-DOF RSRRR spatial linkage mechanism, including four rotational joints R and one spherical joint S, is presented in the paper. It is assumed that friction occurs in the rotational joints, whereas a spherical joint can be treated as an ideal one. The mechanism in the form of a closed-loop kinematic chain was divided by cut joint technique into two open-loop kinematic chains in place of the spherical joint. Joint coordinates and homogeneous transformation matrices were used to describe the geometry of the system. Equations of the chains＇ motion were derived using formalism of Lagrange equations. Cut joint constraints and reaction forces, acting in the cutting place---i.e, in the spherical joint, have been introduced to complete the equations of motion. As a consequence, a set of differential-algebraic equations has been obtained. In order to solve these equations, a procedure based on differentiation twice of the formulated constraint equations with respect to time has been applied. In order to determine values of friction torques in the rotational joints in each integrating step of the equations of motion, joint forces and torques were calculated using the recursive Newton-Euler algorithm taken from robotics. For the requirements of the method, a model of a rotational joint has been developed. Some examples of results of the numerical calculations made have been presented in the conclusions of the paper.

An Analysis-of-Variance (ANOVA) Approach for Sib-pair Linkage Analysis of Complex Ordinal Human Diseases

Sib-pair linkage analysis of complex human diseases has become a method of choice in modern human genetic studies, especially for the diseases with a late age at onset. The traditional parametric methods for sib pair data need to take the categorical nature of a disease phenotype into account and to explicitly model the non-linear relationship between the discrete phenotype and genetic determinants, or to force their relationship to be linear. The first approach is desirable theoretically, but explicitly modeling the sophisticated genetic architecture of a complex disease can be prohibitively complex and computational demand is high. The second approach, typically a linear regression, relies on a large sample theory and is not appropriate. In this paper, we propose to apply Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to sib pair linkage analysis of complex human diseases. This approach has avoided building the complicated relationship between the phenotype (the affection group or status of a sib pair) and the underlying genetic determinant (identical-by-decent (IBD) values etc). We have explored its statistical efficiency and properties in sibpair linkage analysis of ordinal complex human diseases via simulation. The simulation suggests that it is a powerful approach for locating genes that presumably control phenotypic expression of complex human diseases.

Performance Analysis of a Six-bar Linkage Pumping Unit Based on a Small Fluctuations Load Shape

Crank shaft net torque of pumping units is a volatile alternating load, while output torque of a general motor is basically constant. Thus, load characteristics of pumping units and motors are not able to ＂harmoniously＂ match each other; this resulted in a higher output of the motor, lower efficiency, and higher energy consumption of the pumping units. A new six-bar linkage pumping unit is presented according to moment-changing theory. It allows to adjust automatically following the changes of polished rod load, and achieves small crank shaft curve fluctuation. The new pumping unit improves motor efficiency, reduces motor output power, and saves energy. According to the design scheme, kinematics and kinetics models of the new six-bar linkages pumping unit are built up. An optimum design on the main peoCormance parameters and functional analysis were peoCormed.

Mapping of putative sucking inhibitory gene to whitebacked planthopper by linkage analysis with CAPS markers

Resistance to whitebacked planthopper(WBPH)in Chinese japonica riceChunjiang 06(CJ-06)was mediated by sucking inhibitory and ovicidal mecha-nism.The ovicidal reponse was a common self-defense mechanism againstWBPH in japonica.The ovicidal gene and its chromosomal position had alreadybeen identified.The sucking inhibitory nature of CJ-06 caused a definenon-preference behavior of WBPH in fields.A single dominant gene governed

General Order Principle for Multi-Bennett Linkages

Order analysis for multi-Bennett linkages is a difficult topic in kinematics. Traditional methods fail to obtain the order of multi-Bennett linkages due to considering the special geometric distributions among joint axes. An order principle for multi-Bennett linkages is presented. For a summated multi-Bennett linkage, three procedures are included in the order principle. Firstly, a homogeneous screw equation is obtained by taking linear superposition operations and then the maximum order is determined according to linear dependency of all screws. Secondly, two theorems are employed to determine the maximum order, where the first is used to judge the linear independency of four-system screws and the second is fit for identifying the linear independency of five-system screws. Lastly, all possible cases in the order range are considered until the valid order is screened out. For a syncopated multi-Bennett linkage, an equivalent summated model is built and then the order analysis is the same as that of summated linkages. In order to verify the effectiveness of the presented order principle, the orders of summated 5R and 6R linkages as well as a syncopated 6R linkage are analyzed. The computed orders of the former two summated linkages are both 4 and the computed order of the last syncopated 6R linkage is 5. The results coincide with the prototype data. The advantage of the proposed principle is that it can get the correct order of a multi-Bennett linkage without solving the geometric conditions of joint axes and has wide application in variety of multi-Bennett linkages.

General Response Surface Reliability Analysis for Fuzzy-Random Uncertainty both in Basic Variables and in State Variables

A general response surface（RS） method is presented for reliability analysis of complex structure/mechanism with fuzzy-random uncertainty both in basic variables and in failure state variables. On the basis of equivalent transformation from fuzzy basic variable to random basic variable, the fuzziness and randomness in the basic variables are considered simultaneously in the presented general RS method. Once the fuzzy basic variables are transformed into the random basic variables, the conventional RS method is employed to establish the general RS for the complex structure/mechanism with implicit limit state equation by finite element numerical simulation. Furthermore, the general failure probability is defined according to the probability formula for fuzzy-random event by taking the fuzziness and randomness in the failure-safety state into consideration, and an appropriate fuzzy operator is adopted to calculate the general failure probability for the complex structure/mechanism with multiple implicit failure modes. Finally, a general reliability analysis of an elastic linkage mechanism is introduced to illustrate the present method.

Molecular Diversity and Association Analysis of Drought and Salt Tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum L. Germplasm

Association mapping is a useful tool for the detection of genes selected during plant domestication based on their linkage disequilibrium（LD）. This study was carried out to estimate genetic diversity, population structure and the extent of LD to develop an association framework in order to identify genetic variations associated with drought and salt tolerance traits. 106 microsatellite marker primer pairs were used in 323 Gossypium hirsutum germplasms which were grown in the drought shed and salt pond for evaluation. Polymorphism（PIC=0.53） was found, and three groups were detected（K=3） with the second likelihood ΔK using STRUCTURE software. LD decay rates were estimated to be 13-15 cM at r2 0.20. Significant associations between polymorphic markers and drought and salt tolerance traits were observed using the general linear model（GLM） and mixed linear model（MLM）（P 0.01）. The results also demonstrated that association mapping within the population structure as well as stratification existing in cotton germplasm resources could complement and enhance quantitative trait loci（QTLs） information for marker-assisted selection.

Dynamic Analysis of Four-Bar Beating-up Mechanism with Joint Clearance

For the four-bar beating-up mechanism of air-jet loom,the plain bearing of linkage is the bearing with dynamic load,and is immersed in the lubricant-box.If the joint clearance is considered,the research on linkage movement could be very complicated.In this paper,the kinematic characteristics of four-bar beating-up mechanism with joint clearance were studied by analyzing the trace of journal center and the balance of radial,tangential forces,and bearing load.The region of principal vibration and its forming causes were discussed.And the results could interpret the measuring curves of four-bar beating-up mechanism completely.

Simulation and Analysis of Spatial Weft Insertion Mechanism Considering Flexibility and Clearance

A 3D model of the spatial four-bar weft insertion mechanism was built with unigraphics NX(UG) according to the actual requirement,and dynamics simulation was carried out by importing the model into ADAMS.Without considering the clearance,the motion characteristic curve of the sword belt was generated through ADAMS combined with MATLAB.In this paper the hinge between the rod and the sector gear was selected as an example with different values of clearance,outputting the motion characteristic curve of the sword belt.Finite element analysis(FEA)was conducted,the flexible body was generated by importing the forked frame into ANSYS,and flexible dynamics simulation was carried out by importing the flexible body into ADAMS to replace the rigid rod.A comprehensive comparison of the output characteristics of the sword belt was conducted in the consideration of the clearance or flexible.Analysis of the force on the left hinge of the rod was carried out with the ADAMS post processing module.With the same clearance,considering the flexibility,amplitude of fluctuation of the force on the hinge increased obviously.

Geo-Spatial Analysis of Oil Spill Distribution and Susceptibility in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Oil spill occurrence during exploration, production and distribution can cause deleterious impact on the environment. Contamination of local streams/rivers, farmlands, forest resources and biodiversity in oil producing areas presents strong significant possibility of significant harm to human health. Geo-information technologies present new opportunities for assessing stress environment and ways of determining exposure susceptibility in such areas. The study assesses the geographical distribution of oil-spills cluster and pattern using three geospatial techniques with ground data at 443 oil-spill incident sites from 1985-2008. The places with high (high-volume/ large impact/close proximity to communities) and low incident (low-volume/less impact/far-distance) are related to the quantity of oil-spills identified within those communities considered susceptible to spill impact and possible exposure. While the average nearest neighborhood analysis showed a probability that oil-spill distribution in the area is clustered (ratio < 1 with index value 0.19), the Getis-Ord General G test indicated that the oil-spill with high quantities (volume) discharge are significantly clustered within every 400 m. The Moran’s I index indicted that there is <1% likelihood that the clusters are as a result of random chance. These findings will help to combat the environmental problems and risks of prolong exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons by addressing future incidents or relocating oil facilities/communities and positioning of rapid response strategies.