Predictive analysis of concrete slump using a stochastic search-consolidated neural network.

Attaining a dependable measurement of concrete slump is crucial as it is a valuable indication of concrete workability. On the other hand, complexities associated with costly traditional approaches have driven engineers to use indirect efficient models such as metaheuristic-based machine learning for approximating the slump. While the literature shows promising application of some metaheuristic techniques for this purpose, the large variety of these algorithms calls for evaluating the most capable ones to keep the solution updated. Stochastic fractal search (SFS) is one of the most powerful optimization algorithms in the literature that has not received appropriate attention in analyzing concrete mechanical parameters. In the present research, a multi-layer perceptron neural network (NN-MLP), is enhanced using the SFS. The proposed SFS-NN-MLP model aims to predict the slump based on the amount of ingredients in the mixture, as well as the curing age of specimens. Accuracy assessment revealed that the proposed model can deal with the assigned task with excellent accuracy. It indicates that the SFS could properly tune the parameters required for training the NN-MLP, and consequently, the trained network could reliably calculate the slump of specimens that were not analyzed before. For comparative validation, the SFS was replaced with two similar optimizers, namely elephant herding optimization algorithm (EHO) and slime mould algorithm (SMA). Based on the calculated mean square errors of 5.6526, 6.1129, and 7.3561 along with mean absolute errors of 4.6657, 5.0078, and 6.3066, as well as the percentage-Pearson correlation coefficients of 78.06 %, 73.95 %, and 58.11 %, respectively for the SFS-NN-MLP, EHO-NN-MLP, and SMA-NN-MLP, it was shown that the SFS-NN-MLP is the most accurate predictor. Hereupon, the SFS-NN-MLP model is recommended to be effectively used for obtaining a cost-efficient approximation of concrete slump in real-world projects.

[Effects of plant growth regulators and nitrogen on germination of Epimedium pseudowushanense after its stems and leaves reaped].

In order to explore appropriate measures to promote germination after the harvest of Epimedium pseudowushanense, 6-BA, urea, ammonium bicarbonate and GA3 were chosen to spray on the root and rhizomes, and then the biological indicators such as branches, leaf length, leaf width, plant height and so on, were measured in different periods, and the contents of epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C and icariin in the dry leaves were detected by HPLC. Results showed that 6-BA 90 mg·L⁻¹(B1), 6-BA 60 mg·L⁻¹(B2),6-BA 30 mg·L⁻¹+urea 300 mg·L⁻¹ (C1), 6-BA 60 mg·L⁻¹+urea 300 mg·L⁻¹(C2),6-BA 60 mg·L⁻¹+ ammonium bicarbonate 300 mg·L⁻¹(C4) significantly increased bud germination in the early period, and the plants quickly set up new system of photosynthesis, the branches in a month of which were higher than the control group respectively by 165.9%, 115.76%, 103.86%, 104.50%, 81.67%.However the branches developed the next year and the dry weight of leaves per plant in group B1 and B2 were much lower than that in control group. The groups that use 6-BA and nitrogen at the same time reaped a good yield of leaves even though the treatment had no significant influence on the branches developed the next year. The dry weight of leaves of C1, C2, C4 treatments were 36.80%, 32.84%, 45.97% more than the control group respectively. Therefore, C1, C2 and C4 treatments are the more appropriate to promote recovery after harvest. Furthermore, different groups, except 10 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA treatment significantly reduced the content of epimedin C, other groups didn't have any significant effect on the contents of such flavonoids.

[Effects of nitrogen on yields and flavonoids contents of Epimedium pseudowushanense in hydroponic conditions].

Nitrogen nutrition divided into concentrations and forms for Epimedium pseudowushanense was studied under hydroponic conditions. There were 7 nitrogen concentrations treatments（N0-N6）which nitrogen concentration was 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 13.0 mmol•L⁻¹, respectively, and 5 nitrogen forms and proportions treatments (T1-T5) which NO3-N/NH4-N was 5∶0, 4∶1, 2.5∶2.5, 1∶4, 0∶5 respectively, the total nitrogen applied was 5 mmol•L⁻¹. The results showed that along with the increase of nitrogen concentration, biomass (dry weight) and leaf dry weight increased, which in N5 treatment was 29%, 23% higher than those in N0 and 36%, 23% higher than those in N4 respectively, but not significantly different from N6 treatment. Roots and stem dry weights did not change significantly. Pn and the contents of photosynthetic pigments were higher in N3-N5 treatments. Epimedin A, B, C, icariin and total flavonoids contents were the lowest in N3 treatment, suddenly increase in N4 treatment and only a little change between N4-N6 treatments. N5 treatment with the highest epimedin C content was 131% higher than N3 treatment with the lowest epimedin C content (P<0.05). While in the nitrogen forms and proportions treatments, biomass, leaf and stem dry weights were the highest in T3 treatment and lower in T1 and T5 treatments, without significance between T1 and T5 treatments. These indicators in T3 treatment were more than 30% higher than those in T1 treatment. The impact of nitrogen concentrations was greater than nitrogen forms on flavonoids. epmedin C content was the highest in T1 treatment, only 5%-8% higher than that in T2-T5 treatments (no significance between 4 treatments). Epimedin A, B, icariin and total flavonoids contents were higher in T1 treatment, the lowest in T2 treatment, those in T1 treatment was 41%, 62% and 27% higher than T2 treatment respectively (P<0.05). In a conclusion, E. pseudowushanense is a high nitrogen tolerant plant, 10.0 mmol•L⁻¹ was the boundary point between growing general to well and the optimal nitrogen concentration for it was 10.0-13.0 mmol•L⁻¹. Besides, it prefers to grow in NO-3 plus NH+4 and the optimal proportion was 2.5∶2.5.

[Research on photosynthetic and eco-physiological characteristics of Epimedium pseudowushannense in different growing age].

Epimedium is a widely used medicinal plants. Due to excessive use of wild resources and resource constraints, artificial cultivation is the only way to achieve sustainable use of resources. E. pseudowushannense is intended to achieve the first cultivated species, but plant production technology is not yet fully mature.The diurnal variation of photosynthetic and eco-physiological characteristics of E. pseudowushannense in different growing age was studied by the CI-340 Portable Photosynthesis System under natural conditions. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (C), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), relative humidity (RH), air temperature (Ta), apparent mesophyll conductance (ALMC), transpiration rate (E), leaf temperature (Tl), water use efficiency (WUE) and other photosynthetic physiological factors and environmental factors were measured. The obtained data was analyzed by correlation analysis, path analysis and stepwise multiple-regression analysis to explore the relationship between net photosynthetic rate and physiological and ecological factors. The results show that： ①The daily variation of the Pn, E, ALMC, C of E. pseudowushannense in different growing age took on"two peak type", the Pn was with an obvious midday depression phenomenon at noon.②The Pn, ALMC and C of annuals' were significantly higher than biennial or three-year; but the Ci was basically a three-year > biennial> annual.③The correlation analysis, path analysis and stepwise regression analysis showed that ALMC, Ci, Ta might played important role in the Pn and ranked as ALMC>Ci>Ta.

[Differences of signaling pathway of lung injury between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice exposed to fine particle].

OBJECTIVE: To study the differences of signaling pathway of lung injury between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice exposed to fine particle. METHODS: By intratracheally instillation, two strains of mice (C57BL/6 mice and C3 H/He) were exposed to fine particle once time per day, for continuously two days. Twenty-four hours after last time exposure, the mice were killed and the lungs were taken out immediately, and put into the liquid nitrogen. By using Affymetrix430 2.0 genechip, differences of the signaling pathways between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice were found. RESULTS: It was indicated that the ratios of (C57BL/6)/(C3H/He) of Igh-6, Mmp2, Timp1, Col1a1, Col1a2, C4 and Hc expression in unexposed mice,and in exposed mice were 0.00, -2.40, 0.00, -4.42, -4.92, 6.65 and -1.93, and -2.83, 2.15, -2.18, 2.40, 2.86, 4.23 and 2.18, respectively. And by further analysis, three different signaling pathways were discovered between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice, including inflammatory response pathway, matrix metalloproteinases pathway and classical complement activation. CONCLUSION: The results showed that three signaling pathways were associated with inflammation. It was suggest that the lung inflammation in C57BL/6 mice could be more severe than that in C3H/He mice. The possible causation may be the different genetic background between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice.

Synchrotron microradiography study on acute lung injury of mouse caused by PM(2.5) aerosols.

In order to investigate FeSO(4), ZnSO(4) (the two of main metal compositions of Shanghai PM(2.5) (particle matter with those aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm)) effects on acute lung injury, six solutions contained PM(2.5) aerosol particles, FeSO(4), ZnSO(4) and their mixtures were instilled intratracheally into mouse lungs for experiment. By 2 days after instillation, the live mice were checked in vivo by synchrotron refractive index microradiography. In addition after extracted and examined by dissection, the right lobes of lung were fixed by formalin, then imaged by synchrotron microradiography again. Corresponding parts of those lung tissues were embedded in paraffin for histopathologic study. The synchrotron X-ray microradiographs of live mouse lung showed different lung texture changes after instilled with different toxic solutions. Hemorrhage points in lung were observed more from those mice instilled by FeSO(4) contained toxin solutions groups. Bronchial epithelial hyperplasia can be observed in ZnSO(4) contained solution-instilled groups from histopathologic analysis. It was found that the acute lung injury of mice caused by solution of PM(2.5)+FeSO(4)+ZnSO(4) was more serious than other toxin solutions. Results suggested that FeSO(4) mainly induced hemorrhage and ZnSO(4) mainly induced inflammation and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia in the early toxicological effects of PM(2.5).

[Study on mouse pulmonary acute injury induced by air-borne PM2.5].

OBJECTIVE: In order to study the acute toxicity of PM2.5 and to explore the role of immunoreaction and oxidative stress in mouse pulmonary acute injury induced by PM2.5. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups including blank control group, saline control group, three level PM2.5 (low, middle and high) groups. Three level PM2.5 groups were inoculated with suspensions of PM2.5 via trachea for 24 hours and saline control group were inoculated saline, Pulmonary pathological injury and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of all mice were later examined, including the level of LDH, AKP, ACP, ALB, NO, NOS, MDA, SOD, activities of TNF-alpha, IL-1 and phagocytosis of Alveolar macrophages (AM). RESULTS: The amount of LDH, AKP, ACP, ALB, NO, NOS, MDA and activities of TNF-alpha, IL-1 in exposed groups were significantly higher than those in control(P < 0.05), and at the same time the amount of SOD and phagocytosis of AM decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Dose-response relationships were observed in all indexes. CONCLUSION: Air-borne PM2.5 could have acute toxic effects on mouse pulmonary cells and membrane tissues via immunotoxicity and oxidative stress injury.