Self-Compacting Concrete: Theoretical and experimental study

This paper addresses experiments and theories on Self-Compacting Concrete. First, the features of “Japanese and Chinese Methods” are discussed, in which the packing of sand and gravel plays a major role. Here, the grading and packing of all solids in the concrete mix serves as a basis for the development of new concrete mixes. Mixes, consisting of slag blended cement, gravel (4-16 mm), three types of sand (0-1, 0-2 and 0-4 mm) and a polycarboxylic ether type superplasticizer, were developed. These mixes are extensively tested, both in fresh and hardened states, and meet all practical and technical requirements such as medium strength and low cost. It follows that the particle size distribution of all solids in the mix should follow the grading line as presented by Andreasen and Andersen. Furthermore, the packing behaviour of the powders (cement, fly ash, stone powder) and aggregates (three sands and gravel) used are analysed in detail. It follows that their loosely piled void fraction are reduced to the same extent (23%) upon vibration (aggregates) or mixing with water (powders). Finally, the paste lines of the powders are used to derive a linear relation between the deformation coefficient and the product of Blaine value and particle density.     

In vitro antioxidant activity of anthocyanins of black soybean seed coat in human low density lipoprotein (LDL)

The objectives of this study were to determine the phenolic and anthocyanin contents in black soybean Mallika and Cikuray variety seed coat extract and to examine antioxidant activity of extract against DPPH radical and LDL oxidation. Black soybean seed coat of Mallika (M) and Cikuray (C) was extracted using methanol-1%HCl. The phenolic and anthocyanin contents were determined with Folin–Ciocalteu and pH differential methods, respectively. Individual anthocyanidins were identified with HPLCdiode array detector, and antioxidant activity was examined, using DPPH and TBARS assay with LDL as the oxidation substrate. BHT and rutin were used as antioxidant references. The phenolic content in M and C were 8.15 ± 0.23 and 6.46 ± 0.11 g GAE/100 g, respectively. The anthocyanin contents were 11.36 ± 0.12 and 1.45 ± 0.13 g/100 g, respectively. Cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin were found as individual anthocyanidins. The optimum DPPH radical scavenging capacity (%) of M and C were 92.78% and 91.50%, respectively, BHT and rutin were 77.0% and 91.94%, respectively. The optimum inhibition of TBARS formation from M and C were 37.10 and 30.37 nmol MDA equivalents/g LDL protein, respectively, and rutin were 30.10 nmol MDA equivalents/g LDL protein, respectively. These results suggest that black soybean seed coat has high levels of phenolic and anthocyanin, and also demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity of black soybean seed coat.     

Extension of Fitts' law to modeling motion performance inman-machine interfaces

This paper presents a generic man-machine interfaces (MMI) performance model, based on a combination of Fitts' law and classical control theory. Experimental evidence is presented which supports the developed theory. It is suggested that, based on the new model, vectors of coefficients may be used to describe the performance of devices, independent of task or user     

Is agriculture connected with stunting in Indonesian children living in a rice surplus area? A case study in Demak regency,central Java

Central Java province plays the main role in the production of food for national stocks in Indonesia, in which Demak is one of the 35 Regencies. Demak Regency had the sixth highest rice productivity in 2013, but at the same time, the seventh highest percentage of child malnutrition. This paradox between high rice productivity and low nutritional status of children triggered an interest in analyzing the correlations between agricultural production of households in the Demak Regency and the prevalence of stunting of children under-five. In December 2014 to February 2015, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in three sub-districts in Demak (Karanganyar, Dempet and Gajah) having the highest rice production and at the same time poor nutritional status of under-five children. The oldest under-five children from farmer family backgrounds were selected. Data on general characteristics, anthropometry of the children, as well as household socio-economics, including agricultural characteristics were obtained. Of the 335 children, 31.9% of them were stunted. A higher proportion of households that grew rice solely or mainly for own consumption (62.4%) and had significantly smaller sized rice-fields (p = 0.041) had stunted rather than non-stunted children. In total, rice production, farm income and agriculture diversity of families with non-stunted children were not significantly different from those of stunted children. However, yearly expenditure for improving family health and environmental conditions were significantly higher among non-stunted than stunted children (p = 0.044). Family decisions about what to spend money on also seemed to influence the nutritional status of the children, rather than nutritional diversity or revenue from agriculture itself. Therefore, improvement of agricultural production and diversity should be accompanied by education on household expenditure.