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Not AvailableFinger millet (Eleusine coracana) is an important staple food grain in North Western Himalayan Region (NWHR) of India. In traditional process, it takes five hours effort for threshing and pearling of 100 kg of finger millet grain. The objective of the present study was to find out the optimum machine parameters for efficient threshing and pearling operations of finger millets using artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) techniques. The machine performances like threshing capacity (32.4 kg/h against 33.21 kg/h predicted), threshing efficiency (98.41 % against 97.90 % predicted), pearling capacity (65.0 kg/h against 65.12 kg/h predicted) and pearling efficiency (98.3 % against 98.60 % predicted) were evaluated for its optimal design parameters viz., number canvas strip on drum periphery (8), overhanging width of canvas strip (5.17 mm) and peripheral drum speed (7.97 m/s) for finger millet.ICA

Sorption isotherms of barnyard millet grain and kernel

Not AvailableThe moisture sorption isotherms of grain and kernel of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) were determined at 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C. A gravimetric static method was used under 0.112–0.964 water activity (a w) range for the determination of sorption isotherms. The models were compared using the coefficient of determination (r 2), reduced chi-square (χ 2) values, and on the basis of residual plots. In grain, modified Chung–Pfost (r 2 > 0.99; χ 2  0.99; χ 2  0.99 and χ 2 < 0.55) for describing the adsorption and desorption of the kernel. The isosteric heat, calculated using Clausius–Clapeyron equation, was varied between 46.76 and 61.71 kJ g−1 mol−1 at moisture levels 7–21% (d.b.) for grain and 47.11–63.52 kJ g−1 mol−1 at moisture level between 4% and 20% (d.b.) for kernel. The monolayer moisture content values ranged from 4.3% to 6% d.b. in the case of adsorption of barnyard millet grain and 5.2–6.6% d.b. in the case of desorption at the temperature ranges of 50–20 °C. The monolayer moisture values of barnyard millet kernel ranged from 4.4% to 6.67% d.b. in adsorption and 4.6% to 7.3% d.b. in desorption in the temperature ranges of 50–20 °CICA

Moisture-dependent properties of barnyard millet grain and kernel

Not AvailableThe geometric mean diameter, sphericity, grain surface area, 1000 grain mass, true density (toluene displacement method), terminal velocity, dynamic angle of repose, coefficient of internal friction, coefficient of static friction at different surfaces (sun mica, canvas and mild steel surfaces), specific deformation and rupture energy of the grain were found to increase 12.21%, 4.79%, 30.47%, 30.75%, 6.74%, 32.99%, 127.05%, 60%, 18.57%, 34–67%, 69.2% and 88.87% respectively at increase of moisture content from 0.065 to 0.265 kg kg−1 dry matter. However, true density (proximate composition method), bulk density, interstices and rupture force of grain was found to be decrease 8.64%, 20.1%, 86.49% and 21.17% respectively at increase of moisture content. Similar trend was observed for barnyard kernel also. True density (toluene displacement method) was found lower as compared to true density (proximate composition method) at all experimental moisture range indicated that the presence of void space inside the grain and kernel.ICA