Mechanical Properties of Cashew Nut Under Compression Loading at Varied Moisture Contents
Abstract
In the present study, the moisture-dependent mechanical properties, i.e. rupture force, deformation and rupture energy along three different axes (i.e. L, B, T), of the cashew (Anacardium occidentale) varieties (Vengurle 1, Vengurle 3, Vengurle 4 and Vengurle 7) were studied at 17–85% db under compression loading. The rupture force decreases linearly (r2 ≥ 0.752) with the increase in moisture content from 17 to 85% db, for Vengurle 1 along length, width and thickness of 15,080–3467, 17,000–4275 and 21,014–3388 g; for Vengurle 3 along length, width and thickness of 25,090–4031, 26,000–3851, 31,256–3449 g; for Vengurle 4 along length, width and thickness of 22,000–3342, 21,000–3360, 27,000–3725 g; for Vengurle 7 along length, width and thickness of 20,900–5542, 25,080–5542 and 29,000–7009 g, respectively. The deformation at rupture increases linearly (r2 ≥ 0.671) with the increase in moisture content from 17 to 85% db, for Vengurle 1 along length, width and thickness of 2.1–2.98, 2.42–3.56 and 3.4–6.21 mm; for Vengurle 3 along length, width and thickness of 2.8–4.73, 2.65–4.3 and 4.21–6.16 mm; for Vengurle 4 along length, width and thickness of 4.2–6.89; 2.81–5.35 and 5.6–6.7 mm; for Vengurle 7 along length, width and thickness of 4.56–7.8, 3.2–5.56 and 6.2–7.27 mm, respectively. The rupture energy decreases linearly (r2 ≥ 0.720) with increase in moisture content from 17 to 85% db for Vengurle 1 along length, width and thickness of 143–36.58, 108–56 and 123–80.38 mJ; for Vengurle 3 along length, width and thickness of 271–59.54; 82.00–33.68 and 265–101 mJ; for Vengurle 4 along length, width and thickness of 136–80.96, 58.54–23.32 and 154–96.74 mJ; for Vengurle 7 along length, width and thickness of 273–98.26, 123–21.22 and 255–151 mJ, respectively. The rupture force was higher along thickness and decreases along width and length, and it was maximum for Vengurle 3 followed by Vengurle 7, Vengurle 4 and Vengurle 1. The deformation at rupture was higher along the thickness and decreases along width and thickness and was maximum at Vengurle 7 followed by Vengurle 4, Vengurle 3 and Vengurle 1, respectively. The rupture energy was higher at length for Vengurle 7 and decreases at Vengurle 3, followed by Vengurle 1 and Vengurle 4 along length of the cashew nut.
SELECTED DRYING CONDITIONS AND STORAGE PERIOD AND QUALITY OF WALNUT SELECTIONS
Walnut selections were hulled at harvest time, and 3 and 5 days after harvest to determine the effects of hulling time on postharvest quality. Walnuts removed from their hulls were stored shelled and unshelled under ambient conditions after being dried at selected conditions. 
 
 
 
Among the tested hulling dates, the best results were obtained from the walnuts hulled at harvest time. At the end of the storage period, the least quality losses were determined in the walnuts dried in the sun. Generally, quality losses in the shelled walnuts were greater than quality losses in the unshelled walnuts. According to the research results, walnuts removed from their hulls and dried under sun can be stored under ambient conditions (21 ± 1C and 50–65 RH) and retain acceptable quality for 12 months.
Measurement and simulation of potato leaf area using image processing. III. Measurement
Potato canopy size and shape makes it suitable for leaf area measurement with image processing techniques. The objective of this study was to define and test an image processing method of measuring leaf area. A three view, non-destructive image processing method of potato leaf area measurement was defined and tested. The procedure utilized digitized images, a top view and two side views, of a potato plant. The image processing operations on each image were: perform a median filter, select a pixel threshold intensity, and count the pixels of various intensities. Plant volume was plant height (measured in a side view image) multiplied by the top view leaf area. Leaf areas of 48 potato plants were measured with the image processing method and an optical leaf area meter. Regression of leaf area measured with the image processing method, including plant volume, against meter-measured leaf area was forced through the origin. The measurement data approached a 1:1 line. The image processing method provided a feasible non-destructive method of measuring potato leaf area.