Development of ergo-refined operator's workplace and biophysically actual cost-benefit analysis of riding type self-propelled machines with special reference for female operators.

Background: Female agricultural workers contribute to 37% of the total agricultural workforce in India, however, most self-propelled machinery is designed for male agricultural workers.

Objective: The primary objective was to determine the impact of the ergo-refined operator's workplace on various aspects of operator performance and comfort, including actuating force, posture, and physiological parameters.

Methods: Experiments were carried out in real field conditions using a full factorial randomized design.

Ultrasound-mediated hydration of finger millet: Effects on antinutrients, techno-functional and bioactive properties, with evaluation of ANN-PSO and RSM optimization methods.

Finger millet, rich in nutrients, faces bioavailability limitations due to antinutrients like phytates and tannins that can be reduced by ultrasound mediated hydration (USH). Here, USH process of finger millet was optimized by varying ultrasound amplitude, water to grain ratio (W:G), treatment time, and frequency for reducing antinutrients and improving techno-functional attributes. USH resulted in a maximum reduction of 73% and 71% in phytates and tannins, respectively.