Hasil untuk "Labor systems"

J. Zimmerman

Rubén Íñiguez, Carlos Poblete-Echeverría, Ignacio Barrio et al.

Reliable early-stage yield forecasts are essential in precision viticulture, enabling timely interventions such as harvest planning, canopy management, and crop load regulation. Since grape yield is directly related to the number and size of bunches, the early detection of inflorescences and bunches, carried out even before flowering, provides a valuable foundation for estimating potential yield far in advance of veraison. Traditional yield prediction methods are labor-intensive, subjective, and often restricted to advanced phenological stages. This study presents a deep learning-based approach for detecting grapevine inflorescences and bunches during early development, assessing how phenological stage and illumination conditions influence detection performance using the YOLOv11 architecture under commercial field conditions. A total of 436 RGB images were collected across two phenological stages (pre-bloom and fruit-set), two lighting conditions (daylight and artificial night-time illumination), and six grapevine cultivars. All images were manually annotated following a consistent protocol, and models were trained using data augmentation to improve generalization. Five models were developed: four specific to each condition and one combining all scenarios. The results show that the fruit-set stage under daylight provided the best performance (F1 = 0.77, R² = 0.97), while for inflorescences, night-time imaging yielded the most accurate results (F1 = 0.71, R² = 0.76), confirming the benefits of artificial lighting in early stages. These findings define optimal scenarios for early-stage organ detection and support the integration of automated detection models into vineyard management systems. Future work will address scalability and robustness under diverse conditions.

Carlos Llopis-Albert, Francisco Rubio, Vicente Mata-Amela et al.

This research presents a successful implementation of a Project-Based Learning (PBL) methodology to foster the acquisition of Transversal Competencies (TCs) and incorporate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into higher education curricula. This was carried out in the framework of an Educational Innovation and Improvement Project (EIIP) carried out at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in Spain during the academic years that span from 2023 to 2025. Specifically, it was conducted within the “Dynamics of Mechanical Systems” course of the “Mechatronic Engineering” master’s program of the at the Higher School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design (HSAEID), which involves an average of 40 students. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to collect evidence regarding the successful implementation of the PBL methodology. The EIIP project offers practical insights and strategies for efficiently integrating global competencies and sustainability into technical education. In this sense, the positive outcomes indicate that PBL not only enhances technical competencies and motivation but also cultivates critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving abilities, acquisition of learning goals, and preparing students to address complex global challenges of the labor market and. However, ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement processes, supported by robust feedback mechanisms, are crucial for sustaining and enhancing these educational innovations.

Abdullah Alsaleh

Urban logistics are facing growing sustainability challenges, particularly in last-mile delivery operations, which contribute significantly to traffic congestion, emissions and operational inefficiencies. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the vulnerabilities in traditional logistics systems, accelerating interest in innovative solutions such as electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) for last-mile delivery. This study investigates the potential of EV and AV technologies to enhance sustainable urban logistics by integrating cleaner, smarter transportation into delivery networks. Drawing on survey data from logistics professionals and consumers in Italy, the findings highlight the key benefits of EV and AV adoption, including reduced emissions, improved delivery efficiency and increased resilience during global disruptions. Autonomous delivery robots and EV fleets can reduce labor costs, traffic congestion and carbon footprints while meeting evolving consumer demands. However, barriers such as limited charging infrastructure, range constraints, and technological readiness remain critical challenges. By addressing these issues and aligning EV and AV strategies with urban mobility policies, last-mile delivery systems can play a crucial role in advancing cleaner, more efficient and sustainable urban logistics. This research emphasizes the need for continued investment, policy support and public–private collaboration to fully realize the potential of EVs and AVs in reshaping future urban delivery systems.

Sofie Jaspers, Iben Karlsen, Birgit Aust

Workplace violence is associated with negative consequences for workers, organizations, and society. Experiencing violence at work has consistently been associated with an increased risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety, diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide (1–3). Further, workplace violence has been found to increase the risk of physical health outcomes such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (4, 5). Workplace violence can also lead to higher rates of turnover and sick leave (1, 6), translating into a societal economic burden (7). Longitudinal studies indicate that repeated exposure to workplace violence, compared with single episodes of violence, increases the risk of PTSD and sick leave further (8–10). Moreover, a recent study shows synergistic interaction effects for simultaneous exposure to workplace violence and other psychosocial working conditions, such as high emotional demands and high quantitative demands—conditions that are typically present in the same sectors (such as healthcare and education) where violence is frequently reported (11). Prevalence of workplace violence – the problem persists In a 2022 global survey, the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that more than one-fifth of the workforce experienced violence and harassment at work during their working life (12). While this gives an idea of the magnitude of the problem, it covers large differences between countries and sectors, as well as among types of violence and harassment. Effective prevention requires a more precise understanding of all these aspects, but in many countries, comprehensive data to identify the most exposed groups are not available. For Europe, however, it is possible to describe the main characteristics of workplace violence – which may be quite different from other parts of the world (12). Estimates from Europe indicate that 2–5% of the general workforce is affected by work-related violence, with substantially higher rates—ranging from 5–30%—reported in high-risk sectors (13–16). Despite these overall trends, comparing the prevalence of workplace violence remains challenging due to variations in definitions and measurements; in addition, widespread underreporting makes it difficult to obtain accurate figures (17). In this issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, a longitudinal study by Gash & Blom (15) addresses some of these issues. Using nationally representative data from the UK, the authors show that workplace violence is prevalent in a wide variety of sectors, but with elevated numbers in public administration (eg, benefits administration), followed by health- and residential care and social work. Because the study by Gash & Blom uses the same set of questions to assess violence across sectors, patterns can be identified, making it possible to compare them with results from similar studies. Two relevant cohorts to compare their results with are the Work Environment and Health in Denmark study (WEHD) (18) and the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER) conducted by Eurofound (13, 14). The WEHD study comprises identical measures of violence at work in four surveys of national samples of the Danish working population conducted between 2012 and 2018. The three sectors persistently reporting the highest levels of violence are healthcare, social work, and education (16, 19). The same trend is seen in the ESENER survey, where health and social work, education, and public administration were the top three most exposed sectors in both 2015 and 2021 (13, 14). Together, data reveal a persistent and concerning pattern for European countries, showing that workplace violence remains particularly high in specific sectors. As evidence of both the prevalence and consequences of the problem continues to grow, the need for decisive action becomes increasingly urgent. From problem to strategy: making the case for systemic solutions Workplace violence can be categorized into three types, each guiding tailored prevention efforts (20). Type I involves perpetrators with no legitimate connection to the workplace—typically criminal acts such as robberies. Type II arises from interactions with clients, patients, or service users, where violence occurs without criminal intent. Type III refers to violence from current or former colleagues, supervisors, or acquaintances within the organization (20). Cross-national patterns in the sectors most affected by workplace violence (healthcare, social work, and education) suggest that violent incidents are associated with a high degree of contact with clients, patients, or service users, characteristic of Type II violence. Type II violence typically arises in situations where the “perpetrator” experiences emotional stress caused by pain or frustration due to, eg, rejection of requests perceived as legitimate (21, 22). While the term violence is meaningful from an occupational safety and health (OSH) perspective, it connotes an overly intentional act from the perpetrator that is often not the case. For example, a care worker in a residential facility may frequently encounter violent episodes involving elderly residents with severe behavioral symptoms of dementia. Preventive measures in these sectors must therefore include a deeper understanding of how to improve the well-being of the affected individual—both to protect the care worker and to enhance the quality of life for the resident (23). Consequently, it is important to recognize that the prevention of Type II violence should be approached from a dual perspective—one that reflects a shared interest between the worker and the potential “perpetrator” in preventing conflict situations that normally precede the violent incident. This applies whether the source of the violent incident is a patient, a child in kindergarten, or a citizen who needs support from social services (23–25). As such, the prevention of violence is closely linked to professional practices within a given sector that aim to strengthen relational work with patients, clients, or service users. As mentioned above, the patterns and characteristics of workplace violence may be different in other parts of the world, where Type I and Type III violence are more prevalent, and investigating these patterns would be important for tailored prevention. Policy measures and workplace interventions While national and transnational legislation in the area has evolved with violence as a highly regulated psychosocial hazard (19, 26), that in itself does not seem to be enough to solve the problem (27, 28). Recent research indicates that both external pressure from legislation and internal pressure on actors within organizations through OSH systems and procedures are needed to change practices to prevent psychosocial risks (29). Therefore, local intervention still carries significant importance. Despite a rise in the number of intervention studies on workplace violence, only a few have succeeded in reducing workplace violence. Numerous reviews show that the majority of studies focus on de-escalation training, which seems to improve workers’ knowledge and self-efficacy, but has only limited or no impact on reducing violent incidents at work (17, 30–32). The lack of effective preventive interventions might be explained by the multicausal nature of violent episodes, where risk factors on different levels interact to create the specific risk (33–35). Some studies have examined comprehensive multi-stranded interventions addressing this complexity, and the limited evidence available suggests these interventions can be effective (36–40). However, these complex interventions can be especially challenging to conduct in workplaces that need them most. The high prevalence of workplace violence can considerably strain organizational resources, as such incidents are closely linked to increased rates of sickness absence and staff turnover (1, 6, 21, 41–43). The most vulnerable workplaces are therefore often caught in a downward spiral of resource depletion. A complex challenge demanding a systemic response This situation calls for addressing broader systemic factors that support workplaces and sectors with the highest risks and the fewest resources—factors that currently hinder their ability to comply with regulatory requirements or successfully conduct workplace interventions. Inspired by systems thinking (44), we propose a systemic approach to workplace violence prevention, as represented in figure 1. Such a systemic approach enables the identification of gaps across organizational preventive practices and research knowledge and supports the recognition of key leverage points within the system that influence multiple interrelated challenges (44). The approach aligns with system-oriented approaches such as AcciMap analysis (45), which emphasize the importance of identifying the broader organizational and systemic factors that contribute to incidents of workplace violence. Rather than focusing solely on the safety behavior of frontline staff, such approaches highlight how decisions and interactions across multiple system levels—from policy to management to task execution—shape the conditions in which violence occurs. The application of a systemic approach to workplace violence prevention is informed by studies from Australia in two high-risk sectors: healthcare and social work (32, 35), and violence-prevention research from Denmark in the high-risk sectors of eldercare, psychiatry, prison and probation services, and the education sector (23, 38, 46). The figure illustrates how violent episodes arise in the inner circle at the task execution level. However, task execution is nested within a broader context, affecting the situational risk. On the task execution level, the figure highlights the importance of adopting a dual perspective on conflict reduction—addressing both the employees’ work environment and the well-being of individuals who may pose a risk of violent situations. In healthcare, social work, and educational settings, violent episodes can create emotional and cognitive dilemmas—especially when acts are unintentional or where incrimination, eg, of an adolescent, may hinder the pedagogical relationship. Therefore, a dual perspective is needed, integrating conflict prevention and client well-being into occupational safety and health efforts (23, 34, 37). At the department level, preventive work should focus on strong collaboration between employees and managers to foster a safe and supportive psychosocial work environment (38). Psychosocial factors such as trust are essential for encouraging reporting and facilitating crucial knowledge sharing (24). At the organizational level, the focus should be on systematic, data-driven OSH efforts and policies, as typically advocated in the safety climate literature (36, 38). The two outer circles emphasize the significance of sector-specific resources and regulations, as well as (trans-)national legislation, in providing a solid framework for violence prevention (35, 47). The systemic approach to violence prevention provides a valuable framework for organizing and critically assessing existing knowledge in the field. Applying this perspective reveals a notable gap in the literature: few studies address sector-level dynamics, despite their potential as key leverage points for systemic change. Decisions related to well-known implementation barriers—such as staffing and resource allocation—can be influenced at this level. A recent study from the Australian social work sector demonstrated how systemic risk factors can be mapped effectively through active engagement of stakeholders across all levels, bridging silos of OSH, visitation processes, and quality improvement (47). This type of sector-level intervention that engages stakeholders beyond the OSH domain holds promise as an impactful strategy, given that decision-making authority over systemic factors often resides at this level. Such interventions offer a strategic opportunity to support the workplaces most in need. Adopting a systems perspective on workplace violence, therefore, requires coordinated action from multiple actors such as sector-specific interest organizations, employer organizations, and politicians. References 1. Nyberg A, Kecklund G, Hanson LM, Rajaleid K. Workplace violence and health in human service industries: a systematic review of prospective and longitudinal studies. 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Dityas Nandariztyani, Isbandi Rukminto Adi

This study examines the reformulation of Indonesia’s minimum wage policy under Government Regulation (GR) No. 51 of 2023, which was introduced following Constitutional Court decisions that mandated revisions to the Job Creation Law. The policy reform aims to balance worker protection, business certainty, and economic equity within the broader framework of social welfare. Using a qualitative research approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with government officials, labor unions, employer associations, and members of the National Wage Council, complemented by document analysis of regulatory texts and consultation records. The findings reveal that the reformulation was driven by four structural issues: mistargeted application of the minimum wage, industrial burden, recurring labor conflicts, and weak implementation of wage structure and scale. The formulation process combined rational, political, and incremental decision-making models, reflecting bounded political rationality. Empirical results indicate that the policy’s implementation has led to informal compromises between employers and workers, weak enforcement mechanisms, and persistent wage inequality. Although the regulation introduces a shift toward a productivity-driven wage system, its effectiveness remains limited by institutional and administrative constraints. The study concludes that aligning policy intentions with social welfare values requires strengthening institutional enforcement, expanding the application of structured wage systems, and promoting inclusive social dialogue to ensure that the minimum wage functions effectively as both a social safety net and an economic stabilizer in Indonesia’s evolving labor market.

Ashish Reddy Mulaka, Rafael Bidese, Yin Bao

The current inventory practice in bareroot forest nurseries relies on manually counting tree seedlings in randomly sampled plots to estimate the stock for each seed lot. This method is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and susceptible to human error. Recent advances in deep learning-based object detection and efficient tracking algorithms have enabled automated object counting in video data across various domains, including crop seedling counting in agriculture. This study investigates the effects of viewing angle (VA) and field of view (FoV) on detection, tracking, and counting early-stage pine seedlings in nadir-view videos using a detect-and-track approach. We evaluated the performance of YOLOv8–10 models in conjunction with three multi-object tracking (MOT) algorithms (SORT, ByteTrack, and BoT-SORT) on a custom MOT dataset comprising an average of 153 seedlings per frame and totaling 166,440 seedlings. Detection results and statistical tests showed that increasing horizontal VA reduces the intersection over union (IoU) of seedling detections, primarily due to the perspective differences introduced by oblique viewing angles. MOT evaluations further demonstrated that BoT-SORT consistently delivered high counting accuracy when the vertical FoV encompassed at least the entire seedling. In contrast, ByteTrack and SORT exhibited significantly lower performance, producing reasonable counting accuracy only when the vertical FoV was sufficiently large. The superior performance of BoT-SORT is attributed to its camera motion compensation, which effectively reduces identity switches and tracking failures in scenes involving stationary yet overlapping seedlings. Notably, BoT-SORT achieved 100 % counting accuracy under a 20° horizontal VA across YOLO model sizes. Furthermore, larger YOLO models showed greater robustness to increases in horizontal VA. These findings provide valuable guidance for optimizing camera configurations and model selection towards the development of a real-time inventory systems for precision forest nursery management.

Joris Gerald Niilante Amissah, Maame Yaakwaah Blay Adjei, Jacqueline Naalamle Amissah et al.

This review paper examines the processing and preservation methods of indigenous food crops in West Africa with a focus on their importance for nutrition security as part of the strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Indigenous crops are nutritious, climate resilient and important in the diets of local communities. However, they tend to be underutilized when addressing national and regional food security needs. This paper explores the use of indigenous traditional food processing and preservation methods as well as the use of modern and innovative technologies for the reduction of postharvest losses, maintenance of nutritional quality, value addition and increased shelf-life, to ensure the year-round availability and affordability of these food crops. The paper also demonstrates how the integration of indigenous traditional methodologies with more modern processing techniques can increase the utilization of indigenous food crops with improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers and additional benefits for national and regional food security. Findings show that traditional methods remain vital but are faced with hygiene and labor challenges, while modern technologies improve efficiency but are costly. Integrated approaches enhance food safety, nutrient retention, and market access, empowering women and smallholder farmers. The paper recommends gender-responsive policies, decentralized processing hubs, and participatory innovation to scale integrated methods for resilient food systems.

M. Alvesson, T. Bridgman, H. Willmott

Shlomit Feldman, Shulamit Almog

This paper examines and conceptualizes the economic aspect of young people's activities on the network, focusing on YouTube. We will present YouTube activity and explore how the young population active on the platform perceives it: Is the dominant element in this context play and self-expression for its own sake or generating financial gain? Or is it a hybrid form of activity that embodies both elements?  Are there distinct characteristics that define the play/labor of girls on YouTube and if so, are specific protections needed?  We will argue that, YouTubers' activities resemble a type of platform work that indeed involves an aspect of potential exploitation of minors, and has a gendered dimension – a situation that calls for reforming existing child labor norms to address it. We propose that two principles must be recognized to promote a solution. First, it is important to acknowledgee that YouTuber activity is not just leisure but also work, even when the participants are children and youth below the legal employment age. Second, since this is a form of work, children should not be excluded from participating in these platforms, but should be provided with fair employment conditions and wages. This two-staged recognition could not only address the economic exploitation of children and youth on platform work, but also untangle the connections these platforms create between the economic aspirations of girls and traditional gender norms.

Xue Peng, Xi Tan, Zhao Wu

Abstract Background Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is one of the most dangerous pregnancy-related conditions. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of current research on the ultrasound scoring systems used in PAS patients with a comprehensive summarization of researches and comparison of prenatal ultrasound scoring in evaluating postpartum outcomes. Methods This systematic review was conducted and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were retrieved from four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science) up to December 2023. Original studies involving women diagnosed with PAS using ultrasound scoring for diagnosis or outcome evaluation were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the diagnostic performance of ultrasound scoring systems and their effectiveness in predicting labor outcomes. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was utilized to assess the study quality. The study has been registered on the PROSPERO website with the registration number CRD42024507311. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. 3930 patients were included in the review, with 1693 participants in the control group. Included studies had a high risk of bias in patient selection, with a low risk in flow and timing and reference standards. Existing studies have reported several indicators that can be included in ultrasound scoring systems and tested their effectiveness in diagnosis and severity evaluation. The pool sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of ultrasound scoring system in diagnosing PAS were 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82–0.94), 0.85(95%CI: 0.80–0.90) and 0.93 (95%CI:0.91–0.95). Ultrasound scores are associated with PAS outcomes including intraoperative haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage, hysterectomy, length of hospital stay, and neonatal prognosis. Limitation is that the existing studies are wide-ranging but have low replication and association. Conclusion Ultrasound scoring systems play a role in the prenatal diagnosis, management, and prediction of postnatal complications in PAS. Nevertheless, additional research is required to further evaluate the performance between different scoring systems to develop a unified consensus.

L. Azaroff, C. Levenstein, D. Wegman

ZunHyan Rieu, Regina EY Kim, Minho Lee et al.

Background: The Fazekas scale is one of the most commonly used visual grading systems for white matter hyperintensity (WMH) for brain disorders like dementia from T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance (MR) images (T2-FLAIRs). However, the visual grading of the Fazekas scale suffers from low-intra and inter-rater reliability and high labor-intensive work. Therefore, we developed a fully automated visual grading system using quantifiable measurements. Methods: Our approach involves four stages: (1) the deep learning-based segmentation of ventricles and WMH lesions, (2) the categorization into periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH), (3) the WMH diameter measurement, and (4) automated scoring, following the quantifiable method modified for Fazekas grading. We compared the performances of our method and that of the modified Fazekas scale graded by three neuroradiologists for 404 subjects with T2-FLAIR utilized from a clinical site in Korea. Results: The Krippendorff’s alpha across our method and raters (A) versus those only between the radiologists (R) were comparable, showing substantial (0.694 vs. 0.732; 0.658 vs. 0.671) and moderate (0.579 vs. 0.586) level of agreements for the modified Fazekas, the DWMH, and the PWMH scales, respectively. Also, the average of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve between the radiologists (0.80 ± 0.09) and the radiologists against our approach (0.80 ± 0.03) was comparable. Conclusions: Our fully automated visual grading system for WMH demonstrated comparable performance to the radiologists, which we believe has the potential to assist the radiologist in clinical findings with unbiased and consistent scoring.

E. N. Glenn

Stephanie G. Hays, W. Patrick, Marika Ziesack et al.

Aneta Strachecka, Karolina Kuszewska, Krzysztof Olszewski et al.

The proteolytic and antioxidant systems are important components of humoral immunity, and these biomarkers indicate the immune status. These compounds are synthesized in the bees’ fat body and released into the hemolymph. Their functions maintain the organism’s homeostasis and protect it against adverse environmental factors (including pathogens). We determined the activities of acidic, neutral, and alkaline proteases and their inhibitors, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the level of total antioxidant potential (TAC). These compounds were investigated in the fat body and hemolymph in the females with increased reproductive potential, i.e., queens and rebels, and in normal (non-reproductive sterile non-rebel) workers. The phenoloxidase (PO) activities were determined in the hemolymph. The normal workers had higher activities of proteases and their inhibitors, SOD and CAT, in the fat body and hemolymph, compared to the queens and rebels. The protease inhibitors were not usually active in the queens. As we predicted, the rebels revealed values between those of the queens and normal workers. The highest activities of proteases and antioxidants were identified in the fat body from the third tergite in comparison with the sternite and the fifth tergite. These results are important for oxidative stress ecology and give a better understanding of the functioning of the fat body and the division of labor in social insects.

Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Prachanda Pradhan, Wei Zhang

Nepal has a long history of irrigation, including government and farmer-managed irrigation systems that are labor- and skill-intensive. Widespread male migration has important effects on Nepalese society. How institutions such as Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) respond and adapt, is therefore critical to the understanding of rural transformation and the likely impact on gender equality, food production, and rural livelihoods. This paper examines the effects of male migration on institutional change in WUAs, women’s roles, technological change, and outcomes affecting effectiveness of irrigation systems based on a mixed methods study, combining a phone survey of 336 WUA leaders from all provinces in Nepal with qualitative data from case studies in 10 irrigation systems. Results indicate WUAs have adapted rules to increase women’s participation, and to monetize the contributions for maintenance. Women exercise agency in whether and how to interact with WUAs. Mechanization has reduced the need for some male labor, though the ability to mechanize is limited by hilly terrain and small plot sizes. Overall, systems are adapting to male migration, with relatively low idling of land or labor shortages causing deterioration of the systems, though there are concerns with the high levels of women’s labor burdens.

J.P. Edwards, N. McMillan, R.H. Bryant et al.

ABSTRACT: Milking 3 times in 2 d (3-in-2) could enhance the attractiveness of the dairy workplace relative to twice-a-day milking (TAD) by reducing labor requirements for milking and increasing workforce flexibility. The objective of this study was to quantify the farm system interactions associated with milking 3-in-2 at 3 stages of lactation, with the aim of providing guidance to pasture-based dairy farmers and advisors on the likely consequences of adopting 3-in-2 milking on farm productivity and business performance. Seventy-nine multiparous and 37 primiparous cows were randomly allocated to 4 experimental farms stocked at 3.5 cows/ha. One herd was milked TAD for the whole lactation (August 2019 to May 2020), with the remaining 3 milked 3-in-2 for either the whole lactation, after December 1 when cows were an average of 101 d in milk, or after March 1 when days in milk averaged 189 d. Milking intervals over 48 h were 10-14-10-14 h for TAD and 12-18-18 h for 3-in-2. Animal, pasture, and farm system data were analyzed by linear regression, with the dependent variable being the annualized value of the performance metric of interest, and the number of days in the lactation milked 3-in-2 as the independent variable. For the proportion of the season milked 3-in-2, there was a significant effect on milk (−11%), protein (−8%), and lactose (−12%) yield per cow per year, but no effect of fat. Additionally, there was a positive effect (+6%) on body condition score before dry-off and the energy required for liveweight change (+26%), and a negative effect on the energy required for walking (−30%). There were no differences in estimated feed eaten, or pasture herbage accumulation, composition, or quality. Therefore, pasture management and feed allocation under 3-in-2 should be similar to TAD. On commercial farms, the degree to which reduced milk income can be offset by lower costs will be highly farm-specific, but opportunities for savings were identified in the results. The short walking distances on the research farm and potential to improve farm management using the time saved from fewer milkings suggests better production may be achieved with 3-in-2 milking on a commercial farm.

Rui Zhao, Jinjiang Wang, Ruqiang Yan et al.

Christoph Gollob, Tim Ritter, Ralf Kraßnitzer et al.

The estimation of single tree and complete stand information is one of the central tasks of forest inventory. In recent years, automatic algorithms have been successfully developed for the detection and measurement of trees with laser scanning technology. Nevertheless, most of the forest inventories are nowadays carried out with manual tree measurements using traditional instruments. This is due to the high investment costs for modern laser scanner equipment and, in particular, the time-consuming and incomplete nature of data acquisition with stationary terrestrial laser scanners. Traditionally, forest inventory data are collected through manual surveys with calipers or tapes. Practically, this is both labor and time-consuming. In 2020, Apple implemented a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor in the new Apple iPad Pro (4th Gen) and iPhone Pro 12. Since then, access to LiDAR-generated 3D point clouds has become possible with consumer-level devices. In this study, an Apple iPad Pro was tested to produce 3D point clouds, and its performance was compared with a personal laser scanning (PLS) approach to estimate individual tree parameters in different forest types and structures. Reference data were obtained by traditional measurements on 21 circular forest inventory sample plots with a 7 m radius. The tree mapping with the iPad showed a detection rate of 97.3% compared to 99.5% with the PLS scans for trees with a lower diameter at a breast height (dbh) threshold of 10 cm. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the best dbh measurement out of five different dbh modeling approaches was 3.13 cm with the iPad and 1.59 cm with PLS. The data acquisition time with the iPad was approximately 7.51 min per sample plot; this is twice as long as that with PLS but 2.5 times shorter than that with traditional forest inventory equipment. In conclusion, the proposed forest inventory with the iPad is generally feasible and achieves accurate and precise stem counts and dbh measurements with efficient labor effort compared to traditional approaches. Along with future technological developments, it is expected that other consumer-level handheld devices with integrated laser scanners will also be developed beyond the iPad, which will serve as an accurate and cost-efficient alternative solution to the approved but relatively expensive TLS and PLS systems. Such a development would be mandatory to broadly establish digital technology and fully automated routines in forest inventory practice. Finally, high-level progress is generally expected for the broader scientific community in forest ecosystem monitoring, as the collection of highly precise 3D point cloud data is no longer hindered by financial burdens.