scholarly journals Cost-efficient pre-commercial thinning: effects of method and season of early cleaning

Silva Fennica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karri Uotila ◽  
Timo Saksa
Keyword(s):  
Management Program ◽  
Time Consumption ◽  
Stand Management ◽  
Workforce Allocation ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Discounted Costs ◽  
Management Alternatives ◽  
Method Point

This study’s aim was to identify how the application season and the method of early cleaning (EC), the first stage of multistage pre-commercial thinning (PCT), affected the time consumption in EC and in the subsequent second PCT operation. The worktime in EC was recorded in the spring, summer, and autumn in 22 sites, which were either totally cleaned or point cleaned. Later, these sites were measured at the time of the second PCT. Time consumption was estimated in PCT, based on the removal of the sites. The time consumption in EC was 5.3 productive work hours (pwh) ha, 7.3 pwh ha, and 6.2 pwh ha respectively in the spring, summer, and autumn. EC in the spring instead of the summer saved 27–30% of working time, depending on the cleaning method. Point cleaning was 0.8 pwh ha quicker than total cleaning, but the difference was statistically insignificant. The second stage, PCT, was 1 pwh ha slower to conduct in sites which had been early cleaned in the spring instead of the summer. However, at the entire management program level, EC applied in the spring or autumn instead of the summer saved 11% or 5% respectively of the total discounted costs (3% interest rate) of multistage pre-commercial thinning. Today, the commonest time to conduct EC is in the summer, which was the most expensive of the analyzed management alternatives here. We can expect savings in juvenile stand management in forestry throughout boreal conifer forests by rethinking the seasonal workforce allocation.–1–1–1–1–1

scholarly journals Productivity of harvesting and clearing of brushwood alongside forest roads

Silva Fennica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Laitila ◽  
Kari Väätäinen
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Average Volume ◽  
Time Consumption ◽  
Roadside Vegetation ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Stump Diameter

Expertise in the cost-efficient utilization and treatment of brushwood on forest roadside sites is limited. In the present study, the productivity of brushwood clearing and harvesting on forest roadside sites was defined by creating time-consumption models or parameters for the aforementioned working methods. Compiled time consumption models and parameters for the brushwood clearing and harvesting can be used as a basis for evaluating alternative management practices and to determine when brushwood biomass should be harvested and when it should be left to decay. The harvesting of brushwood was based on the harwarder system and the clearing of brushwood was done with a spiral cutter, which is a novel accessory for cutting roadside vegetation. Based on the study results, the average volume of harvested brushwood and forwarding distance are the key elements that have an effect on harvesting productivity with harwarders. Correspondingly, stump diameter has a strong impact on the clearing productivity of brushwood. The plot-wise productivity of the spiral cutter in brushwood clearings varied in the range of 0.19–0.61 ha per PMh. An increase in stump diameter slowed down the clearing productivity of the spiral cutter and there was a clear step downward in clearing productivity as the average diameter increased from 30 mm to 40 mm. The machinery under study operated well and there were no interruptions due to machine breakdowns.

scholarly journals Effect of Cultural Practices on Neopamera bilobata in Relation to Fruit Injury and Marketable Yields in Organic Strawberries

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 843
Author(s):  
Hannah R. Talton ◽  
Elena M. Rhodes ◽  
Carlene A. Chase ◽  
Marilyn E. Swisher ◽  
Justin M. Renkema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
Type Of Injury

The strawberry seed bug, Neopamera bilobata (Say), is an emerging pest of organic and conventional strawberries in Florida. There is limited information on this Rhyparochromidae species. Thus, the type of injury caused is not clearly documented and management recommendations are lacking. In this study, we evaluated the effect of strawberry cultivars, cover crops, and the presence of runners on N. bilobata populations and yield. We also investigated the effect of select cultivars and the presence of runners on N. bilobata injury levels. In addition, we used fruit bagging experiments to investigate the effects of N. bilobata population and life stage (nymph vs. adult) on strawberry fruits. There was no effect of cover crop or cultivar on N. bilobata populations. In the 2017–2018 season, strawberry plots with runners contained higher N. bilobata populations compared with plots without runners, and adult infestation was significantly higher than nymphal infestation. In the 2018–2019 season, the trend was reversed with higher numbers of N. bilobata collected in plots with runners removed. In the 2019–2020 season, there was no significant difference in N. bilobata populations in plots with and without runners. In both 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, nymphal infestation was higher than adult infestation. Less injury was recorded in “Florida Brilliance” compared with the other cultivars tested. In the 2019–2020 season, less injury was recorded from plots without runners while the difference was not significant in 2017–2018 or 2018–2019. Releasing five and ten adult N. bilobata on ripe (red) fruit produced a similar level of injury while no injury to unripe (green) fruit was observed. Both adults and nymphs cause injury to ripe fruit. These findings can help contribute to the development of an integrated pest management program for strawberry N. bilobata.

A Randomized Trial of a Church-Based Diabetes Self-management Program for African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen D. Samuel-Hodge ◽  
Thomas C. Keyserling ◽  
Sola Park ◽  
Larry F. Johnston ◽  
Ziya Gizlice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Individual Counseling ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
To Receive

Purpose This study developed and tested a culturally appropriate, church-based intervention to improve diabetes self-management. Research Design and Methods This was a randomized trial conducted at 24 African American churches in central North Carolina. Churches were randomized to receive the special intervention (SI; 13 churches, 117 participants) or the minimal intervention (MI; 11 churches, 84 participants). The SI included an 8-month intensive phase, consisting of 1 individual counseling visit, 12 group sessions, monthly phone contacts, and 3 encouragement postcards, followed by a 4-month reinforcement phase including monthly phone contacts. The MI received standard educational pamphlets by mail. Outcomes were assessed at 8 and 12 months; the primary outcome was comparison of 8-month A1C levels. Results At baseline, the mean age was 59 years, A1C 7.8%, and body mass index 35.0 kg/m2; 64% of participants were female. For the 174 (87%) participants returning for 8-month measures, mean A1C (adjusted for baseline and group randomization) was 7.4% for SI and 7.8% for MI, with a difference of 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-0.6, P = .009). In a larger model adjusting for additional variables, the difference was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.2-0.7, P < .001). At 12 months, the difference between groups was not significant. Diabetes knowledge and diabetes-related quality of life significantly improved in the SI group compared with the MI group. Among SI participants completing an acceptability questionnaire, intervention components and materials were rated as highly acceptable. Conclusions The church-based intervention was well received by participants and improved short-term metabolic control.

Regional variation in treatment costs and survival for elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6628-6628
Author(s):  
Xiaomei Ma ◽  
Rong Wang ◽  
Jessica B. Long ◽  
Heather Taffet Gold ◽  
Stephanie Halene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myelodysplastic Syndromes ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Hospital Referral ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cost Efficient

6628 Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) occur primarily in the elderly (≥65 years). The expected 5-year cost for an elderly MDS patient tops $63,200 in 2009 US$. This study assessed regional variation in the cost of care and survival for elderly MDS patients. Methods: Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results–Medicare data, we identified primary MDS patients aged 66-99 years diagnosed from 2001-2007, had continuous fee-for-service coverage for Parts A and B, and had no history of other cancer. We assigned patients to Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care Hospital Referral Regions (HRRs) based on their residence at time of diagnosis. We also selected controls from a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries without cancer and matched controls 1:1 to patients by HRR, age, sex, pre-diagnosis cost and comorbidity. All Medicare claims through 2009 were tallied, and MDS-related costs were defined as the difference between the payments for a patient and a matched control. Results: With 6244 patients in 73 HRRs, the average 3-year MDS-related cost varied across HRRs, ranging from $12,900 to $83,600 (2009 US$). Patients in high-spending regions had more comorbidities and higher Medicare costs before diagnosis and were more likely to be racial minorities and live in lower-income areas. Three-year survival ranged from 13.0% to 62.1%. However, there was no significant correlation between 3-year costs and 3-year survival (ρ=-0.06, p=0.61). The hazard ratios (HR) for higher spending regions compared to the lowest-expenditure region were near 1, after controlling for covariates including MDS subtype (2nd quartile: HR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.94-1.12; 2nd quartile: HR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.95-1.14; 4th quartile: HR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.90-1.08). Conclusions: We observed considerable regional variation in Medicare expenditure on elderly MDS patients during the first 3 years post-diagnosis. However, patients in higher cost regions had similar 3-year survival to patients in lower cost regions. Given the substantial economic burden of MDS and Medicare’s current fiscal challenges, it is important to further assess the factors associated with higher regional costs and to improve the care of MDS patients in a cost-efficient way.

Managing the Aging of Critical Components of Nuclear Power Plants

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Gary Elder ◽  
Ricardo Llovet ◽  
Theodore A. Meyer ◽  
Edward Terek
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Component Part ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Critical Components

Managing the aging of critical components within a nuclear power plant is a challenging task that ultimately determines the value and revenue generation of the plant. This paper will provide an overview of a process for determining the critical components of the power plant and describe a long term equipment reliability and aging management program for these components. This program determines the potential failure modes and rates for each critical component part and identifies the effective repair, replacement, inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance activities. It also describes a tool for determining the optimal timing of these activities to produce the most value for the power plant. This program is currently being implemented at several power plants. As nuclear plants strive to reduce costs, extend life and maximize revenue, the aging management program and the supporting tools summarized in this paper can enable development of a long term, cost efficient plan to manage the aging of the plant’s critical components and systems.

scholarly journals A neuro-dynamic programming approach to the optimal stand management problem

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 808-816
Author(s):  
Jules Comeau ◽  
Eldon Gunn
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Programming ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Programming Approach ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Indicator Variable ◽  
Stand Management ◽  
Commercial Thinning

Some ideas of neuro-dynamic programming (NDP) are illustrated by considering the problem of optimally managing a forest stand under uncertainty. Because reasonable growth models require state information such as height (or age), basal area, and stand diameter, as well as an indicator variable for treatments that have been performed on the stand, they can easily lead to very large state spaces that include continuous variables. Realistic stand management policies include silvicultural options such as pre-commercial and commercial thinning as well as post-harvest treatments. We are interested in problems that are stochastic in their basic growth dynamics, in market prices, and in disturbances, ranging from insects to fire to hurricanes. NDP algorithms are appropriate for problems with large dimensions that may lack a simple model of dynamics and stochastic processes. This paper looks at applying these ideas in the context of a multispecies model. Results show that policies obtained using NDP are optimal within a 95% confidence interval or better. The set of states and controls incorporated into our NDP model allows us to develop optimal policies with a level of detail not typically seen in the forestry literature.

scholarly journals Postgraduate “Management” program design for small and medium business managers

2021 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 01013
Author(s):  
Sergey Mamontov
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Master's Program ◽  
Technological Education ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
Content Organization ◽  
Master's Thesis ◽  
Key Competencies ◽  
The Difference

The paper suggests an approach to teaching and implementing research in the master’s degree studies, which are oriented at system training of heads/owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses that do not have basic management education, but, as a rule, have a higher technical or technological education and sufficient practical experience. Hypothesis of the article is the assumption that the teaching specifics of this segment should be based on interdisciplinary coordination of content, organization of training, and communication. Verifying this hypothesis based on a review of the literature and identifying the specifics of the segment is the overall goal of the article. As a particular corollary we justify a special educational event (a cycle of research seminars) that integrates various components of training students in the master’s program, in the framework of project activities logic that corresponds to the logic of the modern production process. We show the difference between this segment and consumers who are focused on the MBA and MIM programs, and provide examples from Russian reality. Taking into account the consumer characteristics of the segment, we propose an organizational and pedagogical approach to the formation of key competencies in the field of management for students representing this segment. In particular, we argue for teaching students of this group in the frame of the master’s program, based on the project approach both in the content and in its organization. The article notes that the pedagogical features of the formation of project competencies in students of this segment dictate the use of the method of ascending from the abstract to the concrete as a basis for building a general learning strategy. Decomposition of the learning strategy and the master’s thesis research demonstrates the need for interdisciplinary coordination of content, training and organizing communication.

scholarly journals Aplikasi Sensor Potodioda Pada Sistem Monitoring Kwh Meter Berbasis Komunikasi Sms

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Tuah Pasaribu ◽  
Muhammad Amin Bakri
Keyword(s):  
Electric Power ◽  
Short Message Service ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Data Communication ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Digital Display ◽  
Time Consumption ◽  
Design Specifications ◽  
Message Service ◽  
The Difference

Kebutuhan menggunakan listrik menjadi hal yang tidak dapat dipisahkan dari kehidupan manusia. Perusahaan penyedian listrik sampai saat ini memonitor penggunaan daya listrik pelanggan yang menggunakan kWh meter pascabayar dilakukan secara manual melalui tenaga kerja dalam pembacaan/pencatatan jumlah daya listrik terpakai. Hal ini dapat menyebabkan kesulitan bagi petugas dalam pembacaan/pencatatan karena jika pagar rumah terkunci saat ditinggal pergi oleh pelanggan, tentu akan menyebabkan besarnya konsumsi waktu. Berdasarkan permasalahan diatas, penulis telah membuat suatu alat yang dapat memonitor penggunaan daya listrik kWh meter menggunakan sensor potodioda dan SMS (Short Message Service) sebagai media komunikasi data untuk memudahkan pengambilan jumlah kWh terpakai. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan, alat yang dibuat dapat bekerja dengan baik dan memenuhi semua spesifikasi awal perancangan. Saat diuji secara keseluruhan, alat mampu mengubah tampilan kwh meter analog menjadi tampilan digital dan mengirimkan informasi data kWh terpakai melalui sms gateway. Pada pembacaan kWh meter kovensional dengan sms gateway terjadi selisih yaitu sebesar 0.0023%. Perbedaan tersebut terjadi karena ketelitian sms gateway lebih baik. Sedangkan  selisih alat berdasarkan rumus adalah sebesar 0.04 %. Kata kunci: kWh Meter, Potodioda, SMS    The need to use electricity becomes inseparable from human life. To date, electricity providers still monitor customr electric power usage using postpaid kWh meter manually through labor in the reading/recording of the amount of electric power used. This can cause difficulties for the officer in the reading/recording because if the fence is locked when the customer is not home, it will certainly cause the amount of time consumption. Thus, the authors have created a tool that can monitor the use of electric power kWh meters using sensor potodioda and SMS (Short Message Service) as a data communication media to facilitate the taking of the number of kWh used. The results of this study indicate, the tool is made to work well and meet all the initial design specifications. When tested in its entirety, the tool is able to convert the analog kWh meter display into a digital display and sends the kWh data used via the sms gateway. At the kWh meter reading kovensional with sms gateway happened difference that is equal to 0.0023%. The difference occurs because sms gateway accuracy is better. While the difference in the tool based on the formula is 0.04%. Keywords : kWh Meter, Photodioda, SMS

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