RFID’s Impact on Logistic Operations: Towards a Comprehensive Empirical Assessment

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an information technology whose appeal to practitioners and researchers remains high. Although an impressive amount of research addresses its use in various applications, its impact on logistic operations, where it is expected to yield the most significant benefits, has been poorly understood to date. In particular, stringent empirical research along these lines is still missing and many questions remain unanswered. Which generic activities are crucial when introducing RFID in logistic processes? Are detailed planning, expertise, standards, and collaboration with business partners actually essential to achieve RFID profitability or is RFID introduction easier than expected by most decision makers. Does most of the value created by RFID projects come from improved automation, visibility, or completely new ways to do business? In order to answer these questions, we have designed a survey instrument which is described and evaluated in this paper1. The hypotheses motivated in this document will soon be tested using a representative sample of RFID adopters and the structural equation modelling methodology

Integrated weed control in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), using precision farming technologies and cover cropping

Weed control is one of the major challenges in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) production worldwide. Due to the high flexibility and low costs, herbicide applications are the common agricultural practice for successful weed control. Yet, due to European and national restrictions, farmers are forced to substitute their herbicide input in order to reduce the chemical influence on the environment. Beside chemical weed control systems, integrated weed management (IWM), can be an alternative, to reduce the chemical preponderance. The five essential parts in composing a successful IWM system are: i) cover crops (CC) and ii) resulting mulch residues which can decrease the weed infestation prior to the actual crop establishment, iii) living mulches which can suppress weeds during the crop growth period and iv) precision mechanical weed control which can provide herbicide reductions. Last but not least v) herbicide applications should be optimized with sensor technologies to identify and reduce stress on crops. In the current study, all the named aspects of IWM were examined in sugar beets. In order to accomplish that, the following research objectives were investigated and answered in the course of the papers composing this thesis: Evaluation of the suitability of CC and CC mixtures for weed suppression prior to sugar beet sowing Assessment of differences in sugar beet emergence, weed control and biomass under different CC mulches Application of living mulches and measurement of their weed control efficacy during the sugar beet growth period Evaluation of mechanical weed control along with chemical band spraying compared to an overall herbicide application Determination of the weed control efficacy of mechanical weeding by using visual sensors and GNSS-RTK Investigation of the feasibility of intra-row mechanical weed control, its prerequisites and limitations Detection of responses to herbicides by using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technology 1st paper: Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the competitive and biochemical weed suppressive ability of CC. Applied aqueous CC extracts in germination tests inhibited weed growth and potential allelochemicals were identified. In the field all CC either in mixture- or mono-cultivation were able to suppress weeds compared to an untreated control by 66%. In the 2nd and 3rd paper sugar beet plant emergence was investigated in greenhouse and field experiments, in order to evaluate the influence of various CC mulches on weed suppression. Different CC mulches reduced weed germination successfully. During one dry growing season sugar beet emergence was enhanced by increased soil moisture due to the existence of a CC mulch layer compared to uncovered soil. Our findings suggest that CC mulch layers can substantially effect crop and weed development within the field. To assess the weed suppressive ability of living mulches in sugar beets, field studies were carried out at four sites in southern Germany, presented in the 4th paper. Results show that living mulches can reduce the total amount of different weed species in the inter-row area up to 71%. The white sugar yield was increased in average by 42% with the existence of living mulch as compared to the untreated control. In the 5th, 6th and 7th paper sensor technologies were used for mechanical weed control combined with chemical band application to reduce the herbicide input, with similar weed control results to the overall chemical application. Sensor based, mechanical precision steering technologies, reduced weeds more effectively than when compared to manual operator guidance. This is due to accurate fast driving speeds close to the crop area. Intra row elements (finger weeder, rotary harrow, torsion weeder, heap element) for mechanical weed control showed effective weed suppression. Nevertheless, suitable soil and weather conditions for mechanical weed control were not always given, which can result in an efficacy loss. Finally, in the 8th paper, a portable sensor, based on chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, was used in greenhouse experiments to investigate the response of plants after herbicide application. Various active ingredients have shown different damage concerning the photosystem II. The use of this sensor can quantify phytotoxic effects due to herbicides and can help to find the most suitable herbicide application date, active ingredients or herbicide mixture. The overall result of this dissertation reveals the great potential of CC, living mulches, precision mechanical methods and sensor technologies as part of an IWM system in sugar beet production.Eine effektive Unkrautkontrolle in der Zuckerrübenproduktion (Beta vulgaris) bedeutet für den Landwirt eine große Herausforderung. Integrierte Pflanzenschutz-Maßnahmen (IPM) können neben der rein chemischen Unkrautkontrolle eine sinnvolle Alternative darstellen. Zu einem erfolgreichen IPM-System gehören alternative Verfahren wie i) Zwischenfruchtanbau (ZF) und ii) der daraus resultierende Mulch, welcher den Unkrautdruck reduzieren kann, bevor die Kultur etabliert wird. Des Weiteren können iii) Untersaaten die Unkräuter während der Wachstumsperiode der Kultur unterdrücken. Der Einsatz von iv) präziser, mechanischer Unkrautkontrolle kann zu einer Reduktion von Herbiziden führen. Abschließend kann v) durch den Einsatz von Sensor-Technologie die Herbizid-Applikation optimiert werden, um einen Stress an der Kultur zu reduzieren. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die aufgelisteten Aspekte des IPM in Zuckerrüben geprüft. Folgende Zielsetzungen wurden im Rahmen verschiedener Veröffentlichungen dieser Arbeit untersucht und beantwortet: Evaluation von Zwischenfrüchten und Zwischenfruchtmischungen zur Unkrautunterdrückung vor der Zuckerrübenaussaat Bewertung von Zwischenfruchtmulch auf das Auflaufen und die Biomasse der Zuckerrüben sowie die Verunkrautung vor der ersten Herbizidapplikation Anwendung von Untersaaten in Zuckerrüben zur Unkrautunterdrückung Eignung von mechanischer und chemischer Unkrautkontrolle im Vergleich zur rein chemischen Applikation Bewertung von kameragesteuerter Hacke und GNSS-RTK in Bezug auf die Unkrautunterdrückung in Zuckerrüben Prüfung von mechanischen Hackelementen auf ihre Anforderungen und die limitierte Wirkung in der Zuckerrübenreihe Erkennung von Herbizidstress an Zuckerrüben mit Hilfe bildgebender Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Messung Es wurden Feld- und Laborversuche durchgeführt, um die kompetitive und biochemische Unkrautunterdrückung von ZF zu quantifizieren. Die applizierten ZF-Extrakte hemmten in Keimfähigkeitstests das Unkrautwachstum. Weiter wurden potentielle allelopathische Substanzen chemisch-analytisch identifiziert. In den Feldversuchen konnten alle Zwischenfrüchte sowohl in Misch- als auch in Reinkultur das Unkrautpotential um bis zu 66% im Vergleich zu einer unbehandelten Kontrolle reduzieren. In der 2. und 3. Veröffentlichung wurde der Einfluss von verschiedenen ZF-Mulchen in Bezug auf die Unkrautunterdrückung und die Entwicklung von Zuckerrübenpflanzen im Gewächshaus sowie in Feldversuchen bewertet. Die verschiedenen ZF-Rückstände konnten die Unkrautkeimung erfolgreich reduzieren. Während eines trockenen Anbaujahres konnte durch die ZF-Mulchschicht ein schnellerer Zuckerrübenfeldaufgang im Vergleich zu fehlender Bodenbedeckung ermittelt werden. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse stellen die Bedeutung von ZF-Mulch in Bezug auf die Unkrautbekämpfung und Kulturentwicklung im Feld dar. Die Unkrautunterdrückung mit Untersaaten zwischen den Zuckerrübenreihen wurde an vier Standorten in Südwestdeutschland in der 4. Veröffentlichung getestet. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Untersaaten die Gesamtverunkrautung zwischen den Reihen um bis zu 71% reduzieren konnten. Der bereinigte Zuckerertrag konnte im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Kontrolle durchschnittlich um 42% erhöht werden. In der 5., 6. und 7. Veröffentlichung wurde die Kombination von mechanischer Unkrautkontrolle ergänzend mit einer chemischen Bandapplikation zur Herbizid-Reduktion untersucht und ergab einen ähnlichen Unkrautbekämpfungserfolg wie eine ganzflächige, chemische Applikation. Ebenso wies die sensorgesteuerte Reihenhacke ein geringeres Unkrautaufkommen als die manuelle Traktorsteuerung auf. Dies wurde der exakteren Spurführung aufgrund der Sensorsteuerung zugeschrieben. Mechanische Hackelemente in der Reihe (Fingerhacke, Rollstriegel, Torsionsstriegel und Häufelschar) zeigten ebenso eine effektive Unkrautbekämpfung. Allerdings waren für mechanische Unkrautbekämpfungsmaßnahmen nicht immer optimale Witterungsbedingungen gegeben, was zu Wirkungsverlusten führte. In der 8. Veröffentlichung wurde ein portabler Sensor, basierend auf bildgebender Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Messung, eingesetzt, um unterschiedliche Herbizid-Verträglichkeiten der Zuckerrüben zu messen. Verschiedene aktive Wirkstoffe zeigten unterschiedliche Stressreaktionen im Photosystem II. Mit Hilfe dieses Sensors können zukünftig phytotoxische Effekte nach einer Herbizidapplikation quantifiziert und bewertet werden. Somit können sowohl der bestmögliche Applikationszeitpunkt als auch der optimale Wirkstoff bzw. die ideale Wirkstoffmischung ausgewählt werden. Zusammenfassend weist diese Dissertation ein großes Potential von ZF, Untersaaten, präziserer mechanischer Unkrautkontrolle und Sensoren als Bestandteil von IPM in der Zuckerrübenproduktion nach

Comparison of different mechanical weed control strategies in sugar beets

In sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) weed control is commonly performed by herbicide application applied broadcast at splitting during the cultivation period. Mechanical weeding can be an alternative to chemical weed control. The aim of this experiment was the estimation of weed control efficacy with the use of automatic steering technologies by camera guidance, the use of different intra row weed control implements in conservation tillage systems and the influence of these techniques to the number of uprooted sugar beets. A field experiment with a randomized complete plot design was conducted in 2015 at Ihinger Hof, Germany. Weed density ranged from 0 to 12 plants m-2 with Chenopodium album, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare as the most abundant weed species. Hoeing with the use of automatic steering technologies reduced the weed density by 82%. The use of finger weeders, rotary-harrow and torsion finger weeder reduced the weed density by 29% compared to common hoeing strategies. Differences in the number of uprooted sugar beets were not found across all treatments. We revealed the possibility of a more intense use of mechanical weeding technologies in combination with precision farming technologies in sugar beet.Vergleich verschiedener mechanischer Unkrautstrategien in ZuckerrübenIn Zuckerrüben (Beta vulgaris) wird die Unkrautkontrolle meistens durch eine mehrfache Herbizidapplikation auf der gesamten Ackerfläche durchgeführt. Mechanische Unkrautkontrollmaßnahmen können eine Alternative zu den üblichen chemischen Unkrautbekämpfungsstrategien darstellen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, den Einsatz von automatischen kameragesteuerten Lenkmechanismen und den Einsatz unterschiedlicher „intra row“ Hackwerkzeuge in konservierender Bodenbearbeitung auf ihre Verringerung der Unkrautdichte zu untersuchen, sowie den Einfluss der angewendeten Verfahren auf die Anzahl von entwurzelten Zuckerrüben-Pflanzen zu ermitteln. Hierfür wurde ein Feldversuch im Jahr 2015 am Standort Ihinger Hof mit einer randomisierten vollständigen Blockanlage angelegt. Die Verunkrautung variierte von 0 bis 12 Pflanzen m-2, mit den am häufigsten vorkommenden Arten Chenopodium album, Polygonum convolvulus und Polygonum aviculare. Der Einsatz von kameragesteuerten Lenkmechanismen reduzierte die Verunkrautung in Zuckerrüben um 82 %. Fingerhacke, Rollstriegel und Torsions-Striegel, reduzierten den Unkrautbesatz im Vergleich zum herkömmlichen Hackeinsatz um 29 %. Signifikante Unterschiede in der Bestandesdichte konnten nicht festgestellt werden. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde die Möglichkeit von mechanischen Unkrautbekämpfungsstrategien in Kombination mit konservierender Bodenbearbeitung erfolgreich untersucht

Simultaneous Integrated Boost Intensity‑Modulated Radiotherapy (SIB‑IMRT) in Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Abstract : Purpose: : To assess the efficacy and safety of using simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) to treat nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in a Caucasian cohort. Outcome was analyzed with respect to dose-volume histogram (DVH) values. Patients and Methods: : Between 03/2002 and 01/2008, 39 NPC patients underwent SIB-IMRT (37 Caucasians; 31 males; mean age 53 years [16-78 years]). 41% presented with WHO (World Health Organization) type 1 unfavorable histology, 85% with stage III/IV disease. 19 patients had total gross tumor volume (GTV) 16-70 cm3 (mean 36 cm3), while 16 had GTV > 70 cm3 (73-217 cm3; mean 115 cm3). All patients with stage II-IV disease received concomitant cisplatin. The prescribed SIB dose delivered to the planning target volume (PTV) was 70 Gy (2.00 Gy/fraction) in 17, 69.6 Gy (2.11 Gy/fraction) in 19, and 66 Gy (2.20 Gy/fraction) in three patients. Results: : 3-year local relapse-free, nodal relapse-free, distant metastases-free, disease-free rates and overall survival were 86%, 89%, 85%, 72%, and 85% (median follow-up 30 months [8-71 months]). Histology was a significant prognostic factor concerning overall survival, with worst prognosis in WHO type 1 compared to type 2/3 (75% vs. 93%; p = 0.03). There was a trend in favor of WHO type 2/3 regarding local control (74% vs. 94%; p = 0.052). The PTV DVHs showed a slight left shift compared to reported series. Three patients developed grade 3 late effects (xerostomia [n = 2], dysphagia [n = 1], hearing loss [n = 1]). Conclusion: : In comparison with predominantly Asian NPC IMRT series in the literature, chemo-IMRT in the own Caucasian cohort, characterized by less radioresponsive WHO type 1, was equally effective. Treatment tolerance was excellen

Informing about Web Paradata Collection and Use (Version 1.0)

This survey guideline addresses the practical question of how best to inform survey participants about the collection and use of paradata in web surveys. We provide an overview of different personal and non-personal web paradata and the associated information and consent requirements. Best practices regarding the procedure, wording, and placement of non-personal web paradata information are discussed. In addition, we propose a sample wording for web paradata information in German and English

The Karlsruhe temperature time series since 1779

This paper presents the long-term Karlsruhe temperature series re-digitized and reconstructed from handwritten manuscripts from 1779 to 1875 archived in various libraries. Despite great efforts, data from some periods remained missing in the manuscript departments so that the main Karlsruhe series remained partially fragmented. Combined with historic climate records available in the archive of German Weather Service (DWD), the entire series until 2008, when the official Karlsruhe station was relocated to Rheinstetten, is one of the longest climate series available for Germany. The series includes various observational parameters on a daily or even sub-daily basis converted into SI units or contemporary units. The focus of this paper is on the temperature series and presents some first statistical analyses to demonstrate the additional benefit of possessing unique long-term instrumental climate data on a sub-daily basis. The entire temperature series was homogenized with respect to consistent observation times and to an urban boundary site. It is shown that the width of the distribution function quantified from constructed daily maximum and minimum temperature has substantially broadened in the summer months, but not during winter or the entire year. The number of summer and hot days has substantially increased in the last 30–50 years, while the number of frost and ice days has decreased. Summer or hot days as well as heat waves were very rare before 1920, being unrepresentative of a period mainly unaffected by climate change. Singularities of the climate system, such as the (cold) Schafskälte in June or the (warm) Hundstage in July/August, are clearly shown in most periods. The (cold) Ice Saints in May, however, have a high frequency only in the coldest period between 1870 and 1960; they are hardly detectable in most of the preceding years. Temperature statistics show that the severity of late spring frosts has gradually increased during the entire record mainly as a result of later frost occurrences