In recent decades, the costs of energy in dairy farming increased mainly due to rising energy prices but also due to increased mechanisation and automatisation. Electric energy in dairy farming is essentially used for milking and milk cooling. However, the energy consumption of automatic milking systems (AMS) depend on many factors (e.g., machine generations, machine configurations and settings, and operative conditions). To evaluate the differences in performance and energy efficiency of AMS, the impact of different technologies within the attachment arm in practical conditions, a detailed quantification of energy consumption was carried out on two consecutive single box automatic milking systems (AMS) of a dairy farm in southern Bavaria (Germany). The AMS equipped with an electrical drive of the attachment arm was more efficient and showed a higher capacity regarding cows in the herd. The replacement of the pneumatic drive with electrical drives leads to higher energy consumptions of the milking robot but reduces the energy consumption of the air compressor. Hence, the energy efficiency of the electric attachment arm showed strong advantages in the energetic efficiency of the whole milking process. Advances of sustainability due to the increased performance are and should be investigated in further research.

No abstract

Introduction: The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator, WCD; LifeVest#) is a treatment option for patients at high risk for VT/VF, either in whom this risk may be temporarely or in whom an ICD implanation is currently not possible. Methods: Retrospective registry of all patients in Austria who received a WCD 2010-2015. Results: 226 Austrian patients (62 + 13 years; 25% female) received a WCD. Main indications were: Newly diagnosed severe cardiomyopathy (30%), ischemic cardiomyopathy with recent PCI (22%), recent myocardial infarction (19%), delayed ICD implantation (13%), acute myocarditis (10%), ICD-associated infection (6%). Left ventricular EF was 40 + 14%, median CHA2DS2VASc-Score 3 (2-5). 51% of patients had VT/VF before the WCD period. The median WCD duration was 58 (1-380) days. There was no difference in WCD compliance between patients wearing the WCD ,60 days vs. .60 days (23 (3-24) h/day vs. 22 (1-24) h/ day; n.s.). 9 patients (2,6%) received adequate WCD shocks for VT/VF, terminating the arrhythmia to sinus rhythm. All 9 patients received an ICD. No inadequate shocks occured. Only 51% of all 226 patients required ICD implantation after the WCD. Of the 9 patients with myocarditis, only one patient (11%) required an ICD. Conclusion: The WCD is an effective treatment option in patients at high risk for VT/VF and/ or in whom ICD implantation is temporarely not possible. Only 51% of patients require an ICD after the WCD period.