A systematic literature review on agile project

In the 21st century, agile project management (APM) has emerged as a major evolutionary step in the area of software project management. APM is defined as a conceptual framework, consisting of various methods such as Scrum, quick respond to change, better customer collaboration, minimum coverage of documentation and extreme programming (XP) that facilitates to produce working software in multiple iterations with team work. Because agile project management has become more popular in the software industry in recent years, it constitutes an interesting and comprehensive research topic. This thesis presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of published research articles concerning agile project management. Based on a predefined search strategy, 273 such articles were identified, of which 44 were included in the review. The selected 44 articles were published between years 2005 and 2012. The thesis defines a review process by developing a review protocol and presenting the results of the review. The results are expected to provide researchers, software man

Sawfly larval poisoning in cattle: Report on new outbreaks and brief review of the literature

Sawfly larval poisoning (SLP) is an acute hepatotoxicosis documented in livestock in Australia, Denmark and in countries of South America. It is caused by the ingestion of the larval stage of insects of the suborder Symphyta, order Hymenoptera, commonly known as "sawfly". Three species of sawfly are reportedly involved in the toxicosis. The insect involved in Australian SLP is Lophyrotoma interrupta (Pergidae), in Denmark the cause of SLP is the ingestion of the larvae Arge pullata (Argidae), and in South American countries documented outbreaks of SLP were caused by the ingestion of yet another sawfly, Perreyia flavipes (Pergidae). In all geographical areas where it occurred, SLP causes important livestock losses. In cattle, as well as in other affected species, the disease has a short clinical course and in many outbreaks affected cattle can be found dead. When observed, clinical signs include apathy, recumbence, tremors, paddling movements and death in 24-48 hours. Neurological signs such aggressiveness attributable to hepatic encephalopathy are also observed. In cases with a more protracted course icterus and photodermatitis may develop. Gross findings included ascites, petechiae and ecchymosis over serosal surfaces of thoracic and abdominal cavities, and an enlarged liver that displays accentuation of the lobular pattern and edema of the gall bladder wall. Sawfly larval body fragments and heads are consistently found in the fore stomachs and occasionally abomasum of affected cattle. Main microscopic lesions are restricted to the liver and consist of centrolobular (periacinar) to massive hepatocellular necrosis. In most lobules necrotic areas extended up to the portal triads where only a few viable hepatocytes remain. Mild to moderate lymphocyte necrosis is seen in lymphatic tissues. Cases occur in the winter months when the larval stages of the sawfly are developing. D-amino acid-containing peptides have been found to be the toxic principle in each sawfly involved in SLP. The octapeptide lophyrotomin is the major toxin in the in the larvae of Australian and Danish sawflies and is present in small amounts in the larvae of South American sawfly. The heptadecapeptide pergidin is the main toxin in the South American sawfly while small amounts of pergidin have been found in the other two species of toxic sawfly. During the winter of 2011 (July-August) four outbreaks of SLP were diagnosed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings in those outbreaks are reported here and a brief review of the literature regarding SLP around the world is provided.

Neuvostoliiton liikkeen edistäminen Afganistanin sodassa 1979-1989

Joulupäivänä 1979 syttyneessä Afganistanin sodassa vuosina Neuvostoliitto toteutti historiansa viimeisen strategisen iskun. Iskun tavoitteena oli keskeisten kohteiden miehittäminen, myötämielisen hallituksen aseman vakiinnuttaminen ja sotilaallisen vastuun luovuttaminen. Operaation pituudeksi oli suunniteltu 3 – 6 kuukautta. Alkumenestyksestä huolimatta strateginen isku muuttui kymmenen vuotta kestäneeksi veriseksi kulutussodaksi, jonka lopputulos oli Neuvostoliiton osalta kuitenkin häpeällinen vetäytyminen alkuvuodesta 1989. Sissien kokonaistulenkäytössä miina-ase oli keskeisessä asemassa. Maan ankarat olosuhteet vaikeuttivat neuvostojoukkojen toimintaa. Tutkimuksen aineisto on kerätty julkisista lähteistä. Analysointikeinona käytettiin aineistolähteistä analyysia. Tutkimuksessa pyrittiin selvittämään miten neuvostoliittolaiset joukot pyrkivät vastaamaan kumouksellisen osapuolen miinasotaan Afganistanin sodassa vuosina 1979 - 1989? Afganistanin sotaan lähteneet neuvostojoukot päätyivät olosuhteisiin, mitkä poikkesi-vat suuresti siitä mihin joukkojen taktiikka ja kalusto oli suunniteltu. Tämä ilmiö korostui pioneerijoukkojen toiminnassa, sillä ainoastaan pioneeriaselaji kykenee parantamaan taistelukentän olosuhteita. Miinasodankäynti on aina riippuvainen kolmesta eri tekijästä: olosuhteista, vastustajasta ja omasta toiminnasta. Tutkimuksen keskeistä antia on afgaanisissien suluttamisen ja neuvostopioneerien raivaamisen välinen vuorovaikutusketju seuraaminen. Ketju on suorastaan klassinen esimerkki aseen ja vasta-aseen välisessä kilpajuoksussa vaadittavasta reaktiivisuudesta ja adaptoitumisesta

Improving quality at the preanalytical phase of blood sampling : literature review

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