Developing a Cost-Efficient Employee and Project Management System for Small-Scale Software Development Startups

Startups are a vital and significant part of the software development landscape. They are the first to implement and embrace new technologies and changes in existing technologies. Even though the vast majority of startups are minor in scale, they represent a significant market share. They develop innovative products within a limited time frame with less capital. Their need to work within a limited time frame guides most startups to embrace the agile methodology. These companies also work with proprietary data and procedures essential to maintain competitiveness with other companies in the market. Employee management systems can reduce the workload on human resource management, and project management systems can increase the efficiency of software development. Both these systems are essential tools for a startup. Even though many tools provide these functionalities in the market, they were not developed specifically for startups. This research aims to create a single service optimized for a small employee base that can provide both of these functionalities in the most cost-efficient and secure way

BIODIVERSITY OF THE BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK AND RAMSAR WETLAND

The Bundala National Park (6216 ha) is located in the Hambantota District, within the SoutheasternArid Zone of Sri Lanka. T:lC park consists mainly of dry thorny scrubland and lagoons;Koholankala (390 ha), Malala (6511 ha), Embilikala (430 ha) and Bundala (520 ha). Theseshallow water lagoons form a complex wetland system that harbours a rich bird life, includingseveral species of migratory waterfowl. Bundala is Sri Lanka's first Ramsar wetland-a wetlandof international importance especially for migratory waterfowl. Recent studies have indicatedthat the Bundala National Park and its wetlands are being degraded by various adverse factors,Therefore, this survey was intended to document the present status of biodiversity in thisprotected area, and the threats it faces today. The systematic survey on biodiversity extendedfrom January to April 2001, during which the area was visited at fortnightly intervals, The faunaand flora were surveyed using scientifically valid inventorying techniques. The survey enabledto document 7 major terrestrial vege.ation/habitat types (dry thorny scrubland, Arid zone forests,sand dune vegetation, gentle sea shore vegetation, Arid zone maritime grasslands/pastures,Riverine forest, anomalous Mesquite (Prosopis) scrublands and 6 wetland types (saltmarsh,mangrove, brackish water lagoons, sandy and rocky sea shore, seasonal water holes and tanks,saltern) in Bundala. A total of j83 plant species have been documented from the abovevegetation and habitat types in Bundala, These include 6 endemics and 7 species that areconsidered as nationally threatened. Shrubs and herbs (plants with leaves and non-woody stems)are the predominant plant life forms of Bundala. A total of 324 species of vertebrates have beenrecorded from Bundala National Park, of which 11 species are endemic, while 29 species arenationally threatened. Among the invertebrates are 52 species of colourful butterflies.At present, the biodiversity of Bundala National Park is facing several threats, which could besummarised under habitat deterioration and degradation (i.e., Shell mining, driving of vehiclesoff the recommended tracks, discharge of irrigation water in to lagoons, release of sludge intothe Bundala lagoon), direct exploitation of species (poaching, felling of trees, road kills), spreadof invasive alien species (4 animal species and 15 plant species), prolonged drought, andunplanned land-use practices. It is envisaged that these findings would contribute to theconservation and management of this globally important PA

BIODIVERSITY OF THE MADUGANGA MANGROVE WETLAND

The Maduganga estuary and mangrove islets are a complex coastal wetland ecosystem situatedwithin the two Divisional Secretariats of Balapaitiya and Karandeniya in the Galle District ofSouthern Sri Lanka, The total area of the estuary is 915 ha, of which 770 ha consist of openwater, while islands account for 145 ha. With the view of safeguarding the ecological functions,resources and values of the Maduganga estuary fer conservation and future sustenance ofbiodiversity, meN Sri Lanka carried out a systematic assessment of biodiversity in Maduganga.A six-month field survey was conducted from May to October 2000. Field sampling was carriedout at fortnightly intervals' each sampling session spanning over six continuous days. TheMaduganga ecosystem was divided into six major Si rata based on the occurrence of differentvegetation types, human activities and a hypothetical salinity gradient. These strata weresampled for fauna and flora in a systematic manner, using standard techniques. The threats tobiodiversity were also assessedThe survey revealed that the Maduganga wetland consists of 10 major wetland vegetation types.These vegetation types harboured a total of 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families. Thetotal plant species included 19 endemics, 8 nationally threatened species and 9 invasive alienspecies. Based on the extent of occurrence (ha), mangroves and mangrove mixed swamps werethe dominant wetland vegetation types in Maduganga, In addition to these wetland vegetationtypes, three major terrestrial vegetation types are also found in the islands and the surroundingmainland area of the Maduganga estuary. Perennial crops (mainly cinnamon) dominated theterrestrial vegetation types. A total of 98 plant species were recorded from the multi-specieshome gardens. When considering the species richness of flora in different wetland vegetationtypes, mangroves harboured the highest number of species, closely followedby mangrove mixedswamps. Maduganga estuary harbours a small population of a very rare, threatened mangrovespecies Lunmitzera littorea. A total of 248 species of vertebrate fauna, belonging to 121 familieswere recorded from Maduganga. These included 20 species (8%) of endemics, while 30 species(12%) are considered as nationally threatened. The native vertebrate fauna of Madugangarepresents 30% of Sri Lanka's native inland vertebrate species.Maduganga, perhaps one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forest in Sri Lankawith a rich biodiversity, now appears to be threaten,~c:.with the same predicament that many ofthe island's mangroves now find themselves in, owing to increasing human activity. At present,this wetland is not a protected area under any government department. Therefore, it is envisagedthat the findings of this survey will contribute to the .x'nservation of this unique coastal wetland.

Hypercarotenaemia in Wistar rats and ICR mice and correlation to humans

Hypercarotenaemia can occur at any age but it is more commonly seen in infants and young childrendue to the excessive intake of carotenoid bearing food. The objective of this study was to inducehypercarotenaemia and trace the fate of excess carotenoids in Wistar rats and ICR mice. Wistarrats (n=20) and ICR mice (n=28) were used. Rats and mice were divided into two groups (Test andControl). The controls were fed with standard rat/mice pellets while test group was fed with freeze-dried carrot incorporated standard rat/mice feed with boiled carrot. After a month and 2.5 months,blood was drawn for analyses of carotenoids and metabolites and after 2.5 months liver, adiposeand digesta of rats were collected. Faeces were freeze dried and then analyzed for carotenoids ofmetabolites (RP-HPLC). Serum, adipose, liver and bile of test and control mice were also analyzedas above.Wistar rats and ICR mice fed on excess carrot and papaw did not show outward signs ofhypercarotenaemia. Their serum, adipose tissue, liver, digesta (in the case of rats) and bile (in thecase of mice) did not show detectable amounts of carotenoids or their metabolites. However thefaeces of both rat and mice had high levels of α and β carotenes. This indicates that one method ofcontrol of hypercarotenaemia may be at the level of absorption.Key words: hypercarotenaemia, Induction of, Wistar rats and ICR mice, papaw, carrot die

The developing landscape of electric vehicles and smart grids: a smart future?

This paper attempts to connect debates on decarbonisation at international and European scale with discussions on smart grid developments,in the interaction of the international automotive industry,and government policy. Thus,the paper reviews policy frameworks and business strategies