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Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26218/1/0000298.pd

Catching up with Method and Process Practice: An Industry-Informed Baseline for Researchers

Software development methods are usually not applied by the book.companies are under pressure to continuously deploy software products that meet market needs and stakeholders\u27 requests. To implement efficient and effective development processes, companies utilize multiple frameworks, methods and practices, and combine these into hybrid methods. A common combination contains a rich management framework to organize and steer projects complemented with a number of smaller practices providing the development teams with tools to complete their tasks. In this paper, based on 732 data points collected through an international survey, we study the software development process use in practice. Our results show that 76.8% of the companies implement hybrid methods.company size as well as the strategy in devising and evolving hybrid methods affect the suitability of the chosen process to reach company or project goals. Our findings show that companies that combine planned improvement programs with process evolution can increase their process\u27 suitability by up to 5%

Facial EMG activity levels predict treatment outcome in depression

Higher electromyographic (EMG) activity levels of corrugator and zygomatic face muscles have been reported to be pretreatment predictors of better clinical outcome in depressed patients. We tested this possibility in 29 drug-free, rigorously diagnosed subjects by measuring low-level EMG activity of corrugator and zygomatic muscles during resting and three imagery states (happy, typical day, sad). All patients had major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype. Good responders had significantly higher pretreatment EMG zygomatic values and different EMG profiles. Our findings replicate and expand prior reports.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24620/1/0000030.pd

Fission-fusion dynamics over large distances in raven non-breeders

The influence of fission-fusion dynamics, i.e., temporal variation in group size and composition, on social complexity has been studied in large-brained mammals that rely on social bonds. Little is known about birds, even though some species like ravens have recently received attention for their socio-cognitive skills and use of social bonds. While raven breeders defend territories year-round, non-breeders roam through large areas and form groups at food sources or night roosts. We here examined the fission-fusion patterns of non-breeding ravens over years, investigating whether birds meet repeatedly either at the same or at different locations. We combined four large datasets: presence-absence observations from two study sites (Austria, Italy) and GPS-tracking of ravens across two study areas (Austria, France). As expected, we found a highly dynamic system in which individuals with long phases of temporary settlement had a high probability of meeting others. Although GPS-tagged ravens spread out over thousands of square kilometres, we found repeated associations between almost half of the possible combinations at different locations. Such a system makes repeated interactions between individuals at different sites possible and likely. High fission-fusion dynamics may thus not hinder but shape the social complexity of ravens and, possibly, other long-term bonded birds

Spatial ecology of non-breeding Eurasian Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in relation to natural and artificial food availability

Capsule: The movements and spatial ecology of non-breeding Eurasian Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in northern Italy, Croatia and Austria do not seem to be affected by feeding station use. Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess how the creation of a feeding station at the Riserva Naturale Regionale del Lago di Cornino (Forgaria nel Friuli, northeast Italy) during the 1980s might have affected the spatial and behavioural ecology of the Eurasian Griffon Vulture. Methods: Using global positioning system (GPS) satellite tracking, we studied movements of nine non-breeding Eurasian Griffon Vultures within the Riserva Naturale Regionale del Lago di Cornino in Italy, the Hohe Tauern in Austria and the Kvarner Gulf in Croatia. Results: Both the average foraging range size and the time spent by the birds in Italy were comparable to those recorded in Croatia and Austria, where the vultures depend on unpredictable food resources. A significant difference in terms of foraging range size was recorded among seasons. In winter it seems to be smaller as a consequence of reduced movements performed by the individuals due to harsh climate conditions. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the creation of a feeding station in Forgaria does not seem to have affected the spatial ecology of the Eurasian Griffon Vulture. However, due to the limited sample size and the young age of the individuals monitored, which have a long dispersal period, the findings presented should be considered as preliminary. Further research needs to be implemented to inform decisions regarding the management of supplementary feeding stations to promote the recovery and conservation of scavenger species, particularly in areas in which they have declined massively

Soil chemical changes and nutrient leaching losses following application of a farm-dairy effluent

The objective of this research was to analyze soil chemical properties changes and nutrient leaching losses following the application of a farm-dairy effluent (FDE) to a Typic Argiudoll. The experimental design consisted of three randomized complete blocks and four treatments: TO, without; T1, 60 m3ha-1; T2, 120 m3ha-1; and T3, 180 m3ha-1of FDE applied. Soil samples were collected to evaluate their chemical properties and leaching of anions and cations was quantified from the flux density of water and the ion concentration in the soil solution. Sorghum and alfalfa crops were grown during the experiment. FDE had a strong potential to partially replace fertilizers by increasing organic matter and nutrient content in the upper profile of the soil. However, increases in exchangeable K+and exchangeable Na+should be considered. The leaching of nitrate, sodium, calcium and magnesium was 2.7, 31.2, 201.8 and 30.4 kg ha-1, respectively.Fil: Ghiberto, Pablo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Imhoff, Silvia del Carmen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Genero, F.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Heymo, A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Age effects in serial hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal monitoring

To evaluate age effects on hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal (HPA) regulation in depressives, we studied 65 patients with major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype. With each patient serving as his or her own control, we compared weekly dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results among three age subgroups (N = 18; 40 - 70 years, N = 40; > 70 years, N = 7). The oldest patient group had higher mean post-dexamethasone plasma cortisol concentrations both before and after treatment, and more were DST nonsuppressors. Life table analyses revealed that elderly patients who were DST nonsuppressors had significantly slower patterns of normalization during treatment and that fewer elderly patients ever achieved normal suppression. The results indicate that age effects on HPA function may be confounded with other aspects of depression, such as severity, chronicity and number of previous episodes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26367/1/0000454.pd