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Global Software Development (GSD) has gained great attention during the past decade or so, and it is also being adopted by most of the software development organizations. The GSD approach is practiced by the software development organizations in China and a wide range of firms have established its operations in various Chinese cities. However, GSD practices becomes more challenging for the projects based on the agile concepts. The aim of this study is to develop a taxonomy of the factors that could positively impact the scaling process of agile methods in the Chinese GSD industry. The factors are identified by exploring the available literature and conducting industrial study with the Chinese agile and GSD practitioners. The finally reported factors are categorized, prioritized and developed their taxonomy using the multi-criterion decision making (MCDM) Fuzzy AHP approach. The given taxonomy is significant and progressive for GSD industry to assess and improve the scaling process of agile methods.

Cloud-Based Outsource Software Development (COSD) is a new methodology adopted by organizations to develop software using teams of knowledge workers located across the globe using cloud computing services. However, there is a lack of understanding of challenges associated with successful execution of COSD projects. The objective of this study is to identify and prioritize the challenges that influence COSD projects. First, we conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and identified 21 challenges that impact COSD projects. Next, a questionnaire survey was developed based on the SLR findings to collect feedback from industry practitioners. Finally, we applied the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to rank the identified challenges for COSD projects. We also present a prioritization-based taxonomy of the identified challenges which will help practitioners to focus on the critical areas for successful implementation of COSD projects.

Increasingly, software development organizations are scaling agile practices in the global software development (GSD) environment in order to meet the requirements of the quickly changing and regularly developing business environment. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the key barriers and develop a prioritization-based taxonomy of the barriers for scaling agile development in the GSD environment. Total twenty-two barriers were extracted from the available literature and categorized into five categories, i.e. “human resources management”, ‘coordination”, “technology”, “project management”, and “software methodology”. In the next phase, the identified barriers and their categories were further validated using the questionnaire survey. In the final phase, fuzzy-AHP method, a multi-criterion decision making (MCDM) technique, was applied to prioritize and taxonomy of identified barriers and their related categories was designed. The contribution of this study is not limited to investigate the barriers, but it also provides the roadmap to tackle the issues related to the scaling agile methods in the GSD environment.

The phenomena of global software development (GSD) face many challenges that are specifically associated with software process improvement (SPI). The main objective of this work is to develop the prioritization-based taxonomy of the SPI success factors using the fuzzy AHP approach. Total of twenty-one factors were extracted from the available literature that were further evaluated by conducting questionnaire survey with the SPI experts. In the second stage, multi-criterion decision making (MCDM) fuzzy AHP tool was used to prioritize and develop the taxonomy of the identified factors and their categories. The implications of fuzzy AHP approach are novel in this research area as it has been successfully used previously in different other domains e.g. electrical and electronics, supplier selection, agile software development and personnel selection. The contribution of this study is not only limited to the development of the factor’s taxonomy, but also their proper prioritization by introducing the novel fuzzy AHP approach in the research field of GSD and SPI, which assist to remove the vagueness and uncertainty in the opinion of the process improvement experts.

Magnetite nanoparticles have been prepared by one-pot thermal decomposition process using iron (III) acetylacetonate in stearic acid in ambient environment. In this process, stearic acid acts as solvent as well as capping agent for the particles. These as-prepared hydrophobic magnetite nanoparticles have been converted into a hydrophilic form using tetramethylammonium hydroxide. This controlled surface functionalization approach limits microstructural and phase alteration due to the ligand exchange. A detailed investigation was carried out on the microstructural characteristics of these nanoparticles with the aid of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, XPS and transmission electron microscopy. The hydrophilic superparamagnetic magnetite particles posses extraordinary transverse relaxivity and contrast property, making them potential T2 contrast agent in clinical magnetic resonance imaging.

Around one fourth of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and given antiretroviral therapy (ART) experience inflammatory or cellular proliferative disease associated with a preexisting opportunistic infection. Many such infections are subclinical or quiescent before the patient begins ART. Cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome may present as a clinical deterioration or new presentation of cryptococcal disease following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is believed to be caused by recovery of Cryptococcus-specific immune responses. In the following report we present a case of expeditious developed IRIS in the form of cryptococcal meningitis.

Light chain multiple myeloma occurs in 20% of multiple myeloma cases. Extramedullary dissemination of multiple myeloma is rare and involvement of pleura by it is even more rare. A 40 years old female patient presented with complains of recurrent vomiting for last 2 months and cough with expectoration for last 1 week. Chest X-Ray (PA view) showed a rounded homogenous opacity in mid zone of left lung field. CECT (thorax) showed pleura based soft tissue density mass lesions overlying apicoposterior segment of left upper lobe and lingular lobe with lytic destruction of underlying 2nd rib. Ultrasound scan of abdomen was normal. CT guided FNAC from soft tissue mass lesion of left side revealed atypical plasma cells, some of them were binucleate and few appear pleomorphic. Bone marrow aspiration showed 20% atypical plasma cells. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a thin discrete band in gamma globulin region, while serum immunofixation electrophoresis showed presence of lambda light chain band only, with absence of kappa band, IgG band, IgM band and IgA band. Patient was diagnosed as a case of lambda light chain multiple myeloma with extramedullary dissemination to pleura presenting as pleural mass.

Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is an extremely rare vascular disease. It is usually secondary to intravenous drug abuse, prolonged central venous catheterization or deep head-neck infections or trauma. Associated malignancies are uncommon and not well documented in the etiology of IJV thrombosis. A 25-year-old male presented with complains of neck swelling on left side for last 1 month and shortness of breath for last 10 days with no ear or nose complain. Examination of his neck showed swelling along the anterior border of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. An ultrasound scan of the neck and CECT neck revealed left IJV thrombosis. CECT thorax showed anterior mediastinal mass which on biopsy comes out to be non Hodgkin lymphoma. IV heparin was given for IJV thrombosis and patient was referred to radiotherapy department for further treatment.

As compared to aspergilloma which is usually developed after complication of tuberculosis in India, endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare disease entity. We report a rare case of endobronchial aspergilloma which is presented radiologically as a solitary pulmonary nodule. A 24-year-old male presented to the Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases with moderate to severe hemoptysis for the last three months. Chest X-ray (PA view) showed ill-defined homogenous shadow in the right upper zone. CECT Thorax review showed intrabronchial mass in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe. CT-guided FNAC was performed, which reveals Aspergillus hyphae mixed with sputum and necrotic material, without any evidence of malignancy. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was done, it reveals a ball-like region, occluding partially, the lumen of the posterior segment of right upper lobe with hyperemia. The ball was movable. Biopsy was performed and it revealed a partially eroded lining of metaplastic squamous epithelium, overline of chronically inflamed granulation tissue and scar intermingled with fungal hyphae. Serological test for Aspergillus precipitin was positive. The ball was removed using forceps and basket. Endobronchial aspergilloma may be present as solitary pulmonary nodule on chest X-ray. Bronchoscopic and endobronchial biopsies are invaluable in the diagnosis of endobronchial aspergilloma.

A 24 years old female was presented with a 2 weeks history of fever (high grade), cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain right side and low back ache. Patient prefers to lie towards right side. CECT thorax reveals empyema thoracic with paravertebral extension. Patient was put on IV antibiotic according to culture and sensitivity. Clinical and Radiological improvement was evident after 1 week.

A 21-year-old male, presented with dull aching chest pain, shortness of breath. CECT thorax reveals lobulated mediastinal mass containing soft tissue predominantly in superior and anterior mediastinum with a few foci of calcification seen along septae. CT guided FNAC was suggestive of teratoma. The patient underwent surgical resection.