Green-Agile Maturity Model: An Evaluation Framework for Global Software Development Vendors

Agile methods are extensively adapted by software development organizations due to the competitive benefits it offers. In recent years global software development (GSD) projects practice agile methods as prominent methods to deliver the software in increments with utmost user satisfaction and affordable cost. Beside the use of agile methods, the software industry has also considered the green aspect of software, to be in line with the demands of the organizations and the world technological ecosystem. The green and sustainable feature of software should focus both the energy and resource efficiency key factors. This phenomenon of embedding the green flavor in software has emerged a new research area, green software engineering, that promises the development of eco-friendly software with minimum energy and use of less computing resources, to trim down the adverse effects on both society and environment. The principal objective of this research study is to design and develop a multi-level Green-Agile Maturity Model (GAMM) to assess the GSD vendors' agile maturity in terms of green software development. The model has been built in four phases. In phase I and II, systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to identify the success factors and risk factors that either supports or hinders the green and sustainable software development respectively by practicing the agile methods in GSD. The results have been validated from 106 relevant experts, dealing with agile and green software projects, through questionnaire survey. The experts' demographic represents 25 different countries. We also identified the industry practices through SLR and survey, to address our identified critical factors. Phase III of this research deals with development of the GAMM by categorizing the identified factors into seven Green-Agile maturity levels. A similar approach has been used in other models such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), Implementation Maturity Model (IMM) and Software Outsourcing Vendors Readiness Model (SOVRM). In phase IV of this research, five case studies were conducted at GSD organizations, to evaluate the structure and efficacy of the GAMM, while as a major contribution, this paper presents our developed model, the GAMM, which aims to assess the green-agile maturity of the GSD vendors in terms of green and sustainable software development.Qatar University [IRCC-2021-010]

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF KETOPROFEN CREAM WITH DICLOFENAC AND PIROXICAM CREAM IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DISORDERS:

Non steroidal Anti- inflammatory drugs have their origin as the derivatives of plants, which were observed to have their therapeutic effects in different disease states. They have the advantage of local action without developing central adverse effects and cognitive impairments. Side effects have been well described, although partly neglected. Topical delivery of NSAID has its therapeutic applications in management of pain and inflammation in Rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs but principally attacks the synovial joints. It can be disabling and painful condition, which can lead to substantial loss of functioning and mobility if not adequately treated. The aim of the present investigation was to compare the Ketoprofen cream with Diclofenac and Piroxicam cream in a group of volunteers suffered from Rheumatoid arthritis and to compare the efficacy of these creams in reduction of inflammation. This single blind comparative study was done to determine the efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of topical application of Ketoprofen cream (1%w/w) vs diclofenac cream (1%w/w) and piroxicam cream (0.5%w/w) in Rheumatoid arthritis patients. In this study, one hundred and twenty five volunteers suffering with acute Rheumatoid arthritis and age group between 40-70 years were analyzed for assessing the intensity of pain and anti-inflammatory effects of these three creams. The study revealed that Ketoprofen cream provides a good level of pain relief removes swelling and tenderness and improves the functional impairment, without the systemic adverse events associated with oral NSAIDs.Key Words: Cream, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Piroxicam, Rheumatoid arthriti

Predictors of Acute Stent Thrombosis After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

OBJECTIVES To identify the specific predictors of acute stent thrombosis in patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.METHODOLOGY This retrospective study was carried out at the Department of Cardiology Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1st January to 30th June 2022. All consecutive patients with an angiographically confirmed stent thrombosis were enrolled. Patients gave informed consent for the inclusion of data in this registry. Stent thrombosis was categorized according to the timing of the event as acute (occurrence within the first 24 hours after the index procedure).RESULTSA total of 400 patients were included in the study. Age ranged between 35-70 years, with a mean age of 52.5. There were 260(65%) males and 140(35%) females, with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. All patients underwent primary PCI with stent implantation. According to the elapsed time since stent implantation, 42(10.5%) patients presented with acute stent thrombosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The mean time to develop acute stent thrombosis after primary PCI was ±4.5 hours (range 3-6 hours). In most STEMI patients, 340(85%) received a loading dose of clopidogrel at the time of the index PCI. In 23(54.7%) patients, acute stent thrombosis occurred within 6 hours, 10(23.8%) within 12 hours, 6(14.2%) within 18 hours and 3(7.1%) after clopidogrel loading.CONCLUSIONInadequate stent expansion or mal-opposition, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and female gender were the strong predictors of acute stent thrombosis

The Effect of Pyeloplasty on Renal Cortical Thickness in the Pediatric Population with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of pyeloplasty on renal cortical thickness in the pediatric population with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).  METHODOLOGY This retrospective study examined the renal cortical thickness in 100 pediatric patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). The study employed a non-probability consecutive sampling technique to select participants. Inclusion criteria encompassed children below five years of age, of both genders, with Pakistani nationality, and availability of both pre-and post-operative ultrasound data. Cases presenting with ureterovesical junction obstruction or vesicoureteral reflux were excluded from the analysis. Data collection involved gathering information on age, gender, and cortical thickness, with renal cortical thickness assessed through ultrasonography. A paired t-test was employed to compare the renal cortical thickness between the preoperative assessment and the 3-month follow-up. RESULTSThe females were 40(40%) and males were 60(60%).  The mean age was 33.51±22.91months.  The mean cortical thickness before pyeloplasty was 5.23±0.93mm and 8.25 ± 2.34mm after pyeloplasty. The renal cortical thickness in both genders significantly increased to 3mm (p<0.001). The cortical thickness before pyeloplasty was 5.23±0.93mm, and after was 8.25±2.34mm.  CONCLUSION Renal cortical thickness can be improved after pyeloplasty in patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Phytotoxic characterization of crude methanolic extract of Periploca aphylla

Periploca aphylla is traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments. Phytotoxic activity of crude methanolic extract of P. aphylla was tested on the germination of wheat seeds and on the growth of the germinated seedlings. In both the field and plate studies, the extract showed inhibitory effect on the germination of the growth of root and shoot of the seedlings. The inhibition was found to be dose dependent. The higher concentration of 1000 μg/ml showed maximum inhibitory effect on the growth of root and shoots in the studies of plate as well as on fresh and dry weight of wheat plant. Similarly, the herbicidal activity is also dependent on the concentration of extract. In this study, it was found that inhibitory potential of methanolic extract of P. aphylla increased as 1000 >100 >10 μg/ml.Keywords: Phytotoxic activity, herbicidal activity, germination, plates and field studies, Perifloca aphyll

1-Ammonio­naphthalene-2-sulfonate

In the mol­ecule of the zwitterionic title compound, C10H9NO3S, an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond results in the formation of an almost planar six-membered ring (r.m.s daviation = 0.0150 Å), which is oriented at a dihedral angle of 1.63 (3)° with respect to the naphthalene ring system. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a two-dimensional network

Prevalence of malaria, typhoid and co-infection in District DIR (lower), Pakistan

Malaria and typhoid fever are among the most endemic diseases in the tropical and developing countries. Both diseases share similar transmission factor and often have the similar symptom. Based on this reason, much medical personnel try to cure both malaria and typhoid instantaneously in each case of suspected Salmonella infection and vice versa. The District Dir (Lower) is a favorable location for the protozoan nourishment and secondly mostly reported cases of malaria and typhoid co-infections. The main objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of malaria and typhoid co-infection in the District Dir (Lower), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. The blood samples of 1889 patients were examined from September 2012 to April 2013, out of which 311 (16.46%) were positive for malaria and typhoid. Out of these infected, 117 (38%) sample was positive for malaria, 183 (58%) sample were positive for typhoid while co-infected cases were only 11 (4%). The current results indicate that this area is endemic for malaria and typhoid and co-infection. Its infection is prevalent in both the genders at varying degrees

Comparative Risk of Surgical Site Infection With Open Cholecystectomy Vs Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the risk of surgical site infection with open vs laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODOLOGY: This randomized control trial was done at the Department of Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, for 12 months from 11/5/2018 to 11/5/2019. 116 patients were recruited for this study, 58 for each group randomly allocated to a group by lottery method and concealed Allocation. Patients in Group A underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, while patients in group B underwent open cholecystectomy. According to ward protocol, post-operative analgesia & antibiotics were given to patients in both groups. Expert consultant general surgeons did all the evaluation & procedures; all the patients were followed up to 30 days after the procedure & any surgical site infections, if found, were noted. RESULTS: The mean age was 36 years ± 12.19 SD and 38 years ± 11.88 SD in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, respectively. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 28% of patients were male, and 72% of patients were female, while in open cholecystectomy, 29% of patients were male, and 71% of patients were female. 07% of laparoscopic and 26% of open cholecystectomy patients had surgical site infections.  CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that the frequency of surgical site infection was found less in laparoscopic cholecystectomy than in open cholecystectomy