Entrepreneurship as a Sustainable Solution for the Female Graduates in the SME Sector of Bangladesh

Female entrepreneurship is a sustainable entrepreneurial activity by women, individually or in a group. This relatively new phenomenon has been gaining attention in developing countries like Bangladesh. The female graduates of the country represent an important yet untapped segment of entrepreneurship. The paper critically reviews the existing literature and evaluates the current situation of this segment and finds that issues from social, cultural, legal, political, workplace and educational system contexts limit their capacity to participate in the labor-force besides their male counterparts. The issues, if not treated prudently, might adversely affect the socio-economic goals of Bangladesh. Entrepreneurship may stand as a sustainable employment solution for the female graduates, which would enable them to contribute to the Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector of the country. The article proposes practical recommendations to reinforce the initiatives by the stakeholders and suggests to make necessary policy changes in order to facilitate graduate female entrepreneurship in the SME sector, enhance sustainability of the sector and convert it into a catalyst for economic growth of Bangladesh

An open-label randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of adding intranasal fentanyl to intravenous tramadol in patients with moderate to severe pain following acute musculoskeletal injuries

INTRODUCTION The use of intranasal fentanyl as an alternative type of analgesia has been shown to be effective in paediatric populations and prehospital settings. There are a limited number of studies on the use of intranasal fentanyl in adult patients in emergency settings. METHODS An open-label study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of 1.5 mcg/kg intranasal fentanyl to 2 mg/kg intravenous tramadol (fentanyl + tramadol arm, n = 10) as compared to the administration of 2 mg/kg intravenous tramadol alone (tramadol-only arm, n = 10) in adult patients with moderate to severe pain due to acute musculoskeletal injuries. RESULTS When analysed using the independent t-test, the difference between the mean visual analogue scale scores pre-intervention and ten minutes post-intervention was 29.8 ± 8.4 mm in the fentanyl + tramadol arm and 19.6 ± 9.7 mm in the tramadol-only arm (t[18] = 2.515, p = 0.022, 95% confidence interval 1.68–18.72 mm). A statistically significant, albeit transient, reduction in the ten-minute post-intervention mean arterial pressure was noted in the fentanyl + tramadol arm as compared to the tramadol-only arm (13.35 mmHg vs. 7.65 mmHg; using Mann-Whitney U test with U-value 21.5, p = 0.029, r = 0.48). There was a higher incidence of transient dizziness ten minutes after intervention among the patients in the fentanyl + tramadol arm. CONCLUSION Although effective, intranasal fentanyl may not be appropriate for routine use in adult patients, as it could result in a significant reduction in blood pressure. Keywords: fentanyl, intranasal drug administration, tramado

An open-label randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of adding intranasal fentanyl to intravenous tramadol in patients with moderate to severe pain following acute musculoskeletal injuries.

INTRODUCTION The use of intranasal fentanyl as an alternative type of analgesia has been shown to be effective in paediatric populations and prehospital settings. Studies on the use of intranasal fentanyl in adult patients in emergency settings are limited. METHODS An open-label study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of 1.5 mcg/kg intranasal fentanyl to 2 mg/kg intravenous tramadol (fentanyl + tramadol arm, n = 10) as compared to the administration of 2 mg/kg intravenous tramadol alone (tramadol-only arm, n = 10) in adult patients with moderate to severe pain due to acute musculoskeletal injuries. RESULTS When analysed using the independent t-test, the difference the between the mean visual analog scale scores pre-intervention and ten-minute post-intervention was 29.8 ± 8.4 mm in the fentanyl + tramadol arm and 19.6 ± 9.7 mm in the tramadol-only arm (t[18] = 2.515, p = 0.022, 95% confidence interval 1.68-18.72 mm). A statistically significant, albeit transient, reduction in the ten-minute post-intervention mean arterial pressure was noted in the fentanyl + tramadol arm as compared to the tramadol-only arm (13.35 mmHg vs. 7.65 mmHg; using Mann-Whitney U test with U-value = 21.5, p = 0.029, r = 0.48). There was a higher incidence of transient dizziness ten minutes after intervention among the patients in the fentanyl + tramadol arm. CONCLUSION Although effective, intranasal fentanyl may not be appropriate for routine use in adult patients as it may result in a significant reduction in blood pressure

Leveraging on the Urban Economy to Promote the Growth of Women-Owned Small Businesses in Bangladesh

Purpose: The contribution of small businesses to a country’s economic growth is vital. It makes sense to accentuate the small businesses by emphasizing the neglected segments. The present study aims to explore the women-owned small businesses (WOSB) and their various problems. The study also examines if the city-based features of the urban economy can be favorable to promote the growth of WOSB. Methods: The concept paper conducts secondary research by selecting sample literature on WOSB of Bangladesh from the manufacturing, and trading sectors.  The selection and classification of extant literature were conducted by emphasizing problems faced by WOSB, and the city-based amenities of developing countries. The extracted information is analyzed by categorizing and interpreting relevant issues to create a base-model of venture-growth. Results: Based on the literature review, a growth-framework is formulated that reflects the issues faced by WOSB categorized as financial illiteracy, inadequate human capital, insufficient social capital, and business environmental hiccups. Also, the substandard growth of WOSB is envisaged in the model if the problems are not addressed timely. The study also discovers that the urban economy could be leveraged to make these issues less coercing for the women owners. Implications: The paper creates a nexus with the WOSB and the privileges of urban platforms to ensure better growth of the firms. Originality:  As far as authors could determine, the aimed research-domain was mostly covered from the perspectives of developed countries, rarely covered in the context of developing countries, and almost absent in Bangladesh. This paper attempts to fulfill that gap

Scaling social impact in women-led social enterprises in developing countries: a knowledge-based perspective

Purpose: Although scaling is considered a “hot topic”, very little is known about how knowledge management (KM) assists in scaling social impact. To fill this gap, the authors draw on knowledge-based and social capital theories and investigate how various KM practices and external networks (e.g. bridging social capital) affect scaling social impact in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach Applying structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS version 23, the authors conducted a survey with 354 women leaders who are working in women-led social enterprises in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Findings: The authors found that knowledge codification, training and mentoring, and bridging social capital are positively and significantly associated with scaling social impact. Originality/value: This is one of the pioneering study that explore how KM impacts scaling social impact for women-led social enterprises in the context of a developing country. The authors also extend knowledge-based theory by applying it at the individual level. Finally, the authors enhance the understanding of women entrepreneurship by showing that women entrepreneurs in developing countries are also utilizing bridging social capital to overcome challenges associated with scaling social impact

Fracture fixation plates for fracture healing: comparing 316L stainless steel by metal injection molding technique plate with conventional plate in rabbit fracture model

Metal injection molding (MIM) combines the material flexibility of powder metallurgy and the design flexibility of plastic molding. With properties comparable, or better than, those of wrought steel, the MIM process are ideally suited to producing small and complex-shaped parts with outstanding mechanical properties. In addition to that, implants produced via this process have high final density and close porosity. This is an innovation to produce new orthopaedic fracture implants and it also can be used to device new special orthopaedic implants. The cost for the technique is cheaper when compared to the conventional technique. The objective is to evaluate the plate function in fracture using New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Evaluation was done at three, six, nine, twelve and twenty six weeks by using radiograph evaluation. The procedure commenced with pre-operation, intra-operative and post-operation sessions. There were three groups of experimental studies; Group O Sham group as control, Group 1; (fracture midshaft tibial implant with conventional plate by Synthes), Group 2; (fracture midshaft tibial implant with MIM plate). Both showed similar results as a method to hold the fracture fragments. X-Rays showed that callus formation occured in both groups (Conventional and MIM groups) of fracture site at three, six, nine and twelve weeks. Bridging was noted at six weeks. There is no infection noted in both groups with no adverse effects. Fracture union noted in all groups. These results revealed that MIM showed comparable function capabilities as the conventional plate to hold the fracture fragments and promote immobilization for fracture healing process