Consecutive bites on two persons by the same cobra: a case report

In tropical countries like Bangladesh, persons are bitten by snakes every day and a considerable number of patients die en route to the hospital. An event of consecutive neurotoxic bites on two men by a single snake was observed in the Snake Bite Study Clinic (SBSC) of the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Two brothers, working in their semi-pucca restaurant, were successively bitten by the same cobra on their lower limbs. Within an hour, they were taken to the CMCH. Few minutes after admission, both developed symptoms of neurotoxicity: ptosis, nasal voice, dysphagia, broken neck sign, etc. They received polyvalent antivenom (Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceuticals Company, India) and other auxiliary treatment immediately. Within few hours, neurotoxic features were completely absent. Later, the snake was captured in the restaurant kitchen and identified as monocellate cobra (Naja kauthia) by the SBSC. The elder brother developed significant antivenom reactions and both presented necrosis and ulceration at the bite sites. In these cases, immediate arrival to the hospital and early administration of antivenom resulted in successful recoveries

Anti-snake venom: use and adverse reaction in a snake bite study clinic in Bangladesh

Snakebites can present local or systemic envenomation, while neurotoxicity and respiratory paralysis are the main cause of death. The mainstay of management is anti-snake venom (ASV), which is highly effective, but liable to cause severe adverse reactions including anaphylaxis. The types of adverse reaction to polyvalent anti-snake venom have not been previously studied in Bangladesh. In this prospective observational study carried out between 1999 and 2001, in the Snake Bite Study Clinic of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, 35 neurotoxic-snake-bite patients who had received polyvalent anti-snake venom were included while the ones sensitized to different antitoxins and suffering from atopy were excluded. The common neurotoxic features were ptosis (100%), external ophthalmoplegia (94.2%), dysphagia (77.1%), dysphonia (68.5%) and broken neck sign (80%). The percentage of anti-snake venom reaction cases was 88.57%; pyrogenic reaction was 80.64%; and anaphylaxis was 64.51%. The common features of anaphylaxis were urticaria (80%); vomiting and wheezing (40%); and angioedema (10%). The anti-snake venom reaction was treated mainly with adrenaline for anaphylaxis and paracetamol suppository in pyrogenic reactions. The average recovery time was 4.5 hours. Due to the danger of reactions the anti-snake venom should not be withheld from a snakebite victim when indicated and appropriate guidelines should be followed for its administration

The impact of strategic human resource management to optimize organizational performance: application of competencies analysis

Human resource management as a strategic function looks for different management skills in the job seekers during recruitment process. Management skills in the form of competencies are crucial to optimize organizational performance. Therefore, analysis of competencies is essential for job seekers to understand strategic directions of an organization. The objective of this study is to identify the competencies which are required in an interviewee by the human resource management to increase performance of an organization. This research will be accomplished by analyzing the application of competencies in business graduates who are seeking jobs in Malaysia. A qualitative research approach will be taken by having in-depth interviews of six business graduates from Kuala Lumpur and data will be analyzed systematically using Nvivo computer program. The study can be beneficial to the job seekers for preparing themselves more effectively according to the desired competencies to sustain in the ever-challenging job market in 21st century. The investigation can be carried out with more specific job industry with larger sample size for better understanding as a scope in future

The impact of negative e-WOM on consumers’ purchase intention: The Malaysian context

The impact of negative eWOM about certain products on consumers is remarkable. This research is aiming to answer the impact of negative eWOM whether negative eWOM has any specific motives and how it effects over consumers’ purchase intention. A quantitative approach will be employed while questionnaire data will be collected from more than 250 Malaysian consumers and test empirically a model that incorporates both motives of negative eWOM towards impact on purchase intention. Structural equation modelling will be used to test the research hypotheses. The findings will also show the different forms of negative word-of-mouth behaviors which will be labelled advice seeking, dissonance reduction and altruism while venting negative feelings proved to be ineffective motive. However, it will show how each of these behaviors varies in terms of the target consumers towards the motivational analysis. The result will be able to confirm that negative eWOM motives the consumers and have a significant impact on purchase intention. This will contribute insights into the neglected area of consumers negative word-of mouth and argues for identification in the forms of consumers which is an important step towards consumers purchase intention. While in the article, a series of propositions will develop which future researchers may find useful in advancing research in this area

Proton conductivity in mixed b-site doped perovskite oxide BaZr0.5In0.25Yb0.25O3-delta

A wet chemical route was used to prepare the oxygen deficient codoped perovskite oxide BaZr0.5In0.25Yb0.25O3−. Analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data showed that the sample belongs to the cubic crystal system with space group Pmm. Dynamic thermogravimetric (TG) analysis confirmed complete filling of oxygen vacancies (V) by protonic defects (OH) during the hydration process. The proton conductivity was investigated by impedance spectroscopy. The bulk and total conductivities of prehydrated BaZr0.5In0.25Yb0.25O3− were found to be 8.5 710−4 and 2.2 710−5 S cm−1, respectively, at 300\ub0C. The total conductivity in the codoped perovskite oxide was higher compared to that of the respective single doped perovskite oxides with the same doping level. The bulk and grain-boundary mobility and diffusion coefficients of protons were calculated at 200\ub0C using impedance and TG data to obtain the conductivity and proton concentration, respectively. The high bulk diffusivity (2.3 710−7 cm2 s−1) was obtained which indicates that the protons are more free to move in the heavily doped matrix compared to the lightly doped systems where trapping of protons occurs

Exploring students’ perception edu-tourism in Malaysia: an empirical study

Edu-tourism and education encompass with globalization involving same history over the years. It has been identified that Malaysia has become prominent destination among students for affordable living cost and quality education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Edu-tourism business in Malaysia and students’ perception towards selection of a destination for education which fundamentally changes tourism dynamics and faces the challenges of redressing Edu-tourism. In this research, data were analyzed based on factor analysis and to test the suggested research hypotheses structural equation modeling using AMOS is applied. Data were collected through survey questionnaires from a total number of 228 students which were undergraduate and postgraduate students. However, this primary study was directed to realize the factors which create impact on students to select IIUM (International Islamic University Malaysia) as their foreign learning institute. Moreover, it has been found that “perceived value” mediate the relationship between students’ perception and students’ need towards selection of educational institute. Meanwhile, it ascertains guidelines for potential research in international educational tourism will influence students’ perception towards Edu-tourism and promote a general process of combination through comprehensive learning into touristic way