Laparoscopic bariatric procedures are complex minimally invasive operations with a potential for substantial morbidity and mortality along the early part of a surgeon’s learning curve. Simulation-enhanced training can improve a surgeon's technical and non-technical performance and lessen the learning curves in the operating room. Unfortunately, despite the convincing evidence supporting the use of simulation in surgical education, there is still a gap in translation of knowledge and technical skills from the research environment into clinically relevant training curricula. The objective of this thesis was to design and validate a comprehensive simulationenhanced training curriculum that addressed cognitive knowledge, technical and non-technical skill in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. This objective was achieved using three experimental studies. The first study employed a modified Delphi methodology and an international panel of experts in surgical and medical education to develop a consensus-based framework for design, validation and implementation of simulation-enahnced training curricula in surgery. The second study used a modified Delphi methodology and an international panel of experienced bariatric surgeons to develop an objective scale for assessment of operative skill in laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure. This scale was feasible to use and had high inter-rater and test-retest reliability, as well as evidence of construct and concurrent validity. The third study used the previously developed consensus-based framework to design a comprehensive simulation-enhanced training curriculum for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. A prospective, single-blinded randomized controlled trial was used to compare the effectiveness of this curriculum in comparison to conventional surgery training. Surgery residents who were trained in this curriculum demonstrated superior technical skills, superior non-technical skills and enhanced safety in the operating room.

The problem that is studied is formulated in chapter 1. It boils down to the fact that nowadays, also in churches with 'mainly white congregations, there are different viewpoints on living together. It varies from a direct rejection to a de facto acceptance. In view of this research is done for the purpose of assessing cohabitation according to Scriptures. In chapter 2 the essence and purpose of the Christian marriage are portrayed. It becomes clear that it is God's will that sexual intercourse may only take place inside the marriage. In chapter 3 the main reasons for cohabitation are examined. It is found that if all the causes are considered in their close relationship with each other, a favourable infrastructure for living together is created and people are strongly influenced to live together. The practice of cohabitation is evaluated in chapter 4 by using 8 of the 9 social ethical norms formulated by Heyns in the light of Scriptures and applied by Steensma as normative viewpoints. It is found that cohabiting is at variance with all eight social ethical norms. It is also found that living together doesn't always result in marriage, and if it results in marriage, there is no guarantee that the marriage will succeed and will not end up in at court of divorce. In chapter 5 a summary is given of the problem identification and the results of the previous 4 chapters. Then a conclusion is made about cohabitation in the light of Scriptures, namely that it is in conflict with the will of God. In the third section guidelines are given for the purpose of pastoral guidance towards people who cohabit or plan to do so. The role of the government and topics for further studies about cohabitation are also given. / Thesis (Th.M. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of study components in order to aid in design refinements for a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 38 post-secondary students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were randomized into a waitlist control group, or standard-length (45 minute) or shortened-length (15 minute) WM training group. Criterion measures included the WAIS-IV Digit Span (auditory-verbal WM), CANTAB Spatial Span (visual-spatial WM) and WRAML Finger Windows (visual-spatial WM). Transfer-of-training effects were assessed using indices of everyday cognitive functioning. Participants in the standard- and shortened-length groups showed greater improvements at post-test on auditory-verbal WM and reported fewer cognitive failures in everyday life than waitlist controls. Participants in the standard-length group showed greater improvements in visual-spatial WM at post-test than participants in the other two groups. Preliminary findings suggest that shorter training may have similar beneficial outcomes as documented for the standard-length training, indicating that a larger-scale RCT is warranted.

Terminas psichikos sutrikimai baudžiamojo proceso moksle turi specialią procesinę teisinę reikšmę ir vartojamas kalbant apie tokius sutrikimus dėl kurių įtariamasis, kaltinamasis negali savarankiškai įgyvendinti teisės į gynybą. Magistro baigiamasis darbas aktualus tuo, jog remiantis susiformavusia teisine praktika, atskleistas įtariamųjų, kaltinamųjų, turinčių psichikos sutrikimų, teisių ir teisėtų interesų užtikrinimo veiksmingumas. Pateikiama naudinga informacija ikiteisminio tyrimo pareigūnams ar prokurorams apie įtariamųjų psichikos sutrikimų tipinius požymius, kurie gali padėti laiku atskleisti įtariamojo psichikos sutrikimus bei tokių žinių gavimo šaltinius. Analizuojamas psichikos sutrikimų nustatymas taikant specialių žinių panaudojimo formas baudžiamajame procese – ekspertizę ir objektų tyrimą. Remiantis mokslinės literatūros apibendrinimu bei archyvinių baudžiamųjų bylų analize pateikiami specialių žinių panaudojimo, psichikos sutrikimams nustatyti, probleminiai aspektai. Be to, analizuojama gynybos instituto svarba baudžiamajame procese. Aptariama viena iš pagrindinių įtariamojo, kaltinamojo, turinčio psichikos sutrikimų teisių ir teisėtų interesų užtikrinimo garantijų - teisė į gynybą bei atstovų pagal įstatymą dalyvavimo procese tikslingumas, atskleidžiami kai kurie diskutuotini aspektai. / The term psychical disorders has a specific juridical meaning in the science of criminal process and it shall be used talking about such disorders, due to which the suspect, indictee cannot independently implement his right to defence. Master’s paper is urgent by the fact that basing upon the already shaped legal practice, efficiency of providing rights and legal interests of the suspects/defendants with mental disorders is disclosed. Useful information for pre-trial investigation officers or prosecutors is provided covering the types of mental disorders of the suspects, which could assist in timely disclosing the suspect’s mental disorders as well as the ways to obtain such knowledge. Disclosure of mental disorders is analysed by applying the special knowledge forms in the criminal proceedings: expertise and subject analysis. Basing upon the scientific literature summary and analysis of archive criminal cases, problem aspects of special knowledge use for disclosure of mental disorders are presented. Besides that, importance of defence institution on the criminal proceedings is analysed. One of the main guarantees of a suspect/defendant with mental disorders to have his/her rights and legal interests assured – his/her right to defence and purposefulness of representatives’ participation in the process according to the law is described, some disputable aspects are disclosed. Taking into consideration the research performed during the final work and the conclusion that rights... [to full text]

Ikiteisminio tyrimo pareigūnai iki šiol neturi konkrečių patarimų, į kokius pagrindinius aspektus reiktų sutelkti dėmesį tiriant specifinį nusikaltimą - seksualinį prievartavimą, kuris pasižymi tam tikromis ypatybėmis, pvz. auka gali tapti tie vyrai, tiek moterys; neatsiranda specifinių pasekmių tokių kaip nėštumas; sunkiau nei kituose su seksualinio apsisprendimo laisve ir asmens neliečiamumu susijusiuose nusikaltimuose nustatyti prievartos ir lytinio akto faktą. Dėl šių ypatybių įrodyti tokio pobūdžio nusikaltimus kartais būna itin sudėtinga, todėl tik išmanant seksualinio prievartavimo teisinę-kriminalistinę charakteristiką ir greitai bei efektyviai atlikus pagrindinius ir būtinus procesinius veiksmus tokius kaip išsami nukentėjusiojo, įtariamojo apklausa, detali įvykio vietos apžiūra ir kruopštus objektų bei pėdsakų tyrimas gali sąlygoti teisingą ikiteisminio tyrimo pabaigą. Pagrindinis šio tyrimo objektas yra ikiteisminiai tyrimai, 470 nuasmenintų nuosprendžių seksualinio prievartavimo bylose, bei anoniminės ikiteisminio tyrimo prokurorų, tyrėjų, specialistų ir teismo medicinos gydytojų apklausos. Tyrimo tikslas yra išanalizuoti seksualinio prievartavimo bylų ikiteisminio tyrimo etapą, atsižvelgiant į atliktų ikiteisminio tyrimo veiksmų efektyvumą nagrinėjant bylą teisme. Darbe išanalizuotos pagrindinės seksualinio prievartavimo tyrimo problemos. Išvadose pateikti siūlymai kaip pasiekti efektyvesnių rezultatų tiriant seksualinio prievartavimo bylas. / Until now there is no quite recommendation of sexual abuse cases for investigators. Many times there is making usual procedure, as in any other offences cases. But this crime requires a very special attempt. There are some things that must be done immediately by investigator: victim body must be examined not in short time, but immediately; Victim closes must be taken form it yet after statement was made. Also there must be looking for crime scene investigators help: in many scenes may be found blood and seeds. Purpose of this master final work was to identify pre-trial investigations issues that require special attempt for sexual abuse cases. Also this work deals with issues that can make such cases investigation more effective. Therefore there were analyzed 470 judgments of sexual abuse cases, made interviews with pre-trial investigators, prosecutors, crime scene investigators and coroners. Some issues were identified and there were proposed solutions about. Although it would be much more effective to organize some curses about any kind of sexual assault cases investigation. Also there were suggestions to make some „to do” list for investigators that deal with such cases.

The U.S. is the largest maize producer in the world with a production of 300 million tons in 2012. Approximately 86% of the maize production is focused on the Midwestern states. The rest of the production is focused in the Southern states, where Texas is the largest maize producer. Grain yield in Texas ranges from 18 tons/ha in the irrigated production zones to 3 tons/ha in the dryland production zones. As a result, grain yield has increased slowly because of the poor production in the non-irrigated acres. Methods to improve the grain yield in Texas is to breed for maize varieties adapted to Texas growing conditions, including mapping genes that can be incorporated into germplasm through marker assisted selection. This dissertation includes two separate projects that exploit historical data and maize diversity to increase grain yield in Texas. For the first project, a large dataset collected by Texas AgriLife program was analyzed to elucidate past trends and future hints on how to improve maize yield within Texas. This study confirmed previous reports that the rate of increase for grain yield in Texas is less than the rate observed in the Midwestern US. For the second project, a candidate gene and whole genome association mapping analysis was performed for drought and aflatoxin resistance in maize. In order to do so, maize inbred lines from a diversity panel were testcrossed to isogenic versions of Tx714. The hybrids were evaluated under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. The irrigated trials were inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and the aflatoxin level was quantified. This study found that the gene ZmLOX4 was associated with days to silk, and the gene ZmLOX5 gene was associated with plant and ear height. In addition, this study identified 13 QTL variants for grain yield, plant height, days to anthesis and days to silk. Furthermore, this study shows that diverse maize inbred lines can make hybrids that out yield commercial hybrids under heat and drought stress. Therefore, there are useful genes present in these diverse lines that can be exploited in maize breeding programs

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