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This study is based on how politicians’ standars were represented in the debate about assisted reproduction of single women and surrogacy in Sweden. And also which arguments the politicians performed on both issues. The study was based on the protocol 2011/12:91 from the parliamentary debate in Sweden. The aim of the study was to examine political standards is identified according to parenting and family in the assisted reproduction and surrogacy debate. The empirical material has been analyzed through social constructivism as a theory and standard critical perspective related to normality. Argument analysis was used as a method to identify pro et contra arguments on the issues. Two theses from the protocol 2011/12:91 was identified and analyzed. The first thesis was "Every child has a right to have both a mother and a father" and the second thesis was, "Every human should have an opportunity to have children". Pro arguments to the first thesis was that a child has a right to know its genetic origin and to be nursed by both its parents as far as possible. They meant that the traditional family constellation with a mother and a father is a good family to raise a child within. Contra arguments in this issue also meant that the child has a right to know its genetic origin, and therefore should get this right in Sweden to reduce the risk that mothers get infertility treatment abroad with a donor that is anonymous. Additional contra arguments in this thesis was that the most important thing for a child is to grow up in a family with love and care, regardless of family constellation. Pro arguments to the last thesis, "Every human should have an opportunity to have children" was that it is a biological instinct to reproduce and politicians should therefore not stand in the way by prohibiting single women to get assisted reproduction. Contra argument to this thesis was that parenting is an impossible question to fairness. They meant that if you do not have the physical ability to have children, society should not help you with this matter. They also meant that if we legislate surrogacy in Sweden it is a big risk that women become a commodity in the matter. And this risk outweigh parents’ desire to have children.

In image-guided surgical navigation, instruments tools are tracked by a position sensor and their locations rendered along with the patient's anatomy. Conventional methods require an invasive, time-consuming and potentially uncertain process of intra-operative registration of the images to the patient. In a direct navigation system, such an intra-operative registration is replaced with pre-operative patient-independent calibration in a process that determines the relationship between the coordinate frame of imaging equipment and the coordinate frame of the position sensor. This dissertation presents a method for pre-operatively calibrating a direct navigation system that used an optical position sensor and a mobile gantry CT scanner. A custom bi-local calibration device was designed and manufactured, after which existing navigation software was augmented with components that used the pre-operatively determined transformation to provide image-guided surgical navigation. The resulting system was tested in an image-guided operating suite using plastic bone models. In the validation stage, the inherent error was less than 0.4 mm and the target registration error was approximately 1.6 mm for a ceiling-mounted position sensor and 0.7 mm for a portable position sensor. This accuracy is consistent with the best intra-operative registrations reported in the literature and this calibration method may be useful in future surgical systems. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-05 12:53:08.994

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Although much has been written about learning in online discussion, the research literature reveals the need for further empirical research to be carried out.  For example, the use of online discussion is often seen as a means by which students can engage in a socially constructivist approach to learning, (Pena-Shaff et al., 2005; Hudson et al., 2006; Schrire, 2006) whilst others raise questions about the depth of engagement and the preparedness to learn in this socially constructivist context (Hawkey, 2003; Roberts and Lund, 2007).  The need to gain further understanding of learning through discussion is raised by Ravenscroft (2005); McConnell (2006); Goodyear and Ellis (2008).  This study adds to empirical research by exploring students’ engagement with online discussion at an individual and course level. Two key research questions are: What are the different approaches taken by students when responding to learning activities which ask them to engage in online discussion?  What are students’ perceptions of how their engagement in online discussion impacts on their learning and the learning of others?  The study is qualitative, phenomenographic in nature drawing on six case studies of Higher Education students’ engagement with online discussion.  A rich set of empirical data is gathered within the case studies.  A grounded approach to data collection and analysis is used, including the analysis of interview data in order to hear the students’ voices about their experiences.  The findings from the analysis of the case studies reveal different strategies that students use when engaging in online discussion, and diverse students’ views of learning through online discussion, even from within the same course context.  A framework for learning through online discussion emerges from the discussion.

Background: Animals have been shown to have a positive effect on people. The nursing science approach says that a person can experience well-being despite illness. The positive attributes of animals can be used in health care to help ill people experience well-being. An animal-assisted intervention can be a form of activity or therapy involving pets (AAA / AAT) or horses (EAT). Aim: The purpose of this study was to elucidate how animals in health care promote well-being for people with long-term illness. Methods: Literature review based on fourteen original scientific articles, with both qualitative and quantitative approach. Results: The compilation of the results led to four main categories with two subcategories respectively. These were: Physical aspects with subcategories Physical well-being and Bodily functions; Psychic aspects with subcategories Psychic well-being and Reduced psychiatric symptoms; Existential aspects with subcategories Quality of Life and Safety; Social Aspects with subcategories Social behavior and Relationships. Discussions: Review and discussion of the selected method. Discussion of the results with the selected theoretical framework: Antonovsky's theory of Sense of Coherence (SOC) and the salutogenic approach. The results were discussed based on the concepts of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness.

Denna studie har genomförts i syfte att öka kunskapen om psykosocial utvevckling hos barn med autismdiagnos i relation till aktiviteter med hästar. Studien är kvalitativ, baserad på fem intervjuer av föräldrar och det ingår fältobservationer. Intervjuerna har bearbetats enligt induktiv tematisk analys och redovisas under tre teman relaterade till barnens samspel med sin omvärld. Resultatet visar att aktiviteten med hästar inverkar positivt  på barnens vilja och förmåga att samspela och kommunicera med omvärlden. Färdigheterna visar sig i samspel med barn såväl som med vuxna, både inom familjen och i andra sammanhang. Studiens resultat visar överensstämmelse med tidigare forskning, samt att aktivitetens mångfassetterade innehåll och effekter synliggörs. Resultat som överraskar är erfarenheter av barnens annorlunda relation och kommunikation med hästar, samt iakttagelser av ridningens omedelbara effekter på barnen. Forskning föreslås ur ett familjeperspektiv där barnets röst lyfts fram, samt fortsatt forskning på ridningens fysiologiska effekter i relation till socialt interagerande. / This study has been conducted in order to increase knowledge about psychosocial development in children with autism diagnosis in relationship to activities with horses. The study is qualitative, based on five interviews with parents and includes field observations. The interviews have been processed according to inductive thematic analysis and are reported under three themes related to the childrens interaction with their environment. The result shows that the activity with horses has positive impact on the children's desire and ability to interact and communicate with the outside world. The skills manifests in interaction with children as well as with adults, both within the family and in other settings. The result of the study indicates conformity with previous research, and the event's multi-facetted content and effects are made visible. Surprising results are experiences of the children's different relationship and communication with horses, and observations of the immediate impact on the children when riding. Research from a family perspective highligtening the voice of the child is proposed, as well as further research on physiological effects of horseback riding in reltionship to social interacting.

Class of 2009 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To assess a student pharmacist administered osteoporosis education program given to assisted living facility staff members in order to evaluate the impact of the program on the staffs’ knowledge and attitudes about osteoporosis treatment and prevention. METHODS: The study consisted of a pre-test/post-test design to evaluate data obtained through surveys administered at assisted living facilities in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The primary dependent variables were knowledge and confidence levels of the staff in regards to osteoporosis management. The surveys included multiple choice questions that measured knowledge of osteoporosis prevention and treatment, as well as Likert-scale questions to measure confidence levels. Mean scores were calculated and paired t- tests were used to compare scores of pre-test versus post-test answers. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 5 participants. Sixty percent of the staff members were female and the mean age was 36 years old (SD 9.90). Eighty percent of the sample were certified nurse assistants. The mean pre-test score for the knowledge portion of the survey was 3.6 and the mean post-test score was 4.8 (p=0.18). The mean pre-test score on the participants confidence levels was 11.2 and the mean post-test score was 11.8 (p=0.37). Overall, the participants rated the value of the program a mean of 7.6 out of 8 possible points. CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, knowledge and confidence levels of osteoporosis management were raised in assisted living facility staff members after a student pharmacist administered presentation on the subject.