Habilitacijos procedūrai teikiamoje mokslo darbų apžvalgoje apibendrinama Vilniaus universiteto Širdies ir kraujagyslių ligų klinikoje taikyto sunkaus širdies nepakankamumo gydymo patirtis. Įrodytas intraaortinės kontrapulsacijos balionėliu taikymo tikslingumas pacientams su dekompensuota dilatacine kardiomiopatija. Įvertintas dirbtinių skilvelių, kaip tilto į transplantaciją ar likimo terapiją efektyvumas. Nustatyta, kaip techniniai dirbtinių skilvelių pakeitimai gali daryti įtaką gydymo rezultatams. Ištirtas dirbtinių skilvelių poveikis recipiento imuninei sistemai prieš ir po transplantacijos. Apžvelgti alternatyvūs širdies transplantacijai chirurginiai gydymo metodai. Pasiūlyta originali modifikuotos labirinto operacijos technika, įvertintas jos saugumas, efektyvumas ir galimybė derinti su kitomis širdies operacijomis. Prognozuojamos ateities tendencijos labai sunkiam širdies nepakankamumui gydyti. Šiame darbe remiamasi kartu su bendraautoriais atliktų tyrimų 2001-2009 m. rezultatais. Autorius visuose apžvelgiamuose tyrimuose dalyvavo tiesiogiai, kaip padalinio, kuriame gydomi pacientai su labai sunkiu širdies nepakankamumu, vadovas ir kaip chirurgas. Remiantis publikuota medžiaga buvo daryti pranešimai ir Lietuvoje, ir užsienyje. / The experience of treatment of end-stage heart failure cumulated at Vilnius University Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic is provided for habilitation procedure. The experience of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for the patients suffering from decompensated dilatative cardiomyopathy has been proven. The efficacy of artificial ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation or destination therapy has been evaluated. The role of technical modifications of ventricular assist devices for the outcomes of treatment has been assessed. The impact of assist devices on the immune status of the patient pre- and post-transplantation has also been evaluated. The alternative methods of treatment instead of heart transplantation are reviewed. The original technique of modified maze procedure is proposed; the safety, efficacy and possibilities of combining this technique with other heart operations are assessed. The future trends for treatment of end-stage heart failure are predicted. This study is based on the investigations performed with co-authors during the period since 2001 to 2009. The author has participated directly in all reviewed investigations as the head of the department where patients suffering from end-stage heart failure are being treated and as well as a surgeon. The reports based on the published material have been presented in Lithuania and abroad.

The purpose of this dissertation was to research into Sri Lanka’s tourism and study the development over the last five years, 2009-2014. The author did a small contradistinction between Sri Lanka and Thailand to see the difference between both countries in Asia. Following years was chosen because of the ended war in Sri Lanka. Interviews that have been done to accomplish this dissertation were expert interviews with three tour operators/agencies and two individuals. All five persons that were interviewed work within promoting or selling trips to Sri Lanka for Swedish travelers. Sri Lanka could be improved and market by using the 8P factors in the Marketing Mix by Morrison. Factors as Promotion, Partnership, Packaging and Impact should be prioritizing while promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination in Asia. During their development towards a tourism destination they have reached the Involvement stage in the Butler’s sequence model. They are developing roads, hotels and striving towards a better marketing and they will surely increase their inbound tourism as soon as the development is finished. / Syftet med uppsatsen var att forska om Sri Lankas turism och dess utveckling kring the senaste fem åren, 2009-2014. Skribenten har valt att göra en liten jämförelse mellan Sri Lanka och Thailand för att se vad som skiljer sig åt mellan båda Asien länderna. Fokus ligger på svenskarnas resor till vardera av länderna. Statistiskt har de fem valda åren undersökts och skribenten valde dessa år för att kriget i Sri Lanka slutade 2009 och man kan lägga fokus på att forska kring utvecklingen av turismen. Intervjuer, så kallade expert intervjuer, har gjorts för att slutföra denna uppsats. Skribenten intervjuade tre touroperatörer/resebyråer och två individer. Alla fem personer som blev intervjuade till denna uppsats jobbar med Sri Lanka genom att marknadsföra och sälja resor till svenska resenärer. Sri Lanka skulle kunna förbättras och marknadsföras bättre genom att använda sig av de 8P faktorerna ur Marketing Mix av Morrison. Faktorerna så som Promotion, Partnership, Packaging och Impact bör prioriteras vid marknadsföring av Sri Lanka som turism destination i Asien.

South Africa the development of small tourism businesses are extremely vital for job creation and a development of a new economy. The South African tourism industry has to look at more innovative ways for marketing their products and services to develop the small tourism businesses. The arrival of web 2.0 led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services and web applications such as social networking sites. Social networking sites have encouraged new ways to communicate and share information on the web. When it comes to online networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social networking sites and function as online communities on the internet. Social networking sites are currently one of the applications of Web 4.0 developments. This means creation by the majority and web participation a necessity. The importance of customer engagement enablement is recognised. Operating systems are in cloud-computing. The communication medium became social media systems and people sell everything via desktop, mobile, tablets and iTV. This study focuses on the Eastern Free State tourism destination and its development through social networks. The main aim of the study is to critically analyse the application and effective utilisation of social network site technologies within the Eastern Free State tourism industry and to explore this objective of social network applications used within the small businesses in Eastern Free State tourism industry. The empirical study was conducted by means of a field study using a structured questionnaire and interviews with key stakeholders. Data from 60 small tourism businesses were collected and a total of 55 businesses restricted to Eastern Free State Drakensberg were analysed in the process of collecting the peer-aided questionnaires. The biggest problems in the use of digital media are knowledge to develop a proper product that has measured marketing outcomes for the small business. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

South Africa the development of small tourism businesses are extremely vital for job creation and a development of a new economy. The South African tourism industry has to look at more innovative ways for marketing their products and services to develop the small tourism businesses. The arrival of web 2.0 led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services and web applications such as social networking sites. Social networking sites have encouraged new ways to communicate and share information on the web. When it comes to online networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social networking sites and function as online communities on the internet. Social networking sites are currently one of the applications of Web 4.0 developments. This means creation by the majority and web participation a necessity. The importance of customer engagement enablement is recognised. Operating systems are in cloud-computing. The communication medium became social media systems and people sell everything via desktop, mobile, tablets and iTV. This study focuses on the Eastern Free State tourism destination and its development through social networks. The main aim of the study is to critically analyse the application and effective utilisation of social network site technologies within the Eastern Free State tourism industry and to explore this objective of social network applications used within the small businesses in Eastern Free State tourism industry. The empirical study was conducted by means of a field study using a structured questionnaire and interviews with key stakeholders. Data from 60 small tourism businesses were collected and a total of 55 businesses restricted to Eastern Free State Drakensberg were analysed in the process of collecting the peer-aided questionnaires. The biggest problems in the use of digital media are knowledge to develop a proper product that has measured marketing outcomes for the small business. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This thesis presents a prism- and gap-based approach for modelling shopping destination choice in the Travel/Activity Scheduler for Household Agents (TASHA). The gap-location choice model improves upon TASHA’s existing destination choice model in 3 key ways: 1) Shifting from a zone-based to a disaggregate location choice model, 2) Categorizing shopping trips into meaningful types, and 3) Accounting for scheduling constraints in choice set generation and location choice. The model replicates gap and location choices reasonably well at an aggregate level and shows that a simple yet robust model can be developed with minimal changes to TASHA’s existing location choice model. The gap-based approach to destination choice is envisioned as a small but significant step towards a more comprehensive location choice model in a dynamic activity scheduling environment.

This thesis presents a prism- and gap-based approach for modelling shopping destination choice in the Travel/Activity Scheduler for Household Agents (TASHA). The gap-location choice model improves upon TASHA’s existing destination choice model in 3 key ways: 1) Shifting from a zone-based to a disaggregate location choice model, 2) Categorizing shopping trips into meaningful types, and 3) Accounting for scheduling constraints in choice set generation and location choice. The model replicates gap and location choices reasonably well at an aggregate level and shows that a simple yet robust model can be developed with minimal changes to TASHA’s existing location choice model. The gap-based approach to destination choice is envisioned as a small but significant step towards a more comprehensive location choice model in a dynamic activity scheduling environment.

No description available.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tourism development is a complex process which many researchers have attempted to understand from various social science perspectives. This study adopts a geography approach to analyse tourism development in the Inhambane Coastal Zone (ICZ) by using the Miossec (1976) and the Butler (1980) models as basic frameworks for analyses. Although both models were found to be useful, they require more accurate data than what was generally available for the ICZ. Before the country’s independence in 1975, Mozambique was considered one of many premier tourism destinations in Southern Africa and the tourism sector had played an important role in the economy of the country. The 16 years period of internal conflict (1976- 1992) resulted in a rapid decline in the performance of the sector. Since the end of the armed conflict in 1992 and the democratic transition, a slow recovery of the tourism sector in Mozambique has set in. Tourism facilities for accommodation and leisure activities have increased considerably over the last ten years, despite the absence of any integrated tourism planning. In this study questionnaire surveys of tourist establishment representatives and local residents as well as focus group discussions and interviews were conducted to acquire primary data to analyse the evolution of the ICZ as a tourist destination during the period 1992 to 2008. In addition, secondary sources such as reports, tourism plans, tourism statistics and maps of the study area were used. It was found that tourism is developing slowly in the ICZ and the opening up (or rediscovering) of the zone as a destination remains limited due to the slow development of infrastructure in general. The tourism nodes are in different stages of their destination life cycle and the local residents living in the seven communities react differently toward tourism development. The ICZ has not progressed further than phase two in Miossec’s model. The Miossec model was found a suitable tool for analysing tourism development in the ICZ but it remains a challenge to identify both the evolutionary stage of the ICZ as a destination and the stage of each tourism node. The study also found that local residents in the ICZ expressed positive views about tourism development but they are still not satisfied with the current benefits they acquire from the current development status of tourism in the zone. / AFRIKAANS SUMMARY: Baie navorsers het reeds gepoog om die komplekse proses van toerisme-ontwikkeling vanuit verskeie sosiaal-wetenskaplike benaderings te verstaan. Hierdie studie volg ʼn geografiese benadering ten einde toerisme-ontwikkeling in die Inhambane Kussone (ICZ) met behulp van die Miossec (1976) en Butler (1980) modelle as basiese raamwerke te analiseer. Alhoewel beide modelle as bruikbaar bevind is, benodig hierdie modelle meer akkurate data as wat algemeen vir die ICZ beskikbaar is. Voor die land se onafhanklikheid in 1975, was Mosambiek gereken as een van vele vername toerisme bestemmings in Suidelike Afrika en die toerisme sektor het ʼn belangrike rol in die ekonomie van die land gespeel. Die 16 jare lange interne konflik (1976-1992) het tot ʼn snelle agteruitgang van die sektor se prestasie gelei. Sedert die einde van die gewapende konflik in 1992 en die oorgang na ʼn demokrasie, het die toerisme sektor in Mosambiek ʼn stadige herstel beleef. Toerisme fasiliteite vir akkommodasie en ontspanningsaktiwiteite het, ten spyte van die afwesigheid van geïntegreerde toerisme beplanning, aansienlik toegeneem. In hierdie studie is daar deur middel van ‘n vraelysopname aan verteenwoordigers van toerisme verwante besighede en plaaslike inwoners, asook fokus-groep besprekings primêre data in gesamel ten einde die evolusie van die ICZ as toeriste bestemming gedurende die tydperk vanaf 1992 tot 2008 te analiseer. Daarbenewens is sekondêre bronne soos verslae, toerisme planne, toerisme statistieke en kaarte van die studiegebied gebruik Daar is bevind dat toerisme in die ICZ stadig ontwikel en dat die herontdekking van die sone as bestemming beperk bly as gevolg van die stadige ontwikkeling van die infrastruktuur in die algemeen. Die toerisme nodusse is in verskillende stadia van hulle individuele bestemmingsiklusse, en die plaaslike inwoners in die sewe gemeenskappe reageer verskillend teenoor toerisme ontwikkeling. Die ICZ het nie verder as fase twee van die Miossec model gevorder het nie. Daar is ook vasgestel dat die Miosec model ʼn gepaste instrument is vir die analise van toerisme ontwikkeling in die ICZ, maar dit bly ʼn uitdaging om die evolusionêre stadium van die ICZ as ‘n bestemming in geheel asook die stadium van elke toerisme-nodus te kan identifiseer. Die studie het ook bevind dat plaaslike inwoners van die ICZ positiewe menings oor toerisme ontwikkeling het, maar nog steeds nie tevrede is met die huidige voordele wat hulle uit die huidige ontwikkelingstatus van toerisme in die sone ontvang nie.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marketing practitioners and academics are increasingly applying the concepts and techniques of products or services branding to the branding of destinations. To date, most of these studies focussed on using product and services branding concepts for branding destinations on the level of an individual resort, city or country. This thesis extends this trend by considering to what degree these destination branding ideas can also be used to brand an entire region consisting of several countries with multiple destinations. The specific focus is on developing such a regional branding framework for the tourism industry of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). First the state of tourism within the SADC region was described, including the establishment of RETOSA and the tourism performance of the region. On the basis of this overview, opportunities for regional destination branding were then considered. Secondly, the core concepts of product branding and their application to destination branding were discussed. Four theoretical frameworks for branding were reviewed and then used to compare product and destination branding. Thirdly, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was used as a case study of a region that has attempted regional destination branding initiatives, with a view to what the SADC-region may learn from this experience. In conclusion a regional destination branding framework is proposed for the SADC region. The following list makes up the elements of this framework: the vision and mission, the destination brand and its proposition, core values of the destination and its brand identity, brand image, clear view of the market, audience and competitors, brand personality, brand positioning, stakeholder consultation process and tourism marketing research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bemarkingspraktisyns en akademici pas toenemend die konsepte en tegnieke van produk- en dienste-bemarking op die bemarking van destinasies toe. Tot op hede was die focus van die meeste studies om bemarkingskonsepte toe te pas op destinasies soos `n individuele oort, stad of land. Hierdie tesis gaan verder as dit en oorweeg ook on watter mate hierdie bemarkingsidees ook gebruik kan word om `n hele streek, wat uit verskeie lande bestaan, te bemark. Daar word spesifiek gepoog om `n streeksbemarkingsraamwerk vir die toerismebedryf van die Suid-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap (SADC) daar te stel. Eerstens word die stand van toerisme in die SADC-streek beskryf, insluitend die ontwikkeling van SADC en die Streekstoerisme Organisasie van Suider-Afrika (RETOSA). Hierdie oorsig is gebruik om geleenthede vir streeksbemarking te oorweeg. Tweedens worddie kernkonsepte van produkbemarking en hulle toepassing op streeksbemarking bespreek. Vier teoretiese raamwerke vir bemarking word beskou en gebruik om produk- en destinasie-bemarking te vergelyk. Derdens word die Assosiasie van Suidoos-Asiatiese Lande (ASEAN) as `n gevallestudie van `n streek wat sulke bemarkingsinisiatiewe reeds geïmplimenteer het, bestudeer om te sien wat SADC daaruit kan leer. Laastens word `n streeksbemarkingsraamwerk vir die SADC-streek voorgestel. Die elemente waaruit die raamwerk beslaan, sluit die volgende in: die visie en misie, die streekshandelsmerk en sy proposisie, die kernwaardes van die streek en handelsmerkidentiteit, handelsmerkbeeld, oorsig oor die mark, toeskouers en kompetisie, handelsmerkpersoonlikheid, posisionering, insethouer konsultasieproses en toerismemarknavorsing.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tourism is emerging as one of the most important socio-economic sectors for developing as well as developed countries. Tourism incorporates features of the information society such as globalisation, mobility, and information reach and richness. A national Tourist Office or as commonly referred to Destination Marketing Organization is the core tourism product of any nation. The new forms of ebusiness are offering major opportunities for all tourism destinations and suppliers, whether large or small, to improve their business and remodel such in a more cost-effective manner. The study discusses the impact and existing relationship between ICT and tourism as an emerging ecommerce sector in the Zambian tourism industry. It focuses on the tremendous changes in consumer expectations for the Zambia tourism sector caused by the impact ofInternet revolution. The World Wide Web through Information and Communication Technology (lCT) is the driving force that is changing the tourism landscape and affecting the production, distribution and consumption of its products. This symbiotic relationship existing between ICT and the tourism sector provides an opportunity for the Zambian tourism industry to create a competitive advantage for the 21st century. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toerisme kom as een van die belangrikste sosio-ekonomiese sektore in beide ontwikkelende sowel as ontwikkelde lande voor. Kenmerke van die inligtings-gemeenskap soos globalisasie, mobiliteit, inligtings-toegang, -reikafstand en -rykheid word ook in toerisme aangetref. Die kern toerisme-produk van enige nasie is 'n nasionale Toeriste Buro of, soos algemeen verwys word, 'n Bestemming Bemarkings Organisasie (BBO). Toerisme bestemmings en verskaffers, klein of groot, word vele geleenthede aangebied om ten middele van nuwe vorme van e-handel hulle besighede op koste-geskikte manier te verbeter en te hervorm. Die studie bespreek die impak van en die bestaande verwantskap tussen Inligtings en Kommunikasie Teknologie (IKT) en die toerisme-bedryf in die Zambiese toerisme industrie as 'n ontwikkelende e-handel sektor. Daar word hoofsaaklik op die geweldige impak van die Internet-revolusie op verbruikersverwagtinge in die Zambiese toerisme bedryf gefokus. Deur middel van IKT word die Wereld-Wye Web (WWW) die dryfkrag wat die toerisme landskap verander en die produksie, verspreiding en verbruik van sy produkte beïnvloed. Die wedersydse verwantskap tussen IKT en die toerisme sektor verskaf 'n geleentheid vir die Zambiese toerisme industrie om 'n mededingende grondslag vir die 21ste eeu te skep.