The influence of Age of Onset (AO) of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) on learners‟ Ultimate Attainment (UA) potential is well documented. The issue of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) potential enters a qualitatively different, pragmatic dimension in most multilingual developing nations (including Papua New Guinea), where English, a second language for most children, is also the language of education, and where, consequently, students‟ English proficiency necessarily affects their academic potential and the quality of their education. This study investigates whether the academic performance of students in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is affected by their linguistic backgrounds. Specifically, we examined the effect of three factors in the students‟ Early Language Education – their Age of Onset of learning English (AO), their Age at Literacy (AGELIT), and their Early Learning Language (ELL) – on their Semester 1, 2017 Grade Points Average (GPA). A purposive cross-sectional sampling method was used for the selection of students. All full-time registered students in the SHSS during the 2017 academic session were eligible to participate in the study. A self-designed pretested questionnaire consisting of nine short questions was used to collect data on SHSS students‟ language education backgrounds, including their AO, AGELIT and ELL. Our results show a strong and statistically significant inverse correlation between students‟ AO/AGELIT and their GPAs, as well as a strong positive link between ELL English and students‟ GPAs, which contrasts sharply with a significant decrease in GPAs in the presence of ELL Tok Pisin. The ELL Vernacular category was too small (sample size N=34) to yield statistically significant results. Our current results corroborate the findings of our earlier studies which established a highly significant inverse correlation between students‟ AO and their academic performance in the National High Schools, as well as in the University of Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Tension pneumothorax (TPX) is an uncommon but life-threatening condition. It is important that this uncommon presentation, managed by needle decompression, is practised by paramedics using a range of educationally sound and realistic mannequins. The objective of this study is to identify if the chest wall thickness (CWT) of training mannequins used for chest decompression is an anatomically accurate representation of a human chest. METHODS: This is a two-part study. A review of the literature was conducted to identify chest wal thickness in humans and measurement of chest wal thickness on two commonly used mannequins. The literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases from their beginning until the end of May 2012. Key words included chest wall thickness, tension pneumothorax, pneumothorax, thoracostomy, needle thoracostomy, decompression, and needle test. Studies were included if they reported chest wal thickness. RESULTS: For the literature review, 4461 articles were located with 9 meeting the inclusion criteria. Chest wall thickness in adults varied between 1.3 cm and 9.3 cm at the area of the second intercostal space mid clavicular line. The Laerdal? manikin in the area of the second intercostal space mid clavicular line, right side of the chest was 1.1 cm thick with the left 1.5 cm. The MPL manikin in the same area or on the right side of the chest was 1.4 cm thick but on the left 1.0 cm. CONCLUSION: Mannequin chests are not an accurate representation of the human chest when used for decompressing a tension pneumothorax and therefore may not provide a realistic experience.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic hilar dissection and right lobe mobilization in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, the dissection of inflow vessels and retrohepatic inferior vena cava, and the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation are detailed.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic parenchymal transection and bile duct division in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, methods of parenchymal transection using robotic instruments, and right hepatic duct division with the aid of indocyanine green dye are detailed, along with the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic hilar dissection and right lobe mobilization in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, the dissection of inflow vessels and retrohepatic inferior vena cava, and the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation are detailed.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic parenchymal transection and bile duct division in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, methods of parenchymal transection using robotic instruments, and right hepatic duct division with the aid of indocyanine green dye are detailed, along with the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic hilar dissection and right lobe mobilization in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, the dissection of inflow vessels and retrohepatic inferior vena cava, and the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation are detailed.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic parenchymal transection and bile duct division in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, methods of parenchymal transection using robotic instruments, and right hepatic duct division with the aid of indocyanine green dye are detailed, along with the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation.

Robotic surgery is emerging as a feasible minimally invasive approach for donor hepatectomy at specialized centers. The aim of this article is to systematically describe the surgical techniques for robotic hilar dissection and right lobe mobilization in right donor hepatectomy. The setup of the robotic arms, the dissection of inflow vessels and retrohepatic inferior vena cava, and the pearls and pitfalls of these two parts of the operation are detailed.