The Maltese gender corrective mechanism — dashed hopes and aspirations?

This paper explores the media discourse surrounding the implementation of the gender corrective mechanism in Malta, focusing on online English-language newspapers from March 26, 2019 to May 2022. The study analyses how women journalists, experts, and politicians perceived and reported on this legislative initiative, which aimed to address the underrepresentation of women in Maltese politics. By conducting a reflexive thematic analysis, the paper identifies recurring themes related to the historical context, barriers to women’s political participation, and the effectiveness of the quota system. The findings reveal varied perspectives among women on the mechanism’s potential to foster gender equality in parliament, highlighting both support and criticism of the quota’s impact on democratic processes. The study underscores the significance of media representation in shaping public understanding of gender-related political reforms.peer-reviewe

Business model canvas application in start-up stage business developments : constraints and challenges

PURPOSE: This paper examines the effectiveness of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) in addressing the unique challenges start-ups face during their development. By analysing both the benefits and limitations of the BMC, it aims to assess its suitability for early-stage companies.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study utilized an exploratory qualitative methodology, focusing on the experiences of Polish entrepreneurs to examine the application, benefits, constraints, and challenges of the BMC. Data were collected through focus group interviews and analysed using thematic analysis to extract key themes and patterns. A purposeful sampling approach ensured participants were familiar with the BMC, allowing for a detailed exploration of its perceived value and challenges in early-stage startup business development.FINDINGS: The study reveals that while the BMC is valued for bringing clarity and visualization to business concepts, its integration varies among entrepreneurs, often influenced by their familiarity with strategic tools and business model complexity. Many entrepreneurs found it helpful for the startup stages, as it simplified strategic planning and fostered team alignment. However, the BMC’s structured format was sometimes viewed as overly rigid, with limitations in capturing complex or rapidly evolving business environments, leading some to prefer more adaptable frameworks.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings indicate that the BMC improves clarity for startup businesses that use it by providing a structured, visual framework. This enhances the ease with which entrepreneurs can conceptualize and communicate their business models, ultimately promoting more efficient decision-making processes within teams. For entrepreneurs, the BMC’s demand for regular updates to remain effective highlights a resource-intensive requirement.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: By documenting the constraints and challenges of the BMC, this study sheds light on the reasons why some entrepreneurs resist its adoption. This helps in identifying and addressing specific barriers, like lack of training and complexity concerns, which hinder the BMC's wider acceptance. These insights, while context-specific, offer a foundation for developing more universally applicable strategies to support start-ups in refining their business models.peer-reviewe

Social media use in children and young adults : the Malta experience

Prof. Jean Calleja Agius MD PhD is Professor at Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta. Jean will demonstrate further examples of interventions to make the internet safer for young people, drawing on her experience of collaborating with the Children and Youth Council within the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society (MFWS), which in turn is affiliated with EUROCHILD.peer-reviewe

[Book review] Roots and routes : a book review of "Language learning of adult migrants in Europe”

This book review analyses Language Learning of Adult Migrants in Europe: Theoretical, Empirical, and Pedagogical Issues (Levine & Mallows, 2021), an interdisciplinary volume addressing the multifaceted challenges of language acquisition for adult migrants in Europe. The book integrates theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and practical strategies to explore the critical role of language learning in fostering integration, social inclusion, and personal development. Key themes include the socio-political context of migration, individual and social dimensions of language learning, and the importance of tailored pedagogical approaches. The chapters cover diverse topics such as migrant mothers’ narratives, the relationship between belonging and language acquisition, the effectiveness of integration courses, and the role of digital literacy. A notable contribution is the exploration of identity, religion, and multilingualism in shaping learners’ experiences. The volume’s empirical rigour and practical focus make it a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and researchers. While the geographic focus on Europe limits comparative perspectives, the book offers a comprehensive foundation for understanding and addressing the complex interplay between language learning and migration.peer-reviewe

The experience of uncertainty amongst doctors working within primary healthcare in Malta

BACKGROUND: This is a cross-sectional observational quantitative study, with the aims of assessing experiences of uncertainty amongst doctors practising in primary healthcare in Malta and identifying contributing factors and management strategies for uncertainty.METHODS: An online anonymous questionnaire was formulated and doctors working in primary healthcare in Malta were invited to participate. Demographic data relating to years of practising experience, local training and public or private practice, was asked for. The revised physicians’ reaction to uncertainty (rPRU) questionnaire, developed by Gerrity et al. in 1995, was used to obtain quantitative data on doctors’ experiences of uncertainty, on which hypothesis testing was carried out to identify subgroups who experienced more uncertainty. Finally, respondents were asked which factors contribute to uncertainty in their practice and which management strategies they use.RESULTS: Data from 77 respondents was obtained. Hypothesis testing of rPRU scores showed statistically significant differences between males and females (p = 0.033), trainees and their seniors (p = 0.004), and groups with varying practice experience (p = 0.018). No statistically significant difference was noted between doctors in private and public sectors, and doctors trained or training and those not trained with the local specialist training programme. Ambiguous illness presentation, separation of medical notes between primary and hospital care, and lack of continuity of care, contribute most to uncertainty in family medicine according to respondents. To address uncertainty, most respondents encourage patient reviews, share decision-making and explain red flags to patients.CONCLUSION: Better support is needed for doctors to manage uncertainty in their practice, where continuity of care is an essential strategy.peer-reviewe

Teaching for conceptual understanding : a mathematics lesson study

This article zooms in on a lesson study process which sees a group of mathematics teachers designing a research lesson to address the students’ prevalent reliance on rote memorisation which is overshadowing the importance of conceptual understanding. Breaking away from the traditional approach of posing a textbook question, the team chose to present a Year 10 high-ability class with an open-ended investigation, allowing free exploration of a hexagonal visual aid. To ensure a structured and guided learning process, the lesson was designed on the 5E Inquiry-Based Instructional model (Bybee & Landes, 1990), a framework that was introduced to students as well. Through this self-directed learning opportunity, students took on roles as active agents fuelling a collaborative inquiry and using their existing knowledge as a scaffold for constructing new knowledge independently. The observations of this research lesson proved to be an enriching experience for everyone involved as the shared feedback revealed various successful aspects of the lesson. This experience motivated the lesson study team to intensify their efforts towards integrating lessons promoting students’ conceptual understanding. Concurrently, the observations also shed light on the challenges of teaching for conceptual understanding, urging the lesson study team to reflect on their practices for ongoing improvement.peer-reviewe

Analysis and observations concerning concentrations of greenhouse gases measured over an 11-year period in the central Mediterranean region

Measurements of concentrations of various greenhouse gases were collected over a time period of 11 years (2012–2023). The data were collected at Giordan Lighthouse monitoring station on the island of Gozo, forming part of the Maltese archipelago, in the central Mediterranean region. The associated data analysis and observations are presented. It turns out that the methane concentration is increasing at a relatively substantial rate of 9.6 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) per year. Similarly, carbon dioxide is showing a mean increase of 2.15 parts per million by volume per year. Similar trends have been reported in the eastern Mediterranean region. A minimal increase is observed in carbon monoxide concentration and atmospheric water content, at a rate of 0.32 ppbv per year and 0.02% per year, respectively. Both methane and carbon dioxide show maxima in winter and minima during the summer months. Carbon monoxide also shows a maximum in winter but a minimum during summer and autumn. However, carbon monoxide exhibits a secondary maximum in August. In contrast, atmospheric water content presents a clear maximum in summer and a minimum in winter as expected for the Mediterranean climate. With respect to wind direction, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide clearly show maxima when the prevailing wind is from the north sector and secondary broad maxima when the wind is blowing from the south-east sector. Greenhouse gases exhibit a clear diurnal variability with a maximum in the early morning and a minimum in the afternoon. Both the diurnal maximum and minimum of carbon dioxide precede that of carbon monoxide.peer-reviewe

Composites based on PLA/PHBV blends with nanocrystalline cellulose NCC : mechanical and thermal investigation

This study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable composites based on PLA/PHBV blends modified with different content of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) of 5, 10, and 15 wt.%. Density measurements reveal that the density of the composite increases with increasing NCC content. Water absorption tests demonstrate a gradual increase in the composite water content with increasing incubation time, reaching stabilization after approximately 30 days. Mechanical testing was also carried out on both on conditioned samples after the process of hydrolytic degradation and accelerated thermal aging. The conditioned composites show an increase in the stiffness of the materials with increasing content of nanocrystalline cellulose. The ability to deform and the ability to absorb energy when the sample is dynamically loaded decrease. The repeated strength tests, after the process of incubation of samples in water and after the process of accelerated thermal aging, show the degradation of composite materials; however, it is noticed that the introduction of cellulose addition reduces the impact of the applied artificial environment in aging tests. The findings of this study indicate promising applications for these types of materials, characterized by high strength and biodegradability under appropriate conditions. Household items such as various containers or reusable packaging represent potential applications of these composites.peer-reviewe

A framework for investigating signals in pharmaceutical regulatory quality assurance

Pharmaceutical regulatory assurance is a pillar in the regulatory sciences that leads to t he availability of safe, effective, and quality medicinal products. A structured approach to using signals as an instructive tool of process management in regulatory sciences is an innovative, relatively unexplored concept in the evolution of pharmaceutical regulatory sciences. This research explores a gap in the identification of disruptive signals from sources within the quality management system, categorisation of identified signals, and development of signal minimisation action plans at the heart of the regulatory, scientific field. Strategic lines of inquiry in the regulatory and scientific field can be unfolded. The objective is to formulate a novel investigative framework for identified signals within regulatory sciences quality management systems. The hypothesis is that signal categorisation serves to enhance a quality management system by strengthening the regulation to safeguard the availability of quality, safe and effective medicines. Method: The study employs a retrospective analysis of internal audit reports, quality improvement, and deviation forms within a competent authority in the medicine regulatory department. The analysis focuses on identified signals associated with operational and regulatory aspects within pharmaceutical sciences. A structured framework for categorising signals is devised, drawing upon the principles Pharmacy Education 24(7) 398 - 409 Regulatory sciences and quality outlined in Module IV of the Guideline on Good Pharmacovigilance Practice, focusing on Pharmacovigilance Audits. The assessment tool incorporates definitions for terms such as "critical," "major," "minor," and "others" and thresholds to facilitate the systematic classification of signals. In this context, 'critical' denotes a foundational deficiency within regulatory pharmaceutical procedures or methodologies, leading to adverse impacts on the regulatory framework and/or constituting a severe breach of relevant regulatory standards. 'Major' signifies a notable deficiency within regulatory pharmaceutical procedures or methodologies or a fundamental fault therein that undermines the regulatory process and/or breaches applicable regulatory standards, albeit without reaching a level of severity deemed critical. 'Minor' denotes a deficiency within regulatory pharmaceutical procedures or methodologies that is not anticipated to have adverse effects on the regulatory framework. 'Other' encompasses deficiencies or inadequacies in regulatory pharmaceutical processes or practices that do not fit within the aforementioned terms. These may include less consequential deviations from regulatory requirements or minor issues that do not present substantial risks to the regulatory integrity or compliance criteria. The competent Authority in question is patient-centric, and the relation of signal categorisation to patient safety needs to be elaborated upon. Results: The analysis of the internal documentation revealed that no cases were of a critical and major nature. Predominantly, findings were categorised as minor or other. These findings hold significance in fostering a proactive approach to signal management within the regulatory framework of signals for quality assurance, contingent upon the established classification framework. These findings are anticipated to strengthen regulatory integrity and ensure adherence to established standards. Conclusion: This research has yielded the development of a structured categorisation framework tool inspired by Module IV Pharmacovigilance Audits, as outlined in the Guideline on Good Pharmacovigilance Practice. The interaction between data, communication, and governance offers a systematic approach to organising identified signals and facilitating streamlined processes in signal classification.peer-reviewe

Capital Zagreb versus coastal Split : enduring tensions between capital cities and port second cities

Being on the edge of space and politics, coastal cities (sometimes accompanied by islands) traditionally play second fiddle to larger, urban capital cities, located more centrally in their respective countries’ interiors. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and threats faced by coastal cities and their neighbouring islands while rethinking them through the concept of ‘the second city’. Today, the status of second(ary) cities is usually constituted in terms of their size, resources, economic, and political power. In the context of maritime second (and secondary) cities, these criteria are further complicated by their peripheral status and 'marginal' role. However, this generic understanding of second(ary) cities is being challenged, thereby enabling much more complex definitions and a multidisciplinary approach. This paper offers a rethinking of how ‘the second city’ is understood, by analysing the multi-layered relations and ambivalences emerging from the entanglement of historical, cultural, social and economic processes that define coastal cities as second cities. Based on a combination of desk research, discourse analysis of secondary literature and the authors’ multi-disciplinarity, experiences and presence in the cities they study, the focus is on how a city’s secondness is experienced, negotiated and redefined. After a short but scene-setting overview of first/second city cases and their associated problems, the study engages with the coastal city of Split as Croatia’s second city in relation to the (non-coastal) capital, Zagreb. Our aim is to understand what constitutes Split as second city, and how the coastal experience and the cosmopolitan vibe of Mediterranean Split triggers social and cultural processes in which secondness is questioned and (re)negotiated. Furthermore, we want to understand how does the changing (in)visibility of Split’s urban seascape challenge and override its stigma as Croatia’s ‘second best’ urban settlement.Nalazeći se na rubu prostora i politike priobalni gradovi (ponekad i otoci) uobičajeno predstav- ljaju drugu violinu u odnosu na veće, urbane glavne gradove, smještene bliže središnjem dijelu unutrašnjosti svojih država. Ovaj rad nastoji istražiti prilike i prijetnje s kojima se suočavaju priobalni gradovi i njima susjedni otoci, iznova ih promišljajući kroz koncept ‘drugoga grada’. Danas se status drugoga (po važnosti) grada uspostavlja s obzirom na veličinu, resurse te eko- nomsku i političku moć. U kontekstu drugih (i drugih po važnosti) priobalnih gradova, ti se kriteriji dodatno kompliciraju njihovim perifernim statusom i 'marginalnom' ulogom. Ipak, takvo se generičko shvaćanje drugih (po važnosti) gradova dodatno propituje, omogućujući pritom mnogo složenije definicije i multidisciplinaran pristup. Ovaj rad nudi ponovno pro- mišljanje načina shvaćanja ‘drugoga grada’, analizirajući višeslojne odnose i ambivalencije koje nastaju ispreplitanjem povijesnih, kulturnih, društvenih i ekonomskih procesa koji definiraju priobalne gradove kao druge. Na temelju analize dokumenata, analize diskursa sekundarne literature te multidisciplinarnosti autora, kao i njihovih iskustava i prisutnosti u gradovima koje proučavaju, naglasak je na načinu na koji se drugost grada doživljava, pregovara i rede- finira. Nakon kratkog pregleda slučajeva prvih/drugih gradova i njihovih problema, čime je postavljen okvir, istraživanje se usmjerava na priobalni grad Split kao drugi grad Hrvatske u odnosu na (ne-priobalni) glavni grad Zagreb. Naš je cilj razumjeti što Split čini drugim gradom te na koji način iskustvo življenja na obali i kozmopolitski duh mediteranskoga Splita potiču društvene i kulturne procese u kojima se drugost propituje i iznova pregovara. Nadalje, želimo razumjeti na koji način promjenjiva (ne)vidljivost urbanog morskog krajobraza Splita propi tuje i nadjačava njegovu stigmu kao ‘drugog po redu’ najboljeg urbanog naselja u Hrvatskoj.peer-reviewe