Technological requirements for solutions in the conservation and protection of historic monuments and archaeological remains

Executive summary: This Study has discovered many achievements associated with European support for scientific and technological research for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage. The achievements to date are: 1. Creation of an active research community 2. A body of research of unparalleled and enviable international quality and character 3. Ongoing effectiveness of research beyond initial funding 4. Substantial rate of publication 5. Imaginative tools of dissemination and publication 6. Clear spin-offs and contribution to European competitiveness often going outside the European cultural heritage area 7. Contribution to emerging European legislation, for example, air quality management. The Study has also uncovered important research gaps associated with this field that have yet to begin to be investigated. It has also discovered the need for continuing fine scale advancement in areas where researchers have been active for a number of years. The overall picture is that European research in the field of cultural heritage protection must be put on a secure footing if it is to maintain its commanding lead over other regions of the world. This Study concludes that: 1. It would be invidious to attempt to separate basic and applied research in this area of research. Like any other scientific endeavour, this field needs to integrate basic and applied research if it is to continue to thrive. 2. Small, flexible, focused interdisciplinary teams responsive to European needs, must be sustained, promoted and celebrated as models of sustainability and that what is proposed under the European Research Area (ERA) for large and complex research projects, could inflict serious damage on this area of research. 3. Resources cannot be delegated to Member States because of the interdisciplinary nature of cultural heritage and the need for a co-ordinated pan-European perspective across this research that helps to define the essential character of European cultural heritage. National programmes only serve local needs, leading to loss of strategic output, lessening of competitiveness and risk of duplication. 4. A mechanism needs to be created to help researchers working in this field to communicate and exchange information with related sectors such as construction, urban regeneration, land reclamation and agriculture. 5. There is overwhelming agreement over the need for sustainable research funding for cultural heritage and for an iterative process of exchange among researchers, decision-makers and end-users in order to maximize benefits from project inception through to dissemination, audit and review. For all the reasons mentioned above, the most significant recommendation in this Report is the identification of the need for a European Panel on the Application of Science for Cultural Heritage (EPASCH)

An examination of the relationship between authentic leadership and psychological well-being and the mediating role of meaningfulness at work

Previous studies have examined the relationship between charismatic-types of leadership and well-being but not specifically authentic leadership which gives importance to how leaders are intrinsically composed rather than mere behaviours. This study explored whether authentic leadership and well-being are related and whether meaningfulness of work mediates this relationship. Well-being was measured from two perspectives namely hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. 123 participants completed a questionnaire survey while correlational and mediation analyses, using the Sobel Z test with bootstrapped samples, were used to answer the research questions. Results revealed that authentic leadership is both related to subjective well-being and to flow. In addition, meaningfulness of work partially mediated the relationship between leadership and subjective well-being but fully mediated the relationship with flow. The results are discussed in view of their theoretical and practical implications. Finally, a series of limitations are provided to secure the interpretative boundaries of the results obtained.peer-reviewe

Determinants of health-related lifestyles among university students

AIMS: To investigate students’ health-related lifestyles and to identify barriers and social determinants of healthier lifestyles. METHODS: An online survey, two focus groups, and three in-depth interviews across 2014/15. A stratified by School size and random sample [n=468] of university students answered a 67-item questionnaire comprising six scales: RAPA, REAP-S, CAGE, FTND, SWEMWBS and ad hoc scale for drug use/misuse. Stratified by gender X2 tests were run to test associations/estimate risks and three multivariate Logistic Regression models were adjusted. A thematic approach guided the analysis of qualitative data. RESULTS: 60% of the respondents were insufficiently physically active, 47% had an unbalanced diet and 30% had low mental wellbeing. Alcohol drinkers vs. abstinent were almost equally distributed. 42% of alcohol drinkers reported getting drunk at least once a month. Smokers accounted for 16% of the respondents. Identified risk factors for suboptimal physical activity were: Being a woman, not using the university gym and smoking. For unbalanced diet: low mental wellbeing and drugs use. Poor mental wellbeing was predicted by unbalanced diet, not feeling like shopping and cooking frequently, and a lack of help-seeking behaviour in case of distress. Qualitative analysis revealed seven thematic categories: transition to new life, university environment and systems, finances, academic pressure, health promotion in campus and recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides robust evidence that the health-related lifestyles of the student population are worrying and suggests that the trend in chronic diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyles sustained over years might be unlikely to change in future generations. University students’ health-related lifestyle is a concern. Nine out of the identified ten predictors of problematic physical activity, nutrition and mental wellbeing, were environmental/societal or institutional barriers. Universities must expand corporate responsibilities to include the promotion of health as part of their core values

Salmonella surveillance trends in porcine Salmonellae in GB: 1996- 2002

Comparison of serotype, phagetype prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles for 2002 with data from previous years shows an overall decrease in the number of Salmonella incidents in pigs. Nonetheless, the most frequently isolated serotypes remain unchanged, with an increase in S. Typhimurium incidents. The incidence of antimicrobial resistance for all Salmonella isolates from pigs during the study period showed increasing resistance trends to tetracycline and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim. However, the isolates remained sensitive to the majority of antibiotics in the screening panel

No evidence that partnered and unpartnered gay men differ in their preferences for male facial masculinity

Women's preferences for masculine characteristics in men's faces have been extensively studied. By contrast, little is known about how gay men respond to masculine facial characteristics. One area of disagreement in the emerging literature on this topic is the association between gay men's partnership status and masculinity preference. One study found that partnered gay men showed stronger preferences for masculine faces than did single gay men, while another study found that partnered gay men showed weaker preferences for masculine faces than did single gay men. We re-examined this issue in a sample of 618 gay men, finding no significant difference between partnered and single gay men's masculinity preferences. Together with the mixed previous findings, our null result suggests that the effect of partnership status on gay men's face preferences is not robust

Treatment with supplementary arginine, vitamin C and zinc in patients with pressure ulcers: A randomised controlled trial

Background &amp; AimsNutrients putatively implicated in pressure ulcer healing were evaluated in a clinical setting.MethodsSixteen inpatients with a stage 2, 3 or 4 pressure ulcer randomised to receive daily a standard hospital diet; a standard diet plus two high-protein/energy supplements; or a standard diet plus two high-protein/energy supplements containing additional arginine (9 g), vitamin C (500 mg) and zinc (30 mg). Nutritional status measurements (dietary, anthropometric and biochemical) and pressure ulcer size and severity (by PUSH tool; Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing; 0=completely healed, 17=greatest severity) were measured weekly for 3 weeks.ResultsPatients&rsquo; age and BMI ranges were 37&ndash;92 years and 16.4&ndash;28.1 kg/m2, respectively. Baseline PUSH scores were similar between groups (8.7&plusmn;0.5). Only patients receiving additional arginine, vitamin C and zinc demonstrated a clinically significant improvement in pressure ulcer healing (9.4&plusmn;1.2 vs. 2.6&plusmn;0.6; baseline and week 3, respectively; P&lt;0.01). All patient groups presented with low serum albumin and zinc and elevated C-reactive protein. There were no significant changes in biochemical markers, oral dietary intake or weight in any group.ConclusionsIn this small set of patients, supplementary arginine, vitamin C and zinc significantly improved the rate of pressure ulcer healing. The results need to be confirmed in a larger study.<br /

Spazju

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Meditation ta’ Wallace Ph. Gulia – Iċ-ċimiteru ta’ Lazzarett ta’ Patri Mattew – Niftakar ta’ C. Cassar – Ilsna ta’ C. Cassar – Ħsieb fix-xtajta ta’ Manwel u Josephine Cassar – Imħabba dejjiema ta’ Vincent Caruana – Ir-radda taż-żmien ta’ Vincent Ungaro – “Buona Pasqua!” ta’ Ġużè Borg Pantalleresco – Spazju ta’ Vincent Caruana.peer-reviewe