The renewable energy potential of the Maltese Islands

The potential of renewable energies is presented for the territory of the Republic of Malta. These are in the main sun, wind and biogas. Taking the base year 2003 for comparing the percentage contribution of electricity generated from renewables to that generated from fossil-fuelled power stations, it was found that rooftop solar photovoltaic systems could produce 9.1%, onshore wind farms could offset 5.4% and the offshore wind potential lies in the region of 3.4%. Energy from waste could contribute another 5.6%, while widespread solar water heating in domestic buildings could offset 4.8%. Economic analysis of applying renewable energy power systems under the present constraints is carried out. A range of barriers to the use of renewable energy devices is described. The currently available incentives are listed and a number of measures that could be implemented to allow widespread applications of renewable energies are suggestedpeer-reviewe

The Eco-Gozo concept : from a sustainable energy perspective

The Eco Gozo 2015 Vision of the Ministry for Gozo aims at making the Island of Gozo eco-friendly, supporting a sustainable society, while improving the quality of life of citizens and reducing the Island’s carbon footprint [1]. This paper aims at addressing the Eco-Gozo Concept from a sustainable energy point of view. Gozo, being a small island that fully depends on the main Island of Malta for the provision of energy supplies and electricity, would have to become more self-sufficient in terms of renewable energy generation, thus reducing power transmission losses and its associated carbon emissions, and increasing the island’s autonomy and energy diversification. Studies showed that for the immediate future, there is a good potential for the use of solar and wind energy systems on the island. The use of bio-energy and alternative fuels for vehicles would increase energy options for transport fuel, and in the longer run, there might be possibilities for using wave energy for electricity production. The paper also shows significant savings that could be achieved by applying roof insulation to buildings. Although the paper has not exhaustively dealt with all energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy options, the results presented here should be useful to all entities who may be directly or indirectly involved in planning for the Eco-Gozo initiative, and may also support the formulation of sustainable action plans that would be necessary to achieve the full aims of the Eco-Island concept. This study also showed that the Island of Gozo could potentially even become a net exporter of green electricity.peer-reviewe

Sowing the seed for an energy conscious society in Malta

A one-day programme of studies aimed at school students between 13 and 16 years old has been devised and implemented for the last 3 years. The programme aims at increasing the awareness level of students and teachers, on the present energy situation in Malta and the detrimental effects that it is having on health, the environment and buildings. It also stimulates them to realise that their present social and living habits, whilst providing them with a temporarily better quality of life, frequently conflicts with the long-term sustainability of that quality. Remedies to these problems are discussed, which focus on energy conservation methods, energy efficiency implementations and use of renewable energy sources. This is the first time that such a programme has been implemented in Malta. During the scholastic year October to May of every year, schools are invited to apply for a one-day presentation, held at the Institute’s premises. The programme includes presentations, hands-on experience on operating renewable energy projects and video shows. Discussions are held and questions are asked in the course of the day. The short-term effects are already appearing by raising the interest of the younger generation in energy conservation and renewable energy applications. Some of the students who had visited our premises have opted to work on projects that deal with energy, the environment, buildings and renewable energy, for their project in “Systems of Knowledge”. This subject is compulsory for the final year of pre-university colleges, where a project involving “Technology and the Quality of Life”, has to be prepared and presented. It requires that every student presents a written report and builds a working model to demonstrate the concept of the project. On a long term basis, it is hoped that such initiatives will help promote energy consciousness among the citizens who will be more responsive towards the protection of the environment and the implementation of renewable energy applications in their own lives. It is also envisaged that university students will opt for specialised studies in these fields. Only then, one can launch national programmes to help alleviate the energy dilemma in Malta, where consumption is directly proportional to the rate of increase of the gross national product.peer-reviewe

Integrin α5β1 Inhibition by CLT-28643 Reduces Postoperative Wound Healing in a Mouse Model of Glaucoma Filtration Surgery

To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the small molecule integrin α5β1 inhibitor, CLT-28643, to improve the filtering surgery outcome in a mouse model. Different dose regimens and administration routes of the inhibitor were compared with mitomycin C (MMC), the gold standard in clin ical practice.status: publishe

Designing a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral soraprazan in Stargardt Disease

Purpose: To date there are no treatments available for Stargardt disease (STGD). The investigational drug soraprazan has demonstrated (in pre-clinical studies) the ability to remove lipofuscin, one of the hallmarks in STGD pathogenesis, from Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells. Soraprazan was originally designed to treat gastro-esophageal reflux disease and successfully completed phase I and phase II clinical trials, where safety and tolerability was already demonstrated. The aim is to start a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of soraprazan in reducing the amount of lipofuscin in RPE cells of subjects with STGD.Methods: An international consortium was formed consisting of 5 investigator sites (2 in Netherlands and 1 in each of Germany, UK, and Italy), a Contract Research Organisation, and a start-up company as a sponsor (Katairo). A draft protocol and a business plan were fully costed and timeline

The STArgardt Remofuscin Treatment Trial (STARTT): Design and baseline characteristics of enrolled Stargardt patients

Background: This report describes the study design and baseline characteristics of patients with Stargardt disease (STGD1) enrolled in the STArgardt Remofuscin Treatment Trial (STARTT). Methods: In total, 87 patients with genetically confirmed STGD1 were randomized in a double-masked, placebo-controlled proof of concept trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 20 milligram oral remofuscin for 24 months. The primary outcome measure is change in mean quantitative autofluorescence value of an 8-segment ring centred on the fovea (qAF 8). Secondary efficacy variables are best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low-luminance visual acuity (LLVA), mesopic microperimetry (mMP), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), reading speed on Radner reading charts, and patient-reported visual function as assessed by the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25) and Functional Reading Independence (FRI) Index. Results: Mean age of participants was 35±11 years with 49 (56%) female. Median qAF 8 value was 438 Units (range 210-729). Median BCVA and LLVA in decimal units were 0.50 (range 0.13-0.80) and 0.20 (range 0.06-0.63), respectively. The median of the mean retinal sensitivity with mMP was 20.4 dB (range 0.0-28.8). SD-OCT showed median central subfield retinal thickness of 142 m (range 72-265) and median macular volume of 1.65 mm 3 (range 1.13-2.19). Compared to persons without vision impairment, both reading performance and patient-reported visual function were significantly lower (p<0.001, one sample t-test). Mean reading speed was 108±39 words/minute with logRAD-score of 0.45±0.28. Mean VFQ-25 composite score was 72±13. Mean FRI Index score 2.8±0.6. Conclusions: This trial design may serve as reference for future clinical trials as it explores the utility of qAF 8 as primary outcome measure. The baseline data represent the largest, multi-national, STGD1 cohort to date that underwent standardized qAF imaging, reading speed assessment and vision-related quality of life measures which all contribute to the characterization of STGD1