Maternal label and gesture use affects acquisition of specific object names

Ten mothers were observed prospectively, interacting with their infants aged 0 ; 10 in two contexts (picture description and noun description). Maternal communicative behaviours were coded for volubility, gestural production and labelling style. Verbal labelling events were categorized into three exclusive categories: label only; label plus deictic gesture; label plus iconic gesture. We evaluated the predictive relations between maternal communicative style and children's subsequent acquisition of ten target nouns. Strong relations were observed between maternal communicative style and children's acquisition of the target nouns. Further, even controlling for maternal volubility and maternal labelling, maternal use of iconic gestures predicted the timing of acquisition of nouns in comprehension. These results support the proposition that maternal gestural input facilitates linguistic development, and suggest that such facilitation may be a function of gesture type

Prader-Willi syndrome

Case regarding a three-year old girl, suffering from Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with characteristic, easily recognisable dysmorphic features. She was seen at Children’s Out-patients as part of a follow-up regimen, performed every three months. This consultation was held on the 3rd October, 2012 and another one was planned for the 5th of January, 2013. The clinical picture of developmental signs and symptoms are very characteristic and early diagnosis is beneficial for the anticipation of complications, reduction in unnecessary investigations and improved prognosis.peer-reviewe

Exploring practice and participation in transition to postgraduate social science study

This project aims to understand the processes of inclusion and transition into postgraduate education. Whilst there has been a research focus on transitions in schools and transitions to undergraduate study, postgraduate study has largely been ignored. This project includes the voices of both staff and students in generating data that has enabled the formulation of practical recommendations to HEIs surrounding the design of postgraduate learning environments and, importantly, recommendations for students and staff for managing learning and ensuring inclusion

Computationally efficient estimation of high-dimension autoregressive models : with application to air pollution in Malta

The modelling and analysis of spatiotemporal behaviour is receiving wide-spread attention due to its applicability to various scientific fields such as the mapping of the electrical activity in the human brain, the spatial spread of pandemics and the diffusion of hazardous pollutants. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the dynamics describing these systems and the vast datasets of the measurements involved, efficient computational methods are required to obtain representative mathematical descriptions of such behaviour. In this work, a computationally efficient method for the estimation of heterogeneous spatio-temporal autoregressive models is proposed and tested on a dataset of air pollutants measured over the Maltese islands. Results will highlight the computation advantages of the proposed methodology and the accuracy of the predictions obtained through the estimated model.peer-reviewe

Investigating the spelling performance of Maltese children

This research investigates Maltese word and non-word spelling abilities of Maltese children. A total of 82 typically developing students attending state and church schools in grades 4, 5 and 6 participated in the research. Spelling abilities were assessed using a standardized Maltese spelling test and a non-word spelling test developed for the purpose of this study. A comparison of the children’s performance in these tests was undertaken in terms of their grade, gender, school-type, school language and home language. Findings show that word and non-word spelling abilities are only significantly affected by grade and schoollanguage. Spelling patterns were analyzed and discussed in light of the dual route model. Four distinctive categories of spelling patterns emerged in this study, which indicated the use of lexical and sub-lexical processes. Overall, findings are discussed in relation to other similar studies.peer-reviewe

Emergent realities for social wellbeing : environmental, spatial and social pathways

The National Statistics Office is Malta’s National Authority entrusted to carry out the census. The population statistic is only part of the whole exercise, thus the purpose of the census has evolved. The exercise has evolved over time with questions creating a spectrum of the Maltese society situation. The fact that it is carried out every 10 years, it allow for comparisons to be systematically arranged and within a time frame which is not short nor long. The census on its own is an extensive project to carry out, nevertheless the information gained from this national project provides data which needs to be turned into information, giving more value to the data gathered. The national census being a vast data source, if integrated with GIS can produce several beneficial statistical outputs. The decennial count of residents, households and dwellings is a pool for statisticians to create progression, differences and a comparison between the different census years. Having GIS to analyse the data through its several tools can create a more systematic, efficient and clear results. The polygonisation process of the Enumeration Areas (EAs) was the next to be created, specifically for the purpose of the census statistics to be incorporated and thus can be spatially visualised. The process to create the polygons was made systematically so as to have a clearer way to visualise exactly how the plotting should be made. Plotting the EAs will not be a static map as it could be used further on with other census outputs, or if changes are necessary, amendments will be needed to be done.peer-reviewe

Ghajn Klieb, (Rabat, Malta)

Between October and December 1999 a team of local and foreign undergraduates from the University of Malta carried out a survey of the site at Ghajn Klieb outside Rabat. The exercise constituted the practical part of a unit on the Principles of Archaeological Surveying directed by Dr Nicholas Vella of the Department of Classics & Archaeology. For the survey the team was joined by Hanna Stager, a graduate of the same department, who also researched some of the references used in this article. Initial reconnaissance of the site was carried out on 15 October 1999 with Nathaniel Cutajar and Michelle B uhagiar, Curator and Assistant Curator respectively at the National Museum of Archaeology. The scatter of surface ceramics and the existence of previously known and unknown features revealed the extent and potential of the site. It was decided that the locality of Ghajn Klieb warranted systematic study that could be carried out in various stages, with the longterm aim being an assessment of human activity and cultural behaviour at the site. The Museums Department gave the go-ahead for this project, and permission to collect the surface ceramics was granted. This short report is intended to give an outline of the work undertaken to date. Emphasis is placed on the field methods adopted and on the presentation of what we believe to be worth talking about at this stage. An effort is here made by the senior author to unravel the collaborative nature of the exercise by lending weight to individual thoughts and interpretations that arose while work progressed in the field.peer-reviewe

Healed bite marks on a Cretaceous ichthyosaur

Reports of pathological ichthyosaur fossils are very rare. The identification of a series of healed cuts and an associated gouge on the lower jaw of an adult (ca. 5 metres body length) Platypterygius specimen from the Lower Cretaceous of Australia is therefore significant, because it constitutes direct evidence of bite force trauma sustained during the life of the animal. Based on the close spacing and non-lethal facial positioning of the wounds, they were probably not inflicted by a predator. Alternative explanations might include an accidental aggressive encounter with another large vertebrate, or perhaps an intraspecific interaction such as during courtship or combat over food, mates, or territory.Maria Zammit and Benjamin P. Kea