Predictive Weather Display in ATC: Implications for Research and Training

Two systems are central to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) air traffic management program - Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) and En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM). One purpose of both systems is to reduce air traffic control (ATC) delay. The present study reports on an exploratory integration of convective weather, a major source of delay, into the ATC systems to allow early re-route around weather in order to reduce delay. Pseudo-controllers ran a series of simulation-based scenarios with screen capture and video collection to assess delay and safety performance. Results provide evidence that delay was reduced by early rerouting in response to convective weather predictions. Implications for training and research are discussed

The management of patients positive to hepatitis C virus antibody in Malta

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide and is an important public health concern. A retrospective analysis of the demographics and management of patients who had a positive anti-HCV detected by enzyme immunoassay test done at Mater Dei Hospital was carried out to analyse the epidemiology of HCV infection in Malta and assess our management when compared to the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines. 72% of patients were male. The majority of patients were aged 21-50 years. The main mode of infection was via intravenous drugs use, accounting for 68% of cases. Only 56% of patients found to be HCV Ab positive had a scheduled appointment with an infectious diseases specialist or gastroenterologist documented on the MDH online appointment system. 58% of patients had HCV RNA testing done and 45% had genotype testing. 7.3% with HCV infection were given treatment, of which 43% had a Sustained Virological Response (SVR).peer-reviewe

Optimisation of Ingredient Formulation in Processed Meat Products.

End of Project ReportReformed and restructured meat are two major categories of processed meat products. Reformed meat products require intact meat pieces to bind together while restructured meat products are extensively minced prior to restructuring. Salts such as sodium chloride and phosphates together with mechanical treatment and heat, have been used to bind meat pieces together. In the process the proteins in muscle become soluble, bind large amounts of water and gel on heating. While heat-induced gelation of soluble meat protein provides binding in reformed meat products and reduces cook losses in restructured meat products, no binding occurs in raw meat systems. Non-meat proteins, especially soya protein, are routinely used in processed meat products, often in conjunction with salts, to increase water and fat binding during the cooking process. However, such proteins do not bind intact meat pieces in either the raw or cooked state. Transglutaminase (TGase) is a food-grade commercially available enzyme which can crosslink suitable proteins leading to the formation of a protein matrix (gel) and immobilisation of large quantities of water. This property could improve the water-binding properties of non-meat proteins in restructured meat products. The prospect of crosslinking native meat proteins and non-meat proteins or native meat proteins on adjacent meat pieces would make salt-free reformed meat products a realistic objective. Hence, the main objective of this project was to study protein-protein interactions in reformed and restructured meats, especially between meat proteins and added non-meat proteins in the absence of salts but in the presence of a protein crosslinking enzyme.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin

Stem Cell-Based Approaches for the Treatment of Diabetes

The incidence of diabetes and the associated debilitating complications are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Current therapies for type 1 diabetes focus primarily on administration of exogenous insulin to help restore glucose homeostasis. However, such treatment rarely prevents the long-term complications of this serious metabolic disorder, including neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. Whole pancreas or islet transplantations have enjoyed limited success in some individuals, but these approaches are hampered by the shortage of suitable donors and the burden of lifelong immunosuppression. Here, we review current approaches to differentiate nonislet cell types towards an islet-cell phenotype which may be used for larger-scale cell replacement strategies. In particular, the differentiation protocols used to direct embryonic stem cells, progenitor cells of both endocrine and nonendocrine origin, and induced pluripotent stem cells towards an islet-cell phenotype are discussed

Communicating hands: ERPs elicited by meaningful symbolic hand postures.

Meaningful and meaningless hand postures were presented to subjects who had to carry out a semantic discrimination task while electrical brain responses were recorded. Both meaningful and control sets of hand postures were matched as closely as possible. The ERPs elicited by meaningless hand postures showed an anteriorly distributed N300 and a centro-posteriorly distributed N400 component. The N300 probably reflects picture-specific processes, whereas the N400-effect probably reflects processing in an amodal semantic network. The scalp-distribution of the N400-effect, which is more posterior than usually reported in picture processing, suggests that the semantic representations of the concepts expressed by meaningful hand postures have similar properties to those of abstract words

An Examination of Long-Term Working Memory Capacity

The purpose of this research was to explore experts’ memory capacity and the strategies experts use to achieve that capacity. Expert air traffic controllers were asked to recall traffic information during two radar and two nonradar scenarios. During radar scenarios, air traffic information was communicated aurally and displayed visually. During nonradar scenarios, air traffic information was communicated aurally only. Qualitative recall data assessment revealed an average capacity of five to eight aircraft in radar scenarios and three to six in nonradar scenarios, with two to three details recalled for most recalled aircraft. Recalled details and order of detail recall were highly consistent across experts, which suggest that aircraft details were organized and stored within larger conceptual knowledge structures. Recall patterns were additionally suggestive of frames containing slots designated for holding specific data types, structures described by Klein’s Data/Frame Model of Sensemaking. The extent of information recalled and its organization are additionally consistent with the use of long term working memory to extend working memory capacity; however, they do not rule out the use of working memory alone. Differences between radar and nonradar conditions were observed. Greater overall recall and greater and earlier recall of certain data-tag elements were observed in radar scenarios. In nonradar scenarios, greater and earlier recall of assigned actions were observed. Evaluation of experts’ descriptions of their recall processes suggested primarily visuospatial information encoding in both conditions and a lack of support for differences in the use of visuospatial or verbal encoding

An audit of the uptake of agricultural nutrient management practices in the Peel-Harvey catchment

Recent funding through the Coastal Catchments Initiative aims to significantly reduce the discharge of nutrients to the waterways of the eutrophic Peel-Harvey catchment. A range of projects within this initiative have been developed, which include activities designed to develop, test and implement point and non-point source best management practices (BMP) for the control of nutrient export, and to audit the current levels of adoption of these practices. Landholders who manage approximately 30% of the catchment area have been interviewed under major BMP themes of fertiliser management, soil amendment, perennial pastures, riparian and water management, revegetation, irrigation management and effluent management. The BMP audit indicates that whilst some management actions are in place, there is significant scope for further works, and therefore gains to be made in improved water quality

Sydney principles for reducing the commercial promotion of foods and beverages to children

A set of seven principles (the &lsquo;Sydney Principles&rsquo;) was developed by an International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) Working Group to guide action on changing food and beverage marketing practices that target children. The aim of the present communication is to present the Sydney Principles and report on feedback received from a global consultation (November 2006 to April 2007) on the Principles.The Principles state that actions to reduce marketing to children should: (i) support the rights of children; (ii) afford substantial protection to children; (iii) be statutory in nature; (iv) take a wide definition of commercial promotions; (v) guarantee commercial-free childhood settings; (vi) include cross-border media; and (vii) be evaluated, monitored and enforced.The draft principles were widely disseminated and 220 responses were received from professional and scientific associations, consumer bodies, industry bodies, health professionals and others. There was virtually universal agreement on the need to have a set of principles to guide action in this contentious area of marketing to children. Apart from industry opposition to the third principle calling for a statutory approach and several comments about the implementation challenges, there was strong support for each of the Sydney Principles. Feedback on two specific issues of contention related to the age range to which restrictions should apply (most nominating age 16 or 18 years) and the types of products to be included (31 % nominating all products, 24 % all food and beverages, and 45 % energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages).The Sydney Principles, which took a children&rsquo;s rights-based approach, should be used to benchmark action to reduce marketing to children. The age definition for a child and the types of products which should have marketing restrictions may better suit a risk-based approach at this stage. The Sydney Principles should guide the formation of an International Code on Food and Beverage Marketing to Children.<br /