Luffia lapidella (Goeze, 1783), a new bagworm moth for the Maltese Islands (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Luffia lapidella is recorded for the first time from the Maltese Islands. Additional notes on the biology and ecology of this species and a list of psychid species known from the Maltese archipelago are includedpeer-reviewe

Blood lead levels in pregnant women and the neonate

Population studies carried out during the 1980s had shown that the Maltese population was characterized by high blood lead (PbB) levels. These high levels appeared to be a feature at all age groups including neonates. A number of environmental control measures had been initiated to attempt to decrease these PbB levels. The present study reviews PbB levels in pregnant women and newborns. It is shown that mean cord PbB levels decreased significantly in the last decade from a mean of 165.1 + 87.9 ug/I in 1985 to 89.79 + 31.23 ug/I in 1996. This decrease did not correlate with the increasing use of multimineral supplements which include the zinc cation said to be useful to counter the effects of chronic lead intoxication. Placental transfer of lead is also shown to follow closely maternal levels with a correlation coefficient of 0.81. In spite of the apparent decrease in PbB levels, about half of newborns still I have levels which require preventive community measures.peer-reviewe

Taeniopygia guttata (Vieillot, 1817) (Avifauna : Passeridae, Estrildidae) establish a semi feral breeding population in Malta

A population of Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata is being documented for the first time locally to establish itself in a semi feral state. Other relevant data is given.peer-reviewe

On the occurrence of Calapteryx virga meridianalis (Selys,1873) (Odonata : Calopterygidae) in the Maltese Islands

During the 1987-1988 period, a dead Calopteryx specimen was found in a rock pool at Marsascala. This was the first record of this genus in the Maltese Islands. In this paper, we discuss the possible causes behind such an occurrence and the methodology employed in the identification of the specimen as Calopteryx virgo meridionalis.peer-reviewe

Online Learning and Planning in Cognitive Hierarchies

Complex robot behaviour typically requires the integration of multiple robotic and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques and components. Integrating such disparate components into a coherent system, while also ensuring global properties and behaviours, is a significant challenge for cognitive robotics. Using a formal framework to model the interactions between components can be an important step in dealing with this challenge. In this paper we extend an existing formal framework [Clark et al., 2016] to model complex integrated reasoning behaviours of robotic systems; from symbolic planning through to online learning of policies and transition systems. Furthermore the new framework allows for a more flexible modelling of the interactions between different reasoning components

Post-Traumatic Growth after Cancer: A Thematic Analysis Study

Background: That a diagnosis of, and treatment to cancer brings along shock, distress and possible long-term negative life changes is very clear from human experience and research alike. But such an experience can also relate to positive life changes, as increasing research on the aftermath of serious illness, such as cancer diagnosis consistently shows. Observations of positive outcomes linked to quality of life are increasingly being found in cancer studies. These results seem to converge with post-traumatic growth (PTG)  which emphasize positive life changes as resulting from considerable life-changing events that are borne from crises or trauma. Objectives: Aims to this study were to 1) investigate the holistic impact and ramifications of PTG on the recovery from serious illness such as cancer; 2) clarify the relationship, if any, of PTG with mental health outcomes; and 3) how is PTG strengthened or otherwise, when one is faced by such life-changing event. Methods: Using a Thematic Analysis design, we investigated how the diagnosis of, and treatment to cancer impacted the patients and survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who had received treatment for breast (n=3), MSS (n=1), ovarian (n=2), bone (n=2), H. Lymphoma (n=1), Liver (n=1). Using descriptive mapping, we clarified whether this study results are consistent with Tedeschi and Calhoun’s PTG framework. Results: Findings charted on the key factors of PTG. Conclusions: Cancer results in varied consequences and in negative and positive adjustments. Further development of findings which charted on major PTG dimensions is warranted

Mental Health Perceptions from Artwork

The relationship between artwork and mental health has been the subject of various research endeavours. Whilst artwork has been long used as a means of emotional expression, it is also a method of raising mental health awareness. In this study, an art collection was presented to depict the challenges faced by many individuals living with a mental illness. Through a series of open-ended questions, twenty-nine participants were requested to give a title to each piece and to describe the perceived message and emotions related to each painting. The thematic analysis process of the participants’ descriptions led to the identification of three themes, namely those of Darkness, Solitude and Recovery. Whilst congruence was often observed between the participants themselves and between the viewers and the artist, discrepancies were also noted. Artwork can be an important medium in addressing stigma and in guiding reflections on mental health topics

PENENTUAN KATEGORI KONSENTRASI BERBAGAI PEUBAH KIMIA KUALITAS TANAH PADA KEDALAMAN BERBEDA DI TAMBAK PROVINSI SULAWESI SELATAN, INDONESIA

Kualitas tanah adalah salah satu faktor penentu keberhasilan dan keberlanjutan usaha budidaya tambak, termasuk budidaya tambak di Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. Namun demikian, sampai saat ini belum ada data mengenai kategori konsentrasi peubah kimia kualitas tanah untuk tanah tambak di Indonesia. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kategori konsentrasi peubah kimia kualitas tanah sebagai langkah awal dalam menginterpretasi kualitas tanah tambak di Sulawesi Selatan secara khusus dan di Indonesia secara umum. Contoh tanah diambil pada 1.196 titik pengambilan dengan masing-masing dua kedalaman tanah yang tersebar di 13 kabupaten di Sulawesi Selatan. Sebanyak 18 peubah kimia kualitas tanah telah diukur langsung di lapangan atau dianalisis di laboratorium. Uji t digunakan untuk mengetahui perbedaan kualitas tanah pada kedalaman yang berbeda. Konsentrasi setiap peubah kimia kualitas tanah disusun dari terkecil ke terbesar kemudian dilakukan penentuan letak desil dan nilai desil sebagai dasar dalam penentuan kategori konsentrasi setiap peubah kimia kualitas tanah. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa secara umum tanah tambak di Sulawesi Selatan pada kedalaman 0-0,2 m memiliki kemasaman dan unsur toksin (Fe, Al) yang lebih rendah dan sebaliknya konsentrasi unsur hara makro (N, P) yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan pada kedalaman 0,2-0,5 m. Peubah kualitas tanah lainnya seperti SKCl, SP,, dan SPOS relatif sama pada kedua kedalaman. Data setiap peubah kualitas tanah telah disusun ke dalam kategori konsentrasi (sangat rendah, rendah, sedang, tinggi, sangat tinggi) untuk memfasilitasi perbandingan dengan data lain mengenai kualitas tanah untuk budidaya tambak. Hasil studi ini tidak disarankan untuk digunakan dalam menentukan hubungan antara kualitas tanah dan produktivitas tambak, tetapi dapat menjadi dasar dalam menentukan peubah kimia kualitas tanah tambak termasuk kategori sangat rendah, rendah, sedang, tinggi, atau sangat tinggi dan membuat keputusan untuk perbaikan kualitas tanah

PENENTUAN KATEGORI KONSENTRASI BERBAGAI PEUBAH KIMIA KUALITAS TANAH PADA KEDALAMAN BERBEDA DI TAMBAK PROVINSI SULAWESI SELATAN, INDONESIA

Kualitas tanah adalah salah satu faktor penentu keberhasilan dan keberlanjutan usaha budidaya tambak, termasuk budidaya tambak di Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. Namun demikian, sampai saat ini belum ada data mengenai kategori konsentrasi peubah kimia kualitas tanah untuk tanah tambak di Indonesia. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kategori konsentrasi peubah kimia kualitas tanah sebagai langkah awal dalam menginterpretasi kualitas tanah tambak di Sulawesi Selatan secara khusus dan di Indonesia secara umum. Contoh tanah diambil pada 1.196 titik pengambilan dengan masing-masing dua kedalaman tanah yang tersebar di 13 kabupaten di Sulawesi Selatan. Sebanyak 18 peubah kimia kualitas tanah telah diukur langsung di lapangan atau dianalisis di laboratorium. Uji t digunakan untuk mengetahui perbedaan kualitas tanah pada kedalaman yang berbeda. Konsentrasi setiap peubah kimia kualitas tanah disusun dari terkecil ke terbesar kemudian dilakukan penentuan letak desil dan nilai desil sebagai dasar dalam penentuan kategori konsentrasi setiap peubah kimia kualitas tanah. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa secara umum tanah tambak di Sulawesi Selatan pada kedalaman 0-0,2 m memiliki kemasaman dan unsur toksin (Fe, Al) yang lebih rendah dan sebaliknya konsentrasi unsur hara makro (N, P) yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan pada kedalaman 0,2-0,5 m. Peubah kualitas tanah lainnya seperti SKCl, SP,, dan SPOS relatif sama pada kedua kedalaman. Data setiap peubah kualitas tanah telah disusun ke dalam kategori konsentrasi (sangat rendah, rendah, sedang, tinggi, sangat tinggi) untuk memfasilitasi perbandingan dengan data lain mengenai kualitastanah untuk budidaya tambak. Hasil studi ini tidak disarankan untuk digunakan dalam menentukan hubungan antara kualitas tanah dan produktivitas tambak, tetapi dapat menjadi dasar dalam menentukan peubah kimia kualitas tanah tambak termasuk kategori sangat rendah, rendah, sedang, tinggi, atau sangat tinggidan membuat keputusan untuk perbaikan kualitas tanah