Recent records of uncommon butterflies from the Maltese Islands

The lycaenid butterflies Lycaena phlaeas phlaeas (Linnaeus 1761), Zezeeria knysna knysna (Trimen 1861) and Aricia agestis agestis (Denis & Schiffermuller,1775) and the satyrid butterfly Maniola jurtina hyperhispulla (Thomson, 1972) are recorded again after a long absence.peer-reviewe

Preliminary notes on the early stages of Isturgia pulinda (Walker, 1860) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

The early stages, larval hostplant and voltism of Isturgia pulinda in the Maltese Islands are documentedpeer-reviewe

On the occurrence of two subspecies of Hypsopygia costalis in Malta (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae)

Hypsopygia costalis (Fabricius, 1775), has been recorded for the Maltese islands from two specimens collected by one of us (AS) on May 16 and June 7, 1998 from Naxxar (SAMMUT, 2000) and seems to represent a rare species. These two specimens proved to belong to the nominal subspecies.peer-reviewe

Pseudohyponatraemia : a literature review

Hyponatraemia often poses a diagnostic dilemma, brought about by inadequate work-up and inappropriate management. In order to make the correct diagnosis, an understanding of the pathophysiology and classification of hyponatraemia is essential. In this review, focus is made on the diagnosis of pseudohyponatraemia including the causes, when to suspect it and how to diagnose it. Different analytical methods are discussed, including flame emission spectrophotometry, and ion-specific electrode (ISE) potentiometry and the role they play in diagnosing pseudohypopatraemia. The measured and calculated osmolalities and their use to calculate the osmolal gap are explained. Finally, a discussion follows on the aetiologies of pseudohyponatraemia, strategies to circumvent this problem and the relevance of clinching the diagnosis in clinical practice.peer-reviewe

New records of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) from the Maltese Islands

Six species of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) are reported for the first time from the Maltese Islands. These are Heteropalpia acrosticta (Pungeler, 1903), Araeopteron ecphaea (Hampson, 1914), Chi/odes maritima (Tauscher, 1806), Mormo maUl'a (Linnaeus, 1758), Spudea ruticilla (Esper, [1791]) and Aporophila australis Boisduval, 1829. Distribution, habits of adults and larval host plant are included. A Maltese name is proposed for each of the six species.peer-reviewe

Society for Endocrinology Endocrine Update 2018

Water balance disorders following neurosurgery are well recognised and may give rise to both hypo- and hypernatraemia. We present the case of a 42-year-old male who developed a triphasic response after extended transsphenoidal surgery for a pituitary stalk lesion. The patient presented with a 4 month history of unremitting frontal headaches and dizziness. MRI confirmed a 15×15 mm stalk lesion. Clinical examination including formal visual perimetry was unremarkable. Blood tests revealed primary hypothyroidism but were otherwise normal. His past medical history included hypertension and alcoholism. He was referred to the UK where he underwent extended transsphenoidal surgery. In the immediate postoperative period, he developed polyuria (670 ml/h) and polydipsia (500 ml/h) which led to a negative fluid balance (of 2 L over 12 hours), serum sodium of 142 mmol/l, high serum osmolality of 299 mOsmol/kg and low urine osmolality of 131. The patient was normoglycaemic and did not receive any diuretics. Desmopressin (initally subcutaneous then desmotabs) reduced the polyuria and, together with intravenous fluids (2 L of 5% dextrose/day between days 1 and 2) and ad libitum drinking, restored normonatraemia. Hydrocortisone 10-5-5 mg was started on the 6th postoperative day in view of a morning cortisol of 25 nmol/l. On the 7th day post-op he developed severe SIADH with a serum sodium of 120 mmol/l, which was managed conservatively with fluid restriction (1.5 l/day). He was clinically euvolaemic, with normal kidney function (creatinine 53 Umol/l). Despite fluid restriction, fluid intake exceeded urine output (19 ml/h) producing a positive fluid balance of +1.5 l and a further fall in serum sodium to 119 mmol/l. Here the patient complained of headaches, unsteadiness and lethargy but no confusion or seizures. On day 12 the patient redeveloped polyuria (250 ml/hour) for which desmotabs 100mcgs daily were started. In anticipation of a triphasic response he was continued on ad libitum fluid intake and desmopressin was further increased to 100–200 mcgs as the patient was still waking up hourly to micturate. He was advised to omit one dose a week to allow excess water to be offloaded. On the 13th postoperative day he developed a serum sodium of 138 mmol/l, serum osmolality 299 mOsm/kg and urine osmolality of 79 mOsm/kg. Histology confirmed a pituicytoma (WHO grade 1); Ki-67 <1%.peer-reviewe

Causes and outcomes of hyponatraemia at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

CONTEXT: Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte balance disorder in clinical practice, amounting to 15–20% of casualty visits. While there is general agreement that associated mortality rates are high, most studies are uncontrolled.OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics, causes and outcome of severe hyponatraemia (<125 mmol/l) in hospitalised patients and to indentify mortality predictors.DESIGN: This is a retrospective case-controlled study of all medical admissions in the months of February, June and November, who at any point during the index admission developed a serum sodium <125 mmol/l. For each case, an age- and gender-matched control was identified.RESULTS: A total of 5195 medical admissions were reviewed. Of these, 193 patients had a sodium level <125 mmol/. 26 patients were excluded from the case group leaving a total of 167 cases and 193 controls. Length of hospital stay was more prolonged in the case group (12 vs 8 days, P<0.001). There was a highly significant excess mortality, both during the index admission (25% in cases vs 7% in controls (P < 0.001)) as well as till the end of the follow-up period (52% in cases vs 22% in controls (P<0.001)). Mortality was unrelated to severity of hyponatraemia. Patients who developed the lowest serum sodium later on during their admission (ie sodium levels continued falling during the admission or fell de novo), had a higher rate of mortality than patients whose lowest serum sodium was on the day of admission (64.3% vs 45%, P 0.019). A cox regression analysis showed that hyponatraemia (P<0.001), male gender (P 0.033), age (P 0.021), and serum creatinine level (P 0.008) were independent risk factors for mortality. There was no statistically significant difference between the rates of ITU admission at different levels of hyponatraemia <125 mmol/l (P=0.497). Thus, serum sodium levels of <125 mmol/l should be used to identify patients who need more intensive monitoring and therapy irrespective of the degree of hyponatraemia. Only 41% of cases developed neurological symptoms, of these, confusion and altered level of consciousness were the more prevalent at 12% each, followed by falls (9%), unsteady gait (4%) and seizures (4%). The cause for hyponatraemia was frequently poorly evaluated and in 23% of cases no definite diagnosis was made.CONCLUSION: Data on assessment, investigation and management of hyponatraemia illustrates variability and shortcomings in clinical practice. The question remains whether the relationship between hyponatraemia and increased mortality is causal or associative.peer-reviewe

Proposal for a new ALICE CPV-HMPID front-end electronics topology

This paper presents the proposal of a new front-end readout electronics (RO) architecture for the ALICE Charged-particle Veto detector (CPV) located in PHOton Spectrometer (PHOS), and for the High Momentum particle IDentification detector (HMPID). With the upgrades in hardware typology and proposed new readout scheme in FPGA design, the RO system shall achieve at least five times the speed of the present front-end readout electronics. Design choices such as using the ALTERA Cyclone V GX FPGA, the topology for parallel readout of Dilogic cards and an upgrade in FPGA design interfaces will enable the RO electronics to reach an approximate interaction rate of 50 kHz. This paper presents the new system hardware as well as the preliminary prototype measurement results. This paper concludes with recommendations for other future planned updates in hardware schema

Pedagogical affordances and challenges of tablets: How can the Charter for 21st century literacies support tablet-mediated teaching and learning?

This work set out to explore the pedagogical practices that are developing through the use of tablets in relation to literacy learning. Presently this is the Ministry of Education’s top strategic priority in Malta. Whilst this study acknowledges that tablets are not a quick-fix solution to major language and literacy problems, it explores the advantages and the challenges involved in using tablets in the classroom. The study also aims to present a critical review of pedagogical practices with regard to the use of tablets in order to identify those practices that can make a positive contribution to children’s literacy learning. In order to fulfil this aim, I conducted an empirical study in two classrooms of a Maltese state school between February and June 2016. In two small classrooms, 11 students were observed in depth, and the use of tablets was video-recorded and / or photographed. Children also captured photographs of their tablet-focused lessons and these informed discussions with them. My approach was interpretivist and qualitative data were generated during the lessons observed. The key findings are that in the school that was the focus for this study, there were a number of benefits of using tablets in the classroom, and some challenges faced. The advantages of tablets in the classroom were their portability, which allowed children to roam about in the classroom and provided more autonomous learning; their touch screen facility, which allowed for an easier and more intuitive interaction for young children, and their facilitation of the use of a number of open-ended apps which facilitated the use of Maltese language. The challenges for teachers were related to managing the integration of tablets as relatively new technology into teaching and learning, as well as choosing the right apps for learning. Being portable devices, they posed more risks of being dropped and damaged by young children, adding to other costs involved including purchasing of apps. In addition, the study found that pedagogical practices demonstrated by the teachers were largely in line with those identified in the field as effective, such as the promotion of multiliteracies, engagement with a range of modes and media, and collaboration. However, the study also identified that some areas were less well developed, such as the use of playful pedagogies, innovation and experimentation, and critical thinking. The implications for teacher education in Malta are considered

Space and Affect: Using Heidegger to Re-interpret the Disability Experience

Space, a vital element of contemporary social boundaries, has prompted debate into the significance, embodiment, construction of spatiality and the marginality and exclusion of minorities. Such 'disabled' relations' at the intersection of self and other, self and self, and self and objects function through spatial organization and negotiations of power in everyday experiences. Martin Heidegger's interpretation of space (Being and Time, 1927) allows for new considerations of existence in relation to categorization, labelling and exile of those outside mass society. Human existence is not one of subjectivity but rather the nature of the world through 'Space' as a condition of individual experience and inclusive of all aspects of Dasein's Being-in-the-world-with-others. This paper, using Heidegger's analysis, highlights social interaction and construction of disability as a product of interpretive processes, creating and maintaining division between 'normal and other' and thus ignoring the possibility of conceiving disability as a legitimate, valued embodied difference. Keywords: Spatiality, Heidegger, Disability, Ableism, Critical Disability Studie