The Phoenician "permanent" display at the National Museum of Archaeology, Malta

In this article the author recounts how the Phoenician display came to be organised and finally exhibited. The author recounts that the team working on this project varied from academics to conservators to proof readers. In order to provide the best possible exhibit for the audience, a survey was also carried out and the information it provided was taken in consideration when drafting a story line for the exhibit.peer-reviewe

Site, artefacts and landscape: Prehistoric Borg in-Nadur, Malta

The National Museum of Archaeology of Malta is at present working on opening the Bronze Age room to the public. The project team has engaged on presenting a display which will be as informative, interactive and accessible as possible, to match visitors’ needs. An outline and explanation of the reasoning behind the display layout and content is given.peer-reviewe

Fabrication and characterization of chitosan coated and uncoated pcl/ha/ppy composite scaffoldsusing freeze drying technique

Chitosan is an abundantly common, naturally occurring, polysaccharide biopolymer. In this study, chitosan was used to coat previously fabricated conductive Polycaprolactone/Hydroxyapatite/Polypyrrole (PCL/HA/PPY) composite scaffold and the properties of the coated and non-coated scaffolds were investigated and compared. The morphology of the chitosan coated and non-coated scaffolds were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The wettability was determined using a water contact angle measuring system. Furthermore, water uptake was determined by measuring the water absorption of each sample before and after coated with chitosan. Water contact angle result revealed an increase in wettability of the scaffolds ranging from 108° ± 4.2 down to 59.4° ± 0.7. On the other hand, the coated sample showed a higher water uptake than the non-coated sample. The results indicated that coating with chitosan was important to increase water absorption of composite scaffold, rendering it more hydrophilic

Fabrication and characterization of pcl/ha/ppy composite scaffold using freeze-drying technique

Bone tissue regeneration and healing could be notably quickened via applying electrical stimuli in the defected area. Hence, a conductive tissue engineer ing sc affold that is capable of delivering the electrical stimuli is greatly desirable. In this study, electrically conductive sca ffold was fabricated by using a biocompatible conductive polymer, polypyrrole (PPY) in the optimized nanocomposite scaffold of Polyc aprolactone (PCL) and Hydroxyapatite (HA) using freeze – drying technique. The sc affolds were evaluated by using a number of techniques. The morphology of the scaffolds was observed and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) . Composite scaffolds with suitable pore size distribution were obtained by freezing the polymer solution mixture at - 18ºC, by controlling the polymer and solvent phase crystallization. The result s showed that the average pore sizes were decreased from 123.7μm for PCL scaffolds to 91.6 μm with the incorporation of HA nanoparticles. Electrical conductivity of the scaffolds was evaluated using a digital multimeter. The wettab ility and porosity of the scaffolds were increase d with the incorporation of Polypy rrole than Polycaprolactone scaffold . The newly fabricated PCL/HA/PPY scaffold showed good prospect to be employed for bone tissue engineering applications

Copy or authentic : analysis of a Phoenician gold ring from the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta

The present work is a study of a Phoenician finger ring from the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology, Malta. The item was first described by the museum’s director Themistocles Zammit in 1925, and is believed to date to the 6th century BC. The ring consists of two stirrup-shaped hoops, which can be worn separately or fitted together and worn as a single piece. Inscribed on the bezel surface is a seafaring vessel. Zammit described the artefact as manufactured in pure gold, quoting its mass as 9.65 g. The ring in the collection fits Zammit’s description but differs significantly in weight. The aim of this paper is throw light on the authenticity of this ring using documentary sources and non-invasive scientific techniques of analysis. Optical and electron microscopy allowed a thorough description of the manufacturing technique, while the material analysis was conducted via energy dispersive spectrometry. As a result of these analyses, it was concluded that the ring is not authentic, but is most probably a copy, possibly commissioned by Zammit himself.peer-reviewe

Copy or authentic?

The present work is a study of a Phoenician finger ring from the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology, Malta. The item was first described by the museum’s director Themistocles Zammit in 1925, and is believed to date to the 6th century BC. The ring consists of two stirrup-shaped hoops, which can be worn separately or fitted together and worn as a single piece. Inscribed on the bezel surface is a seafaring vessel. Zammit described the artefact as manufactured in pure gold, quoting its mass as 9.65 g. The ring in the collection fits Zammit’s description but differs significantly in weight. The aim of this paper is throw light on the authenticity of this ring using documentary sources and non-invasive scientific techniques of analysis. Optical and electron microscopy allowed a thorough description of the manufacturing technique, while the material analysis was conducted via energy dispersive spectrometry. As a result of these analyses, it was concluded that the ring is not authentic, but is most probably a copy, possibly commissioned by Zammit himself.Ce travail décrit l’étude d’une bague phénicienne appartenant à la collection du musée National d’Archéologie de Malte. Cet objet a été décrit pour la première fois en 1925 par le Directeur du musée, Themistocles Zammit, et est attribuée au vie siècle av. J-C. La bague se compose de deux anneaux en forme d’étrier pouvant être portés séparément ou pouvant être assemblés pour être portés ensemble. Le chaton est inscrit d’un vaisseau. Zammit décrit l’objet comme étant fabriqué en or pur et indique un poids de 9,65 g. La bague de la collection correspond à cette description mais diffère considérablement en ce qui concerne son poids. Le but de cet article est de jeter un jour nouveau sur l’authenticité de la bague à partir des sources documentaires et des analyses scientifiques non-destructives. Les microscopies atomique et électronique permettent une description approfondie des techniques de fabrication alors que l’analyse des matériaux a été réalisée par spectrométrie à énergie dispersive. Nous avons conclu que la bague n’est pas authentique, mais probablement une copie, peut-être commandée par Zammit

Island questions: the chronology of the Brochtorff Circle at Xagħra, Gozo, and its significance for the Neolithic sequence on Malta

Bayesian chronological modelling of radiocarbon dates from the Brochtorff Circle at Xagħra, Gozo, Malta (achieved through the ToTL and FRAGSUS projects), provides a more precise chronology for the sequence of development and use of a cave complex. Artefacts show that the site was in use from the Żebbuġ period of the late 5th/early 4th millennium cal BC to the Tarxien Cemetery phase of the later 3rd/early 2nd millennia cal BC. Absolutely dated funerary activity, however, starts with a small rock-cut tomb, probably in use in the mid to late fourth millennium cal BC, in the Ġgantija period. After an interval of centuries, burial resumed on a larger scale, probably in the 30th century cal BC, associated with Tarxien cultural material, with the use of the cave for collective burial and other depositions, with a series of structures, most notably altar-like settings built from massive stone slabs, which served to monumentalise the space. This process continued at intervals until the deposition of the last burials, probably in the 24th century cal BC; ceremonial activity may have ended at this time or a little later, to be followed by occupation in the Tarxien Cemetery period. The implications for the development of Neolithic society on Malta are discussed, as well as the changing character of Neolithic Malta in comparison to contemporary communities in Sicily, peninsular Italy and southern Iberia. It is argued that underground settings and temples on Malta may have served to reinforce locally important values of cooperation and consensus, against a wider tide of differentiation and accumulation, but that there could also have been increasing control of the treatment of the dead through time. The end of the Maltese Neolithic is also briefly discussed

PCRRT Expert Committee ICONIC Position Paper on Prescribing Kidney Replacement Therapy in Critically Sick Children With Acute Liver Failure

Management of acute liver failure (ALF) and acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) in the pediatric population can be challenging. Kidney manifestations of liver failure, such as hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and acute kidney injury (AKI), are increasingly prevalent and may portend a poor prognosis. The overall incidence of AKI in children with ALF has not been well-established, partially due to the difficulty of precisely estimating kidney function in these patients. The true incidence of AKI in pediatric patients may still be underestimated due to decreased creatinine production in patients with advanced liver dysfunction and those with critical conditions including shock and cardiovascular compromise with poor kidney perfusion. Current treatment for kidney dysfunction secondary to liver failure include conservative management, intravenous fluids, and kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Despite the paucity of evidence-based recommendations concerning the application of KRT in children with kidney dysfunction in the setting of ALF, expert clinical opinions have been evaluated regarding the optimal modalities and timing of KRT, dialysis/replacement solutions, blood and dialysate flow rates and dialysis dose, and anticoagulation methods

The role of maternal age & birth order on the development of unilateral and bilateral retinoblastoma: a multicentre study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Retinoblastoma is a common childhood intraocular malignancy, the bilateral form of which most commonly results from a de novo germline pathogenic variant in the RB1 gene. Both advanced maternal age and decreasing birth order are known to increase the risk of de novo germline pathogenic variants, while the influence of national wealth is understudied. This cohort study aimed to retrospectively observe whether these factors influence the ratio of bilateral retinoblastoma cases compared to unilateral retinoblastoma, thereby inferring an influence on the development of de novo germline pathogenic variants in RB1. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from 688 patients from 11 centres in 10 countries were analysed using a series of statistical methods. RESULTS: No associations were found between advanced maternal age, birth order or GDP per capita and the ratio of bilateral to unilateral retinoblastoma cases (p values = 0.534, 0.201, 0.067, respectively), indicating that these factors do not contribute to the development of a de novo pathogenic variant. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lack of a definitive control group and genetic testing, this study demonstrates that advanced maternal age, birth order or GDP per capita do not influence the risk of developing a bilateral retinoblastoma

Differences in Childhood Growth Parameters Between Patients With Somatic and Heritable Retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: Little is known regarding differences in childhood growth between somatic and heritable retinoblastoma (Rb) populations. We aimed to compare childhood growth parameters between somatic and heritable Rb cohorts at birth and at time of diagnosis with Rb. METHODS: A multinational, longitudinal cohort study was conducted with patients from 11 centers in 10 countries who presented with treatment naïve Rb from January to December 2019. Variables of interest included age, sex, and size characteristics at birth and at time of presentation, as well as germline mutation status. After Bonferroni correction, results were statistically significant if the P value was less than 0.005. RESULTS: We enrolled 696 patients, with 253 analyzed after exclusion criteria applied. Between somatic (n = 39) and heritable (n = 214) Rb cohorts, with males and females analyzed separately, there was no significant difference in birth weight percentile, weight percentile at time of diagnosis, length percentile at time of diagnosis, weight-for-length percentile at time of diagnosis, or change of weight percentile from birth to time of diagnosis. Patients with heritable Rb had a smaller mean weight percentile at birth and smaller mean weight and length percentiles at time of diagnosis with Rb, although this difference was not statistically significant. All cohorts experienced a slight negative change of weight percentile from birth to time of diagnosis. No cohort mean percentiles met criteria for failure to thrive, defined as less than the 5th percentile. CONCLUSIONS: Children with Rb seem to have normal birth and childhood growth patterns. There is no definitive evidence that somatic or heritable Rb has a biological or environmental impact on childhood growth parameters