Wind funnelling underneath the Hagar Qim protective shelter

It is often said that wind and associated processes induced by it have caused damage to the megalithic temples at Hagar Qim over the years. The aim of this paper is to explore whether wind funnelling is taking place beneath the protective shelter that now covers the Hagar Qim temple complex. A project was set up to test the extent to which the wind speeds beneath the new protective shelter differ from those outside it. Wind speeds were measured inside and outside the shelter in 25 different places and in four directions over a period of four months. The results were mapped using a Geographic Information System facility. It was concluded that wind speed does not increase beneath the protective shelter except at certain points within the temple structure itself.peer-reviewe

Spatio-temporal variation in the structure of a deep water Posidonia oceanica meadow assessed using non-destructive techniques

The Malta-Comino Channel (Maltese islands, central Mediterranean), supports extensive meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica that in some places extend to a depth of around 43 m, which is rare for this seagrass. To assess spatial and temporal variation in the state of the deeper parts of the P. oceanica meadow with time, data on the structural characteristics of the seagrass meadow at its lower bathymetric limit were collected during the summers of 2001, 2003 and 2004 from four stations (two stations within each of two sites) located at a similar depth, over a spatial extent of 500 m. Shoot density was estimated in situ, while data on plant architecture (number of leaves, mean leaf length, and epiphyte load) were successfully obtained using an underwater photographic technique that was specifically designed to avoid destructive sampling of the seagrass. Results indicated that P. oceanica shoot density was lower than that recorded from the same meadow during a study undertaken in 1995; the observed decrease was attributed to the activities of an offshore aquaculture farm that operated during the period 1995–2000 in the vicinity of the meadow. ANOVA indicated significant spatial and temporal variations in meadow structural attributes at both sites during the 3-year study; for example, shoot density values increased overall with time at site A; a indication of potential recovery of the meadow following cessation of the aquaculture operations. Lower shoot density values recorded from site B (compared with site A) were attributed to higher epiphyte loads on the seagrass, relative to those at site A. The findings, which include new data on the structural characteristics of P. oceanica occurring at depths >40 m, are discussed with reference to the use of the nondestructive photographic technique to monitor the state of health of deep water seagrass meadows.peer-reviewe

The effects of a marine fish-farm on the species richness and abundance of molluscs, decapods and echinoderms associated with a "Posidonia oceanica" meadow in Malta (Central Mediterranean)

The composition of the echinoderm, mollusc and decapod assemblages associated with a Posidonia oceanica meadow located close to a fish-farm varied with distance from the cages Three ecological zones were identified. The intermediate zone II (40-160m from the cages) had a higher species richness and abundance than either zones I (nearest the cages) and III (320m from the cages), probably due to the higher production resulting from a moderate level of nutrient enrichment at intermediate distances from the source of pollution.peer-reviewe

Skin grafts : local quest for viable alternatives to autologous grafts using silk and acellular dermal matrices

The gold standard with regards to skin transplantation is the use of the patient’s own skin obtained from a healthy donor site. Such grafts can be either full thickness skin or more commonly nowadays, split thickness skin. Various materials, having either natural and or synthetic origins, have been used in the engineering of skin substitutes to-date and these grafts are then confronted against autologous skin grafts. If proven to be successful, such matrices could be utilised in clinical applications such as in the treatment of burn wounds and in cases of skin ulcers amongst others. In this study the primary cells used, keratinocytes and fibroblast, were obtained from donor skin and cultured. Scaffolds of xenogenic (raw silk) as well as of allogenic (acellular dermal matrices) origins were obtained via low-cost methods and seeded using the fibroblasts and keratinocytes so as to determine which gave the closest mimic to skin grafts. Out of the matrices assessed, the raw silk matrix allowed the best colonisation with skin cells in our hands. The ADM matrice also showed some cell colonisation, but will need further experimentation.peer-reviewe

Structural changes in a Posidonia oceanica meadow exposed to a pollution gradient from a marine fish-farm in Malta (Central Mediterranean)

Posidonia oceanica morphological parameters where measured at increasing distance from a marine fish-farm that has been operational for 7 years. Most parameters changed significantly with increasing distance from the cages, the greatest change occurring in the first 50 m.peer-reviewe

Bronchography

This is a review of bronchography as practised in St. Luke's Hospital, Malta, over the years 1969 and 1970. A case study involving 40 patients who were investigated by bronchography, 26 cases had a definite bronchial or lung lesion, 14 cases had a normal bronchogram. The advantage of bronchography in the investigation of a lung or bronchial lesion it that demonstration of the lesion is clear cut with good definition. The amount of exposure to X-Rays is minimal and is equivalent to 3 exposures for a chest X-Ray which are of minimal duration. This is in contrast to tomography where the different cuts at different levels are taken with each exposure lasting between 1 and 3 seconds. The disadvantage, relative to tomography, is that the procedure is more uncomfortable for the patient. Neither bronchography nor tomography will supersede each other as a means of investigating a lung lesion. Bronchography and tomography are complementary.peer-reviewe

The married woman in Maltese law

We are now in 1971 and in this last decade we have experienced what has become known as "Aggiornamento". The changes that we have witnessed were so many and so diverse that one cannot possibly enumerate them all, without running the risk of forgetting a few. One, however, which has struck me as a great step in the right direction is the equality of pay for both sexes in Malta by a target date which is now very near.peer-reviewe

Baseline marine benthic surveys in the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

Extract from: MEDCOAST 97 : Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment, Qawra, Malta / E. Ozhan (editor), (1997)During the period 1991 to 1997, extensive baseline studies of the submarine geomorphology, infralittoral habitats, macrobenthic assemblages, and demersal fish fauna, were carried out in 14 different sites around the Maltese Islands, using conventional SCUBA diving techniques. These were made as part of assessments of the environmental impact of existing or proposed projects, or in order to produce an inventory of coastal resources. In total, these surveys covered a sea-bed area of ca. 7.55Km² and a coastline length of ca 24 km, and represent the most extensive biological surveys of the marine environment carried out to date in the Maltese Islands. The results of these surveys have been presented as maps showing the type, location, and spatial extent of these physical and biological features. The Peres & Picard (1964) scheme, as adapted by Pen~s (1967; 1982) was used to classify and characterize the benthic assemblages recorded during the surveys. Our results show that, in tenus of spatial extent, the most important macrobenthic assemblages are the communities of photophilic 'algae on hard substrata, meadows of the sea-grass Posidonia oceanica and communities of bare well-sorted sand. For all these, many subtypes and facies exist, depending on the light intensity, hydrodynamic conditions, microtopography, sediment granulometry and other edaphic factors, and anthropic influences, including pollution. Other assemblages with a limited spatial distribution include meadows of the sea-grass (vmodocea nodosa and of the Lessepsian immigrant Halophila stipu/acea on sandy bottoms, the assemblages of boulder fields which are complexes of photophilic and sciaphilic communities, and those of marine caves. Our maps are supplemented by descriptions of the different habitats and macrobenthjc assemblages, species lists, and semi-quantitative data on percentage cover for the dominant macroalgae, shoot density counts for sea-grass meadows, and population density counts for the main macrofaunal species. These maps and data-sets are intended to be used (i) for assessing the status of habitats, species assemblages, and individual species, around the Maltese Islands in order to recommend appropriate measures for their conservation, including inclusion in red data lists; (ii) for designation of marine protected areas; and (iii) as baselines against which future monitoring studies and surveys can be compared.peer-reviewe

Evaluation of the first three years of a revised biomedical sciences curriculum

In 2009, the University of Malta Medical School embarked on a process of curricular reform starting with Years 1 and 2 of the basic biomedical sciences curriculum. Each semester since then, we have collected anonymous feedback from each cohort of Year 1 and year 2 students regarding whether 1. The study unit materials matched the learning outcomes; 2. The amount of independent work was compatible with the credit value; 3. There was close agreement between the stated objectives and what was actually taught; 4. There was repetition of content across study units; 5. The clinical relevance of the subject matter was emphasized; and 6. The time devoted to each study unit was adequate to meet the learning outcomes. Apart from that, data was collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching methodology within the new curriculum - be it practical session, lecture or small group session. All Year 1 and 2 study units were evaluated for each academic year. Between 2009 and 2011, 1281 students completed the questionnaires (35% of the study body). Analysis of this data shows that in general the revised curriculum has been well received. Students have commented favourably on the new integration of academic disciplines of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology into system-based modules. Concerns have been raised about some of the learning outcomes and the time allocated to certain topics. These data have been utilised by curriculum planners to amend several of the study units, which changes will take effect in October 2012.peer-reviewe

Littoral land use competition at Xemxija a touristic area in the Maltese Islands

The Maltese Islands are a group of central Mediterranean islands lying 93 km from the southern Sicilian coast and 352 km north of Tripoli on the coast of the North African mainland. The basic spatial and demographic data for the three inhabited islands making up the archipelago show marked differences with Malta having 246,000 people and Gozo 29,000 (Census, 1995). It has long been recognised that the economic areas that the Maltese Islands should principally promote are tourism and manufacturing. Following the phasing out of the British Military presence (1958-1979) and the granting of independence in 1964 investment in tourism started to gain ground. Figures 1 and 2 give a graphical account of the development of tourism over a seventeen year period. Essentially, it has been a success story especially with the multiplier effects that were generated as a result.peer-reviewe