Emergent realities for social wellbeing : environmental, spatial and social pathways

It has been claimed that a country’s economic performance is influenced by its physical geography and particularly in having a coastline which provides more opportunities through sea-trade (Sachs, 2005). Coastal economies have been noted to have higher income than the landlocked economies (Gallup and Sachs, 1998). For small island states isolated from the mainland economies on continents, the land and sea interface assumes an even more important role that in many instances is either taken for granted or overlooked. Over the islands’ history the Maltese coast has accommodated uses that supported human life. Ports offer an economic life link through maritime trade, critical infrastructure provides energy and water, while reprieve from the hot weather and urban areas is obtained through clean seas and scenic landscapes respectively. The decisions to locate uses along the coast were largely based on operational and economic criteria, which for many years were the key factors that shaped government policy.peer-reviewe

Viva La Diva!

Kemp Recital Hall Tuesday Evening January 20, 1998 8:00 p.m

Cyclist safety in Malta : a review

The promotion of safe cycling is a way to address physical inactivity, one of the risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the report Road safety in the European Union: Trends, statistics and main challenges (March 2015), 8% of all fatalities are cyclists. Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head and brain injuries and death. Most EU Member states have no requirement in legislation for bicycle helmets. Consequences of mandatory helmet legislation include decreases in head injuries and death, decreases cycling as a mode of transport, and increases helmet use. Other considerations, which influence bicycle accidents, need to be considered. In Malta there were three deaths due to cycling between 2006 and 2015. The number of Accident & Emergency (A&E) attendances with cycling related injuries increased between 2009 and 2015. The number of A&E attendances in the 0-19 age group decreased whereas the 20-39 and 40-59 year age groups increased. In 2013, there were 173 registered injuries in cyclists, with head, upper extremity and lower extremity involvement in 28%, 40% and 21% respectively. Recommendations include improving data collection, education campaigns, strong recommendation for helmet use in adults, to consider the introduction of mandatory helmet legislation in children and implementation of infrastructure measures to make roads more cycling friendly.peer-reviewe

Local experience of transcutaneous bilirubinometry : an accurate alternative to serum sampling?

Background: Babies are frequently referred to the Paediatric Emergency Department from the Breastfeeding Clinic and Community Discharge Liaison service with jaundice as indicated by high transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) readings measured using transcutaneous bilirubinometry. Serum bilirubin (SEB) testing is then performed in the Emergency Department and the need for admission for phototherapy decided based upon on SEB. If there is strict correlation between these modes of bilirubin measurement, there would be no need to verify TCB with SEB levels in cases where bilirubin is clearly above cut – off, thus reducing hospital waiting time, costs and time to starting treatment. --- Objectives: To establish whether TCB is a reliable screening test for neonatal jaundice necessitating phototherapy based on the relationship between TCB and SEB in patients in Malta. --- Method: Neonates referred from the Breastfeeding Clinic to the Paediatric Emergency Department with raised TCB over five months (June-October 2017) were included. Data was obtained from the Breastfeeding Clinic, local delivery suite and iSOFT Clinical Database, and interpreted using in-built data analysis tools and custom-made data analysis spreadsheets on Microsoft Excel®. --- Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups, mean TCB being significantly greater than SEB (t=2.32, p=0.04). However, TCB occasionally also under-read bilirubin levels. --- Conclusions: These findings differ from results of similar studies conducted in other centres. Given the significant difference between TCB and SEB, it is recommended that, locally, baseline SEB levels continue to be repeated in the Emergency Department prior to establishing the need for phototherapy in neonatal jaundice.peer-reviewe

Bariatric Surgery, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and Infertility

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest cause of female infertility. Visceral obesity and insulin resistance are key pathophysiological mechanisms behind PCOS. Women suffering from this syndrome and infertility often seek bariatric surgery hoping that they would be able to conceive postoperatively. Objective. At present, there is no consensus on the role of bariatric surgery in the management of PCOS-associated infertility within the medical community, making it difficult to give specific advice to these women, so a review of the literature was necessary. Results. A detailed review of the literature was performed. Only 6 manuscripts were relevant and contained quantitative data. They demonstrated that bariatric surgery results in postoperative conception rates varying from 33% to 100%. Surgery is also associated with amelioration of menstrual irregularities, hormonal abnormalities, and hirsutism that are associated with PCOS. These studies were retrospective and only had a small number of participants with infertility. Conclusions. Bariatric surgery has been shown to conclusively improve life expectancy, quality of life, and comorbidities like type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea. However, further research is required to identify whether weight loss surgery results in significant improvement in fertility of women with PCOS and to investigate which operation has the best results

Combining 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, the major flower volatile of wild strawberry Fragaria vesca, with the aggregation pheromone of the strawberry blossom weevil Anthonomus rubi improves attraction

The aggregation pheromone of strawberry blossom weevil [Anthonomus rubi Herbst (Col.: Curculionidae)], a 1:4:1 blend of Grandlure I, II and racemic lavadulol, has been available for pest monitoring for several years but shows low attractancy. Attempts to control A. rubi using the pheromone alone were also unsuccessful. This paper reports the finding that addition of the major flower volatile from wild strawberry flowers [Fragaria vesca L. (Rosaceae)], 1,4-dimethoxybenzene (comprising 98% of the volatiles emitted from wild strawberry flowers), to the aggregation pheromone increased trap catches by over two fold compared to the pheromone alone. There was no significant difference between the response of overwintered or summer emerged adults. Field trials in 2007-2008 in central and southern Norway, Denmark and southern England used green funnel traps with white cross vanes for the evaluations. (-)-Germacrene D, previously shown to be emitted by plants in increased amounts in the presence of pheromone producing weevils, did not improve trap catches. Thus, the combined use of the aggregation pheromone and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene is promising for improved monitoring and possibly control of this important pest of strawberry

MSPGI : a geoportal feasibility study - Planning Authority MSP geoportal MSP Implementation Initiative

Directive 2014/89/EU calls for Member States to apply Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in their marine waters. In applying this framework, Member States are required to adopt a process to analyse and organise human activities to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives. The preparation of a MSP plan is the key deliverable expected from Member States and in doing so are expected to organise the use of the best available data, and decide how to organise the sharing of information necessary for MSP plans. The availability of information for stakeholders can also contribute towards effective co-ordination at a national level particularly in regulating different maritime sectors.EASME/EMFF/2015/1.2.1.3/02/SI2.742101peer-reviewe

Sea level rise : a time to review?

The awareness and debate on climate change is heating up. Both political and scientific arenas internationally have agreed to come up with a review of the situation. Such was the case in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. The scientist, F. Pearce in an article on the journal New Scientist, (March 2007) alleged that this report issued a watered down version of the impacts of climate change.non peer-reviewe

MANAGEMENT OF STRAWBERRY BLOSSOM WEEVIL AND EUROPEAN TARNISHED PLANT BUG IN ORGANIC STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY USING SEMIOCHEMICAL TRAPS “Softpest Multitrap”

Many European growers of organic strawberry and raspberry have large losses in yield (sometimes >80%) and reduced quality of their products because of insect damage. Among the major threats are the strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi Herbst), the European tarnished plant bug (Lygus rugulipennis Popp.) and the raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus De Geer). In organic soft fruit production there are no effective control measures for these pest insects. For many insects species pheromones and host plant volatiles are of major importance in mate finding and location of host plants for mating, feeding and oviposition. Thus, there is potential for using these insect-insect and/or insect-host plant interactions to develop new strategies and effective control measures for pest insects. In this project we want to extend our knowledge of these systems to develop effective control measures to control these pests in organic crops

Trapping of Lygus rugulipennis in Norwegian strawberry crops

European tarnished plant bug (ETB) sex pheromone traps in Norwegian strawberry must be deployed very early in the season to maximize catches. To trap females or the new generation, other attractants must be added. The strawberry blossom weevil attractant PV2 may act as a slight antagonist in ETB trapping, especially early in the season