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L-idea tal-kanonu letterarju : idea tajba?
Get PDFIl-kritika letterarja lokali, fejn teżisti, hija fil-maġġorparti tagħha kritika melliesa żżejjed; fejn ma teżistix, il-kittieba nfushom iħossuhom mitlufin għax ma jsibu ebda forma ta’ kejl jew standard biex jimxu miegħu. Fost ir-riperkussjonijiet ta’ din l-atmosfera lokali “fejn kollox jgħaddi” hemm il-kwalità letterarja dibattibbli ta’ xi kotba bil-Malti u ż-żieda fil-produzzjoni tagħhom. Għaldaqstant, tinħass il-ħtieġa ta’ xi mekkaniżmu li mhux biss jiggwida lill-qarrejja liema kotba jaqraw, imma li, qabelxejn, jinforma aħjar lill-pubblikaturi nfushom dwar liema xorta ta’ manuskritti għandhom jinvestu fihom fost il-ħemel li jirċievu. Għaldaqstant, fost il-funzjonijiet fundamentali tal-kanonu letterarju, tibqa’ tispikka l-funzjoni ta’ gwida li toffri xi forma ta’ kriterji jew standards tal-kwalità li, għalkemm qatt ma jistgħu jkunu assoluti u permanenti, xorta jistgħu jaqdu din il-funzjoni utilitarja. Fost il-kriterji l-aktar kurrenti hemm dawk imħaddna minn ħassieba li jeżaltaw l-element ta’ ibridità inkorporat fit-test letterarju jew inkella dawk imħaddna minn ħassieba oħrajn li jfittxu fix-xogħlijiet dawk il-kwalitajiet li jrendu l-idea tal-omniversalità jew tal-universalità letterarja. Madankollu, id-djalettika tal-kanonu letterarju xorta tibqa’ għajn ta’ kontestazzjoni u ta’ dubji minħabba li, bħal f’kull attività intellettwali oħra, mekkaniżmu bħal dan qatt ma jista’ jkun ħieles mis-suġġettività umana. Dan jimplika wkoll li l-fiduċja tal-qarrejja fil-ġudizzji kritiċi tal-kanonizzaturi, sew jekk huma akkademiċi, pubblikaturi, antoloġisti, aġġudikanti tal-premjijiet jew membri fil-bordijiet tas-sillabi, tibqa’ problematika.When local literary criticism takes place, for the most part it is overly mellow; when it is not, writers themselves might feel lost because there seems to be no standard to follow or measure against. Amongst the repercussions of this local atmosphere “where everything is acceptable” is the literary quality of books in Maltese and, consequently, the surge in their production. Therefore, the need arises for some sort of mechanism that guides readers on which books to read and, moreover, one that informs publishers about the kind of manuscripts they should be investing in, from the piles they receive. In this context, amongst the fundamental functions of the literary canon, its guiding role remains pivotal, as it offers a form of quality criteria or standards, which albeit never absolute and permanent, can still serve this utilitarian function. Among the most current criteria, there are those embraced by thinkers who exalt the element of hybridity incorporated in the literary text; there are also other standards recognised by theorists who seek qualities rendering the idea of omniversality or literary universality. Nevertheless, the dialectic of the literary canon remains a source of contestation and doubts, since like with any other intellectual activity, such a mechanism can never be totally autonomous from human subjectivity. This also implies that the readers’ blind trust in the critical judgments of the canonisers, whether they are academics, publishers, anthologists, award adjudicators or members of syllabi boards, remains problematic.peer-reviewe
Environmental versus economic effects of inland water freight transport development in the EU
No full textPURPOSE: The main aim of the research is to assess the impact of the inland water freight
transport development on the EU economy, as well as environment, by comparing it with
other modes of transport.METHODOLOGY: To conduct this data-driven research, the following methods were applied: 1.
critical literature analysis, 2 Data mining and analysis, 3. market analysis and 4.
comparative analysis.FINDINGS: The research results indicate that inland water freight transport which share in
the EU transport market is already marginal and systematically decreasing, has little
importance for the economy of the EU. It plays more significant role for the trasnsport sector
and the econom only in a few countries. Simultaneously, this mode of transport generates a
relatively low level of GHG emissions. However, this positive feature is losing its importance
due to numerous disruptions impacting inland water navigation, lowering its operational
potential, caused by unpredictable weather and climatic conditions. As a result, there is a
large difference between the economic effects that inland navigation generates for the
transport and logistics sector as well as the EU economy on one hand and the regulatory
support it receives on the other.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The disproportionately low economic and environmental benefits of
inland waterway freight development compared to other modes of transport indicate the need
to shift some of the forms of support provided to it towards rail and intermodal transport.
This would be a more efficient path to a faster energy transformation of the EU transport
sector, accelerating at the same time economic and social benefits forEUs economy.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study indicates the need for a significant change in the regulatory
system of the EU transport sector. It should be more strongly reoriented towards the
implementation of the sustainable development strategy, and not only, as the regulator
currently pushes for, the environmental strategy, which is only its segment based on
ecological standards. Without making this change and managing it properly, the EU will not
only fail to achieve the assumed energy transformation goals in the transport sector, but
also, by continuing the current narrow formula for implementing the sustainable
development strategy, lead to deep and, in many cases, negative structural changes of an
economic and social nature in transport sector.peer-reviewe
Hygrothermal performance of an innovative resource efficient composite masonry unit with embedded biobased insulation
No full textThe REcycled Stone and Concrete Unit (RESCIU) is an exemplary case study of load-bearing composite masonry units (cMU) based on a unique and registered design that involves sandwiching a 12 mm S-shaped biobased polyurethane foam (BPUF) between C-shaped recycled solid elements, one in Globigerina limestone and the other in concrete.
Thermophysical and hygric material properties were measured under strict laboratory conditions and their related error analysis was calculated. To complement this, a locally recorded hourly weather file for Malta (representative location of Mediterranean climate) was used to implement boundary conditions for both 1D and 3D hygrothermal simulations.
The measurement of U-value on RESCIU prototypes via hotbox apparatus converged to (averaged) 1.39 ± 0.19 W/(m2K). The 3D simulation, validated in a precedent publication, aligned closely with hotbox results yielding an URESCIU of 1.40 W/(m2K).
1D assessments with 20 mm of the S-shaped cavity led to a reduction of theoretical thermal transmittance of up to 0.71 W/(m2K) and a prolonged thermal lag up of up to eleven hours (UNI EN ISO 13786). In 3D this value is slightly lower with URESCIU of 0.65 W/(m2K). However, periodic thermal transmittance YieRESCIU of 0.29 W/(m2K) in 1D mode was found overestimated compared to 0.43 W/(m2K) obtained in 3D, while the thermal lag is accurate (9 h in 3D and 9.7 in 1D).
1D hygrothermal steady state assessments (UNI EN ISO 13788) reported neither the risk of developing surface mold (1D only) nor interstitial condensation (Glaser method), the latter calculated in both 1D and 3D mode for June (summer condition) and December (winter condition). In June 1D and 3D simulations results are very similar as opposed to higher discrepancies detected in December, with 1D simulation consistently underestimating DBT, RH, pe for the vertical sections characterized by one layer of insulation. This confirms the RESCIU block is suitable for applications in Mediterranean climate.peer-reviewe
Integrating generative artificial intelligence in clinical dentistry : enhancing diagnosis, treatment planning, and procedural precision through advanced knowledge representation and reasoning
No full textGenerative artificial intelligence (GAI) is poised to transform clinical dentistry by
enhancing diagnostic accuracy, personalizing treatment planning, and improving
procedural precision. This study integrates logic programming and entropy within
knowledge representation and reasoning to generate hypotheses, quantify uncertainty,
and support clinical decisions. A six-month longitudinal questionnaire was administered
to 127 dentists, of whom 119 provided valid responses across four dimensions: current
use and knowledge (CUKD), potential applications (PAD), future perspectives (FPD), and
challenges and barriers (CBD). Responses, analyzed with both classical statistics and
entropy-based measures, revealed significant differences among dimensions ( < 0.01, η2
= 0.14). CUKD, PAD, and FPD all increased steadily over time (baseline means 2.32, 3.06,
and 3.27; rising to 3.75, 4.51, and 4.71, respectively), while CBD remained more variable
(1.87–3.87). The overall entropic state declined from 0.43 to 0.31 (p = 0.018), reflecting
reduced uncertainty. Statistical and entropy-derived trends converged, suggesting
growing professional clarity and cautious acceptance of GAI. These findings indicate that,
despite persistent concerns, GAI holds promise for advancing adaptive and evidence-driven dental practice.peer-reviewe
Evolution of value and structure of currency derivatives market
No full textPURPOSE: The purpose of the paper is to present the results of the analysis concerning the
evolution of the global currency derivatives market in the context of the ongoing
transformations.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The basis for achieving the assumed objective were
literature studies, a review of external research results and an analysis of data on the global
currency derivatives market, provided by the Bank for International Settlements.FINDINGS: Based on the conducted research, it was observed that the global currency
derivatives market was systematically developing in the analysed period. The leading share
in this market, and therefore its importance, was characterised by the over-the-counter
market, which provides greater possibilities of adapting instruments to the expectations of
entities. Currency forwards & FX swaps were characterised by particular interest in overthe-counter trading, and currency futures in exchange trading.RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The presented research is a preliminary analysis. The
considerations presented herein focused on several selected issues determining the evolution
of the global currency derivatives market. Therefore, the possibilities of evaluating the
results and generalizing the conclusions are limited. Nevertheless, this study provides a basis
for further research.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Currency derivatives traded on the OTC market are a more popular
tool for managing currency risk. This is due to the greater possibilities of adapting the
instrument's terms to the specifics of a given entity and its expectations. Therefore, when
analysing potential changes in the functioning of the exchange market for currency
derivatives, it is worth paying attention to the importance of flexibility in shaping the terms
of these instruments from the perspective of financial market participants.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The article partly fills the research gap in the empirical studies on the
evolution of the foreign exchange derivatives market. The conclusions formulated may find
theoretical and practical application in analysed scope.peer-reviewe
A 6G network survey : state-of-the-art, issues, and future technologies
No full textAlthough 5G is commercialized worldwide, research and academic institutions around the world has
began to look at beyond 5G, and it is predicted that 6G will develop into green networks that offer a
high service quality and energy efficiency. Significant changes in the mobile communications
infrastructure are expected to address the needs of modern applications. Researcher’s envision 6G
undergoing an immense breakthrough and incorporating traditional mobile terrestrial networks with
emerging space, orbital and submerged networks should provide internet connectivity anywhere at
any time. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the transition of wireless to 6G networks. A
vision for 6G which could serve as a post-5Gstudy guide. To assist the vision, a formal architecture for
predicting and subdividing future 6G deployment scenarios. Next, we identify key potential 6G
features and address the communication technologies needed. The primary emphasis in this survey is
on the latest technical developments associated with 6G networks, marked by ubiquitous coverage,
the implementation of pervasive AI and an improved network protocol stacking. In addition, related
future technologies that help to create secure and socially transparent networks, including terahertz
and visible light networking, a modern communication model, block chain, and symbiotic radio. Our
study aimed to provide instructive guidelines for future 6G studies.peer-reviewe
The minimum orientable genus of the repeated Cartesian product of graphs
No full textDetermining the minimum genus of a graph is a fundamental optimisation problem in the study of network design and implementation as it gives a measure of non-planarity of graphs. In this paper, we are concerned with determining the smallest value of g such that a given graph G has an embedding on the orientable surface of genus g. In particular, we consider the Cartesian product of graphs since this is a well studied graph operation which is often used for modeling interconnection networks. The s-cube Qi(s) is obtained by taking the repeated Cartesian product of i complete bipartite graphs Ks,s. We determine the genus of the Cartesian product of the 2r-cube with the repeated Cartesian product of cycles and of the Cartesian product of the 2r-cube with the repeated Cartesian product of paths.peer-reviewe
Anatomical, morphological, and ecological notes on captive-bred Lissachatina Immaculata (Lamarck, 1822) (Gastropoda: Achatinidae), deliberately released into a central Mediterranean ecosystem
No full textThe first occurrence of a ‘giant’ African land snail, Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck, 1822), is hereby reported from a riparian ecosystem in the north-east of the island of Malta (central Mediterranean), through a collection of individuals in different stages of growth made in 2019. Monitoring of this site throughout the span of six years did not result in any subsequent finds; however, environmental management considerations are forwarded within this study to mitigate the establishment of yet another non-indigenous terrestrial pest species within the heavily bioinvaded Maltese Islands. The present species can be differentiated from confamilials and congeners through a combination of conchological and anatomical features, including a tiny protoconch, a patch of reddish colouration on the body whorl, and a loop emerging from the distal termination of the penial sheath.[Noti anatomiċi, morfoloġiċi, u ekoloġiċi dwar Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck,
1822) (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) imrobbija domestikament u mħarrba
intenzjonalment f'ekosistema fil-Mediterran Ċentrali.] L-ewwel sejba ta’ bebbuxu tal-art
‘ġgant’ mill-Afrika, Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck, 1822), qiegħda tiġi rrappurtata minn
ekosistema riparja fil-grigal tal-gżira ta’ Malta (Mediterran ċentrali), permezz ta’ ġabra ta’ individwi
fi stadji differenti ta’ żvilupp li saret fl-2019. Il-monitoraġġ ta’ dan is-sit matul sitt snin ma rriżulta
f’ebda sejba sussegwenti; madankollu, kunsiderazzjonijiet ta’ ġestjoni ambjentali biex itaffu listabbiliment ta’ speċi oħra ta’ pesti terrestri mhux indiġeni fil-Gżejjer Maltin li huma bijoinvażi
ħafna qiegħdin jiġu mressqa f’dan l-istudju. L-ispeċi preżenti tista’ tiġi differenzjata minn
konfamiljari u konġeneriċi permezz ta’ sett ta’ karatteristiċi konkoloġiċi u anatomiċi, inklużi
protokonka ċkejkna, roqgħa ta’ kulur ħamrani fuq l-aħħar dawra tal-qoxra, u ħolqa li tfiġġ mit-tarf
distali tal-għant tal-pene.peer-reviewe
The role and activities of the Health Emergency preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) DG
No full textHERA was established in 2021 as a key pillar of the European Health
Union with the aim of strengthening the EU’s capacity to prevent,
detect, and respond rapidly to serious cross-border health threats.
Born from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, HERA plays a
central role in ensuring the development, availability, accessibility,
and equitable distribution of medical countermeasures (MCMs)-
including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective
equipment-across the entire value chain. [extract].peer-reviewe
Domestic politics and the fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic in EU and OECD countries
No full textThe fiscal policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic was strong and unprecedented. Yet, even though the economic shock was relatively similar, there were large variations in the magnitude of the budgetary support across countries. Drawing on the literature of the political economy of budget deficits, this paper focuses on the role of political determinants to explain the variation in the size of the fiscal response to the pandemic among the 27 members of the European Union and 16 other OECD countries. The political factors, as well as control variables that are relevant to the COVID-19 shock, are included in a conceptual framework that comprises the need for fiscal response, government’s fiscal space as well as its effectiveness. Using a cross-sectional model, results across different model specifications show that domestic politics did matter. In particular, government fragmentation, as found in coalition governments, results in smaller fiscal packages, reflecting difficulties to agree on the fiscal package. In contrast, a larger parliamentary majority facilitates the passage of the relevant legislation and is associated with a larger budgetary response. Similar results were also found for broad coalitions with super-parliamentary majorities and when the executive has control over the relevant parliamentary chambers. On the other hand, the timing of elections and partisan politics did not influence the size of the budgetary response to the pandemic. Besides political factors, the availability of fiscal space was another important determinant of the magnitude of the fiscal package, although the more relevant factors were access to market financing and the cost of government borrowing, rather than the level of government debt. Finally, the findings also show that more stringent containment measures, the level of income per capita and the share of the elderly in the population are generally associated with larger fiscal responses to the pandemic.peer-reviewe