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Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
Full text linkAt the crossroads between Europe and Africa, Malta has long been shaped by its pivotal and strategic position at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite its small size and being separated from mainland Europe, the island is rich in history and connected to great historical currents that have crossed its waters. The Maltese language, having its own distinctive Latin alphabet, Semitic grammar and morphology, and a mixed Semitic, Romance, and Anglo-Saxon vocabulary, reflects a cultural interweaving of the Romance and Semitic worlds. The same holds for the island’s social traditions, emphasising family life and the Maltese’s religious identity. These characteristics are a tangible reminder of the many foreign powers that have left their mark on the Maltese psyche over the centuries: the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Ottomans, Normans, Angevines, Aragonese, Knights of St John, the French, and lastly, the British. Despite enduring difficult times and often facing limited resources, the Maltese people remained resilient, grounded in core values such as family and faith, social solidarity, and courage; these enduring principles helped shape the nation’s identity as the smallest member of the European Union. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
Peas, natural resources for a sustainable future : a multifaceted review of nutritional, health, environmental, and market perspectives
Full text linkThe pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an emerging pillar in plant-based nutrition and
sustainable food systems due to its high-quality proteins, diverse bioactive
compounds, and agroecological benefits. This review provides an updated
synthesis of the nutritional composition, health-promoting properties, and
environmental relevance of peas, emphasizing recent scientific findings. Pea
seeds typically contain 20%−40% protein, 45%−55% starch, and 10%−15%
dietary fiber, alongside essential micronutrients such as vitamin C (40–60
mg/100 g), folate (60–70 μg/100 g), vitamin K (30–45 μg/100 g), iron (1.5–
2.0 mg/100 g), and manganese (0.4–0.6 mg/100 g). Their storage proteins,
primarily legumin and vicilin, offer high digestibility and amino acid profiles
compatible with human requirements, supporting their rapidly growing use in
protein isolates and meat- and dairy-alternative products. Peas represent a
valuable source of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and saponins, which contribute
to notable antioxidant (50–120 μmol Trolox/g) and anti-inflammatory activities
demonstrated in preclinical studies. Compared with other legumes, peas exhibit
a lower glycemic index (35–45), making them suitable for metabolic health
applications. Agronomically, pea cultivation enhances soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation (up to 150 kg N/ha), supporting reduced fertilizer
inputs and improved crop rotation performance, aligning with circular economy
and climate-resilience strategies. Despite these advantages, global consumption
and breeding innovation remain insufficient to meet the rising demand for
alternative proteins. Future opportunities include improving protein extraction
technologies, valorizing processing side-streams, and exploring underutilized
phytochemicals to strengthen the nutritional and sustainability profile of pea-based food systems.peer-reviewe
Characterising irritable bowel syndrome : an exploratory cross-sectional study
Full text linkBackground: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder influenced by cultural, dietary and psychosocial factors. Locally relevant tools are needed to better understand the experiences and management behaviours of Maltese individuals living with IBS. Objective: To develop and content-validate a culturally relevant questionnaire and characterise
a sample of Maltese patients living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used. Consenting Maltese
adults meeting the Rome IV criteria for IBS were recruited via social media
and outpatient gastroenterology and dietetic clinics across Malta. A 30-item
culturally adapted questionnaire was systematically developed, content-validated and administered. Collected variables included demographics, lifestyle
behaviours, psychological comorbidities, symptom severity, diagnosis status,
information sources, dietary triggers and treatments used. Descriptive statistics summarised cohort characteristics, while inferential analyses examined
associations between symptom severity and demographic or clinical variables
(p < 0.05), with effect sizes calculated. Results: The sample (N = 130) was predominantly female (90.8%), most commonly aged 36 - 45 years, with a mean
BMI of 27.5 ± 6.8 kg/m². Participants reported moderate symptom severity
and high rates of psychological comorbidities. Food was the most frequently
reported trigger (78.5%), particularly dairy (45%) and vegetables, fruit, beans
and legumes (39%). Pharmacological treatments were widely used (85.4%) and
online sources were the predominant information channel (80.8%). No significant associations were identified between symptom severity and demographic
or clinical factors. Conclusion: This study describes a symptom-aware Maltese cohort actively engaging in IBS self-management. The prominence of
food-related triggers, moderate symptom severity and psychological comorbidities underscores the need for multidisciplinary, personalised, evidence-based care, including dietetic and psychological support. The validated questionnaire offers a culturally grounded tool for future research and clinical assessment in Malta.peer-reviewe
Cyberspace as a neoliberal dream
No full textCyberpunk offers a vision into the consequences of neoliberal economic and social policies implemented since the Reagan and Thatcher administrations. The economic inequalities, lack of social safety nets, and restricted presence of state institutions reflect a neoliberal socio-economic order. In a cyberpunk reality, we also encounter cyberspace as a market order. It emerges from the proliferation of a ubiquitous cybereconomy that operates as a market economy, free from government intervention. The cyberpunk imaginary depicts cyberspace as a psychogeography in which individuals pursue their own goals and act in their self-interest. In cyberspace, individuals and corporations have dealings, interactions, and business relationships that follow the rules and norms that have emerged as part of the self-organising process of cyberspace. Therefore, cyberspace is a form of spontaneous order that entails complex selforganising systems and mechanisms that arise from the multitude of interactions that happen within it. This paper aims to use the imagery of cyberspace to show how cyberpunk literature formulates in tangible ways the realities of a market order as envisioned and proposed by neoliberal thinkers like Hayek, thus providing the public with a critique of the neoliberal dream of an unregulated market order.peer-reviewe
A machine learning framework for predicting and resolving complex tactical air traffic events using historical data
Full text linkOne of the key functions of Air Traffic Management (ATM) is to balance airspace capacity
and demand. Despite measures that are taken during the strategic and pre-tactical phases
of flight, demand–capacity imbalances still occur in flight, often manifesting as localised
regions of high traffic complexity, known as hotspots. These hotspots emerge dynamically,
leaving air traffic controllers with limited anticipation time and increased workload. This
paper proposes a Machine Learning (ML) framework for the prediction and resolution of
hotspots in congested en-route airspace up to an hour in advance. For hotspot prediction,
the proposed framework integrates trajectory prediction, spatial clustering, and complexity
assessment. The novelty lies in shifting complexity assessment from a sector-level perspective to the level of individual hotspots, whose complexity is quantified using a set of
normalised, sector-relative metrics derived from historical data. For hotspot resolution, a
Reinforcement Learning (RL) approach, based on Proximal Policy Optimisation (PPO) and
a novel neural network architecture, is employed to act on airborne flights. Three single-clearance type agents—a speed agent, a flight-level agent, and a direct routing agent—and
a multi-clearance type agent are trained and evaluated on thousands of historical hotspot
scenarios. Results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed framework and show that
hotspots are strongly seasonal and mainly occur along traffic routes. Furthermore, it is
shown that RL agent performance tends to degrade with hotspot complexity in terms of
certain performance metrics but remains the same, or even improves, in terms of others.
The multi-clearance type agent solves the highest percentage of hotspots; however, the FL
agent achieves the best overall performance.peer-reviewe
Energy-efficient towing of floating offshore wind turbines : challenges and perspectives on platform drag reduction
Full text linkFloating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are essential for expanding renewable energy capacity into deep-water regions. However, the deployment of semi-submersible FOWTs faces significant operational and financial hurdles, primarily driven by the high costs and logistical complexity of towing these structures to site. This perspective paper critiques current transportation processes, noting that existing offshore guidelines typically fail to account for the hydrodynamic drag generated by the unique bluff-body geometries of these hulls. The substantial pressure drag inherent in these structures leads to excessive fuel consumption and elevated carbon emissions during long-distance transit. Consequently, potential drag-reduction strategies must be explored to address these hydrodynamic inefficiencies. Among various technologies, fairings attached to the FOWT structure emerge as a promising solution, with potential drag reductions of around 40%. However, extensive research is required to ensure these designs do not compromise system stability, while also providing a net carbon emission reduction that justifies their production for large-scale deployment. Ultimately, integrating effective drag-reduction technologies is a vital step towards improving both the economic viability and the environmental footprint of the FOWT industry, ensuring its long-term sustainability in the global energy transition.peer-reviewe
Low frequency surge motion and inter-spacing distances between turbines in offshore wind farms
Full text linkFloating offshore wind turbines offer a promising solution to global energy demands, harnessing wind resources
in deep waters. Operational challenges arise from aerodynamic complexities induced by platform motions.
Previous literature report large vortex ring wake structures for low frequency surge motions that can impact
floating offshore wind farm design, particularly turbine spacing. This study aims at investigating the low
frequency surge dynamics and vorticity dissipation with a focus on analysing inter-spacing distances between
turbines. An Actuator Line Model is used based on Computational Fluid Dynamics using an OpenFOAM solver.
The power and thrust of a downstream turbine at different downstream distances is explored. The results show
that thrust and power oscillations on the downstream turbine can reach ±30% if a downstream inter-spacing
distance of six diameters or less is used. This is consistent with earlier findings. This distance has been found
to correspond to the dissipation of the large vortex ring structure resulting from the low frequency surge
condition. The dissipation of vortex strength for the tip and root vortex has been characterized, leading to
new insights for vortex based models. These conclusions provide guidelines for wind farm designers to ensure
consideration of low frequency surge when establishing turbine spacing.peer-reviewe
Multi-system and multi-fault evaluation towards generalisable fault monitoring for efficient pneumatic systems : a measurement-based approach
Full text linkPneumatic fault monitoring is crucial for improving the sustainable performance of compressed air systems. Research has focused on developing Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) systems, leveraging measurements for fault monitoring. Pressure and cycle time are commonly logged in industrial setups and studies have investigated their potential for this application. However, research is often case-specific, limiting broader applicability. This study uses a measurement-based approach for development of generalisable pneumatic FDD systems, evaluating measurement aspects across three System Complexity Levels (SCLs) and seven Fault Profile Levels (FPLs). Findings highlight the robustness of delta pressure (ΔP1) measurements, especially under unregulated pressure, detecting and characterising continuous faults such as leaks or pressure drops. Statistical ranking using the Kruskal-Wallis method, resulted that the RMS, Mean, and Shape Factor indicators based on ΔP1, are reliable for fault monitoring across all SCLs. For instance, when monitoring a ∅ 0.5 mm leak, the RMS increased by 17.0 % and 19.4 % across two different setups, irrespective of a ≈sixfold difference in baseline flow rate. Cycle time measurements proved capable in detecting actuator faults and isolating them throughout all SCLs. Study findings also proved that this measurement could monitor continuous faults. A ∅ 1.0 mm pipe leak and 0.3 bar pressure drop were also identified through a 3.9 % and 4.6 % increase in actuator retraction time, respectively. Ultimately, this study found indicators: ΔP1 RMS, ΔP1 Mean, ΔP1 Shape Factor, and Mean Cycle Time, reliable in identifying and diagnosing faults across all SCLs and FPLs, having high potential for generalisable pneumatic FDD systems.peer-reviewe
MiCA and the flawed premise of centralised supervision : operational burden vs. supervisory consistency
Full text linkThis article critically analyses a leaked European Commission proposal to shift the
supervision of Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) from National Competent
Authorities (NCAs) to centralised control under the European Securities and Markets
Authority (ESMA). The paper argues that this move, presented as a technical adjustment, is a scale-shifting constitutional change that fundamentally undermines the
careful balance of the original Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which
relied on NCA supervision and ESMA coordination. The critique concludes that centralised supervision is legally questionable, structurally incoherent, and operationally
harmful, risking excessive bureaucracy, the erosion of national expertise, and a direct
contravention of the principle of subsidiarity. The paper concludes by advancing a
reinforced model for supervisory convergence and cooperation as a superior alternative.peer-reviewe
Knowledge of spirometry in foundation doctors and basic specialist trainees in medicine
No full textBACKGROUND: Basic interpretation of spirometry is important to any clinician, since respiratory disease is one of the most encountered in everyday clinical practice.METHODS: The aim of this audit is to assess the basic knowledge (via a questionnaire) of spirometry interpretation by foundation doctors and basic specialist trainees working in medicine, in Mater Dei Hospital, Malta. This included the interpretation of the values for Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and their ratio.RESULTS: The maximum score from the questionnaire was 9. A total of 21 FYs and 30 BSTs participated in the data collection. The mean score for the FY group was 6.8, the least score being 4 (obtained by 1 participant) and the highest being 8 (obtained by 6 participants). The mean score for the BST group was 6.8 as well, the least score being 5 (obtained by 6 participants) and the highest being 9 (obtained by 2 participants).CONCLUSION: Although relatively satisfactory scores were obtained from the two groups, it is still concerning that a significant amount of participants answered basic questions incorrectly; these basic principles being important in the interpretation of a spirometry result. Further education is required to standardise the knowledge on the basic interpretation of spirometry. Interpretation of lung function testing is important as this could affect management, including organising further investigations or identification of important reversible obstructive lung diseases such as Asthma.peer-reviewe