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Declared vs determined : analysis of cannabinoids in commercially available products on the Maltese market
Full text linkThe Cannabis market is rapidly expanding, with an increasing variety of formulations creating a complex regulatory environment. Products containing cannabis fall under different legislative frameworks. Medicinal cannabis products are regulated under pharmaceutical legislation, while commercially available formulations, including oils and cosmetics, containing low concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) fall under a combination of national and European Union (EU) regulations, presenting regulatory and analytical challenges due to fragmented frameworks and the absence of standardised quantification methods. This study aimed to develop and validate a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of five cannabinoids in commercial cannabis-based oils and cosmetics available in Malta. Validation of the method demonstrated specificity, accuracy, linearity and precision. Analysis of 23 oil and 10 cosmetic products revealed discrepancies between labelled and determined cannabinoid content. THC was detected in 6 samples (0.014–0.165 %), with concentrations below the 0.2 % regulatory threshold, while deviations in cannabidiol (CBD) content exceeded ±10 % label accuracy limit in 19 products. These findings indicate the need for routine quality control and regulatory oversight to ensure consumer safety and product transparency on the Maltase market. Future research should expand this analytical framework to a broader range of cannabis products, including edibles and e-liquid formulations.peer-reviewe
Classroom-related emotions through the lens of students’ academic concerns in higher education
Full text linkUnderstanding how students’ academic concerns give rise to their emotions during
classes is essential for fostering emotionally supportive and engaging higher education
environments. While emotions in learning have been widely studied, less is known about
how specific academic concerns act as antecedents that help explain students’ classroom-related emotions. This study examined how students’ concerns about lecture content, in-class engagement, workload, and competing roles influence the emotions they experience
during classes in higher education. Data was collected from 380 undergraduate and
postgraduate students, of whom 65.5% were female and the largest age group was 18–24
years (60.3%), enrolled at a Maltese higher education institution through an anonymous
online questionnaire. A concurrent mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative
data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests, while qualitative
responses were examined through inductive thematic analysis to identify key concern
areas. Results revealed significant differences in emotional responses by age and
programme type, with younger students reporting higher levels of boredom, shame, and
anxiety. Four main areas of concern emerged from qualitative data analysis: lecture
relevance, engagement, workload balance, and wellbeing. Addressing these concerns
through pedagogical design and psychosocial support can foster positive emotions,
engagement, and emotional wellbeing in higher education.peer-reviewe
Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
Full text linkFor over six decades, the diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and Malta has been characterised by sustained and constructive engagement on matters affecting the moral, social, educational and cultural life of the nation. Within this relationship, academic theology, particularly as embodied in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta, has played a distinctive yet often understated role. Beyond its canonical mandate for theological education, the Faculty has emerged as a credible interlocutor in public debate through the publication of a series of Position Papers addressing significant legislative and ethical questions in the sphere of public policy. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
A burning issue : interactions of the bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata with artisanal fisheries - a case study from Malta (Central Mediterranean)
Full text linkThe bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata (Polychaeta) has become increasingly problematic
in Mediterranean artisanal fisheries, yet remains understudied. This study provides
a detailed analysis of interactions between H. carunculata and artisanal fishers in
Marsaxlokk, Malta’s largest fishing village. Combining fisher interviews (local ecological
knowledge) and field data, the study reveals that fishing practices inadvertently sustain
and amplify local fireworm populations by discarding worms and by-catch nearshore,
thereby providing abundant food sources. The highest fisher activity correlated with significantly
denser fireworm populations and smaller-sized individuals, indicating population
growth driven by fisher practices. Fireworm predation significantly impacts fishers
economically, causing an estimated direct loss of 52.5% of the expected profit across the
five onboard sessions, due to damaged catch, along with additional indirect losses from
reduced gear efficiency and increased labor. The worm’s painful sting adds further nuisance
and discomfort for fishers who frequently handle infested gear. Despite awareness
of fireworm behavior, fishers largely did not recognize their practices as exacerbating the
issue, creating a feedback loop perpetuating the problem. Behavioral experiments suggested
that modifying fishing practices and gear design might mitigate fireworm impacts.
Addressing this socio-ecological challenge requires further targeted research, education,
and policy support to break the cycle that benefits fireworm proliferation in the region to
the detriment of fishers.peer-reviewe
Micro-organisms play roles in colorectal cancer, is it true?
No full textBACKGROUND: Normal gut bacterial floras play a direct or indirect role in the initiation and progression of tumour by inducing chronic inflammation and producing toxins and metabolites. However, data on the types of bacteria that are significant in the sigmoid colon and rectal tumour are still lacking. This study determined the types of bacteria that are associated with the risk of developing sigmoid colon and rectal cancer.METHODS: This case control study involved patients with bowel symptoms and had been subjected to elective colonoscopy procedure from December 2013 to September 2014. Standard bowel preparation was carried out two days prior to colonoscopy either at home or in ward. Biopsy samples were sent to microbiology laboratory for cultivation. The mean of bacterial colonies in the mucosa of sigmoid colon tumour and rectal tumour were compared with the mucosa of normal sigmoid colon and rectum, respectively.RESULTS: For normal colonoscopy results, 66 biopsies were taken from bowel mucosa (33 at sigmoid colon and 33 at rectum). Eight patients had sigmoid colon tumour and 25 patients had rectal tumour. The results showed that Clostridium subterminale, Finegoldia magna, Enterococcus avium, Eggerthella lenta, Parvimonas micra, Clostridium bifermentans, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus mutans and Morganella morganii were only present in sigmoid colon tumour and were significantly associated with sigmoid colon cancer (p = 0.041). More than 15 types of bacteria were isolated in the rectal tumour compared to the normal rectal mucosa, however, only Proteus mirabilis (p = 0.040) and Morganella morganii (p = 0.046) were significant in promoting rectal cancer.CONCLUSION: Clostridium subterminale, Finegoldia magna, Enterococcus avium, Eggerthella lenta, Parvimonas micra, Clostridium bifermentans, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus mutans and Morganella morganii were associated with the risk of developing sigmoid colon cancer while Proteus mirabilis and Morganella morganii were associated with rectal cancer.peer-reviewe
Tactical urbanism as a catalyst. Shaping people-centred mobility in Malta through experimentation
No full textAs Euro-Mediterranean cities grapple with traffic congestion, limited public space and rising climate
vulnerabilities, there is growing interest in adaptable, citizen-led solutions to reframe urban mobility. This
paper explores the role of tactical urbanism – temporary, low-cost and participatory interventions – as a
strategic tool for testing and transitioning towards more resilient and sustainable mobility systems, centring
on the Maltese Islands.
Malta’s long-lasting car-centric culture has posed significant barriers to mobility transformation. At the
same time, its compact urban form offers potential for tactical experimentation. This paper presents some
key case studies that have attempted to push the tactical urbanism agenda. These include the Slow Streets
project, which positioned tactical urbanism as a key mobility strategy. Other examples include initiatives
within the Vjal Kulhadd projects, sustainable mobility guidance for Local Councils and efforts to establish
temporary play streets and weekend street closures. These endeavours have aimed to reimagine urban
streetscapes as shared, flexible and inclusive spaces, though not without challenges. A notable case is Mosta
Square, where pedestrianisation during weekends sparked political and community controversy but also
demonstrated how temporary closures can challenge car dominance and reclaim civic space.
Localised play street projects – facilitated through short-term road closures and signage – have generally
been well-received, fostering social and recreational functions. The paper explores why some projects are
more successful than others, suggesting that the interventions’ temporary nature might influence
community acceptance.
Ultimately, the research argues that these modest interventions may influence behavioural changes and
promote institutional learning. They serve as prototypes for longer-term spatial and policy shifts. The
conclusion calls for formalising tactical urbanism as a core component in mobility planning across Euro-Mediterranean regions, emphasising its potential to address spatial constraints, promote civic engagement
and enable low-risk experimentation to drive sustainable urban transitions.peer-reviewe
GenAI for speech writing in the training of Maltese conference interpreters for the European Union
No full textThe present paper explores the potential of GenAI tools in generating speeches to prepare for the European
Union’s interinstitutional accreditation test. A small-scale experimental empirical study was conducted in
which interpreting students were instructed to annotate, critically assess and compare English and Maltese
speeches generated by three GenAI tools, viz., Gemini, Copilot and ChatGPT, to be used for beginner
consecutive interpretation practice. The GenAI tools were prompted to generate three English and three
Maltese speeches modelled on those in the European Commission’s Speech Repository. The analysis focuses
on compliance with the prompt, suitability for purpose and linguistic output quality. The results indicate
that, upon initial analysis, the speeches in both languages satisfy many of the criteria in the prompt.
However, more thorough scrutiny reveals that the speeches may prove challenging for trainees to interpret,
primarily due to their poor argumentative structure, low factual density, lack of clear links and intent, and
low terminological complexity. In addition, the speech topics are excessively simplistic, not well-researched
and insufficiently nuanced. The differences between English, a high-resource language, and Maltese, a low-resource
language, are minimal. The main discrepancy between the two is the higher number of linguistic
errors in Maltese. Overall, the results indicate that the speeches in both languages require extensive post-editing
to meet their intended use.peer-reviewe
Unveiling noradrenaline : insights into cardiac autonomic neuropathy in a type 1 diabetic animal model
No full textBACKGROUND: The global surge in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) cases across age groups has raised concerns about associated cardiovascular risks, warranting a deeper understanding of its complications. Diabetic Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy (DCAN), characterized by cardiovascular system irregularities in diabetic patients, remains inadequately explored, particularly in T1DM. This study aimed to establish a connection between T1DM and the onset of DCAN in an animal model, focusing on the role of noradrenaline as a potential marker.METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into Control and T1DM model groups. The diabetic group received intraperitoneal Streptozotocin injections and remained untreated until DCAN developed. Blood glucose levels and body weight were measured weekly. Vital signs monitoring, and noradrenaline measurements were conducted at specific intervals using non-invasive techniques and ELISA kits to assess the rats' cardiovascular parameters and noradrenaline levels throughout the study period.RESULTS: Subsequent analysis revealed distinct alterations in blood glucose, body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate in the diabetic group, mirroring clinical symptoms observed in diabetes. Notably, a significant rise in serum noradrenaline levels at week 14 suggested the emergence of DCAN.DISCUSSION: Findings demonstrate a parallel between T1DM and the development of DCAN, echoing observations in human diabetic patients. Importantly, this study highlights the potential of noradrenaline as an early indicator of DCAN onset. Despite limitations in sample size and duration, these groundbreaking insights pave the way for refining diagnostic strategies and developing targeted therapies for this debilitating complication in diabetic patients.CONCLUSION: This investigation offers critical insights into the pathophysiology of DCAN in T1DM, emphasizing the urgent need for early detection and management strategies to mitigate associated cardiovascular risks in diabetic individuals.peer-reviewe
Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
Full text linkThe Mediterranean island of Malta is often referred to as ‘The Island of Paul.’ This designation was notably reflected in the theme of St Pope John Paul II’s first pastoral visit to Malta, which took place from 25 May to 27 May 1990, under the title: ‘Peter on the Island of Paul.’ At the conclusion of the Mass he celebrated on the Floriana Granaries, Pope John Paul let it be known what he intended to do following his experience on these islands: “I shall return to Rome and I shall meet Paul. It is necessary to meet Paul and to tell him about Malta. I shall say: “Paul, do you remember Malta? Do you remember that you founded a Church in Malta, and I found after so many centuries that it is a wonderful Church?" [excerpt]peer-reviewe
Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
No full textOver the past thirty-five years, Malta has welcomed four Apostolic Journeys undertaken by three Popes. Although each journey unfolded within its own historical moment and addressed a Malta that was never quite the same, all three Popes consistently emphasised the island’s enduring Mediterranean vocation. Their speeches, shaped by the political, cultural and ecclesial contexts of their times, offer a meaningful – if often overlooked – source for understanding how Malta’s identity has been interpreted from an external yet influential perspective. This article explores these speeches within their respective contexts, considering both their distinctive emphases and the themes they share. By tracing how papal messages to Malta have evolved over the decades, this article aims to address the broader question of what truly constitutes the Maltese as ‘a people’. The analysis that follows seeks not only to interpret the texts themselves but also to reflect on the points they raise about Malta’s self-understanding and its place within the Mediterranean region. [excerpt]peer-reviewe