24762 research outputs found
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Phenotypic and genomic characterization of the Maltese hunting dog (kelb tal-kaċċa ta’ Malta)
No full textThe traditional Maltese Hunting Dog (Kelb tal-Kaċċa ta’ Malta, KTKM) is deeply rooted in Maltese
historical and cultural identity, being valued for its versatility in traditional hunting, where it usually flushes out and retrieves small migratory bird species. This study aims to characterise the
KTKM phenotypically and genomically, to support its official recognition as a breed and the
drafting of a breed standard. Morphological and visual examination of 36 adult KTKM, underline
their similarity to European Braque-type dogs, presenting medium-sized and mesodolicomorphic body, mesocephalic head, large drop ears, thick hanging lips, and a short haired
orange-and-white coat. Genomic data of 33 KTKM were compared with 41 dog breeds, including Italian and European breeds belonging to hunting dogs, primitive dogs, terriers, and shepherds. Genomic structure analyses placed the KTKM within the pointing dog cluster,
phenotypically and functionally consistent, but also highlighted possible historical links to the
Kelb tal-Fenek (indigenous to Malta and known internationally as the Pharaoh Hound) and spaniels. Admixture analysis showed high genetic uniformity and uniqueness within the KTKM
sampled population, while runs of homozygosity indicated a relatively low inbreeding coefficient. In conclusion, the KTKM can be considered as being a distinct, genetically uniform breed
that is aligned with pointing dogs, showing moderate levels of inbreeding and good heterozygosity. Breed recognition and conservation strategies are crucial to safeguard its gene pool and
cultural significance.peer-reviewe
Mulberry leaf-derived bioactive constituents on diabetes : structure, extraction, quality analysis, and hypoglycemic mechanisms
Full text link(1) Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with a rising global prevalence. Mulberry leaf (ML), a traditional medicinal and edible plant, possesses notable hypoglycemic effects and has a long history of usage. This review aims to systematically consolidate the research progress on the hypoglycemic constituents derived from ML, including their chemical structure, extraction methods, quality analysis techniques, and hypoglycemic mechanisms. (2) Methods: Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA 2020) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using Web of Science and PubMed databases to find relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025. (3) Results: This review evaluates both conventional and modern techniques such as water extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), highlighting their advantages and limitations when applied on ML. Additionally, this review examines the analytical techniques applied in the quality control of ML and its constituents. This is complemented by a summary of hypoglycemic mechanisms, focusing on the inhibition of oxidative stress, amelioration of insulin resistance, regulation of related enzyme activity, and modulation of gut microbiota. (4) Conclusions: ML demonstrates considerable potential for treating diabetes. However, further studies are needed for new drug discovery based on new ML-derived bioactive constituents, highly efficient extraction methods, quality analysis techniques, and underlying mechanisms.peer-reviewe
Playing with the dead : dead pools and the case of Fantamorto
No full textDead people can take part in gameplay. These playful possibilities reflect two broad trends in the social perception of human finitude: death acceptance and death denial. Some of the playful practices discussed in this article align with perspectives that regard mortality as a foundational -- and even affirmative -- aspect of human existence. These are games and videogames designed to sustain a sense of continuity and familiarity with the departed. Other games adopt a more antagonistic stance toward the dead, trivializing and commodifying their personal and historical significance. Among the latter, this article devotes particular attention to a family of playful practices known as “dead pool games,” playful folk phenomena that have thus far been overlooked within game studies.
Foregrounding the representational and ethical stakes of playing with the dead, the second half of the article traces the historical development of dead pool games and examines the ethically contentious design decisions that shape this genre. The inquiry culminates in an ethics-oriented analysis of the gameplay and design of Fantamorto -- a popular contemporary Italian instantiation of the dead pool game formula, with particular attention to how its rules frame death and human suffering as ludic resources within a competitive game economy.peer-reviewe
Augmented reality for story-related activities in primary and secondary education : a systematic review
Full text linkStory-related activities such as storytelling, story creation and narrative-based learning have become a popular pedagogical approach used in education. Additionally, Augmented Reality (AR) is a tool that receives significant attention globally. Recognizing this trend, researchers have been seeking ways to integrate story-related activities with AR in educational contexts. This paper presents a systematic literature review focusing on the use of AR in story-related activities within primary and secondary education. By conducting a systematic search of studies published in the past 5 years between 2019 and 2024, 264 relevant papers were initially identified. After applying inclusion, exclusion and quality criteria, 39 studies were selected for in-depth analysis. Framed by the principles of learning experience design, this review explores how AR is integrated into story-based educational practices, highlighting its current applications, benefits, and barriers. Additionally, the review critically reflects on the need to prioritise pedagogy over technological features when designing AR-enhanced learning experiences. The study concludes with recommendations for future research and practical insights for educators aiming to incorporate AR into story-related educational activities.peer-reviewe
Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
Full text linkThe time that the Faculty of Theology spent outside the University of Malta, from 1979 to 1988, was more exciting and productive than it had been initially expected. When the Faculty had to leave the University, it was leaving an environment where it had been at home for more than two hundred years. While learning to operate on its own, the Faculty took the opportunity to expand its base by establishing two institutes, as originally advised and eventually approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education. One was the Institute of Religious Studies to develop into a first degree in religious studies the diploma course which the Faculty had already been offering at the University for lay people on a part-time basis in the evening. The other was the Institute of Philosophy and Human Studies to offer courses for a bachelor’s degree in philosophy as a main subject with Mediterranean studies, psychology and sociology as subsidiary subjects. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta
Full text linkThe second book, ‘Sixty Years of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and Malta’, edited by the Dean, Rev. Prof. Stefan Attard, and the Deputy Dean, Rev. Prof. Charlo Camilleri, brings together contributions by eleven academics from our Faculty. The essays explore key aspects of Maltese identity and Church–State relations, including history, spirituality, theological formation, biblical scholarship, marriage and jurisdiction, papal and presidential discourse, public theology, cultural diplomacy, and Malta’s Mediterranean heritage.peer-reviewe
Turning the tide : climate change, social change, & islandness
No full textThis chapter shares the research and methodologies of the Heritage Ecologies
project, based at the Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) of the University
of Malta and funded by the European Commission under the Marie
Sklodowska-Curie Action programme (grant agreement No. 101090288).
Fully titled “Heritage Ecologies: Culture, resilience and development in island
states,” this project investigates how cultural heritages are impacted by
climate change and the role played by heritage and local knowledge in promoting
climate change adaptation and sustaining social and environmental
resiliencies, focusing on insular geographies.By adopting the term “ecologies,” we aim to highlight the relational aspects
connecting cultural heritage, in its multiple expressions and materialities, environmental
histories, and sustainable futures. Curiously, the concept of heritage
ecologies is equally used, although with a different focus, in the title of
the book edited by Bangstad and Pétursdóttir. Here the authors use the concept
to express “an ecological understanding of heritage” and it involves “human
and other-than-human actors” (Bangstad & Þóra Pétursdóttir, 2021).
For our research, the interconnections, and interdependence, between culture
and environment are central. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
The AI guilt complex : moral emotions and ethical dilemmas in academic technology adoption
No full textAs artificial intelligence (AI) tools rapidly integrate into academic practice, the emotional
and ethical dimensions remain underexplored. This study presents an empirical investigation of AI-related moral emotions among university faculty, introducing the “AI Guilt
Complex,” a pattern of anticipatory and experienced guilt shaping adoption. A mixed-methods survey of 109 academics examined prevalence, patterns, and management of
moral distress. Quantitative results showed 35% worry AI undermines their credibility
and 26% feel they are “cheating”. Anticipatory guilt (credibility concerns) significantly
exceeded post-use guilt (remorse item; interpreted as anticipated for non-users), indicating
socio-professional concerns outweigh personal distress. Cluster analysis identified four
profiles: Comfortable Adopters (27%, low guilt, high use); Guilty Non-Users (29%, moderate guilt, low use); Cautious Users (28%, selective use, moderate guilt); and Morally
Distressed Avoiders (16%, high guilt, minimal use). Qualitative analysis of 92 narratives
revealed a temporal guilt pattern (initial guilt diminishing with use), authenticity concerns (“are AI-assisted ideas still mine?”), and fears of skill atrophy. Academics described
five reconciliation strategies: tool framing, critical thinking emphasis, boundary setting,
transparency, and denying reconciliation was needed. The 3.5% response rate may itself
reflect moral disengagement or institutional silencing of ethical debate. Findings suggest
sustainable AI integration requires addressing emotional and ethical dimensions alongside
technical training. Results are exploratory and hypothesis-generating, requiring validation
in larger samples. This study offers a preliminary ethical lens for understanding how academics experience and negotiate moral emotions in relation to AI adoption.peer-reviewe
Shaping circular transitions in the built environment : from barriers to enablers
No full textThis open access book explores how to operationalise circular economy principles in the built environment by turning barriers into enablers of systemic change. Drawing on research from the COST Action CircularB, it examines technical, regulatory, economic, and cultural obstacles while highlighting the enabling role of digital tools, innovative business models, and harmonised indicators. The book examines how circularity is integrated into European and national policies, public procurement, and urban strategies, offering a comparative analysis of best practices and policy gaps. It also addresses the need for standardised terminology and frameworks to support the integration of circularity in design, assessment, and construction. Featuring a curated glossary of over 400 terms, the book fosters shared understanding across disciplines. Combining critical analysis with actionable insights, it equips professionals and policymakers with tools to support a regenerative and resource-efficient transition in the construction and urban sectors.peer-reviewe
The prevalence of post Covid-19 symptoms and its associated factors in patients at health clinics in Klang Valley, Malaysia
No full textBACKGROUND: Individuals often experienced persistence of COVID-19 symptoms following recovery of COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of post COVID-19 symptoms and factors associated with its presence (fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress).METHODS: A quantitative study using a cross-sectional survey was carried out in 14 primary care clinics in 2023. Symptoms of fatigue post COVID-19 were evaluated using the fatigue severity scale (total score of 36 or more indicates fatigue) and presence of depression, anxiety and stress were evaluated using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) (mild severity and above indicates presence of depression, anxiety, and stress).RESULT: The prevalence of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress in post COVID-19 infection respondents were 54%, 25.8%, 34% and 23% respectively. Respondents who lost the family member(s) due to COVID-19 infection and those who had incomplete vaccination were found to be at risk of fatigue. Depression was higher in younger age respondents, female gender and B40 income group. Anxiety was higher in younger age respondents, people with comorbidities of high cholesterol and heart disease and those with Category 4 and 5 COVID-19 infection; while stress was higher in younger age respondents, female gender and those who lost the family member(s) due to COVID-19 infection.CONCLUSION: Fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress affected almost a quarter of individuals with post COVID-19 infection. By identifying the determinants of these post COVID-19 symptoms, a framework of long-term prognosis of COVID-19 can be drafted to manage these groups of patients more effectively.peer-reviewe