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Key aspects of workplace safety and efficiency based on dynamic forklift testing in the context of industry 4.0
Get PDFPURPOSE: The research aimed to solve the problem of accidents involving forklifts in
warehouses, logistics centers, and production plants. The research focused on comparing the
efficiency of frontal forklifts and autonomous forklifts. A bibliometric review of thematic
publications was also conducted using the Scopus database.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The methods adopted to solve the research problems were
bibliometric analyses and my own research. The research focused on comparing the
efficiency of frontal forklifts and autonomous forklifts.FINDINGS: The research methods adopted to support the work and solve the research
problems were a literature search and own research. The research focused on comparing the
efficiency of frontal forklifts and autonomous forklifts. The obtained data, generated using
the WMS system, were analyzed and evaluated. The study assessed factors such as the time
of the order-picking process, working time, and waiting time for orders.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: As a result of the research on the efficiency of the trucks, the
hypothesis was verified positively. Autonomous forklifts showed a better result in the order
execution time, with an average of 10 minutes. In contrast, in the case of the front forklift, the
average value of the order execution time is 15 minutes. The data on the waiting time for the
order are comparable; this factor also depends on the Internet speed and the computing
power of the computers used. In the case of autonomous trucks, the data is sent directly to
the truck, so it can start working immediately after receiving the orders. On the other hand,
front forklifts performed better in the total working time, the average of which was 5 hours.
This is a better result than the autonomous forklift, whose average total working time during
the day was 4 hours.ORIGINALITY: Based on the measurements and research results obtained, it can be concluded
that many accidents involving forklifts are caused by excessive speed or by neglecting factors that may affect the occurrence of an accident at work, which may lead to significant material
losses or loss of life or health.peer-reviewe
Mons. Prof. Karm Sant, il-qassis, eseġeta u traduttur tal-Bibbja
No full textAktarx li x-xoqqa li minnha hu minsuġ bniedem toħroġ b’saħħitha f ’kitbietu.
L-artikli b’suġġetti bibliċi li kiteb il-Monsinjur Professur Dun Karm Sant u saħansitra t-teżi tad-Dottorat li rriċerka u kiteb fl-Università ta’ Malta għallgrad
ta’ Duttur fit-Teoloġija (D.D.) fl-1960 juru rieda pastorali qawwija, nisġa ta’
akkademiku b’qalb ta’ qassis, biex l-Iskrittura, oriġinarjament miktuba bil-Lhudi,
l-Aramajk u l-Grieg, tasal għand il-poplu fi lsien li jista’ jifhmu u jomogħdu.
San Pawl u l-ħajja tal-familja huwa ktejjeb maħruġ mill-Moviment ta’ Kana
fl-1960, fl-okkażjoni taċ-ċentinarju tan-nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl f ’Malta, bi studju
ta’ Dun Karm Sant. Hu ktejjeb sempliċi imma jdur kull rokna ta’ dak li jgħid
l-Appostlu tal-Ġnus fuq il-familja – minn qabel l-għerusija sa meta jormlu. Fl-1967 ippubblika artiklu fir-rivista tal-Għaqda Studenti tat-Teoloġija,
Melita Theologica, fuq l-interpretazzjoni biblika fil-Kostituzzjoni Dommatika
tal-Konċilju Vatikan II, Dei verbum (li ħarġet fit-18 ta’ Novembru 1965), ftit
iktar minn sena wara li Dun Karm kiseb il-lawrja prestiġjuża ta’ Duttur fix-Xjenzi
Bibliċi.peer-reviewe
Food prices and the right to food : assessing trends in Ukraine during wartime
Get PDFPURPOSE: The purpose of the article is to investigate and analyse the changes in food prices
in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale armed aggression in February 2022, with a detailed
focus on key food groups, as well as national and regional peculiarities.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The methodology for the analysis of changes in food prices
depends on various factors, primarily determined by the objectives of the analysis. This
analysis is intended to offer insights into critical areas and provide direction for further
deepening the analysis of prices, laying the groundwork for justifying approaches and
focusing on further government interventions (regulations) in this field. As the war
significantly impacts all sectors and regions of the country; this influence is more vivid for
regions closer to the front line. Consequently, substantial differentiation among regions can
be expected in terms of food prices and their fluctuations in response to the new challenges
of wartime. The level of price changes will also vary across different types of food. As
military actions have varying impacts across different regions and markets, the analysis
focused on average prices at the regional level, as provided by the State Statistics Service of
Ukraine.FINDINGS: The analysis reveals that price changes in March 2022 were most prominently
depicted across all three heatmaps, reflecting the shock impact of the onset of full-scale
warfare. Regions directly affected by hostilities and those nearby stand out distinctly. In
other areas, additional factors contributing to food price escalation include heightened
demand from population migration flows, increased supply chain costs, particularly for nonlocal products, and other influencing factors. Throughout 2022, people, especially in rural
areas, increased production, such as vegetables – potatoes, cabbage, beets, etc., leading to a
lesser growth or even a decrease in prices for these products. In the group with moderate
year-on-year growth, a portion of processed products, where large food producers or major
traders and retailers are involved, experienced a relatively lower impact. An analysis of
price changes in March 2022 compared to January 2022, unlike annual comparisons,
reveals extremely sharp monthly price fluctuations, for which the population had little time
to adjust. Such rapid price changes call for prompt food support programs. During this short
period, there is minimal impact from inflation, but a maximal impact from the shockwaves of
the onset of full-scale war. These shockwaves partially subside in the subsequent months but include inflationary factors. For many products, there is a minimal increase in prices in
March; however, in April, the increase becomes quite significant, indicating delayed market
reactions to price shocks. In the medium-term perspective, the summer prices (June 2022)
reflect stronger inflationary effects, along with seasonal influences on certain goods (as we
compare summer and winter prices). Some shocks diminish as logistics are streamlined,
producers and the population adapt, while for certain goods, on the contrary, previous
stocks are depleted, and new logistics options prove more costly. When comparing the prices
in January 2023 to January 2022, there is already a minimal impact of seasonality as the
system has reached a relatively balanced state. These changes indicate the cumulative
impact of all annual factorsPRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policy
interventions to stabilize food prices and safeguard access to food during armed conflict.
They also underscore the importance of integrating human rights principles into national
food security strategies, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Ukraine.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to
stabilize food prices and safeguard access to food during armed conflict. They also underscore
the importance of integrating human rights principles into national food security strategies,
particularly in conflict-affected regions like Ukraine.This research has been conducted within the project “Substantiation and
measures for implementation of a human rights-based integrated approach to rural
development, food security and land policy in post-war rebuilding of Ukraine” (acronym
“rUAr: Rebuild Rural Ukraine”) financed under the “Long-term program of support of the
Ukrainian research teams at the Polish Academy of Sciences carried out in collaboration
with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences with the financial support of external partners”.peer-reviewe
Genetic testing for inherited diseases – it is not just about diagnosis
Get PDFJust over two decades ago, in October 2004, the first
complete sequence of the Human Genome was published
(International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium,
2004). It was the culmination of a massive and expensive
collaboration between 20 sequencing centres across the
world, spanning more than a decade of work and at an
estimated cost of over €2.5 billion. This first complete
genome build made available the sequence of 92% of the
3 billion nucleotides that make up a human genome.peer-reviewe
A comparison of differing organizational formats for teaching requesting skills to children with autism
Get PDFThe selection of high-tech AAC for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder can be a challenging process due to the vast array of options available. One of the decisions that clinicians need to make involves how vocabulary will be organized on the display. This study aimed to compare a visual scene display (VSD) with a grid display using a multiple-probe design across participants with an embedded adapted alternating treatment design. Four young children with autism spectrum disorder who were beginning communicators were recruited and taught to request preferred items using two display formats: VSD and grid layout on a mainstream tablet with an AAC app. Two of the participants achieved criterion with both displays, the other two participants failed to achieve criterion in either display. For all participants, progress was similar in both displays. The results are discussed through the lens of each participant’s characteristics with suggestions for clinical decision-making.peer-reviewe
Neurological findings and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with low back pain in Ninevah province
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low back pain (LBP) has increasingly reported as a common musculoskeletal disorder in clinical settings carrying great impact on individual and health system. The aim of the present study was to identify the findings of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical neurological symptoms together with their correlation with patients overall socioeconomic status.METHODS: A total of 60 LNP patients were enrolled in the present study (25 males; 35 females). MRI were conducted for individual patients and the neurological findings were reported represented by pain, disc bulging, spinal stenosis, degenerative changes, together with demographic and geographic data.RESULTS: The results confirmed that age, BMI, and educational levels were confounding determinant for development of LBP and male versus female developed LBP in similar ration. Spinal canal stenosis, pain, and Spondylolisthesis were hallmark associated with LBP.CONCLUSION: MRI changes associated with LBP has revealed that a high percentage of LBP could potentially carry serious undelying illness and therefore MRI should be done for all patients with LBP.peer-reviewe
The role of burden of disease estimates in European Union health policymaking : a systematic analysis of EU legislation
Get PDFBackground: The use of burden of disease (BoD) metrics in policymaking is crucial for evidence-based decisionmaking.
However, there is currently no information available regarding their utilisation in policies at the European
level.Objective: This study aimed to analyse the use of BoD metrics within the European legislation.Methods: Systematic searches on EUR-Lex were conducted for documents published between 2004 and 2023, to
account for European Union-25 (EU-25). Network and qualitative analyses of documents were conducted to
assess the legislation content.Results: In total, 2615 documents were found, of which 191 included BoD metrics. Among the selected documents,
131 (69 %) were published after 2018. Ten were legally binding documents. The most prevalent EuroVoc
(EU’s multilingual and multidisciplinary thesaurus) domains were social questions and environment. The most
frequent EuroVoc terms were climate change policy (n = 45), EU environmental policy (n = 32) and pollution
control measures (n = 32). The most common EU institution responsible for the retrieved documents was the
European Commission (n = 152). As for the purposes of usage, argument (n = 93) and impact assessment (n =
50) were most common. Most BoD metrics were localized in the main text (n = 122).Conclusion: Despite growing recognition of BoD metrics in supporting policymaking, their use remains focused on
environmental health topics. Further efforts in training policymakers, knowledge dissemination and policyoriented
research could enhance the uptake of BoD studies in EU policies.peer-reviewe
Eco-anxiety : a preliminary study using the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale with participants in a small island state
Get PDFThe ecological crisis is having profound impacts on mental health and psychological well-being. One such psychological experience is eco-anxiety, which is characterised by anxiety regarding environmental degradation and its implications on all aspects of life. Despite growing trends in research on eco-anxiety, studies that investigate this phenomenon in the small island state of Malta are lacking. This paper presents a preliminary study within a small island state context that collected quantitative data on eco-anxiety and its four dimensions: (1) rumination, (2) affective symptoms, (3) behavioural symptoms and (4) anxiety about personal impacts, measured using the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS). Self-perceived eco-anxiety, demographic variables, and levels of anxiety about environmental events and personal impacts, alongside their relationship to eco-anxiety, were also investigated. Data was collected from 243 Maltese adults using an online survey. Following data analysis, eco-anxiety levels were found to be relatively low, while self-perceived eco-anxiety was generally scored higher. Eco-anxiety was significantly higher in individuals working in a climate or environment-related field. More so, anxiety about climate change and one’s carbon footprint accounted for the greatest proportion of variance in eco-anxiety scores. Despite limitations in generalisability and contextualisation of the scale, this paper supports eco-anxiety as a relevant psychological concept within the local research agenda, highlighting the importance of such conversations in stimulating environmental engagement and facilitating hope in the face of environmental issues within a small island state.peer-reviewe
The trial of Galileo Galilei by the Roman Inquisition : a comprehensive overview
Get PDFOne of the most famous trials in world history is that of the Florentine scientist Galileo Galilei in front of the Roman Inquisition. Based on historical sources, this article presents a comprehensive overview of the 1633 trial, the roots of which dated to Galileo’s 1613 publication on sunspots. It culminated with his publication of the Dialogue concerning the two chief world systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican. Although condemned by the Inquisition to imprisonment for an indefinite period, his sentence was commuted to house arrest until death.peer-reviewe
European microstates and political legitimacy beyond liberal-democratic constitutionalism
Get PDFThis commentary challenges Veenendaal and Corbett’s assertion that Liechtenstein and
Monaco are among the least democratic states in Western Europe. It argues that these European
microstates exhibit democratic features that surpass those of several larger nations, highlighting
their unique blend of traditional authority and democratic rights. The political systems of Andorra,
Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino combine elements of feudalism, constitutional monarchy,
and liberal democracy, complicating traditional analyses of legitimacy. Liechtenstein has recently
experienced a rise in right-wing populism, which threatens its established political routines.
Nevertheless, the principality’s mixed constitution and consensus-oriented governance have
historically contributed to societal stability and prosperity. In the coming years, we will see
whether the specific subgroup of European microstates reaffirms its old answer to the question of
political legitimacy or is driven to find a new one.peer-reviewe