21,484 research outputs found
Performance evaluation of Wied Dalam (WDD) seismic station in Malta
No full textThe continual operation of a permanent seismograph, now exceeding a couple of decades in some cases, naturally involves changes of hardware and software over time. Nonetheless, the long-term, consistent performance of the seismic station, and the good quality of its data, is very important for national seismic studies investigating the local seismicity, and also important for the international seismological community researching regional tectonics and deep Earth structures. Here we investigate the data availability and quality of the currently only seismic station on Malta (WDD) since its installation in 1995, and establish spectral patterns in the seismic data that may be influenced by diurnal variations, seasonal weather changes, and/or site-specific settings. The results are important for the future deployment of permanent seismic stations on the Maltese islands, and for the analysis of local seismic hazard and ground motion studies
Protecting Animals 36: Author Witi Ihimaera
No full textIn this very special episode of Knowing Animals I am joined by beloved New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Witi has written many books featuring nonhuman animals. He offers us a non-colonial lens through which to think about the human/nonhuman relationship
Tumor angiogenic switch determines sustained proliferative malignant transformation in tumorigenesis and overlaps with para-inflammatory phenomena
No full textContextual BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase over-activity determines in formulated fashion the emergence of
proliferation and anti-apoptosis that arise largely as derived phenomena of otherwise homeostatic mechanisms of
the c-ABL gene within hematopoietic stem cells and hemangioblasts in the bone marrow. The ability to suppress
almost completely, both in terms of phenotype and cytogenetically, the myeloid cell line expansion by imatinib
mesylate is indicative of a phenomenon that depends strictly on the transformed status of the cell of origin in the
chronic myeloid leukemia process. It is with relevance to complex participation of the dynamics of the fused BCR-
ABL protein product that contextual conditioning of the cells of origin of the gene translocation further motivates the
dimensional expansion of the transformed myeloid cell clones to increasing proliferative rates, thus leading to blast
crisis as eventual loss of differentiating potential.peer-reviewe
I Think I Am Philip K. Dick
No full textFor years, noted writer Laurence A. Rickels often found himself compared to novelist Philip K. Dickthough in fact Rickels had never read any of the science fiction writers work. When he finally read his first Philip K. Dick novel, while researching for his recent book The Devil Notebooks , it prompted a prolonged immersion in Dicks writing as well as a recognition of Rickelss own long-documented intellectual pursuits. The result of this engagement is I Think I Am: Philip K. Dick , a profound thought experiment that charts the wide relevance of the pulp sci-fi author and paranoid visionary. I Think I Am: Philip K. Dick explores the science fiction authors meditations on psychic reality and psychosis, Christian mysticism, Eastern religion, and modern spiritualism. Covering all of Dicks science fiction, Rickels corrects the lack of scholarly interest in the legendary Californian author and, ultimately, makes a compelling case for the philosophical and psychoanalytic significance of Philip K. Dicks popular and influential science fiction.Intro -- Contents -- Introjection -- Part I -- Endopsychic Allegories -- Schreber Guardian -- Belief System Surveillance -- Part II -- Deeper Problems -- Veil of Tears -- Go West -- Dick Manfred -- Timing -- Glimmung -- Part III -- Spiritualism Analogy -- Imitating the Dead -- Indexical Layer -- Ilse -- Hammers and Things -- Crucifictions -- Over There -- Martyrology -- Can't Live, Can't Live -- Lola -- Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt -- Outer Race -- The German Introject -- Part IV -- Materialism, Idealism, and Cybernetics -- Startling Stories -- A Couple of Years -- Android Empathy -- Homunculus and Robot -- ALL OF YOU ARE DEAD. I AM ALIVE. -- Go with the Flow -- Part V -- Room for Thought -- Caduceus -- Jump -- Still -- A Wake -- Spätwerk -- Let the Dead Be -- Play Bally -- Das Hund -- Notes -- BibliographyFor years, noted writer Laurence A. Rickels often found himself compared to novelist Philip K. Dickthough in fact Rickels had never read any of the science fiction writers work. When he finally read his first Philip K. Dick novel, while researching for his recent book The Devil Notebooks , it prompted a prolonged immersion in Dicks writing as well as a recognition of Rickelss own long-documented intellectual pursuits. The result of this engagement is I Think I Am: Philip K. Dick , a profound thought experiment that charts the wide relevance of the pulp sci-fi author and paranoid visionary. I Think I Am: Philip K. Dick explores the science fiction authors meditations on psychic reality and psychosis, Christian mysticism, Eastern religion, and modern spiritualism. Covering all of Dicks science fiction, Rickels corrects the lack of scholarly interest in the legendary Californian author and, ultimately, makes a compelling case for the philosophical and psychoanalytic significance of Philip K. Dicks popular and influential science fiction.Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, YYYY. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries
Multiple arterial embolization from left atrial myxoma in a Maltese boy
No full textAtrial myxoma is rare in adults and even rarer in children. In this article the author describes. The presentation may be with embolic, obstructive or constitutional symptoms, which may be dramatic and life-threatening. The case of a 12 year old Maltese boy with left atrial myxoma with multiple simultaneous arterial embolism in upper and lower limbs is described in this article.peer-reviewe
Liftings for noncomplete probability spaces
No full textThe current state of knowledge concerning liftings for noncomplete probability spaces is discussed. This is a somewhat expanded version of the author's talk given at the 1991 Summer Conference on General Topology and Applications in Honor of Mary Ellen Rudin and Her Work.PT: S; CR: BURKE MR, IN PRESS P AM MATH S BURKE MR, 1991, ISRAEL J MATH, V73, P33 BURKE MR, 1992, ISRAEL J MATH, V79, P289 CARLSON T, THEOREM LIFTING CHRISTENSEN JPR, 1974, TOPOLOGY BOREL STRUC FREMLIN DH, 1989, HDB BOOLEAN ALGEBRAS, P877 INOESCUTULCEA A, 1966, 5TH P BERK S MATH ST, V2 IONESCUTULCEA A, 1967, CONTRIBUTIONS PROB 1, P63 IONESCUTULCEA A, 1969, TOPICS THEORY LIFTIN JECH TJ, 1978, SET THEORY JOHNSON RA, 1980, P AM MATH SOC, V80, P234 JUST W, IN PRESS T AM MATH S KUPKA J, 1983, INDIANA U MATH J, V32, P717 LOSERT V, 1983, LNM, V1080, P95 MAHARAM D, 1958, P AM MATH SOC, V9, P987 SHELAH S, 1983, ISRAEL J MATH, V45, P90 TALAGRAND M, 1982, P AM MATH SOC, V84, P379 VONNEUMANN J, 1931, CRELLES J MATH, V165, P109; NR: 18; TC: 0; J9: ANN N Y ACAD SCI; PG: 4; GA: BZ86BSource type: Electronic(1
Child health
No full textContents: President’s address
at the MMCFD graduation
of vocational trainees, 25 March 2014 - Pierre Mallia; MMCFD Graduation Photos 25 March 2014The mission of the Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors
(JMCFD) is to deliver accurate, relevant and inspiring research, continued
medical education and debate in family medicine with the aim of
encouraging improved patient care through academic development of
the discipline. The JMCFD strives to achieve its role to disseminate
information on the objectives and activities of the College.peer-reviewe
Lifestyle, prevention, change & support : the views & attitudes of patients in Maltese family practice
No full textIntroduction: General practitioners (GPs) are advised to consider their patients' views and attitudes in order to facilitate the success of preventive and health promotion interventions. This study explored patients’ views and beliefs about the importance of lifestyle and preventive interventions, and assessed their readiness to make lifestyle changes and to receive support from GPs.
Methodology: Ten Maltese GP practices participated in a cross-sectional survey conducted by the European Network for Prevention and Health Promotion in Family Medicine/General Practice across 22 European countries during 2008-9. From each practice, 40 consecutive patients stratified by gender and age (10 males and 10 females aged 30-49 years, and 10 males and 10 females aged 50-70 years) were asked to complete a purposely- designed and piloted questionnaire.
Results: Seventy-seven per cent of smokers, ~60% of unhealthy eaters, inadequate exercisers and those with abnormal weight, but only 11% of excessive drinkers thought they needed to improve their unhealthy lifestyles. Thirteen per cent of smokers, 30% of excessive drinkers, and ~50% of patients with problems of diet, exercise and weight were confident they would succeed. Sixty per cent of patients with diet, exercise and weight problems, 50% of smokers and just 8% of excessive drinkers would have liked GPs’ support.
Conclusion: GPs and healthcare professionals need to discuss risky lifestyles with patients to help them personalise such risks, and should offer their support to those wishing to change so as to improve their confidence and chances of success. Such discussion and support are especially important for excessive drinkers.peer-reviewe
The AM Canum Venaticorum binary SDSS J173047.59+554518.5
No full textThe AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries are a rare group of hydrogen-deficient, ultrashort period, mass-transferring white dwarf binaries and are possible progenitors of Type Ia supernovae. We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the recently discovered AM CVn binary SDSS J173047.59+554518.5. The average spectrum shows strong double-peaked helium emission lines, as well as a variety of metal lines, including neon; this is the second detection of neon in an AM CVn binary, after the much brighter system GP Com. We detect no calcium in the accretion disc, a puzzling feature that has been noted in many of the longer period AM CVn binaries. We measure an orbital period, from the radial velocities of the emission lines, of 35.2 ± 0.2 min, confirming the ultracompact binary nature of the system. The emission lines seen in SDSS J1730 are very narrow, although double-peaked, implying a low-inclination, face-on accretion disc; using the measured velocities of the line peaks, we estimate i ≤ 11°. This low inclination makes SDSS J1730 an excellent system for the identification of emission lines
Glucokinase links Kruppel-like factor 6 to the regulation of hepatic insulin sensitivity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
No full textThe polymorphism, KLF6-IVS1-27A, in the Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) transcription factor gene enhances its splicing into antagonistic isoforms and is associated with delayed histological progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To explore a potential role for KLF6 in the development of insulin resistance, central to NAFLD pathogenesis, we genotyped KLF6-IVS1-27 in healthy subjects and assayed fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin sensitivities. Furthermore, we quantified messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of KLF6 and glucokinase (GCK), as an important mediator of insulin sensitivity, in human livers and in liver tissues derived from a murine Klf6 knockdown model (DeltaKlf6). Klf6 overexpression studies in a mouse hepatocyte line were utilized to mechanistically link KLF6 with Gck promoter activity. KLF6-IVS1-27Gwt (i.e., less KLF6 splicing) was associated with stepwise increases in FPG and insulin and reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity. KLF6 binds to the liver-specific Gck promoter and activates a GCK promoter-reporter, identifying GCK as a KLF6 direct transcriptional target. Accordingly, in DeltaKlf6 hepatocytes Gck expression was reduced and stable transfection of Klf6 led to up-regulation of Gck. GCK and KLF6 mRNAs correlate directly in human NAFLD tissues and immunohistochemistry studies confirm falling levels of both KLF6 and GCK in fat-laden hepatocytes. In contrast to full-length KLF6, splice variant KLF6-SV1 increases in NAFLD hepatocytes and inversely correlates with glucokinase regulatory protein, which negatively regulates GCK activity. Conclusion: KLF6 regulation of GCK contributes to the development of hepatic insulin resistance. The KLF6-IVS1-27A polymorphism, which generates more KLF6-SV1, combats this, lowering hepatic insulin resistance and blood glucose.Lars P. Bechmann, Amalia Gastaldelli, Diana Vetter, Gillian L. Patman, Laura Pascoe, Rebekka A. Hannivoort, Ursula E. Lee, Isabel Fiel, Ursula Muñoz, Demetrio Ciociaro, Young-Min Lee, Emma Buzzigoli, Luca Miele, Kei Y. Hui, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Alastair D. Burt, Christopher P. Day, Andrea Mari, Loranne Agius, Mark Walker, Scott L. Friedman, and Helen L. Reeve
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