Tel: 23401830 Fax: 23401211; E-mail: healthsciences@um.edu.mt; Website: http://www.um.edu.mt/healthsciences
FHS Monthly Newsletter: March 2012
RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Book chapter Publication by Dr Vasilis Valdramidis, Food Studies & Environmental
Health Department.
Van Derlinden, E., Cappuyns, A. M., Mertens, L., Van Impe, J. F. and
Valdramidis, V. P. (2012) Modeling Microbial Responses During
Decontamination Processes, in Decontamination of Fresh and Minimally
Processed Produce (ed V. M. Gómez-López), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK.
doi: 10.1002/9781118229187.ch27
Summary
In predictive microbiology, mathematical models are developed that can describe the
behaviour of microorganisms given certain (dynamic) environmental conditions. Ultimately,
these models enable the prediction of microbial behaviour in real food products. Two
mathematical techniques or approaches (i.e., design of experiments and optimal experiment
design for parameter estimation) that can increase and/or optimize the information contained
in a (series of) experiment(s) are discussed in this chapter. Hereafter, predictive models are
presented in the following subdivisions: (1) kinetic models, (2) probabilistic models, and (3)
dose-response models. After model structure selection, model parameters are to be
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estimated. Methods to quantify parameter estimation uncertainty are listed while different
graphical and quantitative methods that exist to evaluate the model performance are
discussed. This chapter overall describes the model-building process in a conceptual
approach focusing on specific examples related to food decontamination processes.
PAST EVENTS
Learning Expo 2012 by the Ministry of Education
Ms Karen Borg Grima, Radiography Department, welcoming the Minister of Education at the FHS Stand
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Ms Karen Borg Grima with some of the visitors
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The following members of the academic staff participated.
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Radiography: Ms Karen Borg Grima
•
Food Studies & Environmental Health: Ms Claire Copperstone; Mr Petra Cilia & Dr
Vasilis Valdramidis
•
Occupational Therapy: Ms Joanna Bellia
•
Mental Health Nursing: Ms Paulann Spiteri
•
Podiatry: Dr Cynthia Formosa
•
Nursing: Dr Victoria Sultana
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Forthcoming Research Seminars 2012 – Time table
Date
Presenter
Study
Department/Unit
2nd May 2012
Ms Claire Sillato
Copperstone
PhD
In Progress
Food Studies and
Environmental
Health
16th May 2012
Mr Martin Ward
PhD
In Progress
Mental Health
Nursing
30th May 2012
Ms Rachael Xuereb
PhD
In Progress
Communication
Therapy
Venue: Board Room between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
We wish to thank Mr John Xerri de Caro for his excellent presentation during February 2012.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Promotion to Visiting Senior Lecturers by UOM Council (February 2012)
•
•
Mr Noel Abela, Department of Nursing, FHS
Ms Elisabeth Anne Scicluna, Applied Biomedical Sciences, FHS
Well done Noel and Elisabeth!
European Curriculum for Medical Physicists, Dr Carmel Caruana
As Chairperson for Education and Training of the European Federation of Organizations for
Medical Physics, Dr Caruana has led the development of the first ever harmonised European
curriculum for Medical Physicists and will be presenting the said curriculum in France, Italy,
Rumania, Greece and China this year. He will also be presenting the said curriculum at the
Euro forum in Luxembourg.
Dr Carmel Caruana is organizing a workshop in Malta under the auspices of the EC funded
project (MEDRAPET http://www.medrapet.eu) which concerns Medical Radiation Protection
Education and Training for the various healthcare professions involved in the use of ionizing
radiation. There will be representatives of the European Federation of Organizations for
Medical Physics, European Federation of Radiography Societies, International Atomic Energy
Agency, European Society of Radiology, European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and
Oncology, and others.
Dr Caruana has also been invited to be member of the Scientific Committee of ETRAP 2013
(Education and Training in Radiation Protection, Vienna, 2013). The first meeting of the
committee was held in Brussels in January.
BSc in Applied Food & Nutritional Science:
NEW course - Oct 2012!
The Department of Food Studies and EH has just finalised an information leaflet that
showcases the new BSc (Applied Food and Nutritional Sciences), the Department and Faculty.
The document provides interested individuals and other stakeholders with information that
should help publicise and raise awareness of the need to have people trained in the food and
nutritional sciences, which serve as a foundation for future post graduate courses in Nutrition
and Dietetics.
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The leaflet shows that there is an exit point at year three (3) where the graduate leaves with a
degree which provides ample opportunities in many aspects of food safety, design,
manufacture, analysis, policy and legislation. It also shows the roadmap for those who intend
taking up food related healthcare professions.
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A copy of the brochure is available from reception.
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