bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language and the Logic of Subjectivity: Whitehead and Burke in Crisis
Authors: DiCaglio Joshua
Published: February 2017

This article examines the meaning of the subjective in rhetorical modes of inquiry in contrast to the other-oriented nature of social critique. I reopen the problem of consciousness for interpretation by examining challenges to scientific authority in the 1930s, specifically how Kenneth Burke and Alfred North Whitehead respond to a “crisis in mathematics” born out of Whitehead's attempt, with Bertrand Russell, to reconcile logic and mathematics. Whitehead uses Russell's paradox to demonstrate the necessary return of subjective inquiry as a legitimate mode of knowledge. Burke's Permanence and Change develops Whitehead's arguments to justify interpretative approaches to knowledge. Examining their arguments reveals an analogous “crisis in the humanities” in which language or culture is substituted for the examination of subjectivity. Such misplaced concreteness risks omitting interpretive aspects of rhetorical inquiry in favor of the social or political when such social aspects only emerge within the field of subjective experience.
Design and Intervention of an Educational-Leadership Program: Student Voice and Agency, Expectations and Internationalization
Authors: Du Plessis Anna Elizabeth
Published: February 2017

This paper explores the lived experiences of a diverse student cohort enrolled in a master’s degree educational-leadership program. The program’s global focus was on the quality of teacher education, prospective teachers’ workplace preparedness and leaders in the workforce in higher education. Internationalization, real-life experiences and student voice served as an enacted intervention curriculum for an educational leadership course designed to reveal the gap between theory and practice. An epistemological diversity lens stimulated critical reflection on students’ participation in the course design and its connection to realities in the field. Diverse higher-education classrooms pose specific challenges for educational leadership programs in including effective internationalization, workplace relevance and improving the generalizability and content validity of the educational leadership course. This small qualitative exploratory investigation provides an in-depth understanding of the value of student voice in informing course and program design. Interviews, observations, two surveys and a document analysis triangulated the data and provided information on the complexities in higher-education classrooms. The findings focus on teacher-educators and higher-education classroom management as well as on the value of critical inquiry, reflection and intervention for existing course designs and transformation.
Investigating the Activity Design and Development Skills of Geography Teachers
Authors: Meydan Ali
Published: February 2017

As geography program has been discussed with the constructivist approach, it has become necessary to enhance the lessons with activities. Geography teachers implement the activities in course books, on the one hand, and also use the activities other teachers prepared or the activities in social network websites, on the other. However, what is more important is teachers’ designing and developing activities considering the conditions of the school they carry on their duties, status of their students, environmental properties and geographical area depending upon acquisitions. The Ministry has also provided conveniences required for designing and developing activities taking the activities in course books and other sources as example.In this research, it was aimed to reveal skills of geography teachers upon designing and developing activities. The research was carried out  by using the case study method, one of qualitative research approach and the opinions of geography's teachers working in Turkey in Nevsehir province, were consulted in the academic year of 2015-2016. The views of 32 geography teachers carrying on their duties in the center and districts of Nevsehir province were collected using semi-structured interview form. Each question in the form was accepted as a main theme, and sub-themes were created depending upon the views. It was concluded in the research that activities performed in the lessons had several benefits upon affective and cognitive development of children, course books, supplementary sources and internet websites were widely used for the activities, school sub-structure was adequate for organizing activities, teachers considered themselves as competent for designing activities, and teachers were able to develop the relationship of activity-acquisition in activities.
Dynamics of Canadian Trade Pattern: A Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Al-Zyoud Hussein , Elloumi Fathi
Published: February 2017

This paper analyses the trends and directions of exports and imports of Canada using the time series data for the period 1981 to 2014. Instantaneous and compound growth rates are calculated by using the log-linear regression model in conjunction with an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model for forecasting future exports and imports. The results of this study show that there is an increasing trend for both exports and imports. As far as the growth rates are concerned, the two estimated log-linear models depict a comprehensive annual picture of Canadian merchandise trade. The exports grow at an instantaneous rate of 4.46% and at a slightly higher than compound annual growth rate of 4.6%. The overall growth rate of imports is 5.41% and compound annual growth rate is 5.27%. The compound growth rate is marginally higher than the instantaneous growth rate.The results of the Johansen test for analyzing the long-run relationship between export, import and GDP have further demonstrated that the variables are co-integrated, and have established a long-run association among them.
The Impact of Technical Analysis on Stock Returns in an Emerging Capital Markets (ECM’s) Country: Theoretical and Empirical Study
Authors: Masry Mohamed
Published: February 2017

Technical analysis, even if deliberated by some as purely conjecture, is still generally acknowledged as additional information to main brokerage companies. There are existent two reasons for the achievement of technical analysis and why its success is still debated: (1) stock return predictability stems from efficient markets that can be analysed by time-varying equilibrium returns, and (2) stock return predictability forms from prices wandering apart from their fundamental valuations. Fundamentally, both explanations show some kind of overall market inefficiency where investors are capable of exploiting. Therefore, technical analysis derived its importance from its ability to train investors to take investment decision based on historical trends of securities prices. To help find answers to the issues raised and to structure the study, the following general research question is set: is it possible for technical analysis to achieve abnormal returns in an Emerging Capital Markets (ECM’s) country, more specifically, the Egyptian Stock Exchange? If yes, hence it could be possibly used to help individual investors to take effective investment decision. By means of theoretical and empirical investigation, this study provides significant evidences that technical analysis achieved abnormal returns in inefficiency periods. This study suggests that simple trading rules, more specifically; the simple moving average beat the standard buy-and-hold strategy for the Egyptian stock exchange.
Acquiring Piaget’s Conservation Concept of Numbers, Lengths, and Liquids as Ordinary Play
Authors: Watanabe Nobuki
Published: February 2017

Piaget’s influential research on the conservation concept has a wide-reaching impact even in modern-day settings. This study examines Piaget’s concept from a perspective that is different from those in existing studies. It focuses on improving the relationship between toddlers and tasks for the acquisition of the conservation concepts of number, length, and liquids. Given that new investigative tasks may be needed to clarify the stage and factors of acquisition, this study examines the possibility of acquisition of the conservation concept by 3-year-olds, with an improved task that is integrated into ordinary conversation and play. The treatment variable was the Piaget task as part of ordinary conversation and play, and the A-B design was adopted because withdrawal is naturally difficult. Results demonstrated the possibility of 3-year-olds’ acquisition of Piaget’s concept by familiarizing the toddler with the task. Such intervention through the incorporation of Piaget tasks into ordinary conversation or play had clear positive effects, contrary to the results of previous studies that dismiss a 3-year-old’s ability to understand the conservation concept.
Accurate Diagnosis of the Syndrome in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Parents’ Resilience
Authors: Kavaliotis Paschalis
Published: February 2017

Autism is considered to be a much more serious syndrome than other developmental disorders and according to studies it affects the resilience of the parents with an autistic child to a larger degree, comparatively. In this article the results of the investigation between the family resilience of the parents and their child’s diagnosis of the syndrome are presented, as it was regarded that, taking into consideration the autism syndrome and Asperger syndrome, the difficulties in a row of levels would be particularly more severe in diagnosed cases of autism. The parents of 312 autistic children in Greece, all of them couples, namely 624 men and women constituted the population sample. It was found that compared to Asperger syndrome at least, in cases of an autistic child’s upbringing, the parents’ resilience is more fragile, their stress higher and certainly the social support they receive is comparatively reduced.
Professionals onder druk of professionele tegendruk? Gebalanceerde motivatie voor de publieke zaak in professionele publieke dienstverlening
Authors: van Loon Nina Mari , Noordegraaf Mirko
Published: February 2017

Professionals under pressure or professional pressures? Balanced professional service motivation in public services

There are many practical and academic concerns about public professionals and the pressures and burdens they experience. Professional autonomies and skills are reduced, it is argued, as a result of businesslike new public management, in order to control service results. The solution is clear: organizational logics must be weakened, professional autonomies must be enlarged and professional ways of working must be ‘rescued’. In this paper we re-interpret this presumed problem by analyzing: the interaction between organizational and professional logics, by relating these to a broader institutional logic and by tracing the contribution of individual professional motivations. Professionals, it is shown, can be motivated by broader ambitions to serve society. Such public service motivation consists of three types of motives: rational/instrumental, affective and normative. Our results show that employees in different public professional services show different patterns of motives, which we mainly explain by relating their motivations to the nature of the services they render – whether they render people-changing or people-processing services. These institutional dimensions imply that professional work can be managed, not so much by businesslike ‘market logic’ but by strengthening the meaning of the work professionals do. Professional pressures against organizations do not have to be suppressed – they can be productively used.
Omgaan met een sub-optimale unie
Authors: Crum Ben
Published: February 2017

Reflection and Debate initiates academically inspired discussions on issues that are on the current policy agenda.
Een historische evaluatie van de politieke rol van het economische instituut CPB
Authors: Hollanders David
Published: February 2017

In this feature authors discuss recent research findings that are of interest to readers of Beleid en Maatschappij.
Zonder beelden van geweld lijkt er geen sprake van oorlog
Authors: Zweers Louis
Published: February 2017

De Blinde Vlek

The most relevant part of a discussion is not what is discussed but what cannot be spoken of. The real taboos are those for which it is taboo to call them taboos. The status quo defines itself as non-ideological while denouncing any challenge to itself as radical.

Therefore the column ‘De Blinde Vlek’ frames the framers, politicizes the status quo and articulates what is not heard of.
Het bestrijden van uitkeringsfraude: mogelijkheden en moeilijkheden
Authors: Fenger M. , Voorberg W.
Published: February 2017

Fighting fraud with social assistance benefits: possibilities and difficulties

This article focuses on the role of local municipalities in detecting and sanctioning benefit fraud, specifically fraud with social assistance benefits. Since the early 2000's, the government's attention for benefit fraud has been increased, resulting in the strengthening of the tasks and responsibilities of local municipalities in combatting and detecting fraud. There are indications that this has been successful: there is an increase in detection and the number of people that claims to offend the rules is decreasing. However, there is a significant amount of variety between municipalities in their performance with this regard. The authors argue that these differences are related to the design and implementation of local policies concerning the detection of benefit fraud. They offer several recommendations for more effective policies at the local level. These recommendations include a better use of available data and knowledge about the background of offenders and social assistance recipients.
Sturm-Liouville differential operators with deviating argument
Authors: Yurko Vjacheslav Anatoljevich , Buterin Sergey Alexandrovich , Pikula Milenko
Published: February 2017

Non-selfadjoint second-order differential operators with a constant delay are studied. We establish properties of the spectral characteristics and investigate the inverse problem of recovering operators from their spectra. For this inverse problem the uniqueness theorem is proved.
Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia: Effect of Addition of Corticosteroids after Failure of Diethylcarbamazine Therapy
Authors: Madan Manu , Gupta Pawan , Mittal Richa , Chhabra Sunil
Published: February 2017

Successful response in diethylcarbamazine (DEC) therapy in tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is not universal with a 20–40% failure rates in chronic cases. Corticosteroids have been used in such patients. However, their role in management remains ill-defined. A patient of TPE with incomplete clinical, haematological and physiological response to a standard 3 weeks DEC therapy received additional corticosteroids for the next two cycles, after which complete remission occurred. However, there was a relapse two months later with evidence of a chronic state requiring further treatment with corticosteroids with good response.
Philosophy in Front of Religion
Authors: Sevo Dorian
Published: February 2017

From Plato to Aristotle, from Augustine to Aquinas from Pascal to Freud and Heidegger the world and philosophical thought has continually interpreted the human nature, the source of morality and religion, specifically what we call (metaphysics). Man of antiquity, the medieval, modern and contemporary has his attitude towards the sacred. But what is happening with the man of our age, what relation does it have nowadays with the sacred, what is his attitude and what are the reasons for this relationship with the sacred. All the above are part of this scientific research paper. To give readers an overview of attitudes of philosophical thought of different times in front of the sacred, what are its meanings at different times and how is the attitude toward the sacred today. Descriptive analysis of the philosophical and religious issues.
The Study of Risk in the Light of Social Changes: Beck and Giddens
Authors: Fiorenza Misale
Published: February 2017

U. Beck and Giddens play a leading role in the development of new academic research field called 'theory of the risk society' that studies the risk in the light of social, economic and political contexts in which it manifests itself. The German sociologist Ulrich Beck starts from the assumption that globalization and technological progress are changing not only the way of understanding and addressing the risk but also its very nature. In postmodern society, rapid technological progress, coupled with an increasingly dense network of global connections, goes hand in hand with the production of new risks, such as those generated by atomic, genetic and chemical. Anthony Giddens, like Ulrick Beck, believes that modernity has led to a deep uncertainty that previous eras had never known. The prospect of Giddens differs from that of Beck in relation to the concept of trust that the British sociologist reserves particularly important, according to him, the global expert knowledge must regain the lost confidence, considering the fact that the risk can also be understood as opportunities, such as stakes in order to achieve certain results. Confidence is a psychological condition necessary to cope with risks, which otherwise would stop the action, making anxiety attack.
Problems Encountered in High School Pupils, Who Have Divorced Parents
Authors: Kollçaku Merita
Published: February 2017

Adolescence and the problems teenagers face during this phase have a great impact in the teaching process. Divorce is one of the problems I have chosen to treat. This is due to the fact that divorce impacts the social-psychological-educational process of teenagers. The ways they experience the divorce of their parents are various. This depends on the area they live, their parents’ educational level, the relationship between parents after the divorce, the kind of relationship they had before, economic level, etc. Teenagers can display aggressive behaviour, disengage from learning, use various substances, etc. as a reaction to their parents. This is the object of my study. This research will use the qualitative method. The qualitative methods will consist in direct interviews with teenagers of the age-group of 14-18 years old, with teachers, psychologists and parents. Also consider those problems I might face during my study, on which the teenagers, or even their parents, might not express their opinion. As a conclusion we can say that based on the interviews it results that divorce has a great impact on the social-educational behaviour of teenagers.
The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Perceived Social Support
Authors: Metaj-Macula Albulena
Published: February 2017

The studty aims at examining and understanding the relation between Emotional Intelligence and Perceived social support in a sample of 525 students of the University of Prishtina. Great number of studies in the field of Emotional Intelligence, have shown that that this new construct of Intelligence, (EI), operates within the social context, therefore the examination of socially relevant variables is crucial for personal and social context. It has been hypothesised that Emotional Intelligence and it’s dimensions correlate positively with the Perceived Social Support and the relation between these two variables is a great predictor of positive interactions, interpersonal relationships and is very relevant for the educational context as well. The study is based on the ability and competency based model of the Emotional Intelligence construct. Emotional Intelligence Scale (Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet & Farely, 1998) were administered to gather data in order to test the hypotheisis. The preliminary findings support theoretical and empirical perspective, and appear to be promising by emphasizing the Emotional Intelligence consutruct as an added value for the educational context, in specific for youth interactions and their wellbeing.
Social and Regional Policies of the European Community for an Integrated Equilibrium
Authors: Bekteshi Enertila
Published: February 2017

EC is considered a «bridge» between Europe and civil society. The councilors represent directly the interest of EC’s civil society. The Committee plays either the role of the welcoming structure for some forums of the participating democracy or the role of warrantor for a pluralist model that strengthens the legitimacy of the decision-making process. Thanks to the role granted by the Treaty, its structure and competences, ESC comprises a privileged place for the representation, information and expression of the organized civil society; by this, it admits the operation of the only “field” of its kind between Europe and the citizens. In case the Committee of the Regions represents whether originally or not a fundamental step in the development of the “Europe of the Regions” it is not very clear. The example of federal states of Germany used by the Committee of the Regions as an expression tool of their opinion at European level, is successful. However, it should be mentioned that CoR has achieved to be an independent body in a short period of time, able to reflect essential influencing opinions on regional issues.
Total Factor Productivity and Most Favored Nations Tariffs: Evidence from Croatia
Authors: Gjini Kladiola
Published: February 2017

One of the most important topics in empirical trade research is the link between productivity and trade liberalization. In this paper we will focus on the effect of MFN tariffs in the total factor productivity of Croatian firms over the period 2003-2012. This period is characterized by an increased openness toward European Union for Croatian firms. The aim of this paper is to present evidence on the negative link between productivity and tariffs by using the Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) method to estimate productivity of firms. Then we will use TFP as a dependent variable for firm characteristics and trade policy indicator (MFN tariffs). The results are in line with most other studies, confirming the negative relationship between TFP and tariffs. The results show that exporting firms have a higher productivity than non-exporting. We also conclude that up to a certain age productivity increases and then decreases.
The Impact of EU Political Conditionality on Minority Rights in Western Balkans: Insights from the Croatian Enlargement
Authors: Berberi Odeta
Published: February 2017

The present paper addresses the following questions: In what way have the European Union (EU) political conditionality affect minority rights in the Western Balkan (WB) region? Did the EU political conditionality on minority issues succeed in addressing the stateness problems in Croatia? With the term “impact” I mean the absorption of formal and informal rules, procedures, norms and practices and I am going to analyze the relation European Union/Western Balkans as unidirectional i.e. the transposing of EU rules on accession countries. In the first part of this work I will analyse the EU standard of minority rights (internal dimension) and compare it with the norm ‘content’ in its external dimension. In the second part, the EU approach concerning minority rights toward the WB region, will be explored. In order to do so I will analyse the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges produced by the European Commission (EC) from 2004. In the above document the EC emphasize the main challenges and set out the priorities for the whole region, considered as a single entity. In Western Balkans region we do have an example of recent accession. For this reason, the empirical analysis of this paper will focus on the pre-accession process of one of the new member states, Croatia. In the end I will draw some conclusions concerning the future prospects of the WB region concerning the EU conditionality and the real impact of minority right in the process.
The Need for More Legal Materials for Better Understanding of Malware and Badware Threats in Malaysia
Authors: Rahman Rizal
Published: February 2017

This article examines the literature surrounding malware and badware in Malaysia. While there have been numerous technical literature on the subject matter, there is no sufficient materials to cater to the legal understanding. The articles seeks to find the reasons behind this problem and propose a practical approach to it.
Multidimensional Poverty in Côte d'Ivoire: A Measure by the Fuzzy Set Theory
Authors: Kouassi Patrick Franklin , Seka Anderson Stéphane
Published: February 2017

Poverty is a complex concept, whose multidimensional aspect in Côte d’Ivoire. We rely on the Study of Living Standards (LSMS. 2008) allows us to understand the phenomenon by an approach of fuzzy sets. The results show that by measuring the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 45.36% of Ivoirians are structurally poor households in 2008, with differences at the departmental level, the place of residence and gender of household head, and at the nine (9) dimensions. Furthermore, examination of one-dimensional poverty indices by dimension contributing to the state of household deprivation, shows different profiles. This implies that strategies of poverty reduction cannot rely on a single instrument, or to cover a single area, but must use a set of measures affecting its different dimensions.
Microfinance, the Role and Impact on Macroeconomic Indicators of the Country. Case study: Albania
Authors: Doçi Esmeralda
Published: February 2017

Microcredit or microfinance are one of the most important novelties on development policy in the last 25 years. Most of the recent studies are based on the impact that microfinance has on poverty reduction or on the income on macroeconomic level. Due to lack of data on microfinance on a macro level, studies of their impact on poverty are limited. However, they have recently analysed the link between microeconomics and microfinance activity, which has shown significant connectivity between the operations of Micro Financial Institutions and Macroeconomic indicators.Microfinance in Albania has developed and this is demonstrated by the presence of Micro Financial Institutions which have contributed to poverty reduction and to economic development in general, and to agricultural development in particular. The purpose of the study is to analyse the importance and the relationship between microfinance and macroeconomic indicators, the impact that microfinance has on macroeconomic indicators. Based on previous literature researchers and empirical studies, this study aims to analyse empirically the relationship between the gross portofolio of MFIs and macroeconomic factors. Specifically, to analyse whether a country with high level of credit portfolio provided by Micro Financial Institutions has low poverty and macroeconomic factors taken into analysis, considering the endogeneity of the gross portfolio of Micro Fianancial Institutions. The empirical evaluation and analysis is carried out through econometric evaluation using the EViews program.
Execution of Sentence of Life Imprisonment in Albania, in Violation of Fundamental Human Rights
Authors: Thomai Esmeralda
Published: February 2017

The goal of this article and of the analysis itself on which it is based, is to identify weaknesses in penitentiary legislation in force in the Republic of Albania, in order that the penal policy of the Albanian state, should respect the principles on which will be based to be effective. At the end of 2015 the number of persons who have been sentence to life imprisonment in Albanian prisons has been 159 people, convicted in 2895 of the total prison who were serving a sentence in Albanian prisons. The number of those sentenced to capital punishment has increased, compared with the statistics of 3-4 years ago. Albanian law on the punishment of life imprisonment presents serious problems in the modalities of execution of the punishment, violating the right and fundamental freedom of man, that lives in liberty, and break up the Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits placing under cruel punishments, inhuman and degrading. The Republic of Albania will need as soon as possible to change its legislation concerning the category of persons sentenced to life imprisonment. Condemned to life imprisonment, according to each individual case and referred to progress in the sentence, in view of the disappearance of the potential for recidivism and in view of correction, after the expiry of a time limit prescribed by law,they should have the right and opportunity in court jurisdiction to address the real execution of criminal sentences for the benefit of supervised freedom or conditional one. In this way, the hope of life again in freedom, will make the convicts to life imprisonment interested to educate themselves, by all the values that will be in accordance with social rules.
The Justice System in Albania – Analysis of Progress Report 2016
Authors: Hasmuça Gerta
Published: February 2017

Albania is one of the new democracies in the South-Eastern Europe which hopes to be granted the status of membership to the European Union. Since June 2014, Albania is a candidate for accession to European Union, after it fulfilled the requirements based on Stabilization and Association Agreement the negotiations of whom started in 2003 and was signed in 2006. Even though the formal application of Albania is dated in 2009, the country has undergone through a difficult process in order to fulfill the pre-requirements especially in the justice system in Albania. The level of corruption is considered the main problem which was highlighted also in the other Progress Reports of Albania and it is still considered to be an important impediment to Albanian accession to EU. Differently from the other progress reports, in the progress report 2016 (Albania 2016 Report), there are noted some improvements consisting mainly in the adoption of a set of constitutional amendments which was the starting point to thorough justice reform. Even though initially such process was faced with the severe diversion of opinions of Albanian main parties, they finally reached an agreement with the recommendations provided by the Venice Commission at the Council of Europe. The report considers as a positive step the newly adopted law on the re-evaluation of judges, prosecutors and legal advisors. Another positive aspect of the law is the re-evaluation (vetting) based on 3 criteria: integrity through assets assessment, background assessment (inappropriate links with organized crime) and professional competence. Such improvements weren’t sufficient enough to permit to Albania to start negotiations with EU as there are still many obstacles to overcome.
The Global Crisis and Its Legal Impact on the Growth of Albanian Economy
Authors: Bacaj Ervin , Çelo Evis , Dumi Alba Robert
Published: February 2017

We started as a crisis of high commodity prices, she quickly clarified the extent of the banking crisis and rapidly accelerated the financial crisis which culminated with the economic crisis, social and global, perhaps it was the heaviest one after the Second World - War. The consequences of this crisis was widely reflected in the deterioration of macroeconomic indicators of the budget, it appeared a significant decline in economic growth, a drop in revenues, an increase in unemployment and the fast increase of budget expenditures. The budget deficit and public debt grew at high rates, the cost and sources of financing of the economy became the most difficult and the most expensive. To stop the deterioration, the governments of many countries, regardless of their political spectrum supported the growth of aggregate demand, this process in many countries aggravated budget deficits. The primary task to overcome the crisis was a strategy that would ensure the sustainability of public finances in the countries affected by the crisis. The main difficulty faced was the global coordination such a global challenge. Researches can improve the profits of a company because of the potential capabilities of diversification with innovation performance or some have argued that the returns are increasing but this diversification has a very big risk. International expansion is very difficult to manage because there are a risk. Chief among them are economic and political risks because due to these risks by diversification of large firms are accustomed to the conditions of a market in competitive situations. The risk policy has to do with a government concentration creating much problem. The economic risk concerns exchange rates and market expansion line.
The Albanian Reform in the Institutions of Justice and Its Impact on the Integration of Albania in the European Union
Authors: Rupa Yllka
Published: February 2017

The reform in the institutions of law consists of a complexity of issues that aim at the establishment and functioning of a transparent, independent, professional and efficient system that ensures justice. Implemented in accordance with the strict condition of the European Union imposed on Albania, within the integration framework, the reform targets the reorganization and full reconstruction of the key instruments of the justice system. In this paper, there will be specific analysis of the issues related with the establishment and functioning of the main institutions of the administration and monitoring of the judicial power, constitutional and legal changes because of implementation the reform, as well as the role of the international structures, seen in the function of monitoring the implementation of the reform.
The Public Perception of the Impacts of Domestic Violence Against Women
Authors: Omorogiuwa Tracy B. E.
Published: February 2017

This paper investigates the impacts of domestic violence against women in Benin City. The study adopts the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprises of all men and women in Benin City, Nigeria. Using simple random sampling technique, a sample of one hundred and seventy five participants was selected. The data collected was analyzed using the Cronbach alpha formulae for internal consistency reliability, coefficients of 0.85. The descriptive statistics; the mean and standard deviation were employed. Results showed public perception of domestic violence against women in Benin City with the test value of 2.88. Domestic violence influences separation/divorce with a test value of 2.65. The psychological effects on women account for a test value of 2.78 and the physical health issues account for a test value of 2.99. Recommendations were made based on the findings that: Constant awareness-raising as a significant approach in responding to the issues of domestic violence against women should be encouraged by helping professionals. Assistance provision for victims, interventions measures with abusers and the proper interpretation of policies in response to the phenomenon.
Analysing Barriers to Accessing Maternal Healthcare Systems in Developing Countries: A Case of Sokoto-Northern Nigeria
Authors: Shamaki Muazu Alhaji , Yew Vivien W.C. , Dahiru Muhammad Kabiru
Published: February 2017

The government and other policy makers continue struggles to achieve maximum access of modern healthcare by the women in developing countries. To assist actualising such goal this study intends to examine the influence of distance to facility, time taken for travel and means of transportation (DTTf) to the health facility. Based on conceptual discussion of Behavioural Model of Health Services’ Use, over 300 targeted women aged 15 to 45 years were selected using systematic sampling in three regions of Sokoto, northern Nigeria and IBM-SPSS version 22 statistical software program was employed for data analysis in both descriptive statistics and Pearson r correlation analysis. The finding reveals that over 77 percent women are located far away distance from health facility, 2.2percent take over 5 hours of traveling before they can reach to the health centre and 35percent of women use hired motor-cycle. Also, there is strong significant relationship between antenatal care services and distance (r = 0.477 and p. < .40) correlation significant at 0.05 (2-tailed) as well as the between delivery care and PNC services. To achieve maximum women access to healthcare, relevant information aimed at proper planning for distribution of health facilities, have been provided for both government and other policy makers in developing countries.
The Use of Credit Derivatives and Banks′ Risk Taking Behaviours
Authors: The Cong Phan , Phuong Le Thi Ngoc
Published: February 2017

Credit derivatives are financial innovations that allow transferring credit risks separately from ownership. There is a common notion that credit derivatives are useful instruments in banks′ credit risk management. However, the current credit crisis has raised a doubt towards the perception that credit derivatives make banks sounder. This paper presents empirical evidence about the effects of the use credit derivatives on banks′ risk-taking behaviours. The study uses data of 179 large U.S. commercial banks that report to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, with total assets at the end of 2009 equal or greater than 3 billion dollars. The methodology used is quantitative analysis methods - the “pooled” OLS regression. In consistent with existing literature, the results strengthen the statement that the use of credit derivatives does increase banks’ risk-taking. Particularly, the volume of net credit derivatives bought is the dominant contributor.
American Misions in Albania during World War II
Authors: Haxha Elsa
Published: February 2017

As is known historically, part of the World Anti-Fascist Grand Coalition was also another great ally, United States. Even the allies had issued the Declaration of December 1942, for recognition of the anti-fascist resistance of the Albanian people, as well as Great Britain and the Soviet Union, making it part of the International Coalition and part of his war against the common enemies nazi and fascists. Nevertheless, beyond the lack of these interests, the Americans under the World Anti-Fascist Grand Coalition few months after the british began in the tiny Balkan military missions, although few toward British ally.
Cultural Wisdom of Minangkabau Ethnic Community for Local – Global Virtual Identity
Authors: Franzia Elda
Published: February 2017

The development of digital technology is extending the opportunity to create a new identity of society. Digital technology enables cultural experience across boundaries, to new places of virtual world. Virtual identity functions as main differentiator of personal account in social media. It represents a personal being in virtual world. It also functions as a sign to culture and life’s value of the person behind an account. This paper discussed about the virtual identity use by the Minangkabau ethnic’s people in Facebook. Iconic artifacts of Minangkabau use in profile picture of the social media. Those artifacts valued with Minangkabau’s cultural wisdom. The approach use for this research is cultural studies, with the semiotic method use to search the relation between the image and the cultural wisdom representation of Minangkabau. The visual data collected by capturing profile picture in Facebook. The image analyzed as everyday symbolic and expressive practice and form of Minangkabau ethnic’s people. The picture is the iconic sign resembles to its conceptual object in certain ways. The result is the understanding of how profile picture function as indirect visual communication of local - global identity of Minangkabau ethnic people. The message convey in virtual identity relates the account and others in cyberspace.
European Parliament the Democratic Representative for the People of Europe
Authors: Bekteshi Enertila
Published: February 2017

The history of the European Parliament can be seen as part of the development process toward a federal parliament supported by some researchers, but however another viewpoint of EU nature, as an international organization would be influenced from the European Parliament’s viewpoint as well. It has been admitted that formal upcoming changes have turned it into a codecision-maker with the Council of Ministers. There isn’t any other organization, where the member countries should share the decision-making process with the institutions which have been selected directly. In fact, during the creation of the united Europe, the power of the European Parliament have continuously increased trying to reduce the “democratic deficit” for which the Community is accused. Also the role of the EP role as an alternative point of access in the "policy-making'" process for interests that feel excluded from the domination of business interests could help in building a sense of European Identity among such groups in the longer term. The European Parliament appoints an Ombudsman, who may receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or from any other natural person or legal entity living or having his/her statutory residence/registered office in a member country. The cases handled by an Ombudsman are related to the bad administration of the institutions or community bodies’ activities except the Court of Justice and the General Court in their court functions. The Ombudsman works in full competence and does not accept or require directives from any other organization. During his assignment must not perform any other professional activity for free or against payment. He is appointed by the European Parliament with the same duration of his legislature having a renewable mandate. In the DPB are provided also the Ombudsman’s norms that might have in the cases of bad administration in conjunction with the activity of institutions in this sector. Thus, it will be solved the problem of accusation for lacking of transparency addressed to this sector.
Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Data of Shkodra Lake for Months June-July-August
Authors: Bushati Nevila , Neziri Anila
Published: February 2017

Lake Shkodra is closely connected with the change of weather conditions, which are associated with the increased runoff of streams and rivers that flow into the lake, especially in spring and fall season, increased rainfalls, snow, erosion phenomenon, flooding, etc. Water's central role in the biosphere implies several of the large issues confronting humanity which are in fact related to water: pollution, infections from pathogenic species, mismanaged agricultural lands, eutrophication etc. Shkodra watershed is exposed to various sources of pollutions, which are related with the discharge of waste waters, industrial and urban pollution, agricultural activities etc. Data on the lake Shkodra water quality will be presented at the article based in general physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. Water samples were collected according to Europian recommendations and WHO legislation. The physico-chemical and microbiological measured parameters were: pH, conductivity, turbidity, temperature, Enterococcus intestinales, Escherichia coli. The data presented here include months June, July and August for the years 2011 and 2012. Water samples were collected from 8 points of Lake Shkodra named stations. This study was conducted at the Microbiological Diagnostical Center "Wolfdieter Sixl", at the University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi".
The System of Supervision of the Management of the Fish Market in Lappa Sinjai Regency
Authors:   Fitrawati, Ramli Muhammad , Rijal Syamsul , Ihsan Andi
Published: February 2017

The aims of research were to review the supervisory management system, the determinant factors in the system of supervision of the management of fish market, as well as management strategies in improving supervision of fish market in Sinjai Regency. This study used a qualitative approach to techniques of data collection through interviews and in-depth study of the documentation. Formulation of the problem in this study were (i) How the system of supervision of the management of the fish market in Lappa Sinjai Regency? (ii) What is the determinant factor against the supervision management of fish market in Lappa Regency Sinjai? (iii) How the strategy of increased oversight of employee administration fish market in Sinjai Regency? The results of this study indicate that (i) the supervisory management system of fish market in Sinjai Regency, yet effective, this occurs because the implementation of the fish market service does not yet have an integrated surveillance system and its management do not involve private parties such as Village Units Economic Activities. The scrutiny has not shown optimal results due to the surveillance system management is not yet a professional, transparent and accountable so that efforts increased own-source revenue do not meet the expectations of the public. (ii) Factor determinants include the factor of human resources, the commitment of the apparatus, competence and leadership style. Salary/incentive factors, security, infrastructure and ecology as a factor in increasing the income supporting the own-source revenue through the levy management of fish market in Sinjai Regency. (iii) Improved Surveillance Strategies include implementation of Policies (Socialization), b. improving the quality of Implementing Retribution for example through education, c. Improve Infrastructure of Fish Market in Lappa Sinjai, and d. increased scrutiny by unit of fish market in Lappa and Dispenda Regency Sinjai.
How the Legal Fraternity Should Respond to Modern Cybercrimes
Authors: Rahman Rizal
Published: February 2017

This article examines the responses by the legal fraternity in the United Kingdom and United States towards modern cybercrimes, i.e. when cybercrimes are committed using malware and badware. While there have been attempts to cater to those crimes, there has been no viable mechanism yet. The articles seeks to find the reasons behind this problem and proposes a practical approach to it.
Boundary Conditions of Options: A Demonstration Based on the Stochastic Discount
Authors: Rambaud Salvador Cruz , Pérez Ana María Sánchez
Published: February 2017

The aim of this paper is to provide a proof of the generally accepted boundary conditions of (call and put) financial options from a novel point of view. To do this, we will use an auxiliary discounting function which will be defined in this work. However, the financial options are derivative instruments whose function is risk hedging in contexts of uncertainty, whereby the employed discount function will be necessarily stochastic. More specifically, we will apply the classic properties of the magnitude “discount” to the so-defined discount function to obtain, in a natural way, the noteworthy boundary conditions of financial options. It is well-known that financial options (belonging to the field of stochastic finance) have been studied without any relation with the magnitude “discount” (more characteristic of the classic Financial Mathematics). Consequently, the principal contribution of this work is the construction of a stochastic discount function as a bridge connecting its associated discount and the financial options, being demonstrated that their properties can be mutually derived.