Public expenditure planning in Albania

This paper looks at public expenditure planning in Albania, presenting and analysing the first two post-communist era Medium-Term Expenditure Plans (METPs) that have been introduced by the Albanian government for the periods 2000-2001 and 2002-2004, respectively. Albania's medium-term macroeconomic perspectives and elements of fiscal decentralisation, as incorporated by the Local Government Law of Albania, are presented, too. It is found that, taking into account the first years of post-communist governance, both METPs provide an improved framework for the budget drafting, i.e. for a realistic macroeconomic and fiscal planning of public expenditure and a clearer linkage of government policies with public expenditure plans, thus showing better the priorities in public expenditure. --public expenditure planning,Medium-Term Expenditure Plans,fiscal decentralisation

A Bibliography on the Application of GIS in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applications to archaeological projects of different scales, chronological contexts and cultural milieux has accrued by now a long history and bibliography. Hopefully the phases of experimentation and almost blind testing are over, even if GIS applications are still sometimes being labeled as “new technologies”

Un archivio digitale multidisciplinare per la gestione e la conservazione di un patrimonio culturale a rischio: il progetto Ghazni (Afghanistan)

The Italian Archaeological Mission at Ghazni, Afghanistan (1957-1979) brought to light significant information from the Buddhist (2nd-9th/10th cent.) to the Islamic period (10th-19th cent.). The dramatic events of the last 50 years in Afghanistan and the recent Italian economic difficulties have caused serious harm to this unique archaeological record. This gave rise to an operation of rescue and safeguarding led by the University of Naples “L’Orientale” and financed by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, with the aim of recovering the knowledge acquired from the excavations at Ghazni and the subsequent research. A collaborative web-based database, able to manage all the information on the most important findings, is the core of this project. The web database is based on BraDypUS, an archiving platform released under an Open Source license. The scientific database has been paired up with a web portal, built using an innovative and open sourced CMS, responsible for the dissemination of this knowledge to a non-specialist public.The Italian Archaeological Mission at Ghazni, Afghanistan (1957-1979) brought to light significant information from the Buddhist (2nd-9th/10th cent.) to the Islamic period (10th-19th cent.). The dramatic events of the last 50 years in Afghanistan and the recent Italian economic difficulties have caused serious harm to this unique archaeological record. This gave rise to an operation of rescue and safeguarding led by the University of Naples “L’Orientale” and financed by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, with the aim of recovering the knowledge acquired from the excavations at Ghazni and the subsequent research. A collaborative web-based database, able to manage all the information on the most important findings, is the core of this project. The web database is based on BraDypUS, an archiving platform released under an Open Source license. The scienti c database has been paired up with a web portal, built using an innovative and open sourced CMS, responsible for the dissemination of this knowledge to a non-specialist public

Public expenditure planning in Albania

This paper looks at public expenditure planning in Albania, presenting and analysing the first two post-communist era Medium-Term Expenditure Plans (METPs) that have been introduced by the Albanian government for the periods 2000-2001 and 2002-2004, respectively. Albania's medium-term macroeconomic perspectives and elements of fiscal decentralisation, as incorporated by the Local Government Law of Albania, are presented, too. It is found that, taking into account the first years of post-communist governance, both METPs provide an improved framework for the budget drafting, i.e. for a realistic macroeconomic and fiscal planning of public expenditure and a clearer linkage of government policies with public expenditure plans, thus showing better the priorities in public expenditure

Archaeological and ethnographic survey in the Paikuli Area (Iraqi Kurdistan)

The Italian Archaeological Mission in Iraqi Kurdistan (MAIKI) of the Sapienza University of Rome aims to study the archaeological, historical, linguistic and cultural development of the Kurdish region through a wide historical period. MAIKI started by focusing on the archaeological and philological analysis of the Sasanian site of Paikuli. In recent years, however, investigation has been expanded to include an accurate survey of the area between the Dyala and Basara rivers, around the main road that connects the city of Chamchamal to Darbandikhan, in order to implement a complete and updated archaeological map of the entire territory. The continuing work includes a preparatory study of the few bibliographical records available and an overall analysis of the accessible, current and historical satellite imagery in order to obtain a reliable context for the results of archaeological field surveys. During the field campaigns, which are currently suspended because of the political instability and war in the region, archaeological material was collected in all the visited sites and a detailed morphological and archaeometric study was set up. A complete map of the currently inhabited villages of the area has been compiled because up-to-date base cartography of the area did not exist; this new map has proved to be useful not only for locating archaeological records but also for the activities of the ethnological research that joined the Mission in 2013. The area suffered very much during Saddam Hussein’s Al-Anfal campaign when all of the people were forced to leave. The ethnological study will help to reveal the impact that these recent traumatic events have had on the preservation of the cultural heritage whilst supplying rich documentation for further investigation, including on relationship between man and territory, local economy, migration policies and religious practice

Upper Agri Valley (Basilicata) between Geomorphology and Ancient Settlements

In this paper we present the geoarchaeological and landscape project on the Upper Agri Valley (Basilicata). Between 2012 and 2015 we coordinated multidisciplinary research with the purpose of reconstructing the history and evolution of the territory, analysing the relationships between man and landscape from the Prehistory to the Middle Age. The studied area, an inland mountain valley situated in the ancient Lucania, is very important, because it is a fundamental route between the two coasts of Magna Graecia and because during the Roman period this valley was the territory in which Grumentum was born, one of the most important towns of Roman Southern Italy. Thanks to the dialogue between different competences, this project aims at understanding the settlements dynamics and the mutual influences between man and environment: indeed, we conducted geophysics and geoarchaeological investigations, archaeological surveys, cartographic and aerial photos studies, written sources analysis: in this way, different data are used to understand the landscape from a global point of view

Physical activity effects on postural adjustments: a review

Postural control has been viewed as an example of the famous problem of motor redundancy (Bernstein, 1967) in this case formulated as the problem of coordinated changes in the activation of numerous muscles of the lower extremities and the trunk. Muscular stability and mobility, skeletal structure, and muscular balance all influence postural alignment (Kendall, F.P et al., 1983; Fortin, C., 2011). Depending on the severity of the postural deviations, poor posture may result in pain and can affect physical function and the ability to perform activities of daily living (Katzman, W.B., 2007). Aim of this review was searching studies focusing on the effects physical activity on postural adjustments. We searched PubMed, ResearchGate, JabRef. From 166 studies only 6 fulfilled the inclusion criteria’s. A total of 150 subjects with age ranging from 22-61 years old participating in different exercise intervention programs. In general, there are few studies focusing on the effects of physical activity on postural control and adjustments and also all the studies have enrolled a low number of subject which lead to a necessity for further research with larger groups of subjects and different type of physical activity intervention programs in order to better identify which is the most effective

The archaeological Atlas of Coptic Literature. A question of method

PAThs project is aimed at creating an online archaeological atlas of Coptic literature by providing for the very first time a detailed catalogue of ancient books and their archaeological and cultural context, following a multidisciplinary approach and cutting edge methodologie

Correlation between posture and balance in 19-20-year-old Albanian students

Postural control (or balance) can be defined statically as the ability to maintain a base of support with minimal movement, and dynamically as the ability to perform a task while maintaining a stable position (C. J. Winstein, E. R). The development of equilibrium capacities is known to be critical for both the acquisition and the control of motor skills (Massion. J., 1992). Since balance control is an essential component for the optimal functioning of any locomotors system (Winter DA et al., 1990), gait and balance control together needs to be investigated in order to correct inappropriate performance and prevent injury. This study focus was to investigate the correlation between posture and balance changes in normal and healthy adolescent’s (boys and girls). A total of 61 subjects (21 females and 40 males) aged 19-20-year-old students, participated on this study. We have conducted a postural screening, which included digital photography in 4 plans (anterior view, right lateral view, posterior view, left lateral view) and postural evaluation with Posture Screen Mobile program were done, was also performed a set of 4 balance tests BT (Balance Test) a) (Rom EO); b) (Rom EC); c) (SemTanEO); d) (SemTanEC); e) (TanEO); f) (TanEC), on Leonardo Mechanography Platform. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 2.0. Results shows that generally all subjects have a good balance and orientation level in all tests (with open and closed eyes). Also based on the results we can say that the correlation between posture and balance changes in ages 19-20 it’s really relevant. The posture screening and the analysis of balance are of great importance in studies trying to understand the ageing process. Also differences between genders are of great interest especially if a proper exercise program focused in postural improvement can be implemented