FISCAL PRESURE ON SME IN ALBANIA AND ITS IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Starting a new business is everyone’s dream. It brings unlimited opportunities and challenges as well, especially in transitional economies. Our country has undergone tremendous changes since the fall of centralized economic system till now. The role of SME in economic development and shortening transitional period is great. SME sector has evolved tremendously but many challenges lay ahead. In our paper we will give a presentation of the role of SME in economic reality in Albania and the region, its trend and challenges. Today SME face many challenges like decrease of demand from market destabilizations, poor infrastructure, poor access to credit, fiscal policy pressure etc….We will emphasize the role of fiscal policy in SME development. The role of fiscal policy should be considered more carefully in today’s global market, in short of perspective development. We believe that fiscal pressure has been a major reason of the set back in SME development. We will analyze Albanian fiscal evolution and its impact in SME development

CREDIT QUALITY AFTER THE CRISIS: AN ONGOING CHALLENGE OF BANKING SECTOR IN ALBANIA

With increasingly development of banking system in Albania, credit quality and other specific factors, have always been a concern not only for bankers, but for all those who take part in the business world, because the default of one party can cause serious problems in the financial situation and in economic indicators of the other party. The development of the financial system has a significant impact on economic development. This impact is determined by the quality of lending, from the allocation of savings and other sources of lending to more successful projects. Recent years, Albanian banking sector is characterized by important developments that have a significant impact on the economy of the whole country. After 2007, is noticed a high growth of nonperforming loans in Albanian banking system, mainly as a result of the global financial crisis, but at the same time due to external and internal factors. The effect of the economic crisis is dominant external main factor in the growth of NPL (non- performing loans). Loan portfolio in Albanian banking system has been good until 2007. Levels of NPL have begun to grow from 2008 and continue. The main objective in this paper is to explain as credit quality in the Albanian banking system is deteriorated recent years

Concentration and source origin of lanthanoids in the Canadian atmospheric particulate matter: a case study

AbstractAmbient PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 samples collected at selected urban and rural sites within the Canadian National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) PM2.5 Speciation Program were analyzed for lanthanoids and other elements. The average concentrations of total lanthanoids (calculated as sum of concentrations of all elements) in PM2.5 ranged from 0.059 to 0.334ng m−3. These concentrations were two times lower than in PM2.5–10 samples and generally lower than values reported for industrial and urban areas around the world. The highest concentrations of lanthanoids were found in PM2.5 samples collected at the Halifax NS site, located near a petroleum refining complex. In addition, La/Ce and La/Sm ratios at this site were significantly higher than their natural values. Increased La–enrichment factors were also found in Wallaceburg ON, which is located in a rural area, about 50km downwind of two major petrochemical complexes. The results of this study demonstrate that La–enrichment factors are reliable tracers of emissions from oil refining industry

The Impact of International Financial Institutions Investments in the Countries of the Region with Particular Emphasis on Kosovo

The purpose of this study is that has to do with giving a mirror effect of the international financial institutions in investments in the country and the region. Based on the process by which globalization derives most important institutions which have an impact on this process are: a) multinational companies and multinational banks, b) the International Monetary Fund, c) the World Bank, c) the World Trade Organization (WTO) . These institutions also have a significant impact on our economy, for which they will make efforts to investigate the matter. Almost all countries in the region, as well as international financial institutions in the country play an important role in investment within the country. Institutions in the country play an important role in investment within the country. Also it is important to examine the impact of these institutions on the development of the country's economic progress as well as in the region, as well as these institutions have an impact in terms of advancing the process of production, optimum utilization of production capacities, as well as end as have an impact on employment

Mass Spectrometer Containing Multiple Fixed Collectors

A miniature mass spectrometer that incorporates features not typically found in prior mass spectrometers is undergoing development. This mass spectrometer is designed to simultaneously measure the relative concentrations of five gases (H2, He, N2, O2, and Ar) in air, over the relative-concentration range from 10(exp -6) to 1, during a sampling time as short as 1 second. It is intended to serve as a prototype of a product line of easy-to-use, portable, lightweight, highspeed, relatively inexpensive instruments for measuring concentrations of multiple chemical species in such diverse applications as detecting explosive or toxic chemicals in air, monitoring and controlling industrial processes, measuring concentrations of deliberately introduced isotopes in medical and biological investigations, and general environmental monitoring. The heart of this mass spectrometer is an integral combination of a circular cycloidal mass analyzer, multiple fixed ion collectors, and two mass-selective ion sources. By circular cycloidal mass analyzer is meant an analyzer that includes (1) two concentric circular cylindrical electrodes for applying a radial electric field and (2) a magnet arranged to impose a magnetic flux aligned predominantly along the cylindrical axis, so that ions, once accelerated into the annulus between the electrodes, move along circular cycloidal trajectories. As in other mass analyzers, trajectory of each ion is determined by its mass-to-charge ratio, and so ions of different species can be collected simultaneously by collectors (Faraday cups) at different locations intersected by the corresponding trajectories (see figure). Unlike in other mass analyzers, the installation of additional collectors to detect additional species does not necessitate increasing the overall size of the analyzer assembly

Occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and the mediating role of social support among nurses at a public hospital in Durban.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.The objectives of the study were to: 1) determine how the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature, 2) describe the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 3) determine the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 4) assess the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement, 5) determine the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. The research questions following on from the objectives were as follows: 1) how are the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature? 2) what are the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 3) what is the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 4) what is the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? 5) what is the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? In order to answer the research objectives, this study used a cross sectional design. The present research study used a quantitative approach. The convenience sampling method was used for the purposes of data collection. Data was gathered from the wards of a public hospital in Durban. A sample of 120 voluntary participants was obtained, comprising of 109 females and 11 males. Data was collected using survey questionnaires which included the following five parts: 1) Biographical Information Questionnaire, 2) the Nursing Stress Indicator, 3) the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, 4) the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, 5) and the Social Support Questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 19.0 for Windows. The results of the study showed that the nurses experienced high levels of occupational stress, low levels of job satisfaction and work engagement; and moderate levels of social support. There was a significant relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among the nurses. The results showed that occupational stress predicts the levels of job satisfaction and work engagement. The results also showed that social support mediates the effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. Recommendations and the value added by the study was also stated. The limitations of this study were also noted

Experiences of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students in using the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills in mental health settings in Norway

Introduction: This study investigated the utility of the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) in mental health settings, as experienced by Norwegian occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. Method: An informal draft translation was used to investigate the appropriateness of the assessment for mental health practice. Focus group interviews were conducted with three occupational therapy practice educators working in mental health settings and six occupational therapy students on practice placement, who used the ACIS during an 8-week mental health practice placement in 2009. The focus groups aimed to explore the experiences of using the translated ACIS in working with clients. Findings: Three main themes emerged: observing with the ACIS, scoring the ACIS and using the ACIS in clinical practice. Conclusion: The ACIS has the potential for making a positive contribution, both for the individual client and for the larger team of multiprofessional staff, by giving a structure and terminology that supports precise observation and reporting. Questions were raised as to how the therapist’s level of engagement during the observation may have an impact upon the client’s performance. The process of scoring and giving feedback concerning the client’s skills may be emotionally challenging for therapists, students and clients, and issues about how to give feedback to clients require consideration

Promoting academic-practice partnerships through students’ practice placement

Introduction: The notion of a gap between the academic and the practice segments of the occupational therapy profession is commonplace. The Scholarship of Practice is one of the collaboration models that have been introduced as possible means for bridging this gap, but so far, research based on this model has not extensively addressed the potential of students' clinical placement. Aim: With a view to possible remedies for the academic-practice gap, the purpose of this paper is to outline and discuss possible advantages from a collaborative project concerning the usefulness of the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) that was carried out between students, fieldwork educators, and university faculty. Outline of the project: Six occupational therapy students and their fieldwork educators collaborated in an exploration of the clinical usefulness of the ACIS during the students' second year mental health clinical placement. Experiences from the project were put into context with previous developments aimed at improving academic-practice partnerships. Discussion: The Scholarship of Practice model provides guidelines for reducing the research-practice gap in the occupational therapy profession. It is argued that the presented project adhered to the principles of practitioner-centredness and developing partnerships, whereas the creation of synergies was somewhat less realised. The organising of joint projects during practice placements, involving students, fieldwork educators, and university faculty, appears to be one method of increasing and improving relationships between the parties involved

A practice placement design facilitating occupational therapy students' learning

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe an addition to the practice placement design for occupational therapy students in Oslo, and to report on the learning experiences related to this modified practice placement design among the participants. Design/methodology/approach – Occupational therapy students and practice educators were interviewed in focus groups after having participated in an exploration of the utility of the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills during mental health placement. Thematic analysis was applied to the data material. Findings – Four themes emerged relating to the students’ learning experiences during practice placement. They were theory-practice integration; the role of supervision; self-awareness of communication; and socialization to the therapist role. Practical implications – The practice placement design addition presented in this paper was well received by students and practice educators. It contributed to students’ focussed experience and to their active participation within a community of practice. The program appears to be one way of organizing placement with a potential for making a substantial contribution to occupational therapy students’ learning. Originality/value – The study adds to the existing literature in providing an example of a successful addition to the practice placement design, and in the detailed account of the learning experiences among the participants