The Balkanization of Politics: Crime and Corruption in Albania

In the last few years, Albania, as well as other South Eastern and Mediterranean countries, have shown increased growth in corruption affecting every level of political power. Organized crime is becoming more sophisticated as it consolidates links between Albanian clans and the wider criminal world. According to the EU, the FBI and other police organization reports, while the situation concerning organized crime and corruption is grave throughout the Balkans, it is especially so in Albania, even as its authorities are continuing to implement talks for future membership in the EU. Efforts to combat this problem have thus far been insufficient. Authorities appear to not admit the full extent of criminal links among individuals across state offices, the police and politics. In many areas the traffickers work with the complicity of police and customs officials and enjoy the protection of high-ranking politicians. Corruption remains endemic and is destined to seriously undermine efforts for democratization of the society. This is a sort of vicious cycle: every institution in Albania is affected by organized crime which hampers democracy and economic development; any attempts to change the situation, like the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe seem to be ineffective. This paper aims to analyze the problem of corruption and illegality in the current period in Albania and to measure its infiltration, via local authorities, into every level of the political, economic and social life.EU-East-Central Europe; transparency; democratization; civil society; pre-negotiation

Editorial: new advanced wireless technologies for objective monitoring of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

Nowadays, a growing number of researchers is using advanced wearable technologies with inertial measurement units (IMUs) to improve the evaluation of motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). In this contest, wearable sensors are promising technologies possibly helpful for the overall clinical management of PD. The present Research Topic entitled “New Advanced Wireless Technologies for Objective Monitoring of Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease” explores advances and perspectives of new wearable devices applied to patients with PD in order to support the clinical assessment with objective methods. The eleven manuscripts included in this Research Topic deal with the evaluation of a wide range of motor symptoms in patients with PD, including the classical cardinal signs such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural instability and disabling gait disorders such as Freezing of Gait (FOG). FOG significantly increases the risk of falls in patients with PD, resulting in a negative impact on quality of life

How a lasting settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war can be achieved

For Ukraine’s citizens to return to a normal way of life, it will be necessary to establish a sustainable peace between the country and Russia. Daniela Irrera argues a coherent debate on the future settlement in Ukraine should not wait for the end of hostilities – it should start now and involve the commitment of western powers

Power and wisdom : the craft of ruling in Aristotle's philosophy

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Reliable and robust detection of freezing of gait episodes with wearable electronic devices

A wearable wireless sensing system for assisting patients affected by Parkinson's disease is proposed. It uses integrated micro-electro-mechanical inertial sensors able to recognize the episodes of involuntary gait freezing. The system operates in real time and is designed for outdoor and indoor applications. Standard tests were performed on a noticeable number of patients and healthy persons and the algorithm demonstrated its reliability and robustness respect to individual specific gait and postural behaviors. The overall performances of the system are excellent with a specificity higher than 97%

Perfect Virtue in Simonides’ Ode to Scopas: Exploring Some Philosophical Underpinnings of the Tetragōnos Man

In this paper I explore some philosophical underpinnings of perfect virtue in Simonides’ Ode to Scopas, an ideal which Socrates discusses in Plato’s Protagoras. In the first place, I argue that Socrates is right in identifying in the Simonidean poem a distinction between “being virtuous” and “becoming virtuous.” Then, I contend that Simonides’ perfectly virtuous man conveys not only an idea of moral rigour but also adaptability to different circumstances. Finally, I stress the precarious nature of perfect excellence in Simonides’ thought and conclude that Plato means to underscore its philosophical relevance as a model of supreme ethical virtue

Philharmonic and University Band

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Philharmonic directed by Christopher Thibdeau and featuring guest violinist, John Irrera, and University Band directed by Cory Meals.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1877/thumbnail.jp

NGO-led rescue operations in the Mediterranean: saving people, alleviating EU responsibilities

Several EU governments have sent ships to the Mediterranean as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing migration crisis, but a number of non-governmental actors have also been involved in conducting operations. Daniela Irrera writes on the role of these actors and whether overreliance on NGOs could prove problematic if there is an upturn in attempted crossings in the central Mediterranean following the EU’s agreement with Turkey