TAX POLICY EFFICIENCY ISSES IN THE MINING SECTOR (Theoretical Approach)

A tight tax policy that is likewise fitting for the financial circumstance is a significant essential for accomplishing reasonable financial development. The examination point – to suggest theoretical ways for improving methodology for  assessment efficiency of tax policy in mining sector. In theory mainly the effectiveness of tax policy is viewed from the point of view of tax collection. The article attempts to present a new theoretical approach  for assessing the effectiveness of tax policy, taking into account the expectations of not only the government, but also other stakeholders in the mining industry (investors, community residents, businessmen, employees), which are having different expectations, concerning collected taxes and expending public resources. In this regard, a new theoretical   methodology to assessing the effectiveness of tax policy is proposed, based on the feedback information available among the mining stakeholders

THE SPREAD OF CHALCEDONISM IN TAYK AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE FORMATION OF THE HISTORICal AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

In 451, after the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, Chalcedonism spread in Armenia, especially in Tayk. With its spread, Georgian penetrated there having an impact on the historic and cultural life and the ethnic image of the region. A part of the Armenians, breaking away from the Armenian Church, became Georgian-speaking. The study aims to analyze the process and the ethno-religious environment resulted from the impact of the new confession. In Tayk, a bishop’s seat was founded as early as the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator, and it continued to be a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is testified by the fact that the names of the bishops of Tayk have been remembered at church meetings etc. until the 9th — 10thcenturies. Chalcedonism and Georgian writing and literature rooted in the region as late as the 9th — 10th centuries, when the Bagratunis, the local ruling elite, accepted the Chalcedonian confession. As a result, the population of Tayk and their rulers were called ‘Georgians’ or ‘Iberians’ in both Armenian and foreign records. In Tayk, even church ceremonies were performed in Georgian, though Armenian was also used

Relationships between NDVI and climatic factors in mountain ecosystems: A case study of Armenia

In this paper, we study vegetation, temperature, and precipitation dynamics, as well as their correlations and lag-time effects in mountain ecosystems of Armenia using SPOT/VGT NDVI data over the period 1998–2013. Three study sites near the Sisian, Megri and Kajaran meteorological stations were chosen, representing steep, xerophytic and meadow vegetation types, respectively. The results showed a significant increase in NDVI across the growing season during the study period. Meanwhile, a significant increase in mean precipitation and temperature during the growing season was detected for the Kajaran station. A negative correlation was observed between temperature and xerophytic/steep vegetation NDVI and positive correlation between temperature and meadow vegetation NDVI, while correlations between precipitation and NDVI for all vegetation types were positive. Moreover, the response of vegetation to climatic factors exhibited a time-lag effect. In general, the temperature and precipitation in the 2nd and 3rd 10-day intervals of April have a strong impact on the vegetation growth in summer. This study suggests that for a better understanding of the impact and lag-time effect of climatic factors on mountain vegetation growth it is preferable to use 10-day data

Smoking behavior, attitudes, and cessation counseling among healthcare professionals in Armenia

Abstract Background Smoking cessation counseling by health professionals has been effective in increasing cessation rates. However, little is known about smoking cessation training and practices in transition countries with high smoking prevalence such as Armenia. This study identified smoking-related attitudes and behavior of physicians and nurses in a 500-bed hospital in Yerevan, Armenia, the largest cancer hospital in the country, and explored barriers to their effective participation in smoking cessation interventions. Methods This study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. Trained interviewers conducted a survey with physicians and nurses using a 42-item self-administered questionnaire that assessed their smoking-related attitudes and behavior and smoking cessation counseling training. Four focus group discussions with hospital physicians and nurses explored barriers to effective smoking cessation interventions. The focus group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed. Results The survey response rate was 58.5% (93/159) for physicians and 72.2% (122/169) for nurses. Smoking prevalence was almost five times higher in physicians compared to nurses (31.2% vs. 6.6%, p  Conclusions This study was the first to explore differences in smoking-related attitudes and behavior among hospital physicians and nurses in Yerevan, Armenia. The study found substantial behavioral and attitudinal differences in these two groups. The study revealed a critical need for integrating cessation counseling training into Armenia’s medical education. As nurses had more positive attitudes toward cessation counseling compared to physicians, and more often reported having cessation training, they are an untapped resource that could be more actively engaged in smoking cessation interventions in healthcare settings.</p

A Practice of Useing Remote Sensing Technologies in Geoecological Studies

Рассматриваются основные направления применения дистанционных технологий в Республике Армения. Изложены базовые научно-технологические ресурсы для развития перспективных направлений, которые обеспечат надежную научно-методическую основу для совершенствования и разработки дистанционных методов и создания на этой основе мониторинговой системыThe main areas of the use of remote sensing technologies in Armenia are considered in the article. The basic scientific-technological resources for their perspective development are also discussed. The later will serve a background for the development of remote sensing methods and monitoring system in the futur

An interoperable cloud-based scientific GATEWAY for NDVI time series analysis

Processing of high-resolution time series satellite images typically requires a large amount of computational resources and time. We introduce here a scientific gateway for computing the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series data. Based on a distributed workflow using the Web Processing Service (WPS) standard, the gateway aims to be completely interoperable with other standardized tools. The availability of this gateway may help researchers to acquire knowledge of land cover changes more efficiently over very large spatial and temporal extents, which is especially important in the context of Armenia for which timely decision-making is needed

Remote Sensing Methods for Assessing Degradation of Armenia’s Highland Pastures

В Армении деградация почв обусловлена разными факторами, в том числе и чрезмерным стравливанием пастбищ, и является серьезной проблемой с точки зрения продовольственной безопасности и устойчивого развития. Оценка деградации почв важна для определения возможных последствий и потенциальных мер управления. В данной работе рассматривается возможность определения отдельных компонентов земной поверхности, связанных с деградацией (ППР, ППОП и ППК), методами ЛСР и НРВИ-АСС, используя космический снимок QuickBird, и их применимость для оценки и картографирования деградированности пастбищных земель. Как показывают результаты, методы ЛСР и НРВИ-АСС применительно к космическому снимку QuickBird дают уникальную возможность для точного определения ППР, ППОП, а предложенный метод оценки и картографирования деградации почв адекватно отражает реальную ситуациюIn Armenia soil degradation is determined by different factors, including overgrazing, and is a grave concern in terms of food safety and sustainable development. Assessing soil degradation is essential to reveal probable consequences and potential management measures. This article considers a possibility of determining degradation related soil surface components (fractional vegetation cover – FVC, bare soils fractions – BSF and surface rock cover – SRC) with help of linear spectral unmixing (LSU) and NDVI-SMA methods, using a QuickBird satellite imagery, and their applicability to assessment and mapping of degradation degree of pasturelands. The results have indicated that LSU and NDVI-SMA methods as applied to a QuickBird satellite image gives a unique opportunity to precisely determine FVC and BSF, whereas the proposed soil degradation assessment and mapping method adequately reflects the actual situatio