IRB Direct

The paper begins with a brief introduction and review of international research in the area of water jet streams and their effectiveness in firefighting. Then a general concept of a new numerical model for firefighting process using solid jet produced by water nozzle is presented. The provided description of the model includes main assumptions for extinguishing process and a set of relationships representing a mathematical model. The paper also includes block diagrams of the main program algorithms and procedures designed to determine the value of the surface and sprinkling intensity depending on the input data like nozzle dimensions, position etc. Input parameters which are necessary for the calculation are discussed, together with a general concept of the users input and output interfaces and simulation tests that can be performed using the developed model. Some selected simulation tests in tabular and graphical forms are included. Summary and general conclusions can be found at the end.

The article describes the destruction mechanism of intumescent fire protective paint coatings at the time of their aging under the impact of simulated climatic factors. Steel plates covered in anti-corrosion varnishes and intumescent fire protective paint coatings of several types and different composition were used in the research, while certain samples were also additionally covered in protective coatings protecting from environmental effects. SEM, DTA and FT-IR researches were conducted on control samples and samples after aging. Aging was performed in 3 ways: according to regimes I and II in the laboratory and having stored them for 12 months under the outdoor conditions under the roof. The aging mechanism of materials was determined to be very similar when using different methods of aging: with increasing number of cycles, the extent of damage to the surfaces and their diversity increase. In all cases, chemical material changes were observed after artificial aging cycles compared to control samples. In aged samples, there were some new connections occurring, while others changed or disappeared judging from the number of waves and intensity of peaks, which shows that certain compounds form, while others change and disintegrate under the influence of environmental heat and mass exchange.

The satisfaction of the client is of utmost importance in procuring future projects; however, anecdotally cli-ent satisfaction (CS) is not adequately considered in many developing countries. Factors associated with the influence of service quality (SQ) on construction client satisfaction and how it affects their behavioural intentions in Cambodia are investigated. A theoretical structural model was developed to investigate the influence of five SQ factors on CS and their links to the future behavioural intentions of the client. A partial least square approach of the structural equation modelling technique (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyse data collected from a questionnaire survey of 227 participants comprising the clients of small and medium size projects. The structural model adapts 22 attributes across five SQ factors, namely: reli-ability; responsiveness; assurance; empathy, and tangible factors. PLS-SEM outcomes confirmed that the future behavioural intentions of the client are influenced by their satisfaction over the service excellence provided by construction companies. Moreover, treating every client individually and demonstrating an approachable attitude towards their needs will increase their satisfaction with the experience they had with a contractor. Findings and recommendations of the study may be use-ful to construction companies who are seeking ways to improve CS in developing countries.

Urban brownfields are found in all parts of the world. They suffer from a negative image and are generally being viewed as problem areas. However, urban brownfields also offer potentials for new uses and for the ecological regeneration of cities. Strategic decision-making has a long term impact on the quality of life, ecological balance and urban structure. Therefore, the paper is aimed at providing a methodology for selecting the optimal scenario for urban brownfields regard-ing criteria for urban development and focuses on three possible scenarios representing sustainable urban development in the city. The results of the research are provided as a priority list for each scenario in the context of every neighbour-hood of Vilnius city. The obtained results show the scenario optimal for each neighbourhood having the highest priority to implementing solutions in real life. Economic, social, physical (urbanistic) and environmental criteria are considered. Geographic information system (GIS) tools are employed for collecting spatial information, obtaining the initial set of criteria and deriving statistical data. Different MCDA methods, including TOPSIS, EDAS, COPRAS and SAW are used in the research. The correlation between the values of the sets pairs of cumulative criteria for the applied MCDA methods ap-peared to be satisfactory for the conducted re-search. The developed framework will support the decision-making process in brownfield land redevelopment aiding sustainable urban planning.

Pagrindinis šio straipsnio tikslas – atskleisti vadinamojo dvigubojo kozirio sprendimų valdymo globalioje valiutų rinkoje modelio turinį ir pateikti jo praktinio naudojimo galimybes bei rezultatus. Šis modelis sudarytas remiantis vieno iš autorių anksčiau pasiūlytu adekvačiuoju investicinių sprendimų patikimumui vertinti portfelio modeliu ir eksperimentiškai taikytas pasitelkiant specialiai parengtą valiutų kursų kaitos prognozavimo sistemą. Aprašytas eksperimentas buvo vykdomas remiantis realiais „FOREX“ 2004-12-11–2005-10-01 laikotarpio duomenimis. Šiuo metu vykdomas plataus masto eksperimentas, siekiant praplėsti diskusiją apie finansų rinkų efektyvumą, testuojant rinkos efektyvumo hipotezę ne bandymu nugalėti rinką, o bandymu paliudyti rinkos nehomogeniškumą, t. y. įrodyti, kad rinkoje visuomet egzistuoja vadinamosios neefektyvumo salos (nonefficiency shoals), kai galima parengti sprendimų strategiją, leidžiančią gana ilgą laikotarpį turėti pranašumą prieš realius rinkos priimamus sprendimus. Straipsnyje puoselėjamas ir pragmatinis straipsnio tikslas – sukurti sprendimų valdymo valiutų rinkoje strategijas, turinčias pranašumų prieš konkrečios rinkos sprendimus.

In the process of market globalisation the modern state and society depend on social, economical, technological systems administration. All these things influence the opinion and the present day leader can't be simply an administrator who regulates market and society relationship and assures the aspiration to establish society wealth standard and appropriate share of the profit to the shareholder. He must initiate processes which influence the wealth of society...