Thermographic Analysis of Joints of Supporting Structures

The external partitions of a building (walls, roof, etc.) in addition to their supporting functions must also ensure an internal microclimate suitable for comfortable human work, recreation and other activities. This article analyzes the thermal characteristics of the external walls of a residential house and thermographically examines the joints of the different structures of the building. Thermographical examination may be performed either passively or actively. In the former case, the object of the examination ir heated up to a given temperature, after which thermographical images of the object are taken and analyzed. In the latter case, thermographical analysis is made of the object in its naturally established thermal conditions. This article examines the thermal characteristics of the partition structures of a residential building. The values of the thermal properties of the materials are taken from the documentation provided by their manufacturers, and in their absence, the data of the technical building regulations is used. Calculated analytically: the wall of the western annex only meets the C energy class requirements, the insulation of the old part of the building raised the heat transfer coefficient of the partition to class A, the thermal characteristic of the eastern annex wall corresponds to the A + energy class. This thermographic examination showed that the facade covered by the fibrous cement siding absorbed less heat compared to the masonry facades. Based on theoretical calculations and the thermographic analysis, it is recommended to additionally insulate the western annex from the inside. If possible, it is also recommended to additionally insulate both facade joints with polyurethane foam and to seal them with waterproofing mastic to prevent the sunrays from reaching the foam.

The Development of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Its Response to the Russian Conventional Threats in 2015‒2020

In a period of 2015-2020, Lithuanian Armed Forces (LAF) military spending increased twice, thus it enabled to initiate and to arrange significant critical projects that eventually allowed armed forces to upgrade military equipment and tactics. New artillery units, armoured personnel vehicles, air defence systems, anti-tank weapons, radars, anti-drone systems boosted military power of LAF. Tactics switched from anti green men to conventional tactics, where fire and manoeuvre dominates again. Meanwhile, in the same period of time in Kaliningrad the Russian armed forces boosted the number of military personnel, upgraded equipment (most of it to offensive one) and increased military exercises. In order to be prepared, LAF must look for the most efficient ways of defence towards a potential foe. In a near future LAF must decentralize a central military storage thus critical assets could be secured and used by battalions at any time. Moreover, LAF capabilities could be improved by cyber conscripts and non-conventional tactics which could bring extra dividends when a small state fights against technologically advanced adversary. Eventually, with an additional military spending LAF could obtain MLRS artillery, the coastal defence systems and unmanned combat aerial vehicles that could deal with enemy from a safer distance.

Importance of Gymnasium Students’ Anxiety, Identity Style and Stress Coping Strategies for Examination Stress Assessment

Examinations and their results often become perhaps the biggest challenge in young person’s life, which is associated with the course of later life. For this reason, a high level of stress is observed, which is maintained by both personal and situational factors. In this context, the objective of this study is to identify the links between the experienced anxiety, identity style, examinations stress and its coping strategies of the gymnasium students. The study involved 175 gymnasium students in grades 10 to 12. Of these, 109 were girls (62.3%) and 66 were boys (37.7%), aged 16 to 19 years of age (M = 17.27, SD = 0.92). Gymnasium students were given a questionnaire based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, 1970), Identity Style Inventory Version 5 (ISI-5) (Berzonsky, Soenens, Luyckx, Smits, Papini, Goossens, 2013), the Stress Coping Questionnaire (Grakauskas, Valickas, 2006), and the Examination Stress Scale for Adolescent Students (Sung, Chao, 2014). It was found that the more frequent experience of stress in gymnasium students examinations was predicted by stronger trait and state anxiety, more frequent choice of informational, normative identity processing style and more frequent use of avoidance strategy in experiencing stress.

Volunteering as a Human Resource in Provision of Public Social Services in the Municipality

The research aims to identify the main factors and obstacles supporting the development of volunteering in municipalities as a basis for volunteering as an additional human resource in the provision of social services in the municipality. It has been achieved through qualitative analysis and generalization of academic literature and other publicly available sources. The article adheres to the opinion that volunteering is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly important in democratic societies. In the analyzed context of public administration, we treat volunteering as follows: activities that create social benefits for society; freely assumed obligations authorized by agreement; activities appropriate to mutual assistance; unpaid activities of public service; useful work; activities satisfying the needs of human self-realization; activities allowing to acquire professional skills. All the components of this multifaceted definition evidence the social benefit to society, and at the same time to the municipality, where volunteering is being developed. The analysis of academic literature and the good practice of other countries in the development of volunteering showed that the social benefits created by volunteering are complex, the social impact is a long-term and systemic. The social benefits created by volunteering affect the volunteer him/herself, the organization that hosts the volunteer, the community of service provision, the service recipient and his/her family members, society. The study revealed the following factors activating volunteering in the municipality: recognition of volunteering benefits and support at all levels of government; determination and periodic analysis of obstacles to involvement of volunteers in social activities; formation of volunteers’ involvement mechanism and administration of activities thereof; material and information resources for the coordination and support of volunteering activities; competent human resources to activate and involve volunteering; mutual co-operation of the municipal administration units and departments; cooperation of the municipal administration with NGOs and state-financed organizations in developing volunteering in municipalities; dissemination of good practice; inclusion of volunteering activities in curricula of pre-school educational institutions.

Strength Analysis of the Truck Wheel Rim Robot Gripper

This paper presents a study of the strength of the truck rim robot gripper structure using the finite element analysis system Solidworks Simulation. The developed CAD model of the gripper was adapted to the research by Solidworks Simulation system, which was used to evaluate the strength and stiffness of the structure. Construction optimization was performed, the obtained results were compared.

Arising Problems in Managing Virtual Project: Research on International Virtual Project Team Leaders

Although the prevalence of project teams in international organizations is growing rapidly, while influencing the governance of organizations at the global, regional, and local levels, the response of organizations to such changes has been slower, according to authors A. I. Mockaitis, L. Zander, and H. De Cieri (2018). Organizations need to look at virtual project team development opportunities, methods, tools to learn to work in a multicultural space. The uptake of improvement opportunities for organizations would have a positive impact on many aspects like competition, efficiency, and reputation. In this context, it is important to analyse and research the uniqueness of virtual project teams and the problems arising in the management of these teams, because in the international business environment, the operation of these teams is a necessary condition for business to operate effectively. The article analyses the emerging problems in virtual project team management in international companies. A theoretical overview of possible problems in managing virtual project teams is presented, the results of the performed qualitative research are presented. During the research, managers working in international companies who lead a virtual project team were interviewed using the qualitative research method. The study was conducted in 2019-2020 and involved 9 informants working in Lithuania, the United Kingdom, the United States, Bangladesh, France, Malaysia, and Poland. The results of the study revealed the opinion of virtual project team leaders how these teams differ from traditional teams. The results revealed problems that may arise in the management of virtual project teams, such as misunderstanding and ambiguity of transmitted information, lack of emotion, presence and loss of information, higher time costs for work tasks, different, culturally influenced work principles and etiquette, and loss of personal and work balance boundaries. These problems are addressed in several ways, openly throughout the group, individually or through an external team.

Research on the Parameters of Gasoline Engine Injectors

Automotive engines are getting more and more advanced. This causes the change in the development of injectors. The nozzle spray fuel quality has to meet certain requirements, such as sprayed droplet size, flare length, and sprayed fuel. Using the method of analysis and synthesis of scientific literature sources, the main parameters of gasoline injectors were calculated in this work. The results of the research have been compared with calculated parameters obtained from the injectors test stand.The paper has been prepared on the basis of G. Brunius’ Master Thesis.

Analysis of Strength of VDA 4500 Type Container Palletizing Robot Manipulator Gripper

An analysis of the company's existing palletizing process has been performed, and the most appropriate method of process modernization has been selected accordingly. Also, a robot was selected according to the type of container to be palletized and its weight. A prototype of a robot manipulator gripper has been designed. The load calculation of the gripper levers was performed, the pneumatic cylinders for the lever control were selected. Lever strength analysis was also performed. The gripper mass was determined.

Possibilities of Applying Multimedia Technologies in Inclusive Education

Rapidly changing social, economic and cultural environment, the development of digital technologies, the global pandemic that broke out in 2020 and demographic challenges increase society’s need for constant change and improvement. Against the background of these challenges, the need to provide every member of society with equal opportunities for development is emphasized. This is an essential principle of inclusive education. Global and national documents emphasizing the need for inclusive education call for strengthening the ability of education to connect with all learners with behavioral, psychological, physiological or special abilities, regardless of nationality, social status, emphasis on respect for, access to and care for educational diversity, its change and growth. Inclusive education is best defined by the principles of the Good School Characteristics. Therefore, in this work, inclusive education is understood as an educational process characterized by the principles of the Good School Concept. As in all areas of our lives, the successful implementation of the educational process is undoubtedly influenced by digital multimedia technologies. There are often questions about the coherence between the technologies chosen and the process. Therefore, the possibilities of applying of multimedia technologies with inclusive education were chosen as the object of the article. The aim of the research is to evaluate the research areas of researchers analyzing the possibilities of multimedia technologies on the basis of the analysis of scientific literature, which are in line with the essential principles of inclusive education. The study concludes that the quality and values of educators’ competencies become particularly important in inclusive settings, but that there is a lack of formal research that has a direct impact on students’ achievements, social and emotional well-being and personal development. Multimedia technologies can be a great tool to achieve the goals of inclusive education; the attention of researchers working with technologies related to multimedia (sound, image, computer graphics, interactivity of the mentioned media) to pedagogical goals is particularly poor.

The Mythical Dimension in Saulius Tomas Kondrotas' Novel “The Look of a Grass-Snake”

The aim of the article is to identify and explain the mythical images used in Saulius Tomas Kondrotas’ novel “The Look of a Grass-Snake”. By transforming pagan and Christian mythical systems, the writer contrasts them with rational thinking. In “New Age“ there is no place for myths and the meanings of figurative language. The mythical dimension in the work is understood as a way of perceiving the world that contradicts the modern idea of ​​progress. S. T. Kondrotas also transforms the meanings of archetypal figures such as fire, sun or grass-snake in his novel. The concepts of life, death, or rebirth gain the different perspectives from archaic and modern world. New mythical dimension allows us to reconsider existential phenomena of human existence in a new light. In this way, the Baltic worldview extends its life in works of art, and the literature, which contains mythical elements, becomes a modern version of the myth.