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This paper examines the impact of business cycles on unemployment rates in EU countries. The relationship between changes in gross domestic product and changes in the unemployment rate is referred to in the academic literature as Okun’s law. This law is of particular importance and the relationship has been extensively investigated in the scientific literature, but there are not many studies that analyse the European Union countries. This paper examines the relationship between the unemployment rate and real GDP in the EU-27. The data used for the study cover the period 2007–2019. The results of a correlation regression analysis provide evidence of the inverse relationship between the unemployment rate and real GDP as established by theory. The results also show that the relationship between business cycles and unemployment varies from country to country: in Lithuania and the UK, there is a very strong inverse relationship between the unemployment rate and real GDP. In Lithuania, the coefficient was –0.9377, and a similar coefficient was found in the United Kingdom (-0.9337). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the concept of weather derivatives: what it is, what its features are, and in what areas they can be applied. It has been established that there can be several types of weather derivative instruments – options and swaps. The use of weather derivatives has also been found to be very broad and attractive for tourism, construction, agriculture and heating companies. Companies operating in Lithuania do not use weather derivatives, although they do provide insurance against the risks associated with adverse weather conditions. The paper is conducting a study to determine which heating companies should apply weather derivatives to improve their performance. The study is conducted using multi-criteria assessment methods – SAW and TOPSIS. The multi-criteria assessment showed that AB Šiaulių energija and UAB Varėnos šiluma could use the opportunity to apply weather derivatives in their activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the issue of establishing and developing start-up business. Possibilities of establishing a business in Lithuania, tendencies of promoting young and innovative companies and problems of long-term establishment in the market are reviewed. According to the tendencies and methods described in the scientific literature, a survey of Lithuanian small and medium business was conducted. The business environment and opportunities in the eyes of developers, the steps of business development and the obstacles encountered were examined. The paper presents the generalized results of the surveyed companies. Based on the problems identified during the study, the model is presented, as well as conclusions and suggestions on what essential mistakes should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Port of Šventoji is a maritime facility in the settlement of Šventoji, located within the country Lithuania, near the seaside resort town of Palanga. In this paper five Port of Šventoji development alternatives are overviewed using a multi-criteria decisionmaking (MCDM) method. The results will be compared with the ones found in “Port of Šventoji reconstruction feasibility study” (liet. Šventosios jūrų uosto atstatymo galimybių studija). Criteria weights of the analysed alternatives are determined using the entropy method. Alternative analysis is carried out using the TOPSIS multicriteria method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European building sector is facing a pressing issue of natural resources. Importing road building materials for the asphalt surfacing increases the cost of the asphalt mixture. The asphalt surfacing mixtures shall consist of a mixture of graded aggregates accounting for 80-90% of the total volume of the asphalt mixture, or 90-96% of the total weight of the asphalt mixture and binder: road bitumen or polymer modified bitumen. In the Republic of Lithuania, asphalt mixes are designed in accordance to the Design Regulations for Road Pavement Standardized Pavement Structures KP SDK 19 and accordance to the normative documents and their requirements for graded aggregates and binders. Road builders import graded aggregates to asphalt mixes from other countries, and this increases the cost of asphalt mixes. According to the scientific researches in the Lithuanian quarry Petrašiūnai II, using unique production technology is produced class I dolomite crushed stone, which mechanical, physical properties and designed asphalt mixtures can replace imported graded aggregates. The economic question remains as to the economic effect of the most commonly used asphalt mixtures in Lithuania AC 11 VS (asphalt mixture of asphalt pavement wearing course) and SMA 11 S (crushed and mastic asphalt) made from indigenous minerals compared to imported minerals. The aim of the paper is to perform the calculation and evaluation of the economic effect of asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with different minerals and micro-aggregate. The paper identifies and analyses the properties of asphalt test mixtures, and identifies the locations of mineral suppliers in Lithuania. According to the economic impact assessment scheme, the economic effect of asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with different minerals and micro-aggregate was calculated. According to the calculations made, the economic effect of producing asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with class I dolomite chips is 13-14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is increasingly being implemented both in the World and in Lithuania. The benefits provided by BIM promise a much more efficient and smoother construction process and suggest that the construction market of the future will continue to develop based on the BIM methodology. However, both the implementation and development of BIM can face some challenges, obstacles and limitations for construction market participants that occur with the use of BIM and that can slow down the smooth implementation of a project. This paper examines the difficulties of BIM in the implementation and use phase. During the research, the literature sources were analysed describing the implementation of BIM in the development of residential and other projects. The advantages and challenges of BIM described by the authors were analysed, and the emerging problems were highlighted. The literature sources analysed and found BIM limitations were grouped according to the most frequently mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense competition in the mobile services market encourages these service providers to take measures to create, maintain and enhance consumer loyalty. In such a concentrated market, it becomes important for service providers to identify and enhance the factors determining customer loyalty and their expression, whereas maintaining existing users requires significantly less effort and financial, human and time resources than attracting new ones. This article deals with a case study of Lithuania’s mobile operators: UAB “Bitė Lietuva”, UAB “Tele2”, UAB “Telia” in the context of consumer loyalty. The paper raises the question of what factors influence mobile phone user loyalty and how these factors can be evaluated. The article presents theoretical analysis of factors determining consumer loyalty in the service sector. An expert evaluation and multi-criteria study reveals which loyalty factors have the strongest influence on customers of mobile operators when choosing a particular service provider in Lithuania. The relevance of this article has potential for a practical study of consumer loyalty factors in the future. In the future, the research may be continued on a larger scale, involving more companies in the telecommunications sector, choosing research methods that are suitable for a broader sample of research and formulating consumer loyalty enhancement solutions applicable exclusively to organizations in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic purpose of the article is considering problems related to ensuring the required capacity of Lithuanian airspace and organising the provision of air traffic services in the most efficient way. The paper presents the results of analysis and experimental research on several scenarios of Lithuanian airspace models that are the most appropriate from the point of view of air traffic control. To allow for a realistic comparison between the scenarios and traffic samples, the current route network, a real traffic sample and the existing traffic dynamics have been used. Furthermore, all other related aspects such as flight level occupancy, flight time, aircraft type and traffic flows have been taken into consideration. The results of analysis will form a basis for ensuring the required capacity of Lithuanian airspace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing competition among companies, constantly growing product and service quality requirements, rapidly changing consumer behavior, technology advancements and changes enables customer to make decisions which product or service to buy. In this context, customer relationship management is becoming an important tool creating preconditions to maintain loyal customers and improve company's performance. The paper analyzes peculiarities of customer relationship management in Lithuanian companies. In order to reveal motives and problems of customer relationship management implementation the survey was carried out. 82 companies participated in the survey. At the end of the paper conclusions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of a thermal storage system into the solar heating system enables to increase the use of solar thermal energy in buildings and allows avoiding the mismatch between consumers' demand and heat production in time. The paper presents modelling a seasonal thermal storage tank various sizes of which have been analyzed in the district solar heating system that could cover a part of heat demand for the district of individual houses in Vilnius. A biomass boiler house, as an additional heat source, should allow covering the remaining heat demand. energy PRO software is used for system modelling. The paper evaluates heat demand, climate conditions and technical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weighted mass of a binder in the bucket of the bitumen batcher of a batch-type asphalt plant should be such that its percentage of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixture lot would comply with the design amount of the job-mix formula in all mix batches. A bitumen batcher does not always weigh bitumen portions precisely. Their mass deviations from the amount determined by the project and its variation impair HMA composition and performance. The paper provides data on a statistical evaluation of bitumen batcher modernization performed at Lithuanian enterprise ''LL''. The article analyzes differences in the structures of reconstructed and not reconstructed bitumen batching systems and presents methods for determining modernization effectiveness. The paper also focuses on the effectiveness of the batching system, determining deviations from bitumen content in subsamples taken and extracted everyday during two seasons (before and after batcher's modernization) of producing HMA from the value of job-mix formula and comparing them to the values of tolerances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the issues of personnel management in Lithuanian industrial companies. Some personnel management methods are offered as a solution to the encountered problems. The findings of the paper are based on sociological research showing that the main question addressed to personnel management is a conflict between a supervisor and an employee, the loss of authority power and inability to solve problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes an educational wind tunnel produced by the Department of Building Energetics (DBE) of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. The equipment could be used for performing laboratory works and simple research. The article presents the projection of inflow and outlet velocity in the working chamber of DBE wind tunnel and carries out actual noise level measurement. The received data are compared with information on the level of noise generated by the fan considering instructions provided by the manufacturer. In order to assess the reliability of the computer program, simulation applying PHOENICS software has been conducted. The aim of modeling is to simulate a pilot model and to compare the obtained results with those of an analogous test presented in scientific articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conducted investigation is aimed at providing information on air flow parameters in the cylindrical and spiral shell (de-vices are designed for separating solid particles from air flow having tangent flow inlet). Experimental research has employed multi-cyclones created by the Department of Environmental Protection at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. The study is focused on investigating and comparing the distribution of the dynamic pressure of the airflow in six-channel cyclones inside the structures of devices. The paper establishes and estimates the efficiency of air cleaning changing air phase parameters using different particulate matters. The efficiency of the cyclone has been defined applying the weighted method based on LAND 28-98/M-08 methodology. The article presents the results of experimental research on the air cleaning efficiency of cylindrical and spiral shells using 20 µm glass and clay particulate matter under the initial concentration that may vary from 500 mg/m³ to 15 g/m³ using semi-rings with windows at different positions. The obtained results has shown that the maximum efficiency of the cylindrical shell increases up to 87,3 % while the initial concentration of glass makes 15 g/m³. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article author examines the problem of architecture history associated with the evolution of castle palaces in the current territory of Lithuania in the Lithuanian Renaissance period. The article is based on research papers thematically close to the publication, other literature and archive documents. After prehistory review of castle palaces at a theoretical level and clarifying the conditions for their occurrence, significant development trends of castle palaces during the Renaissance period in current Lithuania territory is revealed. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Italian, Flemish and Flanders Renaissance reached Lithuania and merged with the local tradition; in the light of the Lithuanian Renaissance castle palaces reached their prosperity period in Lithuania. Castle palaces were distinguished by the diversity of their structural and architectural forms, relatively meaningful connection between function and artistic expression and a sustainable link with the components of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the movement of the car on the curve on the slippery and snowy road surface with asphalted ruts. The paper reviews literature related to lateral and longitudinal vehicle acceleration and dynamics of vehicle movement. The experimental facts of vehicle lateral acceleration are given in graphical charts. The article also describes the acceleration values and stability of the automobile depending on the speed in the curve. The findings are given based on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competiveness of regions is one of the most important policies formulating regional policy. The new focus on the specific features of the region and its competiveness encourages using the regional policy measures reflective of broader conception of the rural countryside. The new rural policy targeting and monitoring needs for typologies taking into account the diversity of rural regions. While creating region typologies for policy goals, it was essential to find new criteria and indicators for the measurement of the rural region's economic potential. The economic dynamism becomes an important indicator of the region's economic potential proposed by OECD organisation. This paper examines methodology to build a typology of economic dynamism for rural regions of Lithuania relevant for rural policy purposes. The research results shows that suggested typology based on economic dynamism, which is measured by the number of employed in all population aged 15-64, at this period is not suitable methodological tool for classification of rural regions in Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall capitalization rate is one of the key evaluation elements in operating income approach. Deriving capitalization rates from comparable sales is the preferred method when sufficient data on sales of similar, competitive properties are available. The capitalization rates provide evidence of the importance of local market conditions and individual property characteristics. This paper is an empirical study of the capitalization rates for 66 commercial premises sales in down town Vilnius from 2008 III q - 2009 I q. Seeking to derive factors affecting the capitalization rate, regressive-correlative analysis of capitalization rate of various commercial premises located on various streets of downtown Vilnius was carried out. Capitalization rate depends on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of real estate, i. e. purpose, total area of premises, storey they are on and quality of decoration. At the end of study results were summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals a conception of national competitiveness and identifies the impact of the World Economic Forum on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). The paper discusses theoretical points and identifies factors determing changes in labour productivity. Also, the analysis of changes in labour productivity in Lithuania (2000-2009) have been performed discovering the causes of a decline in labour productivity in 2009. The article studies the impact of research and technological development (R&D) expenses, wages, direct foreign investments, tangible and intangible capital on labour productivity. The conclusion draws that an increase in investments in the research and development of the business sector is one of the ways to increase labour productivity and competitiveness in Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithuania is not the only country where public contribution to urban planning and urban design processes is highly procedural and formalistic. Unidirectional and inflexible cooperation between participants of urban planning activities is common in various countries. Cross-purposes and conflict situations once boosted emergence of innovative and effective methods for decision making in urban planning processes in developed countries. Now it's time to learn from these examples and creatively adopt them for purposes of long-term optimization of our national urban planning system. Paper describes some marginal activities in urban planning and design processes and disputes a growing impact of public participation in development of cities and urban regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article aims to attract the attention towards obvious problematic sector of protection of immovable heritage of Lithuania, and underlines shortage in dealing with those problems from the position of integral, multi level, comprehensive- holistic approach. Paper underlines the need to use the last chance in possible takeover from still alive national traditions in the survived immovable heritage sector. The author tries to name the range of the means for the strategic actions of the existing system in fields of guidelines for planning / projection / alteration of the near future of it. Along to cases of the good practice in other countries, some unused legislative and organisational moments andc opportunities has been pointed out as background for the change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses waste tyre rubber treatment technologies. According to foreign countries and Lithuanian experiment results, positive and negative features of the utilization methods are presented. Data of experiments is presented using tyre rubber in clinker burning furnaces. Here is also information on the use of rubber additive in concrete and the impact to road design. Formulated conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most of multi-apartment residential houses in Lithuania were built before 1993. Most of these houses are uneconomical, unecological and consume a significant amount of heat energy. Such multi-apartment houses need to be modernized, and, therefore, it is important to examine and analyse their state. This paper discusses the state of structural elements of multi-apartment houses, their deterioration level, heat energy losses, as well as the problems of microclimate in the premises, layout and living environment. Modernization of buildings is effective only when the state of buildings is carefully analysed and the most suitable renovation method or scenario is selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of building maintenance expenditure becomes really an urgent issue in Lithuania. People prefer a warmer housing and show interest in recent decisions of engineering systems. They are looking for the best decision of heating costs optimization to price down heating costs not 10-20%, but a number of times. The results of passive houses scientific research as well as models of passive housing are discussed in the article. They ascertain and compare features of passive housing construction in different countries which depends on climatic conditions. Most countries support traditional housing. Remarkable thermal resistance and cost efficient maintenance of passive housing may be reached through an integrated approach of using proper architectural, constructional and engineering resolution, as well as applying the most relevant material usage and elaborating and accumulating practical knowledge. Lithuania, as well as other countries in the world, reveals that the concept of tacit knowledge still lacks sufficient attention within the construction industry, despite the fact that proper understanding and management of this resource is of immense importance for the achievement of better organizational performance. As the initial step towards the management of tacit knowledge, this paper examines the factors affecting tacit knowledge generation and utilization in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the current situation with the renewable energy sources in Lithuania. An overview of legislation promoting the production and usage of renewable energy in Lithuania is presented. Renewable energy production methods suitable for Lithuanian conditions, their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. It is shown that there is no any promotion from the state for usage of solar energy in private households. The potential of solar energy usage is determined. In order to show the effectiveness of solar thermal energy utilization under similar climatic conditions presented the example of promotion policy model and its results in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial risk factors are quite hard to identify and analyze, as such work needs special knowledge and practice. Difficulties may appear as many concepts of psychosocial risk factors are hardly defined exactly and depend on a subjective perception of employee's workplace environment. Different questionnaires, e.g. a questionnaire assessing stress at work, are created to identify psychosocial risk factors. The main purpose of each questionnaire is slightly different but simultaneously remains the same, i.e. to define stress level at work environment. Although, this kind of research has been conducted in other countries for quite a long time, however, in Lithuania, similar practice faces only first steps. The paper proposes an overview of research conducted in 19 companies in Lithuania. 245 respondents were involved in completing 4 questionnaires. The survey has revealed that the most contributory factor of stress appearance is the age and experience of workers. Female rather than male respondents feel stressed; the surveyed participants having higher education feel more affected by stress than those having other than higher education. Moreover, different questionnaires have revealed the existence of much the same problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]