Differences of Lateral Behavior of Buildings with RC Slabs without beams vs. RC Slabs with beams

Lateral behavior of RC Buildings is a great importance when it is in question the earthquake happening, so in this paper are presented the differences between buildings which have slabs without beams compared with those that in their slabs have included beams. Analysis is done for low and middle rise building, because these buildings are predominant in our region. The reason why we have analyzed here the lateral behavior of such cases is due to the fact that nowadays around us are used so many building using slabs without beams because they represent a flexible solution in functional organizing the internal area in the aspect of architectural requirements. Analysis is done for some typical cases just to present the differences in the aspect of lateral behavior and important parameters such are: inter-story drifts, top displacements and some other similar parameters when is in question the lateral displacements

Reaction monitoring using vibrational spectroscopy

Reaction monitoring by vibrational spectroscopy (VS), especially NIR spectroscopy, is being increasingly used during process development. Analysts usually use spectroscopy to qualitatively monitor the progress of reactions. Cross-coupling reactions of organic electrophiles and organometallic reagents have increased popularity as a powerful synthetic tool and innumerable improvements have been done from the first protocol that allows a wide range of coupling partners to be combined efficiently1. The aim of cross-coupling reaction is carbon-carbon bond formation. The Suzuki coupling reaction is one of the most efficient methods for the construction of C-C bonds. The objective of the thesis is to monitor a Suzuki coupling reaction by vibrational spectroscopy and to use chemometrics to build the model that can serve to anticipate how far the reaction has proceeded. Our plan is to investigate whether NIR or Raman spectroscopy is better suited for monitoring the reaction. An efficient, versatile and non-destructive method to monitor the reaction by using VS is described. By using this method it is possible to monitor the reaction without interrupting it. In this way time and money are saved. A Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was chosen to be monitored. In this reaction 1-iodo-2-nitrobenzene was used as an organometallic reagent. This reacted with an organic electrophile phenylboronic acid to form 2- nitrobiphenyl as a product. For the occurrence of this reaction the catalyst palladium (II) acetate must be added. A base should be present to promote the transmethyilation process. Potassium carbonate was used as a base. This reaction was monitored by VS under standard conditions which are disclosed elsewhere2. The method allows us to know when the product of interest was formed and to stop the reaction to avoid the formation of contaminations. The recorded data was treated with multivariate data analysis such as PLS (Partial Least Squares) and PCA (Principle Component Analysis). Once a protocol for proper reaction monitoring was developed an experimental design was set up. The purpose of this was to build the model that could serve to predict how far the reaction had proceeded. Temperature, concentrations and reaction time were the variables investigated. The designed experiments were monitored using VS enabling continuous prediction of reaction progress. GC-MS was used to validate the VS prediction results. This necessitated sampling the reaction mixture at predefined intervals for off-line analysis.JMAMN-QALQAL39

Orientalism, Balkanism and the Western Viewpoint in the Context of Former Yugoslavia

This research paper examines the role of the Orientalist and Balkanist discourse in the Former Yugoslavia with a particular focus on Albanians. Here, Western Orientalist and Balkanist stereotypes of the Former Yugoslavia are examined arguing that the Orientalism and Balkanism of people living in the Former Yugoslavia is and was viewed differently from the standard by the West and by the people living in the Former Yugoslavia in the way how they perceive each other. The first part of this research paper treats the Orientalism and Balkanism in the context of people living in the Former Yugoslavia, in general.The second part of this research paper analyzes the case study of the application of the Orientalist and Balkanist theoretical lenses on one of the nations living in the Former Yugoslavia, namely Albanians. Here, some explorations and thoughts are provided on how Albanians define themselves and how they were perceived by the South Slavic majority living in the Former Yugoslavia.There are three authors and, subsequently, three seminal works that shall serve as pillars of this theoretical analysis: concepts of Edward Said’s “Orientalism,” Bakic-Hayden’s theories on Orientalist variations and nesting Orientalism, and Maria Todorova’s ground-breaking analysis of the external practices of Balkans representation. These provide a useful theoretical framework through which to explore the distribution of the Orientalist and Balkanist discourses in Former Yugoslavia

Practicing Professional Ethics in Engineering: How This Field is Developed and Its Importance

Many associations of engineers around the world have worked to develop rules in an effort to regulate the ethical practice of the engineer’s profession. These rules are usually referred as Code of Ethics for Engineers and tries to explain how an engineer must practice his work with professional ethics. The purpose of this paper is to show, in informative form, how this field has developed around the world and to emphasize the importance of implementing these rules during the practice of the profession of engineer

Factors of the shadow economy in the Republic of Albania

The shadow economy has been of interest to macro policy makers in today’s world. The shadow economy may erode significantly a country’s tax and social security base by effecting negatively the provision of public services. The objective of this study is to contribute to the current literature on the factors of the shadow economy, respectively focusing in the Republic of Albania. In order to achieve this objective, the authors used multiple variable linear regression. Through this study results are provided and hypotheses are tested about effect of tax burden, government effectiveness and rule of law on the shadow economy. Comparing with other studies, our study found out that not adequate of legal environment has positive impact on shadow economy. Same with other studies, this study found out that tax burden and government effectiveness have negative impact in shadow economy. The key contribution of the study is that it provides results about the factors of shadow economy which is important for policy makers, strategists and academics

Recycling aggregate from concrete, properties and possibility for using in ready Mix Concrete

Many requests for different types of concrete, in general are depends of the aggregates. One of the aim of this paper is to analyses the possibilities of using the recycling aggregate, from part of existing concrete such a raw materials and during the technological process for production of aggregate. Recycling of concrete is a relatively simple process. It involves breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete into a material with a specified size and quality. In this paper the main target is to compare the properties of fresh concrete and the hardening concrete for the mix design with crashed aggregate and recycling aggregate from parts of concrete after the demolition process.Nowadays large amount of demolished concrete are available on construction sites which are now posing a serious problem for transport in urban areas. Day by day this amount is larger and the reasons are that:- Many old buildings, concrete sidewalks, bridges and other structures have exceeded their age limit use due to structural deterioration.- Other possible structures for use are in ruin, because they are not serving the needs of today's society.- Structures have become waste resulting from natural disasters like cyclones, earthquakes,floods etc.As a result of greater demand for concrete, taking into account the fact that aggregate isthe component with the largest participation in concrete. Decreasing the source of natural aggregate we should explore the use of recycled aggregate. Recycled aggregate has goodquality especially in resistance to pressure when the content of brick is not more than 0.5%, it presents the potential for use in a wide range of applications, for the case when it meets the test and performance requirements. However the quality of the concrete which is made with recycled aggregate is lower compared to concrete which is made with natural aggregate.Nowadays, the application of recycled aggregate in construction areas is extensive. It's application is different from country to country, in the sense that each state sets the criteriafor use depending on it's quality.Based on the experience of use, recycled aggregate can be used for: production of concrete, in concrete roads, for production of concrete domes, as padding of the embankment,for construction of pipes, production of concrete blocks etc. Almost in all cases where natural aggregate is used.Based on laboratory analysis Recycled aggregate compared with natural aggregate: absorbsmore water, it has less density in many cases, it has lower specific weight, lower resistance to abrasion, it's more easily to destroy it, it contains more dust particles etc. Due to these results to gain the desired work ability of concrete obtained from the recycled aggregate is necessaryto add a certain amount of water to saturate recycled aggregate before or during mixing with other ingredients of concrete, if not previously used any additional reducing the rate of water absorption. On the other hand it is very important to use the concrete with recycling aggregate for the concrete which offer very good properties in thermo insulation, such a very important request in efficiency of energy

Consequences of money laundering on economic growth – The Case of Kosovo and its Trade Partners

Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of money laundering phenomenon on economic growth level, respectively focusing on Republic of Kosovo and its trade partners’ economic growth. In order to achieve this objective, the authors used a dynamic panel generalised methods of moments (GMM) technique. This paper provides results about measure of effect of money laundering on economic growth and the objective is to provide reasonable evidence that money laundering empirically impacts the macroeconomic indicators, respectively the economic growth of the country. When compare with past literature, similar results are found about negative effect of money laundering on economic growth. Through this paper, it is concluded that reductions in annual growth rates were associated with increases of variables related with money laundering.  The key contribution of the paper is that it provides clear results about the effect of this phenomenon on economic growth which is very important for academics, researchers and universities. Moreover, the study is original and unique because puts Republic of Kosovo to the centre which is not studied in the past. As conclusion, through this paper is proved the hypothesis that money laundering has a significant effect on economic growth and this effect is negative