The impact of the configuration of masonry infills on the seismic responce of concrete frame

The impact of the configuration of masonry infills on the seismic response of infilled reinforced concrete frames is demonstrated by means of an example of an eight- storey building located near Ljubljana. Firstly the behavior of such buildings in seismic regions is presented followed by an overview of the mechanical properties of masonry infills and a description of Eurocode 8 requirements for simplified seismic analysis of such buildings. In the second part of the thesis, results of seismic analyses of the investigated building taking in account different configurations of infills are presented. Engineering demand parameters, which were obtained by lateral force method, are presented in terms of fundamental vibration periods, storey shear forces, storey drifts and internal forces. Results have\ud shown that infills greatly reduce storey drifts and halve the fundamental vibration periods. Shear forces are also reduced but because of the simple single-strut model they are also underestimated. In conclusion masonry infills have an impact on the seismic response of reinforced concrete frames and so must be properly analyzed

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (March 2017)

23 pages, 26 figures, 3 tablesThis Collective Article presents information on 22 species belonging to 5 Phyla, arranged geographically from west to east. The new records were found in 8 countries as follows: Spain: first record of the two scarcely known nemerteans Baseodiscus delineatus and Notospermus geniculatus in Formentera; Malta: second record of the alien fish Lagocephalus sceleratus; Italy: the alien polychaete Syllis pectinans and the isopod Paranthura japonica, as well as the cryptogenic opisthobranch Anteaeolidiella lurana, were found in the fouling assemblages along the docks of the port of Livorno. New decapod records are reported from Sicily (the alien Callinectes sapidus and the native Pachygrapsus maurus) and Apulia (Percnon gibbesi and Procambarus clarkii); the lesser amberjack Seriola fasciata extended its geographical range to the Egadi Isands and Siganus luridus was documented for the first time along the Ionian coasts of Apulia and Calabria. Slovenia: the first record of the alien bivalve Brachidontes pharaonis is reported, together with a survey of up to date Adriatic records. Greece: the first record of the gastropod Rhinoclavis kochi is reported from Gavdos island. In addition, two records of endangered and rare cartilaginous fish were reported, namely, the shark Hexanchus griseus and the ray Leucoraja fullonica, as well as additional records of Siganus luridus for Lesvos and Malleus regula and Fulvia fragilis from Astypalaia. Turkey: the black wing flyingfish Hirundichthys rondeletii is reported for the very first time from the Black Sea. Egypt: the Indo-Pacific crab Halimede ochtodes is reported as established in Port Said. In addition, biometric parameters and meristic counts are reported for Anthias anthias in Damietta. Cyprus: the alien opisthobranch gastropod BursatellaPeer Reviewe

A non-destructive method for assessing the feeding habits of coastal fish

Studies on the feeding ecology of sympatric coastal species is important, especially in revealing different strategies to reduce competition. The aim of this study is to test the diet of littoral fish species with a non-destructive method, which does not necessitate the sacrifice of fish specimens. The clingfish Lepadogaster lepadogaster (Bonnaterre, 1788) was used to test this diet assessment method. Freshly caught specimens were delivered immediately to a specially designed box for collecting faecal pellets, supplied by an aerator. Clingfishes were left in the chambers for 24 hours to defecate. The pellets were carefully removed and fixed in 70% alcohol. The content of the pellets was analysed under stereomicroscope and prey items were determined and counted. The comparison with the existing studies showed similarity and consistency between their results, which proves the usefulness and applicability of the method for studying clingfish diet. The suitability of the proposed method was tested on related species L. candollei Risso, 1810, where all ingested prey items were also found and identified in faecal pellets, which confirms its effectiveness for diet analysis.  A method of collecting faecal pellets immediately after defecation has proved to be more useful and effective than other nonlethal methods. After defecation, the specimens were released at the site where they were collected. Due to 100% survival as shown in this research, the proposed method is also suitable for studying the diet of rare and endangered fish species, and also coastal fish fauna in protected areas where traditional destructive sampling methods are not appropriate or allowed

Status invazivne tujerodne modre rakovice Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae) v Sloveniji

Authors present data regarding the presence of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae) based on records gathered from local fishermen. This alien species was firstly recorded in Slovenian coastal waters in March 2019 and it was subsequently found in six other cases in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Crabs were collected or sighted in shallow coastal areas along the Slovenian coast. In addition, authors discussed about the status of the blue crab in marine and coastal habitats of Slovenia.Avtorja poročata o prisotnosti modre rakovice Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae) na podlagi podatkov, pridobljenih s strani lokalnih ribičev. Prvič smo to tujerodno vrsto v slovenskem obrežnem morju potrdili marca 2019, potem pa je bila zabeležena še v šestih primerih v letih 2019, 2020 in 2021. Rakovice so bile v vseh primerih ulovljene ali opažene v plitvem obalnem morju vzdolž slovenske obale. Avtorja nadalje razpravljata o statusu modre rakovice v obmorskih in morskih življenjskih okoljih v Sloveniji

Housing cooperatives as an opportunity for solving the housing issue

One of the solutions for solving housing issues is a housing cooperative which provides non-profit accommodation possibilities to the members of the cooperative. A housing cooperative is an independent community of individuals who voluntarily act together in order to realize their common economic, social and cultural needs and wishes through the housing company which they jointly and democratically manage. The article presents several cases of establishing housing cooperatives worldwide to complement the property offer on the market. The main part aims to analyze the development of such practice in Slovenia. The emphasis is on presenting experiences of housing cooperatives in municipalities of Ljubljana and Domžale, which were established in order to provide affordable and quality housing. The purpose of the housing cooperative in Ljubljana is therefore to facilitate construction, renting and management of non-profit apartments for rent, whilst implementing the participatory principle of planning. For Domžale, housing cooperatives based on the Swiss example are an interesting solution for solving the lack of non-profit apartments for young people and young families.The need for closer cooperation between the state, the municipality and private capital has been established. Properties owned by the state and the municipality ought to be better utilized, since providing good living conditions for young people is an urgent step in ensuring sustainable development of the country. By establishing housing cooperatives, it is expected we could achieve common synergistic effects between younger and other populations, in association with the local community

On the rare and less known nudibranch Piseinotecus sphaeriferus (Schmekel, 1965) (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Piseinotecidae) in the Adriatic Sea

The paper is describing the record of a less known nudibranch Piseinotecus sphaeriferus (Schmekel, 1965) in the port of Koper in November 2012. The specimen was found in the environment of dense epifauna, dominated by polyps of Aurelia aurita. Taking into consideration the available published data on this species we report on the first record of this less known nudibranch species in the Adriatic Sea

O nalazu rijetkog i manje poznatog puža golaća Piseinotecus sphaeriferus (Schmekel, 1965)(Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Piseinotecidae) u Jadranskom moru

The paper is describing the record of a less known nudibranch Piseinotecus sphaeriferus (Schmekel, 1965) in the port of Koper in November 2012. The specimen was found in the environment of dense epifauna, dominated by polyps of Aurelia aurita. Taking into consideration the available published data on this species we report on the first record of this less known nudibranch species in the Adriatic Sea.U radu se iznose podaci o manje poznatom pužu golaću Piseinotecus sphaeriferus (Schmekel, 1965) pronađenom u luci Koper u studenom 2012. godine. Primjerak je pronađen u okruženju guste epifaune u kojoj dominira polip Aurelia aurita. Uzimajući u obzir raspoložive objavljene podatke o ovoj vrsti, želimo izvijestiti o ovom prvom pronalasku ove manje poznate vrste puža golaća u Jadranskom moru

A non-destructive method for assessing the feeding habits of coastal fish

Studies on the feeding ecology of sympatric coastal species is important, especially in revealing different strategies to reduce competition. The aim of this study is to test the diet of littoral fish species with a non-destructive method, which does not necessitate the sacrifice of fish specimens. The clingfish Lepadogaster lepadogaster (Bonnaterre, 1788) was used to test this diet assessment method. Freshly caught specimens were delivered immediately to a specially designed box for collecting faecal pellets, supplied by an aerator. Clingfishes were left in the chambers for 24 hours to defecate. The pellets were carefully removed and fixed in 70% alcohol. The content of the pellets was analysed under stereomicroscope and prey items were determined and counted. The comparison with the existing studies showed similarity and consistency between their results, which proves the usefulness and applicability of the method for studying clingfish diet. The suitability of the proposed method was tested on related species L. candollei Risso, 1810, where all ingested prey items were also found and identified in faecal pellets, which confirms its effectiveness for diet analysis.  A method of collecting faecal pellets immediately after defecation has proved to be more useful and effective than other nonlethal methods. After defecation, the specimens were released at the site where they were collected. Due to 100% survival as shown in this research, the proposed method is also suitable for studying the diet of rare and endangered fish species, and also coastal fish fauna in protected areas where traditional destructive sampling methods are not appropriate or allowed