Aktuální otázky sociální politiky - teorie a praxe (E-Journal)
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Julian Barnes’s The Only Story – Within and Beyond the Author’s Idiosyncrasies
No full textAlthough Julian Barnes’s fiction is diverse in its generic, stylistic and narrative metamorphoses, in terms of its subject matter it has always been preoccupied with the theme of memory, with searching for the truth of what, how and why events happened in the past. The device of an ageing person recalling his younger years or attempting to reveal the secret of another’s past can be traced throughout Barnes’s career, but it has become especially prominent in his later works, which tend to be more grim and rueful. Their narrators are almost obsessed with the meaning of their existence as they contemplate its approaching end and mortality in general. The Only Story (2018) follows this course as it is told from the perspective of a retired man retelling the story of his youthful love affair and its consequences for his subsequent life. This paper discusses how the novel thematically and stylistically follows up on his 2011 Booker Prize winner The Sense of an Ending, but also how it offers a distinct narrative which, while responding to the previous works, still comes up with an original and invigorating variant of the novel of recollection Barnes has successfully exploited before
Transculturalizing Space in Arab Diasporic Poetry: A Spatial Study of Naomi Shihab Nye’s Poetry Collection Transfer
No full textIn the aftermath of the spatial turn that started in the seventies of the previous century, much attention has been devoted to the representation of space in literary criticism. Prior to this, space either served as a background for the events in a literary work or was viewed within an extremely narrow scope which defined it as either central or peripheral. With such reductive readings, the need for a revolutionary critical approach to space in literary criticism has risen, not only in frequently read literary genres but in more recently developing ones. One case in point is Arab diasporic literature, in which space plays an integral role not only in shaping the diasporic relation to native and foreign lands, but in shaping the cross-cultural relations it engages in as well. In the poetry collection Transfer (2011) by the Palestinian-American author Naomi Shihab Nye, space is perceived beyond the physical reality of the native or the diasporic place which witnesses the interaction between the diasporic and the foreigner and is, therefore, transculturalized. As concluded from the analysis of a selection of the poems from Transfer, this transcultural space is marked a number of features. First, it cannot be defined geographically as central or peripheral, it cannot function outside a specific context, and it cannot be separated from the discourse of the text. In this sense, not only would adopting a spatial approach to Arab diasporic literature help deconstruct more traditional approaches to space, but it would also help address some of the most commonly raised questions in Arabic diasporic literature from a transcultural perspective
Free To Be… You and Me: the Best-Selling Record and Popular Show Which Made America Rethink Gender Stereotypes
No full textLong before wide-spread discussion of “toxic masculinity,” “mansplaining” and “gender identity,” we had Free To Be... You and Me by Marlo Thomas and friends. This paper will examine the cultural and historical impact of this ground-breaking record album, illustrated booklet and television special from 1972 and 1974 respectively. This project was the brainchild of the popular actress and social activist Marlo Thomas, with the proceeds from the project going to support the Ms. Foundation For Women, an extremely influential feminist organization. A number of leading entertainers participated in the project: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Alan Alda, to name but a few. Although initially met with great skepticism, the record and consequent television show became huge hits, becoming the sound-track for a generation of children growing up in the 1970s. I would argue that this project, more than anything else up until that time contributed to feminist consciousness raising and awareness of gender stereotyping and still has much to teach us today
Axle Failures due to Poorly Pressed Joint of Wheel on Axle
No full textV příspěvku jsou popsány neblahé důsledky špatně provedeného lisovaného spoje kolonáprava, které vedou ke vzniku trhlin v oblasti sedla nápravy a v ojedinělých případech pak i k totálnímu lomu náprav se všemi těžkými následky. V praktickém provádění lisovaného spoje se v souladu s normativními předpisy kolo lisuje „za studena“ na nápravu lisovací silou, která je v průběhu lisování zaznamenávána a je vlastně jediným kontrolním parametrem vzniklého lisovaného spoje. Tento parametr je ale z hlediska kvality nalisovaného spoje naprosto nedostačující, respektive nemá dostatečnou vypovídací úroveň o pevnosti nalisovaného spoje. Příspěvek obsahuje popis důslednějšího způsobu kontroly provedeného lisovaného spoje, který by zaručil, že do provozu by se dostala pouze dvojkolí s kvalitně nalisovanými koly na nápravu.The paper describes the unfortunate consequences of a poorly made press wheel-axle joint, which lead to cracks in the area of the axle seat and, in rare cases, to total fracture of the axles with all the severe consequences. In the practical implementation of a pressconnection, in accordance with normative regulations, the wheel is pressed "cold" on the axle by the pressing force, which is recorded during the pressing and is actually the only control parameter of the resulting press connection. However, this parameter is completely insufficient from the point of view of the quality of the pressed joint, or it does not have a sufficient telling level about the strength of the pressed joint. The paper contains a description of a more consistent way of checking the made press connection, which would guarantee that only wheelsets with high-quality pressed wheels on the axle would get into operation
Possibilities of Using JASTI Dummy in Assessing Effects of Pedestrian Collision with Tram Front End
No full textPříspěvek nastiňuje možnosti využití figuríny JASTI (Hybrid III 50th Percentile Male Pedestrian) pro hodnocení účinků srážky chodce s čelem tramvaje v souvislosti se vznikající legislativou. Je prezentován popis figuríny a veličin, které byly sledovány při zkouškáchrealizovaných v rámci stávajícího projektu. Dále jsou zmíněna omezení použitelnosti figuríny a návaznost na simulační modely.The paper outlines the possibilities of using the JASTI (Hybrid III 50th Percentile Male Pedestrian) dummy to assess the effects of a pedestrian collision with the front end of a tram in the context of legislation under preparation. A description of the dummy and the variables that were monitored in the tests carried out in the current project is presented. Furthermore, the limitations of the applicability of the dummy and the relation to simulation models are mentioned
Tribotec Sandblasting in the Present and Its Future Development
No full textSystém, který svým pneumatickým způsobem řešení zajišťuje vysokou provozní spolehlivost a vylučuje jak jednorázový, tak i kontinuální výsyp písku u všech aktivovaných nebo neaktivovaných písečníků nad stanovenou normu, tedy nadměrné nebo naopaknedostatečné pískování. Technické řešení neumožňuje vysypání většího množství písku do místa styku kola s kolejnicí ani při poruše pneumatické soustavy vozidla. Zařízení je univerzálního charakteru a je ho možné aplikovat v nenáročných modifikacích na všechnadrážní vozidla. Toto pískovací zařízení je postupně montováno na nová a rekonstruovaná hnací vozidla.The system which increases high operating durability by its pneumatic way of solution and avoids onetime and continual souring of sand by all activated or inactivated sand storages above defined limits. It means enormous or insufficient sanding. Technical solution does not allow pouring of higher amount of sand into area of contact between a wheel and a rail in case of malfunction of pneumatic system of a vehicle. Universal character of the device allows its application in modest modifications for all rail vehicles. This sanding device is mounted gradually on new and reconstructed driving vehicles
Development of a Tribometer for Evaluating Adhesion on a Real Rail
No full textJedním z nejdůležitějších parametrů, který se na trati zjišťuje, je součinitel adheze. Součinitel adheze se na reálné trati standardně stanovuje pomocí měřící lokomotivy nebo měřícím vozíkem. Tyto varianty jsou poměrně nákladné, proto se používají stacionární nebo tlačené traťové tribometry. Vyvíjený traťový tribometr se pevně instaluje na kolejnici nad měřený úsek. Hlavní částí zařízení je měřící vozík, který je motorem tažen po lineárním vedení umístěným na rámu. Součinitel adheze je získán pomocí řízené změny trakční síly, která je realizována bržděním měřicího kola. Při měření se zaznamenává brzdný moment a dvojice rychlostí – dopředná a rotační. Na základě těchto údajů je možné vykreslit adhezní křivku v měřeném úseku. Tento příspěvek diskutuje různé měřící módy tribometru a představuje metodiku měření adheze. Součástí příspěvku jsou také experimenty provedeny v laboratorním prostředí pro různé stavy kontaminace kontaktu.One of the most important parameters, which are measured on the rail, is the coefficient of adhesion (CoA). CoA on real rail is measured by measuring locomotive or measuring carriage. These methods are quite expensive, therefore rail tribometers which are fixed or pushed are used. Developed track tribometer is mounted on a rail above the measured section. The main part of the device is a measuring module, which is dragged by a stepper along a linear guide mounted on the frame. CoA is obtained by controlling the change in traction force, which is realized by breaking the measuring wheel. During the measurement, the braking torque, forward and rotational speed are recorded. Based on these data, it is possible to plot the adhesion curve in the measured section. The paper discusses the various measuring modes of the tribometer and presents the methodology of adhesion measurement. Moreover, a series of measurements in the presence of various contaminants was performed in a laboratory
THE CENTRAL BI-OCEANIC RAILWAY CORRIDOR
No full textIn this paper it is discussed the Central Bi-Oceanic Railway Corridor called as the “The Panama Canal of the 21st Century” Project that will join the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in South America linking Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Its impact is expected to be huge, firstly expanding trade and reducing the transport times around 30%, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
 
IMPLEMENTÁCIA CESTNÉHO BALÍČKA EÚ 2020 A ODHAD JEHO DOPADOV VO VYBRANOM ČLENSKOM ŠTÁTE: SLOVENSKO
No full textThe European Union has adopted a “road package” of several measures in the field of road transport, with the aim of helping the sector to remain competitive in the context of a socially just transformation towards clean energy and digitalisation. According to the European Commission, the package presented for the next legislative process at EU level aims to address the issues of extreme overload of road traffic and pollution, but also to respond to the growing number of road freight transport operators and their working and social conditions. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of these new legislative changes on the business environment in road transport in the Slovak Republic, the selected EU Member State. Selected costs for the implementation of the package for road transport operators were estimated.Európska únia prijala v oblasti cestnej dopravy „cestný balíček“ viacerých opatrení, ktorých cieľom je pomôcť odvetviu zachovať si konkurencieschopnosť v rámci sociálne spravodlivej transformácie smerom k čistej energii a digitalizácii. Cieľom predloženého balíčka do ďalšieho legislatívneho procesu na úrovni EÚ je podľa Európskej komisie riešiť otázky veľkej preťaženosti ciest a znečistenia, ale tiež reagovať na rastúci počet subjektov v cestnej nákladnej doprave a ich pracovné a sociálne podmienky. Cieľom tohto príspevku je skúmanie vplyvu týchto nových legislatívnych zmien na podnikateľské prostredie v cestnej doprave vo vybranom členskom štáte EÚ v Slovenskej republike. Boli odhadnuté vybrané náklady na implementáciu balíčka na prevádzkovateľov cestnej dopravy.  
Doors Half-Open in Bluebeard’s Castle: George Steiner and His Heretical Essays in Modern Times
No full textGeorge Steiner was a French-American polymath and polyglot. Along with Umberto Eco, Steiner has been ranked among the very last European metaphysicians as well as a leading cultural critic of the 20th century. Although an erudite scholar writing extensively in four languages about the most pressing issues of late modernity, Steiner has never been very popular among the general public. While his original essays won critical acclaim, by intellectuals he has also been rebuked for his ill-judged, doom-laden and reactionary elitist visions. The following paper deals with Steiner’s most thought-provoking, “heretical” texts on the nature of modern barbarism and the basic inhumanity at the heart of the humanities. The aim is to suggest possible reasons for Steiner’s “persona non grata” status