What is an Urban Atmosphere?

Atmosphere is one of the key ideas in contemporary aesthetics. The concept proves to be exceptionally useful whenever particular spaces, including interiors or urban spaces, are discussed regarding their unique features. The goal of the paper is to reconsider how an urban atmosphere may be understood. In order to do that, we will shed light on the ontological nature of atmospheres, by revisiting the concept as it recently was presented by some influential proponents of the aesthetics of atmospheres. Contrary to the widespread view, we argue that an atmosphere is not an entity itself. It is not a “quasi-thing” or “half-thing,” as usually stated, but rather a relational feature of a given site that exists only when it is experienced by someone. At the same time, our discussion of the metaphysics of atmospheres will provide us with a better understanding of the idea of urban atmosphere as characteristic of a particular site. Moreover, the ontology we will sketch allows us to consider the idea of an atmosphere of a whole city

What is an Urban Atmosphere?

Atmosphere is one of the key ideas in contemporary aesthetics. The concept proves to be exceptionally useful whenever particular spaces, including interiors or urban spaces, are discussed regarding their unique features. The goal of the paper is to reconsider how an urban atmosphere may be understood. In order to do that, we will shed light on the ontological nature of atmospheres, by revisiting the concept as it recently was presented by some influential proponents of the aesthetics of atmospheres. Contrary to the widespread view, we argue that an atmosphere is not an entity itself. It is not a “quasi-thing” or “half-thing,” as usually stated, but rather a relational feature of a given site that exists only when it is experienced by someone. At the same time, our discussion of the metaphysics of atmospheres will provide us with a better understanding of the idea of urban atmosphere as characteristic of a particular site. Moreover, the ontology we will sketch allows us to consider the idea of an atmosphere of a whole city

Quantum noise and mixedness of a pumped dissipative non-linear oscillator

Evolutions of quantum noise, characterized by quadrature squeezing parameter and Fano factor, and of mixedness, quantified by quantum von Neumann and linear entropies, of a pumped dissipative non-linear oscillator are studied. The model can describe a signal mode interacting with a thermal reservoir in a parametrically pumped cavity with a Kerr non-linearity. It is discussed that the initial pure states, including coherent states, Fock states, and finite superpositions of coherent states evolve into the same steady mixed state as verified by the quantum relative entropy and the Bures metric. It is shown analytically and verified numerically that the steady state can be well approximated by a nonclassical Gaussian state exhibiting quadrature squeezing and sub-Poissonian statistics for the cold thermal reservoir. A rapid increase is found in the mixedness, especially for the initial Fock states and superpositions of coherent states, during a very short time interval, and then for longer evolution times a decrease in the mixedness to the same, for all the initial states, and relatively low value of the nonclassical Gaussian state.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Saints Cyril and Methodius in the Musical Culture of the 19th and the First Half of the 20th Century in the Context of the Influence of the Slavic Idea

In the 19th century, the great cult that surrounds the saints Ciril and Methodius in Slavic countries went beyond religious worship. Under the influence of Slavophile ideology, the accents of the cult were transferred from the sphere of religion to the national sphere. Saints Cyril and Methodius, as the first apostles in the Slav lands, became symbols of unification and brotherhood of Slav nations. The article discussed historical and social background of the phenomenon and its connection with musical culture, particularly with the works of composers. The text contains a review of works devoted to saints Cyril and Methodius, written by such composers as Pavel Kížkovský, Piotr Czajkowski, Božidar Širola, Leoš Janáek

Yugoslav Music – Concept and Its Realization

Zalążki muzyki jugosłowiańskiej tkwią w iliryzmie – pierwszym ruchu postulującym zjednoczenie kulturowe i polityczne południowych Słowian. W kręgu kompozytorów i muzyków związanych z iliryzmem (Vatroslav Lisinski, Ferdo Livadić) pojawiły się pierwsze inicjatywy zdążające do zbliżenia muzycznych kultur południowej Słowiańszczyzny. Drugi etap (ok. 1860–1918) został zdominowany działalnością Franja Kuhača. Ten chorwacki uczony jako pierwszy sformułował koncepcję wspólnego stylu jugosłowiańskiego (Narodna glazba Jugoslavena, 1869). Pomysły Kuhača stanowiły przygotowa- nie pod trzeci, właściwy etap rozwoju muzyki jugosłowiańskiej – zaczynający się z chwilą powstania Królestwa Jugosławii (1918). Od tego momentu kultura muzyczna krajów południowej Słowiańszczyzny podporządkowana została państwowej idei jugoslawizmu, wyrażającej się w dążeniu do stworzenia jednolitego „narodu jugosłowiańskiego”. Idea ta odzwierciedliła się w pismach czołowych ideologów muzyki jugosłowiańskiej – Antona Dobronicia, Petara Konjovicia i Miloje Milojevicia oraz w utworach kompozytorów czerpiących inspirację z folkloru różnych regionów Jugosławii.The beginnings of Yugoslav music are set in illyrism – the first movement postulating cultural and political unification of the South Slavs. The composers and musicians of illyrism (Vatroslav Lisinski, Ferdo Livadić) came up with the first initiatives to bring together musical cultures of the South Slavs. The second phase (about 1860–1918) was dominated with the output of Franjo Kuhač. This Croatian scholar was the first to create the conception of the common Yugoslav style (Narodna glazba Jugoslavena, 1869). Kuhač’s ideas were the preparation for the third, the actual phase of the development of Yugoslav music – which begun with the creation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918). Since that moment, the musical culture of the south Slavic countries was subordinate to the national idea of Yugoslavism, expressed by pursue to create unilateral “Yugoslav nation”. This idea reflected in the letters of the main ideologists of Yugoslav music – Antun Dobronić, Petar Konjović and Miloje Milojević and in the works of composers drawing inspiration from the folklore of the various regions of Yugoslavia

National Opera under Wagner’s Influence as Exemplified by Libuše by Bedřich Smetana

The article focuses on the influence of Wagnerian ideas on the concept of 19th-century Czech national opera. This can be partly explained by the fact that Czech culture was strongly connected with German culture. However, early Czech operas, and even some of Smetana’s, were quite influenced by the German singspiel — a genre with predominantly lyrical and comic elements. Their national character was manifested mainly by folk elements within the action and the music (countryside scenery, national dances, adaptations of folk melodies). The ideal of this type of national opera is Smetana’s The Bartered Bride. The same composer created a work that presents a completely different understanding of the national style and opera. In Libuše, he tried to use the Wagnerian idea of musical drama for transforming the concept of the Czech national opera. In the article, there are quotations of the composer’s statements about Libuše as a work that has a “unique importance in our [Czech] history”. Wagner’s influences are apparent on a few levels in this operatic work. The libretto is based on the mythical story about Queen Libuše, the legendary founder of Prague, and in the opera she is a symbol of the Czech nation. Wagnerian influences are found in the formal structure (unendliche Melodie), as well as in the musical language of Libuše. Smetana used a system of leitmotifs consequently, connecting them with the characters (Libuše, Přemysl) and ideas (motifs of the nation, motif of authority). Perhaps it was under the influence of the idea of Bühnenfestpiel that Smetana designed Libuše as a slavnostni zpěvohra for special celebrations in the life of the Czech nation

The influence of the driving style according to the principles of eco-driving on the emission of toxic substances from a light utility vehicle

W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki pomiarów toksyczności spalin samochodu dostawczego w rzeczywistych warunkach ruchu. Celem badań było zweryfikowanie wpływu stylu jazdy kierowcy na emisję substancji szkodliwych w spalinach. Do realizacji celu wykonano pomiary emisji drogowej podstawowych gazowych związków toksycznych w spalinach emitowanych do atmosfery przez jednostkę napędową pojazdu. Do pomiarów zawartości poszczególnych zanieczyszczeń gazowych wykorzystano mobilną aparaturę do badań toksyczności spalin typu PEMS.The article presents the results of measurements of exhaust emissions of commercial vehicle in real traffic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine how the driving style effects on the exhaust emissions from vehicle engine. The determinants were the measurements of the concentration of main toxic substances emitted to the atmosphere from the power unit of the tested vehicle. In the measurements a portable exhaust emission analyzer was used (PEMS type)

The influence of the driving style according to the principles of eco-driving on the emission of toxic substances from a light utility vehicle

W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki pomiarów toksyczności spalin samochodu dostawczego w rzeczywistych warunkach ruchu. Celem badań było zweryfikowanie wpływu stylu jazdy kierowcy na emisję substancji szkodliwych w spalinach. Do realizacji celu wykonano pomiary emisji drogowej podstawowych gazowych związków toksycznych w spalinach emitowanych do atmosfery przez jednostkę napędową pojazdu. Do pomiarów zawartości poszczególnych zanieczyszczeń gazowych wykorzystano mobilną aparaturę do badań toksyczności spalin typu PEMS.The article presents the results of measurements of exhaust emissions of commercial vehicle in real traffic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine how the driving style effects on the exhaust emissions from vehicle engine. The determinants were the measurements of the concentration of main toxic substances emitted to the atmosphere from the power unit of the tested vehicle. In the measurements a portable exhaust emission analyzer was used (PEMS type)

The Ontology of Landscapes

The paper aims at an analysis of the concept of landscape, offering an ontological approach. Our claim is that such a perspective is hardly ever assumed in philosophical aesthetics, even if theories of landscape appreciation are in fact based on tacit ontological assumptions. We argue that having an explicit ontology of landscapes is important, for aesthetic theories of their appreciation are often attacked in terms of the problems caused by their tacit ontologies. Therefore, we sketch an “Experience Ontology” that serves as an alternative to the ontologies implied in the two best known aesthetic approaches to landscapes. We contend that a landscape should not be conceived of as an object or view but as a way of experiencing one’s surroundings, and we argue that our theory is not only free from the shortcomings of the two dominant theories but that it also corresponds better to everyday intuitions

Analysis of pollutant emissions and fuel consumption for the use of a multi-storey carpark

In Poland, the number of vehicles owned per capita is systematically increasing. There is also a noticeable increase in traffic in large urban agglomerations. This creates a number of problems, such as difficulties in finding a parking spot. Then it becomes necessary to search for a long time to stop, which is correlated with higher emission of harmful substances and energy consumption. The aim of the work is a multi-criteria analysis of the selection of a parking spot at a shopping center focused on travel times, pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. In addition, consideration was given to the selection of the optimal parking spot. The tests were carried out in Real Driving Conditions similar to Real Driving Emissions testing. The procedure, currently used as an extension of the type-approval tests, reflects the actual exhaust emissions from vehicles more accurately than tests under laboratory conditions. Specialized PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) apparatus was used for the measurements