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After 1989, the Czech film industry underwent a transformation from an integrated state-funded monopoly to numerous largely privatized and disintegrated film institutions and activities that had to struggle for their existence in the new capitalist economy. The change was accompanied by debates regarding the state funding of cinema, which developed from early naïve neoliberal discourse through struggles for the internal stability of public financing of film to eventual endorsement of national mercantilist discourse that supports Czech national cinema’s competitiveness on international markets. The analysis presented in the article and focused on recent discourse of Czech Film Fund revealed that current Czech film policy is largely in line with film policies of Western European countries. Yet, in contrast to non-post-socialist countries, it is conspicuously devoid of centre-left agenda in terms of equality and diversity on the labour market in the film industry. It also puts little emphasis on the reinforcement of social cohesion through cinema. As contemporary Czech society is becoming increasingly politically polarized, the accentuation of these issues could be beneficial for the state and its inhabitants for years to come.

This study investigates the challenges and potential of conventional injection molding for producing thick-walled optical components. The research primarily focuses on optimizing process parameters and mold design to enhance product quality. The methods include software simulations and experimental validation using polycarbonate test samples (optical lenses). Significant parameters such as melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure, and packing pressure were varied to assess their impact on geometric accuracy and visual properties. The results show that lower melt temperatures and higher mold temperatures significantly reduce the occurrence of dimensional defects. Additionally, the design of the gate system was found to be crucial in minimizing defects and ensuring uniform material flow. Effective packing pressure was essential in reducing volumetric shrinkage and sink marks. Furthermore, we monitored the deviation between the predicted and actual defects relative to the thickness of the sample wall. After optimization, the occurrence of obvious defects was eliminated across all sample thicknesses (lenses), and the impact of the critical defect, the sink mark on the planar side of the lens, was minimized. These findings demonstrate the substantial potential of conventional injection molding to produce high-quality thick-walled parts when these parameters are precisely controlled. This study provides valuable insights for the efficient design and manufacturing of optical components, addressing the growing demand for high-performance thick-walled plastic products.

This research investigates the adaptation of conventional injection-molding techniques for producing thick-walled polycarbonate optical components, specifically targeting their application in automotive light guides. With the automotive industry’s growing demand for reliable yet cost-efficient optical products, the study examines how traditional injection-molding processes can be refined to enhance dimensional accuracy and reduce defects. Simulations and experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the impact of critical process parameters, such as melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure, and gate design, on the overall quality of the final components. The results show that by carefully optimizing these parameters, it is possible to significantly reduce common defects like warpage, surface imperfections, and dimensional instability. This research highlights the potential of existing molding techniques to meet high industry standards while maintaining cost-effectiveness, offering valuable guidance for manufacturers aiming to produce high-quality optical components for demanding applications like automotive lighting.

Injection molding technology is widely utilized across various industries for its ability to fabricate complex-shaped components with exceptional dimensional accuracy. However, challenges related to injection quality often arise, necessitating innovative approaches for improvement. This study investigates the influence of surface roughness on the efficiency of conformal cooling channels produced using additive manufacturing technologies, specifically Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM). Through a combination of experimental measurements, including surface roughness analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and cooling system flow analysis, this study elucidates the impact of surface roughness on coolant flow dynamics and pressure distribution within the cooling channels. The results reveal significant differences in surface roughness between DMLS and ADAM technologies, with corresponding effects on coolant flow behavior. Following that fact, this study shows that when cooling channels’ surface roughness is lowered up to 90%, the reduction in coolant media pressure is lowered by 0.033 MPa. Regression models are developed to quantitatively describe the relationship between surface roughness and key parameters, such as coolant pressure, Reynolds number, and flow velocity. Practical implications for the optimization of injection molding cooling systems are discussed, highlighting the importance of informed decision making in technology selection and post-processing techniques. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of surface roughness in injection molding processes and provides valuable insights for enhancing cooling system efficiency and product quality.

The modification of polymer materials’ useful properties can be applicable in many industrial areas due to the ability to make commodity and technical plastics (plastics that offer many benefits, such as processability, by injection molding) useful in more demanding applications. In the case of injection-molded parts, one of the most suitable methods for modification appears to be high-energy irradiation, which is currently used primarily for the modification of mechanical and thermal properties. However, well-chosen doses can effectively modify the properties of the surface layer as well. The purpose of this study is to provide a complex description of high-energy radiation’s (β radiation) influence on the useful properties of injection-molded parts made from common polymers. The results indicate that β radiation initiates the cross-linking process in material and leads to improved mechanical properties. Besides the cross-linking process, the material also experiences oxidation, which influences the properties of the surface layer. Based on the measured results, the main outputs of this study are appropriately designed regression models that determine the optimal dose of radiation.

Rubber blends based on styrene–butadiene rubber, ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber and a combination of both rubbers were cured with different sulfur and peroxide curing systems. In sulfur curing systems, two type of accelerators, namely tetramethylthiuram disulfide, N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide, and combinations of both accelerators were used. In peroxide curing systems, dicumyl peroxide, and a combination of dicumyl peroxide with zinc diacrylate or zinc dimethacrylate, respectively, were applied. The work was aimed at investigating the effect of curing systems composition as well as the type of rubber or rubber combinations on the curing process, cross-link density and physical–mechanical properties of vulcanizates. The dynamic mechanical properties of the selected vulcanizates were examined too. The results revealed a correlation between the cross-link density and physical–mechanical properties. Similarly, there was a certain correlation between the cross-linking degree and glass transition temperature. The tensile strength of vulcanizates based on rubber combinations was higher when compared to that based on pure rubbers, which points out the fact that in rubber combinations, not only are the features of both elastomers combined, but improvement in the tensile characteristics can also be achieved. When compared to vulcanizates cured with dicumyl peroxide, materials cured with a sulfur system exhibited higher tensile strength. With the application of co-agents in peroxide vulcanization, the tensile strength overcame the tensile behavior of sulfur-cured vulcanizates.

Keywords Digital Periphery, Peripheralization, VOD platforms, East-Central European Film, Netflix, Filmin Introduction A recently published aid-for-policy document signed by 27 EU experts concerned with improving the circulation of European films claims to have tailored its recommendations according to the following market predicament: \"there are many people eager to discover European films,\" and these people \"relate to and enjoy [these films] precisely because they are European.\"^ Suggestively titled European Movies on the Move: Ten Actions for Better Circulation across Europe, the document identifies deficient promotion and distribution, both within and without the continent, as the main hindrance for lovers of European film to have access to their beloved product. Among the document's proposed actions, of interest for this article is Action #4, titled \"Make European films a hit online!\" In accordance with the goals of the European Commission to increase the digital availability of European films, it advocates increased support for VODs that commit to promoting online presence and visibility of European content in another European country and recommends that greater efforts be made - both at national and European level - to support the setting up and scalability of European VoD (sic) [video-on-demand] platforms and to enhance the presence and prominence of European works on European and global VoD platforms.2) These recommendations are of interest here not for their originality, as they reflect a trend in EU policy to offer more support to distribution and exhibition through its Creative Europe program.3) Of interest is an issue that policy-aid documents like this one fail to address: the heterogeneity of the concept of European film,4) whose big other is a homogeneous approach to European cinema.5) These documents fail to attentively consider the various cultural and economic side-effects of creating policy under umbrella concepts like European cinema.6) In other words, what European Movies on the Move falls short to address is that the EU's effort to challenge the hegemony of American content on European and global markets can preserve or even accentuate existing disparities and forms of hegemony within the European film culture. [...]Netflix was selected as, in various regards, a significant and pioneering player and in order to allow for comparisons between American (global) and European VODs. Catalina Iordache, for example, discovered that, counterintuitively, the Romanian Netflix catalogue features more numerous and diverse set of films and series than the Spanish one.13) Our exploration builds on the effort of some of the contributions to the collection Digital Peripheries: The Online Circulation of Audiovisual Content from the Small Market Perspective and on their effort to outline the condition of ECE film cultures as digital audiovisual peripheries.14) We enlarge and nuance their findings by including Romanian film culture and its VOD market into the debate.15) We also enlarge their findings by conducting close readings of the catalogues of VODs.

In this process, the global and local aspects of film marketing and the cinema-going experience intermingle within the efforts of distribution companies, cinemas, and the media to make cinema-going more attractive to audiences. Since both eventization and targeting are at least to a certain degree a result of the Americanization of film ex hibition, these trends will be examined mainly in the context of the history of American film distribution and exhibition, while I also recognize that other influences have played a significant role in the development as well. According to Michael Allen, Hollywood blockbusters often featured technological virtuosity that was utilized in their marketing campaigns. Examples of this trend include the boom of microbreweries producing local beers (not only)58) in Czechia59) or the recently developed interest of Czechs in the authentic cuisine of the Vietnamese minority that was previously ignored by them for many years of co-existence.60) The need for authenticity in modern societies was described most prominently by sociologist of leisure Dean MacCannell in relation to the rise of tourism in search of authentic experiences.61) In a similar sense, the eventization of film screenings (and culture in general, including music, theatre, etc.) allows the audience to be part of something 'authentic': Art house cinemas attempt to re-create the neighbourhood and community in their events, while blockbusters construed as 'revolutions' allow their spectators to be part of events that are (construed as) historically and globally significant.64 Targeting in Theatrical Distribution In marketing theory, the term segmentation designates the division of large heterogeneous markets into smaller segments that consist of potential buyers with similar wants, resources, locations, and buying attitudes and practices.64 The term targeting then designates the decision of how many and which segments the firm under question will serve, focusing primarily on the size and growth characteristics of individual segments.64 I employ here the term targeting in order to describe a tendency of contemporary Czech cinemas to target selected screenings at specific segments of the public. Mothers with babies are invited to screenings within the program 'Baby Bio, showing films with reduced sound level and increased lighting.74 Slightly older children may attend screenings of fairy tales within the program 'Aero for Children'.78· Still older children, between 10 and 16 years of age, are invited to film workshops called 'Aertěk', at which they learn the basics of filmmaking.79· Elementary and secondary schools and universities are offered a special program for their students called 'For Schools'.80· Music fans are invited to live transmissions and recorded broadcasts of music concerts within the program 'Concerts in Cinemas'.81· Theatre fans are invited to live transmissions of performances in world theatres within the program 'Theatre in Cinemas'82· Elderly viewers are offered special screenings within the program 'Bio Senior'83· And the list could go on, especially since new target groups for distributors and art house cinemas emerge virtually every year.