Sin and Punishment: A Literary Analysis of Divine Punishment and Educational Failures in Absalom's Trilogy (2 Sam 13–15)

Članak donosi književnu analizu obiteljskoga života kralja Davida, s posebnim naglaskom na posljedice njegova grijeha s Bat-Šebom, silovanje Tamare, ubojstvo Amnona i pobunu Abšaloma. Okrutno i nasilničko ponašanje Davidove djece događa se unatoč – ili možda upravo zbog – beskrajne ljubavi koju im on pruža. Teološki gledano, ti događaji promatraju se kao ispunjenje božanske kazne nad Davidom zbog njegova grijeha s Bat-Šebom, u skladu s biblijskim načelom »ius talionis«. Međutim, u radu se tvrdi da su tragedije i dugotrajna okrutna borba za nasljedstvo Davidova prijestolja uvelike posljedica njegova neuspješnog odgoja djece. Prvi dio članka donosi književnu analizu ključnih događaja u »Abšalomovoj trilogiji«, uključujući početnu šutnju Davida i Abšaloma nakon silovanja Tamare, Abšalomovu osvetu, Davidovu reakciju na Amnonovo ubojstvo, Abšalomov bijeg i povratak iz progonstva te njegovu konačnu pobunu. Drugi dio članka ispituje uspjeh kralja Davida kao oca i odgajatelja, pružajući opći pregled njegove djece te analizirajući njegov pristup njihovu odgoju. Rad se intenzivno oslanja na rabinsku literaturu, od talmudskih vremena preko srednjega vijeka do suvremenih interpretacija. Velik dio te literature autor je po prvi put preveo na hrvatski jezik s hebrejskog i aramejskog.The article offers a literary analysis of the family life of King David, focusing on the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba, the rape of Tamar, the murder of Amnon, and Absalom's rebellion. The cruel and vicious behaviour of David's children unfolds despite—or perhaps because of—the boundless love he lavishes upon them. Theologically, these events are seen as the fulfilment of divine punishment on David for his sin with Bathsheba, following the biblical principle of ius talionis. However, the author argues that the tragedies and the prolonged, cruel struggle for the succession to David's throne are largely attributable to his failure in raising his children properly. The article is divided into two main sections. The first section provides a literary analysis of the central events in the Absalom Trilogy, covering David's and Absalom's initial silence following Tamar's rape, Absalom's revenge, David's reaction to Amnon's murder, Absalom's flight and return from exile, and his eventual rebellion. The second section examines King David's success as a father and educator, offering a general overview of his children and analyzing his approach to child-rearing. The author draws extensively from rabbinic literature, ranging from Talmudic times through the Middle Ages to modern interpretations. Much of this literature has been translated into Croatian from Hebrew and Aramaic for the first time by the author

Electrochemical and UV-visible spectroscopic investigation of anthranilic acid interaction with DNA

The interaction between anthranilic acid (Aa) and DNA was studied by cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible spectroscopy. Cisplatin (Cis), a drug that is known to interact with DNA, was used as a reference. The electrochemical response showed that the anodic peak potential of Aa shifted downward by 35.1 mV (from 934.4 to 899.3 mV) in the presence of DNA (18 µM). The shift suggests the occurrence of electrostatic interactions between Aa and the DNA backbone. Binding constant (7.08×104 M⁻¹) and free energy (-26.85 kJ mol-1) for Aa-DNA were derived from suppressed anodic peak current density, while Cis was found to have stronger binding (19.49×10⁴ M⁻¹) under identical conditions. UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed hypochromicity at 324 nm for Aa, which is consistent with groove binding, while the distinct mechanism of Cis most likely involves covalent cross-linking. Larger binding site size of Aa (5.76 base pairs) and decreased diffusion coefficients compared with Cis smaller footprint (0.56 base pairs), pointed to differences in mechanisms. These results highlight anthranilic acid as a promising DNA-targeting agent with potential applications in antimicrobial and anticancer drug development, providing a comparative context with the well-established pharmacology of cisplatin

CAPTIVATE AND CONVERT: VISUAL MARKETING COMMUNICATION IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY

Društvene mreže postale su ključan kanal za stvaranje i upravljanje imidžom brenda, pri čemu vizualni sadržaj koji generira hotelski brend predstavlja jedan od najučinkovitijih alata za marketinšku promociju. Svrha ovog rada jest ponuditi dubinsku analizu trenutačnih praksi u stvaranju vizualnog sadržaja luksuznih hotela te hotelijerima omogućiti jasniji uvid u slabosti i prilike njihova pristupa dijeljenju vizualnog sadržaja na društvenim mrežama. Detaljnim pregledom trenutačnih praksi uočavaju se slabosti generičkog pristupa, kojem često nedostaje autentičnosti i personalizacije, čime se propušta prilika za dublje povezivanje s pratiteljima na društvenim mrežama i mogućim gostima. U radu su predložene smjernice koje luksuznim hotelima omogućuju prijelaz na optimiziranu strategiju vizualne komunikacije, a obuhvaćaju prilagodbu vizualnog sadržaja specifičnim zahtjevima različitih platformi, korištenje tema koje odražavaju trendove i lokalnu autentičnost te primjenu storytellinga putem serija fotografija i videozapisa. Osobit je naglasak stavljen na važnost profesionalne produkcije, koja dodatno naglašava luksuz i ekskluzivnost hotelskog brenda. Doprinos ovog rada leži u praktičnim preporukama za optimizaciju vizualnog sadržaja, čime se luksuznim hotelima omogućuje povećanje angažmana i broja pregleda te time jačanje identiteta brenda i diferencijacija od konkurenata.Social media has become a crucial channel for building and managing brand image, with the visual content created by hotel brands serving as one of the most effective tools for marketing promotion. The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of current practices in visual content creation for luxury hotels to give hoteliers a better understanding of the weaknesses and opportunities of their approach to sharing visual content on social media. Through a detailed examination of existing practices, the study identifies the shortcomings of a generic approach that often lacks authenticity and personalization and misses the opportunity to build deeper connections with social media followers and potential guests. The study suggests guidelines that enable luxury hotels to develop an optimized visual communication strategy. These include adapting visual content to the specific requirements of different platforms, using themes that reflect trends and local authenticity, as well as implementing storytelling through photos and videos. A particular focus is placed on the importance of professional production that further emphasizes the luxury and exclusivity of the hotel brand. The contribution of this paper lies in the practical recommendations for optimizing visual content to help luxury hotels increase engagement and view numbers, thus strenghtening brand identity and standing out amongst competitors

Simptomi hrkanja i faktori rizika opstrukcijske apneje tijekom spavanja koje su identificirali doktori dentalne medicine

Objective: To examine the association between snoring, a primary symptom of obstructive sleeps apnea (OSA) and patients’ age, sex, and anthropometric characteristics. The goal is to support dental medicine doctors in identifying individuals at increased risk of OSA. Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional clinical study included 795 participants. Data were collected on age, sex, and anthropometric measurements. Participants also completed the STOP questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Overnight polysomnography was performed at the Split Sleep Medicine Center of the University Hospital of Splitand the University of Split School of Medicine between 2018 and 2023. Results: Participants who reported snoring were significantly heavier (96.5 ± 20.5 kg vs. 84.6 ± 19.3 kg) and had a higher BMI (31.3 ± 10.9 kg/m² vs. 27.2 ± 5.1 kg/m²) than those without snoring. They also had larger neck (41.5 ± 6.0 cm vs. 38.8 ± 4.5 cm), waist (107.8 ± 15.4 cm vs. 96.9 ± 15.4 cm), and hip (110.7 ± 12.3 cm vs. 106.0 ± 11.0 cm) circumferences (P < 0.001 for all). These participants also reported greater day- time sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale: 7.8 ± 4.9 vs. 5.9 ± 4.2; P < 0.001) and had significantly higher AHI values (32.8 ± 26.1 vs. 15.1 ± 17.5; P < 0.001), indicating more severe OSA. Conclusion: Snoring is significantly associated with higher body mass, increased BMI, larger body circumferences, greater daytime sleepiness, and more severe OSA. It may serve as a useful clinical marker for dentists when identifying patients at elevated risk for OSA. Among the examined variables, BMI, AHI, and age were significant predictors of snoring, while sex did not show a statistically significant influence.Cilj: Ispitati povezanost između hrkanja, primarnog simptoma opstrukcijske apneje tijekom spavanja (OSA) te dobi, spola i antropometrijskih karakteristika ispitanika. Cilj je poduprijeti doktore dentalne medicine u prepoznavanju osoba s povećanim rizikom od OSA-e. Materijali i metode: Ovo retrospektivno presječno kliničko istraživanje obuhvatilo je 795 sudionika. Prikupljeni su podatci o dobi, spolu i antropometrijskim mjerenjima. Sudionici su ispunili upitnik STOP i Epworthovu ljestvicu pospanosti. Noćna polisomnografija provedena je od 2018. do 2023. godine u Centru za medicine spavanja Kliničkog bolničkog centra Split i Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Splitu. Rezultati: Sudionici sa simptomom hrkanja bili su znatno teži (96,5 ± 20,5 kg prema 84,6 ± 19,3 kg) i imali su viši indeks tjelesne mase (ITM) (31,3 ± 10,9 kg/m² prema 27,2 ± 5,1 kg/m²) u usporedbi s onima koji nisu hrkali. Također su imali veći opseg vrata (41,5 ± 6,0 cm prema 38,8 ± 4,5 cm), struka (107,8 ± 15,4 cm prema 96,9 ± 15,4 cm) i bokova (110,7 ± 12,3 cm prema 106,0 ± 11,0 cm) (P < 0,001 za sve). Ti sudionici također su prijavili veću dnevnu pospanost (Epworthova ljestvica pospanosti: 7,8 ± 4,9 prema 5,9 ± 4,2; P < 0,001) te su imali znatno više vrijednosti indeksa apneja-hipopneja (AHI) (32,8 ± 26,1 prema 15,1 ± 17,5; P < 0,001), što ukazuje na teži oblik OSA-e. Zaključak: Hrkanje je značajno povezano s većom tjelesnom masom, većim vrijednostima ITM-a, većim tjelesnim opsezima, izraženijom dnevnom pospanošću i težim stupnjem OSA-e. Hrkanje može poslužiti kao koristan klinički marker doktorima dentalne medicine pri prepoznavanju pacijenata s povećanim rizikom od OSA-e. Među ispitivanim varijablama istaknuti prediktori hrkanja bili su ITM, AHI i dob, a spol nije pokazao statistički značajan utjecaj

Traumatska katarakta i krvarenje u staklovinu nastalo samoozljeđivanjem kod djevojke s Marden-Walkerovim sindromom – prikaz slučaja

Aim: The aim of this case report is to highlight the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a young Marden-Walker syndrome (MWS) patient who developed a traumatic cataract and vitreous haemorrhage. It underscores the importance of multidisciplinary awareness in managing MWS, advocating for timely ophthalmologic assessments, especially after ocular trauma in patients with complex genetic syndromes. Case report: A 20-year-old female with MWS and intellectual disability was referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of University Hospital Centre Zagreb due to a white opacity in her right pupil from repetitive self-harm. Her medical history included craniofacial abnormalities, hypotonia, joint contractures, and self-injurious behaviour, particularly frequent hitting and rubbing the eye. A dense, mature traumatic cataract in her right eye was identified. An ultrasound of the eye was performed preoperatively, and vitreous haemorrhage was established. Due to the lack of cooperation, visual tests were limited, and surgery was performed under general anaesthesia, involving lens aspiration, anterior vitrectomy and intraocular lens implantation. The patient was discharged the next day with the prescription of neomycin, polymyxin B, and dexamethasone combination for local use (eye drops 5x/day and ointment 2x/day). Besides that, isotonic eyewash solution containing potassium iodide was also prescribed for local use (eye drops 4x/day). At the follow-up, her vision had improved, with no complications. Multidisciplinary care helped reduce her self-harm, and no further ophthalmological interventions were needed. Conclusions: This case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis and surgical treatment of traumatic cataracts in patients with MWS, as well as the need for psychological and ophthalmologic interventions to prevent complications. A multidisciplinary approach, involving genetics, psychiatry, and ophthalmology, is crucial for providing comprehensive care to this vulnerable group of patients.Cilj: Cilj ovog prikaza slučaja jest naglasiti kliničku sliku, dijagnozu i liječenje mlade pacijentice s Marden-Walkerovim sindromom (MWS) koja je razvila traumatsku kataraktu i krvarenje u staklastom tijelu. Naglašava važnost multidisciplinarne svijesti u upravljanju MWS-om zagovarajući pravovremene oftalmološke procjene, osobito nakon traume oka kod pacijenata sa složenim genetskim sindromima. Prikaz slučaja: 20-godišnja djevojka s MWS-om i intelektualnim teškoćama upućena je na Kliniku za oftalmologiju Kliničkog bolničkog centra Zagreb zbog bijelog zamućenja u desnoj zjenici, nastalog uslijed ponavljanog samoozljeđivanja. Njezina povijest bolesti uključivala je kraniofacijalne abnormalnosti, hipotoniju, kontrakture zglobova i samoozljeđujuće ponašanje, osobito često udaranje i trljanje očiju. Na pregledu se ustanovi gusta, zrela traumatska katarakta na desnom oku, zbog čega se učini i ultrazvuk oka te se ustanovi krvarenje u staklovinu. Zbog nedostatka suradnje, sam pregled bio je ograničen, a operacija učinjena u općoj anesteziji. Prilikom operativnog zahvata učinjena je aspiracija leće, prednja vitrektomija i implantacija intraokularne leće. Bolesnica je otpuštena idućeg dana uz propisanu kombinaciju lijekova neomicina, polimiksina B i deksametazona za lokalnu primjenu (kapi za oči pet puta dnevno i mast dva puta dnevno). Osim toga, propisana je i izotonična otopina za ispiranje očiju s kalijevim jodidom za lokalnu primjenu (kapi za oči četiri puta dnevno). Poslijeoperacijski tijek protekao je bez komplikacija, uz značajno poboljšanje vida prema anamnezi. Multidisciplinarna skrb pomogla je smanjiti njezino samoozljeđivanje i nisu bile potrebne daljnje oftalmološke intervencije. Zaključci: Ovaj prikaz slučaja naglašava važnost rane dijagnoze i kirurškog liječenja traumatske katarakte i krvarenja u staklastom tijelu u bolesnika s MWS-om, kao i potrebu za psihološkim i oftalmološkim intervencijama kako bi se spriječile komplikacije. Multidisciplinarni pristup, koji uključuje genetičare, psihijatre i oftalmologe, ključan je za pružanje sveobuhvatne skrbi ovoj ranjivoj skupini pacijenata

Travail précaire et vie quotidienne

In this paper, the author aims to use the legacy of Marxist criticism of everyday life in order to analyse the phenomenon of precarious labour in contemporary society. Given that the question of alienation of labour holds a central place in Marxist interpretations of everyday life, it begs the question how precarity, as the absolute alienation of labour, impacts daily lives of individuals engaged in insecure employment. The author’s fundamental stance is that the precarity of labour is a structural characteristic of the capitalist mode of production, whose manifestations evolve in accordance with technological progress. In line with this perspective, the author follows Marx’s general law of capitalist accumulation outlined in Chapter 25, Volume 1 of Capital with a vivid description of the “surplus population” or “industrial reserve army”. At the core of this study is the question of how contemporary manifestations of precarious labour influence everyday life of the precariat.U ovom članku, autor cilja primijeniti nasljeđe marksističke kritike svakodnevice radi analize fenomena prekarnog rada u suvremenom društvu. S obzirom na to da je pitanje otuđenja rada središte marksističkog tumačenja svakodnevice, postavlja se pitanje o tome kako prekarnost, kao apsolutno otuđenja rada, pogađa svakodnevicu nesigurno zaposlenih pojedinaca. Autorov je temeljni stav taj da je prekarni rad strukturno obilježje kapitalističkog načina proizvodnje, čije manifestacije evoluiraju u skladu s tehnološkim razvojem. U toj perspektivi autor slijedi Marxov opći zakon kapitalističke akumulacije izražen u pogl. 25, sv. 1 Kapitala, koji sadrži zoran opis »viška populacije« ili »rezervne vojske industrije«. U središtu je ovoga istraživanja pitanje toga kako suvremene manifestacije prekarnog rada utječu na svakodnevicu prekarijata.In dieser Abhandlung beabsichtigt der Autor, das Erbe der marxistischen Kritik am alltäglichen Leben zu nutzen, um das Phänomen prekärer Arbeit in der gegenwärtigen Gesellschaft zu analysieren. Angesichts der Tatsache, dass die Frage der Entfremdung der Arbeit in marxistischen Interpretationen des alltäglichen Lebens eine zentrale Stellung einnimmt, stellt sich die Frage, inwiefern sich Prekarität als absolute Form der Arbeitsentfremdung auf das tägliche Leben von Personen in unsicheren Beschäftigungsverhältnissen auswirkt. Die grundlegende Haltung des Autors besteht darin, dass die Prekarität der Arbeit eine strukturelle Eigenschaft der kapitalistischen Produktionsweise darstellt, deren Ausprägungen sich im Einklang mit dem technologischen Fortschritt entspinnen. Ausgehend von dieser Perspektive folgt der Autor Marx’ allgemeinem Gesetz der kapitalistischen Akkumulation, wie es in Kapitel 25 des ersten Bandes von „Das Kapital“ dargelegt und anhand der Begriffe der „Surplusarbeiterpopulation“ bzw. der „industriellen Reservearmee“ anschaulich illustriert wird. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Studie steht die Frage, wie zeitgenössische Erscheinungsformen prekärer Arbeit den Alltag des Prekariats durchdringen.Dans cet article, l’auteur propose de mobiliser l’héritage de la critique marxiste de la vie quotidienne afin d’analyser le phénomène du travail précaire dans la société contemporaine. Étant donné que la question de l’aliénation du travail occupe une place centrale dans les interprétations marxistes de la vie quotidienne, il convient de se demander comment la précarité – en tant que forme d’aliénation absolue du travail – affecte la vie quotidienne des individus engagés dans des emplois instables. La thèse fondamentale de l’auteur est que la précarité du travail constitue une caractéristique structurelle du mode de production capitaliste, dont les manifestations évoluent en fonction du progrès technologique. Dans cette optique, l’auteur s’appuie sur la loi générale de l’accumulation capitaliste exposée par Marx au chapitre 25 du livre I du Capital, avec sa description saisissante de la « population excédentaire » ou « armée industrielle de réserve ». Au cœur de cette étude se trouve la question de savoir comment les formes contemporaines du travail précaire influencent la vie quotidienne du précariat

Coming out – the predominant interpersonal communication challenge among Croatian gay, bisexual and queer men?

This paper provides a concise overview of the development of the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Croatia and attempts to clarify the specifics of counselling work with such clients. It also provides an overview of the primary motives and reasons for the need for psychotherapy among gay and bisexual men conducted in the Psychological Counselling Centre of one of the oldest associations for the rights and protection of LGBTQ+ people in Croatia, the Iskorak. Founded in 2002, Iskorak is a civil society association whose mission is to promote and protect the human rights of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia, especially the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons people, as well as to advocate for their equal participation in civil society. As part of its programme objectives, Iskorak also offers psychological counselling. This paper attempts to answer questions regarding the extent to which coming out is perceived as a communication challenge among gay, bisexual, and queer men in Croatia in comparison to other difficulties, and understand how many GBQ+ men have joined the therapeutic process in the past five years. The aim is to create space for a better understanding of GBQ+ clients and promote further empirical research on such topics in Croatia