Paradigms of the Religious Network Society

Beginning in the early 1970’s with the invention of the microprocessor, mass use of information technologies worldwide coincided with the appearance of a nodally-linked network of digital interconnectivity, or ‘network society’ (Castells, 1996). The network society’s exponential growth correlates with a rise in use of digital networking media by various sects and denominations of the Christian religion. Today, growing numbers of Christian organizations integrate digital media into both their approach to worship and the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures. This paper argues that the use of digital media by these organizations is indicative of the creation of a “religious network society†exhibiting identical structural paradigms to Castells’ (1996) network society. By virtue of the media deployed within it, the ‘religious network society’ fosters a mass culture of digital participation characterized by a rapid fragmentation of religious messaging and an over-sharing of personal religious beliefs. However, the religious network society also erodes Christianity’s hierarchical structures of authority (Turner, 2007). It is argued that these structures are being replaced with a banal form of religion emphasizing spirituality and individual self-expression at the expense of tradition (Campbell, 2012; Hjarvard, 2013). Moreover, purpose alterations to Christianity’s authority structures and approach to worship are indicative of a much larger shift in the religion, in which rising digital media use may in fact imply a decline in Christianity’s societal influence

Another "Loophole" in miRNA processing

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Suzuki et al. (2011) present the intriguing finding that an RNAse known to play an important role in immunity regulates miRNA processing in cancer and inflammation by cleaving the terminal loops of many miRNAs. © 2011 Elsevier Inc

RNA-Based Therapeutics: From Antisense Oligonucleotides to miRNAs.

The first therapeutic nucleic acid, a DNA oligonucleotide, was approved for clinical use in 1998. Twenty years later, in 2018, the first therapeutic RNA-based oligonucleotide was United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. This promises to be a rapidly expanding market, as many emerging biopharmaceutical companies are developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based, and RNA-based antisense oligonucleotide therapies. However, miRNA therapeutics are noticeably absent. miRNAs are regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression. In disease states, the expression of many miRNAs is measurably altered. The potential of miRNAs as therapies and therapeutic targets has long been discussed and in the context of a wide variety of infections and diseases. Despite the great number of studies identifying miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets, only a handful of miRNA-targeting drugs (mimics or inhibitors) have entered clinical trials. In this review, we will discuss whether the investment in finding potential miRNA therapeutic targets has yielded feasible and practicable results, the benefits and obstacles of miRNAs as therapeutic targets, and the potential future of the field

Six Peaks Visible in the Redshift Distribution of 46,400 SDSS Quasars Agree with the Preferred Redshifts Predicted by the Decreasing Intrinsic Redshift Model

The redshift distribution of all 46,400 quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Quasar Catalog III, Third Data Release, is examined. Six Peaks that fall within the redshift window below z = 4, are visible. Their positions agree with the preferred redshift values predicted by the decreasing intrinsic redshift (DIR) model, even though this model was derived using completely independent evidence. A power spectrum analysis of the full dataset confirms the presence of a single, significant power peak at the expected redshift period. Power peaks with the predicted period are also obtained when the upper and lower halves of the redshift distribution are examined separately. The periodicity detected is in linear z, as opposed to log(1+z). Because the peaks in the SDSS quasar redshift distribution agree well with the preferred redshifts predicted by the intrinsic redshift relation, we conclude that this relation, and the peaks in the redshift distribution, likely both have the same origin, and this may be intrinsic redshifts, or a common selection effect. However, because of the way the intrinsic redshift relation was determined it seems unlikely that one selection effect could have been responsible for both.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Specifics of Free Weight Training : Undergraduate Thesis

Trening sa slobodnim utezima datira još od vremena drevne Grčke. To je oblik treninga kojim se razvija snaga i veličina skeletnih mišića. Ekspanzija treninga slobodnim utezima započela je 1970-ih godina. Ovakav oblik treninga pokazao se kao jedan od najuspješnijih u ostvarenju ciljeva povećanja mišićne mase i snage te smanjenja količine potkožnog masnog tkiva. Slobodnim utegom možemo smatrati bilo koji objekt ili napravu koju možemo slobodno pokretati u trodimenzionalnom prostoru. Ovakvom vrstom treninga pozitivno utječemo na ukupni zdravstveni status i kvalitetu sportske izvedbe. Neovisno o spolu, dobi i razini treniranosti bitno ga je ugraditi u dio naše svakodnevnice zbog svih benefite koji ima na naše tijelo i organizam.Strength training is the form of physical activity which is used for developing of muscle size and strength. Training with free weights includes using of barbells, weights, dumbbells and kettle-bells to attain muscular concentric and eccentric contraction. It dates back in the times of Ancient Greece. In USA in 19th century growing trend of lifting weights and developing of muscle strength is considered, in order to enhance overall health and well-being. The real expansion of free weights training started in 1970s. The average exercisers have got similar goals of training. They are looking to enhance overall health, as well as building muscle and losing fat, or better said they want to get in “shape”. Strength training with free weights is one of the best forms of training if the goal is achieving previously mentioned goals. We can describe free weights as any object or device which we can move freely in 3-D space. Exercises done with free weights are very similar to some movements and motions we do when we play sports or simply move in day to day activities. Some of the benefits of training with free weights includes, enhancing of: muscle strength, mass and endurance, bone density, insulin sensitivity, “good” cholesterol and cardiovascular health. Also, it leads to reducing of: fat tissue, blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides. Considering everything previously said, it is important to include free weights training as a part of our daily life

Liberalne demokracije i izvanredno stanje: analiza protuterorističkih strategija SAD-a i EU

Terorizam se trenutno smatra najvećim sigurnosnim problemom i izazovom u zapadnim društvima te je zbog toga sekuritiziran. Sekuritiziranjem te rorizma njegovo rješavanje omogućuje upotrebu aktivnosti koje nadilaze uobičajene političke prakse. Jedna je od takvih praksi uvođenje izvanrednog stanja na neodređeno vrijeme što dovodi u opasnost temeljne postavke liberalnih demokracija. Stoga su se u ovom radu, kritičkom analizom diskursa protuterorističkih strategija Sjedinjenih Američkih Država i Europske unije, prikazali način na koji se u strategijama formira pogled na svijet (odnos prema globalizaciji i ranjivosti), predodžba o tzv. „novom terorizmu”, sredstva obrane protiv terorizma te odnos između ljudskih prava i sigurnosti. Rezultati komparativne analize američkog i europskog pristupa borbi protiv terorizma pokazuju određene sličnosti i razlike. No unatoč tomu, nijedan pristup nije uspio pobijediti ili ublažiti terorističku prijetnju. Dapače, svojim diskursom i postupcima koje provode, države zapadnih društava generiraju trajno izvanredno stanje. Ulogu u tomu imaju i protuterorističke strategije svojim neprestanim isticanjem dugotrajnosti i nepredvidivosti borbe protiv terorizma te ranjivosti zapadnih demokracija. Sve to dovodi nas do teze Giorgia Agambena koji smatra kako je hotimično stvaranje izvanrednog stanja , koje ne mora ni biti proglašeno u službenom smislu , postalo glavna praksa suvremenih država, čime se otkriva totalitarni potencijal suvremenih liberalnih demokracija. Time zapadni svijet dolazi u opasnost da postane globalni logor, tj. svijet u kojem je izvanredno stanje pravilo, a ne iznimka i u kojem je svaki pojedinac potencijalni homo sacer.Terrorism is currently considered to be the biggest security problem and challenge in Western societies and is therefore securitized. By securitization of terrorism, its resoluti on enables the use of policies that go beyond normal political practice. One of such practices is the introduction of a state of emergency for an indefinite period of time, which endangers the foundations of liberal democracies. Therefore, in this paper, by applying method of critical discourse analysis to counterterrorism strategies of the United States of America and the European Union, it is shown the way in which strategies form a world view (relation to globalization and vulnerability), the notion of so - called “new terrorism”, defense resources against terrorism, and the relationship between human rights and security. The results of a comparative analysis of the US and European approach to combating terrorism show some similarities and differences. Nevertheless, no approach has succeeded in overcoming or alleviating the terrorist threat. In contrary, with their discourse and the procedures they are conducting, the states of the Western societies generate a permanent state of emergency. Counterterrorism strategies also play a role in this, as they constantly point out the long - term and unpredictable nature of the fight against terrorism and the vulnerability of Western democracies . Considering all this, we come to the thesis of Giorgio Agamben, who claims that the intentionally creation of a state of emergency, which does not have to be officially proclaimed, has become the mainstream practice of contemporary states, revealing the totalitarian potential of modern liberal democracies. Therefore, the Western world is in danger of becoming a global camp, a world in which the state of emergency is a rule, not an exception, and where every individual is a potential homo sace

Specifics of Free Weight Training : Undergraduate Thesis

Trening sa slobodnim utezima datira još od vremena drevne Grčke. To je oblik treninga kojim se razvija snaga i veličina skeletnih mišića. Ekspanzija treninga slobodnim utezima započela je 1970-ih godina. Ovakav oblik treninga pokazao se kao jedan od najuspješnijih u ostvarenju ciljeva povećanja mišićne mase i snage te smanjenja količine potkožnog masnog tkiva. Slobodnim utegom možemo smatrati bilo koji objekt ili napravu koju možemo slobodno pokretati u trodimenzionalnom prostoru. Ovakvom vrstom treninga pozitivno utječemo na ukupni zdravstveni status i kvalitetu sportske izvedbe. Neovisno o spolu, dobi i razini treniranosti bitno ga je ugraditi u dio naše svakodnevnice zbog svih benefite koji ima na naše tijelo i organizam.Strength training is the form of physical activity which is used for developing of muscle size and strength. Training with free weights includes using of barbells, weights, dumbbells and kettle-bells to attain muscular concentric and eccentric contraction. It dates back in the times of Ancient Greece. In USA in 19th century growing trend of lifting weights and developing of muscle strength is considered, in order to enhance overall health and well-being. The real expansion of free weights training started in 1970s. The average exercisers have got similar goals of training. They are looking to enhance overall health, as well as building muscle and losing fat, or better said they want to get in “shape”. Strength training with free weights is one of the best forms of training if the goal is achieving previously mentioned goals. We can describe free weights as any object or device which we can move freely in 3-D space. Exercises done with free weights are very similar to some movements and motions we do when we play sports or simply move in day to day activities. Some of the benefits of training with free weights includes, enhancing of: muscle strength, mass and endurance, bone density, insulin sensitivity, “good” cholesterol and cardiovascular health. Also, it leads to reducing of: fat tissue, blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides. Considering everything previously said, it is important to include free weights training as a part of our daily life

Safety of maritime navigation and accidents in nautical tourism ports

Nautički turizam predstavlja izuzetno važan segment hrvatske pomorske i turističke djelatnosti. Upravo iz tog razloga je sigurnost plovila koja borave u hrvatskim marinama i plove hrvatskim unutarnjim morskim vodama i teritorijalnim morem jamstvo uspješnog obavljanja djelatnosti nautičkog turizma. Pomorska nezgoda je događaj ili skup događaja istog podrijetla koji uzrokuje gubitak ili oštećenje broda, jahte, brodice, tereta, druge imovine na moru, ali i ljudske žrtve. U lukama nautičkog turizma najčešće dolazi do udara, sudara, nasukanja i požara.Nautical tourism represents an extremely important segment of Croatian maritime and tourism activities. It is for this reason that the safety of vessels sailing in Croatian marinas and sailing Croatian inland waters is a guarantee of the successful conduct of nautical tourism. Maritime accident is an event or multiple events of same origin that causes loss or damage to a ship, yacht, boat, cargo, other property at sea, but also to human victims. In the ports of nautical tourism there is usually strikes, collisions, grounding and fires