How to theorize the Holocaust?

"Godine 2017. obeležavalo se pet stotina godina Reformacije, pet vekova otkako je Martin Luter, 1517. godine, na portalu dvorske crkve u Vitenbergu obznanio devedeset pet teza usmerenih protiv Rimokatoličke crkve. Nije ovde reč o tome šta se posle zbilo, to je manje-više poznato ili, možda bolje, o tome svako već ima svoj sud. Kao i o drugim pitanjima vere, reklo bi se. Reč je ovde o tome da je tom prilikom, ili za tu priliku, oformljen jedan poseban odbor Evangelističke crkve koji je, između ostalog, zakazao za 26. maj te 2017. godine, u Vajmaru, diskusiju na temu 'Gde je bog bio u Buhenvaldu?'...

Holocaust Industry? The (American) Debate on the Instrumentalization of the Shoah at the Turn of the Century

Тема рада је историјска дебата око феномена тзв. индустрије Холокауста. У основи ове дебате налазе се питања „централности", јединствености, универзализације, американизације и инструментализације Шое. Након горуће јавне контроверзе, последично уништених каријера и политичког збијања редова, та питања остала су да лебде као претећи означитељи Zeitgeista савремене културе сећања, као отворена прича о етичности репрезентације Холокауста.In three books published at the turn of the millennium, the authors talk about the phenomenon of the pronounced presence and significance of the Holocaust in American society: Hilene Flanzbaum’s Americanization of the Holocaust (1999), Peter Novick’s Holocaust in American Life (1999) and Norman Finkelstein’s The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering (2000). These works describe (and criticize) the post-Holocaust memorial world which is characterized by the commodification, commercialization and instrumentalization of the culture of remembrance. Even though each of these authors invoked/understood the term differently, the effect of their works was the introduction of the term „Holocaust industry“ into the public discourse. Today, it has has become an umbrella metaphor for a whole range of practices that represent the instrumentalization, commercialization and commodification of Holocaust remembrance. The paper deals with the process of (politicaleconomic) instrumentalization of the Holocaust, its normalization, naturalization, normativization and mechanization – in Western societies – and criticism of that process. The aim of the paper is to shed light on what is meant by the Holocaust industry and to open space for further reflection and problematization of the Holocaust discourse in the light of the warning that its current commodification and industrialization sends us

Filamentous fungi isolated from grape marc as antagonists of botrytis cinerea

In this paper we report on the isolation and identification of three filamentous fungi from grape marc, and antifungal effect of their cell-free culture filtrates on the growth of Botrytis cinerea, causal agent of gray mold. Grape marc is a waste material that has been used as soil amendment in sustainable agriculture. Isolates originating from grape marc were identified on the basis of morphological features and internal transcribed spacer rDNA or beta-tubulin gene sequencing. The presence of three different species, Penicillium paneum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus fumigatus has been detected expressing different effect on the growth of B. cinerea. The effect of crude culture filtrates of selected fungi on B. cinerea growth was tested. Heat sensitivity of the established inhibition effect was examined by autoclaving the crude culture filtrate prior to testing. Additional aim was to determine whether antifungal effect was influenced by previous exposure to B. cinerea in dual liquid cultures. Crude culture filtrate of A. fumigatus K16/2 showed the lowest suppression of B. cinerea growth. A maximal percentage inhibition achieved within the study was 38.2%, 39.8% and 23.8 for crude filtrates of P. paneum K7/1, P. chrysogenum K11/1 and A. fumigatus K16/2, respectively. Presence of B. cinerea in dual liquid culture induced significant increase in antifungal capacity of the culture filtrates in comparison to pure culture filtrates of the chosen isolates. The antifungal activity of all of the isolates' culture filtrates retained after heat treatment suggesting the presence of some thermostable antifungal metabolites. The results indicate the complexity and specificity of the interaction between filamentous fungi and B. cinerea. Grape marc is a good source for isolation od B. cinerea fungal antagonists and their antifungal metabolites. Specificity of fungal-fungal interactions suggests that further research on the antagonistic mechanisms and factors affecting them should be studied separately for each pair of antagonists

Structural Changes, Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Tribophysically Activated BaTiO3

In order to obtain nanocrystalline material which can be used in MLCC production, the investigations of the influence of BaTiO3 powder tribophysical activation (TPA) on its structural changes, dielectric and ferroelectric properties have been performed. Microstructure development and crystal structure have been studied by mercury porosimetry method, SEM, EDS and X-ray powder diffraction analyses. The modifications of dielectric and ferroelectric properties of sintered samples have been examined and correlated with observed structural changes induced by TPA of starting powders. It has been found that dielectric and ferroelectric properties of tribophysically activated BaTiO3 could be tuned by controlling the grain size and lattice strain of activated nanostructured material

Structural Changes, Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Tribophysically Activated BaTiO3

In order to obtain nanocrystalline material which can be used in MLCC production, the investigations of the influence of BaTiO3 powder tribophysical activation (TPA) on its structural changes, dielectric and ferroelectric properties have been performed. Microstructure development and crystal structure have been studied by mercury porosimetry method, SEM, EDS and X-ray powder diffraction analyses. The modifications of dielectric and ferroelectric properties of sintered samples have been examined and correlated with observed structural changes induced by TPA of starting powders. It has been found that dielectric and ferroelectric properties of tribophysically activated BaTiO3 could be tuned by controlling the grain size and lattice strain of activated nanostructured material

Contribution and significance of Heidelberg retinal tomography II in diagnostics of ocular hypertension and its conversion into primary open-angle glaucoma

Background/Aim. A term 'ocular hypertension' is used when IOP is found to be > 21 mmHg on two consecutive occasions, in the absence of detectable glaucomatous damage. The aim of this study was to determine the significance and contribution of Heidelberg Retinal Tomography II (HRT II) results that show very early, subtle changes in retinal neurofibre layers (RNFL) in the optic nerve head that are specific for glaucoma itself (the loss of neuroretinal rim area and an increase of Cup/Disc ratio), but are not possible to register by an ophthalmoscope. Also, when the results of the functional tests remain unchanged, that confirms the conversion of ocular hypertension into glaucoma. Methods. During a 5-year study period (2002-2007), 29 patients with ocular hypertension were examined. The frequency of control examinations, based on the presence of risk factors for glaucoma development, was 3-6 months. The examination also included IOP measurements with Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT), central corneal thickness (CCT) determination by pachymetry, the examination of chamber angle using indirect gonioscopy, visual field tests by computerized perimetry and also papillae nervi optici (PNO) examination by using HRT II. The application of HRT II enables a great number of stereometric parameters of optic disc, the most important being the rim area and Cup/Disc (C/D) ratio, which was followed during the control examination by each segment, as well as PNO in global. Results. In the examination period, three cases of conversion of ocular hypertension into a primary open-angle glaucoma were found. In the group of patients with ocular hypertension, HRT II results after six months did not show a significant increase in C/D ratio. No significant loss of rim area or rim volume was found either. In three cases of conversion, HRT II results after 3 months showed an increase of C/D ratio and also a significant loss in rim volume at first examination (0.413) comparing to the last one. Conclusion. In diagnosing ocular hypertension and its conversion to glaucoma, HRT II is used for quantitative evaluation of retinal topography and for quantitative monitoring of topographical changes, especially regarding the increase of C/D ratio and loss of rim volume tissue, which enables to see and register subtle structural changes in optic nerve head and RNFL that are so characteristic for glaucoma, which cannot be seen by an ophthalmoscope. With these results, according to risk factors for glaucoma, one can confirm the diagnosis of ocular hypertension and its conversion to primary open-angle glaucoma. In this study HRT II revealed conversion of ocular hypertension into glaucoma in 10% of the patients

A FIRST RECORD OF THE ALIEN MANTIS SPECIES HIERODULA TENUIDENTATA (MANTODEA: MANTIDAE) IN SERBIA

An alien mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata, has expanded its areal in Europe in the last few years. It was registered in several European countries, including some on the Balkan Peninsula. Herein are presented for the first time records of H. tenuidentata on the territory of Serbia, several from the capital city of Belgrade, and one from Novi Kneževac, a town in the northern part of country. The species was recognized for the first time in photos posted in a Facebook group of insect lovers and enthusiasts in 2019, but positive identification only took place in 2020 after group members collected specimens. Social networks can be a very important tool for the monitoring of invasive species in general, and invasive mantids in particular, especially due to their size and attractiveness

Tranzijentna elastografija u neinvazivnoj proceni fibroze jetre kod bolesnika sa primarnom bilijarnom cirozom

In recent decades noninvasive methods for the assessment and monitoring of liver fibrosis have been developed and evaluated in numerous chronic liver diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive markers for fibrosis assessment transient elastography (TE) and biochemical markers using liver biopsy as reference in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Methods. One hundred and twenty-two patients underwent both liver biopsy and blood tests on the same day and TE in a month following the biopsy and the tests. Liver biopsies were reviewed by a single pathologist using the METAVIR scoring system for assessment of liver fibrosis. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), platelet ratio index (APRI), Forns scores, AST and alanine transaminase (ALT) ratio and TE were compared with liver fibrosis stage in order to determine the best noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis. Results. There was a statistically significant difference (p lt 0.05) for the APRI score, Forns index and TE according to stages of liver fibrosis. TE showed superior diagnostic performance when compared to other surrogate markers of liver fibrosis that were investigated. Optimal cut-off for TE were 4.25 and 5.9 kPa for diagnosing the presence of fibrosis and distinguishing mild/moderate and advanced stages of fibrosis respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of TE were 0.963 and 0.865, respectively. Conclusion. Based on our investigation the APRI score, Forns index and TE adequately predict fibrosis stage in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, but the most sensitive and specific parameter appears to be TE. Using noninvasive markers and methods in the evaluation of patients in daily clinical practice may reduce, but not eliminate, the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.Prethodnih decenija otkrivene su neinvanzivne metode za procenu i praćenje fibroze jetre kod hroničnih bolesti jetre. Cilj ove studije bila je procena dijagnostičke preciznosti neinvanzivnih metoda za određivanje fibroze jetre [tranzijentna elastografija (TE) i biohemijski markeri], pri čemu je kao zlatni standard korišćena biopsija jetre kod bolesnika sa primarnom bilijarnom cirozom. Metode. U studiju su bila uključena 122 bolesnika kod kojih su istog dana urađene biohemijske analize i biopsija jetre, a mesec dana kasnije urađena je TE. Za procenu fibroze jetre korišćen je METAVIR skor, a sve preparate biopsija proverio je jedan patolog. APRI skor - odnos aspartat aminotransferaze (AST) i trombocita, Forns indeks, odnos AST i alanin transaminaze (ALT) i TE poređene su sa stepenom fiboze jetre dobijene na osnovu biopsija jetre u cilju dobijanja najboljeg neinvanzivnog markera u proceni fibroze jetre. Rezultati. Dokazana je statistička značajnost (p lt 0.05) za APRI skor, Forns indeks i TE za procenu stepena fibroze jetre. TE je imala najbolji dijagnostički učinak u poređenju sa ostalim markerima koje smo istraživali. Optimalne granične vrednosti za TE bile su 4.25 i 5.9 kPa za dijagnozu fibroze jetre i razlikovanje slabe/umerene i uznapredovale fibroze. Površina ispod krive operativnih karakteristka (AUROC) za TE bila je 0.963 i 0.865. Zaključak. Na osnovu rezultata ove studije proizilazili su APRI skor, Forns indeks i TE adekvatni dijagnostički markeri fibroze jetre kod bolesnika sa primarnom biijarnom cirozom, ali je TE najsenzitivniji i najspecifičniji parametar. Koristeći neinvanzivne parametre i metode u svakodnevnoj kliničkoj praksi može se smanjiti, ali ne i potpuno izbaciti, potreba za invanzivnim dijagnostičkim procedurama