Solid-state chemistry and polymorphism of the nucleobase adenine

The nucleobase adenine plays a pivotal role in the chemistry of life, but is also becoming increasingly interesting as a building block in the synthesis of functional solid materials. Although commercially available as a solid, adenine’s solid-state chemistry has so far been neglected. In this comprehensive study it is shown that adenine is most often marketed as a mixture of two polymorphs, one previously known, and a new polymorph. Both polymorphs exhibit layered structures with different hydrogen-bonding patterns within layers. The crystal structure of the new polymorph was elucidated using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. Polymorph occurrence conditions, interconversion and the difference in their thermodynamic stability were established theoretically and experimentally revealing the polymorph with Z' = 2 (known) as stable relative to the polymorph with Z' = 1 (new). The adenine layers in both polymorphs are connected by weak interaction likely resulting in stacking faults which are manifested in anisotropic line broadening of their powder diffraction patterns. Analysis of a few commercial samples of adenine revealed them all to be a polymorph mixture, which could be inconvenient in experiments where properties of the solid material could be relevant

The notion of 'the West' in the Serbian national imaginary

This article deals with the imagery of 'the West' in contemporary Serbia. In an analysis of interviews with young Serbian intellectuals, it evaluates how they use the metaphor of the West to construct their self-image. Furthermore, it discusses how Serbian responses to European stereotyping and 'Othering' of the Balkans can function as a form of celebratory appropriation, acceptance and exploitation of these stereotypes. It explores the 'self-exoticization' process as a reaction to the real or imagined western stereotyping that is detected in Serbian narratives, with the overall objective of demonstrating the urgency of critically rethinking the notion that the identity of European remote areas mirrors western interests and stereotypes. Serbian narratives echo the ongoing struggle over the definition and purpose of belonging to Europe in relation to a global economy. Memories, traditions and stereotypes of belonging are not just invented, but also actively encouraged and negotiated within Serbian society. Copyrigh

The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje: The convergence of Croation nationalism on her apparitions

This article concerns the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in one of the most popular, 'active' apparitional sites in the world: Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The connection between nationalist discourse and apparitions has often been observed and noted in the literature on nationalism; however, the examples of this connection are scattered in the literature and the question why the apparitional phenomenon so easily lends itself to co-option into nationalist discourse has never been addressed. This article explores this question by showing that what binds the two phenomena together is the idea of 'chosenness' and 'specialness', which in turn can be theoretically linked to discussions about national election in the literature on nationalism. This article illustrates the convergence of nationalist and apparitional discourses by drawing on a selected number of examples of how the apparitions in Medjugorje have been appropriated by Croatian nationalist discourse