Consumerism and Mass Media in the Early Works of Thomas Pynchon

The aim of this paper is to provide insight into one of the most prominent topics in postmodern literature through the works of Thomas Pynchon, focusing on his famous short story “Entropy” (1960) and his second novel The Crying of Lot 49 (1965). The issue of consumerism and media-saturated society is the primary concern of postmodern theory and it has been tackled by many authors in the last few decades. However, different authors provide different perspectives and Thomas Pynchon is known to be both innovative and unique in that respect. The concept of entropy, which was introduced in his early short story of the same name, develops further in his later novels, serving both as the connection between the theory of thermodynamics and information theory and as a metaphor for the chaos which never stops increasing in the postmodern consumer society. Analyzing The Crying of Lot 49 in comparison to the ideas previously introduced in “Entropy”, while referring to the postmodern theory is a new way to present the problem of consumerism and its influence on the lives of individuals in contemporary society

Regional characteristics of individual housing units in Serbia from the aspect of applied building technologies

Individual housing units in Serbia have been studied from the aspect of applied technical solutions. Analyzed data have been collected during a field research in accordance with the current administrative regional division, and they represent a basis for definition of regional typology of individual housing units. Characteristic types of objects of each region’s typology have been further analyzed. Upon these analyses regional characteristics of individual housing units regarding applied construction types, building technologies and materials have been defined and presented. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 36034: Investigation and Systematization of Serbian Housing in Context of Globalization and European Integration in the Framework of Quality and Living-Standard Improvement

Consumerism and Mass Media in the Early Works of Thomas Pynchon

The aim of this paper is to provide insight into one of the most prominent topics in postmodern literature through the works of Thomas Pynchon, focusing on his famous short story “Entropy” (1960) and his second novel The Crying of Lot 49 (1965). The issue of consumerism and media-saturated society is the primary concern of postmodern theory and it has been tackled by many authors in the last few decades. However, different authors provide different perspectives and Thomas Pynchon is known to be both innovative and unique in that respect. The concept of entropy, which was introduced in his early short story of the same name, develops further in his later novels, serving both as the connection between the theory of thermodynamics and information theory and as a metaphor for the chaos which never stops increasing in the postmodern consumer society. Analyzing The Crying of Lot 49 in comparison to the ideas previously introduced in “Entropy”, while referring to the postmodern theory is a new way to present the problem of consumerism and its influence on the lives of individuals in contemporary society

Svakodnevno funkcionisanje odraslih osoba sa oštećenim sluhom

Губитак слуха врло је уобичајено здравствено стање међу одраслом популацијом индустријализованих земаља и опште је прихваћено да је његов утицај на комуникацију у великој мери повезан са погоршањем квалитета живота. Циљ овог истраживања је био да се утврде неке од тешкоћа у свакодневном функционисању одраслих особа оштећеног слуха и како те тешкоће утичу на израженост и опаженост хендикепа. Узорак испитаника је чинило 50 особа са оштећењем слуха, од којих 26 (52%) мушког и 24 (48%) женског пола, узраста од 44 до 91 године(АС=64,6612,07). Истраживање је обављено током септембра месеца 2019. године у „Sani Group“, у Београду, продавници слушних апарата и у Центру за едукацију „Осмех“ из Власотинца. Инструмент који је коришћен у сврхе овог истраживања је Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) који је специфичан упитник за особе са оштећењем слуха. Резултати указују да су 6 испитаника без хендикепа (АС=9,334,50), благи до умерени хендикеп је установљен код 17 испитаника (АС=30,948,86) и значајан хендикеп је утврђен код највећег броја испитаника (Н=27, АС=65,3715,07). MANOVA анализа указала је на постојање статистички значајне разлике између свих група испитаника у присуству емоционалног и социјалног хендикепа (Pillai's trace=0,782, F=15,073, p= 0,000) те јасно дефинисну границу између група. Т тест је указао да постоје статистички значајне разлике (p=0,001) између социјалних и емоционалних проблема у групи испитаника без хендикепа, док код осталих група није утврђена статистички значајна разлика, иако су просечне вредности биле веће у корист социјалног хендикепа. Истраживањем је утврђено да постоје тешкоће у свакодневном функционисању одраслих особа оштећеног слуха чиме је потврђена општа хипотеза. Овим особама се понекад дешава да не могу да прате и разумеју разговор у мањој групи људи, као и разговор у продавници. Поред тешкоћа које имају са слухом одрасле особе изјављују да посећују пријатеље, рођаке и комшије, и не избегавају да оду у куповину. Пошто је цео узорак испитаника показао веће просечне вредности у сфери социјалног хендикепа, закључује се да им је теже свакодневно функционисање у социјалној сфери живота у односу на емоционалну. Овим резултатима је потврђена општа хипотеза да постоје тешкоће у свакодневном функционисању одраслих особа оштећеног слуха. У нашој земљи је још увек, нажалост, доминантан став о дискриминацији особа са инвалидитетом, те велики број особа који имају оштећење слуха покушавају да сакрију свој хендикеп, тако да ова констатација може бити један од узрока оваквих резултата.Hearing loss is a very common health condition among the population of adult in industrialized countries and it is generally accepted that its impact on communication is largely related to a deterioration of the quality of life.The aim of this research is to determine some of the difficulties in every day of adults with damaged hearing loss,and how these difficulties affect on expressiveness and observation. The sample consisted of 50 hearing impaired people, 26 (52%) male and 24 (48%) female, aged 44-91 (AS = 64,66 =12,07). The survey was conducted during September 2019 at the ”Sani Group” in Belgrade, the hearing aid store and the “Smile”Education Center in Vlasotince. The instrument used for this research is the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), which is a specific questionnaire for hearing impaired people. The results indicate that 6 subjects were without handicap (AS = 9,334,50), mild to moderate handicap was found in 17 subjects (AS=30,948,86) and significant handicap was found in the majority of subjects (N = 27, AS = 65.3715,07). The MANOVA analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between all groups of subjects between emotional and social handicap (Pillai's trace = ,782, F = 15,073, p = ,000) and a clearly defined boundary between the groups. The T test indicated that there were statistically significant differences (p=.001) between social and emotional problems in the group of non-handicapped subjects, while no statistically significant difference was found in the other groups, although average values were higher in favor of social handicap. The research established that there are difficulties in the daily functioning of hearing-impaired adults, which was confirmed by the general hypothesis. Sometimes happens that they cannot follow and understand the conversation in thesmall group of people, as well as the conversation in the store. In addition to the difficulties they have with hearing, adults state that they visit friends, relatives and neighbors, and do not avoid going shopping. Since the entire sample of respondents showed higher average values in the sphere of sl handicap, it is concluded that it is daily functioning much harder for them in the social sphere of life compared to the emotional one. With this result is confirmed the general hypothesis that there are difficulties in everyday life of damaged hearing loss adults. Unfortunately, disability is still dominant in our country, and many hearing impaired people try to hide their handicap, so this statement may be one of the causes of these results

Primena koncepta dizajna kvaliteta u razvoju lipofilnog krema sa biljnim ekstraktima i masnim uljima

The aim of the PhD thesis was pharmaceutical development of lipophilic cream with active components of plant origin, which contains optimal combination of standardized fruit extract and fatty oil of blackthorn, dog rose, elderberry and rowanberry (Prunus spinosa L., Rosa canina L., Sambucus nigra L. and Sorbus aucuparia L., respectively), with satisfactory stability, safety, efficiency and applicative properties, using quality bу design concept. In vitro examination of ultrasonic fruit extracts with different solvents (methanol, 70% ethanol, 45% propylene glycol, purified water) included physico-chemical properties determination, polyphenolic compounds, organic acids and vitamins contents analyses, evaluation of antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity and influence on fibroblasts viability. As the richest source of bioactive compounds, with good antioxidative and anti-tyrosinase activity and positive influence on fibroblasts viability, an aqueous extract of rose hip at concentration of 3.5% was selected for incorporation into lipophilic cream. After the yields of fruit fatty oils obtained by Soxhlet and supercritical extraction were compared, a better efficiency of the supercritical extraction method for fatty oil isolation from seeds was found. Analysis of fatty acid content in the fruit and seed oils was carried out by gas chromatography. Blackthorn, rose hip and elderberry seed oils were selected for cream formulation at concentrations corresponding to the linoleic acid content of 0.815%. Organoleptic evaluation of lipophilic creams, physicochemical stability testing (pH value, electrical conductivity, centrifugation test) during the 12 months study, sensory characteristics analysis and in vivo estimation of irritation potential (as an aspect of skin application safety) and efficiency (effects on hydration, surface lipid content, skin pH, melanin index, as well as transepidermal water loss), showed that lipophilic cream with rose hip extract (35 mg/g) and blackthorn seed oil (22.4 mg/g) had optimal sensory characteristics, stability, favorable safety profile and the highest application efficiency, so it is suggested as potential pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of dry skin, changes associated with atopic dermatitis (pruritis, xerosis, eczema), hyperpigmentations, UV radiation protection and oxidative stress, which lead to the loss of skin vitality and photoaging

Hemijski sastav etarskog ulja Dragocephalum moldavica L. iz Vojvodine (Srbija)

Dracocephalum moldavica L., also called Moldavian balm or Moldavian dragonhead, is native to temperate climate of Asia, but it was naturalized in Eastern and Central Europe, North Africa, China and northeastern United States. This is an annual plant, with numerous stems (up to 6), 22-45 cm high, and blue flowers arranged in pseudo-whorls growing in leaf axils. Essential oil accumulates in exogenous oil-containing cells at the dorsal sides of the leaves, and in the inflorescence. Because of this, the entire plant has a citrus-like flavor, resembling that of lemon balm and catnip. This plant is extensively used as a spice and for composition of tea blends, in food aromatization (canned fish, jams, candies, syrups), perfumery, alcohol industry, soaps and detergents. Dracocephalum moldavica from Vojvodina Province, Serbia contains geranial (29.6%), geranyl acetate (27.2%) and neral (19.4%) as the most abundant compounds. Further investigations will be focused on the influence of weather conditions on essential oil composition, as well as on bioactive potential of this essential oil.Biljka Dracocephalum moldavica L., poznata je kao Moldavska melisa ili Moldavska zmajeglavka. Poreklom je iz umerenog klimata Azije, ali je naturalizovana u Istočnoj i Centralnoj Evropi, Severnoj Africi, Kini i severo-istočnom delu SAD. Iz korena ove jednogodišnje biljke izbija veći broj stabljika (do 6), koje su 22-45 cm visine, sa plavim cvetovima raspoređenim u lažnim pršljenastim cvastima u pazusima listova. Etarsko ulje se akumulira u egzogenim uljanim ćelijama sa donje strane listova i u cvetovima. Zbog etarskog ulja koje ima citrusnu notu ova biljka podseća na matičnjak i macinu travu. Biljka se intenzivno koristi kao začin i kao dodatak čajnim mešavinama, za aromatizaciju hrane (konzervirana riba, džemovi, slatkiši, sirupi), parfimeriji, alkoholnoj industriji, proizvodnji sapuna i deterdženata. Etarsko ulje D. moldavica iz AP Vojvodine, Srbije sadrži geranial (29,6%), geranil-acetat (27,2%) i neral (19,4%) kao najzastupljenije komponente. Dalja istraživanja biće usmerena na uticaj vremenskih uslova na sastav etarskog ulja, kao i na njegov biološki potencija

STALKING – THE CHALLENGES OF NEW INCRIMINATION

In recent years, the increasing attention of scientific and expert public are attracted cases of stalking. Amendments to the Criminal Code which came into effect on 01 June 2017 (Republic Serbia, Official Gazette“ No 94/16) for the first time includes the criminal act of stalking in Republic of Serbia legislation, in its Article 138a. Stalking has been included in Chapter XIV, within the group of criminal acts againts citizens rights and freedoms. With this act, Republic of Serbia has joined the family od those European countries which apply Article 34 of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, to incriminate such deliberate behaviour, where repeated threats made to another person cause that person′s fear for their safety. The authors in the paper will give analysis of the legal text from two aspects:  legal – criminal and crminological. In the next part of this article, the authors will analyse bearing stalking and family violence in terms of the Code on the prevention of domestic violence. Finaly, the authors discuss the inadeqacy of this legislation and the need for further legislative intervention in this are

The Concept of Time in Don DeLillo’s Point Omega

Temporality is one of the key aspects that contribute to the reshaping of the narrative tendencies of literary modernism, thus leading to the emergence of new narrative strategies associated with postmodern literature. The aim of this paper is to scrutinize its representation in postmodern literature and theory, focusing on one of the notable works that illustrate this phenomenon. Influenced by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s theory of the final aim of evolution, defined as the omega point, Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name explores, in Peter Boxall’s words, the formal balance between cinematic time, urban time, and desert time. In that sense, the paper is particularly concerned with the plurality of time, prevalent in literary postmodernism. In order to provide insight into this matter, it is also essential to shed light on how it is represented in the works of Jorge Luis Borges, who exerted significant influence on DeLillo’s depiction of the concept of time in the contemporary world

Franšizing kao strategija internacionalizacije malih i srednjih preduzeća

The internationalization is an important strategy for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that want to expand their business in foreign markets. Franchising, as a strategy of internationalization of SMEs, is still insufficiently researched topic, especially in the Republic of Serbia. Therefore, the main aim of the research is ТНОntТПТМatТon oП tСО sТtuatТon anН opportunТtТОs Пor SMEs’ internationalization and the implementation of franchising as one of the internationalization strategies. After defining the theoretical framework, the empirical research was conducted, with the aim of contributing to the understanding and encouragement of franchising as the strategy of internationalization of SMEs in the Republic of Serbia. The empirical verification of defined hypothesis was performed by statistical analysis of primary data collected through on-line questionnaires. The implementation period of the field research was from May to July 2016. The research was focused on franchise SMEs in the Republic of Serbia. The realization of sample was 32 franchise SMEs. Hypothesis testing was conducted using a set of statistical methods. The research results indicate that franchise SMEs in the Republic of Serbia implement franchising less frequent than other internationalization strategies. In addition, the results show that internal and external factors, and factors from the domain of modern ICT and the Internet can have an impact on the implementation of franchising as a strategy of internationalization. In the final, the results indicate the existence of differences in the size and character of the impact of certain internal and external factors between the franchise SMEs which implement franchising and franchise SMEs which implement other strategies of internationalization. After analyzing the obtained results, the relevant recommendations are given in terms of raising awareness of SME owners about the benefits of franchising as a strategy of internationalization and promoting the franchising as a business concept. The practical implications of the research are related to the recommendations for greater institutional support for existing franchise SMEs and SMEs that are planning to develop its franchise system in the future

Phyto-pharmacological aspects of Nepeta nuda L.: A systematic review

Nepeta nuda L. (syn. N. pannonica L.) is a herbaceous perennial plant that is the most widespread species of the genus Nepeta, the largest genera in Lamiaceae family. N. nuda is divided into four subspecies according to morphological differences which occur within large geographical range of distribution: subsp. nuda, subsp. albiflora, subsp. lydiae, and subsp. glandulifera. In this review, previous reports on N. nuda concerning its botanical description and systematics, phytochemistry, use in traditional medicine, pharmacology, and posibilities for other applications were summarized. All of these data indicate N. nuda as a highly promising species for application in food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in agriculture for the development of natural pesticides