The Dividual: Digital Practices and Biotechnologies

This article revisits the concept of the dividual, taking as a starting point Deleuze’s diagnosis about the relevance that dividual practices have gained with the advent of biotechnology and digital culture. Although we agree with this diagnosis, we highlight the intersections between the dividual and the individual both in Modernity and in the present time. The contemporary dividual is in tension with the modern individual, but not as a substitution, division or duplication of the individual. Rather, we state a complex dividual-individual composition, focusing on biotechnologies, digital culture and financial capitalism. Following a Foucauldian approach, we understand this composition as a result of technologies of power and the result of certain modes of subjectivation. In dialogue with Simondon’s theory of individuation, we suggest that the dividual takes part in a new mode of subjectivation which can be named a ‘dividuation’ in the context of technologically mediated experiences.

Virtual Soft Sensor of the Feedstock Composition of the Catalytic Reforming Unit

The paper discusses a method for obtaining a matrix of individual and group composition of a hydrotreated heavy gasoline fraction in industrial conditions based on the fractional composition obtained by the distillation method according to the ASTM D86 (the Russian analogue of such a standard is GOST 2177). A method for bounds estimation of the retention index (RI) change is considered on the basis of the symmetry of the RI change range relative to its arithmetic mean. Implementation of this method is performed by simulation of individual composition of C6–C12 feedstock of the catalytic reforming unit in the software package. For this purpose, the boiling curve of individual composition of hydrocarbon mixture is converted into the corresponding curve of fractional composition. The presented technique of creating a virtual soft sensor makes it possible to establish a correct relationship between the fractional composition and the individual hydrocarbon composition obtained according to the IFP 9301 (GOST R 52714) (Russian GOST R 52714 and international IFP 9301 standards for the determination of individual and group composition of hydrocarbon mixtures by capillary gas chromatography). The virtual soft sensor is based on chemical and mathematical principles. The application of this technique on the data of a real oil refinery is shown. Obtaining accurate data by means of a virtual soft sensor on the individual composition of feedstock will make it possible to optimize the catalytic reforming process and thus indirectly improve its environmental friendliness and enrichment efficiency.

CRYSTALLINE AND HETEROCYCLYC AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN GEORGIAN PETROLEUM

The individual composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been studied in high boiling (340–590°) fractions of Norio oil (wells 200, 201) which are characterized by high content of aromatic hydrocarbons and high intensity fluorescence. The eluates obtained by adsorption fractionation of aromatic hydrocarbons separated by aniline and concentrates of their crystalline components have been studied by GC, MS and GC-MS methods. For analysis of the obtained data an automated system of mass deconvolution and identification (AMDIS) was used. In the eluates under investigation the following structures were identified: indenes, tetralines, dinaphtilbenzenes, naphthalenes, fluorenes, phenantrenes, antracenes, mono- and polyalkyl derivatives ofnaphtofluorene and phenantrene, and terpeniles. In crystal samples of the eluates the banzantracene, chrizene, their methyl-, dimethyl and trymethylanaloges, phenantrene derivatives, antracenes and pyrenes were identified. The heterocyclic analogues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons likemethylbenzoanthracenes, benzonaphthothiophenes, benzocarbazoles and dibenzthiophene were identified in Georgian oils for the first time.

EXTEMPORAL MANUFACTURE OF MEDICINES. PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Despite the decrease in the number of pharmacies having prescription and manufacturing departments the need for extemporally manufactured dosage forms remains high. Pharmaceutical organization dealing with medicines manufacture is currently facing a number of problems: lack of modern pharmaceutical substances at pharmacies, manufacture of medicines containing narcotic substances, psychotropic substances and their precursors, high costs, low profitability of in-pharmacy manufacture and etc. The urgency to preserve and revive ex tempore formulations at pharmacies is highlighted. The groups of patients for whom individual manufacture of medicines is most relevant are identified: children, especially newborn and children under 1 year old, elderly patients, as well as patients with orphan diseases and patients requiring palliative care. The advantages of the extemporal formulation are noted, in particular, the selection of an individual composition and dosage taking into account body characteristics, age, concomitant diseases of the patient, tolerance of medicinal substances and their excipients, etc. Some ways to solve problems arising are suggested. Promising directions for the development of extemporal manufacture are noted: the use of modern excipients, technologies, packaging facilities, the development of internal regulatory documentation for the pharmaceutical quality system and etc.

A New Method for Weld Dilution Calculation through Chemical Composition Analysis

Aiming at existing methods unable to reveal the definition of dilution in welding accurately, such as the limited formula’s range of 0~1 mathematically, a new way which can be widely applied to various welds alloying either one or more compositions was proposed. Dilution values obtained using different methods through chemical composition analysis were compared and the effect of heat inputs on dilution was researched. The results show that the proposed method fabricated mathematically agrees well with the definition of dilution in welding. Especially, by dilution increasing to a level higher than the critical value, it reveals the fact that a weld can be concentrated as well when the filler wire is rich in the same composition as the substrate does. Besides, the method demonstrates that the gross dilution for a bead is a combined result that is affected by each individual composition. However, whether a composition is diluted or concentrated, composition’s concentrations are propelled by the increase of heat input toward that of the original substrate. During the process, the dilution value changes sharply before the heat input reaches the transition point (TP) of 0.18 kJ/mm, while once the heat input is beyond TP, the dilution becomes stable.

Lipid composition of raw and grilled beef cattle slaughtered at four body weights

The fatty acid composition of beef can be altered by factors related to the animal, management, processing and preparation. The effect of body weight and cooking of meat on the composition of long chain fatty acids was evaluated. Forty 10-month old crossbred young bulls (½ Brown Swiss x ½ Nellore) of initial body weight 219 kg finished in feedlot with high grain diet and slaughtered with 450, 469, 491 and 513 kg of body weight. The Longissimus dorsi muscle was collected after slaughter and carcass chilling. The individual composition of the fatty acids of the meat was not altered (P < 0.05) by different body weights and by cooking (until reaching 72º C). Likewise, the sum of the percentages of saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids; as well as the ratios between monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega 3 and 6 were not altered. Therefore, the different body weights and heating used in this study were insufficient to cause significant alterations in the fat molecules and the meat can be consumed without damaging the health of the consumer.

Changes in the biomarker composition of saturated fraction in late mesocatagenesis

In the paper the transformations, occurring in the distribution of n-alkanes, steranes (m/z 217) and terpanes (m/z 191) hydrocarbons with a catagenesis increase, are discussed. The results obtained in the study of the superdeep well Srednevilyuyskaya-27 (Eastern Siberia) and published works on the regions of the United States of America, Germany and India were used for that comparison. The general trends in the change of the hydrocarbons individual composition of organic matter of various genetic nature with increasing thermal maturity are shown.

Biochemical aspects of the breeding of the berries of genus Rubus L. and Ribes L.

The autors have studied the present day level of the biochemical investigates of the genus Rubus L.and Ribes L. fruits – raspberry, blackberry, black and red currant and goosberry. The indicators of the berries biochemical composition accepted in the inland practice from the viewpoint of their dietary, medicinal and profilactic qualities evaluation have appeared less informative and require futher essential research. The expansion of the analytical methods range hase been proposed on the basis of the analysis of the data base concerning the content and individual composition of the biologically active substances in the berries of enumerated five small fruit crops in order to be applied in the process of breeding expljrations. Thus it is unsaturated fatty acids that dominate in the raspberries seeds and up to 90 % of them are linoleic and linolenic acids.Contrary to them, the blackberries are more rich in tocopherols and sterols. The largest information characterizing the species specificity of the genus studied is data on the phenolic substances content and composition. In particular, the individual composition of anthocyanins in the berries of the researched crops is a clear strain of them. There are also certain differences as for the other phenolic compounds. For instance, 90% of phenolic acids in the raspberries are concentrated in free form, while the blackberries there are only 3% and the rest are glicosides and esters. A clear difference concerning flavonols content and composition can be traced among the goosberry cultivars, depending of the berries color. The characteristic sign of the currants berries is presence in them such components as floridzhyne and elagic acid. It is also important to characterize the volatile compounds in the investigated crops berries, such as aldehydes and terpenoides raspberry and furan derivates in blackberries.Based on the analysis of the database on the content and individual composition of biologically active substances of five types of berry crops, it is proposed to extend the analytical methods used during breeding operations, to determine the composition and amount of fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, sterols, volatile compounds during breeds, as well as phenolic substances, in the sum and content and composition of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, phenolic acid, procyanidines, halkons, ellagic acid and elagotannins.

(Re)constructing oneself in the movies: autobiographical aspects in Federico Fellini's Amarcord

Theorists like Arfuch point to the fact that studies about autobiographical narratives – or self-narratives – have found a great analysis source in literature. The present paper aims to outline the roles such autobiographical aspects could play in movies, specifically in Federico Fellini's Amarcord. Using considerations on film analysis and Philippe Lejeune's work on autobiographical narratives, we found that Amarcord lies within an undetermined space between remembrance and creation. Besides pointing to the cinema's capacity of (re)signifying stories, Amarcord mimics the collective and potentially contradictory nature of reality. We believe that the movie uses elements from autobiographical narratives to address issues such as the (re)construction of one's self, the undefined limits between fiction and reality and the impossibility of a completely individual composition of human beings.