Current enzyme kinetic equations are inadequate for modelling enzymatic reactor systems because they fail to take into account the interactions between that various process parameters. They also are unable to predict reaction rates in complex solute systems. A quasi-native kinetic model was developed that predicts enzyme activity by examining the effect of solute addition on the overall protein structure. The theory was tested using the enzyme urease (urea aminohydrolase EC 3.5.1.5). / The quasi-native model was found to accurately predict both the activation and inhibition phenomena observed with urease and could also predict enzymatic activity in complex solute systems. The quasi-native isomerization constant was shown to be a function of hydrophobic effects characterized by the Sechenov theory and electrostatic effects characterized by the DeBye-Huckel theory. The Sechenov constant was found to be independent of temperature and pH. / The urease denaturation rate constant displayed a response to solute addition similar to that observed with the quasi-native isomerization equilibrium constant. However, the effect of pH on urease kinetics was a complex function of the ionization of active-site ligands and enzyme surface charge interactions.

By using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicles can cooperate in many waysby sending positions and other relevant data between each other. One popularexample is platooning where many, especially heavy vehicles, drive on a trailwith short distances resulting in a reduction of air resistance. To achieve a goodefficiency of the platooning it is required that vehicle fleets are coordinated, sothat the percentage of time for driving in platoon is maximized without affectingthe total driving time and distance too much. For large fleets, this is a complexoptimization problem which would be difficult to solve by only using the realworld as the test environment. To provide a more adaptable test environment for the communication and platooningcoordination, an augmented reality with virtual vehicles (“Ghost trucks")with relevant communication abilities are developed. In order to realise the virtualtesting environment for trucks, Scania initiated a project that could be dividedinto the workload of three master theses. This thesis involved the part ofdeveloping the virtual vehicles, which include the development of a truck modeland a driver model. The developed truck model consists of a single track vehicle model and severalpowertrain models of different complexity provided by Scania. Additionally, thedriver model consists of steering wheel and speed controls in order to keep thetruck on a safe distance from the lead truck and stay on a preferred lane. The keyfeature of the driver-truck model is its modular design, which provides great flexibilityin selecting the level of detail for each component. The driver-truck modelcan be duplicated and simulated together in real time and performs platooningwith each other in a road system based on the real world. As the driver-truckmodel is module based, it can easily be extended for future purposes with morecomplex functions. The driver-truck model is implemented in Simulink and the simulation performancefor different model complexity is evaluated. It is demonstrated that theflexibility of the developed model allows a balanced decision to be made betweenrealistic truck behavior and simulation speed. Furthermore, multi-truck simulationsare performed using the model, which demonstrate the effectiveness of themodel in the evaluation of truck platooning operations.

The main focus of the present study is to identify and integrate the factors affecting the degree of irregularity of five continental divide traces, as expressed by their fractal characteristics measured by the divider method. The factors studied are climate, relief and tectonic environment. The second objective of this study is to determine the relationship between uplift rates and divide trace fractal dimension. Analysis of the results suggests that the degree of irregularity of continental divide traces at fine scale (approximately 10-70 km of resolution) is strongly affected by both climate and tectonics. It is found that control of the factors is generally weaker at coarse scale (above approximately 70 km of resolution). Generic relief should be ranked below both climate and tectonic environment as a factor affecting the complexity of continental divide traces. In terms of the second objective, the fractal dimension at fine scales follows a weakly inverse relationship with uplift. At coarse scale, there is stronger inverse relationship between uplift rate and fractal dimension. / Introduction -- Methodology -- Geomorphic environment -- Evaluation of results -- Significance of control factors -- Conclusion. / Department of Geological Sciences

Previous works have applied the Divider Method to the shapes of drainage divides as measured from maps. This study focuses on the shapes of several drainage divides measured in the field at very fine scale. These divides, chosen for their sharp crests, include portions of the Continental Divide in Colorado and badlands-type divides in Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas. The badlands type divides were delineated using a laser theodolite to collect data at decimeter point spacing, and the Continental Divide segments were delineated using pace and bearing at a constant point spacing of 30 meters. A GIS was used to store and visualize the divide data, and an automated divider analysis was performed for each of the 16 drainage divides.The Richardson plots produced for each of the drainage divide datasets were visually inspected for portions of linearity. Fractal dimensions (D) were calculated using linear regression techniques for each of the linear segments identified in the Richardson plots. Six of the plots exhibited two distinct segments of linearity, nine plots exhibited one segment, and one plot exhibited no segments of linearity. Residual analyses of the trend lines show that about half of the Richardson plot segments used to calculate D exhibit slight curvature. While these segments are not strictly linear, linear models and associated D values may still serve well as approximations to describe degree of divide wandering.Most (20 out of 21) of the dimensions derived from the Richardson plots for the drainage divides fall within the range from 1.01-1.07. The D values calculated for the Continental Divide range from 1.02-1.07. The dimensions calculated for the badlandtype divides were distributed evenly across the range of 1.01-1.06, with a single exceptional D value at 1.12. Only four of the divide D values fall within a range of 1.06–1.12, the range for D established for drainage divides in published map-based studies, despite the apparent dominance of erosion processes on the measured divides. / Department of Geology

This research utilizes the Model for Marketing in Small Professional Service Firms, based on Carson's Model for the Development of Small Firm Marketing, to examine the marketing of Physician Services in Puerto Rico. To achieve its objectives, a combination of quantitative(survey) and qualitative (cases) research is used. From the literature a series of statements is generated to form hypotheses that are tested utilizing the results of a questionnaire survey of 105 physicians in Puerto Rico. The results suggest a possible change of attitude of service providers towards marketing and its use. They reveal that physicians in Puerto Rico are in agreement with the marketing concept but most do not adopt "traditional" techniques of marketing- preferring to focus on the physician/patient relationship. Analysis of eight cases demonstrates the importance of this relationship and suggests that though is seen as important in attracting and retaining patients, most physicians do not see this as marketing, which is perceived to be mostly "advertising" and "selling." Many are cautious not to "commercialise" their practice and any differences in their behaviour can be explained by the way they believe the physician/patient relationship is best enhanced. The research proposes a Model for Marketing Solo Professional Service Firms that depicts the_ relation between the changes, over time, in the personal life cycle of the service provider/owner manager and the stages in the life cycle of the business practice. The model suggests that throughout there is a need to focus on one aspect of marketing for the practice, which may change over time, and that the elements determining the marketing activities at a particular time, how they are undertaken and why they are utilised, are constantly evolving. Thus the marketing practices of small professional firms appear to be contingent on both the external and internal environment of the practice.

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A comprehensive model of particle collection in flotation is developed from a rigorous analysis of the relative motion between a particle and a bubble prior to and during particle-bubble contact. Collection efficiency E(,K) is derived as a product of collision efficiency E(,C) and attachment efficiency E(,A). From trajectory calculations E(,C) is correlated to the bubble Reynolds number and the Stokes number, a dimensionless inertia term. E(,A) is calculated as the fraction of particles which reside on the bubble for a time greater than the induction time. As a result of the velocity gradient are the bubble surface E(,A) decreases with increasing particle size. The model explains the peak in size-by-size recovery data that is often observed at intermediate particle sizes. The peak location is shown to shift to smaller sizes as induction time increases. / A scale-up model for flotation columns is also developed. The model uses measured values of collection rate constants and an experimental correlation of plant column mixing parameters to calculate collection zone recovery R(,K). R(,K) is interfaced with a variable cleaning zone recovery to yield a grade-recovery relationship for the plant column. The onset of bubble loading is accounted for.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-180). / Microfiche. / xvii, 180 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm