There is a need to develop a mathematical expression capable of describing the removal of particulate chemical oxygen demand (PCOD) from wastewaters in biological film systems. In this context, organic particles that are maintained in suspension (i.e., not removed during normal settling) are the focus of experimentation, modeling, and discussion. The goal of this research project is to study the kinetics of PCOD removal from wastewaters by bacterial films, or biofilms. To achieve this objective, a bench-scale rotating disc biofilm reactor (RDBR) was operated using methanol (dissolved substrate), Min-U-Sil 10 (inorganic particulates), and Maizena corn starch (organic particulates) dissolved/suspended in the influent stream. The effect of the ratio of biofilm area to volumetric flow rate passing through the RDBR on the concentration of substrate remaining in the final effluent was determined, and the kinetic relationship was established for both dissolved substrate and particle removal. Exocellular polymeric substances (EPS) were extracted and quantified in order to explain the role of biological flocculation, or bioflocculation, in particulate removal. In the literature, Fick's first law and zero-order kinetics have described the diffusion and biochemical reaction of soluble substrate within the bacterial film matrix (when completely penetrated), respectively. The present study confirms this kinetic behavior for various influent methanol concentrations. On the other hand, the removal of particulates, organic and inorganic, adheres to first-order reaction kinetics. These findings, coupled with the identification of EPS, attribute bioflocculation as the primary removal mechanism of particulates. A mass balance on the biofilm reactor allowed for the development of a comprehensive rate expression for substrate consumption by biofilms when both dissolved and particulate substrates are available. Total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) is comprised of dissolved chemical oxygen demand (DCOD) and PCOD, each of which can be readily determined through laboratory analysis. An equation was developed that accurately describes the disappearance of TCOD by the bioflocculation of PCOD and consumption of DCOD in the bench scale RDBR.

A test facility was constructed to conduct experimental investigation of erosion caused by gas-borne ash particles. The test facility was used to carry out the main objective of the study which was the determination of the critical angle of attack that gives maximum erosion on the target material, mild steel, and the effect of particle velocity and concentration on the erosion of the target material. The tests were carried out using ash samples from three different Eskom fossil-fuelled power stations, namely Matimba Power Station, Matla Power Station and Lethabo Power Station. The selection of the ash samples was based on the ash chemical composition that has the highest content of the chemical elements that have a significant influence in the material erosion of the target material. These chemical elements are quartz and other abrasive materials. These ash samples had a high content of these erosive materials. The first test that was carried out in this study was the determination of the critical angle of attack that gives maximum erosion on the target material. It was decided to start by doing this test because the velocity and concentration tests needed a predefined critical angle of attack that gives maximum erosion on the target material. During the velocity and concentration tests the angle of attack was kept at the predefined critical angle of attack. The results in this study indicate that the critical angle of attack that gives maximum erosion on the target material is at 27º ± 3º orientation of the target surface. The velocity test results indicate that the material erosion rate increases with increasing velocity. The results produced a power relationship between erosion rate and velocity. In this power relationship the velocity exponent for the three ash samples was found to be in the range between 2.42 and 3.64. The concentration test results also indicate that the material erosion rate increases with increasing particle concentration. These results produced a linear relationship between erosion rate and particle concentration.

A variant of the recombination model which we call the valon-parton model is applied simultaneously to a variety of meson inclusive reactions with proton, pion and kaon beams in the kinematic region of low transverse momentum and intermediate values of longitudinal momentum fractions. It is found that the valon distributions in hadrons show no evidence for SU(3) breaking. There are some indications of substantial gluon dissociation contributions which we interpreted through a maximally enhanced sea. For proton induced reactions the model predictions are in excellent agreement with the data; meson initiated reactions indicate additional contributions are coming from resonances which are produced recombinantly and then decay into the observed mesons. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-10, Section: B, page: 4097. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

A calculation of the nonsinglet longitudinal coefficient function of deep-inelastic scattering through order-g('4) is presented, using the operator-product expansion and the renormalization group. Both ultraviolet and infrared divergences are regulated with dimensional regularization. The renormalization scheme dependence of the result is discussed along with its phenomenological application in the determination of R = (sigma)(,L)/(sigma)(,T). / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-09, Section: B, page: 2940. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

The reaction K('-)p(--->)K('+)(,slow)X('-) was studied for (XI)* production using Brookhaven National Laboratory's Multi-Particle Spectrometer. The slow transverse K('+) was identified by two brass/scintillator detectors that detected the stopping K('+) and its subsequent decay. The reaction takes place via baryon exchange. The system in recoil to the K('+) has strangeness -2. The mass of the X('-) was determined as a missing mass for about 3400 events. Of the eleven previously reported (XI) states, two are well established, two are in need of clarification, and the rest need confirmation. In this experiment no new resonances were found, but six previously reported (XI) states were observed: (XI)(1320), (XI)(1530), (XI)(1820), (XI)(2020), (XI)(2220), and the (XI)(2350). Two body cross sections were measured for these states and they range from 1.25 to 7.25 (mu)b. Other previously reported states were not observed up to the 1 (mu)b level and they are: (XI)(1630), (XI)(1680), (XI)(1940), and the (XI)(2120). No conclusions were drawn on the (XI)(2500). / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-10, Section: B, page: 3276. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

Quantum gravity suffers from the non-renormalizability and the unboundedness of the Einstein action. Non-perturbative methods may be crucial for an understanding. The lattice has become an important tool in probing the non-perturbative structure of field theories and could provide valuable hints in understanding quantum gravity as well. / Regge calculus has been used to make preliminary non-perturbative, numerical investigations of the theory. First simulations revealed the existence of an entropy dominated phase, where expectation values of physical quantities were stable. As a first step towards a more realistic theory, we couple a SU(2) field to gravity on the Regge skeleton to see whether the entropy dominated phase would allow the hadronic masses to be chosen arbitrarily small compared to the Planck mass and simultaneously allow the space to become flat on the hadronic scale. / We observe the existence of an entropy dominated phase in simulations on a 4$\sp3 \cdot 2$ lattice and study the phase diagram. The Polyakov loop is used as the order parameter and shows hysteresis, indicating a phase transition. However, to provide modest evidence for the scenario outlined above would require simulations on a larger system $(8\sp3 \cdot\ 4)$, currently outside the scope of our computing resources. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: B, page: 3676. / Major Professor: Bernd A. Berg. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

Symmetry breaking and the question of the origin of mass are the reasons the Superconducting Super Collider and the Large Hadron Collider are being built. The Standard Model of particle physics provides a solution to this problem by proposing the existence of a neutral scalar particle, the Higgs boson. This particle, via its interactions, gives mass to all of the particles in the Standard Model. The question of whether the Higgs boson can be detected at these machines depends critically on its final state decays. These decays in turn depend crucially on the mass of the Higgs boson, an unknown parameter of the theory. A lower bound of the Higgs mass has been set by experiment and a upper bound via theoretical arguments. Throughout much of the mass range Higgs decays via weak gauge bosons yield a clear signal. However, near the lower limit, the so-called intermediate mass region, the situation is less clear. In this region Higgs decays into photon pairs have been suggested as a viable signal. The significance of such a signal depends on other competing processes or backgrounds. This dissertation attempts to answer the question, "Can the Intermediate mass Higgs boson be detected via its electromagnetic decays?" To answer this question various Standard Model processes are calculated to the leading-log and next-to-leading-log level in a Monte Carlo environment. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-03, Section: B, page: 1456. / Major Professor: Joseph F. Owens, III. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

In order to accurately describe the cutoff dependence of the Higgs mass triviality bound, the $\varphi\sp4$ theory is formulated on an $F\sb4$ lattice which preserves Lorentz invariance to a higher degree than the commonly used hypercubic lattice. / We solve this model non-perturbatively by evaluating the linked cluster expansion through 12th order following the approach of Luscher and Weisz. The results are continued across the transition line into the broken phase by integrating the perturbative renormalization group equations. In the Goldstone phase, the renormalized coupling never exceeds 2/3 of the tree level unitarity bound when $\Lambda$/$m\sb{R}\ge 2$. Our results confirm recent Monte Carlo data and we obtain as an upper bound for the Higgs mass $m\sb{R}$/$f\sb\pi=2.45(7)$ at $\Lambda$/$m\sb{R}=2$. / Attempting to produce a heavier Higgs on the lattice, additional four-derivative terms are introduced in the naive action which serve to parameterize the leading order cutoff effects. Using a cluster reflection algorithm of the Swendsen-Wang-Wolff type, we simulate this action on an $F\sb4$ lattice in a region where the region where the effects of the new terms are expected to be maximal. As an upper bound we now obtain $M\sb\sigma$/$f\sb\pi\approx 2.8$, an increase of about 20% compared to the simplest non-linear action. Despite triviality, the scalar sector may thus not be weakly interacting. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-11, Section: B, page: 5775. / Major Professors: Urs M. Heller; Dennis W. Duke. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Two and four prong (pi)('+)p interactions at 16 GeV/c were used to study the reactions: (pi)('+)p (--->) p(pi)('+)(pi)('+)(pi)('-)(eta), (pi)('+)p (--->) p(pi)('+)(eta) and (pi)('+)p (--->) p(pi)('+)(omega). The data were taken by the SLAC 1 meter hybrid bubble chamber facility augmented with a lead glass wall assembly for forward going neutral energy detection. The wall was used to trigger the bubble chamber for neutral energy greater than 3 GeV. / The detection of the (eta) and (pi)('0) signals is shown in the neutral missing mass of the 2 and 4 prongs. A strong (DELTA)('++) signal is seen in both 2 and 4 prong topologies. The invariant mass for the (eta)(pi)('+),(eta)(pi)('-),(eta)(pi)('+)(pi)('-),(pi)('+)(pi)('-)(pi)('0) and (omega)(pi)('+) are given but no new high mass resonances were found. / The cross section for (pi)('+)p (--->) (pi)('+)(pi)('+)(pi)('-)p(eta), (eta) (--->) neutrals production was calculated to be 72 (+OR-) 20 (mu)b, while for the (pi)('+)p (--->) (pi)('+)p(eta), (eta) (--->) neutrals it was 31 (+OR-) 8 (mu)b. The cross section for the production of the (pi)('+)p (--->) (pi)('+)p(omega) was 45 (+OR-) 8 (mu)b and (pi)('+)p (--->) (DELTA)('++)(omega) was found to be 16 (+OR-) 2 (mu)b. / Signals were observed and cross sections calculated for the following mesonic resonances: (delta)('(+OR-))(980) (--->) (eta)(pi)('(+OR-)):(sigma) (.) BR = 13 (+OR-) 5 (mu)b, (eta)' (--->) (eta)(pi)('+)(pi)('-):(sigma) (.) BR = 8 (+OR-) 3 (mu)b and B('+)(1235) (--->) (omega)(pi)('+):(sigma) = 11 (+OR-) 2 (mu)b. Cross sections for resonances opposite (DELTA)('++) were found: (eta)'(980):(sigma) = 6 (+OR-) 1.8 (mu)b and D('0)(1285):(sigma) = 4 (+OR-) 1 (mu)b. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-01, Section: B, page: 0235. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.

The production of pairs of (phi) mesons has been observed in 400 GeV/c proton-nucleon interactions at the Fermilab Multiparticle Spectrometer in the inclusive reaction p N (--->) (phi)(phi) + X, where each (phi) decays to a K+K-pair. / A fast (200ns), high-level trigger processor was used on-line to selectively trigger on events containing two pairs of oppositely charged kaons having low invariant masses. The experimental apparatus and trigger processor are described. / From a sample of 120,000 reconstructed events having at least 2 K+ and 2 K- tracks in the momentum range 5.8 (LESSTHEQ) p (LESSTHEQ) 23.0 GeV/c, the K+K-K+K-, (phi)K+K- and (phi)(phi) invariant mass spectra are presented. A total of 1503 events are identified as being consistent with (phi)(phi) production. / After background subtraction and acceptance corrections, the total cross sections per nucleon for (phi)(phi) and (phi)K+K- production at 400 GeV/c are found to be (sigma)(,T)(pN(--->)(phi)(phi)+X) = 0.87 (+OR-) 0.27 (mu)b and (sigma)(,T)(pN(--->)(phi)K+K-+X) = 23.6 (+OR-) 2.7 (mu)b. An upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio for (eta)(,c) production at 400 GeV/c is established to be (sigma)(,T)(pN(--->)(eta)(,c)+X)(.)BR((eta)(,c)(--->)(phi)(phi)) (LESSTHEQ) 30 nb. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, Section: B, page: 0204. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.