Combining Advanced Forecasting Methods with System Dynamics - the Case of Finnish Seaports

Seaports play an important part in the wellbeing of a nation. Many nations are highly dependent on foreign trade and most trade is done using sea vessels. This study is part of a larger research project, where a simulation model is required in order to create further analyses on Finnish macro logistical networks. The objective of this study is to create a system dynamic simulation model, which gives an accurate forecast for the development of demand of Finnish seaports up to 2030. The emphasis on this study is to show how it is possible to create a detailed harbor demand System Dynamic model with the help of statistical methods. The used forecasting methods were ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average) and regression models. The created simulation model gives a forecast with confidence intervals and allows studying different scenarios. The building process was found to be a useful one and the built model can be expanded to be more detailed. Required capacity for other parts of the Finnish logistical system could easily be included in the model.

Creating Global Competitive Advantage by Global Product Technology Transfers

Globalization is the trend which is realized in all areas in today’s business world. Pressure for cost reduction, changes in market situation and available scale economies have changed business environment more global than ever. To respond to new situation, companies are establishing global strategies. In this thesis, available global competitive advantages in electrical machine industry are studied in context of gaining them by global technology transfers. In theory part, establishing global strategy and competitive advantage is considered with connection to global sourcing and supply chain management. Additionally, market development in 21st century and its impact on global strategies is studied. In practice, global manufacturing is enabled by technology transfer projects. Smooth and fast project implementation enables faster and more flexible production ramp up. By starting the production available competitive advantages can be realized. In this thesis the present situation of technology transfer projects and the risks and advantages related to global manufacturing are analyzed. The analysis of implemented technology transfer projects indicates that project implementation is in good level. For further development of project execution 10 minor suggestions could be presented with two major ones: higher level standardization and development of product information model to support better global manufacturing.

Novel Proteins Involved in Dynamics of The Photosynthetic Apparatus

During the past few years, a considerable number of research articles have been published relating to the structure and function of the major photosynthetic protein complexes, photosystem (PS) I, PSII, cytochrome (Cyt) b6f, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase. Sequencing of the Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) genome together with several high-quality proteomics studies has, however, revealed that the thylakoid membrane network of plant chloroplasts still contains a number of functionally unknown proteins. These proteins may have a role as auxiliary proteins guiding the assembly, maintenance, and turnover of the thylakoid protein complexes, or they may be as yet unknown subunits of the photosynthetic complexes. Novel subunits are most likely to be found in the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex, the structure and function of which have remained obscure in the absence of detailed crystallographic data, thus making this thylakoid protein complex a particularly interesting target of investigation. In this thesis, several novel thylakoid-associated proteins were identified by proteomics-based methods. The major goal of characterization of the stroma thylakoid associated polysome-nascent chain complexes was to determine the proteins that guide the dynamic life cycle of PSII. In addition, a large protein complex of ≥ 1,000 kDa, residing in the stroma thylakoid, was characterized in greater depth and it was found to be a supercomplex composed of the PSI and NDH complexes. A set of newly identified proteins from Arabidopsis thylakoids was subjected to detailed characterization using the reverse genetics approach and extensive biochemical and biophysical analysis. The role of the novel proteins, either as auxiliary proteins or subunits of the photosynthetic protein complexes, was revealed. Two novel thylakoid lumen proteins, TLP18.3 and AtCYP38, function as auxiliary proteins assisting specific steps of the assembly/repair of PSII. The role of the 10-kDa thylakoid lumen protein PsbR is related to the optimization of oxygen evolution of PSII by assisting the assembly of the PsbP protein. Two integral thylakoid membrane proteins, NDH45 and NDH48, are novel subunits of the chloroplast NDH complex. Finally, the thylakoid lumen immunophilin AtCYP20-2 is suggested to interact with the NDH complex, instead of PSII as was hypothesized earlier.

Non-Markovian Dynamics of the Spin-Boson Model

Avointen kvanttisysteemien teoria tutkii, miten vuorovaikutus laajan ympäristön kanssa muuttaa kvanttisysteemin dynamiikkaa. Kaikki kvanttisysteemit ovat pohjimmiltaan avoimia, joten tällaisten systeemien ymmärtäminen on välttämätöntä kvanttimaailman ymmärtämiseksi. Spin-bosoni -malli kuvaa avointa kaksitasosysteemiä, joka vuorovaikuttaa bosoneista koostuvan ympäristön kanssa. Useat fysikaaliset systeemit käyttäytyvät kaksitasosysteemin tavoin matalissa lämpötiloissa, jonka vuoksi spin-bosoni -mallilla on merkittävä rooli avointen kvanttisysteemien tutkimuksessa. Tutkielman ensimmäinen luku käsittelee yleistä avointen kvanttisysteemien teoriaa ja menetelmiä ei-Markovisen liikeyhtälön johtamiseksi. Ei-Markovinen liikeyhtälö kuvaa ympäristöstä systeemiin takaisin virtaavan informaation vaikutusta systeemin dynamiikkaan. Toisessa luvussa on johdettu spin-bosoni -mallille ei-Markovinen liikeyhtälö ja tarkasteltu spin-systeemin dynamiikkaa joissain erityistapauksissa. Kolmannessa luvussa on esitelty kvanttihyppymenetelmiä avointen systeemien dynamiikan ratkaisemiseksi ja sovellettu ei-Markovisten kvanttihyppyjen teoriaa spinbosoni -mallin tutkimiseksi. Ei-Markovisten kvanttihyppyjen teoriaa käyttämällä voidaan selittää spin-systeemin tiheysmatriisin populaatioissa ja koherensseissa havaittavien ei-Markovisten efektien alkuperä käännettyjen kvanttihyppyjen avulla. Tutkielman viimeisessä osassa esitellään muutamia spin-bosoni -mallin sovellutuksia fysiikan eri alueilta.