Affine timing function

Eig. 3. Amounts and forms of fiber-reactive dye on the fiber as a function of time for a low affinity dye, where X represents the reactive group. Point A represents the amount of dye exhausted in neutral conditions B is the total amount of dye exhausted at the end of the dyeing process, ie, [dye—OH] +... 

This has close affinities with definitions of system reliability from a hardware perspective, for example, "the probability of performing a function under specified conditions for a specific period of time" (Zorger, 1966). 

Column chromatographic separations depend on the relative affinity of different proteins for a given stationary phase and for the mobile phase. Association between each protein and the matrix is weak and transient. Proteins that interact more strongly with the stationary phase are retained longer. The length of time that a protein is associated with the stationary phase is a function of the composition of both the stationary and mobile phases. Optimal separation of the protein of interest from other proteins thus can be achieved by careful manipulation of the composition of the two phases. 

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