Un des enjeux majeurs dans la gestion de la plaie de pied diabétique est l’obtention d’informations permettant d’anticiper l’évolution de ces infections. Actuellement, il n’existe pas d’outils suffisamment efficaces qui permettent de distinguer une plaie colonisée d’une plaie infectée. L’approche proposée est basée sur discrimination de plusieurs bactéries fréquemment retrouvées dans les plaies chroniques de pied diabétique à partir de leur profil métabolique, et plus particulièrement des métabolites volatils qu’elles produisent. En effet, le dynamisme du métabolisme bactérien serait à même de mettre en évidence les changements qui s’opèrent dans la plaie. Dans un premier temps, une nouvelle méthodologie de concentration des métabolites volatils par Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) a été développée. Elle est basée sur l’utilisation de barreaux qui sont placés à la fois dans le milieu de culture et en espace de tête, suivie d’une analyse par GC-MS. La méthode a ensuite été comparée avec une autre méthode de concentration utilisant des fibres (la SPME) et a montré une meilleure capacité de concentration, permettant ainsi une détection plus sensible. Cette méthodologie a ensuite été utilisée pour suivre la production métabolique de six souches bactériennes cultivées dans des conditions mimant la plaie chronique. Grâce à leur profil métabolique, il a été possible de distinguer des espèces bactériennes. De plus, de manière plus surprenante, il a été possible de distinguer deux souches de Staphylococcus aureus présentant des profils de virulence différents. Enfin, une étude en co-culture a mis en évidence que 83% des métabolites produit en culture simple étaient retrouvés, prouvant l’intérêt de la méthodologie pour distinguer des souches bactériennes d’une même espèce au sein d’une plaie. / One of the major challenges in the management of diabetic foot wounds is to obtain information to anticipate the evolution of these infections. Currently, there are no sufficiently effective tools to distinguish a colonized wound to an infected wound. The proposed approach is based on the discrimination of several bacteria frequently found in chronic diabetic foot wounds from their metabolic profile, and more specifically the volatile metabolites they produce. Indeed, the dynamism of bacterial metabolism would be able to highlight the changes that are occurring in the wound. First, a new methodology for the concentration of volatile metabolites by Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) was developed. It is based on the use of stir bars that are placed both in the culture medium and in headspace, followed by GC-MS analysis. The method was then compared with another concentration method using the fibres (SPME) and we highlighted a better concentration capacity with a more sensitive detection. This methodology was then used to monitor the metabolic production of six bacterial strains grown under conditions mimicking the chronic wound. Their metabolic profile allowed us to distinguish bacterial species. Moreover, more surprisingly, it was possible to distinguish two strains of Staphylococcus aureus with different virulence profiles. Finally, a co-culture was performed and we showed that 83% of the metabolites produced in simple culture were found, proving the interest of the methodology to distinguish bacterial strains of the same species within a wound.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e aplicação de técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostras para análises ambientais via GC-MS. Dentre elas aplicou-se a técnica de Extração em Fase Sólida (SPE) na análise do regulador de crescimento de plantas, paclobutrazol (PBZ), em amostras de solo. Um método foi desenvolvido, otimizado e validado para o emprego da técnica acoplada à cromatografia gasosa e espectrometria de massas (GC-MS) na análise de PBZ em solo. Foram desenvolvidas também barras in-house, para Extração por Sorção em Barras de Agitação (SBSE), preparadas com PDMS, otimizadas, validadas e aplicadas na extração de pesticidas organoclorados no modo headspace acoplado a GC-MS. Adicionalmente, novos recobrimentos para SBSE a partir da modificação do PDMS comumente utilizado visando mudanças nas características de polaridade das fases sortivas foram desenvolvidos. Seguindo a tendência de miniaturização desenvolveu-se um novo sistema nomeado de Extração Sortiva Refrigerada (RSE), a qual considera a teoria de equilíbrio da HSSE e da SPME refrigerada. A técnica foi otimizada e aplicada em amostras de água do rio de Atibaia, coletadas na região de Paulínia-SP. / This study describes the development and application of different miniaturized sample preparation techniques for environmental analysis via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among those techniques, the Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) was applied to the analysis of plant growth regulator, called paclobutrazol (PBZ), in soil samples. A method was developed, optimized and validated for the application of the technique coupled to GC-MS for the analysis of PBZ in soil. In-house Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) was also developed, optimized, validated and applied to organochlorine pesticides extraction in water samples in headspace mode followed by GC-MS. Additionally, new coatings for SBSE based on the PDMS modification commonly used to change the polarity characteristics of the sorptive phases were developed. Following the miniaturization trend, a new system called Refrigerated Sorptive Extraction (RSE) was successfully developed. This system was built with similar refrigerated SPME and HSSE equilibrium. Such technique was optimized and applied on water samples from Atibaia´s river, collected in the region of Paulínia-SP.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e aplicação de técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostras para análises ambientais via GC-MS. Dentre elas aplicou-se a técnica de Extração em Fase Sólida (SPE) na análise do regulador de crescimento de plantas, paclobutrazol (PBZ), em amostras de solo. Um método foi desenvolvido, otimizado e validado para o emprego da técnica acoplada à cromatografia gasosa e espectrometria de massas (GC-MS) na análise de PBZ em solo. Foram desenvolvidas também barras in-house, para Extração por Sorção em Barras de Agitação (SBSE), preparadas com PDMS, otimizadas, validadas e aplicadas na extração de pesticidas organoclorados no modo headspace acoplado a GC-MS. Adicionalmente, novos recobrimentos para SBSE a partir da modificação do PDMS comumente utilizado visando mudanças nas características de polaridade das fases sortivas foram desenvolvidos. Seguindo a tendência de miniaturização desenvolveu-se um novo sistema nomeado de Extração Sortiva Refrigerada (RSE), a qual considera a teoria de equilíbrio da HSSE e da SPME refrigerada. A técnica foi otimizada e aplicada em amostras de água do rio de Atibaia, coletadas na região de Paulínia-SP. / This study describes the development and application of different miniaturized sample preparation techniques for environmental analysis via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among those techniques, the Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) was applied to the analysis of plant growth regulator, called paclobutrazol (PBZ), in soil samples. A method was developed, optimized and validated for the application of the technique coupled to GC-MS for the analysis of PBZ in soil. In-house Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) was also developed, optimized, validated and applied to organochlorine pesticides extraction in water samples in headspace mode followed by GC-MS. Additionally, new coatings for SBSE based on the PDMS modification commonly used to change the polarity characteristics of the sorptive phases were developed. Following the miniaturization trend, a new system called Refrigerated Sorptive Extraction (RSE) was successfully developed. This system was built with similar refrigerated SPME and HSSE equilibrium. Such technique was optimized and applied on water samples from Atibaia´s river, collected in the region of Paulínia-SP.

Le présent travail porte sur la modélisation 3D du comportement hydromécanique du bois en général et du sapin blanc en particulier, avec la prise en compte des couplages entre les effets orthotrope, hydrique, élastique, viscoélastique et mécanosorptifs, y compris l’effet hygroverrou qui est un phénomène de blocage temporaire de la déformation en phase de séchage sous contrainte. Ce mémoire est scindé en trois grandes parties découpées en sept chapitres. La première partie examine le contexte et la problématique du comportement hydromécanique du bois. Les aspects traités vont de la structure, du phénomène hygroscopique et de l’effet de retrait/gonflement, aux divers aspects du comportement hydromécanique du bois sous humidité constante ou variable comme l’orthotropie, la viscoélasticité et les effets mécanosorptifs qui traduisent l’interaction complexe entre le chargement mécanique et les variations d’humidité. Les bases pour la modélisation sont présentées dans le deuxième chapitre, telles que la formulation incrémentale à pas de temps fini pour modéliser le comportement viscoélastique orthotrope 3D et les modèles mécanosorptifs intéressants de la littérature. A partir de cette étude bibliographique, on propose une voie pour modéliser dans ce travail l’effet mécanosorptif comme la somme de trois effets élémentaires : effet mécanosorptif irréversible, fluage mécanosorptif et effet hygroverrou. Les deux premiers effets sont modélisés par des modèles existants tandis que la modélisation de l’effet hygroverrou est l’objet d’une démarche originale dans ce travail. La deuxième partie, décomposée en deux chapitres, est consacrée à la construction du modèle de comportement 3D. Le premier chapitre présente les développements mathématiques pour l’élaboration d’un modèle analytique. Ce modèle est basé sur l’hypothèse de partition de la déformation totale en une somme de six déformations élémentaires : hydrique, élastique instantanée, viscoélastique pure, hygroverrou, mécanosorptive irréversible et de fluage mécanosorptif. Les variations de ces déformations élémentaires sont établies de manière séparée. En particulier, la loi d’évolution de la déformation hygroverrou construite sur la base d’observations expérimentales, est différente en phase de séchage et d’humidification. Une contrainte auxiliaire, introduite en respectant les principes thermodynamiques, permet de résoudre le problème de la récupération de la déformation hygroverrou en phase d’humidification en cas de contrainte nulle ou insuffisante. En parallèle, un nouveau modèlerhéologique est également proposé pour modéliser le comportement viscoélastique à humidité variable. Ce modèle, équivalent à un modèle de Maxwell généralisé et/ou à un modèle de Kelvin-Voigt généralisé, est capable de décrire le fluage aussi bien que la relaxation. Le deuxième chapitre de cette partie est consacré à la transformation du modèle analytique en une forme incrémentale à pas de temps fini. La contribution de chaque partie élémentaire est établie par résolution exacte à partir d’équations différentielles ou d’intégrales de Boltzmann. La somme des formes élémentaires ainsi obtenues conduit à la loi de comportement du modèle complet qui est similaire à celle d’un comportement thermo-élastique équivalent. Du fait de la procédure d’intégration, le pas de temps de calcul est fini mais pas nécessairement petit. Cette propriété est très importante car elle permet de réduire considérablement le temps de calcul tout en préservant une très bonne précision. La dernière partie est divisée en trois chapitres. Elle présente la mise en œuvre numérique du modèle hydromécanique à l’aide du code d’éléments finis Cast3m, suivie de la validation et d’applications à diverses classes de problèmes. L’algorithme numérique est organisé en modules indépendants. Des procédures élémentaires sont construites pour réaliser des fonctions spécifiques ; elles sont appelées selon un ordre précis par un programme principal. (...) / This work concerns 3D modeling of hydro-mechanical behavior of wood in general and the silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in particular with taking account of the couplings between the effects: orthotropie, hydric, elastic, viscoelastic and mechano-sorptive including hydro-lock effect that is a temporary locking of the mechanical strain during a period of drying under stress. This memory is divided into three parts divided into seven chapters. The first part examines the background and the problem of hydro-mechanical behavior of wood. The aspects go from the structure, hygroscopic phenomenon and the effect of swelling/shrinkage, to various aspects of the hydro-mechanical behavior of wood under constant or variable moisture as orthotropie, viscoelasticity and mechano-sorptive effects that is the interaction complex between mechanical loading and moisture variations. The bases for modeling are presented in the second chapter, such as incremental formulation on finite time step to model the 3D orthotropic viscoelastic behavior and interesting mechano-sorptive models of literature. From this literature review, we propose a way to model in this work mechano-sorptive effect as the sum of three elementary effects: irrecoverable mechanosorptive, mechano-sorptive creep and hydro-lock effect. The first and the second effects are modeled by existing models while modeling hygroverrou effect is an original subject in this work. The second part, divided into two chapters, is dedicated to building the 3D model of behavior. The first chapter presents the mathematical developments for the development of an analytical model. This model is based on the assumption partition of the total strain by a sum of six elementary strains: hydric, instant elastic, viscoelastic pure, hydro-lock, irrecoverable mechano-sorptive and mechano-sorptive creep. Variations of these elementary strains are established separately. In particular, the evolution law of the hydro-lock strain constructed on the basis of experimental observations is different in phase of drying and moistening. An auxiliary stress introduced in accordance with thermodynamic principles, solves the problem of recovering the hydro-lock strain in the moistening phase in case with zero or little stress. In parallel, a new rheological model is proposed to model the viscoelastic behavior at variable humidity. This model, equivalent to a generalized Maxwell model and / or a generalized Kelvin-Voigt model, is able to describe the creep as well as relaxation. The second chapter of this part is devoted to the transformation of the analytical model in an incremental form on finite time step. The contribution of each elementary part is established by exact resolutionfrom differential equations or Boltzmann’s integrals. The sum of elementary forms thus obtained leads to the complete model behavior law which is similar to that of an equivalent thermo-elastic behavior. Because of the integration process, the time step calculation is finished but not necessarily small. This property is very important because it significantly reduces the computation time while maintaining very good accuracy. The last part is divided into three chapters. It presents numerical implementation of hydro- mechanical model using the finite element code Cast3m, followed by validation and applications to various classes of problems. The numerical algorithm is organized into independent modules. Elementary procedures are built to perform specific functions; they are called in a specific order by the main program. Model validation is made by comparison between simulated results and experimental data available in tension and bending. The last chapter of the thesis presents applications of solid wood reconstituted silver fir. They show the ability of the model to predict the states of stress and strain in timber structures under mechanical loading and variable humidity.

The Oseberg ship is known as one of the finest surviving artifacts from the Viking age, with origins dated back to the 800s. The ship has been displayed in the Viking ship museum in Oslo since 1926. The nearly 100 years on museum display along with the over 1000 years it was buried has weakened the structure of the ship. To slow down the deterioration, several research projects has been initiated, among them the project ''Saving Oseberg''. A part of ''Saving Oseberg'' is contributing to the planning of a new museum for the ship. As a basis for the planning, the ship has been monitored with photogrammetry. This is intended as a way to visualise the deformation and displacements of the ship due to seasonal changes in indoor temperature and humidity. In this thesis the photogrammetry data from the hull of the ship was used to make a finite element model, and through this model calculate the average strain on each element. The method was based on a previous research project conducted on the Swedish warship Vasa by a research group at the Division of Applied Mechanics at Uppsala University. The measurements of the ship was formed into a hull by Delaunay triangulation. The strain was approximated as a Green strain and evaluated using isoparametric mapping of the elements. Through the nodal displacements, the strain was evaluated by approximating the elements as tetrahedrons and calculating the average strain from these elements between the measurements. The result showed an oscillating behavior of the displacements, proving the proposal of seasonal depending displacements. The measured principal strains also matched to the corresponding relative humidity fluctuation during the year. The strain magnitude was relatively even throughout the ship, mostly varying between ±0.4% but certain areas were more subjected than others. A few elements on the starboard side showed very large strains through most of the measurements, this seemed very unusual and was probably the result of inaccuracies or errors in the data. Though the ship is subjected to relative small strains and permanent displacements after annual cycles, the mechano-sorptive strains may lead to accumulated deformation and eventually failure in the weak parts of the wood or at the high stress concentraion parts. In addition, the cyclic strain even in elastic range may cause fatigue failure in any material which could pose a large threat for the future conservation of the ship.

Identifying the best control method for problematic wildlife is an ever present issue in wildlife management. Popular control methods have ranged from lethal techniques, extirpating the animal, to multiple non-lethal methods focused on deterring undesired behavior. In the past, lethal methods were the preferred choice. However, with increased awareness of the need for biodiversity conservation, new management methods focus on non-lethal control, with emphasis on exploiting aspects of naturally occurring organismal behaviors and ecology. Over the past decade, technological advances in extraction method’s and equipment have also developed new techniques providing a broader range of information about species biology for management use. One of the most well documented conflicts between wildlife and humans is that of the wolf. Using advanced technology and new techniques, we investigated the implication of using chemosensory signals in canid urine to modify behavior as a possible non-lethal alternative in large predator management. Here we used the SBSE method coupled with improved GC/MS equipment to analyze the volatile organic compounds in the urine of four canid species, gray wolf (Canis lupus), red wolf (Canis rufus), wolf-dog hybrids (Canis familiaris) and the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) in order to create working urinary profiles. The extraction method identified several compounds also seen in the urinary profiles of other large predators. In addition, similarities and differences were also noted between taxa and the sexes, and these can be further explored in future studies. Two identified urinary compounds, acetophenone and methyl propyl sulfide, were selected for further behavioral evaluation. We focused on these compounds and their influence as chemosensory signals triggering urine marking events in both the gray wolf and red wolf. Behavioral observations of the effects of these two chemicals indicated they elicited responses from captive wolves. At each of the three study sites, the combination of these chemicals produced urine-marking events along the territory boundary by dominant animals. As a result, the investigation focused on what triggered the urine-marking events, the chemicals themselves, their combination, or the breakdown of the chemicals producing other odorants. It was found that there was no significant degradation of the chemicals over time and environmental conditions produced no significant breakdown of the acetophenone prior to the addition of methyl propyl sulfide. This posed a number of new questions and illustrated the need for additional behavioral studies. The results of this study analyzing chemosensory signals in canid urine, provides biologists with new information to aid in the development of new non-lethal management strategies for handling problematic wildlife as well as providing useful information for future research involving reproduction, predator/prey dynamics, territory maintenance, and a host of other studies focusing on animal ecology in association with chemosensory signaling.

Neste trabalho desenvolveram-se diferentes tipos de barras para extração por sorção em barras de agitação (SBSE). Esta técnica foi desenvolvida para extrair analitos orgânicos de matrizes aquosas por meio da sorção destes em uma barra de agitação. As barras c omerciais consistem em um magneto inserido no interior de um tubo de vidro, o qual é recoberto por uma camada de poli(dimetilsiloxano) (PDMS). A SBSE apresenta várias vantagens em relação às técnicas de extração convencionais, tais como: não utiliza solvente orgânico, não requer instrumentação analítica sofisticada, as barras de extração são reutilizáveis e, principalmente, possui um volume maior de recobrimento quando comparada com a microextração em fase sólida. As barras desenvolvidas para este estudo contêm fases mais seletivas, já que, comercialmente disponível, existe apenas um único tipo de recobrimento - o PDMS. Estas barras \"home-made\" foram preparadas com PDMS modificado com diferentes tipos de fases, as quais são usualmente empregadas no preparo de colunas de cromatografia gasosa. O objetivo desta modificação foi aumentar a polaridade das mesmas e, consequentemente, melhorar a eficiência e a seletividade da extração.para analitos com características mais polares. As barras desenvolvidas foram aplicadas para a análise de anticonvulsivantes e antidepressivos em plasma humano e também para a análise de anti-helmínticos em plasma bovino. Em todas as aplicações realizadas, as barras \"home-made\" demonstraram um aumento de seletividade quando comparadas à barra comercial. Além disso, as barras foram empregadas em estudos visando o acoplamento entre as técnicas SBSE e HPLC, através de uma interface desenvolvida no Laboratório de Cromatografia. O acoplamento apresentou bons resultados para a análise de antidepressivos em plasma humano, sendo observada uma maior dessorção em temperaturas mais altas, devido ao aumento da transferência de massa dos analitos, do recobrimento da barra \"home-made\" para o solvente de dessorção. / The development of different kinds of bars for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) was described in this work. This technique has been applied for the extraction of organic compounds from aqueous matrices due to their sorption on the stir bar. Stir bars are composed of a magneto inserted into a glass tube and coated with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer. SBSE presents many advantages over the conventional extraction techniques such as, solventless sample preparation, simple analytical instrumentation, reuse of stir bars and mainly the higher volume of coating when compared to solid phase microextraction. The bars have been developed with more selective phases, once the unique commercially available bar presents the disadvantage of being coated solely with PDMS polymer. The home-made stir bars were prepared using PDMS modified with different materials, often used in gas chromatography columns. The goal of this modification was to increase coating polarity and to improve efficiency and selectivity of the extraction for polar compounds. The developed bars were applied to the analysis of anticonvulsivant and antidepressant in human plasma and anthelmintic in bovine plasma. In all applications, the home-made bars showed better selectivity when compared to commercial bars. An interface for coupling SBSE to HPLC developed at Laboratory of Chromatography was also evaluated for antidepressant analysis in human plasma. This coupling presented satisfactory results, being desorption more efficient when high temperatures was used. Temperature increases affinity between analytes and desorption solvent.

Neste trabalho desenvolveram-se diferentes tipos de barras para extração por sorção em barras de agitação (SBSE). Esta técnica foi desenvolvida para extrair analitos orgânicos de matrizes aquosas por meio da sorção destes em uma barra de agitação. As barras c omerciais consistem em um magneto inserido no interior de um tubo de vidro, o qual é recoberto por uma camada de poli(dimetilsiloxano) (PDMS). A SBSE apresenta várias vantagens em relação às técnicas de extração convencionais, tais como: não utiliza solvente orgânico, não requer instrumentação analítica sofisticada, as barras de extração são reutilizáveis e, principalmente, possui um volume maior de recobrimento quando comparada com a microextração em fase sólida. As barras desenvolvidas para este estudo contêm fases mais seletivas, já que, comercialmente disponível, existe apenas um único tipo de recobrimento - o PDMS. Estas barras \"home-made\" foram preparadas com PDMS modificado com diferentes tipos de fases, as quais são usualmente empregadas no preparo de colunas de cromatografia gasosa. O objetivo desta modificação foi aumentar a polaridade das mesmas e, consequentemente, melhorar a eficiência e a seletividade da extração.para analitos com características mais polares. As barras desenvolvidas foram aplicadas para a análise de anticonvulsivantes e antidepressivos em plasma humano e também para a análise de anti-helmínticos em plasma bovino. Em todas as aplicações realizadas, as barras \"home-made\" demonstraram um aumento de seletividade quando comparadas à barra comercial. Além disso, as barras foram empregadas em estudos visando o acoplamento entre as técnicas SBSE e HPLC, através de uma interface desenvolvida no Laboratório de Cromatografia. O acoplamento apresentou bons resultados para a análise de antidepressivos em plasma humano, sendo observada uma maior dessorção em temperaturas mais altas, devido ao aumento da transferência de massa dos analitos, do recobrimento da barra \"home-made\" para o solvente de dessorção. / The development of different kinds of bars for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) was described in this work. This technique has been applied for the extraction of organic compounds from aqueous matrices due to their sorption on the stir bar. Stir bars are composed of a magneto inserted into a glass tube and coated with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer. SBSE presents many advantages over the conventional extraction techniques such as, solventless sample preparation, simple analytical instrumentation, reuse of stir bars and mainly the higher volume of coating when compared to solid phase microextraction. The bars have been developed with more selective phases, once the unique commercially available bar presents the disadvantage of being coated solely with PDMS polymer. The home-made stir bars were prepared using PDMS modified with different materials, often used in gas chromatography columns. The goal of this modification was to increase coating polarity and to improve efficiency and selectivity of the extraction for polar compounds. The developed bars were applied to the analysis of anticonvulsivant and antidepressant in human plasma and anthelmintic in bovine plasma. In all applications, the home-made bars showed better selectivity when compared to commercial bars. An interface for coupling SBSE to HPLC developed at Laboratory of Chromatography was also evaluated for antidepressant analysis in human plasma. This coupling presented satisfactory results, being desorption more efficient when high temperatures was used. Temperature increases affinity between analytes and desorption solvent.

Det finns tydliga hälsofördelar med en relativ fuktighet på 40–60% inomhus. Trots detta finns det idag inga direktiv på hur man ska styra den relativa fuktigheten inomhus. Många gånger diskuteras det kring avfuktning men i denna rapport tas befuktning upp ur ett hälsoperspektiv.I denna studie har det undersökts huruvida befuktningssystem skulle kunna användas i större utsträckning till fördel för människors hälsa.I rapporten redogörs för olika befuktningmetoder samt deras termofysiska processer - adiabatisk eller isotermisk. Dessutom undersöks vad som händer med energin i luften och vattenångan vid olika temperaturer samt vad olika relativ fuktighet har för hälsomässiga för- och nackdelar.Resultatet visar på att det finns både etablerade befuktningssystem samt ett behov av befuktning. Däremot är efterfrågan av befuktning inte speciellt stor i bostäder och branschen ställer sig negativ till befuktning i ventilationssystem. / There are clear health benefits of having a relative humidity between 40–60% indoors. Despite this, there are currently no directives on what level the relative humidity should be indoors. Today dehumidification is a common matter but this report is about humidification, from a health perspective.In this study, it has been investigated whether humidification could be used to a greater extent, to the benefit of humans’ health.This report describes various humidification methods and their thermophysical processes - adiabatic and isothermal. It is also explained what happens to the energy in the air and water vapor at different temperatures and how the relative humidity affects our health at different levels.The result shows that there is a need for humidification and that there are several technical solutions available today. However, the demand is low and the industry is not very positive to the idea of humidification in ventilation systems.

Thesis (PhD (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The main goal of this study was the development of new technologies based on modern analytical techniques for analysis of volatiles in wines. Due to the exponential growth of the wine industry and consumer demands for an enjoyable, safe-to-consume, and high quality product, the need for arose for methodologies aiding the understanding of wine better arose. Chemical analysis is a valuable way of studying the composition of wine in depth. Very sophisticated instrumentation is available nowadays but almost always the sample needs to be cleaned up or concentrated before such analysis. This study investigates the use of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) as such a technique. It is shown that SBSE combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is extremely suited for a wide number of analyses and during the course of the study the technique was applied for troublesome analytical challenges in various beverages and foodstuffs. The study focuses on the development of a screening technique for volatiles in wine using SBSE and the application of the data to various chemometrical techniques for classification purposes. A second part of the study shows the applicability of SBSE for extraction of pesticides, contaminants and preservatives from wine, water, lemon flavoured beverages and yoghurt. The method is also elaborated upon by development of faster analysis methods for wine and beer and the investigation of using SBSE for headspace sampling of wine. In all the applications, SBSE technology was shown to be sensitive, repeatable, robust and very simple to use.