Feelings and impressions of a product are important for the decision of purchasing it or not. Designing attractive products therefore requires knowledge about the feelings and impressions the products evoke on the customer and the user. Integrating such affective values in product design requires the introduction of suitable methods into companies’ product design processes, methods which can capture and convert subjective and even unconscious feelings about a product into concrete design parameters. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Affective Engineering’. One methodology in this context is Kansei Engineering, which has been developed in Japan in order to design feelings into products. The aim of this thesis was twofold: Firstly, to improve understanding of the nature of products making emotional impact on the users and customers. Secondly, to identify and improve methods capable of grasping those affective values and translating them into concrete product design solutions. This thesis presents three empirical studies and two methodological papers, relating to warehouse trucks and laminate flooring. The first study was made on user impact of warehouse trucks in three different European countries. A second study dealt with affective values of rocker-switches in work vehicles, such as warehouse trucks. A third study on this truck type compared the old manoeuvring panel evaluated in the previous studies with a newly introduced manoeuvring panel in order to validate the impact of the design improvements made after the first study. Further, a conceptual model on Kansei Engineering methodology was proposed in a methods paper based on the experience from the studies performed in order to provide a structure for performing Kansei Engineering studies. The fifth paper had the purpose of validating and improving the proposed model using laminate flooring as research object. More structured ways of identifying design parameters and relevant product properties was given high priority in the improvement work of the methodology. A model for spanning the Space of Product Properties was presented and applied. This thesis also deals with other improvement areas in the methodology and proposed new developments, including the use of scales, experimental design and validation methods. In conclusion, Kansei Engineering is a concept and a methodology in strong development, a framework in which tools and methods are continuously developed, added and integrated.

The functional performance of membrane oxygenators is directly related to the perfusion dynamics of blood flow through the fiber bundle. Non-uniform flow and design characteristics can limit gas exchange efficiency and influence susceptibility of thrombus development in the fiber membrane. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool for predicting properties of the flow field based on prescribed geometrical domains and boundary conditions. Validation of numerical results in membrane oxygenators has been predominantly based on experimental pressure measurements with little emphasis placed on confirmation of the velocity fields due to opacity of the fiber membrane and limitations of optical velocimetric methods. A novel approach was developed using biplane X-ray digital subtraction angiography to visualize flow through a commercial membrane artificial lung at 1–4.5 L/min. Permeability based on the coefficients of the Ergun equation, α and β, were experimentally determined to be 180 and 2.4, respectively, and the equivalent spherical diameter was shown to be approximately equal to the outer fiber diameter. For all flow rates tested, biplane image projections revealed non-uniform radial perfusion through the annular fiber bundle, yet without flow bias due to the axisymmetric position of the outlet. At 1 L/min, approximately 78.2% of the outward velocity component was in the radial (horizontal) plane verses 92.0% at 4.5 L/min. The CFD studies were unable to predict the non-radial component of the outward perfusion. Two-dimensional velocity fields were generated from the radiographs using a cross-correlation tracking algorithm and compared with analogous image planes from the CFD simulations. Velocities in the non-porous regions differed by an average of 11% versus the experimental values, but simulated velocities in the fiber bundle were on average 44% lower than experimental. A corrective factor reduced the average error differences in the porous medium to 6%. Finally, biplane image pairs were reconstructed to show 3-D transient perfusion through the device. The methods developed from this research provide tools for more accurate assessments of fluid flow through membrane oxygenators. By identifying non-invasive techniques to allow direct analysis of numerical and experimental velocity fields, researchers can better evaluate device performance of new prototype designs.

Entre os compostos orgânicos tóxicos possíveis de serem encontrados em águas de consumo humano, estão as nitrosaminas, substâncias nitrogenadas originárias da reação de aminas com compostos nitrosantes e de dificil detecção pelos métodos convencIOnaIs. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma metodologia de rotina alternativa para a determinação de nitrosaminas em águas e a aplicação deste procedimento em algumas amostras de interesse à Saúde Pública. Um minucioso estudo e otimização dos parâmetros envolvidos na detecção e separação cromatográfica empregando o detector de quimiluminescência induzida por ozônio ou Thermo Energy Analyser (TEA), permitiram melhorar em 10 vezes a sensibilidade deste equipamento, permitindo assim a análise de traços de nitrosaminas, com o auxílio de uma pré-concentração da amostra e sem a necessidade do dessorvedor térmico. Comparativamente a outros detectores, o uso do GCffEA elimina as várias etapas necessárias para a descontaminação de material, requisitadas no uso do NPD e apresenta sensibilidade compatível com as técnicas de espectrometria de massas empregadas (High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS) e Positive Chemical Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (PCI MS)), com a vantagem de uma operação mais simples e de menor custo. Para o alcance do objetivo, a utilização do planejamento de experimentos foi uma ferramenta fundamental. Por intermédio dela, os parâmetros críticos, como o fluxo de gases, temperatura de pirólise, etc. das principais etapas envolvidas no processo analítico, puderam ser estudados e otimizados. A metodologia proposta para a análise de traços de nitrosaminas em águas empregando GC/TEA mostrou boa especificidade, linearidade e precisão adequada com coeficientes de variação, na análise cromatográfica, na faixa entre 6 a 12% para as nitrosaminas voláteis analisadas. Considerando o propósito das análises, os limites de detecção alcançados foram adequados, como por exemplo, 0,2 ngL-l para a N-nitrosopiperidina e 2,0 ngL-I para a N-nitrosopropilamina levando em conta a recuperação obtida na etapa de pré-concentração. O método foi aplicado em amostras de água tratada, água bruta de reservatório e de rio, água de poço artesiano e extratos orgânicos provenientes de amostras de águas bruta e tratada. Algumas nitrosaminas voláteis de interesse toxicológico foram detectadas, como por exemplo, a N-nitrosodimetilamina (NUMA), que foi encontrada, dependendo da amostra, em concentrações menores que 0,3 ngL-1, limite de detecção, até 5,0 ngL-1. / Among the poisonous organic compounds liable to be found in waters of human consumption, are the nitrosamines, nitrogenous substances originated from amine reaction with nitrousing compounds, and of difficult detection by the conventional methods. The scope of this study was to develop an altemative routine methodology for the nitrosamine determination in waters and the application of this procedure in some samples of interest to the Public Health. A meticulous study and optimization of the parameters involved in the detection and chromatographic separation using a chemiluminescense detector induced by ozone or Thermo Energy Analyser (TEA), allowed a 10 times improvement in the sensibility of this equipment, allowing trace analysis of nitrosamines, with the aid of a pre-concentration of the sample and without the need of the thermal desorber. Comparing to other detectors, the use of GC/TEA eliminates several necessary stages for material decontamination, required in the use of NPD and it comparable presents sensibility with such Mass Spectrometric techniques as High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS) and Positive Chemical Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (PCI MS), with the advantage of simpler operation at lower cost. To achieve the objective, the use of statistical of experimental design was a fundamental tool. By means of it, the criticall parameters, such as the gas flow rate, pyrolysis temperature, among others involved in the analytical process, could be studied and optimized. The methodology proposed for the analysis of nitrosamine traces in waters using GC/TEA showed good specificity, linearity and appropriate precision with a coefficient variation, in the chromatographic analysis, in the range between 6 and 12% for the analyzed volatile nitrosamines. Considering the purpose of the analyses, the detection limits reached were appropriate, as for instance, 0,2 ngL-1 for N-nitrosopyperidine and 2,0 ngL-1 for N-nitrosopropylamine taking into account the recovery obtained in the pre-concentration stage. The method was applied to samples of treated water, raw water of reservoirs and rivers, water of artesian wells and organic extracts coming from samples of treated and raw waters. Some volatile nitrosamines of toxicological interest were detected, as for instance, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), that was found, depending on the sample, in concentrations below the 0,3 ngL-1 (detection limit) till up to 5,0 ngL-1.

Entre os compostos orgânicos tóxicos possíveis de serem encontrados em águas de consumo humano, estão as nitrosaminas, substâncias nitrogenadas originárias da reação de aminas com compostos nitrosantes e de dificil detecção pelos métodos convencIOnaIs. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma metodologia de rotina alternativa para a determinação de nitrosaminas em águas e a aplicação deste procedimento em algumas amostras de interesse à Saúde Pública. Um minucioso estudo e otimização dos parâmetros envolvidos na detecção e separação cromatográfica empregando o detector de quimiluminescência induzida por ozônio ou Thermo Energy Analyser (TEA), permitiram melhorar em 10 vezes a sensibilidade deste equipamento, permitindo assim a análise de traços de nitrosaminas, com o auxílio de uma pré-concentração da amostra e sem a necessidade do dessorvedor térmico. Comparativamente a outros detectores, o uso do GCffEA elimina as várias etapas necessárias para a descontaminação de material, requisitadas no uso do NPD e apresenta sensibilidade compatível com as técnicas de espectrometria de massas empregadas (High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS) e Positive Chemical Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (PCI MS)), com a vantagem de uma operação mais simples e de menor custo. Para o alcance do objetivo, a utilização do planejamento de experimentos foi uma ferramenta fundamental. Por intermédio dela, os parâmetros críticos, como o fluxo de gases, temperatura de pirólise, etc. das principais etapas envolvidas no processo analítico, puderam ser estudados e otimizados. A metodologia proposta para a análise de traços de nitrosaminas em águas empregando GC/TEA mostrou boa especificidade, linearidade e precisão adequada com coeficientes de variação, na análise cromatográfica, na faixa entre 6 a 12% para as nitrosaminas voláteis analisadas. Considerando o propósito das análises, os limites de detecção alcançados foram adequados, como por exemplo, 0,2 ngL-l para a N-nitrosopiperidina e 2,0 ngL-I para a N-nitrosopropilamina levando em conta a recuperação obtida na etapa de pré-concentração. O método foi aplicado em amostras de água tratada, água bruta de reservatório e de rio, água de poço artesiano e extratos orgânicos provenientes de amostras de águas bruta e tratada. Algumas nitrosaminas voláteis de interesse toxicológico foram detectadas, como por exemplo, a N-nitrosodimetilamina (NUMA), que foi encontrada, dependendo da amostra, em concentrações menores que 0,3 ngL-1, limite de detecção, até 5,0 ngL-1. / Among the poisonous organic compounds liable to be found in waters of human consumption, are the nitrosamines, nitrogenous substances originated from amine reaction with nitrousing compounds, and of difficult detection by the conventional methods. The scope of this study was to develop an altemative routine methodology for the nitrosamine determination in waters and the application of this procedure in some samples of interest to the Public Health. A meticulous study and optimization of the parameters involved in the detection and chromatographic separation using a chemiluminescense detector induced by ozone or Thermo Energy Analyser (TEA), allowed a 10 times improvement in the sensibility of this equipment, allowing trace analysis of nitrosamines, with the aid of a pre-concentration of the sample and without the need of the thermal desorber. Comparing to other detectors, the use of GC/TEA eliminates several necessary stages for material decontamination, required in the use of NPD and it comparable presents sensibility with such Mass Spectrometric techniques as High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS) and Positive Chemical Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (PCI MS), with the advantage of simpler operation at lower cost. To achieve the objective, the use of statistical of experimental design was a fundamental tool. By means of it, the criticall parameters, such as the gas flow rate, pyrolysis temperature, among others involved in the analytical process, could be studied and optimized. The methodology proposed for the analysis of nitrosamine traces in waters using GC/TEA showed good specificity, linearity and appropriate precision with a coefficient variation, in the chromatographic analysis, in the range between 6 and 12% for the analyzed volatile nitrosamines. Considering the purpose of the analyses, the detection limits reached were appropriate, as for instance, 0,2 ngL-1 for N-nitrosopyperidine and 2,0 ngL-1 for N-nitrosopropylamine taking into account the recovery obtained in the pre-concentration stage. The method was applied to samples of treated water, raw water of reservoirs and rivers, water of artesian wells and organic extracts coming from samples of treated and raw waters. Some volatile nitrosamines of toxicological interest were detected, as for instance, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), that was found, depending on the sample, in concentrations below the 0,3 ngL-1 (detection limit) till up to 5,0 ngL-1.