The study of architecture is a search for the truth, conceived from a desire to understand the nature of life. Through the process of investigation, discoveries bring us closer to this understanding. Universal truths discovered within the discipline of architecture teach of the universal truths of life itself. Architecture is eternally bound to the universe. It exists as a physical reality, ultimately defined by a specific moment and position within the infinite continuum of time and space. Yet, what creates this inseparable connection between architecture and the universe? Man. Architecture exists as an offering to man. It serves as a stage on which the life of man unfolds; it is the backdrop of the human drama. It is the interaction between man and the physical environment that defines this connection between architecture and the universe. The instant that the hand of man touches the surface of a brick wall, a moment is created, eternally linking the wall to the universe. Thus, a constant dialogue exists between man and architecture. The nature of this dialogue must be explored, as it offers man the opportunity to understand his relationship with architecture on all scales (individual, community, universe). In order for this dialogue to be understood, the relationships which exist within architecture itself must be examined. These relationships exist on many scales, ranging from the connection between the column and the beam, to the relationship between a building and its city. These relationships dictate architecture's meaning. By being sensitive and perceptive of the nature of these relationships, we become closer to understanding the nature of life. Explorations of architecture allow us to question the nature of life. The search for the connection between architecture and the human condition allows us to understand the eternal connection between architecture and the universe. The search allows us to find the truth. / Master of Architecture

No acervo que compõem o patrimônio cultural, há muitos utensílios, obras de arte, monumentos, etc., que são feitos de metais. Mas dentre os diversos metais existentes, o cobre possui uma posição de destaque na história, pois este foi o primeiro utilizado pela humanidade. Os metais quando expostos à atmosfera podem sofrer processos de corrosão, o que pode comprometer um artefato histórico. No cobre e suas ligas, o produto dos processos de corrosão é denominado pátina. O estudo das pátinas e das ligas que compõe a matriz, no qual a pátina se forma, é de fundamental importância para a compreensão dos processos de corrosão. Com esta informação, puderam-se determinar as melhores técnicas de conservação e restauração que devem ser aplicadas. No presente estudo utilizou-se pátinas artificiais, que já são amplamente conhecidas, e possibilitam a simulação de pátinas naturais, além de ser possível utilizá-las na recolocação de pátinas que fora removidas e/ou perdidas de peças metálicas. Em um estudo anterior foram produzidas pátinas artificiais a partir de três soluções utilizando dois procedimentos de preparação e a análise foi realizada através das técnicas: EIS (Espectroscopia por Impedância Eletroquímica), MEV (Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura), e XRD (Difração de Raio X), que são consideradas técnicas micro-destrutivas. No presente estudo, destas mesmas pátinas, utilizou-se para análise as técnicas de PIXE (Emissão de Raio X Induzido por Partícula) e ED-XRF (Fluorescência de Raio X por Dispersão de Energia), ambas não destrutivas e, no caso de ED-XRF, mais frequentemente, possível ser utilizada in situ. Estas técnicas permitem a analise de obras de arte em atmosfera, em um arranjo externo, o que contribui para a análise de peças de diferentes formas e tamanhos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o PIXE possui uma melhor caracterização de elementos leve, enquanto que o ED-XRF é melhor para elemento pesados. Na comparação entre PIXE interno e externo, observou-se que a montagem externa é suficiente na análise desse tipo de material. As medidas de padrões de aço validaram a técnica PIXE para análise de alvos grossos e permitiram quantificar os elementos presentes nas amostras. Tanto PIXE, quanto ED-XRF, mostraram nas análises das amostras os elementos que estão presentes nas soluções aplicadas. Além disso, houve um aumento do enxofre em algumas amostras e pátinas, e isto pode indicar que este elemento foi agregado com o tempo nas amostras, devido à exposição à atmosfera. Em comparação ao estudo anterior, que caracterizou a composição das camadas de pátinas em amostras semelhantes, foi possível mostrar que se pode determinar e quantificar com PIXE eED-XRF os elementos presentes sem que seja necessária a retirada do material a ser analisado, principalmente se aplicadas para a análise de peças com valor histórico e cultural. O estudo utilizando as técnicas PIXE e/ou ED-XRF, juntamente com técnicas EIS, SEM e XRD, torna as respostas mais completas, mas nem sempre isso é possível em se tratando de bens do patrimônio histórico, cultural e artístico. / The collection that composes the cultural patrimony has many utensils (vessels, pottery, adornment), works of art, monuments, etc., that are made of metals. However amongst the diverse existing metals, copper possesses a position of historical prominence, since this metal was the first one to be used by humanity. Metals when displayed in the atmosphere, can suffer processes corrosion which can destroy partially or completely the historical object. In copper and its alloys, the product of the corrosion processes is called patina. Analyses of the patina and the matrix alloy material are necessary to understand the corrosion processes and its development. The analyses are also needed to study the alterations imposed on an artifact in order to develop an adequate conservation and restoration treatment techniques. In the present work well known artificial patinas were used and can simulate the natural ones besides permitting to use them in the replacement of lost patinas that have been removed and/or lost in metalic parts. A previous study was realized with artificial patinas produced from three solutions and two different procedures of application. These patinas were analyzed by different techniques such as: EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), and XRD (X-ray Diffraction), which are micro-destructive methods. In the present study, the same samples were analyzed by PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and ED-XRF (Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence) techniques, both not destructive, and in the case of ED-XRF, more frequently, it can be used in situ. These methods allow the analyses of works of art of different forms and sizes in the atmosphere, in an external arrangement. The results have shown that PIXE has a better characterization of light elements, whereas the ED-XRF is better for heavy elements. The comparison of internal and external PIXE measurements showed that the PIXE external setup is enough for the analysis of this type of material. The PIXE results of steel standards had validated the technique PIXE for analysis of thick targets and had allowed the quantification of the elements presents in the samples. PIXE and ED-XRF analyses had shown the principal elements present in the samples and in the solutions. Moreover, it was possible detect an increase of sulphur in some samples and patinas, indicating that this element is being absorbed by the samples due to the exposition to the atmosphere. This work also shows that it is possible to determine and quantify with PIXE and ED-XRF the elements present in the samples, without any extraction of material and it is important mainly if applied to the analysis of historical and cultural objects. A study using suitable combination of techniques, as used in the previous study (EIS, SEM e XRD) coupled to PIXE and/or ED-XRF techniques can give a complete characterization of the corrosion compounds, but sometimes the complete combination of techniques is impossible if dealing with artistic and cultural historic objects.

No acervo que compõem o patrimônio cultural, há muitos utensílios, obras de arte, monumentos, etc., que são feitos de metais. Mas dentre os diversos metais existentes, o cobre possui uma posição de destaque na história, pois este foi o primeiro utilizado pela humanidade. Os metais quando expostos à atmosfera podem sofrer processos de corrosão, o que pode comprometer um artefato histórico. No cobre e suas ligas, o produto dos processos de corrosão é denominado pátina. O estudo das pátinas e das ligas que compõe a matriz, no qual a pátina se forma, é de fundamental importância para a compreensão dos processos de corrosão. Com esta informação, puderam-se determinar as melhores técnicas de conservação e restauração que devem ser aplicadas. No presente estudo utilizou-se pátinas artificiais, que já são amplamente conhecidas, e possibilitam a simulação de pátinas naturais, além de ser possível utilizá-las na recolocação de pátinas que fora removidas e/ou perdidas de peças metálicas. Em um estudo anterior foram produzidas pátinas artificiais a partir de três soluções utilizando dois procedimentos de preparação e a análise foi realizada através das técnicas: EIS (Espectroscopia por Impedância Eletroquímica), MEV (Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura), e XRD (Difração de Raio X), que são consideradas técnicas micro-destrutivas. No presente estudo, destas mesmas pátinas, utilizou-se para análise as técnicas de PIXE (Emissão de Raio X Induzido por Partícula) e ED-XRF (Fluorescência de Raio X por Dispersão de Energia), ambas não destrutivas e, no caso de ED-XRF, mais frequentemente, possível ser utilizada in situ. Estas técnicas permitem a analise de obras de arte em atmosfera, em um arranjo externo, o que contribui para a análise de peças de diferentes formas e tamanhos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o PIXE possui uma melhor caracterização de elementos leve, enquanto que o ED-XRF é melhor para elemento pesados. Na comparação entre PIXE interno e externo, observou-se que a montagem externa é suficiente na análise desse tipo de material. As medidas de padrões de aço validaram a técnica PIXE para análise de alvos grossos e permitiram quantificar os elementos presentes nas amostras. Tanto PIXE, quanto ED-XRF, mostraram nas análises das amostras os elementos que estão presentes nas soluções aplicadas. Além disso, houve um aumento do enxofre em algumas amostras e pátinas, e isto pode indicar que este elemento foi agregado com o tempo nas amostras, devido à exposição à atmosfera. Em comparação ao estudo anterior, que caracterizou a composição das camadas de pátinas em amostras semelhantes, foi possível mostrar que se pode determinar e quantificar com PIXE eED-XRF os elementos presentes sem que seja necessária a retirada do material a ser analisado, principalmente se aplicadas para a análise de peças com valor histórico e cultural. O estudo utilizando as técnicas PIXE e/ou ED-XRF, juntamente com técnicas EIS, SEM e XRD, torna as respostas mais completas, mas nem sempre isso é possível em se tratando de bens do patrimônio histórico, cultural e artístico. / The collection that composes the cultural patrimony has many utensils (vessels, pottery, adornment), works of art, monuments, etc., that are made of metals. However amongst the diverse existing metals, copper possesses a position of historical prominence, since this metal was the first one to be used by humanity. Metals when displayed in the atmosphere, can suffer processes corrosion which can destroy partially or completely the historical object. In copper and its alloys, the product of the corrosion processes is called patina. Analyses of the patina and the matrix alloy material are necessary to understand the corrosion processes and its development. The analyses are also needed to study the alterations imposed on an artifact in order to develop an adequate conservation and restoration treatment techniques. In the present work well known artificial patinas were used and can simulate the natural ones besides permitting to use them in the replacement of lost patinas that have been removed and/or lost in metalic parts. A previous study was realized with artificial patinas produced from three solutions and two different procedures of application. These patinas were analyzed by different techniques such as: EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), and XRD (X-ray Diffraction), which are micro-destructive methods. In the present study, the same samples were analyzed by PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and ED-XRF (Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence) techniques, both not destructive, and in the case of ED-XRF, more frequently, it can be used in situ. These methods allow the analyses of works of art of different forms and sizes in the atmosphere, in an external arrangement. The results have shown that PIXE has a better characterization of light elements, whereas the ED-XRF is better for heavy elements. The comparison of internal and external PIXE measurements showed that the PIXE external setup is enough for the analysis of this type of material. The PIXE results of steel standards had validated the technique PIXE for analysis of thick targets and had allowed the quantification of the elements presents in the samples. PIXE and ED-XRF analyses had shown the principal elements present in the samples and in the solutions. Moreover, it was possible detect an increase of sulphur in some samples and patinas, indicating that this element is being absorbed by the samples due to the exposition to the atmosphere. This work also shows that it is possible to determine and quantify with PIXE and ED-XRF the elements present in the samples, without any extraction of material and it is important mainly if applied to the analysis of historical and cultural objects. A study using suitable combination of techniques, as used in the previous study (EIS, SEM e XRD) coupled to PIXE and/or ED-XRF techniques can give a complete characterization of the corrosion compounds, but sometimes the complete combination of techniques is impossible if dealing with artistic and cultural historic objects.

This work deals with the influence of atmospheric corrosion on high-cycle fatigue properties of a weathering steel ATMOFIX B. New experimental data on fatigue strength of a steel exposed for 20 years to an atmospheric corrosion were compared to those characterizing the base material. Reduction of the fatigue lifetime of the exposed material compared with the base material was predicted on the basic of fractographic examination of fracture surfaces and the influence of surface notches on fatigue strength. The predicted results agree well with the experimental results.

This work deals with the influence of atmospheric corrosion on high-cycle fatigue properties of a weathering steel ATMOFIX B. New experimental data on fatigue strength of a steel exposed for 20 years to an atmospheric corrosion were compared to those characterizing the base material. Reduction of the fatigue lifetime of the exposed material compared with the base material was predicted on the basic of fractographic examination of fracture surfaces and the influence of surface notches on fatigue strength. The predicted results agree well with the experimental results.

A wise Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Freedom is never given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed (King 1)." For as long as men and women have shared the planet, sexism has been a universal issue in civilization. In a social justice context, American society has found ways to oppress people for centuries. The Oxford Dictionary defines sexism as a "prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex ("sexism")." Voting rights in America were established in 1790, but it took years of petitioning at various women's rights conventions before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution stating "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" was passed in 1920 ("Nineteenth Amendment"). Traditionally, men were supposed to be the strong, decisive, driven, courageous, money-making breed, while women were expected to be the nurturing, affectionate, weak subordinates. Today, we find men and women working in careers previously linked with sexism; men as nurses and teachers, women as CEOs and factory workers. Statistics show that today there are an increasing number of women providing the financial support in their families. As with sexism, people also have been oppressed by racism for centuries. According to The Oxford Dictionary, racism is defined as a "prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior ("racism")." It has been argued that African Americans have been one of the most oppressed groups in America. Even after they were emancipated in 1865, it was nearly one hundred years later that their rights were protected with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Before the act's passing, African Americans were denied equal education, employment, housing property, and a political voice. My interest in this topic was peaked right around the same time I became interested in performing on the musical theatre stage. I got my start in local community theatres, and up until college, was the only African American cast in the productions. I started playing multiple ensemble roles per show, and throughout the years advanced myself to "supporting character" but never the lead. Admittedly, there were times when I wasn't as talented as the women who snagged the leading roles, but many a time when I was just as talented or more qualified for the role, it went to another woman - most times of Caucasian descent. What did they have that I didn’t have? When I got accepted into The University of Central Florida as a BFA Musical Theatre student, I auditioned for the plays and musicals every semester, and each season I began to see the same patterns of who was cast for each show. Roles I thought I would get often went to White actors. I felt victimized in this modern-day example of racism. But racism goes beyond black and White. Internal racism between the light-skinned and dark-skinned African American women I was competing with became a factor as well. There were many times when an audition notice called for an African American woman; however, an unsettling trend became very apparent to me; if the casting description was for a maid, or something of that nature, larger, dark-skinned women would get the majority of the callbacks, which would lead to them getting cast. On the flip side, if an audition notice called for an African American ingénue type, more of the slimmer, lighter-skinned women were called back and later cast. Has American society cast a racial stigma for African American beauty?