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Motivated by the reported electronic versatility of anionic tris(phosphine)borate and tris- (phosphine)sily1 ligands, a new, neutral tris(phosphine)borane scaffold was prepared. The synthesis, spectroscopy and solid-state structures of iron complexes ligated by both [pi]-acidic and [pi]-basic moieties are presented. The cationic imido complex, [[TPBPh]FeNAd]- [BAr4] ([TPBPh = (2Ph2PC6H4 )3B, [BAr~] = tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), was generated and the EPR spectroscopic and solid-state structural features described. This complex is unique among the iron tris(phosphine)borane complexes prepared by the Peters group in that there is no interaction between the iron and boron centers. The potential for bifunctional catalysis employing the nickel bis(phosphine)borane complex [MesDPBPh]Ni was explored ([MesDPBPh] = (2-Ph 2PC6H4 )2B(1,3,5-Me 3C6H2)). This species activates E-H bonds (E = Si, Ge, S) and traditionally unstable borohydrido- E nickel complexes were isolated. The solid-state structures of these complexes are described. The catalytic hydrosilylation of para-substituted benzaldehydes was studied and a mechanism for the transformation proposed. An intermediate nickel borohydridosiloxyalkyl species was identified and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. A series of nickel borohydridothiolate complexes was prepared and a rare, nickel(I) borohydridothiolate species was isolated and structurally characterized. The reactivity of the iron(II) alkyl complex [PhBP h]FeMe towards H2 is presented ([PhBP h] = PhB(CH2 PPh2 )j). Exposure of a C6H6 solution of [PhBpPh]FeMe to an excess of H2 results in the formation of a previously described iron 17 5 -cyclohexadienyl complex. Repeating the reaction in THF solution with one equivalent of PMe 2Ph yields the dihydrogen hydride complex [PhBPPh]Fe(H 2)(H)(PMe 2Ph), as determined by 'H and 31P { H} NMR spectroscopies and a short Ti spin-lattice relaxation measurement. This species is a slow but competent olefin hydrogenation catalyst. In an effort to access a more reactive precatalyst, the iron chemistry of the bis(phosphine)borate ligands [Ph2 BPPh] and [Ph2 BPfBu] ([Ph2BP] = Ph2B(CH2 PR2)3, R = Ph and tBu) was explored. Iron(II) halide, aryloxide, anilido and alkyl complexes were isolated and characterized.

The objective of this study was to examine if segmental and prosodic patterns of young children with autism differ from typically developing peers. We compared 4 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to their developmentally-age matched peers. ASD participants in this study did not demonstrate segmental deficit patterns as much as language delays. Excessive, misplaced, and reduced stress and slowed articulation rate in utterances were the two greatest prosodic deficits ASD participants in this study demonstrated. These prosodic deficits, or delays, were quantitatively assessed, and seemed to be the qualitative characteristics often associated with ASD children in previous research. Our findings suggest that early intervention approaches for prosodic differences could be beneficial for children with ASD and their families with a concise, standardized diagnostic tool to assess prosodic differences more accurately.

This thesis investigates Helen Turner’s representations of women in gardens and domestic interiors, specifically by comparing and contrasting her paintings with those of Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Lilly Martin Spencer. I use five of Turner’s paintings to explore her representations of gender, the male gaze, and domesticity through a feminist model. I begin with a biography of Turner’s life and an introduction to those five paintings highlighted in this thesis. This is followed by an investigation of how the concept of gender in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century America affected the manner Turner chose to portray women. Additional areas of analysis include how the concept of the male gaze applies to Turner’s representation of women, and how the domestic scenes that Turner depicts within the home do not reflect her personal life.

The determinants of going private have been analyzed in terms of financial and market characteristics over the last years. This study aims to determine whether corporate governance can also explain the decision to go private and, if so, which factors are responsible. An overview of the delisting decision and definition of going private, followed by a summary of the determinants found in the literature and their connection to corporate governance, serves as a basis. This quantitative study uses a data set of 914 companies across the United States, United Kingdom, and other European countries between 2010 and 2019 (457 go private, and the rest are control companies). Different models study the hypothesis found in the literature and distinguish between types of transactions. The results obtained from the univariate and multivariate analysis support the information asymmetry hypothesis and find that companies that go private are young, small, and undervalued. From the financial proxies of corporate governance, only highly leveraged companies are more likely to go private. Finally, corporate governance characteristics of going-private transactions include large boards, few non-executive directors, high stock-based executive compensation, and few institutional shareholders but with a high shareholding percentage. *****The determinants of going private have been analyzed in terms of financial and market characteristics over the last years. This study aims to determine whether corporate governance can also explain the decision to go private and, if so, which factors are responsible. An overview of the delisting decision and definition of going private, followed by a summary of the determinants found in the literature and their connection to corporate governance, serves as a basis. This quantitative study uses a data set of 914 companies across the United States, United Kingdom, and other European countries between 2010 and 2019 (457 go private, and the rest are control comp

Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor (LTNF) is a protein found in the blood stream of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). LTNF confers immunity against toxins and venom from many organisms including different species of plants, animals, and bacteria. LTNF has been widely studied as a universal antivenom, but some of its other possible clinical applications have not yet been fully investigated. A small ten amino acid sequence of LTNF - called LT10 - has been shown to reduce Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels which are a type of antibody that has a role in allergies and autoimmune diseases such as Diabetes mellites, Grave's disease and Hodgkin's disease. Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that effects millions of people worldwide and prevents a person's body from properly regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE) is a key regulator for controlling insulin levels in the body and modulation of its activity is a promising drug target for the treatment of diabetes. LT10's ability to regulate IgE levels suggests the possibility that it could be used to help treat some of these autoimmune diseases. Computational docking studies predict that LT10 can bind with Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE) and inhibit its activity, allowing it to be a possible treatment for diabetes. The overall goal for this research is to determine if LT10 can experimentally bind to IDE and affect the level of IDE activity. Results showed that when LT10 was incubated with IDE transfected lysate there was little to no inhibition and the effect was not consistent. When LT10 was incubated with purified enzyme there was a greater amount of inhibition at lower concentrations than at higher concentrations creating a U-shape response curve. This U-shape response curve suggests LT10 may be binding to multiple sites on IDE.