This study shows that employing an ecological framework to the efforts to understand children’s approaches to rights and participation is a first step in the right direction for fostering children’s rights and participation.”
“The performance of two QSAR methodologies, namely Multiple Linear Regressions (MLR) and Neural Networks (NN), towards Vorinostat Epigenetics inhibitor the modeling and prediction of antitubercular activity was evaluated and compared. A data set of 173 potentially active compounds belonging to the hydrazide family and represented by 96 descriptors was analyzed.

Models were built with Multiple Linear Regressions (MLR), single Feed-Forward Neural Networks (FFNNs), ensembles of FFNNs and Associative Neural Networks (AsNNs) using four different data sets and different types of descriptors. The predictive ability of the different techniques used were assessed and discussed on the basis of different validation criteria and results show

in general a better performance of AsNNs in terms Bcl-2 inhibitor review of learning ability and prediction of antitubercular behaviors when compared with all other methods. MLR have, however, the advantage of pinpointing the most relevant molecular characteristics responsible for the behavior of these compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The best results for the larger data set (94 compounds in training set and 18 in test set) were obtained with AsNNs using seven descriptors (R-2 of 0.874 and RMSE of 0.437 against R-2 of 0.845 and RMSE of 0.472 in MLRs, for test set). Counter-Propagation Neural Networks (CPNNs) were trained with the same data sets and descriptors. From the scrutiny of the weight levels in each CPNN and the information retrieved from Vactosertib in vitro MLRs, a rational design of potentially active compounds was attempted. Two new compounds were synthesized

and tested against M. tuberculosis showing an activity close to that predicted by the majority of the models. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Novel polyelectrolyte complexes containing free sulfate (SO3) groups (PECSs) were synthesized, with the sulfation of NH2 groups in the soluble chitosan (CS)/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) complexes, and their membranes (PECSMs) were subjected to pervaporation dehydration of ethanol. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the chemical structure and the composition of PECSs. Zeta (xi) potential and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the surface charge density of the PECS particles and the morphology of their membranes. The effects of the chemical composition on the swelling degree, the hydrophilic property, and the pervaporation dehydration performance of PECSMs were determined. It was found that free SO3 groups were successfully incorporated into PECSMs. Both the flux and the separation factor of PECSMs increased with increasing SO3 groups.