Design, synthesis and biological activity evaluation of novel pefloxacin derivatives as potential antibacterial agents

A facile and efficient method for the synthesis of novel derivatives of pefloxacin hydrazone via condensation of various aldehydes and pefloxacin acid hydrazide using conventional as well as solvent-free microwave irradiation methods was reported. The biological activity of these compounds was screened using array of techniques and found to exhibit promising broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, moderate antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis and moderate antifungal activity opposed to Aspergillus clavatus and Candida albicans. Cytotoxic assay of the title compounds was evaluated against human Pc-3 cancer cell lines, and interestingly, very good anticancer properties were shown by the compounds. To explore the binding mode of the compounds and understand the key active site residues with Staphylococcusaureus DNA gyrase, a molecular docking study has been performed. The results of the docking studies of the reported derivatives were quite promising and manifested strong non-bonded interactions with DNA Gyrase

The Contributions of Parental, Academic, School, and Peer Factors to Differences by Socioeconomic Status in Adolescents’ Locus of Control

An internal locus of control may be particularly valuable for youth with low socioeconomic status (SES), yet the mechanisms that externalize their control remain unclear. This study uses data on 16,450 US 8th graders surveyed for the National Education Longitudinal Study in 1988 and 1990. Results indicate family income is more closely associated with adolescents’ locus of control than parents’ occupations and educational attainment, and that race does not independently affect adolescents’ locus of control net of these other components of SES. Findings also indicate higher SES adolescents feel more internal locus of control in largest part because their parents discuss school more often with them, their homes have more books and other cognitive resources, they receive higher grades in middle school science and social studies, they are more likely to attend a private rather than public school, their friends are more academically oriented, and they feel more safe at school