Triple Connected Domination Number of Graph

The concept of triple connected graphs with real life application was prefaced by considering the existence of a path containing any three vertices of a graph G. In this paper, we introduce a new domination parameter, called triple connected domination number of a graph. A subset S of V of a nontrivial graph G is said to be triple connected dominating set, if S is a dominating set and the induced sub graph is triple connected. The minimum cardinality undertake all triple connected dominating sets. Then which is called the triple connected domination number and is denoted by ?tc

Emerging role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the mechanism of action and resistance to anticancer therapies

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a transcription factor, is a master regulator of an array of genes related to oxidative and electrophilic stress that promote and maintain redox homeostasis. NRF2 function is well studied in in vitro, animal and general physiology models. However, emerging data has uncovered novel functionality of this transcription factor in human diseases such as cancer, autism, anxiety disorders and diabetes. A key finding in these emerging roles has been its constitutive upregulation in multiple cancers promoting pro-survival phenotypes. The survivability pathways in these studies were mostly explained by classical NRF2 activation involving KEAP-1 relief and transcriptional induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) neutralizing and cytoprotective drug-metabolizing enzymes (phase I, II, III and 0). Further, NRF2 status and activation is associated with lowered cancer therapeutic efficacy and the eventual emergence of therapeutic resistance. Interestingly, we and others have provided further evidence of direct NRF2 regulation of anticancer drug targets like receptor tyrosine kinases and DNA damage and repair proteins and kinases with implications for therapy outcome. This novel finding demonstrates a renewed role of NRF2 as a key modulatory factor informing anticancer therapeutic outcomes, which extends beyond its described classical role as a ROS regulator. This review will provide a knowledge base for these emerging roles of NRF2 in anticancer therapies involving feedback and feed forward models and will consolidate and present such findings in a systematic manner. This places NRF2 as a key determinant of action, effectiveness and resistance to anticancer therapy

Drug resistance in tuberculosis in India

The current global concern in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is the emergence of resistance to the two most potent drugs viz., isoniazid and rifampicin. The level of initial drug resistance is an epidemiological indicator to assess the success of the TB control programme. Though drug resistance in TB has frequently been reported from India, most of the available information is localized, sketchy or incomplete. A review of the few authentic reports indicates that there is no clear evidence of an increase in the prevalence of initial resistance over the years. However, a much higher prevalence of acquired resistance has been reported from several regions, though based on smaller numbers of patients. A strong TB control programme and continuous surveillance studies employing standardized methodology and rigorous quality control measures will serve as useful parameters in the evaluation of current treatment policies as well as the management of multidrug resistant (MDR) TB cases

Drug resistance in tuberculosis and issues related to multidrug resistance in planning for TB control in India

There is no clear evidence of an increase in the prevalence of initial drug resistance in India over the years. However, relatively high prevalence of acquired resistance has been reported. The level of initial drug resistance is said to be an epidemiological marker to assess the success of the National TB Programme. This also influences the design of the regimens to be employed as well as policy decisions

Corrosion Durability and Structural Response of Functionally-Graded Concrete Beams

This paper reports the results of an experimental program on the effectiveness of a Ductile Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite (DFRCC) material, which exhibit strain-hardening and multiple-cracking bahavior under flexural loadings, in retarding the corrosion of steel in Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. Based on the collective findings from theoretically-estimated steel losses, rapid chloride permeability tests, pH value tests, as well as structural tests, it was concluded that Functionally-Graded Concrete (FGC) beams, where a layer of DFRCC material was used around the main longitudinal reinforcement, had a noticeably higher resistance against reinforcement corrosion compared to a conventional RC beam. The better performance of the FGC beams was also evident from the absence of any corrosion-induced cracking and the very low tendency of the concrete cover to delaminate as measured by a concrete-embeddable fiber optic sensor

Minimal inhibitory concentrations of sulbactam/ampicillin against drug sensitive and drug resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A total of 92 isolates of Mycobacteriurn tuberculosis consisting of equal numbers of sensitive and resistant strains was tested for their susceptibility to sulbactam and ampicillin (in the ratio of 1:2) on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) and 7H11 agar media. The geometric mean MIC was 63.97 μg/ml for the drug sensitive strains and 65.92 μg/ml for the resistant strains, and the overall mean was 65.01 μg/ml. The high MIC on LJ medium could be attributed to the higher protein content which resulted in greater binding of sulbactam/ampicillin. On the other hand, the geometric mean MIC on 7H11 medium was 26.73 μg/ml for sensitive strains and 23.82 μg/ml for resistant strains; the overall mean being 25.23 μg/ml. Although these MlCs of sulbactamampicillin are higher than those reported earlier, they can be easily achieved in serum. Further studies on experimental tuberculosis and in humans will be needed to prove the efficacy of sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis

Evaluation of various methods of susceptibility to ofloxacin in strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A comparison of three methods of susceptibility testing was undertaken on 30 susceptible and 25 resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to determine an acceptable in vitro definition of resistance of ofloxacin. The strains were tested by the proportion method on Lowenstein Jensen (L-J) and 7H11 media and also by the BACTEC radiometric method. Using a criterion of 1 per cent or more growth at a concentration of 2 mg/1, there was a 100 per cent agreement with the conventional MIC method by the proportion tests on L-J as well as on 7H11 media. The BACTEC radiometric method, at the same concentration, yielded 98 per cent agreement. Thus, any of these methods could be used depending upon the infrastructure available

In vitro activity of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against South Indian isolates of M. tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from 104 south Indian patients, including 52 sensitive to Streptomycin (S), Isoniazid, (H) and Rifampicin (R), and 52 resistant to SHR/HR were tested for their in vitro susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. The geometric mean for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Ciprofloxacin was 2.00 mcg/ml for sensitive strains and 2.17 mcg/ml for resistant strains, the overall mean being 2.08 mcg/ml. Considering Ofloxacin, the MICs for the different categories of strains were again similar, there being no difference between sensitive and resistant strains, the geometric means being 2.00 and 2.05 mcg/ml, respectively

In vitro activity of capreomycin and ciprofloxacin against South Indian isolates of M. tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from 107 South Indian patients, including 53 isolates sensitive to Streptomycin (S), Isoniazid (H) and Rifampicin (R) and 54 resistant to SHR/HR were tested for their in vitro susceptibility to Capreomycin and Ciprofloxacin. Of these, 3 (6%) SHR sensitive strains and 8 (15%) SHR/HR resistant strains were probably resistant to Capreomycin. However, the difference did not attain statistical significance. Considering Ciprofloxacin, the percentage distributions of the MIC with the different categories of strains were similar, there being no difference between sensitive and resistant strains, the geometric means being 3.7 and 3.8 mcg/ml, respectively

In vitro activity of rifampicin, rifapentine and rifabutin against South Indian isolates of M. tuberculosis

M. tuberculosis isolates from 51 resistant and 52 susceptible to Rifampicin patients were concurrently tested for in vitro susceptibility to Rifampicin, Rifapentine and Rifabutin. All the 52 Rifampicin susceptible strains were susceptible to Rifapentine, the geometric mean MICs being 13.3 m g/ml for Rifampicin and 6.0 m g/ml for Rifapentine. However, the geometric mean MIC for Rifabautin was as low as 13 m g/ml. All 51 Rifampicin resistant strains were also resistant to Rifapentine, indicating a complete cross-resistance between the two compounds. However, 11 (22%) of the Rifampicin resistant strains were found to be susceptible to Rifabutin. The geometric mean; MICs of the 40 resistant strains were 22 m g/ml for Rifampicin and113 m g/ml for Rifabutin. Thus, even among Rifampicin resistant strains, Rifabutin showed a 1.97 fold higher activity; the difference in the means attained statistical significance