Greater Li-capacity of well-ordered fairly pristine few layers graphene is due to combined contributions of ‘classical’ bulk Li-intercalation (up to LiC₆) and surface storage, especially near the exposed ‘stepped’ edges of each graphene layer (but not exactly at the edge sites).

Among inorganic nanomaterials, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have received great attention in nanobiomedicine due to their unique properties. In this work, we have designed a nanohybrid of an LDH with Au NPs (LDH–Au) in order to use it for photothermal therapy, and optical and fluorescence imaging of cancer cells. The structural characteristics of the nanohybrid are investigated using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy and elemental analyses. The extinction spectra of the nanohybrid exhibits broad absorption ranging from the visible to near infrared (NIR) region (500–1000 nm). The photothermal activity of the nanohybrid is explored using NIR laser irradiation. The electric field enhancement in the nanohybrid due to the interaction of Au NPs on the LDH is speculated through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations. The LDH–Au nanohybrid is found to be biocompatible with normal murine fibroblast (L929), human breast cancer (MCF-7) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines up to a concentration of 1 mg mL⁻¹. The nanohybrid is explored for in vitro photothermal therapy of MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines. As a photothermal agent, the nanohybrid shows that 10 min exposure to an 808 nm laser (500 mW) is adequate to inhibit about 70% of cancer cells. Further, the nanohybrid is tagged with FITC to study both optical and fluorescence imaging with MCF-7 cell lines. The results demonstrate that the LDH–Au nanohybrid provides an innovative approach to photothermal therapy, and optical and fluorescence imaging of cancer cells.

Between March 1984 and December 1999, a total of 43 second related allogeneic BMT procedures after myeloablative conditioning were carried out in our institution, 37 following allogeneic, and 6 following autologous BMT. Thirty one patients were males (72%). At 1st BMT (BMT1), median age was 11.5 years (range, 0.16-45 years). BMT1 was carried out for the diagnosis of AML in 13 patients (30%), SAA in nine (21%), ALL in six (14%), CML in six (14%), immunodeficiency in three (7%), NHL in two, β-thal in two, HD in one, Red cell aplasia in one. HLA matching status for allogeneic BMT1 was full match in 33, one antigen mismatch in two and haplo identical in two patients. Median age at the 2nd BMT (BMT2) was 14 years (range, 0.41-46.7 years). Indications for BMT2 were recurrent hematologic neoplasm in 23 patients (53%), primary graft failure in 12 (28%) and late graft failure in 8 (19%). Median time from BMT1 to recurrence of hematologic neoplasm or late graft failure was 10 months (range, 2.5- 88 months). Median BMT1 to BMT2 interval was 13 months (range, 1-107 months). For BMT2, the same donor was used in 29 patients, while 14 patients had alternate related donor (12 full match, 1-one Ag mismatch, 1 haplo identical). A different conditioning regimen was used in the majority of the patients (39, 91%). Radiation containing conditioning regimen were used mostly for patients previously conditioned with chemotherapy only for BMT1 and chemotherapy conditioning±ATG for those who received radiation containing conditioning at BMT1. Bone marrow was the stem cell source for all patients at BMT2 and all except three autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation patient at BMT1. Significant organ toxicity leading to procedure related death in 13 patients (30%) was observed after BMT2. At a median follow up of 36 months after BMT2, 22 patients (51%) are alive (20 free of disease, 2 with recurrent disease) with overall median survival of 47.5 (SD±9) months. Univariate analysis of relevant clinical factors identified the following variables as the only statistically significant favorable prognostic factors for overall survival: BMT1-BMT2 interval of ≥6 months (P=0.0007) and age at BMT2 ≤10 years (P=0.041). The nature of underlying disease (neoplastic or non-neoplastic) was not statistically significant (P=0.23). There was no statistically significant difference in survival outcome of BMT2 using same donor vs. alternate related donor (P=0.51). Due to the relatively limited sample size, multivariate analysis was not attempted. This single institution study suggests that second allogeneic BMT after myeloblative conditioning has an acceptable treatment related morbidity/mortality and favorable outcome if performed at age ≤10 years and with an interval of ≥6 months after the first BMT. Additionally same donor can successfully be used for the second transplant with similar survival outcome to alternate donor.

An investigation has been done to identify the heat source model suitable for numerical modeling of the Gas Metal arc Welding (GMAW) welding process. In the present investigation, a numerical model was constructed to simulate the GMAW welding process through transient thermal analysis for different thermal heat source models for weld deposition of Mild steel considering semi-cylindrical weld bead geometry. The Gaussian heat source with radial coordinate system and double ellipsoidal thermal heat source have been considered to develop a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model. Validation of numerical analysis results has been confirmed through experimental investigation. Numerical modeling confirms the utilization of both heat sources, i.e. Gaussian and Double ellipsoidal for the prediction of the weld bead deposition profile. However, the numerical modeling developed using a double ellipsoidal heat source has more resembles experimental investigation due to the utilization of bead profile data. However, the Gaussian heat source is found to be suitable in the case of the unavailability of experimental data. The experimental studies show a variation in the weld bead geometry, along its welding direction due to multiple environmental factors. The microstructural investigation also shows the development of a fine columnar grain structure at the welding bead & weld penetration zone, and the grain structure became coarser at the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ).