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Purpose To determine the effects of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in the Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone Versus Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed Multiple Myeloma (ASPIRE) trial. Methods Patients with relapsed multiple myeloma were randomly assigned to receive KRd or Rd. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and myeloma-specific module were administered at baseline; day 1 of cycles 3, 6, 12, and 18; and after treatment. The Global Health Status/Quality of Life (GHS/QoL) scale and seven subscales (fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, physical functioning, role functioning, disease symptoms, and adverse effects of treatment) were compared between groups using a mixed model for repeated measures. The percentages of responders with ≥ 5- or 15-point GHS/QoL improvement at each cycle were compared between groups. Results Baseline questionnaire compliance was excellent (94.1% of randomly assigned patients). KRd patients had higher GHS/QoL scores versus Rd patients over 18 treatment cycles (two-sided P < .001). The minimal important difference was met at cycle 12 (5.6 points) and approached at cycle 18 (4.8 points). There was no difference between groups for the other prespecified subscales from ASPIRE. A higher proportion of KRd patients met the GHS/QoL responder definition (≥ 5-point improvement) with statistical differences at cycle 12 (KRd v Rd patients, 25.5% v 17.4%, respectively) and 18 (KRd v Rd patients, 24.2% v 12.9%, respectively). Conclusion KRd improves GHS/QoL without negatively affecting patient-reported symptoms when compared with Rd. These data further support the benefit of KRd in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

The Freundlich equation (x/m = Kf C1/ne) has been used widely in sorption studies in chemistry and environmental research. Two problems arise in comparing sorbate‐sorbent systems if Ce ≠ 1 or if 1/n values differ. First, it is often not possible to compare Kf values from the literature if they were derived from different units of x/m and Ce. Second, the exponent 1/n, determines the interpretation of Kf. Consequently, comparing values of Kf or Koc—f is problematic. We propose a way to characterize sorption dynamics in systems that follow the Freundlich isotherm that avoids problems caused by comparing Kf values. We show that: (i) The units of Kf are: mmol1‐1/n kg−1 L1/n, or mg1‐1/n kg−1 L1/n, etc. depending on the units of x/m and Cc. Therefore, Kf parameters cannot be compared among samples whenever the 1/n parameters are different; (ii) For Kf values that are associated with different units, the units‐conversion factor for Kf is also a function of 1/n. It has the form of: A1‐1/n, where A is the units‐conversion factor if 1/n = 1; (iii) We propose a new variable, Ku, to unify the units of Kf and to conduct sensitivity analyses of Kf and 1/n. Numerically Ku is the slope, (x/m)/Ce, of the sorption isotherm at any value of Ce or x/m and has units of L kg−1.

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HBsAg-1018 had a similar safety profile to HBsAg-Eng. With improved immunogenicity and fewer doses over a shorter time, HBsAg-1018 has the potential to provide improved seroprotection and a significant public health benefit to adults 18 years of age or older.

Coal tar pitch (CTP), a by-product of coking industry, has a unique molecule structure comprising an aromatic nucleus and several side chains bonding on this graphene-like nucleus, which is very similar to the structure of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Based on this perception, we develop a facile approach to convert CTP to GQDs only by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions. One to three graphene layers, monodisperse GQDs with a narrow size distribution of 1.7 ± 0.4 nm, are obtained at high yield (more than 80 wt. %) from CTP. The as-produced GQDs are highly soluble and strongly fluorescent in aqueous solution. This simple strategy provides a feasible route towards the commercial synthesis of GQDs for its cheap material source, green reagent, mild condition, and high yield.

Photocatalysts comprising nanosized TiO2particles on activated carbon (AC) were prepared by a sol-gel method. The TiO2/AC composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Their photocatalytic activities were studied through the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in photocatalytic reactor at room temperature under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and the effect of loading cycles of TiO2on the structural properties and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/AC composites was also investigated. The results indicate that the anatase TiO2particles with a crystal size of 10–20 nm can be deposited homogeneously on the AC surface under calcination at 500°C. The loading cycle plays an important role in controlling the loading amount of TiO2and morphological structure and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/AC composites. The porosity parameters of these composite photocatalysts such as specific surface area and total pore volume decrease whereas the loading amount of TiO2increases. The TiO2/AC composite synthesized at 2 loading cycles exhibits a high photocatalytic activity in terms of the loading amount of TiO2and as high as 93.2% removal rate for RhB from the 400 mL solution at initial concentration of 2 × 10−5 mol/L under UV light irradiation.

Two-dimensional (2D) carbide Ti 3 C 2 was synthesized by exfoliating Ti 3 AlC 2 in HF solution and used for supercapacitive performance investigation in 3 M KOH electrolyte. The specific surface area (SSA) of as-synthesized Ti 3 C 2 was 22.35 m 2 /g. Ti 3 C 2 -based supercapacitor electrodes exhibited good energy storage ability and had a volumetric capacitance 119.8 F/cm 3 at the current density of 2.5 A/g. Moreover, the addition of carbon black into Ti 3 C 2 powders greatly improved the performance of Ti 3 C 2 -based capacitors because carbon black restrained the preferred orientation of 2D Ti 3 C 2 , providing fast ion transport channels, and in turn, decreasing electrical resistance from 16.7 Ω to 3.5 Ω.