Urban ecological transition: The practice of ecological civilization construction in China.

Ecological civilization construction is an essential means of achieve sustainable development in China. It promotes not only the decoupling of environmental degradation from economic development, but additionally the coupling of positive ecological development with economic development. Presently, most of the research on ecological civilization focuses on its indices and evaluation methods. However, there exist some gaps such as the use of incomplete scientific indicators, and insufficient practice caused by inadequate sample size. In this study, we first take the evaluation framework for ecological civilization pilot areas combined with academic research to construct a comprehensive framework and indicator system. Second, we calculate the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) for each of the pilot areas based on the entropy weight and identify typical industries that promote the coupling of ecology and economy. Third, we use the Relative Development Coefficient (RDC) to measure the development of ecology and economy between 2014 and 2019, and study the different kinds of development models for cities. Results of the study found that the regional economy is highly positive correlated with CCD, indicating a mutually reinforcing relationship between economic development and ecological development. Further, the RDC reveals that the level of urban ecological development is relatively higher at the stage of decoupling and coordination with economic system. Finally, strategic emerging industries are a common element in pilot areas with a high level of ecological development, as they offer higher economic output without the ecological degradation associated with traditional industries.

Assessment of the Efficacy of Therapies Following Venetoclax Discontinuation in CLL Reveals BTK Inhibition as an Effective Strategy.

PURPOSE: Venetoclax-based therapy is a standard-of-care option in first-line and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patient management following venetoclax discontinuation remains nonstandard and poorly understood. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To address this, we conducted a large international study to identify a cohort of 326 patients who discontinued venetoclax and have been subsequently treated. Coprimary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival for the post-venetoclax treatments stratified by treatment type [Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), PI3K inhibitor (PI3Ki), and cellular therapies]. RESULTS: We identified patients with CLL who discontinued venetoclax in the first-line (4%) and relapsed/refractory settings (96%). Patients received a median of three therapies prior to venetoclax; 40% were BTKi naïve (n = 130), and 81% were idelalisib naïve (n = 263). ORR to BTKi was 84% (n = 44) in BTKi-naïve patients versus 54% (n = 30) in BTKi-exposed patients. We demonstrate therapy selection following venetoclax requires prior novel agent exposure consideration and discontinuation reasons. CONCLUSIONS: For BTKi-naïve patients, selection of covalently binding BTKis results in high ORR and durable remissions. For BTKi-exposed patients, covalent BTK inhibition is not effective in the setting of BTKi resistance. PI3Kis following venetoclax do not appear to result in durable remissions. We conclude that BTKi in naïve or previously responsive patients and cellular therapies following venetoclax may be the most effective strategies.See related commentary by Rogers, p. 3501.