Neue Planungsgrundlagen für erneuerbare Energien: Herausforderungen und Lösungsvorschläge

Nach dem am 1. Februar 2023 in Kraft getretenen Windenergieflächenbedarfsgesetz (WindBG) müssen bis 2032 2% der Fläche Deutschlands für die Produktion von Windenergie bereitgestellt werden. Das Gesetz legt dabei Flächenbeitragswerte für die Länder fest, die in den Flächenländern zwischen 1,8% und 2,2% der jeweiligen Landesfläche liegen. Auch wenn die weitgehenden Änderungen des Planungsrechts im Sinne der Energiewende zu begrüßen sind, stellt die Implementierung des 2-%-Flächenziels bei der Windenergie für die Planungsträger eine große Herausforderung dar. In den 12 Ländern, in denen es die Ebene der Regionalplanung gibt, wurde diese mit der Umsetzung beauftragt. Sie muss in den meisten Planungsregionen deutlich mehr Flächen als bisher ausweisen. Dabei ist sie auf die Zuarbeit anderer Institutionen angewiesen, um rechtssicher planen zu können. Wo die Flächenziele nicht erreicht werden, drohen rechtliche Sanktionen. Das vorliegende Positionspapier stellt auf Basis der Diskussionen im Ad-hoc-Arbeitskreis "Windenergie an Land" der ARL zentrale Thesen vor, die jeweils argumentativ unterlegt die Umsetzung des "2%- Zieles" und die Optimierung des Planungsprozesses unterstützen sollen.According to the "Windenergieflächenbedarfsgesetz" (WindBG), which came into force on February 1, 2023, 2% of Germany's territory must be made available for production of wind energy by 2032. The law sets out area contribution values for the federal states, which are between 1.8% and 2.2% of the respective state's area. The fundamental changes to planning law are certainly to be commended in the interests of the energy transition. However, the implementation of the 2% area target for wind energy is a great challenge for the planning authorities. In the 12 federal states where a regional planning level is established, regional planning has to implement the goals. In most planning regions, significantly more areas need to be designated than in the past. To be able to plan with confidence, the planning authorities are reliant on the input of other institutions. Where the area targets are not met, there is a threat of legal sanctions. This position paper presents central theses based on the discussions in the ARL ad hoc working group "Windenergie an Land", which are aimed at supporting the implementation of the "2% target" and the optimization of the planning process by providing arguments

The role of detectability in the evolution of avian-dispersed fruit color

If the primary function of avian-dispersed fruit coloration were the maximization of detectability, then the commonest avian-dispersed fruit colors should be the ones most detectable to birds. We tested this prediction by photographing 63 fruit species primarily dispersed by birds, in situ in Sweden and Australia, with a multispectral camera closely mimicking the predominant spectral sensitivities of birds, including both UVS and VS (peak ultraviolet sensitivity ∼370 and 409 nm respectively) visual systems. Fruits were classified into nine distinct color categories based on different patterns of cone excitations, and were named by combining human color names with fruits’ UV reflective properties. For example, a bluish-UV fruit would be a fruit that excited the avian UV cone the most, but that also strongly excited the blue cone. Color and achromatic contrasts were calculated between each fruit color and common background objects, and compared to the relative abundance of the different fruit colors. Although red was highly detectable and the commonest color, the second and third commonest colors, purplish-UV and bluish-UV (often termed “black” by humans), were the least detectable. Although these latter two colors were more detectable to UVS than to VS birds, they were the least detectable to both visual systems. Rare fruit colors, such as UVish-purple, pink, and orange, were highly detectable to both visual systems. The lack of correlation between fruit color abundance and detectability suggests that the maximization of detectability has not been the primary driving force behind the evolution of fruit color

Risk factors for neonatal encephalopathy in late preterm and term singleton births in a large California birth cohort

ObjectiveThe objective was to investigate maternal and pregnancy characteristics associated with neonatal encephalopathy (NE).Study designWe queried an administrative birth cohort from California between 2011 and 2017 to determine the association between each factor and NE with and without hypothermia treatment.ResultsFrom 3 million infants born at 35 or more weeks of gestation, 6,857 cases of NE were identified (2.3 per 1000 births), 888 (13%) received therapeutic hypothermia. Risk factors for NE were stronger among cases receiving hypothermia therapy. Substance-related diagnosis, preexisting diabetes, preeclampsia, and any maternal infection were associated with a two-fold increase in risk. Maternal overweight/obesity, nulliparity, advanced maternal age, depression, gestational diabetes or hypertension, and short or long gestations also predicted NE. Young maternal age, Asian race and Hispanic ethnicity, and cannabis-related diagnosis lowered risk of NE.ConclusionsBy disseminating these results, we encourage further interrogation of these perinatal factors

Neue Planungsgrundlagen für erneuerbare Energien: Herausforderungen und Lösungsvorschläge

Nach dem am 1. Februar 2023 in Kraft getretenen Windenergieflächenbedarfsgesetz (WindBG) müssen bis 2032 2% der Fläche Deutschlands für die Produktion von Windenergie bereitgestellt werden. Das Gesetz legt dabei Flächenbeitragswerte für die Länder fest, die in den Flächenländern zwischen 1,8% und 2,2% der jeweiligen Landesfläche liegen. Auch wenn die weitgehenden Änderungen des Planungsrechts im Sinne der Energiewende zu begrüßen sind, stellt die Implementierung des 2-%-Flächenziels bei der Windenergie für die Planungsträger eine große Herausforderung dar. In den 12 Ländern, in denen es die Ebene der Regionalplanung gibt, wurde diese mit der Umsetzung beauftragt. Sie muss in den meisten Planungsregionen deutlich mehr Flächen als bisher ausweisen. Dabei ist sie auf die Zuarbeit anderer Institutionen angewiesen, um rechtssicher planen zu können. Wo die Flächenziele nicht erreicht werden, drohen rechtliche Sanktionen. Das vorliegende Positionspapier stellt auf Basis der Diskussionen im Ad-hoc-Arbeitskreis "Windenergie an Land" der ARL zentrale Thesen vor, die jeweils argumentativ unterlegt die Umsetzung des "2%- Zieles" und die Optimierung des Planungsprozesses unterstützen sollen.According to the "Windenergieflächenbedarfsgesetz" (WindBG), which came into force on February 1, 2023, 2% of Germany's territory must be made available for production of wind energy by 2032. The law sets out area contribution values for the federal states, which are between 1.8% and 2.2% of the respective state's area. The fundamental changes to planning law are certainly to be commended in the interests of the energy transition. However, the implementation of the 2% area target for wind energy is a great challenge for the planning authorities. In the 12 federal states where a regional planning level is established, regional planning has to implement the goals. In most planning regions, significantly more areas need to be designated than in the past. To be able to plan with confidence, the planning authorities are reliant on the input of other institutions. Where the area targets are not met, there is a threat of legal sanctions. This position paper presents central theses based on the discussions in the ARL ad hoc working group "Windenergie an Land", which are aimed at supporting the implementation of the "2% target" and the optimization of the planning process by providing arguments

An RCT of Rapid Genomic Sequencing among Seriously Ill Infants Results in High Clinical Utility, Changes in Management, and Low Perceived Harm

The second Newborn Sequencing in Genomic Medicine and Public Health (NSIGHT2) study was a randomized, controlled trial of rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) or rapid whole-exome sequencing (rWES) in infants with diseases of unknown etiology in intensive care units (ICUs). Gravely ill infants were not randomized and received ultra-rapid whole-genome sequencing (urWGS). Herein we report results of clinician surveys of the clinical utility of rapid genomic sequencing (RGS). The primary end-point-clinician perception that RGS was useful- was met for 154 (77%) of 201 infants. Both positive and negative tests were rated as having clinical utility (42 of 45 [93%] and 112 of 156 [72%], respectively). Physicians reported that RGS changed clinical management in 57 (28%) infants, particularly in those receiving urWGS (p = 0.0001) and positive tests (p < 0.00001). Outcomes of 32 (15%) infants were perceived to be changed by RGS. Positive tests changed outcomes more frequently than negative tests (p < 0.00001). In logistic regression models, the likelihood that RGS was perceived as useful increased 6.7-fold when associated with changes in management (95% CI 1.8-43.3). Changes in management were 10.1-fold more likely when results were positive (95% CI 4.7-22.4) and turnaround time was shorter (odds ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.99). RGS seldom led to clinician-perceived confusion or distress among families (6 of 207 [3%]). In summary, clinicians perceived high clinical utility and low likelihood of harm with first-tier RGS of infants in ICUs with diseases of unknown etiology. RGS was perceived as beneficial irrespective of whether results were positive or negative

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Analytic and Diagnostic Performance of Singleton and Trio, Rapid Genome and Exome Sequencing in Ill Infants

The second Newborn Sequencing in Genomic Medicine and Public Health study was a randomized, controlled trial of the effectiveness of rapid whole-genome or -exome sequencing (rWGS or rWES, respectively) in seriously ill infants with diseases of unknown etiology. Here we report comparisons of analytic and diagnostic performance. Of 1,248 ill inpatient infants, 578 (46%) had diseases of unknown etiology. 213 infants (37% of those eligible) were enrolled within 96 h of admission. 24 infants (11%) were very ill and received ultra-rapid whole-genome sequencing (urWGS). The remaining infants were randomized, 95 to rWES and 94 to rWGS. The analytic performance of rWGS was superior to rWES, including variants likely to affect protein function, and ClinVar pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (p < 0.0001). The diagnostic performance of rWGS and rWES were similar (18 diagnoses in 94 infants [19%] versus 19 diagnoses in 95 infants [20%], respectively), as was time to result (median 11.0 versus 11.2 days, respectively). However, the proportion diagnosed by urWGS (11 of 24 [46%]) was higher than rWES/rWGS (p = 0.004) and time to result was less (median 4.6 days, p < 0.0001). The incremental diagnostic yield of reflexing to trio after negative proband analysis was 0.7% (1 of 147). In conclusion, rapid genomic sequencing can be performed as a first-tier diagnostic test in inpatient infants. urWGS had the shortest time to result, which was important in unstable infants, and those in whom a genetic diagnosis was likely to impact immediate management. Further comparison of urWGS and rWES is warranted because genomic technologies and knowledge of variant pathogenicity are evolving rapidly