Flächen- und Bodenpolitik aus Naturschutzsicht

Als ältester und mitgliederstärkster Natur- und Umweltschutzverband Deutschlands1 ist der NABU ein unverzichtbarer Akteur in der Debatte um eine nachhaltige und flächensparende Siedlungsentwicklung. Zur erfolgreichen Umzusetzung ist zunächst die Formulierung von Flächensparzielen auf politischer Ebene eine Grundvoraussetzung, um die Ressource Fläche überhaupt zum Bestandteil einer gesellschaftlichen Debatte zu machen. Zweitens braucht es für die Städte und Gemeinden vor Ort geeignete stadtentwicklungspolitische Instrumente und Maßnahmen, um flächensparende Projekte zu realisieren. Drittens müssen alle Akteure offen und kompromissbereit miteinander in Diskussion gehen. Dazu gehört auch, sich Klarheit über den eigenen Konsum von Fläche und die eigenen Raumnutzungsansprüche zu verschaffen. Viertens darf eine nachhaltige und flächensparende Stadtplanung durch staatliche Instrumente nicht in ihrer Wirkung eingeschränkt oder gar behindert werden. Der NABU fordert daher die Reform der Grundsteuer zu einer reinen Bodenwertsteuer

Raum ist Zeit : Zeitentfernungskarten als Orientierungssystem im städtischen Fußverkehr

Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit kartografischen Visualisierungen, die das Verhältnis von räumlicher und zeitlicher Distanz abbilden. Fokussiert werden dabei Isochronenkarten, auf denen alle Gebiete gekennzeichnet sind, die innerhalb einer bestimmten Zeit erreicht werden können. Die Arbeit untersucht verschiedene Isochronenkarten und -anwendungen für den Fußverkehr im Hinblick auf ihre Gestaltung. Außerdem werden weitere Methoden vorgestellt, mit denen Reisezeit und Raum-Zeit-Verhältnis visualisiert werden können. Gegenwärtig gibt es im Internet verschiedene Anwendungen, die Isochronenkarten erzeugen. Dabei kann zwischen verschiedenen Methoden der Darstellung und Gestaltung der Isochronen unterschieden werden. Die Frage dabei ist, auf welche Art und Weise und mit welchem Abstraktionsgrad die verschiedenen Isochronenzonen visualisiert werden. Orientierungskarten im öffentlichen Raum benutzen für diese Darstellung eine relativ abstrakte Methode. Ausgehend vom Standort des Betrachters werden lediglich konzentrische Kreise gezogen und mit einer Distanzangabe versehen. Die räumliche Distanz entspricht aber in den seltensten Fällen der Luftlinie. Denn Topografie, Straßenraster und Bebauung wirken sich auf dieses Verhältnis aus. Um die Frage zu beantworten, warum für Orientierungskarten ein höherer Abstraktionsgrad verwendet wird, werden einige theoretische Grundlagen der kartografischen Gestaltung näher erläutert. Generalisierungsprozesse erzeugen eine verständliche und leserliche kartografische Darstellung - auf Kosten der Detailtreue. Um die theoretischen Ausführungen durch empirische Erkenntnisse zu unterfüttern wurde eine nicht repräsentative Befragung durchgeführt. 40 Personen wurden zwei verschiedenartig gestaltete Zeitentfernungskarten gezeigt. Eine Darstellungsform basierte lediglich auf konzentrischen Kreisen, die andere Karte wurde mit einem geringeren Abstraktionsgrad gestaltet. Aus der Perspektive von Touristen bevorzugten etwa drei Viertel die kreisförmige Visualisierung. Begründet wurde dies mit einer besseren Übersichtlichkeit. Die Umfrage bestätigte, dass sich komplexe Darstellungen von Zeitkarten stets an dem eigentlichen Anwendungszweck und den Benutzern orientieren sollten. Desweiteren wurde gezeigt, dass für Orientierungssysteme ein hoher Abstraktionsgrad durchaus angemessen ist. Offen bleibt aber die Frage, welche Auswirkungen die ganz konkrete Gestaltung der einzelnen Isochronenzonen auf die Wahrnehmung und Lesbarkeit hat.This thesis deals with cartographic visualizations depicting the relations between spatial and temporal distances. Isochronal maps which show areas that can be reached within a specific travel time are brought into focus. Different isochronal maps and applications for pedestrians with regard to their design will be examined. Furthermore, other methods to visualize travel time and the relations between spatial and temporal distances will be presented. There are currently various web-based applications which create isochronal maps. One can distinguish between different methods of illustration and the design of the isochrones. The thesis analyzes how and with which degree of abstraction the several isochronal areas are presented. Map-based orientation systems in public space use a relative abstract method to depict this. Starting from the location of the viewer, concentric circles are drawn and provided with distance information. However, the spatial distance does not always correspond with the linear distance. Topography, street grids and buildings affect this relation. Some theoretical principles of cartography and graphic design have to be explained to tell why a higher degree of abstraction is used in map-based orientation systems. Generalization creates comprehensive and more readable illustrations – (at times) at the expense of attention to detail. To complement the theoretical remarks with empiric results, a non-representative survey was conducted. Two time distance maps with different designs were shown to 40 people. One illustration was based solely on concentric circles. The other map was composed with a lower degree of abstraction. According to the results, a map that can easily be understood and read is preferred over a detailed, realistic and thus more complex one. This applies especially to tourists and people who are unfamiliar with the depicted area. The survey confirmed that complex illustrations of time maps should consider its intended use and its users. Furthermore, for map-based orientation systems, a high degree of abstraction is appropriate. How the specific design of the isochronal zones affects the perception and readability has yet to be answered

Building a database for energy sufficiency policies

Sufficiency measures are potentially decisive for the decarbonisation of energy systems but rarely considered in energy policy and modelling. Just as efficiency and renewable energies, the diffusion of demand-side solutions to climate change also relies on policy-making. Our extensive literature review of European and national sufficiency policies fills a gap in existing databases. We present almost 300 policy instruments clustered into relevant categories and publish them as "Energy Sufficiency Policy Database". This paper provides a description of the data clustering, the set-up of the database and an analysis of the policy instruments. A key insight is that sufficiency policy includes much more than bans of products or information tools leaving the responsibility to individuals. It is a comprehensive instrument mix of all policy types, not only enabling sufficiency action, but also reducing currently existing barriers. A policy database can serve as a good starting point for policy recommendations and modelling, further research is needed on barriers and demand-reduction potentials of sufficiency policy instruments

Passive Laser Power Stabilization via an Optical Spring

Metrology experiments can be limited by the noise produced by the laser involved via small fluctuations in the laser's power or frequency. Typically, active power stabilization schemes consisting of an in-loop sensor and a feedback control loop are employed. Those schemes are fundamentally limited by shot noise coupling at the in-loop sensor. In this letter we propose to use the optical spring effect to passively stabilize the classical power fluctuations of a laser beam. In a proof of principle experiment, we show that the relative power noise of the laser is stabilized from approximately $2 \times 10^{-5}$ Hz$^{-1/2}$ to a minimum value of $1.6 \times 10^{-7}$ Hz$^{-1/2}$, corresponding to the power noise reduction by a factor of $125$. The bandwidth at which stabilization occurs ranges from $400$ Hz to $100$ kHz. The work reported in this letter further paves the way for high power laser stability techniques which could be implemented in optomechanical experiments and in gravitational wave detectors

Efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in posterior lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spinal stenosis with instability: a retrospective case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Degenerative spinal stenosis and instability requiring multilevel spine surgery has been associated with large blood losses. Factors that affect perioperative blood loss include time of surgery, surgical procedure, patient height, combined anterior/posterior approaches, number of levels fused, blood salvage techniques, and the use of anti-fibrinolytic medications. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in spine surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This retrospective case control study includes 97 patients who had to undergo surgery because of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and instability. All operations included spinal decompression, interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation (4-5 segments). Forty-six patients received 1 g tranexamic acid intravenous, preoperative and six hours and twelve hours postoperative; 51 patients without tranexamic acid administration were evaluated as a control group. Based on the records, the intra- and postoperative blood losses were measured by evaluating the drainage and cell saver systems 6, 12 and 24 hours post operation. Additionally, hemoglobin concentration and platelet concentration were reviewed. Furthermore, the number of red cell transfusions given and complications associated with tranexamic acid were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The postoperative hemoglobin concentration demonstrated a statistically significant difference with a p value of 0.0130 showing superiority for tranexamic acid use (tranexamic acid group: 11.08 g/dl, SD: 1.68; control group: 10.29 g/dl, SD: 1.39). The intraoperative cell saver volume and drainage volume after 24 h demonstrated a significant difference as well, which indicates a less blood loss in the tranexamic acid group than the control group. The postoperative drainage volume at12 hours showed no significant differences; nor did the platelet concentration Allogenic blood transfusion (two red cell units) was needed for eight patients in the tranexamic acid group and nine in the control group because of postoperative anemia. Complications associated with the administration of tranexamic acid, e.g. renal failure, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism did not occur.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests a less blood loss when administering tranexamic acid in posterior lumbar spine surgery as demonstrated by the higher postoperative hemoglobin concentration and the less blood loss. But given the relatively small volume of blood loss in the patients of this study it is underpowered to show a difference in transfusion rates.</p

Intronic FGF14 GAA repeat expansions are a common cause of ataxia syndromes with neuropathy and bilateral vestibulopathy

BACKGROUND: Intronic GAA repeat expansions in the fibroblast growth factor 14 gene (FGF14) have recently been identified as a common cause of ataxia with potential phenotypic overlap with RFC1-related cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS). Our objective was to report on the frequency of intronic FGF14 GAA repeat expansions in patients with an unexplained CANVAS-like phenotype. METHODS: We recruited 45 patients negative for biallelic RFC1 repeat expansions with a combination of cerebellar ataxia plus peripheral neuropathy and/or bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), and genotyped the FGF14 repeat locus. Phenotypic features of GAA-FGF14-positive versus GAA-FGF14-negative patients were compared. RESULTS: Frequency of FGF14 GAA repeat expansions was 38% (17/45) in the entire cohort, 38% (5/13) in the subgroup with cerebellar ataxia plus polyneuropathy, 43% (9/21) in the subgroup with cerebellar ataxia plus BVP and 27% (3/11) in patients with all three features. BVP was observed in 75% (12/16) of GAA-FGF14-positive patients. Polyneuropathy was at most mild and of mixed sensorimotor type in six of eight GAA-FGF14-positive patients. Family history of ataxia (59% vs 15%; p=0.007) was significantly more frequent and permanent cerebellar dysarthria (12% vs 54%; p=0.009) significantly less frequent in GAA-FGF14-positive than in GAA-FGF14-negative patients. Age at onset was inversely correlated to the size of the repeat expansion (Pearson's r, -0.67; R2=0.45; p=0.0031). CONCLUSIONS: GAA-FGF14-related disease is a common cause of cerebellar ataxia with polyneuropathy and/or BVP, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of RFC1 CANVAS and disease spectrum

Diel activity patterns of two distinct populations of Aedes aegypti in Miami, FL and Brownsville, TX

The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. However, few contemporary studies are available regarding the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti. To assess the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti in southern Florida and Texas, we conducted 96-h uninterrupted mosquito collections once each month from May through November 2019 in Miami, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, using BG-Sentinel 2 Traps. The overall diel activity pattern in both cities was bimodal with morning and evening peak activity between 7:00 and 8:00 and between 19:00 and 20:00. There were significant daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific differences in activity patterns, but these differences did not affect the overall peak activity times. These differences suggest daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific variations in human exposure to Ae. aegypti. Our observations can be used in planning and executing Ae. aegypti vector control activities in southern Florida and southern Texas, specifically those targeting the adult mosquito populations

beadplexr: reproducible and automated analysis of multiplex bead assays

Multiplex bead assays are an extension of the commonly used sandwich ELISA. The advantage over ELISA is that they make simultaneous evaluation of several analytes possible. Several commercial assay systems, where the beads are acquired on a standard flow cytometer, exist. These assay systems come with their own software tool for analysis and evaluation of the concentration of the analyzed analytes. However, these tools are either tied to particular commercial software or impose other limitations to their licenses, such as the number of events which can be analyzed. In addition, all these solutions are ‘point and click’ which potentially obscures the steps taken in the analysis. Here we present beadplexer, an open-source R-package for the reproducible analysis of multiplex bead assay data. The package makes it possible to automatically identify bead clusters, and provides functionality to easily fit a standard curve and calculate the concentrations of the analyzed analytes. beadplexer is available from CRAN and from https://gitlab.com/ustervbo/beadplexr

SLC4A10 mutation causes a neurological disorder associated with impaired GABAergic transmission

SLC4A10 is a plasma-membrane bound transporter which utilizes the Na+ gradient to drive cellular HCO3- uptake, thus mediating acid extrusion. In the mammalian brain, SLC4A10 is expressed in principal neurons and interneurons, as well as in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, the organ regulating the production of cerebrospinal fluid. Using next generation sequencing on samples from five unrelated families encompassing ten affected individuals, we show that biallelic SLC4A10 loss-of-function variants cause a clinically recognizable neurodevelopmental disorder in humans. The cardinal clinical features of the condition include hypotonia in infancy, delayed psychomotor development across all domains and typically severe intellectual impairment. Affected individuals commonly display traits associated with autistic spectrum disorders including anxiety, hyperactivity and stereotyped movements. In two cases isolated episodes of seizures were reported in the first few years of life, and a further affected child displayed bitemporal epileptogenic discharges on EEG without overt clinical seizures. While occipitofrontal circumference was reported to be normal at birth, progressive postnatal microcephaly evolved in 7 out of 10 affected individuals. Neuroradiological features included a relative preservation of brain volume compared to occipitofrontal circumference, characteristic narrow sometimes 'slit-like' lateral ventricles and corpus callosum abnormalities. Slc4a10 -/- mice, deficient for SLC4A10, also display small lateral brain ventricles and mild behavioral abnormalities including delayed habituation and alterations in the 2-object novel object recognition task. Collapsed brain ventricles in both Slc4a10-/- mice and affected individuals suggests an important role of SLC4A10 in the production of the cerebrospinal fluid. However, it is notable that despite diverse roles of the cerebrospinal fluid in the developing and adult brain, the cortex of Slc4a10-/- mice appears grossly intact. Co-staining with synaptic markers revealed that in neurons, SLC4A10 localizes to inhibitory, but not excitatory, presynapses. These findings are supported by our functional studies which show the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA is compromised in Slc4a10-/- mice, while the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate is preserved. Manipulation of intracellular pH partially rescues GABA release. Together our studies define a novel characteristic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in SLC4A10 and highlight the importance of further analyses of the consequences of SLC4A10 loss-of-function for brain development, synaptic transmission and network properties