Browsing by browse by HERDC Category Description "C5 Other Refereed Contribution to a Scholarly Journal"

The apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE4) is an established risk factor for dementia; however, conflicting findings have been reported as to whether this phenotype confers a heightened risk for late onset depression (LOD) independent of dementia. We examined 2242 persons for incident LOD who also underwent genotyping for APOE4. Major LOD was associated with female sex (odds ratio, 3.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.89-6.90). APOE4 was not associated with major LOD regardless of whether dementia was excluded. In conclusion, we showed that the APOE4 phenotype holds no predictive value for major LOD.

This special issue of the Australian Journal of Chemistry celebrates the 80th birthday and scientific achievements of Graham Chandler, an eminent Australian theoretical chemist who has had an enormous impact on the field of theoretical chemistry and whose lifelong support of others in the Australian milieu is worthy of celebration.

A Commentary on

Achieving a radical and swift transition to low carbon renewable energy is a pressing global challenge. Yet, energy transitions continue to confront numerous obstacles. Dominant private and public players persistently slow or block change. Controversial hydrocarbon bridging fuels, like unconventional gas, also continue to expand in the name of energy reliability and affordability. And even where renewable developments shift from being niche to mainstream power sources, concerns are increasingly raised about their impacts on the environment, biodiversity, food and water. At the heart of all these issues are law and governance, which have been intense sites of contestation over the nature and outcomes of regulating energy transitions. This Special Issue brings together leading environmental law scholars to take a hard look at key energy experiences in Australia and globally, and to map out how to use law and governance to achieve swift and more environmentally sustainable energy transitions. This article sets the scene for the Special Issue by outlining some core challenges for energy transitions, before laying out two key questions explored in the subsequent nine articles, namely: what has been the role of law in governing energy transitions; and what law and governance mechanisms might be needed to better govern energy transitions and their nexus with the environment? The article concludes by summarising and synthesising responses to these questions.

Australian insectivorous bats are known to occupy and use resources in agroecosystems, yet little is known about their diets. We analysed a scat sample each from two individual bats, both threatened species (Chalinolobus picatus and Vespadelus baverstocki), in a major dryland cotton production zone. Both bats consumed economically important agricultural and cotton pests such as Helicoverpa sp. (bollworm). Our results suggest that these two bat species share around half of the insect prey resources available whilst consuming a wide range of prey items. This snapshot of dietary data provides further evidence that insectivorous bats consume a wide range of insect prey, including pests in cropping areas.