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The Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) is the main measure used in Australia for estimating fire risk. Recent work by the authors showed that the FFDI forms stable state regimes, nominated as fire climate regimes. These regimes shifted to greater intensity in southern and eastern Australia around the year 2000 and, a decade later, further north. Reductions in atmospheric moisture were the primary contributor. These changes have not been fully incorporated into future projections. This paper compares the recent regime shifts with the most recent national projections of FFDI, published in 2015. They show that for most states and regions, the 2030 upper limit is approached or exceeded by the recent shift, except for two states with large arid zones, South Australia and Western Australia. Methods for attributing past changes, constructing projections, and the inability of climate models to reproduce the recent decreases in atmospheric moisture, all contribute to these underestimates. To address these shortcomings, we make some suggestions to modify efforts aiming to develop seamless predictions and projections of future fire risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term or residential services are designed to support older people who experience challenges to their physical and mental health. These services play an important role in the health and well-being of older adults who are more susceptible to problems such as malnutrition. Estimates of the significance of malnutrition require up-to-date prevalence data to inform government strategies and regulation, but these data are not currently available in Australia. The aim of this study was to collect malnutrition prevalence data on a large sample of people living in residential aged care facilities in Australia. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship between malnutrition and anthropometry (body mass index (BMI) and weight loss). This prevalence study utilised baseline data collected as part of a longitudinal study of malnutrition in 10 Residential Aged Care facilities across three states in Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland). The malnutrition status of eligible residents was assessed by dietitians and trained student dietitians using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) with residents categorised into SGA-A = well nourished, SGA-B = mildly/moderately malnourished, and SGA-C = severely malnourished. Other data were extracted from the electronic record. Of the 833 listed residents, 711 residents were eligible and had sufficient data to be included in the analysis. Residents were predominantly female (63%) with a mean (SD) age of 84 (8.36) years and a mean (SD) BMI of 26.74 (6.59) kg/m2. A total of 40% of residents were categorised as malnourished with 34% (n = 241) categorised as SGA-B, and 6% (n = 42) SGA-C. Compared to the SGA, BMI and weight loss categorisation of malnutrition demonstrated low sensitivity and high specificity. These findings provide recent, valid data on malnutrition prevalence and highlight the limitations of current Australian practices that rely on anthropometric measures that under-detect malnutrition. There is an urgent need to implement a feasible aged care resident screening program to address the highly prevalent condition of malnutrition in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional fossil-fuel-based power systems are undergoing rapid transformation via the replacement of coal-fired generation with wind and solar farms. The stochastic and intermittent nature of such renewable sources demands alternative dispatchable technology capable of meeting system stability and reliability needs. Battery energy storage can play a crucial role in enabling the high uptake of wind and solar generation. However, battery life is very sensitive to the way battery energy storage systems (BESS) are operated. In this paper, we propose a framework to analyse battery operation in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) electricity spot and contingency reserve markets. We investigate battery operation in different states of Australia under various operating strategies. By considering battery degradation costs within the operating strategy, BESS can generate revenue from the energy market without significantly compromising battery life. Participating in contingency markets, batteries can substantially increase their revenue with almost no impact on battery health. Finally, when battery systems are introduced into highly volatile markets (such as South Australia) more aggressive cycling of batteries leads to accelerated battery aging, which may be justified by increased revenue. The findings also suggest that with falling replacement costs, the operation of battery energy systems can be adjusted, increasing immediate revenues and moving the battery end-of-life conditions closer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Blind cave spiders of the genus Troglodiplura are large, enigmatic spiders, which show a number of adaptations to an underground existence, including elongated limbs and a complete lack of eyes. They are known only from the Nullarbor Plain, Australia and prior to this study the species were only known from juveniles or fragments of dead spiders. We investigated the distribution of Troglodiplura in South Australia, providing detailed observations of the behaviour of living adult and juvenile spiders in their natural habitat and in captivity. Given the adaptations of the spiders to an underground existence, plus the barriers to above-ground dispersal posed by the arid climate of the Nullarbor Plain, we expected species to be confined to single caves. However, our molecular evidence showed that the species T. beirutpakbarai was distributed across multiple caves in South Australia, each separated by between 10–27 km, and that there had been connection between the caves in recent history. These findings provide intriguing evidence for subterranean between-cave dispersal mechanisms for these spiders. A number of threats to cave fauna and the fragile cave ecosystem are posed, and we recommend further research to better define the distribution of vulnerable cave taxa and their conservation profiles. Previously described from only fragments of exoskeleton and juvenile specimens, the cave spider genus Troglodiplura (Araneae: Anamidae), endemic to the Nullarbor Plain, is the only troglomorphic member of the infraorder Mygalomorphae recorded from Australia. We investigated the distribution of Troglodiplura in South Australia, collecting and observing the first (intact) mature specimens, widening the number of caves it has been recorded in, and documenting threats to conservation. Phylogenetic analyses support the placement of Troglodiplura as an independent lineage within the subfamily Anaminae (the 'Troglodiplura group') and provide unequivocal evidence that populations from apparently isolated cave systems are conspecifics of T. beirutpakbarai Harvey & Rix, 2020, with extremely low or negligible inter-population mitochondrial divergences. This is intriguing evidence for recent or contemporary subterranean dispersal of these large, troglomorphic spiders. Observations of adults and juvenile spiders taken in the natural cave environment, and supported by observations in captivity, revealed the use of crevices within caves as shelters, but no evidence of silk use for burrow construction, contrasting with the typical burrowing behaviours seen in other Anamidae. We identify a range of threats posed to the species and to the fragile cave ecosystem, and provide recommendations for further research to better define the distribution of vulnerable taxa within caves and identify actions needed to protect them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiraz disease (SD) is an economically important virus-associated disease that can significantly reduce yield in sensitive grapevine varieties and has so far only been reported in South Africa and Australia. In this study, RT-PCR and metagenomic high-throughput sequencing was used to study the virome of symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines within vineyards affected by SD and located in South Australia. Results showed that grapevine virus A (GVA) phylogroup II variants were strongly associated with SD symptoms in Shiraz grapevines that also had mixed infections of viruses including combinations of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) and grapevine leafroll-associated virus 4 strains 5, 6 and 9 (GLRaV-4/5, GLRaV-4/6, GLRaV-4/9). GVA phylogroup III variants, on the other hand, were present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines, suggesting no or decreased virulence of these strains. Similarly, only GVA phylogroup I variants were found in heritage Shiraz grapevines affected by mild leafroll disease, along with GLRaV-1, suggesting this phylogroup may not be associated with SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia is one of the leading countries in energy transition, and its largest power system is intended to securely operate with up to 75% of variable renewable generation by 2025. High-inertia synchronous condensers, battery energy storage systems, and grid-forming converters are some of the technologies supporting this transformation while facilitating the secure operation of the grid. Synchronous condensers have enabled 2500 MW of solar and wind generation in the state of South Australia, reaching minimum operational demands of ≈100 MW. Grid-scale battery energy storage systems have demonstrated not only market benefits by cutting costs to consumers but also essential grid services during contingencies. Fast frequency response, synthetic inertia, and high fault currents are some of the grid-supporting capabilities provided by new developments that strengthen the grid while facilitating the integration of new renewable energy hubs. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview, based on the Australian experience, of how power systems are overcoming expected challenges while continuing to integrate secure, low cost, and clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately forecasting the output of grid connected wind and solar systems is critical to increasing the overall penetration of renewables on the electrical network. This is especially the case in Australia, where there has been a massive increase in solar and wind farms in the last 15 years, as well as in roof top solar, both domestic and commercial. For example, in 2020, 27% of the electricity in Australia was from renewable sources, and in South Australia almost 60% was from wind and solar. In the literature, there has been extensive research reported on solar and wind resource, entailing both point and interval forecasts, but there has been much less focus on the forecasting of output from wind and solar systems. In this review, we canvass both what has been reported and also what gaps remain. In the case of the latter topic, there are numerous aspects that are not well dealt with in the literature. We have added discussion on the value of forecasts, rather than just focusing on forecast skill. Further, we present a section on how to deal with conditionally changing variance, a topic that has little focus in the literature. One other topic may be particularly important in Australia at the moment, but may become more widespread. This is how to deal with the concept of a clear sky output from a solar farm when the field is oversized compared to the inverter capacity, resulting in a plateau for the output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of paratooite-(La) has been solved using crystals from the type locality, Paratoo copper mine, near Yunta, Olary Province, South Australia, Australia. The mineral is orthorhombic, Pbam, a = 7.2250(3) Å, b = 12.7626(5) Å, c = 10.0559(4) Å, V = 927.25(6) Å3, and R1 = 0.063 for 1299 unique observed reflections. The crystal structure contains eight symmetrically independent cation sites. The La site, which accommodates rare earth elements (REEs), but also contains Sr and Ca, has a tenfold coordination by seven carbonate groups. The Ca, Na1, and Na2 sites are coordinated by eight, eight, and six O atoms, respectively, forming distorted CaO8 and Na1O8 cubes, and Na2O6 octahedra. The Cu site is occupied solely by copper and possess a distorted octahedral coordination with four short (1.941 Å) and two longer (2.676 Å) apical Cu–O bonds. There are three symmetrically independent carbonate groups (CO3)2− with the average bond lengths equal to 1.279, 1.280, and 1.279 Å for the C1, C2, and C3 sites, respectively. The crystal structure of paratooite-(La) can be described as a strongly distorted body-centered lattice formed by metal cations with (CO3)2− groups filling its interstices. According to the chemical and crystal-structure data, the crystal-chemical formula of paratooite-(La) can be described as (La0.74Ca0.11Sr0.07)4CuCa(Na0.75Ca0.15)(Na0.63)(CO3)8 or REE2.96Ca1.59Na1.38CuSr0.28(CO3)8. The idealized formula can be written as (La,Sr,Ca)4CuCa(Na,Ca)2(CO3)8. The structure of paratooite is a 1 × 2 × 2 superstructure of carbocernaite, CaSr(CO3)2. The superstructure arises due to the ordering of the chemically different Cu2+ cations, on one hand, and Na+ and Ca2+ cations, on the other hand. The formation of a superstructure due to the cation ordering in paratooite-(La) compared to carbocernaite results in the multiple increase of structural complexity per unit cell. Therefore, paratooite-(La) versus carbocernaite represents a good example of structural complexity increasing due to the increasing chemical complexity controlled by different electronic properties of mineral-forming chemical elements (transitional versus alkali and alkaline earth metals). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]