ABSTRACTThe gender gap in risk preferences in rural farm households, with female farmers commonly viewed as more risk‐averse than their male counterparts, may have profound implications for addressing the gendered impacts of climate change. Understanding these gender differences and their drivers is essential for designing policies that enhance resilience to the adverse effects of climate change and promote gender equality. In this paper, we examine whether a gender gap in risk‐taking behaviours exists, identify its key drivers and explore its implications for gender disparity in the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture technologies. Using representative longitudinal survey data from the Thailand and Vietnam Socio‐Economic Panel (TVSEP) and employing an interactive fixed effect model and quantile regressions, we find strong evidence of gender differences in risk‐taking behaviour, which contribute to gender disparities in the adoption of climate‐smart agricultural technologies. The results from the decomposition exercise show that improving access to education in rural communities could play a crucial role in bridging the gender gap in risk‐taking, thereby contributing to more equitable and widespread adoption of practices that are key to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

More than two decades on, the shadow of 9/11 and the Bali bombings continues to linger over Australia and its small Muslim population. We posit this is due to an existential fear of both Islam and Muslims in the Australian imaginary, an imaginary that continues to be cast as Judeo-Christian. This has led to the hyper-securitisation of an entire religious community which has had several effects on the ways Muslims navigate a sense of belonging in and to contemporary Australia. This article analyses interviews with members of two specific and different ethnic groups in different locations in Australia, to explore similarities and differences in their lived experience resulting from this securitised environment. The comparative analysis between Indonesians in Perth and Lebanese in Sydney demonstrates strong mixed cultural identities are common, but finds tensions expressed about how the high levels of securitisation manifest in starkly different and novel ways. While the Lebanese participants are critical of the securitised and challenging socio-political context, the Indonesian participants interpret experiences of hostility and micro-aggressions as not necessarily directed towards all Muslims, but as focused on particular ethnic communities. Our data suggest that one outcome of the securitised environment is that the ‘good Muslim’ and the ‘bad Muslim’ distinction has become internalised.

ABSTRACTSoil bacteria play a crucial role in soil processes, such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. While soil bacterial communities and their interactions with pedo‐climatic factors have been well documented, most studies typically focus on broad taxonomic levels, leaving distribution and responses at the genus level unexplored. This study optimized machine learning models to predict the distribution of dominant bacterial genera across Australia on a comprehensive dataset of 1971 topsoil samples. Our high‐resolution digital maps (~1 km resolution) reveal four distinct distribution patterns for the dominant bacterial genera: coastal or inland enriched patterns and latitude‐related patterns. Each genus exhibited unique responses to critical factors, including temperature, precipitation, soil organic carbon (SOC), and pH. Notably, our findings highlight the importance of genus‐level analysis, as bacterial genera within the same phylum can respond markedly differently to pedo‐climatic conditions. Intensive land use significantly homogenized bacteria composition and increased the relative abundance of Rubrobacter, RB41, Microvirga, and Sphingomonas. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of bacterial macroecological trends and offers insights for more precise interventions to improve soil health and resilience against environmental changes.

By using the Ekeland variational principle and Nehari manifold, we study the following fractional p-Laplacian Kirchhoff equations: M[u]s,pp+∫RNV(x)|u|pdx[(−Δ)psu+V(x)|u|p−2u]=λ|u|q−2uln|u|,x∈RN,(P). In these equations, λ∈R∖{0},p∈(1,+∞), s∈(0,1),sp<N,ps*=NpN−sp, M(τ)=a+bτθ−1, a,b∈R+,1<θ<ps*p, V(x)∈C(RN,R) is a potential function and (−Δ)ps is the fractional p-Laplacian operator. The existence of solutions is deeply influenced by the positive and negative signs of λ. More precisely, (i) Equation (P) has one ground state solution for λ>0 and pθ<q<ps*, with a positive corresponding energy value; and (ii) Equation (P) has at least two nontrivial solutions for λ<0 and p<q<ps*, with positive and negative corresponding energy values, respectively.

Elevating the cut-off voltage of LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) enhances capacity but increases structural instability. While surface coatings are used to mitigate structural degradation at high voltages, conventional full coverage coatings often fail to withstand the cyclic mechanical stress, resulting in crack formation and performance decay. Here, a multifunctional CeO2 nanoparticle (NP) pinning structure is designed as a surface coating on LCO (LCO@CeO2) to enable stable operation at a high cut-off voltage of 4.6V (vs Li/Li+). This surface pinning architecture balances structural integrity with minimal inactive material usage. The CeO2 NPs are strategically anchored to the LCO surface, creating a pinning structure that accommodates volume changes and suppresses fracture formation in the cathode. Moreover, the CeO2-mediated fast Li+ transport pathways are established, improving high-rate capability. The interspersed CeO2 NPs also act as oxygen reservoirs, stabilizing reversible (O2)3- species during high-voltage oxygen anionic redox reactions. Consequently, the optimized LCO@CeO2 cathode achieves a capacity retention of 85.3% after 500 cycles at 1C and a high-rate capacity of 124.8mAhg-1 at 10C. This CeO2 NP pinning structure offers a novel practical strategy for designing durable high-voltage layered cathodes.

Abstract BACKGROUND The developing immune system of a child is distinct to that of an adult. These differences in the immune system are often ignored in preclinical paediatric cancer research, where adult mice are more commonly used, overlooking potential developmental influences on cancer-microenvironment interactions. These influences are of particular importance when testing immunotherapeutic agents for paediatric cancers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Here, we sought to understand the impact of age on brain tumour progression and tumour-immune interactions. To address this, we have developed paediatric brain cancer mouse models which reflect the developing microenvironment in which these tumours arise. Using spectral flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, and immunohistochemistry, we have characterised differences in the tumour-immune microenvironment of multiple orthotopically-implanted murine brain tumour models in juvenile mice compared to adults. RESULTS We found that identical brain tumour cells elicited tumours that grew faster in juvenile mice and had reduced immune cell infiltration compared to adults. Moreover, immune infiltrates were markedly distinct between juvenile and adult mice. Specifically, juvenile mice possessed more naïve-like CD8 T cells and reduced effector, resident, and exhausted-like CD8 T cells. Tumour-associated macrophages in juvenile mice had reduced MHC II expression and appeared polarized towards an anti-inflammatory state, potentially suppressing effective anti-tumour immune responses. Importantly, we demonstrate that repolarisation of macrophages using immune-modulating agents changed the paediatric tumour-infiltrating immune microenvironment towards a more “adult-like state”, that may enhance immunotherapy effectiveness. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the significant influence of preclinical model age on cancer-microenvironment interactions. Acknowledging the challenge in finding an appropriate match for human development in mice, these data strongly support the use of age-relevant models in preclinical paediatric cancer studies, especially when evaluating agents which target the microenvironment.

BackgroundIn Australia, methamphetamine use is a significant public health concern, and is common among people involved with the criminal justice system. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of adult imprisonment history among adults who primarily smoke methamphetamine.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from ‘VMAX’, a cohort of adults who regularly use methamphetamine. Data were collected between June 2016 and March 2020 from 718 participants. Sampling methods included convenience and respondent-driven sampling. Prison exposure was measured by asking if participants had ever been imprisoned due to a conviction (and was distinguished from juvenile detention). Logistic regression was used to examine how this correlated with socio-demographics, drug use, mental health, and criminogenic characteristics.ResultsNearly one-third (30%) of 718 participants reported having been imprisoned. Increased odds of reporting a history of imprisonment were found for participants reporting older age, male gender, non-metropolitan residential location, past-year homelessness, not being currently employed, schooling ≤ Year 9, ≥ weekly methamphetamine use, past-year illicit opioid use, injecting drug use history, and juvenile detention history. In contrast, participants reporting past-year other illicit stimulant (cocaine, ecstasy, illicit pharmaceutical stimulant) use were less likely to report a history of imprisonment.ConclusionsSocial characteristics, patterns of drug use, and juvenile detention history were found to be correlated with imprisonment history. These findings point to the importance of providing targeted services to address characteristics of social disadvantage and drug use behaviours among people who use drugs, including among people who primarily smoke methamphetamine.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12954-025-01307-8.

Abstract Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), particularly those detected by wide-field instruments such as the Fermi/GBM, pose challenges for optical follow-up because of their large initial localisation regions, leaving many GRBs without identified afterglows. The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), with its wide field of view, dual-site coverage, and robotic rapid-response capability, bridges this gap by rapidly identifying and localising afterglows from alerts issued by space-based facilities including Fermi, SVOM, Swift and the EP, providing early optical positions for coordinated multi-wavelength follow-up. In this paper, we present optical afterglow localisation and multi-band follow-up of seven Fermi/GBM and MAXI/GSC triggered long GRBs (240122A, 240225B, 240619A, 240910A, 240916A, 241002B, and 241228B) discovered by GOTO in 2024. Spectroscopy for six GRBs (no spectroscopy for GRB 241002B) with VLT/X-shooter and GTC/OSIRIS yields precise redshifts spanning z ≈ 0.40–3.16 and absorption-line diagnostics of hosts and intervening systems. Radio detections for four events confirm the presence of long-lived synchrotron emission. Prompt-emission analysis with Fermi and MAXI data reveals a spectrally hard population, with two bursts lying >3σ above the Amati relation. Although their optical afterglows resemble those of typical long GRBs, the prompt spectra are consistently harder than the long-GRB average. Broadband afterglow modelling of six GOTO-discovered GRBs yields jet half-opening angles of a few degrees and beaming-corrected kinetic energies Ejet ∼ 1051–1052 erg, consistent with the canonical long-GRB population. These findings suggest that optical discovery of poorly localised GRBs is likely subject to observational biases favouring luminous events with high spectral peak energy (Ep), while also providing insight into jet microphysics and central engine diversity.

Abstract Introduction Children with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) can develop sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Screening for SDB (obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation) could inform when resource limited polysomnography is warranted. Factors associated with SDB are not well described. Methods Children with NMD from three sites had laboratory polysomnogram and collection of demographics, anthropometrics, motor function, pulmonary function, patient self-reported/parent-reported outcome measures. Associations with OSA and hypoventilation were determined. Significant factors were examined with Binary Logistic Regression to construct predictive models. Model power was assessed by Receiver Operator Characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC). Regression coefficients were used to construct predictive equations. Results There were 64 participants (72% male), median age 11.5 years, 20% used non-invasive ventilation (NIV). SDB was present in 48%, OSA 31%, hypoventilation 16%. Factors associated with OSA were loss of ambulation, higher age, lower slow vital capacity (SVC) z-score, higher lung clearance index (LCI2.5%) and abnormal self-reported hypoventilation symptom score. Factors associated with hypoventilation were BMI z-score, congenital myopathy/congenital muscular dystrophy, higher parent and self-reported hypoventilation symptom score, higher self-reported hyperactivity/externalising behaviour score and lower self-reported health-related and total quality-of-life score. The predictive model with the highest AUC for OSA combined SVC z-score and LCI2.5% and for hypoventilation combined self-reported hypoventilation symptom score, hyperactivity score and health-related quality-of-life score. Discussion SDB prevalence was high, likely under-estimated by current use of NIV. The predictive models performed well as screening tools, including novel factors such as patient-reported outcome measures and non-volitional pulmonary function tests.