Faculty of Science

Resilience and adaptation of COTS larvae to development in oligotrophic tropical waters: maternal provisioning and larval cloning

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Resilience and adaptation of COTS larvae to development in oligotrophic tropical waters: maternal provisioning and larval cloning Byrne, Maria; McLaren, Emily; Hill, Ronan Explanations of crown-of-thorns sea star (COTS, Acanthaster) outbreaks have focussed on the larval stage and the terrestrial runoff – larval starvation hypothesis – whereby eutrophic runoff from floods generate plankton blooms increasing larval food and success. In contrast to this notion, we found that the larvae of COTS are highly resilient to food scarcity. This is likely an adaption to life in oligotrophic (low nutrient) tropical seas as well as due to the extensive energetic reserves provided by their unusually large eggs. We reared eight populations of COTS larvae all from different parents in course filtered lagoon water (60 µm FSW) to remove potential predators but retain nutrients typical of reef waters. Over 21-25 days the larvae grew to the advanced larval stage. The energetic buffer provided by the eggs allowed for an extended period when the larvae developed in the absence of food augmentation but in parallel would be competent to avail of patches of phytoplankton as they may encounter in nature. This is the longest facultative feeding period for any sea star species with a feeding larva. There was some difference in the larval populations in how long they lasted as well as in the propensity of larval cloning – where the larvae fragment and regenerate to make more of themselves. Although the larvae achieved an advanced stage in the absence of exogenous food it was clear that an algal food source is needed to achieve the final settlement stage. Our findings reinforce the resilience of the larvae of COTS to food scarcity and show that they do not require nutrient augmentation generated by runoff to reach the advanced larval stage.

Climate-change resilience and positive scope for growth in wild adult Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata (Gould, 1850)

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Climate-change resilience and positive scope for growth in wild adult Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata (Gould, 1850) Pereira, Roberta R. C.; Parker, Laura M.; O’Connor, Wayne A.; Ross, Pauline M. Context. Oysters have ecological and economic importance worldwide because they provide ecosystem services and sustain profitable aquaculture industries. Calcifying bivalves including oysters have been found to be sensitive to ocean warming and acidification caused by anthropogenic climate change. Aims. This study tested whether adult wild Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata, have resilience and can maintain sufficient scope for growth or are pushed into a suboptimal state. Methods. Oysters were exposed to elevated pCO2 (335 and 857 μatm) and temperature (24 and 28°C) in an orthogonal design for 5weeks. At the end of the exposure, growth, condition index, clearance, ingestion and absorption efficiency and rates were measured and scope for growth calculated. Key results. Sydney rock oysters responded to elevated pCO2 and temperature with no change in overall growth or condition index, but with significantly increased metabolic, clearance, ingestion, and absorption rates and positive scope for growth. Conclusions. Our results indicated that adult S. glomerata can cope with the moderate level of climate-change stress predicted for 2100, through increased standard metabolic rate and increased energetic processes. Implications. If food availability becomes limiting, and other environmental stressors interact with climate change stressors, then resilience thresholds maybe breached for this economically, ecologically and indigenous significant and iconic oyster species.

United Nations Groundwater Data Reveals 320,000 kilotons of Nitrogen "Dark Matter" in River Bottoms

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

United Nations Groundwater Data Reveals 320,000 kilotons of Nitrogen "Dark Matter" in River Bottoms Hall, Chris The podcast describes the results of analyses of water volume data in United Nations reports at the UNESCO IGRAC resource, linking water volumes with major nitrates supply routes in waters reaching rivers and lakes. At a frequent average nitrate concentration reported country by country in government literature, the world's land systems have nitrates in approximately a 200,000 up to 500,000 kilotons range to process by natural means per annum, with around 300,000 kilotons being the most likely figure. A range of around 140,000 kilotons is the quantity likely being produced from human activity, but the news comes with a potential key to reduce these quantities at the world scales required. The microbes responsible for converting the majority of this nitrate into ammonium when it reaches river bottoms, can potentially be farmed for ammonium conversion to Hydrogen fuels and commercial fertilisers. The news has been released initially at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna session in May, 2026 with supplementary materials for hearing and sight-impaired audiences.

Warming but not food limitation alters metabolism during larval development in crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Warming but not food limitation alters metabolism during larval development in crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) Hill, Ronan Thomas; Byrne, Maria; Pettersen, Amanda Respiration data of Acanthaster sp. reared as both fed and unfed larvae at four temperature treatments (control: 26°C; warm: 28°C, 30°C, 32°C) based on current and projected OW and measured metabolic rate (oxygen consumption, V O2) across development to the late larval stage. Dataset includes size (larval area, length and width), developmental stage and plate reader details.

Data from "Behavioural, physiological, and biochemical responses of two species of Scleractinian coral to butterflyfish predation"

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Data from "Behavioural, physiological, and biochemical responses of two species of Scleractinian coral to butterflyfish predation" Hsu, Tsai-Hsuan Tony; Hoey, Andrew S.; Warren, Charles R.; Marrable, Isabella; Figueira, Will F. The negative effects of coral loss on fish assemblages are well established, particularly for obligate corallivores. In contrast, the impacts of corallivorous fish on corals themselves have received less attention, though chronic predation is expected to impose sublethal costs. This study examined how two scleractinian corals, Acropora samoensis and Pocillopora damicornis, responded to varying levels of predation by the polyp-feeding butterflyfish, Chaetodon rainfordi, in a 17-day tank experiment. We assessed the effects of predation on behaviour (polyp withdrawal), physiology (growth, ash-free dry weight, photosynthetic efficiency), and biochemistry (fatty acid content) of coral colonies; with fatty acid profiles further providing insight into energy balance (structural vs. storage lipids), trophic strategy, and coral health. The two species showed contrasting responses. A. samoensis withdrew most polyps even at low predation (88% withdrawn at 0.5 bites min-1 colony-1), likely suppressing heterotrophy and leading to reduced growth, although other physiological and biochemical traits remained unaffected. In contrast, P. damicornis, a relatively heterotrophic species, maintained ~71% of polyps extended under the same intensity, sustaining feeding but incurring greater tissue loss and declining health condition. Nevertheless, growth and ash-free dry weight were maintained, likely through mobilization of storage fatty acids derived from both autotrophic and heterotrophic sources. These results highlight the resilience of corals to chronic butterflyfish predation, as most colonies maintained positive growth even under relatively high per-colony bite rates. However, the observed energy trade-offs suggest potential consequences for reproduction and susceptibility to environmental stress, indicating that chronic predation by non-skeletal feeding corallivores may subtly shape coral performance and persistence. If used in full or in part, please cite this dataset and the original publication: Hsu, T.-H. T., Hoey, A. S., Warren, C. R., Marrable, I., & Figueira, W. F. (2026). Behavioural, physiological, and biochemical responses of two species of scleractinian coral to butterflyfish predation. Marine Environmental Research, 108026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108026. The R script to replicate the analyses is available on GitHub (https://github.com/THTonyHsu/Coral-predation-stress.git).

Unimolecular thermometers: core–shell polymer bottlebrushes with solvatochromic responses to temperature

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Unimolecular thermometers: core–shell polymer bottlebrushes with solvatochromic responses to temperature Zhang, Chenyou; Kerai, Simran; Hawtrey, Tom; New, Elizabeth; Muellner, Markus Core–shell molecular polymer bottlebrushes (MPBs) were designed with a thermoresponsive poly(DEGMA) core and stabilising poly(PEGMA) shell. Solvatochromic fluorophores embedded in the core report polarity changes as it dehydrates and collapses upon heating, yielding a distinct fluorescence response. These stable, unimolecular nanostructures function as aqueous nanoscale sensors.

Self-Assembly of Bottlebrush-Linear, Rod–Coil Copolymers into Discoidal Nanoparticles

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Self-Assembly of Bottlebrush-Linear, Rod–Coil Copolymers into Discoidal Nanoparticles Kerai, Simran; Takano, Shin; Zeng, Ping; Muellner, Markus Block copolymers can self-assemble into nanoscale objects with various morphologies, offering custom nanomaterials for diverse fields of application. However, achieving an amorphous 2D morphology through self-assembly in solution remains challenging. Here, we systematically investigate the structural requirements of rod (bottlebrush)–coil (linear) block copolymers for self-assembly into nanoscale discs by independently varying side chain and backbone lengths. We identify optimal polymer dimensions that yield well-defined nanodiscs with 50–200 nm diameters through direct self-assembly in water.

Self-assembly of thioether-based diblock copolymers: a comparative study of linear and bottlebrush architectures

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Self-assembly of thioether-based diblock copolymers: a comparative study of linear and bottlebrush architectures Takano, Shin; Nishimura, Tomoki; Cheng, Yen Theng; Muellner, Markus Amphiphilic diblock copolymers are widely studied for their ability to self-assemble into diverse nanostructures for various applications. Linear-linear diblock copolymers and linear-bottlebrush diblock copolymers exhibit distinct self-assembly due to differences in their molecular architecture. In this study, linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as the solvophilic block, and poly(2-(methylthio)ethyl methacrylate) (MTEMA, a thioether-containing polymer), was used as the solvophobic block to generate block copolymers where PMTEMA was either also a linear (LL) or a bottlebrush (LB) block. Comparing both architectures revealed differences in their self-assembly in aqueous environments. LL formed vesicles with broad size distributions while LB produced relatively uniform particles with ordered internal morphology, as confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron microscopy. The polymer particles could further be disassembled through an oxidizing agent which in turn allowed them to be used for oxidation-triggered release studies.

Carborane-Containing Polymer Nanoparticles via Light-Mediated Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Carborane-Containing Polymer Nanoparticles via Light-Mediated Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly Zhang, Xinyi; Zeng, Haoxiang; Takano, Shin; Rendina, Louis; Muellner, Markus Carboranes are an important class of icosahedral carbon-boron clusters that have been intensively studied in the fields of medicinal, organometallic, and materials chemistry. In recent years, there have been efforts to incorporate carboranes into block copolymers to explore their biomedical applications. Few studies have used reversible deactivation radical polymerisation processes to the synthesize carborane-based polymers. In this work, we report the synthesis of a series of well-defined poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]-block-poly(closo-1,2-carboranylethyl methacrylate) (POEGMA-b-PCbEMA) block copolymers by means of a photo-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerisation, and report the formation of nanoparticles of various morphologies through polymerisation-induced self-assembly (PISA). Various parameters including temperature, irradiation source, degree of polymerisation of the core-forming block, solids and water content were found to have an impact on the polymerisation process and the final morphologies.

Developing Frameworks for Nanotechnology driven DNA-Free Plant Gene-Editing

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Developing Frameworks for Nanotechnology driven DNA-Free Plant Gene-Editing Gogoi, Neelam; Susila, Hendry; Leach, Joan; Muellner, Markus; Jones, Brian; Pogson, Barry The bottlenecks of conventional plant gene-editing methods gave an innovative rise to nanotechnology as a delivery tool to manipulate gene(s) of interest. Studies suggest a strong correlation between the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and their efficiency in gene delivery to different plant species/tissues. In this opinion we highlight the need for a deeper understanding of plant-nanomaterial interactions to align their full capabilities with the strategic goals of plant gene-editing. Additionally, we emphasise DNA-free plant gene-editing approaches to potentially mitigate concerns surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Lastly, we propose a strategic integration of the principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI) in R&D. We aim to initiate a dialogue on developing collaborative and socio-technical frameworks for nanotechnology and DNA-free plant gene-editing.

Design of Mixed PDMS-mPEG Slippery Covalently Attached Liquid-Like Surfaces

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Design of Mixed PDMS-mPEG Slippery Covalently Attached Liquid-Like Surfaces Cho, Jae Hyung; Gresham, Isaac J.; Katselas, Anthony; McHale, Glen; Neto, Chiara Low droplet friction is desirable in many circumstances in which liquids interact with solid surfaces. This study explores the fabrication of surface-grafted, liquid-like layers with ultralow static droplet friction, made from a mixture of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophilic methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG). These mixed layers are prepared via a two-step spin coating process in which reactive ethanol solutions are applied to the surface in sequence. Both polymers are liquid at room temperature and, when mixed, lead to slippery layers with contact angles that can be tuned from that of pure PDMS to that of pure mPEG. A contact angle hysteresis of 0.9 ± 0.3° was obtained on mPEG9–12 layers. This is the lowest hysteresis reported for any hydrophilic covalently attached liquid surface and represents the lowest contact line friction ever observed on a solid planar surface. As the PDMS fraction in the mixed layer increased, so too did contact angle hysteresis, reaching a maximum value of 9° at 70% PDMS, before returning to 2° for the pure PDMS layer. Atomic force microscopy mapping of the liquid layers revealed that the two polymers are fully mixed on the surface, even at high surface fraction of both components. The model by Reyssat & Quéré, devised to explain contact angle hysteresis for surfaces with dilute defects, explains the observed results well. This study shows that liquid-like surfaces can be achieved that are more slippery than conventional self-assembled monolayers and share the same capacity to gradually tune surface wettability. These mixed layers are excellent model systems with which to study interfacial phenomena, such as wetting, adhesion, and friction, the interactions of proteins and cells with surfaces, and for applications, from increased heat transfer to efficient atmospheric water capture and antifouling.

Experimental Study of Gas Microbubbles on Oil-Infused Wrinkled Surfaces

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Experimental Study of Gas Microbubbles on Oil-Infused Wrinkled Surfaces James, Leo; Vega-Sanchez, Christopher; Mehta, Priya; Zhang, Xuehua; Neto, Chiara Lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS) have been shown to reduce hydrodynamic drag to a greater extent than theoretically expected, making them attractive candidates for microfluidic applications. The presence of nano- and micro-bubbles has been found to explain this property, but this observation is not widely acknowledged. This work investigated how the volume and distribution of lubricant in wrinkled Teflon LIS affects bubble durability. The lubricant is depleted from LIS by repeated immersion through an air–water interface, as well as by shearing, gravity drainage and spreading. The bubbles are imaged using confocal fluorescence microscopy at different levels of infused lubricant. The lubricant encasing the bubbles on LIS prevented bubbles from shrinking over several hours, compared to uninfused superhydrophobic Teflon wrinkles, in which bubbles more rapidly shrunk in height, typically within 30 min. The size of bubbles is independent of lubricant volume, likely due to lubricant redistribution underwater. These findings point toward the possibility of a short-term stabilization of bubbles on structured surfaces for drag reduction applications through the use of lubricant.

Molecular Origin of Slippery Behavior in Tethered Liquid Layers

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Molecular Origin of Slippery Behavior in Tethered Liquid Layers Rasera, Fabio; Gresham, Isaac, J.; Tinti, Antonio; Neto, Chiara; Giacomello, Alberto Slippery covalently attached liquid surfaces (SCALS) are a family of nanothin polymer layers with ultralow static droplet friction, characterized by a low contact angle hysteresis (CAH < 5°), which makes them ideally suited for self-cleaning, water harvesting, and antifouling applications. Recently, a Goldilocks zone of lowest CAH has been identified for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SCALS of intermediate thickness (≈4 nm); yet, molecular-level insights are missing to reveal the underlying physical mechanism of this elusive, slippery optimum. In this work, the agreement between coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations and atomic force microscopy data shows that nanoscale defects, as well as deformation for thicker layers, are key to explaining the existence of this “just right” regime. At low thickness values, insufficient substrate coverage gives rise to chemical patchiness; at large thickness values, two features appear: (1) a waviness due to a previously overlooked lateral microphase separation occurring in polydisperse brushes, and (2) layer deformation due to the contact line being larger than in thinner layers. The most pronounced slippery behavior occurs for smooth PDMS layers that do not exhibit nanoscale waviness. The converging insights from simulations, experiments, and a CAH theory provide design guidelines for tethered polymer layers with ultralow CAH.

Carry-over effects of decreased salinity on larval metamorphosis and the early juvenile in context with eReefs hydrodynamic models

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Carry-over effects of decreased salinity on larval metamorphosis and the early juvenile in context with eReefs hydrodynamic models Clements, Matthew; Byrne, Maria The environmental conditions experienced by marine invertebrate larvae can have carry-over effects on later life stage performance, affecting population dynamics.For crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.), the terrestrial runoff hypothesis (TRH) suggests that eutrophic runoff plumes boost larval phytoplankton food supply, increasing metamorphic success and seeding outbreaks. However, river plumes also decrease salinity which can be deleterious to sea star larvae. We investigated the impact of decreased salinity (17–30 PSU) across a range of exposure durations on survival, normal development, and the ability of settlement-ready brachiolaria larvae to produce a juvenile. Salinity performance curves identified salinity levels with deleterious effects and the tipping points for 50% normal development and survival. Decreased salinity and prolonged exposure reduced larval survival and morphology. To examine carry-over effects on metamorphosis and juvenile production, competent brachiolaria that had been exposed to decreased salinity were induced to settle. Juvenile production was highest in slightly reduced (30 PSU) and control (34 PSU) salinity treatments, with faster transition to the juvenile under extended 30 PSU exposures. However, by 5 days post-settlement juveniles produced by larvae from the 30 PSU treatment were smaller indicating the presence of negative carry-over effects that reduce juvenile quality.

Efficacy, Dosing, And Duration Of Antiviral Therapy In Feline Infectious Peritonitis: A Systematic Review Protocol To Support Iscaid Fip Treatment Guidelines

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Efficacy, Dosing, And Duration Of Antiviral Therapy In Feline Infectious Peritonitis: A Systematic Review Protocol To Support Iscaid Fip Treatment Guidelines Scahill, Karolina; Alexandre, Daniel; Lowen, Petra; Motaghi, Shahrzad; Weese, Scott; Coggins, Sally Rationale Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a progressive, systemic disease caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV) and characterised by pyogranulomatous inflammation, vasculitis, and variable clinical manifestations. Historically, FIP was considered uniformly fatal, but the emergence of antiviral therapies in recent years has transformed the therapeutic landscape and created an urgent need for rigorous, evidence‑based evaluation of available treatment strategies. Despite increasing research interest, published studies remain highly variable in diagnostic criteria, case definitions, treatment protocols, outcome measures, and methodological quality, making interpretation and comparison challenging. To ensure that the forthcoming treatment guideline addresses the most relevant and clinically meaningful questions, a panel of 16 stakeholders from 10 countries across six continents was formed. Panel members represent a deliberately broad range of perspectives, including general practitioners, specialist clinicians, virologists, cat owners, and breeders. This diverse group collaboratively drafted, refined, and prioritised the key clinical questions using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) framework. This systematic review will support the ISCAID (International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases) guideline and will apply the GRADE framework to rate the certainty of evidence and support trustworthy, actionable recommendations. Objectives • To compare the efficacy of antiviral therapies for FIP on patient-important outcomes, using GS-441524 as the standard-of-care comparator where applicable. • To evaluate how dose category (very low to very high, in mg/kg/day) and treatment duration (short vs long) affect efficacy and safety. • To explore effect modifiers (e.g., FIP form, diagnostic certainty, route and frequency of administration, baseline severity) on response to treatment, as data allow.

Raw data for: Albumin-to-Globulin Ratio Outperforms Other Acute Phase Proteins in Predicting Treatment Response in Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Raw data for: Albumin-to-Globulin Ratio Outperforms Other Acute Phase Proteins in Predicting Treatment Response in Feline Infectious Peritonitis Coggins, Sally; Norris, Jacqueline; Courtman, Natalie; Hall, Evelyn Objectives This study aimed to: (1) characterize the behaviour of α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and haptoglobin at diagnosis, during treatment and post-recovery; (2) evaluate predictive utility of AGP, SAA, haptoglobin, albumin, globulin and albumin-to-globulin ratio (A:G) for distinguishing simple versus challenging remission; and (3) determine reference intervals for AGP, SAA and haptoglobin in recovered cats. Methods Twenty-eight client-owned cats with confirmed FIP received antiviral therapy using remdesivir or GS-441524-based protocols. Serum was collected during treatment and retrospectively analysed for AGP, SAA, and haptoglobin, with albumin, globulin and albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio concentrations included as comparator biomarkers. Linear models assessed the effects of time (Week) and remission type (Simple vs Challenging) on each analyte. Logistic regression assessed associations between biomarker thresholds and remission type. Relapses and APP trends were summarised descriptively. Results A:G ratio was the strongest prognostic marker: >0.4 at week 1 (Odds Ratio [OR] 6.7) and >0.5 at week 4 (OR 20.25) predicted simple remission. APPs showed inconsistent predictive value for remission type and relapse. Persistent APP elevation did not reliably indicate viral activity or justify extended therapy. Within 2-13 days of treatment cessation, three cats relapsed despite normal or equivocal APP and A:G values. Conclusions and relevance The A:G ratio is a simple biomarker with potential to guide treatment duration and predict outcomes in this cohort of cats. Individual APPs may reflect non-viral inflammation and should be interpreted cautiously. Larger, prospective studies are needed to validate A:G thresholds, clarify APP kinetics, and establish standardised reference intervals.

The Effect of Variable-Pitch Headless Compression Screws and Cortical Screws on Interfragmentary Compression: An In-Vitro Polyurethane Foam Block Model

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Effect of Variable-Pitch Headless Compression Screws and Cortical Screws on Interfragmentary Compression: An In-Vitro Polyurethane Foam Block Model Castellino, Brendan; Wills, Daniel; Tan, Christopher; lloyd, Max; Walsh, William Articular fractures require precise anatomical reduction and rigid fixation to heal appropriately. In veterinary cases that involve fracturing of the lateral humeral condyle, cortical bone screws inserted in lag fashion with Kirschner wire are the preferred method for surgical fixation. However, relatively high complication rates associated with cortical lag screws (CLSs) highlights the need to investigate alternate screw designs. Variable-pitch headless compression screws (VPHCSs) are unique as they advance beneath the cortical surface. Although the use of VPHCSs are widely utilised in human orthopaedics, the current use in veterinary orthopaedics is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the peak interfragmentary force (PIF) and area of compression (AOC) generated by a 3.5 mm self-tapping cortical screw placed in lag fashion and a 3.5 mm VPHCS inserted to four depths. PIF and AOC were measured using a pressure-sensitive film placed between two blocks of polyurethane foam (0.24 g/cm3), simulating a transverse fracture. CLS were inserted by hand into predrilled 2.5 mm pilot holes. PIF and AOC were measured at full insertion. VPHCSs were placed into predrilled 2.5 mm pilot holes, followed by a 3.5 mm tapered countersink. The screw was inserted until the head was level with the surface. PIF and AOC were measured between the two blocks. The screw was continued until the head was at a depth of 2, 5, and 9 mm below the surface, and the PIF and AOC were measured again at each stage. There was no detectable difference in PIF and AOC between CLSs and VPHCSs countersunk to −2 mm (PIF–CLS: Mean= 12.886, SD= 2.370; 2 mm: Mean= 17.301, SD= 8.858, p = 0.319; AOC–CLS: Mean= 0.936, SD= 0.291; 2 mm: Mean= 0.925, SD= 0.447, p = 0.872). VPHCSs countersunk to −5 mm and −9 mm produced significantly greater PIF compared to CLSs (5 mm: Mean= 16.086, SD= 6.799, p = 0.002; 9 mm: Mean= 34.987, SD= 4.015, p < 0.001). VPHCSs countersunk to −5 and −9 mm produced significantly greater PIF and AOC compared to CLSs in this model. Further investigation is required to produce recommendations for clinical use.

UOS2301-003RTX Overseas wheat phenotyping 2025/26

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

UOS2301-003RTX Overseas wheat phenotyping 2025/26 Singh, Davinder; Ziems, Laura; Zhang, Peng; Miah, Hanif; Bhavani, Sridhar With support from GRDC project UOS2301-003RTX, we tested 427 modern and historical Australian wheat varieties (Ausvars) in Kenya against stem rust (Ug99 lineage pathotypes – TTKSK, TTKST, TTKTT, TTTTF and TTKTT+Sr8115B) and stripe rust (race PstS16) to identify rust resistant/susceptible germplasm to these exotic rust races. High quality stripe rust and stem rust phenotypic data was generated on these varieties. For each variety, there are 3 readings for stripe rust (YR) and 2 readings for stem rust (SR) recorded on a modified Cobb scale capturing Disease severity (% leaf area) and Disease response (reaction).

UOS2301-003RTX Overseas (Mexico) barley phenotyping 2025

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

UOS2301-003RTX Overseas (Mexico) barley phenotyping 2025 Singh, Davinder; Ziems, Laura; Zhang, Peng; Qureshi, Naeela; Bhavani, Sridhar With support from GRDC project UOS2301-003RTX, we tested 52 Australian barley varieties and 365 CAIGE (CIMMYT ICARDA Australia Germplasm Enhancement) barley lines against exotic pathogen Puccinia strifformis f. sp hordei (Psh) race 24 (PshMEX-1) at Toluca, Mexico (CIMMYT; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) to identify rust resistant/susceptible germplasm to barley yellow rust. High quality phenotypic data was generated on these lines (data file uploaded). Data for Ausbars and CAIGE are in two separate worksheets in the uploaded file. For each line, there are 3 readings recorded on a modified Cobb scale capturing Disease severity (% leaf area) and Infection type (disease response).

Encapsulation of Oil Droplets Using Film-Forming Janus Nanoparticles

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Encapsulation of Oil Droplets Using Film-Forming Janus Nanoparticles Turpin, Geosmin; Nguyen, Duc; Sypkes, Kathryn Isobel; Vega-Sanchez, Christopher; Davery, Tim; Hawkett, Brian S.; Neto, Chiara Polymer Janus nanoparticles with one hard cross-linked polystyrene lobe and one soft film-forming poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate) lobe were synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated emulsion polymerization. The Janus nanoparticles adsorbed to oil/water and air/water interfaces, where the soft lobes coalesced, forming films of thickness between 25 and 250 nm; droplets of silicone oil could be stably encapsulated in polymer in this way. When prepared by mechanical mixing without additives, capsules of diameter 5–500 μm could be prepared, and with additives and application of heat, capsules of diameter around 5 μm were achieved, even with highly viscous silicone oil (20,000 cSt). In a microfluidic device, monodisperse capsules of diameter 180 μm could be formed. The particles were weakly surface-active and spontaneously assembled themselves at air/water interfaces. When added into a paint formula, the oil capsules improved the stain resistance of paint films. Silicone oil leakage from the capsules could be mitigated by incubating the capsules with silica nanoparticles, on which silicone oil reacts, creating grafted layers.

Biogeography and host family taxonomy drive virus-host codivergence in bats

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Biogeography and host family taxonomy drive virus-host codivergence in bats Sanyal, Avirup Codes and metadata for the paper titled, 'Biogeography and host specificity drive the coevolution of bat–virus interactions'.

Emotionality in domestic violence evidence-in- chief: towards unbiased and rational legal fact- finding

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Emotionality in domestic violence evidence-in- chief: towards unbiased and rational legal fact- finding Gattinara, Caterina; Roberts, Andrew; van Golde, Celine Domestic Violence Evidence-in-Chief represents a significant shift in evidentiary practice in Domestic and Family Violence cases. These pre-recorded statements, typically captured shortly after an incident, offer an immediate and seemingly authentic account of events. However, concerns have been raised about the potential introduction of extra-legal influences through elements visible or audible in the recordings. One such element is emotionality, as complainants’ emotional displays in the footage may impact fact- finders’ credibility assessments and legal decision-making. Research on the Emotional Victim Effect suggests that visibly distressed victims of sexual assault tend to be perceived as more credible than emotionally neutral ones. However, there is limited understanding of whether this effect also applies to Domestic Violence Evidence-in-Chief. Moreover, it has been established through experimental research in other contexts that jurors’ own emotional states influence how they evaluate evidence and make judgements. This article highlights the risk of emotional bias in pre-recorded evidence and calls for further empirical investigation. The aim is to inform the development of evidence- based practices to promote rational fact-finding in Domestic and Family Violence prosecutions.

Data from: Asynchronous seasonal dynamics of nycteribiid bat flies and Bartonella spp. in Australian flying foxes (Pteropus spp.)

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Data from: Asynchronous seasonal dynamics of nycteribiid bat flies and Bartonella spp. in Australian flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) Jones, Brent D; Falvo, Caylee A; Burwell, Chris; Lunn, Tamika J; Jones-Slobodian, Devin N; Dale, Adrienne; Kessler, Maureen; Crowley, Dan; Benson, Evelyn; McKee, Clifton D; Rynda-Apple, Agnieszka; Plowright, Raina K; Becker, Daniel J; Clark, Kerry L; McCallum, Hamish; Clark, Nicholas J; Peel, Alison J Background Bat flies are ubiquitous ectoparasites of bats, recognised as potential vectors for viral and bacterial transmission between individual bats within a roost. Despite this, little is known about the seasonal dynamics of bat flies. Here, we present the results of a longitudinal study that compares seasonal prevalence and host risk factors for bat fly (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) parasitism with that of Bartonella and Borrelia spp. detected in Pteropus alecto and P. poliocephalus in eastern Australia. Methods Flying foxes were sampled at nine different roosts in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales between February 2018 and September 2022 using mist nets. Host and ectoparasite data were recorded, and bat fly specimens were collected for identification. Blood samples collected from the flying foxes were screened for the presence of Bartonella and Borrelia DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Ectoparasite data were recorded from 2,235 flying foxes and 840 had blood samples screened for Bartonella and Borrelia DNA. Cyclopodia albertisii was the predominate nycteribiid species identified, with few detections of C. australis. Nycteribiid prevalence had a consistent annual cycle (ranging from 8.6% to 100%) that depended on local climatic factors, increasing with increased temperature and humidity during summer and decreasing in winter. Bartonella spp. prevalence exhibited less variation seasonally (ranging from 50% to 100%) with a peak in winter that was driven by host age with juvenile bats having a reduced probability of infection compared to subadults and adults. Borrelia spp. were rare and showed no clear seasonality. Conclusions This study reports the longitudinal occurrence of the blood-borne bacteria Bartonella spp. and their likely ectoparasite vectors in Australian flying foxes. The findings contribute to knowledge of nycteribiid ecology critical for understanding their vector potential within flying fox roosts and provide direction for future research into nycteribiid-mediated transmission dynamics.

Selective delivery of remarkably high levels of gadolinium to tumour cells using an arsonium salt

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Selective delivery of remarkably high levels of gadolinium to tumour cells using an arsonium salt Windsor, Madeline S. A.; Busse, Madleen; Morrison, Daniel E.; Baker, Robert W.; Hill, Leila R.; Rendina, Louis M. The use of a triphenylarsonium vector for tumour cell-targeting leads to a dramatic increase in Gd3+ uptake in human glioblastoma multiforme cells by up to an order of magnitude over the isosteric triarylphosphonium analogue, with significant implications for ‘theranostic’ applications involving delivery of this important lanthanoid metal ion to tumour cells.

Gadolinium theranostics for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Gadolinium theranostics for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer Robertson, Amy G.; Rendina, Louis M. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths reported worldwide in 2018. These numbers are expected to rise over the next decade, and the development of new and effective cancer treatments and diagnostic tools is urgently required, particularly for aggressive and intractable malignant cancers such as those of the brain. An exciting field of cancer research involves combining therapeutic and diagnostic tools into a single ‘theranostic’ platform. The role of theranostics in the personalized management of oncology patients is increasing, as is the demand for new types of theranostic agents. Some of the most promising cancer theranostics exploit the lanthanoid metal gadolinium, an element possessing favourable therapeutic and imaging properties.

Significant cell uptake of Gd(III)-diphenylphosphoryl-diphenylphosphonium complexes: evidence for a new conformationally-dependent tumour cell targeting vector

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Significant cell uptake of Gd(III)-diphenylphosphoryl-diphenylphosphonium complexes: evidence for a new conformationally-dependent tumour cell targeting vector Hall, Andrew J.; Robertson, Amy G.; Baker, Robert W.; Hill, Leila R.; Rendina, Louis M. The synthesis, characterisation, and tumour cell uptake of six novel Gd(III)-diphenylphosphoryl-diphenylphosphonium complexes are reported. The propyl-linked Gd(III) complexes can accumulate inside human glioma cells at prodigious levels, approaching 1200%, over the parent triphenylphosphonium salts. DFT and quantum chemical topology analyses support a new type of conformationally-dependent tumour cell targeting vector.

Demonstration of a photonic-lantern focal-plane wavefront sensor using fiber mode conversion and deep learning

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Demonstration of a photonic-lantern focal-plane wavefront sensor using fiber mode conversion and deep learning Norris, Barnaby; Wei, Jin; Betters, Christopher H.; Leon-Saval, Sergio G.; Xin, Yinzi; Lin, Jonathan; Kim, Yoo Jung; Sallum, Steph; Lozi, Julien; Vievard, Sebastian; Guyon, Olivier; Gatkine, Pradip; Jovanovic, Nemanja; Mawet, Dimitri; Fitzgerald, Michael P. A focal plane wavefront sensor offers major advantages to adaptive optics, including removal of non-commonpath error and providing sensitivity to blind modes (such as petalling). But simply using the observed point spread function (PSF) is not sufficient for wavefront correction, as only the intensity, not phase, is measured. Here we demonstrate the use of a multimode fiber mode converter (photonic lantern) to directly measure the wavefront phase and amplitude at the focal plane. Starlight is injected into a multimode fiber at the image plane, with the combination of modes excited within the fiber a function of the phase and amplitude of the incident wavefront. The fiber undergoes an adiabatic transition into a set of multiple, single-mode outputs, such that the distribution of intensities between them encodes the incident wavefront. The mapping (which may be strongly non-linear) between spatial modes in the PSF and the outputs is stable but must be learned. This is done by a deep neural network, trained by applying random combinations of spatial modes to the deformable mirror. Once trained, the neural network can instantaneously predict the incident wavefront for any set of output intensities. We demonstrate the successful reconstruction of wavefronts produced in the laboratory with low-wind-effect, and an on-sky demonstration of reconstruction of low-order modes consistent with those measured by the existing pyramid wavefront sensor, using SCExAO observations at the Subaru Telescope.

The photonic lantern wavefront sensor and imager: focal plane wavefront sensing and optimal imaging at the diffraction limit and beyond

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The photonic lantern wavefront sensor and imager: focal plane wavefront sensing and optimal imaging at the diffraction limit and beyond Norris, Barnaby; Leon-Saval, Sergio G.; Wei, Jin; Betters, Christopher H.; Taras, Adam; Lin, Jonathan; Xin, Yinzi; Kim, Yoo Jung; Fitzgerald, Michael; Sallum, Steph; Sengupta, Aditya; Gatkine, Pradip; Jovanovic, Nemanja; Mawet, Dimitri; Lozi, Julien; Vievard, Sebastian; Deo, Vincent; Lallement, Manon; Levinstein, Daniel; Guyon, Olivier The use of a photonic lantern as focal plane wavefront sensor has seen recent widespread interest - it can remove non-common-path aberrations, accurately sense low-wind-effect and petal modes, and provide wavelength resolution. It encodes both the PSFs phase and amplitude into the intensities of its single-mode-fibre outputs, from which the wavefront is reconstructed (by neural network or other algorithm). It also offers exciting potential as an imager to resolve structure at and beyond the telescope diffraction limit, filling in a coronagraphs IWA blind spot. This can utilise interferometric techniques, or an oversampled photonic lantern, having sufficient measurement dimensions that the amplitude, phase and spatial coherence of the science field can be entirely constrained by the output fluxes, and so the wavefront-error-induced components can be disambiguated from the source spatial structure. Other applications such as fibre nulling, optimal single-mode fibre injection, spectroastrometry, and others are also in development. Here, a brief overview of the photonic lantern sensor and these various applications will be given, along with key references.

Superior Tumor Cell Uptake by Mono- and Tri-Nuclear Rhodamine-Gadolinium(III) Agents

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Superior Tumor Cell Uptake by Mono- and Tri-Nuclear Rhodamine-Gadolinium(III) Agents Robertson, Amy G.; Hall, Andrew J.; Marfavi, Anita; Rendina, Louis M. The synthesis and characterization of a novel trinuclear rhodamine-Gd(III) complex, along with two analogous mononuclear rhodamine-Gd(III) complexes, are reported. All complexes displayed good selectivity in a human glioma cell line (T98G) when compared to a glial cell line (SVG p12), with low cytotoxicities. Superior tumor cell uptake for these Gd(III) complexes was observed at lower incubation concentrations compared to previously-reported delocalized lipophilic cations such as a rhodamine-lanthanoid(III) probe and Gd(III)-arylphosphonium complexes, with ca. 150 % and 250 % increases in Gd uptake, respectively.

Cutting edge rare earth radiometals: prospects for cancer theranostics

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Cutting edge rare earth radiometals: prospects for cancer theranostics Sadler, Alexander W. E.; Hogan, Leena; Fraser, Benjamin; Rendina, Louis M. With recent advances in novel approaches to cancer therapy and imaging, the application of theranostic techniques in personalised medicine has emerged as a very promising avenue of research inquiry in recent years. Interest has been directed towards the theranostic potential of Rare Earth radiometals due to their closely related chemical properties which allow for their facile and interchangeable incorporation into identical bifunctional chelators or targeting biomolecules for use in a diverse range of cancer imaging and therapeutic applications without additional modification, i.e. a “one-size-fits-all” approach. This review will focus on recent progress and innovations in the area of Rare Earth radionuclides for theranostic applications by providing a detailed snapshot of their current state of production by means of nuclear reactions, subsequent promising theranostic capabilities in the clinic, as well as a discussion of factors that have impacted upon their progress through the theranostic drug development pipeline.

Synthesis and tumour cell uptake studies of gadolinium(III)–phosphonium complexes

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Synthesis and tumour cell uptake studies of gadolinium(III)–phosphonium complexes Hall, Andrew J.; Robertson, Amy G.; Hill, Leila R.; Rendina, Louis M. The synthesis of a new series of Gd(III)-arylphosphonium complexes is described and the solution stability of selected compounds is reported. Their lipophilicity and uptake in human glial (SVG p12) and human glioblastoma multiforme (T98G) cell lines are presented. The in vitro cytotoxicity of all complexes was determined to be low at therapeutically-relevant concentrations. Selected Gd(III) complexes are potential candidates for further investigation as theranostic agents.

Domain-Specific Cognitive Impairments Following Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil Treatment in Rats: A Preclinical Study

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Domain-Specific Cognitive Impairments Following Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil Treatment in Rats: A Preclinical Study Johnston, Ian Neville; Chen, Weiye The FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen, combining oxaliplatin (OXA), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (folinic acid), is a global standard of care for colon cancer. However, both clinical and preclinical evidence of the cognitive side effects associated with this treatment remains largely mixed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct effects of combined OXA and 5-FU treatment on executive function in female Sprague Dawley rats, comparing different dosing protocols. In Experiment 1, rats received three weekly doses of OXA (6 mg/kg, i.p.) and were tested on a delayed non-matching-to-sample (DNMTS) task and the novel object recognition (NOR) tasks. OXA did not impair working memory but significantly impaired short-term recognition memory. Experiments 2 and 3 examined the effects of combined OXA and 5-FU treatment using different dosing regimens. Rats treated with two weekly doses of OXA (6 mg/kg, i.p.) and 5-FU (50 mg/kg, i.p.) exhibited significant deficits in set-shifting and spatial working memory but no impairments in reversal learning or recognition memory. Alternative regimens, including a single high-dose group (OXA 8 mg/kg + 5-FU 75 mg/kg) and a low-dose repeated group (OXA 6 mg/kg + 5-FU 50 mg/kg, spaced two weeks apart), produced minimal impairments, although the single-high dose group showed increased perseverative errors during set-shifting. These findings demonstrate that OXA and FOLFOX produce selective, domain-specific cognitive impairments in rats, with set-shifting and working memory particularly vulnerable to combined OXA and 5-FU treatment. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate executive dysfunction in colorectal cancer survivors. Raw data for this project.

Absence of Galilean invariance for pure-quartic solitons

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Absence of Galilean invariance for pure-quartic solitons Widjaja, Justin; Kobakhidze, Erekle; Cartwright, Tiernan R; Lourdesamy, Joshua P.; Runge, Antoine F. J.; Alexander, Tristram J.; de Sterke, C. Martijn Optical temporal solitons, arising from self-phase modulation and negative quadratic ($\beta_2$) dispersion, are Galilean invariant, and therefore their properties do not depend on their group velocity. This is no longer true for pure-quartic soliton pulses arising from quartic ($\beta_4$) dispersion, for which a change in group velocity necessarily leads to nonzero quadratic and cubic ($\beta_3$) dispersion. Analyzing the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation for such dispersion relations analytically and numerically, we find that pure-quartic solitons are members of a larger family traveling at other speeds. These solitons, which appear to be stable, have a complex phase structure and have an asymmetric spectrum. Our results extend the understanding of solitons arising from high orders of dispersion.

Optimization of nonlinear enhancement through linear dispersion engineering

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Optimization of nonlinear enhancement through linear dispersion engineering Lourdesamy, Joshua P.; Widjaja, Justin; Hawi, Georgio; Kesarwani, Sharvil; Runge, Antoine F. J.; de Sterke, C. Martijn We consider nonlinear pulse propagation in media with a dispersion relation exhibiting $J$ periodically spaced identical maxima in a co-moving frame. The nonlinear interactions lead to $J$ pulses centered at each of these frequencies. These pulses propagate at the same group velocity and interfere, leading to a highly non-uniform signal in time. This results in the enhancement of effective nonlinear effects, as we recently demonstrated experimentally [Nat. Phys. {\bf 18}, 59 (2022)]. Here we present a detailed theoretical and numerical study of this nonlinear enhancement. We show that the amplitudes of the frequency components approximately follow a simple relation, which allows us to derive that the nonlinear enhancement factor increases as $0.687J$. Hence, enhancements of order $10$ can be achieved with $15$ frequency components.

Theory of multicolor soliton microcombs

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Theory of multicolor soliton microcombs Silvestri, Carlo; Widjaja, Justin; Lin, Austin; de Sterke, C. Martijn; Runge, Antoine F. J. We present a general theory of multicolor soliton microcombs. These frequency combs require engineered dispersion and have an optical spectrum consisting of multiple spectral windows, centered at distinct frequencies. Our theory is based on a multiple-scale approach applied to the Lugiato-Lefever equation, and provides a framework to investigate different pumping configurations. For multi-frequency pumping, we predict a decreasing pumping threshold as the number of spectral windows increases due to an enhanced effective nonlinear parameter. However, comb formation does not require multi-frequency pumping and can emerge even with a single driving field. Our theoretical predictions are in excellent agreement with numerical simulations.

Pure high-order dispersion dissipative Kerr solitons in optical cavities

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Pure high-order dispersion dissipative Kerr solitons in optical cavities Silvestri, Carlo; Qiang, Y. Long; Panda, Krupamaya; Widjaja, Justin; Coen, Stephane; de Sterke, C. Martijn; Runge, Antoine F. J. Through numerical simulations we demonstrate the existence of an infinite family of temporal cavity solitons which balance arbitrary negative pure, even-order dispersion $k$ and self-phase moduation, as well as loss and parametric gain. These correspond to frequency combs with increasingly flatter spectra as $k$ increases. We determine the analytic forms of these solitons in the limit of high pump power and detuning, and derive their scaling properties. In particular, we show that their energy is related to the pulse duration $\Delta\tau$ as $\Delta\tau^{-(k-1)}$.

Phase-locked and -unlocked multicolor solitons in a fiber laser

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Phase-locked and -unlocked multicolor solitons in a fiber laser Widjaja, Justin; Hoang, Van Thuy; de Sterke, C. Martijn; Runge, Antoine F. J. Multicolor solitons are nonlinear pulses composed of two or more solitons centered at different frequencies, propagating with the same group velocity. In the time domain, multicolor solitons consist of an envelope multiplying a more rapidly varying fringe pattern that results from the interference of the frequency components. Here, we report the observation in a fiber laser of a novel type of dynamics in which the different frequency components still have the same group velocity but have different propagation constants. This causes the relative phases between the constituent spectral components to change upon propagation, corresponding to the fringes moving under the envelope. This leads to small periodic energy variations that we directly measure. Our experimental results are in good agreement with realistic numerical simulations based on an iterative cavity map.

Towards transparent and replicable flower selection in agricultural flower strips

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Towards transparent and replicable flower selection in agricultural flower strips Latty, Tanya; Mourmourakis, Faelan Flower strips are increasingly employed as ecologically sustainable methods for attracting beneficial insects to agricultural landscapes. Since flowers differ substantially in an array of characteristics including morphology, nutritional content, and phenology, selecting ‘the right flowers for the right job’ requires the designer to make careful decisions about which flowers to include. These decisions ultimately determine the success of flower strips. Given the importance of flower selection, how do researchers choose which flowers to plant? We conducted a quantitative content analysis to examine how researchers make flower selection decisions in studies aimed at supporting or attracting natural enemies or pollinators to target crops. We collected data on the criteria used to justify selection decisions and we recorded the type of evidence (experiential evidence such as “expert recommendations” or “personal communication” vs peer reviewed evidence) used to support selection decisions. We found that the majority of studies relied on experiential data to inform their flower choices. Specific selection criteria varied, but 'attractiveness' and 'native to region' were most frequently cited for both natural enemies and pollinators. Overall, we found that the prevalent use of experiential evidence for flower selection may limit the replicability and transparency of studies. To address this concern, we introduce a flexible framework aimed at ensuring the clear communication of the flower selection process. Our framework emphasizes evidence-based practices to enhance both replicability and transparency in flower strip design, offering a path toward more rigorous and effective ecological interventions.

Linear pulse propagation with high-order dispersion

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Linear pulse propagation with high-order dispersion Runge, Antoine F. J.; Qiang, Y. Long; Alexander, Tristram J.; de Sterke, C. Martijn We present an approximate, but intuitively appealing theoretical study of the linear propagation of optical pulses in media with high-order dispersion. Our analysis, which is fully consistent with numerical simulations, is based on the pulses' full-width at half maximum and shows that the effect of high-order dispersion differs significantly from that of the well-understood second order dispersion. For high dispersion orders m, the central part of the pulses, where the intensity is highest, evolve in the same way, independent of m, though at different rates, with a weak dependence on the initial pulse shape. We also find that all pulses, irrespective of initial pulse shape, eventually evolve to a sinc function. Our treatment allows us to find expressions for the characteristic dispersion lengths for high dispersion orders.

Biotic interactions with a native urban exploiter limit occupancy by an avian flagship species in urban ecosystem

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Biotic interactions with a native urban exploiter limit occupancy by an avian flagship species in urban ecosystem Heggarty, Genevieve A; Hochuli, Dieter F; Parsons, Holly M This dataset is the product of bird, mammal, vegetation and landscape surveys conducted in Sydney, NSW between May 2023 and September 2023. It is associated with the paper 'Biotic interactions with a native urban exploiter limit occupancy by an avian flagship species in urban ecosystem'.

Event classification datasets for the Cairns, Trevett, and Graham paper "Statistical Investigation of Langmuir Waves in Type III and II Sources"

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Event classification datasets for the Cairns, Trevett, and Graham paper "Statistical Investigation of Langmuir Waves in Type III and II Sources" Cairns, Iver; Trevett, William; Graham, Daniel Stored here are files that describe the events studied in the paper. Both text and CSV formats are used.The files contain column headings and other headings that describe the contents, including variously the observing spacecraft, date and time of a STEREO Time Domain Sampler (TDS) waveform capture event, the analysed spectral and field statistical properties, and the various classifications of the event.

Software pipelines from the 3D PAWC & constraint mapping project that process soil analysis data and proximal data to create automated models which produce maps of soil properties and soil constraints to depth

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Software pipelines from the 3D PAWC & constraint mapping project that process soil analysis data and proximal data to create automated models which produce maps of soil properties and soil constraints to depth Bishop, Thomas; Filippi, Patrick; Hoskin, Nikolas; Whelan, Brett; Pozza, Liana The 3D PAWC and constraints mapping project utilised R to create software pipelines that process field boundaries, access privately available proximal surveys, and download private and publicly available terrain and climate data. These datasets are stored as a datacube which is used in the following 3 steps of the project: producing a stratified random sample design, summarising lab analysis results to report to growers, and running an automated modelling process to map soil properties. Within each section, there is a working script that can run on a predefined farm from the project. Sample design: This pipeline transforms the compiled datacube into strata across a farm and then randomly samples these strata given a predefined sample size. The R code can be made available for this summary reporting process, subject to an agreement with the University of Sydney and the GRDC. Models and mapping: This pipeline extracts covariates from a farm's datacube to the point locations of lab analysis sites. For any measured soil property, several models are compared for prediction quality over analysis depth intervals (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-100 cm). The best performing model is selected for each soil property and used to produce maps across the sampled fields of the farm. The R code can be made available for this automated modelling, subject to an agreement with the University of Sydney and the GRDC. Files are stored in .rmd format and require input from .csv files. The software pipelines are stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-MLCons. Data access is restricted as the code links to private APIs with access to restricted and sensitive private farm data. Third-parties will need to request access from GRDC and the University of Sydney. For further enquiries, please contact Dr Patrick Filippi at patrick.filippi@sydney.edu.au

Return of the lamingtons - boom-and-bust populations of the barrens forming sea urchin Tripneustes australiae on Lord Howe Island Marine Park

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Return of the lamingtons - boom-and-bust populations of the barrens forming sea urchin Tripneustes australiae on Lord Howe Island Marine Park Byrne, Maria; McLaren, Emily; Cooper, Antonia; Davey, Madeline; Sommer, Brigitte; Wilson, Liam Sea urchins in the genus Tripneustes have fast growth and boom-and-bust population dynamics. Tripneustes australiae is endemic to southeast Australia and northwest New Zealand and is currently undergoing a population increase (‘boom’ phase) in Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP). Grazing pressure in population outbreaks of this species creates barrens-type habitat. We used Reef Life Survey data to document the density of T. australiae spanning 18 years (2006-2024). Two outbreaks were evident, the first started in 2006 followed by a marked decline and the second started in 2022. The Admiralty Islands appear to be a recruitment hot spot for this species. The size of T. australiae in 2024 (most < 5 cm test diameter) indicated recent recruitment. Most individuals were found at 6-12 m depth and were juveniles as confirmed by the absence of gonads. Over 18 years there was no difference in the densities of T. australiae in ‘no take’ sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones of LHIMP with the exception of the recent outbreak in 2024. The drivers of the boom-and-bust population dynamics of T. australiae are likely related to inherent demographic traits of the genus associated with fast growth to reproductive maturity and a short life span. Recruitment anomalies of T. australiae to LHIMP may be related to climate warming and altered current connectivity from the Australian continent. The population dynamics of and ecological impacts T. australiae are important to understand in the high conservation value Lord Howe Island World Heritage Area ecosystems

Freshwater-induced coral bleaching following extreme rainfall in Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Freshwater-induced coral bleaching following extreme rainfall in Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef Waller, Alexander; Webb, Monique; Sommer, Brigitte; Maria, Byrne; Foo, Shawna A. This dataset provides benthic cover and coral assemblage data from three sites at Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Island, assessed across three time points (July 2023, July 2024, and April 2025)

Software pipelines for processing soil water data and predicting plant available water using approaches from the SoilWaterNow project

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Software pipelines for processing soil water data and predicting plant available water using approaches from the SoilWaterNow project Bishop, Thomas; Filippi, Patrick; Yu, Yi; Zhang, Yuxi; Wimalathunge, Niranjan; Tian, Siyuan The SoilWaterNow project utilised both Python and R to create software pipelines that process soil moisture data and can be used for predicting plant available water. There is 4 different parts, processing CosmOz surveys, SMAP data assimilation, a water balance model, and a data driven model for predicting agriculture systems. Within each section, there is a working script with an example dataset. This allows users to repeat the analysis with the example data in order to understand the data inputs and formats required to run the analysis on their own study area. CosmOz survey - Data processing: This pipeline transforms raw neutron count data from cosmic ray probe survey data into soil moisture measurements. The pipeline was used with the associated CosmOz survey data and soil data. The R code is available along with an example dataset. SMAP Data Assimilation: This pipeline assimilates Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite estimates of soil moisture into an API model for soil moisture reanalysis. Sample data is provided for CosmOz sites and their locations of these points are in "cosmoz_site_info.csv". The Python code for the API model is available. The forcing data used was GPM rainfall and air temperature anomalies. These parameters were calibrated and are listed in "API_parameters.csv". Water balance model: There are two models available, one that is point-based and used for running on small datasets, e.g. soil moisture probes, and one that is raster-based, which is faster and can be used for obtaining maps of soil moisture. Both models rely on daily evapotranspiration (ET), bucket size, and rainfall as the 3 inputs. These data for these 3 inputs can be accessed publicly: 8-day MODIS evapotranspiration data can be downloaded from the USGS website or directly from google earth engine, rainfall data can be accessed from SILO through the Long Paddock website, and soil data can be accessed from the eSoil website. 5 bucket sizes were used for both models, 0-5 cm, 5-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-60 cm, and 60-100 cm. The "ET&rain4WBmodel.r" file contains code that organises daily data for model execution. Alternatively, provided example datasets can be used to run the model. R code is available for both models. Data-driven approach: This pipeline uses a Gaussian Process regression model/workflow that can be used to predict soil moisture in space and time. This model uses a complex base function that can capture underlying trends in soil data. Each workflow consists of 4 steps: 1. data-preprocessing 2. feature analysis and selection 2. model training, optimisation, evaluation, and selection 4. generating prediction and uncertainty maps. Python code is available for this model and an example dataset is available that is already pre-processed. The "Methods.pdf" file discusses feature selection and model details and the "README.md" file contains in depth information about how this model works and gives example outputs. The software pipelines are stored in a public GitHub repository (https://github.com/thomasfabishop/soilwaternow) and are also stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-soilwaternowarchive. The pipelines are open access under a creative commons license (CC-BY 4.0). Please contact Dr Patrick Filippi (patrick.filippi@sydney.edu.au) for further information.

Orbit data of q-difference Painlevé one over finite fields

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Orbit data of q-difference Painlevé one over finite fields Roffelsen, Pieter This item includes data on orbit lengths of q-difference Painlevé one over finite fields as well as code used to generate and analyse it.

Proximal sensing surveys (EM & Gamma) across 36 farms from the grain growing regions of Australia

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Proximal sensing surveys (EM & Gamma) across 36 farms from the grain growing regions of Australia Bishop, Thomas; Filippi, Patrick; Whelan, Brett; Pozza, Lianna; Hoskin, Nikolas; Collyer, Bryn; Wright, Jenna Proximal soil electromagnetic induction (EM) & gamma radiometric (gamma) surveys from 36 farms across Australia's dryland cropping regions. Surveyed fields correspond to those sampled in the '3D PAWC and constraint mapping' project. Soil proximal surveys were compiled between 2023 and 2025. These surveys were collected to be used as modelling covariates in digital 3D soil maps that describe on-farm soil constraints and PAWC in a given area and can be used to inform management decisions. These have been collected at many sites across Australia to give an idea of the investment value for proximal surveys in different environments and soil types. Surveyed areas range from 200 - 2,000 ha at specific farms, while the total surveyed area represented in this dataset exceeds 26,000 ha of dryland cropping soils. Proximal surveys were collected at 36 m swathe widths using gator mounted EM & gamma sensors. EM & gamma surveys are stored seperately in .csv format for each farm. EM data consists of 4 x depth slices to a maximum of 300 cm from a DualEM sensor. Gamma data collected by an RSX-1 gamma-ray spectrometer consists of Potassium, Uranium & Thorium concentrations as well as total count. Coordinates are present in 'EPSG:4326' projection. Farms were surveyed between 2023 and 2025. The date of survey is available for all farms. GRDC Project UOS2206-009RTX The datasets with raw values are stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-MLCons. This data has restricted access and the data is de-identified as it contains information from private properties. Third-parties may be able to access the data subject to terms agreed to by the GRDC and the University of Sydney and/or a data supply and licence agreement. Please contact Dr Patrick Filippi (patrick.filippi@sydney.edu.au) to request access to the data.

Seasonality & Sensitivity Of Microbial Decomposition in Semi-Arid Grasslands

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Seasonality & Sensitivity Of Microbial Decomposition in Semi-Arid Grasslands Pino, Vanessa; Vervoort, Willem; McBratney, Alex; Gambrill, Ella; Graaf, Amanda; Fajardo, Mario This dataset captures seasonal soil microbial decomposition dynamics in semi-arid grasslands of northern NSW, Australia, under regenerative grazing and landscape rehydration practices. It includes Tea Bag Index metrics (TBI_k, TBI_S), soil moisture and temperature readings, and remote sensing indicators (ET, LST, EVI), highlighting the influence of hydrological conditions on decomposition and carbon stability.

Soil moisture probe data from 15 probes within the Liverpool Plains region and Muttama in NSW

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Soil moisture probe data from 15 probes within the Liverpool Plains region and Muttama in NSW Bishop, Thomas; Filippi, Patrick; Yu, Yi; Zhang, Yuxi; Amir, Muqeet; Wright, Jenna Soil moisture probe measurements from 15 different probes in the Liverpool Plains and Muttama, NSW. There are 15 files, with one for each probe and each is named after the location. These measurements are taken as ground-truth soil moisture data (%VWC) at depths from 30-110 cm, with a measurement every 10 cm, that is used to validate predictive modelling. A file named "USYD PROBE INFO.csv" contains the name of each probe, the corresponding API, and the coordinates. All data is obtained using the irrimaxlive API. This file is stored as "USYD API.py" and uses the "USYD PROBE INFO.csv" file as input. Once run, it outputs an up-to-date soil moisture probe measurement file named after its location. This data is uncalibrated. Each probe measurement file has the following columns: Date Time, A (soil moisture (%VWC) readings), and T (soil temperature (degrees Celsius) readings. The number inside the bracket after "A" or "T" is the depth (cm) of the measurement. "USYD PROBE INFO.csv" has the following columns: API Probe Name (Name of the site in the API database, Product Name (what the site is known as in all documentation and in file names), Latitude, and Longitude. The datasets are stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-soilwaternowarchive. This data is available under terms and conditions to be agreed by the University of Sydney and GRDC and/or under a data supply and licence agreement. Please contact Dr Patrick Filippi (patrick.filippi@sydney.edu.au) to request access to the data.

Cosmic ray probe survey data of soil surface neutron counts and associated soil analysis data across grain growing regions in NSW and QLD

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Cosmic ray probe survey data of soil surface neutron counts and associated soil analysis data across grain growing regions in NSW and QLD Bishop, Thomas; Filippi, Patrick; Yu, Yi; Zhang, Yuxi; Amir, Muqeet; Wright, Jenna This dataset includes cosmic ray probe survey data that details soil neutron counts detected using CSIRO's CosmOz Rover. Cosmic ray probes measure the flux of fast neutrons which is inversely proportional to the amount of hydrogen atoms. Water molecules are the dominant source of hydrogen atoms in soil so they can be measured close to the Earth's surface and used to infer soil moisture content. In addition to the neutron count, the survey data also contains barometric pressure (mb), temperature (℃) and relative humidity (%). These measurements are needed to correct the raw neutron count data by removing influences from atmospheric pressure and water content above the soil surface. Surveys were carried out across the grain growing regions in NSW and QLD, particularly Northern NSW, South-Eastern NSW, and South-Eastern QLD, and were completed over a period of 4 years from 2020-2023. Surveys were completed between 1 and 4 times within this 4 year period for each of the farms. The mobile system has 16 capsules that each measure neutron count at 1-minute intervals and log the GPS locations of each measurement. Survey data is in .csv format with 20 surveys completed across 8 farms. Soil sampling campaigns were completed concurrently with the CosmOz surveys and the data is available in this collection. Soil moisture, bulk density, soil organic carbon, and clay content was measured from each sample and was used to calibrate the neutron count from the surveys. 20 cores were taken at each farm to a depth of 30 cm. Sampling sites were defined using a stratified random sampling scheme based on k-means clustering, where strata were defined using farm characteristics. The available soil data for each farm is in .csv format. The datasets are stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-soilwaternowarchive. This data has restricted access, third-parties need to contact the University of Sydney and the GRDC to access the data according to agreed terms and/or with a data supply and licence agreement. Please contact Dr Patrick Filippi (patrick.filippi@sydney.edu.au) to request access to the data.