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Inhibition of interferon signaling improves rabbit calicivirus replication in biliary organoid cultures
No full textThe Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was discovered 40 years ago. This highly pathogenic virus threatens the integrity of ecosystems in the European rabbit’s native range, while in Australia, it is used as a biocontrol tool to manage overabundant populations of feral European rabbits. Little is known about the life cycle of this virus due to the absence of a reliable cell culture system. In 2023, we developed a rabbit liver-derived organoid cell culture system that supports RHDV replication but is unable to sustain serial passaging in culture. Here, we report that the interferon signaling pathway inhibitor Ruxolitinib increases virus replication in organoid-derived monolayer cells and, for the first time, enables the serial passaging of RHDV in cell culture. Four consecutive passages were achieved with viral titers reaching the concentration of the initial virus stock as measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that more cells are infected in the presence of Ruxolitinib. Furthermore, we noted that cells grew faster and formed healthier monolayers in the presence of the interferon inhibitor. To determine the cellular composition of the monolayers, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, revealing that our organoids consist largely of RHDV-permissive cholangiocytes.</p
Risky e-scooter behaviours:The importance of descriptive norms and perceived behavioural control
No full textThe rapid expansion of electric scooters (e-scooters), including shared schemes, has coincided with concerns regarding their safety. Given the relatively recent introduction of e-scooters, there is a paucity of research considering how they are used, including risk factors for unsafe use. The current investigation examined the extent of unsafe e-scooter riding behaviours and the utility of key psychological factors in the prediction of risky e-scooter use among riders in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. Three hundred and sixty-two participants who had ridden an e-scooter in the ACT in the previous 12 months (56 % female, mean age = 22.3 years, SD = 7.5, age range 17–72 years) completed an online survey which measured self-reported e-scooter riding behaviours along with demographics and a range of psychological factors (perceived risk, perceived behavioural control [PBC], descriptive norm). Participants also gave reasons for not wearing a helmet, which has previously been identified as a key risk factor of e-scooter related injuries. Results demonstrated a high proportion of risky behaviours, with doubling, use of a smartphone, no helmet, and speeding each reported by more than 50 % of participants. Psychological factors (notably descriptive norm and PBC) were particularly important predictors of risky e-scooter use. These were also identified in qualitative analysis of reasons for not wearing a helmet (N = 184). This study contributes to the burgeoning evidence regarding the importance of psychological factors in predicting risky e-scooter riding behaviours and demonstrates the potential for targeting descriptive norms and PBC as interventions to encourage safer use
Towards a more modern approach to gender mainstreaming education: Practical lessons from case studies
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Correction:Transforming Water Research Through Human Rights-Based Approaches: A Framework for Implementation (Water, (2025), 17, 10, (1418), 10.3390/w17101418)
No full textThere were errors in the original publication [1]. In the original publication, references [16,21,23,29,39] were added mistakenly. We have rectified and corrected this issue. Below are the correct references: Wilson, N.J.; Harris, L.M.; Nelson, J.; Shah, S.H. Re-theorizing politics in water governance. Water 2019, 11, 1470. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071470. Gready, P. Human Rights and Development in the New Millennium: Towards a Theory of Change; Routledge: London, UK, 2014. Zwarteveen, M.; Boelens, R. Defining, researching and struggling for water justice: Some conceptual building blocks for research and action. Water Int. 2014, 39, 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.891168. Gready, P.; Ensor, J. Reinventing Development: Translating Rights-Based Approaches from Theory into Practice; Zed Books: London, UK, 2005. Smith, R. Human rights-based approaches to research. In Research Methods in Human Rights; Routledge: London, UK, 2018; pp. 6–23. Wilson, N.J.; Harris, L.M.; Nelson, J.; Shah, S.H. Re-theorizing politics in water governance. Water 2019, 11, 1470. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071470. Gready, P. Human Rights and Development in the New Millennium: Towards a Theory of Change; Routledge: London, UK, 2014. Zwarteveen, M.; Boelens, R. Defining, researching and struggling for water justice: Some conceptual building blocks for research and action. Water Int. 2014, 39, 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.891168. Gready, P.; Ensor, J. Reinventing Development: Translating Rights-Based Approaches from Theory into Practice; Zed Books: London, UK, 2005. Smith, R. Human rights-based approaches to research. In Research Methods in Human Rights; Routledge: London, UK, 2018; pp. 6–23. Also, references [43,45,52,58,60,62] are duplicate ones; we have deleted these references. With this correction, the order of some of the references has been adjusted accordingly. The authors state that the scientific conclusions of the paper are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.</p
Monkeypox in South Asia:A systematic Review
No full textMonkeypox (Mpox) has emerged as a significant public health concern globally and in South Asia. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to provide a synthesis of the epidemiological pattern, clinical features, disease severity, and mitigation strategies in the region. A systematic review was conducted across four databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid from inception to August 2024. Out of 2,430 studies, only 19 met the inclusion criteria with 111 confirmed Mpox cases. Forty percent (44) patients were males and 45.9% (51) did not specify their sex. Young to middle-aged adults were most affected, with rare cases in a neonate. Around two-third (73.0%, 81) of Mpox patients were from India, followed by Pakistan (18, 16.2%) and Nigeria (resident in India) (9.9%, 11). Sixty-eight percent (76) of Mpox patients reported recent travel, particularly to UAE (27%, 21) and Saudi Arabia (26.3%, 20). Common signs and symptoms among cases were skin lesion (92.8%, 103), fever (82.0%, 91), lymphadenopathy (65.8%, 73), muscle ache (27.0%, 30), and genital and perianal lesions (17.1%, 19). Co-infection with herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus led to difficulty in diagnosis. Nearly all the studies used polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis. Public health responses varied across countries, including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, and awareness campaigns, but vaccine availability remained limited. Mpox in South Asia was largely linked to travel-related transmission and affecting primarily younger adults. Strengthening surveillance systems, a syndemic approach, diagnostic capacity, and targeted interventions are crucial to controlling its spread.</p
Unmasking persuasion in phishing:a content analysis of principles of persuasion in emails and subject lines
No full textPurpose This study aims to identify and analyse the persuasive principles employed in phishing emails through a detailed content analysis of both email subject lines and entire email contents. It investigates how these persuasion principles differ between subject lines and full email content, examines trends in their use over time and identifies common combinations of persuasion strategies used by attackers. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative content analysis was conducted on 200 phishing email samples selected systematically over a ten-year period from the phishing database. The analysis employed NVivo software, guided by the Principles of Human Persuasion in Social Engineering framework proposed by Ferreira and Teles (2019). This framework facilitated systematic coding based on five main principles (Authority, Social Proof, Deception, Distraction and Integrity) and their sub-principles. Findings The analysis revealed distinct differences in the application of persuasion principles between email subject lines and entire email contents. Subject lines predominantly employed Authority and Distraction to elicit immediate responses, while full email content relied more heavily on Deception, Distraction, Integrity and Reciprocation to construct convincing narratives. Trends indicated an evolving strategic shift among attackers, highlighting increased usage of Deception and decreased reliance on Authority over time. Additionally, the most frequent combinations identified were Authority with Distraction for subject lines, and Deception with Distraction and Integrity for entire email contents. Practical implications Findings from this study suggest that phishing detection systems and training programs must be designed with sensitivity to nuanced persuasion techniques. Training should emphasize recognizing subtle persuasive cues in full email narratives in addition to immediate triggers present in subject lines, adapting to evolving phishing methodologies over time. Originality/value Unlike previous studies primarily focused on user vulnerabilities, this research uniquely examines how attackers strategically apply persuasion principles within phishing emails themselves, considering both immediate (subject lines) and extended (email content) engagement. This dual-level, temporally comparative analysis provides deeper insight into the evolution and complexity of phishing tactics, particularly relevant in the era of generative artificial intelligence that minimizes detectable technical errors in phishing communications.</p
Corrigendum to “Forecasting inclusive futures:Fintech, capability expansion, and livelihood pathways in urban Indian slums – A mixed-methods analysis” [Published in Technological Forecasting & Social Change, volume- 221, December (2025)] (S0040162525004007), (10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124369)
No full textThe authors regret an error in the published version of the article, the surname of one of the authors was incorrectly listed. The correct author's name should read as: Correct Name: Sarvjeet Kaur Chatrath. Incorrect Name: Sarvjeet Kaur. We request that this correction be reflected in the official record of the article. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Reason for Correction: The error occurred during the submission process and was not identified before publication. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.</p
Cry1 resistance in a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HaCad1 gene knockout strain of the Australian cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera conferta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
No full textBACKGROUND: Helicoverpa armigera is a highly polyphagous species that causes huge losses to agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. In the cotton industry, H. armigera, including the Australian subspecies H. armigera conferta, is largely managed by using genetically modified crops that express insecticidal toxins, such as Cry1Ac. Resistance to Cry1proteins occurs and, in some cases, is mediated by changes to HaCad1, a gene that encodes the midgut protein cadherin. Around the world, numerous resistance-associated polymorphisms have been identified in the HaCad1 gene of H. armigera, but Cry1Ac resistance is rare in the Australian subspecies. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to disrupt the cadherin gene in H. armigera conferta and characterised the resulting phenotype with bioassays and transcriptomics.RESULTS: Compared to the parental strain, the newly generated HaCad1 knockout strain is 44-fold and 17-fold more resistant to Cry1Ac and Cry1A.105, respectively, while wild-type and knockout insects were equally resistant to Cry1F. CONCLUSION: The disruption of the HaCad1 gene causes Cry1Ac resistance in Australian H. armigera conferta. However, Cry1Ac resistance remains rare in Australian field populations suggesting that Australia’s approach to pest management in cotton has prevented widespread Cry1Ac resistance.<br/