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We consider a parametric semilinear Robin problem driven by the Laplacian plus an indefinite potential. The reaction term involves competing nonlinearities. More precisely, it is the sum of a parametric sublinear (concave) term and a superlinear (convex) term. The superlinearity is not expressed via the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz condition. Instead, a more general hypothesis is used. We prove a bifurcation-type theorem describing the set of positive solutions as the parameter $\lambda > 0$ varies. We also show the existence of a minimal positive solution $\tilde{u}_\lambda$ and determine the monotonicity and continuity properties of the map $\lambda \mapsto \tilde{u}_\lambda$.

The existence of three smooth solutions, one negative, one positive, and one nodal, to a homogeneous Robin problem with $p$-Laplacian and Carath\'eodory reaction is established. No sub-critical growth condition is taken on. Proofs exploit variational as well as truncation techniques. The case $p=2$ is separately examined, obtaining a further nodal solution via Morse's theory.