Publications by authors named "Lucassen M"

Article Synopsis
  • The study wanted to find out how adults think about what helps or hurts the mental health of kids who identify as LGBTQ+.
  • Researchers talked to 16 adults like parents and health professionals to understand their views on the challenges and support for these kids.
  • They found that kids often face dangers and social issues that make it hard for them to feel safe, but they also benefit when adults help them explore their identity and feel included.
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Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on Earth, providing the main source of bioavailable energy, carbon, and oxygen via the use of sunlight. Despite this importance, the minimum light level sustaining photosynthesis and net growth of primary producers in the global ocean is still unknown. Here, we present measurements from the MOSAiC field campaign in the central Arctic Ocean that reveal the resumption of photosynthetic growth and algal biomass buildup under the ice pack at a daily average irradiance of not more than 0.

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Sessile intertidal organisms live in a harsh environment with challenging environmental conditions and increasing anthropogenic pressure such as microplastic (MP) pollution. This study focused on effects of environmentally relevant MP concentrations on the metabolism of intertidal Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, and its potential MP-induced vulnerability to warming during midday low tide. Oysters experienced a simulated semidiurnal tidal cycle based on their natural habitat, and were exposed to a mixture of polystyrene microbeads (4, 7.

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Background: Rather than being perceived as merely 'part of the problem', the perspectives and experiences of young people play a pivotal role in devising effective solutions for mental health challenges. Two distinct methodologies that aid in this endeavour are 'patient and public involvement' (PPI) and 'responsible research and innovation' (RRI). However, there is a tendency to conflate PPI and RRI practices, leading to ambiguity in their application.

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Background: Sexual and gender minority youth are at greater risk of compromised mental health than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This is considered to be due to an increased burden of stigma, discrimination, or bullying resulting in a heightened experience of daily stress. Given the increasing digital accessibility and a strong preference for web-based support among sexual and gender minority youth, digital interventions are a key means to provide support to maintain their well-being.

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Background: A serious game called SPARX (Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts), originally developed in New Zealand and incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents with mild to moderate depression in studies undertaken in Australasia. However, SPARX has never been trialled in the United Kingdom (UK), and there have been issues relating to low engagement when it has been used in a real-world context.

Aims: To conduct the first pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) in England to explore the use of SPARX in different settings.

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Polar ecosystems are experiencing amongst the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth. Here, we discuss 'omics' approaches to investigate polar biodiversity, including the current state of the art, future perspectives and recommendations. We propose a community road map to generate and more fully exploit multi-omics data from polar organisms.

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Article Synopsis
  • Protein turnover is energy-intensive and varies between species, with the Antarctic eelpout showing adaptations for cold environments while the temperate eelpout is affected by temperature changes.
  • In a study, protein synthesis rates were higher in the temperate species, while protein degradation capabilities were significantly greater in the Antarctic eelpout, with temperatures having minimal impact on the Antarctic species' protein synthesis.
  • Metabolic profiling revealed that the Antarctic eelpout has a richer pool of complex and essential amino acids, demonstrating a more stable and efficient protein turnover in colder, stable environments compared to the temperate counterpart.
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Depression and anxiety are common in adolescents, but most affected will not get any formal help. Digital mental health technologies (i.e.

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LGBTQA+ university students have unique mental health needs and high rates of mental distress compared to their cisgender heterosexual peers; however, it is likely that many LGBTQA+ individuals remain untreated or receive inappropriate or insensitive care. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and preferences in mental health care of LGBTQA+ university students in Aotearoa New Zealand. Twenty-eight young adults participated across 12 focus groups or interviews in which they were asked about their experiences and preferences.

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Research has shown that learners' stress and mental distress are linked to poorer academic outcomes. A better understanding of stress and mental distress experiences during study could foster more nuanced course and intervention design which additionally teaches learners how to navigate through to protect their academic performance. The current study draws on data collected via validated self-reported questionnaires completed by final year undergraduate students (n = 318) at a large distance education university.

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An integrated textile electronic system is reported here, enabling a truly free form factor system via textile manufacturing integration of fiber-based electronic components. Intelligent and smart systems require freedom of form factor, unrestricted design, and unlimited scale. Initial attempts to develop conductive fibers and textile electronics failed to achieve reliable integration and performance required for industrial-scale manufacturing of technical textiles by standard weaving technologies.

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Direct measurements of temperature-dependent weight gains are experimentally challenging and time-consuming in long-lived/slow-growing organisms such as Antarctic fish. Here, we reassess methodology to quantify the in vivo protein synthesis rate from amino acids, as a key component of growth. We tested whether it is possible to avoid hazardous radioactive materials and whether the analytical pathway chosen is robust against analytical errors.

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The globin protein superfamily has diverse functions. Haemoglobin has been found in non-erythroid locations, including within the mitochondria. Using co-immunoprecipitation and in silico methods, we investigated the interaction of mitochondrial haemoglobin with ATP synthase and its associated proteins, including inhibitory factor 1 (IF1).

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Article Synopsis
  • Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common eye condition caused by a mismatch between how the eye focuses light and its length.
  • This study looked at how different types of light (like UVA, violet, cyan, green/yellow, red, and white) affect the eye growth of zebrafish.
  • Findings suggest that exposure to cyan or red light reduces eye length, indicating that light conditions could be a potential strategy to control myopia.
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Objective: SPARX is an online cognitive behavioural therapy self-help intervention for adolescent depression provided in serious game format. Since 2014, it has been freely available in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) due to funding from the NZ government. In 2020/21, feedback from sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) was used to refine and update SPARX.

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Background: Rangatahi Māori, the Indigenous adolescents of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), have poorer health outcomes than Pākehā (NZ European /other European/"White") adolescents. We explored the influence of policies for Indigenous youth by presenting health trends, inequities and contrasting policy case examples: tobacco control and healthcare access.

Methods: Cross-sectional representative surveys of NZ secondary school students were undertaken in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019.

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Antarctic icefish are extraordinary in their ability to thrive without haemoglobin. We wanted to understand how the mitochondrial proteome has adapted to the loss of this protein. Metabolic pathways that utilise oxygen are most likely to be rearranged in these species.

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Robust population-based research has established that sexual and gender minority youths (SGMYs) are at an increased risk of mental ill-health, but there is a dearth of literature that seeks to explore how to best support SGMY mental wellbeing. This scoping review aims to identify findings related to coping strategies and/or interventions for building resilience and/or enhancing the mental wellbeing of SGMYs. PRISMA extension for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines was utilized for this review.

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Antarctic notothenioids have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in subzero Antarctic waters. Within the suborder Notothenioidei, species of the family Channichthyidae (icefish) lack hemoglobin and in some instances myoglobin too. In studies of mitochondrial function of notothenioids, few have focused specifically on ATP synthase.

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Smart textiles consist of discrete devices fabricated from-or incorporated onto-fibres. Despite the tremendous progress in smart textiles for lighting/display applications, a large scale approach for a smart display system with integrated multifunctional devices in traditional textile platforms has yet to be demonstrated. Here we report the realisation of a fully operational 46-inch smart textile lighting/display system consisting of RGB fibrous LEDs coupled with multifunctional fibre devices that are capable of wireless power transmission, touch sensing, photodetection, environmental/biosignal monitoring, and energy storage.

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Background: Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) are at an increased risk of a range of mental health problems. However, few evidence-informed interventions have been developed specifically to support their mental well-being. Interventions that are evidence-informed for the general population and are fine-tuned specifically with SGMY in mind proffer considerable potential.

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Mitochondrial changes such as tight coupling of the mitochondria have facilitated sustained oxygen and respiratory activity in haemoglobin-less icefish of the Channichthyidae family. We aimed to characterise features in the sequence and structure of the proteins directly involved in proton transport, which have potential physiological implications. ATP synthase subunit a (ATP6) and subunit 8 (ATP8) are proteins that function as part of the F0 component (proton pump) of the F0F1complex.

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