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Objectives: Fuel poverty, defined in this study as a household's inability to meet basic energy needs, presents a significant challenge. We aimed to map research on the impact of fuel poverty on mental health. Methods: We searched peer review and grey literature repositories. Studies were considered eligible if they focused on both fuel poverty and mental health. Results: 47 studies were included. 64% were published in the last 3 years. 43% focused on the UK sub-geography, with the next most common being Spain (17%) and China (13%). 55% had a quantitative study design. Conceptualisation and operationalisation of fuel poverty varied across studies and contexts. 58% focused on specific vulnerable populations. 46 studies reported evidence of a detrimental association between fuel poverty and mental health. We broadly summarise the role of fuel poverty on mental health under four headings: economic, social, behavioural and environmental. Conclusion: We highlight a need for clear and explicit conceptualisation of fuel poverty, in conjunction with consideration of pathways connecting fuel poverty to mental health, to advance the field and facilitate research which can improve population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naked mole‐rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a unique model mammal in which to study socially induced inhibition of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Naked mole‐rat groups exhibit a high degree of reproductive bias in which breeding is restricted to one female (the queen) and one male, with subordinate non‐breeding colony members rarely, if ever, having the opportunity to reproduce due to a dysfunctional HPG axis. It is posited that aggression directed at subordinates by the queen suppresses reproduction in these subordinates, yet the underlying physiological mechanisms causing this dysfunction are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the possible factors contributing to the dysfunction of the HPG axis in subordinate female naked mole‐rats with a specific focus on the role of ovarian feedback and stress‐related factors such as circulating glucocorticoid and endogenous opioid peptides. The results showed that stress‐related factors appear to not mediate the suppression of reproductive function in subordinate female naked mole rats. Indeed, in some cases, the activation of the stress axis may lead to reproductive activation instead of deactivation. At the same time, the role of ovarian sex steroid feedback in reproductive suppression is likely limited and not clearly delineated. This study highlights the need for detailed studies to elucidate the mechanism of reproductive suppression in this unique model mammalian species which may shed light on, and reveal novel mechanisms, in the social regulation of reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in sequencing technology and phylogenetic methods allow us to solve puzzling taxonomic questions using detailed analyses of genetic diversity of populations and gene flow between them. The genus of solitary-living dune mole-rat, Bathyergus, is quite unique among six genera of African mole-rats. The animals are by far the largest and the only scratch digging mole-rat genus possessing a skull less adapted to digging, grooved upper incisors, and more surface locomotor activity. Most authors recognize two species of dune mole-rats, B. suillus and B. janetta, but according to others, the genus is monotypic. In addition, recent molecular studies have revealed cryptic genetic diversity and suggested the existence of up to four species. In our study, we used mitochondrial and genome-wide nuclear data collected throughout the distribution of the genus to investigate the number of species. In agreement with previous studies, we found Bathyergus to be differentiated into several distinct lineages, but we also found evidence for a degree of gene flow between some of them. Furthermore, we confirmed that B. janetta is nested within B. suillus, making the latter paraphyletic and we documented an instance of local mitochondrial introgression between these two nominal species. Phylogeographic structure of the genus was found to be very shallow. Although traditionally dated to the Miocene, we found the first split within the genus to be much younger estimated to 0.82 Ma before present. Genealogical distinctiveness of some lineages was very low, and the coancestry matrix showed extensive sharing of closely related haplotypes throughout the genus. Accordingly, Infomap clustering on the matrix showed all populations to form a single cluster. Overall, our study tends to support the existence of only one species of Bathyergus namely, B. suillus. Environmental niche modelling confirmed its dependence on sandy soils and the preference for soils with relatively high carbon content. Bayesian skyline plots indicate recent population decline in the janetta lineage, probably related to global environmental change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)