This study examines the morphometric characteristics and environmental changes in 143 small catchments within Wedel Jarlsberg Land, southern Svalbard, focusing on the influence of topography on glacier retreat, lake evolution, and vegetation dynamics. The catchments analysed varied in size, with 65% smaller than 4 km2. Elevation ranged from 1.9 to 1200 m a.s.l., and the catchments exhibited significant topographic variability, including steep slopes and varying exposures. Glaciers in the study area have undergone a 30% reduction in area from 1936 (228.34 km2) to 2020 (158.26 km2). This retreat has led to the expansion of glacial lakes, particularly within moraines, with a general trend towards increasing numbers and sizes of lakes over time. Vegetation changes were assessed using normalized difference vegetation index data from 1979 to 2020, revealing few increasing trends. Topographical features, including mean elevation, slope and catchment size, were analysed to understand their impact on glacial retreat and vegetation growth. The study found that mean slope and aspect had the strongest influence on vegetation dynamics, and that mean elevation and slope values have an impact on glacial retreat in the High Arctic.
In this study, we provide evidence that bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) imitate bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) calls, integrating them into their own elaborate songs, demonstrating this cetacean species' capacity for complex vocal learning. Bowhead whales also appear to imitate additional species- the Svalbard area. This behaviour likely reflects evolutionary pressure related to song diversity, mating success and ecological adaptation.
Anthropogenic carbon emissions are warming the Arctic, disrupting ecosystems, and changing the behaviour and interactions of their component species. As summer sea ice diminishes, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are losing access to traditional seal prey and are increasingly forced onto land, where bears can consume eggs, nestlings and sometimes adults of coastal-nesting marine birds. This behaviour has been poorly documented in northern Alaska. We present observations of polar bears in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea preying on Mandt’s black guillemot (Cepphus grylle mandtii) and Pacific common eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum). At Cooper Island, predation on guillemots was episodic (27% of years) and negligible from 1975 to 2007, but increased during 2008–2010, when bears caused 43% nestling mortality. Bear-resistant nest cases deployed in 2011 initially reduced losses until 2024 and 2025, when bear predation led to complete reproductive failure. In 2024, at a common eider colony on Spy Island, a single polar bear destroyed 89% of nests in less than a day. Despite extensive surveys of common eider colonies between the 1970s and early 2000s, reports of polar bear predation at these colonies were isolated and rare. These observations reveal a rapid shift in predation pressure, adding to existing climate-related impacts on these birds, including less prey and flooded or eroded nesting habitat. Our observations demonstrate how sea-ice loss is transforming Arctic ecosystems, creating unsustainable pressures on vulnerable bird populations and underscoring the urgency for solutions that will need to address the root causes of climate warming.
Background: Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a progressive, five-stage disease framework driven by interrelated cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic dysfunction, with chronic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) playing key roles. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) quantifies overall dietary inflammatory potential, but its role in CKM staging remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between DII and CKM syndrome stage and to assess the potential mediating effect of IR. Design: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2018). DII was derived from 24-h dietary recall. CKM stages were defined by the American Heart Association criteria. IR was assessed using the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), Metabolic Score for IR (METS-IR), and Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR (HOMA-IR). Statistical analyses were performed after accounting for the complex survey design. Results: Of the 27,635 participants, 94.08% had CKM syndrome (Stage 1 or higher). Compared with Stage 0, stepwise increases in the adjusted odds ratios for a higher DII score were observed across CKM stages (Q4 vs. Q1: 1.67 [1.31-2.15] for Stage 1; 2.11 [1.63-2.73] for Stage 2; 2.32 [1.08-4.98] for Stage 3; and 4.19 [2.65-6.63] for Stage 4). Restricted cubic splines models confirmed the positive linear association between DII and each CKM stage (all P-overall < 0.05; Pnon-linear > 0.05), with increasingly steep slopes at higher stages. TyG, METS-IR, and HOMA-IR mediated 30.7, 45.0, and 25.3% of the association between DII and CKM syndrome stage, respectively. Conclusions: Pro-inflammatory diet, as indicated by a higher DII score, was positively associated with more advanced CKM syndrome stage, partly mediated by IR. The DII may serve as a practical measure of dietary inflammation in CKM management.
Background: Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as indicated by altered salivary cortisol secretion, has been linked to poor sleep quality, mood disturbances, and emotional distress. In the principal clinical trial, 3 weeks of Melissa phospholipids' supplementation was associated with significant improvements in sleep quality and mood outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate salivary cortisol dynamics in a subpopulation supplemented with Melissa officinalis extract formulated in phospholipids for 3 weeks. Design: This secondary analysis evaluated a predefined subgroup (n = 12) receiving 400 mg/day of Melissa phospholipids for 3 weeks. Salivary cortisol was collected at 3 timepoints at baseline (T0), week 1 (T1), and week 3 (T2), and quantified by high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Associations between cortisol levels and psychometric outcomes were also assessed. Results: Mean salivary cortisol levels decreased progressively over the 3-week supplementation period, with a significant main effect of time (P < 0.001). Significant correlations (P < 0.05) were also observed between psychometric domains, including PSQI, DASS-21 depression and stress, PANAS, WEMWBS, and WHOQoL-BREF scores, indicating consistent improvements in sleep quality, mood, and perceived well-being. Discussion and conclusions: This secondary analysis provides preliminary evidence that Melissa phospholipids supplementation, is associated with a significant modulation of HPA axis activity, characterized by a reduction in daily salivary cortisol levels, in adults with poor sleep quality and emotional distress.
Excessive and chronic inflammation can cause osteogenic dysfunction and disrupt the balance of the osteoimmune microenvironment, thereby increasing the risk of fracture non-union. Urolithin A (UA), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite produced from dietary sources, has been reported to inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and alleviate postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, the effect of UA on osteogenesis, particularly under pathogenic inflammatory conditions, remains unclear. In this study, mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (mBMSCs) were used to evaluate osteogenesis in vitro, and RAW 264.7 cells were used as macrophages in vitro. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was used to establish an inflammatory environment. In vivo, a mouse femur fracture model with local TNF-α injection was established, and UA or vehicle was administered by intragastric gavage. The UA showed no obvious effect on cell viability at concentrations ranging from 0 to 10 μM and had no direct effect on the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs. TNF-α treatment significantly decreased the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins and inhibited calcium deposition, whereas UA reversed this inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, UA inhibited activation of the TNF-α-induced nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway. Furthermore, UA reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and inhibited type-1 macrophage polarisation under TNF-α-induced inflammatory conditions. Conditioned medium derived from RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with TNF-α after UA treatment promoted the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs. In vivo, local administration of TNF-α significantly impaired bone fracture healing in the mouse femur fracture model, whereas intragastric supplementation with UA improved fracture healing and reduced pro-inflammatory responses. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that UA alleviates osteogenic dysfunction through inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway and regulation of macrophage-mediated inflammation under TNF-α-induced inflammatory conditions, thereby promoting osteogenesis and fracture healing.
Background: Global population ageing has heightened the demand for anti-ageing nutritional interventions. Science Research Wellness (SRW®) Stem was designed by SRW® to address this demand with ingredients that improve stem cell function, which is central to protection against age-related decline. These ingredients include mitoquinol, sea buckthorn extract, fucoidan, oleuropein, and vitamin D3. Objectives: We compared the effects of SRW® Stem on the functions of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) with those of mitoquinol alone, which is known to improve these functions. Design: In vitro assays, including CCK-8 for cell viability, trypan blue exclusion, colony formation, transwell migration, adipogenic differentiation, ROS/glutathione analysis, and cytokine profiling under oxidative stress, were used to assess proliferation, migration, and differentiation capacities, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the SRW® Stem. Results: Results demonstrated that SRW® Stem 5 and 10 μg/mL significantly (P < 0.05 for all) enhanced proliferation, colony formation, and migration, and promoted adipogenic differentiation in the hUC-MSCs, compared with vehicle control and mitoquinol (positive control). Under oxidative stress, SRW® Stem significantly reduced (P < 0.001 for all) intracellular ROS, increased glutathione synthesis, suppressed IL-1β secretion, and restored IL-10 production in hUC-MSCs. Discussions: These findings indicated that SRW® Stem 5 and 10 μg/mL exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative effects on hUC-MSCs, outperforming mitoquinol across most parameters. Conclusions: The results highlighted the potential of SRW® Stem as an anti-ageing intervention and a supportive agent in stem cell-based therapies. Further investigations in animal models and clinical trials are warranted to validate its efficacy.
With a warming climate, changing weather patterns and increased erosion from various permafrost-and marine-related processes, the cultural heritage (CH) sites in Svalbard are increasingly vulnerable to destruction. Documentation of CH sites in the Arctic can be very difficult on account the harsh environment, remoteness (and associated costs), limited access time windows and-in Svalbard-the need to obtain permits from local authorities. The main objectives of this study are: (1) to document an isolated and prioritized CH site in Svalbard-the hut at Kapp Pettersen, Svensk & oslash;ya-using an uncrewed aerial vehicle and ground photography; (2) to identify the effects of coastal erosion and permafrost-related processes on the cabin; and (3) to gain a better understanding of the landscape surrounding the site. We found that the shoreline had retreated, on average, by 0.42 m/yr between 2010 and 2024. This is significantly more than has been documented at other CH sites in Svalbard. The limited number photographs of the hut meant that a three-dimensional representation could not be made. However, a detailed auditory description of the hut was made during the visit. This study highlights the challenges and limitations of Arctic CH documentation.
Background:Dietary acid load (DAL) has been proven to be associated with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, gout, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in several countries. However, its relationship with the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in the Chinese population, as well as with fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin levels, and insulin resistance-related indicators, remains unclear. Method:This is a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), which uses Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) and Net Endogenous Acid Production (NEAP) to assess DAL. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the relationship between DAL and prediabetes as well as diabetes. Linear regression was used to examine the associations between DAL and fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin levels, estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and the TyG index in the affected population. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were utilized to explore potential nonlinear relationships, and mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the mediating role of insulin resistance in the effects of DAL on fasting blood glucose and insulin. Finally, the findings were validated and compared using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Results:Higher PRAL (odds ratio [OR]: 1.004, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002-1.006) and NEAP (OR: 1.009, 95% CI: 1.005-1.012) were associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes. Elevated levels of PRAL and NEAP were also correlated with higher fasting blood glucose levels and a lower eGDR. Moreover, eGDR played a significant mediating role in the effect of DAL on fasting blood glucose (PRAL: 69.74%, P = 0.048; NEAP: 65.75%, P = 0.004). However, this phenomenon was not significant in the US population, indicating differences between Chinese and American populations. Conclusion:High DAL is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in the Chinese population, and it influences fasting blood glucose levels in affected individuals by reducing the eGDR. These findings highlight the clinical importance of regulating acid-producing diets to help manage blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes.
Colon cancer is a common malignancy of the digestive system, tumor disease, and its prevalence in China shows a consistently increasing trend. This study aimed to investigate the role of surfactant associated 2 (SFTA2) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its molecular mechanism involving ferroptosis.Colon cancer tissues were obtained from patients and normal volunteers from our hospital, and a mouse model of CRC was established using azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induction.SFTA2 expression was significantly up-regulated at both the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in CRC tissues and cell lines. Patients with high SFTA2 expression exhibited a shorter survival time compared to those with low SFTA2 expression. SFTA2 was found to be expressed in cancer cells of CRC patients, associated with key signaling molecules.Sh-SFTA2 reduced cancer proliferation in the mice model of CRC. SFTA2 up-regulation promoted cell proliferation of CRC. SFTA2 down-regulation promoted cell proliferation of CRC. SFTA2 up-regulation reduced oxidative stress and ferroptosis of CRC. SFTA2 up-regulation reduced ferroptosis of CRC through mitochondrial damage-tricarboxylic acid cycle (TAC). SFTA2 down-regulation suppressed nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in the model of CRC. SFTA2 up-regulation reduced Nrf2 ubiquitination in the model of CRC. Nrf2 reversed the effects of si-SFTA2 on ferroptosis of CRC. Furthermore, SFTA2 down-regulation suppressed Nrf2 expression, while SFTA2 up-regulation decreased Nrf2 ubiquitination in the CRC model. Nrf2 was shown to reverse the pro-ferroptotic effects of si-SFTA2, indicating that SFTA2 activates the Nrf2 pathway by inhibiting its ubiquitination, thereby reducing mitochondrial damage and TCA cycle disruption in CRC.SFTA2 induced the Nrf2 pathway to reduce mitochondrial damage-TAC of the CRC model through the inhibition of Nrf2 ubiquitination. SFTA2 is thus a potentiallyeffective therapeutic strategy for patients with CRC or other cancers.
Background:There is a well-established relation between socioeconomic position (SEP) and diet. People with lower SEPs tend to eat high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, while those with a higher SEP tend to consume foods associated with better health. However, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be understood. Objective:To examine the association between education and the Healthy Nordic Food Index (HNFI) in men and women in Tromsø, and investigate the role of three intermediate variables: household income, subjective occupational social status, and self-rated health. Design:Dietary information from Food Frequency Questionnaires were used to construct the HNFI based on six food items and categorised as low, medium, and high adherence. Education and intermediate variables were self-reported. Multinomial logistic regression models stratified by sex were performed to assess the association between education and the HNFI among 8,610 women and 6,896 men aged 40-99 years. Results:Median intake of all food items increased across categories of the HNFI for all participants. High adherers to the HNFI were slightly older, more educated, had higher household income, perceived their occupational social status as high, and rated their health as good/excellent. We observed an educational gradient in the adherence to the HNFI where men (odds ratios [OR] TertiaryLong 1.92 [95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.47-2.5]) and women (OR TertiaryLong 2.35 [1.94-2.85]) with higher education had higher odds of adhering to the HNFI compared to those with primary education. Household income partly attenuated this gradient in men only. Conclusion:The association between education and adherence to the HNFI followed an educational gradient, which was partly attenuated by income in men but not in women. Our study highlights potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between education and diet. A deeper understanding of socioeconomic disparities in healthy eating is crucial for enhancing overall nutrition, especially among the socially disadvantaged.
Tundra ecosystems are increasingly affected by the warming associated with climate change and the resulting poleward shift of animal and plant populations. The breeding ranges of some migratory waders nesting in the Arctic already appear to be shifting or expanding in response to the rising temperatures. The pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) is a wader whose breeding range normally extends from western Siberia to eastern Canada. However, three breeding events (involving three different females) have been documented since 2016 in north-east Greenland at two sites with long-term monitoring. These are the first records of breeding of this species in east Greenland, a region that is 1700 and 2800 km from the two nearest known breeding populations in north-east Canada and western Siberia, respectively. The three nests contained four eggs each, which were incubated normally; they did not hatch and were probably unfertilized. The origin of the birds is unknown, but these recent and repeated events, in a region where observation effort is generally limited, could indicate an ongoing expansion of the pectoral sandpiper’s breeding range in the North-east Atlantic region.
As sea ice diminishes with global warming, new opportunities for commercial shipping, tourism and fishing arise in the polar regions in the winter. With this comes the risk of accidents. Long distances and extreme environmental conditions compound the challenges of search and rescue operations in Arctic waters. In the event of an incident in polar waters requiring evacuation from ship to lifeboat, sea ice or beach, the International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code requires that passengers and crew can take care of themselves for a minimum of five days. To investigate how hypothermia, poor sleep, emotions and nutrition affect cognitive functions that may impact self-rescue and survival in a cold climate, a 36-hour experiment was carried out in October 2022 in the fjord Beisfjord, northern Norway. The study included cognitive pre- and post-tests, medical examinations, glucose measurements, observations and focus group interviews. The tests revealed a weakening of cognitive skills. Interviews and video recordings showed that the participants were restless and felt bored. The participants described being wet and cold and not having slept adequately. Glucose levels were normal. Some participants suffered mild hypothermia in spite of the wool clothing and survival suits provided. The study shows that human factors are important to consider in planning for emergency situations in polar waters.
To elucidate the Gondwana supercontinent, we investigate mantle dynamics in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, using shear wave splitting analysis. This involves 12 S-phase teleseismic events and 38 core refracted phase (SKS, SKKS, PKKS and PKS) events, hereafter collectively referred to as XKS, recorded in the period 2013-17 (excluding noisy periods), at the broadband seismic station at Maitri, the Indian research station. The splitting parameters cI (fast polarization direction) and 6t (delay time) were estimated by cluster analysis and minimization of eigenvalues from covariance matrix of cI and 6t. Our XKS analysis, assuming a single layer of anisotropy, shows an average cI of 62 degrees and 6t of 1.1 sec. The S-wave analysis shows an average cI of 50 degrees and 6t of 0.97 sec. The cI values of the fast XKS and S-wave phases, having a north-east-south-west direction, are sub-parallel to the geological boundary of Schirmacher Oasis and the continental margin of East Antarctica. The observed margin-parallel XKS and seismic anisotropy at Maitri, which are also aligned to magnetic anomalies, correlate well with frozen lithospheric anisotropy, due to the major tectonic events, lineations and/or transtensional rifting at the breakup of Gondwana.
An echo character mapping study of the western Svalbard continental margin, based on ca. 3980 km of archived sub-bottom profile data, is presented. Four distinct echo character types are recognized. Type I is found on the continental slope and in the fjords as thin, irregularly parallel, sub-bottom reflectors, interpreted as glaciomarine plumes, turbidites and other features resulting from low-energy depositional processes. Type II occurs in the deeper water regions of the slope and basins as continuous, well-stratified, parallel reflectors that are interpreted as hemipelagites, distal turbidites and contourites. Type III, found only on the shelf, comprises continuous, highly reflective reflectors that are interpreted as coarse-grained sediments or exposed bedrock. Type IV occurs in fjords and shelf regions and is characterized by a single sub-bottom reflector with a transparent unit; it is interpreted as poorly sorted glacial diamict. This study also mapped numerous seabed features, including debris flow lobes, channel systems, pockmarks and gas chimneys. It illustrates how echo character mapping furthers our understanding of processes on the margin and contributes to reconstructing palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic conditions.
Despite the bitter dispute that arose between Italy and Norway after the Amundsen-Ellsworth-Nobile transpolar flight of 1926, the Nordic country assisted with various organizational aspects of the airship Italia polar expedition of 1928. In particular, Adolf Hoel's contributions to the preparations for the Italian polar mission were extensive and varied. The eminent Norwegian scientist made available to the Italians unpublished cartographic material, books, information on the Svalbard archipelago and polar equipment. The maps that Hoel gave to Gianni Albertini aided Italian rescue efforts after the crash of the Italia. Using Italian and Norwegian archives, this paper examines a little-known page of Italian-Norwegian scientific cooperation in Arctic exploration during the interwar period.
This editorial reflects on deception in nature documentaries, ranging from trifling and, arguably, justifiable tricks to the outright hoaxes that gravely mislead viewers and damage public trust in science. Examples are drawn from Disney, BBC, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and other productions. Scientists who are asked to appear in nature documentaries are advised to proceed with caution and to safeguard their right to speak publicly about falsehoods and dupery in such productions. The availability of inexpensive video-fabricating applications raises the spectre of additional problems.
Viral lysis and grazing play crucial but distinct roles in microbial community dynamics and carbon cycling. Yet, their relative influence on the abundance of heterotrophic bacterial and picophytoplankton populations, especially in Arctic fjords, remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted modified dilution experiments in Adventfjorden, Svalbard, to quantify microbial growth, grazing pressure and virus-induced mortality. Our results showed that the abundance of virus-like particles (VLP) ranged between 1.4 and 8.9 × 106 viruses ml−1, with a negative correlation to salinity. This suggests that freshwater inputs, such as meltwater, could contribute to higher VLP abundance in these waters. The VLP-to-bacteria ratio varied between 9.8 and 700.9, with a large variation below a salinity of 28 PSU and an inverse correlation with salinity. Grazing, primarily by nanoflagellates, emerged as the dominant factor in reducing heterotrophic bacterial and Synechococcus spp. populations, accounting for 12–55% and 20–110% of their production losses, respectively. This study was conducted in summer, when meltwater discharges entered coastal waters in Svalbard fjords at an extremely high rate, providing an opportunity to study microbial processes under projected future warming conditions.
Continuous sedimentary drill cores provide crucial data for deciphering past climate variations and characterizing the subsurface for the energy industry (e.g., coal, petroleum, CO2 storage, geothermal energy). The Norwegian High-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard offers a diverse geological record that has been investigated by geoscientists for both scientific and applied projects, with hundreds of boreholes drilled over the past century. Unfortunately, much crucial data, including physical material from the boreholes, have been lost. The Svalbard Rock Vault project aims to safeguard drill cores, cuttings and hand samples from Svalbard and facilitate their scientific reuse. We aim to establish a physical core storage repository in, or near, Longyearbyen, Svalbard. In parallel, ongoing digitization and data integration efforts are improving access to complementary non-physical material, including hard-to-access reports, wireline logs and interpretations. In this contribution, we report on the motivation and background of the Svalbard Rock Vault project, synthesize current knowledge about physical subsurface material from Svalbard, and present a vision of an improved physical core storage facility near Longyearbyen.
