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"Ceramides constitute a class of lipids found in different locations such as the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), whose permeabilization is a point-of-no-return in apoptosis. This phenomenon has been linked to the Voltage Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC), with which Ceramides can interact via a membrane-buried Glutamate residue in isoforms 1 and 2. To study the role of Ceramides in apoptosis, a Coarse Grain (CG) model of this lipid was created and subsequently optimized in terms of Solvent Accessible Surface Area and topology parameters. The latter were developed through a trial-and-error approach until the CG behavior resembled the atomistic references. The obtained parameters were further tested but results were inconclusive, probably due to the method used. Nevertheless, preliminary data demonstrated the model to properly interact with the Glutamate of VDAC." N/A

As the Arctic warms, permafrost coasts are eroding faster, threatening coastal communities, habitats, and altering sediment and nutrient budgets. The western Canadian Arctic is eroding at a rapid pace, however little is known on changes occurring in the in the Amundsen Bay area. This study was conducted in the eastern coast of Parry Peninsula, a neglected rocky coastal area. We used orthorectified aerial photos of 1965 and 1993 and very-high resolution satellite imagery of 2020 to manually delineate the shoreline and classify the backshore and foreshore typology. Shoreline change rates were calculated and the ArctiDEM was used to derive cliff height, allowing for estimating volume changes and soil organic carbon fluxes. The results show a mean rate of 0.13 m/yr for the backshore zone and 0.2 m/yr for the foreshore, with increasing erosion in the south sector of the Peninsula in the recent decades. The average sediment flux was 19 m3/m/yr and The SOC flux 6.7 kg C/m/yr. We highlight the importance of using the clifftop as shoreline reference to accurately estimate sediment fluxes, an approach that is neglected in automatic shoreline delineation techniques based on remote sensing imagery, which generally focus on the identification of the waterline.

The timing and magnitude of Holocene glacial oscillations in most currently ice-free areas of Antarctica remain unknown. This work focuses on the recent deglaciation in the northern sector of the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, northern Antarctic Peninsula. The ice cap covering ca. 90% of the island has receded since the Last Glacial Maximum and exposed ca. 29 km2 of ice-free land. We reconstruct its glacial history based on a dataset of 12 36Cl exposure ages obtained through cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) dating of moraine boulders, polished surfaces and erratic boulders surrounding the peninsula's northern plateau. Results reveal that the deglaciation of the northern Fildes Peninsula took place during the Holocene Thermal Maximum at 7–6 ka, when warm conditions promoted a massive glacial retreat. The present arrangement of ice-free areas was in place by 6 ka. Small cirque moraines suggest the subsequent occurrence of favourable climate conditions for glacial expansion fed by intense snow deflation at 4.6 and 1 ka at the foot of the northern plateau. The deglaciation pattern of the Fildes Peninsula resulted from the combined shrinkage of different ice masses, rather than of the long-term retreat of the King George Ice Cap. No evidence of glacier expansion during more recent cold periods (i.e. the Little Ice Age) was found. These results fit well with regional deglacial histories inferred from lacustrine sediments and raised beaches and complement the existing chronological framework to help better understand the peninsula's Holocene geoecological dynamics.

Thematic webinars are one of the key communication formats within the strategy of EU-PolarNet 2 to foster cooperation at the European level. In 2021 the EU-PolarNet 2 organized six webinars, most in collaboration with the European Polar Board and the EU Polar Cluster. In order to increase visibility and impact, several webinars were presented in association to large events where different European and international stakeholders participated. These were the cases of the Arctic Science Ministerial 3 (April 2021), the All-Atlantic Conference 2022 (June 2021) and the UN COP26 (November 2021). The launch of the new EU Arctic Policy in 2021 provided an excellent framework to discuss the opportunities and needs for Arctic research and cooperation (November 2021). With the launch of the EU-PolarNet 2 call for service contracts, a novel contribution of the project, a webinar was also prepared for explaining the objectives and the application procedures (July 2021). With an internal focus on EU Polar Cluster projects, the impacts of COVID-19 on the members has been discussed, allowing to share best practices and to identify priority needs. The public webinars are available online, with links provided in the report.

The European polar research arena is composed by a diverse number of organisations and individuals, that work for consolidating the knowledge on the complex dynamics of the polar regions and their role in the Earth System. This 1st yearly report of the European Polar Research Highlights aims at providing an encompassing, but not exhaustive, insight on the rich contributions of Europe to polar research during the first year of EU-PolarNet 2. The selection of highlights is organised in 5 encompassing topics: Highlights of European research in the Arctic, Highlights of European research in the Antarctic, Fostering polar research, Insights into the EU Polar Cluster and Conference highlights.