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The metastatic suppressor BRMS1 interacts with critical steps of the metastatic cascade in many cancer entities. As gliomas rarely metastasize, BRMS1 has mainly been neglected in glioma research. However, its interaction partners, such as NFκB, VEGF, or MMPs, are old acquaintances in neurooncology. The steps regulated by BRMS1, such as invasion, migration, and apoptosis, are commonly dysregulated in gliomas. Therefore, BRMS1 shows potential as a regulator of glioma behavior. By bioinformatic analysis, in addition to our cohort of 118 specimens, we determined BRMS1 mRNA and protein expression as well as its correlation with the clinical course in astrocytomas IDH mutant, CNS WHO grade 2/3, and glioblastoma IDH wild-type, CNS WHO grade 4. Interestingly, we found BRMS1 protein expression to be significantly decreased in the aforementioned gliomas, while BRMS1 mRNA appeared to be overexpressed throughout. This dysregulation was independent of patients’ characteristics or survival. The protein and mRNA expression differences cannot be finally explained at this stage. However, they suggest a post-transcriptional dysregulation that has been previously described in other cancer entities. Our analyses present the first data on BRMS1 expression in gliomas that can provide a starting point for further investigations.

This document describes the final implementation of new observing systems developed within the INTAROS project. It reports on initial results from the observing systems and describes ways for the delivery of data retrieved by these systems. AWI developed and tested the experimental system “arcFOCE” (arctic Free Ocean Carbon Enrichment) that enables scientists to study impacts of ocean acidification on small, sediment inhabiting deep-sea organisms. The first long-term experiment of the system was conducted from October 2018 till September 2019 at the LTER observatory HAUSGARTEN in the eastern Fram Strait. Sediment samples were taken to study anticipated changes in bacterial and meiofaunal numbers, biomasse and community composition due to artificially reduced pH values in bottom waters. All data from the initial arcFOCE experiment will finally be stored in the PANGAEA data repository. The lack of ship time in 2020 allowed to reconfigure and optimize the experimental setup. Short-term in-situ tests of the improved system will be carried out during the RV Polarstern expedition PS126 in June 2021; the next long-term deployment (one year) of the arcFOCE system is planned for 2022. CRNS-UIEM installed a passive acoustics system at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, which is identical to another system already deployed and running in Greenland, to allow direct comparison of results from these monitoring systems in western and eastern part of the Fram Strait. Acoustic data from the two systems are available via SEANOE (https://www.seanoe.org) or SEXTANT (https://sextant.ifremer.fr/). Results from the acoustics system at Kongsfjorden showed that AIS (Automatic Identification System) data of vessels operating in the area and their acoustic propagation need to be combined with passive acoustic measurements to assess the effect of vessel noise on the acoustic soundscape. CNRS-LOV continued and improved their measurements at the AWIPEV CO2 time-series monitoring site in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Time-series data generated by in-situ sensors in the fjord and in a Ferrybox flow-through system at AWIPEV is, to our knowledge, the first one at such high frequency. Raw data from the deployed sensors are available in near real-time: https://awipev-co2.obs-vlfr.fr. Quality-controlled data will be uploaded to the World Data Center Pangaea as soon as the final samples will be received and analysed, sometime in 2021. Among the key results is the fact that the fjord is a net sink for CO2 throughout the year.

MARIA S. MERIAN-Berichte

This document presents the state-of-the-art in the implementation of new observing systems developed within the INTAROS project as well as the optimization of existing systems in Fram Strait. In addition, it reports on results from the observing systems and describes ways for the delivery of data retrieved by these systems. AWI developed the experimental system arcFOCE (Arctic Free Ocean Carbon Enrichment) that enables scientists to study impacts of ocean acidification on small, sediment-inhabiting deep-sea organisms. arcFOCE was deployed for its first long-term experiment in September/October 2018in 1500 m water depth at the LTER observatory HAUSGARTEN. In August/September 2019,a ROV was used to take sediment samples to study anticipated changes in bacterial and meiofaunal numbers, biomass and community composition due to artificially reduced pH values in bottom waters.Because these analyses are extremely time-consuming, data from the experiment will be available not before mid 2020. All data from the arcFOCE experiment will finally be stored in the PANGAEA data repository. CNRS-UIEM installed a passive acoustics system at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, which is identical to another system already deployed and running in Greenland,to allow direct comparison of results from these monitoring systems in western and eastern part of the Fram Strait. Acoustic data from the two systems will finally be available via SEANOE (https://www.seanoe.org) or SEXTANT (https://sextant.ifremer.fr/). CNRS-LOV continued and improved their measurements at the AWIPEV CO2 time-series monitoring site in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.Time-series data generated by in-situ sensors in the fjord and in a Ferrybox flow-through system at AWIPEV is, to our knowledge, the first one at such high frequency. Raw data from the deployed sensors are available in near real-time: https://awipev-co2.obs-vlfr.fr. Data will be quality-controlled and uploaded to the World Data Center Pangaea in 2019-2020.

The 77th cruise of the RV MARIA S. MERIAN contributed to various large national and international research and infrastructure projects (FRAM, ARCHES, INTAROS, ICOS, SIOS) as well as to the research programme PACES-II (Polar Regions and Coasts in the changing Earth System) of the Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Investigations within Work Package 4 (Arctic sea ice and its interaction with ocean and ecosystems) of the PACES-II programme, aim at assessing and quantifying ecosystem changes from surface waters to the deep ocean in response to the retreating sea ice, and at exploring the most important (feedback) processes determining temporal and spatial variability. Contributions to the PACES-II Work Package 6 (Large scale variability and change in polar benthic biota and ecosystem functions) include the identification of spatial patterns and temporal trends in relevant benthic community functions, and the development of a comprehensive science community reference collection of observational data. Work carried out within WPs 4 and 6 will support the time-series studies at the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) observatory HAUSGARTEN (Fig. 1.1), where we document Global Change induced environmental variations on a polar deep-water ecosystem. This work is carried out in close co-operation between the HGF-MPG Joint Research Group on Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology and the PEBCAO Group (Phytoplankton Ecology and Biogeochemistry in the Changing Arctic Ocean) at AWI as well as the working group Microbial Geochemistry at the GEOMAR and the HGF Young Investigators Group SEAPUMP (Seasonal and regional food web interactions with the biological pump)., MARIA S. MERIAN-Berichte

Revealing Physical and Ecological Dynamics at an Ice Edge – a Robotic Approach Wulff, T. (1) ; Lehmenhecker, S. (1) ; Hagemann, J. (1) ; Busack, M. (1) ; Tippenhauer, S. (1) ; Strohmeier, M. (2) ; Rothe, J. (2) 1: Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany 2: University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany Marginal ice zones (MIZs) are characterized by the complex and dynamic interaction between the atmosphere, the ice, and the ocean. This high dynamics put MIZs among the – biologically – most productive regions of our planet and make them an ideal place to investigate the coupling between physics and ecology. Fostered by the last decades´ technological progress in robotics and sensor technology, marine sciences are increasingly able to monitor and understand these processes, which occur on very small scales – both temporal and spatial. The German Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) has regularly operated an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in the Arctic and especially in the MIZ of the Fram Strait since 2009. Starting in 2011 / 2012 AWI has also used Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to support AUV operations and gather a holistic picture of the investigated area. In our talk we will give an overview on the equipment and infrastructure used to support our AUV dives including an UAV for operations at high latitudes. We will present technical details of our vehicle´s scientific payload which is specifically designed to investigate the physical dynamics of the marginal ice zone and its ecological response.

Cruise leg MSM 29 investigated the consequences climate changes and the decline in sea ice has on Arctic ecosystems, which is one of the most important challenges for Earth Sciences. Rapidly changing physical and chemical conditions, as observed and projected for the future, will affect the ecosystem functioning including productivity, remineralisation, and energy flow between ecosystem compartments. The cruise had two main working areas: the deep-sea long-term observatory HAUSGARTEN in the eastern Fram Strait, and the long-term Kongsfjord transect (3 sites on the continental shelf off Svalbard). HAUSGARTEN observatory includes 17 permanent sampling sites along a depth transect (1,000 - 5,500 m) and along a latitudinal transect following the 2,500 m isobath. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach all observatory sites due to the present sea ice cover in the region during the duration of our cruise. Sediment from TV-guided MUC sampling will be analysed to estimate the input of food/energy to the seafloor, benthic activities, and the total biomass of the smallest sediment-inhabiting organisms. Water samples from CTD/rosette casts are used to investigate biogeochemical parameters as well as phytoplankton and bacteria communities in surface layers. AUV dives at the ice edge were used to obtain high-resolution biogeochemical profiles in the water column. Targeted measurements and sampling at the seafloor and in the water column as well as the installation of bioturbation experiments were achieved by several ROV dives. The cruise added to the long-term ecosystem time-series study at the deep-sea observatory HAUSGARTEN and contributed to the HGF-Research-Program PACES, the ERC project Abyss and the BMBF project TRANSDRIFT., MARIA S. MERIAN-Berichte

The need to explore the depths of the ocean is increasing with the growing demand for raw materials such as oil and gas. Autonomous underwater vehicles have been developed for this purpose. Oil, gas and pipeline companies are placing increasing demands on these vehicles as they provide a cost-effective solution for bathymetric surveys. Testing is required to drive the development forward. In addition to laboratory tests, open water tests must also be carried out. For this purpose, the AWI uses the nearby Stoteler See. The AWI AUV owns a trailer equipped with a launch and recovery system. Due to the continuous development of the AUV, it has become too long and heavy for the trailer. This work deals with the redesign of the launch and recovery system. Creativity techniques are used to generate ideas within the conception phase. The design deals with the elaboration of a retractable conveyor belt that transports the AUV into the lake.