Fresh Sea Research Articles

Determination of naturally derived propionic, benzoic, and sorbic acids in seafood, meats, and fruits during storage

Propionic acid, benzoic acid, and sorbic acid are common preservatives in processed foods, but their natural concentrations in raw foods are not well understood. In Korea, if propionic acid or benzoic acid exceeds certain levels in processed plant-based foods, manufacturers must prove they are naturally occurring to avoid recalls. This regulation applies to both local and imported products, with non-compliance leading to economic costs and damage to brand reputation. To address this, further research is needed to build a database of naturally occurring preservatives in raw foods and develop food safety standards. This study quantified the levels of propionic, benzoic, and sorbic acids in 37 raw foods stored at different temperatures for 2 weeks, using gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The changes in acid concentrations during storage were examined, with preservatives identified by mass spectrometry. Sensory evaluation and total viable count were used to assess spoilage in seafood and meat samples. The matrix effects were evaluated, and the quantification methods were validated using seven food matrices. The intra- and interday accuracies and precisions (% relative standard deviation, %RSD) values met the Codex guidelines. In general, the propionic acid contents of most seafood and meat samples increased during storage, with the highest content being found in manila clams. Interestingly, the fresh sea squirt sample contained a higher propionic acid content (456 mg/kg) than the other samples. However, benzoic acid and sorbic acid were not detected in most samples, with the exception of the jujube and apple samples.

Is Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) a Useful Tool for the Valorization of Solid and Liquid Sea Bass Side Streams?: Evaluation of Nutrients and Contaminants

AbstractIn this study, fresh sea bass’s (Dicentrarchus labrax) heads, skin, viscera, and muscle were evaluated for their potential valorization as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. For this purpose, a pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment (1.0 kV/cm field strength and 220.5 kJ/kg specific energy for head, 3.0 kV/cm and 299.4 kJ/kg for skin, 3.0 kV/cm and 123.7 kJ/kg for viscera and muscle) was used. Subsequently, extraction processes were carried out using either 100% water or 50% ethanol. Protein assessment (protein content and bioactive peptides’ identification), as well as ICP-MS analysis of minerals and heavy metals, was conducted on both the solid matrices and liquid extracts. The findings indicate that the choice of solvent (100% water or 50% ethanol) and PEF treatment significantly (p < 0.05) affected protein recovery in the sea bass side streams liquid extracts, while a considerable protein amount was retained in the solid matrices. Furthermore, the ICP-MS analysis of minerals revealed that PEF treatment significantly (p < 0.05) improved mineral recovery in the head and muscle liquid extracts. However, a considerable amount of minerals remained in the solid matrices. Lower contents of heavy metals were found in the liquid extracts compared to the solid matrices, being anyway the quantities of the five heavy metals analyzed within edible and safe limits. Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of sea bass side stream extracts was assessed to measure the potential antioxidant bioactive compounds in the liquid extracts. PEF treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased the TAC of the liquid extracts from sea bass viscera, as opposed to other side streams. Both 100% water and 50% ethanol were effective as extraction solvents, promoting the recovery of high-added-value compounds not only from the liquid extracts but also from solid matrices. Thus, PEF pre-treatment can be considered a valuable technique to enhance fish side stream valorization.

Inexperienced water users can “Float to Live” in realistic open water conditions

BackgroundThe RNLI “Float to Live” campaign is based on research conducted in indoor pools with experienced open water swimmers. Study 1 investigated whether the RNLI “Float to Live” guidance would enable less experienced individuals to float in realistic open water conditions. Study 2 examined the separate effects of practice and coaching on floating competence.MethodsStudy 1: Inexperienced water users conducted floats in either still, open fresh (n = 22) or open sea water (n = 13), followed by moving sea (n = 6) or fresh water (n = 5). Participants undertook three 2-min floats in still water wearing swimwear and one clothed float: 1) naïve; 2) following RNLI “Float to live” messaging; 3) individual float coaching; 4) simulated fall wearing summer clothing. In moving sea water, participants undertook two floats equivalent to Floats 3 and 4. In moving fresh water, participants undertook 3 floats: 1) naïve; 2) following “defensive floating” coaching; 3) simulated fall wearing summer clothing. Study 2: Two groups matched for skinfold thickness undertook three 2-min floats in a flume wearing swimwear. PRAC group (n = 12): 1) naïve; 2) following float practice; 3) float coaching; COACH group (n = 11) coaching followed by practice. Floating difficulty, confidence, competence, “efficiency” and perceived exertion were analysed using either a Friedman test or mixed model ANOVA.ResultsIn both fresh water and sea water, participants’ floating competence and confidence increased after viewing the RNLI messaging, it was further improved with individualised float coaching. The additional helpful instructions included: 1) “head back with ears submerged”; 2) “relax”; 3) “breathe normally”; 4) “it is OK if your legs sink”; 5) an accurate description of sculling for “active” floaters that needed it; 6) spread arms and legs for stability. The simulated fall with clothing did not impair floating competence. No difference in floating competence was seen between PRAC and COACH, though confidence may be increased sooner in COACH.ConclusionsThe RNLI float advice can be applied in realistic open water settings by less experienced water users. Additional content could be included to make the messaging even more effective.

Carbon footprint of fresh sea cucumbers in China: Comparison of three aquaculture technologies

Facing China's strict greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction policy including the Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals, the GHG emissions from sea cucumber aquaculture have been attracting increasing attention. In order to promote the low-carbon development of marine aquaculture, this study provides a comparative evaluation of the carbon footprint of 1 t fresh sea cucumber production from cradle-to-gate based on three different aquaculture technologies: marine bottom-sowing aquaculture, marine cage aquaculture, and pond bottom-sowing aquaculture. The hotspots of GHG emissions at key stages of sea cucumber aquaculture are also analyzed. The results showed that the carbon footprint of 1 t of fresh sea cucumber production varies based on different aquaculture technologies, with marine bottom-sowing aquaculture technology having the highest carbon footprint at 6936.5 kg CO2eq, followed by marine cage aquaculture technology at 5148.7 kg CO2eq and pond bottom-sowing aquaculture technology at 2914.1 kg CO2eq. When comparing the GHG emissions of different stages, the growing seedling stage is the hotspot of marine bottom-sowing aquaculture technology, with the main sources of GHG emissions being electricity used for maintaining suitable water temperature and bait preparation. The hotspots of marine cage aquaculture technology and pond bottom-sowing aquaculture technology are both centered around the adult sea cucumber feeding stage, where bait consumption becomes the primary source of GHG emissions. Sensitivity analysis indicates that increasing seedling survival rates, reducing electricity consumption, and implementing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power can effectively mitigate the GHG emissions associated with sea cucumber aquaculture.

Diverse sources and aging change the mixing state and ice nucleation properties of aerosol particles over the western Pacific and Southern Ocean

Abstract. Atmospheric particles can impact cloud formation and play a critical role in regulating cloud properties. However, particle characteristics at the single-particle level and their ability to act as ice-nucleating particles (INPs) over the marine atmosphere are poorly understood. In this study, we present micro-spectroscopic characterizations and ice nucleation properties of particles collected during a cruise from South Korea to Antarctica in 2019. Most of the samples were dominated by fresh sea salt, aged sea salt, and sea salt mixed with sulfate particles, with total number percentages ranging from 48 % to 99 % over the western Pacific and the Southern Ocean. The mixing-state index of the particle population ranged from 50 % to 95 % over the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. Multiphase processes on sea salt particles resulted in chlorine deficiency. This selective aging process made the marine particle population more externally mixed. Ice nucleation onset conditions primarily for the deposition mode were measured and the investigated particles showed diverse ice nucleation abilities. The fresh sea salt particles with organic coatings exhibited the highest ice nucleation ability at a relative humidity with respect to ice as low as 121 %. The sea salt mixed sulfate particle was enriched in INPs by a factor of 1.9. Aging processes affected both the mixing state of the particles and their ice nucleation abilities. Our analysis shows that assuming an internally mixed particle population in the marine atmosphere can lead to errors of several orders of magnitude in predicting ice nucleation rates.

An analysis combining proteomics and transcriptomics revealed a regulation target of sea cucumber autolysis

Sea cucumber is a valuable seafood product and autolysis is the main concern for the aquaculture industry. This study employed proteomics and transcriptomics to investigate the autolysis mechanism of sea cucumbers. The fresh sea cucumber was exposed to UV light to induce autolysis. The body wall samples were cut off to analyze by proteomics and transcriptomics. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor of teprotide and the activator of imatinib were gastric gavage to live sea cucumbers, respectively, to identify the regulation target. Autolysis occurrence was evaluated by appearance, soluble peptide, and hydroxyproline content. Four gene-protein pairs were ACE, AJAP10923, Heme-binding protein 2-like, and Ficolin-2-like. Only the ACE protein and gene changed synchronously and a significant down-regulation of ACE occurred in the autolysis sea cucumbers. Teprotide led to a 1.58-fold increase in the TCA-soluble protein content and a 1.57-fold increase in hydroxyproline content. No significant differences were observed between imatinib-treated sea cucumbers and fresh ones regarding TCA-soluble protein content or hydroxyproline levels (P > 0.05). ACE inhibitor accelerated the autolysis of sea cucumber, but ACE activator inhibited the autolysis. Therefore, ACE can serve as a regulatory target for autolysis in sea cucumbers.

Characterizing and decoding the key odor-active compounds in fresh, pasteurized, and high pressure processing sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) juice

The non-thermal and thermal effects on aroma of sea buckthorn juice have rarely been investigated. In this study, 57 odor compounds were identified in fresh sea buckthorn juice (FSBJ), high pressure processing sea buckthorn juice (HSBJ), and pasteurized sea buckthorn juice (PSBJ), including 29 esters, 8 aldehydes, 1 ketone, 5 alcohols, 5 acids, 6 terpenoids, and 3 others. Ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, and ethyl 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoate with flavor dilution factors ranging from 729 to 59,049 contributed to the fruity odors of FSBJ and HSBJ. Besides, the formation of off-odor compounds including hexanal, nonanal, furfural, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and dimethyl disulfide with odor activity values ≥ 1, imparts fatty, roasted, sweaty, and cooked odor in PSBJ. The variations of vitamin C and reducing sugar are significantly associated with changes in odor-active compounds during pasteurized processing. These findings provide new insights that high pressure processing minimizes the adverse effects of pasteurization.

Life cycle assessment of open field sea fennel production in central Italy

Sea fennel is a minor crop of emerging socioeconomic importance in the Mediterranean region. Despite its potential, there has been no assessment of its environmental impacts to support its perceived sustainability for broader promotion. Using a life cycle assessment (LCA), we evaluated the environmental performance of sea fennel production in an open field. A cradle-to-farm gate assessment was conducted using a functional unit (FU) of 1 kg of fresh sea fennel at the farm gate. The system boundaries encompassed the nursery, cultivation, and waste management phases. Primary data was collected from farms in the Marche region of Italy. The environmental impacts were assessed using the Environmental Footprint (EF) 3.0 midpoint life cycle impact assessment method. From the results, the primary hotspot input was plastic mulch, with a relative contribution of over 50% across most impact categories. Increasing the recycling rate from 30% to 70% substantially improved the environmental performance of sea fennels, reiterating the need for further investment in plastic recycling. This study provides insights into the environmental sustainability of sea fennel production. Findings demonstrate that sea fennel cultivation offers a promising path toward sustainable biomass production, underscoring the prospects for its commercial exploitation.

A Multimode Optical Sensor for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Harmful Heavy Metal Cr(VI) in Fresh Water and Sea Water.

Water pollution originating from heavy metals has shown great impacts on the ecological environment and human health due to their extremely low biodegradability. Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI), as one harmful heavy metal with strong oxidation, high biological permeability, and high carcinogenicity, is becoming an increasingly serious threat to human health. Therefore, conveniently but accurately, monitoring the Cr(VI) level in water to maintain its normal level and ensuring the stability of the ecosystem and human health become very valuable. However, most of these heavy metal sensors reported are turn-off type single-emission sensors. In this work, a ratiometric fluorescence/colorimetry/smartphone triple-mode turn-on optical sensor for Cr(VI) was developed based on a multifunctional metal-organic framework platform. The detection limits for these three mutual verification modes were only 1.28, 4.89, and 68.4 nM, respectively. Additionally, the color changes of the detection system under sunlight can also be observed directly by the naked eye. The accuracy and practicability of this multimode sensor were further proved by the detection of Cr(VI) in actual water and seawater samples, and the recovery rate ranged from 97.308 to 104.041%.

Next-generation radiance unfiltering process for the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System instrument

Abstract. The filtered radiances measured by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments are converted to shortwave (SW), longwave (LW), and window unfiltered radiances based on regressions developed from theoretical radiative transfer simulations to relate filtered and unfiltered radiances. This paper describes an update to the existing Edition 4 CERES unfiltering algorithm (Loeb et al., 2001), incorporating the most recent developments in radiative transfer modeling, ancillary input datasets, and increased computational and storage capabilities during the past 20 years. Simulations are performed with the updated Moderate Resolution Atmospheric Transmission (MODTRAN) 5.4 version. Over land and snow, the surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is characterized by a kernel-based representation in the simulations, instead of the Lambertian surface used in the Edition 4 unfiltering process. Radiance unfiltering is explicitly separated into four seasonally dependent land surface groups based on the spectral radiation similarities of different surface types (defined by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme); over snow, it is separated into fresh snow, permanent snow, and sea ice. This differs from the Edition 4 unfiltering process where only one set of regressions was used for land and snow, respectively. The instantaneous unfiltering errors are estimated with independent test cases generated from radiative transfer simulations in which the “true” unfiltered radiances from radiative transfer simulations are compared with the unfiltered radiances calculated from the regressions. Overall, the relative errors are mostly within ±0.5 % for SW, within ±0.2 % for daytime LW, and within ±0.1 % for nighttime LW for both CERES Terra Flight Model 1 (FM1) and Aqua FM3 instruments. The unfiltered radiances are converted to fluxes and compared to CERES Edition 4 fluxes. The global mean instantaneous fluxes for Aqua FM3 are reduced by 0.34 to 0.45 W m−2 for SW and increased by 0.25 to 0.46 W m−2 for daytime LW; for Terra FM1, they are reduced by 0.24 to 0.34 W m−2 for SW and increased by 0.08 to 0.28 W m−2 for daytime LW. Nighttime LW flux differences are negligible for both instruments.

Valorisation of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) gonads through canning

Fresh sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) gonads are a delicacy with short seasonal availability, very often heterogeneous in size and intrinsic characteristics. This study aimed to valorise this resource through the preparation of canned products (with/without Porphyra spp.) and evaluate their physicochemical and sensory quality (3–12 months). Canning contributed to a decrease in protein, K and most carotenoids contents; and a concentration of lipids, ash, Na and Se levels. A simulated 12-month ageing led to decrease the protein and β-carotene contents; and the Na and lutein levels concentration. The macroalgae addition resulted in an orange, darker and less soft product, with higher carbohydrates, Na, Se and carotenoids contents. A 25 g-dose contributes to significant daily intakes of protein (8–9%), EPA+DHA (47–53%), I (35–62%) and Se (30–47%). The products were commercially stable/sterile and had good sensory acceptance. Overall, canning constitutes a strategy to provide a nutritionally balanced product available all year-round.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, AMINO ACIDS PROFILE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ENZYMATIC PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE FROM Bohadschia marmorata SEA CUCUMBER

The sea cucumber is one of the potential sub-exports of fisheries. Sea cucumbers contain highly nutritious and bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. Protein hydrolysates from sea cucumbers have the potential as antioxidants with the ability to reduce free radicals. The objective of this research is to examine the chemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of protein hydrolysates from Bohadschia marmorata sea cucumber. The research method used in this study was experimental and laboratory analysis. The results showed that the chemical composition of fresh Bohadschia marmorata sea cucumber had high moisture content (80.45 %), ash content (4.12 %), low fat content (6.17 %), and low protein content (8.96 %). This could be due to the environmental conditions and nutrient absorption by Bohadschia marmorata sea cucumbers. Fifteen types of amino acids with a total of 53.81 % were obtained from this study. The yield obtained for crude papain enzyme concentration was 16.26 %, and for pure papain enzyme concentration, it was 11.23 %. The antioxidant activity with IC50 > 200 indicates very weak antioxidant activity, and the resulting molecular weight reached 73.93 kDa

Sources of personal PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy in the MADRES cohort

BackgroundPersonal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is impacted by different sources each with different chemical composition. Determining these sources is important for reducing personal exposure and its health risks especially during pregnancy.ObjectiveIdentify main sources and their contributions to the personal PM2.5 exposure in 213 women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA.MethodsWe measured 48-hr integrated personal PM2.5 exposure and analyzed filters for PM2.5 mass, elemental composition, and optical carbon fractions. We used the EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model to resolve and quantify the major sources of personal PM2.5 exposure. We then investigated bivariate relationships between sources, time-activity patterns, and environmental exposures in activity spaces and residential neighborhoods to further understand sources.ResultsMean personal PM2.5 mass concentration was 22.3 (SD = 16.6) μg/m3. Twenty-five species and PM2.5 mass were used in PMF with a final R2 of 0.48. We identified six sources (with major species in profiles and % contribution to PM2.5 mass) as follows: secondhand smoking (SHS) (brown carbon, environmental tobacco smoke; 65.3%), fuel oil (nickel, vanadium; 11.7%), crustal (aluminum, calcium, silicon; 11.5%), fresh sea salt (sodium, chlorine; 4.7%), aged sea salt (sodium, magnesium, sulfur; 4.3%), and traffic (black carbon, zinc; 2.6%). SHS was significantly greater in apartments compared to houses. Crustal source was correlated with more occupants in the household. Aged sea salt increased with temperature and outdoor ozone, while fresh sea salt was highest on days with westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. Traffic was positively correlated with ambient NO2 and traffic-related NOx at residence. Overall, 76.8% of personal PM2.5 mass came from indoor or personal compared to outdoor sources.ImpactWe conducted source apportionment of personal PM2.5 samples in pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA. Among identified sources, secondhand smoking contributed the most to the personal exposure. In addition, traffic, crustal, fuel oil, fresh and aged sea salt sources were also identified as main sources. Traffic sources contained markers of combustion and non-exhaust wear emissions. Crustal source was correlated with more occupants in the household. Aged sea salt source increased with temperature and outdoor ozone and fresh sea salt source was highest on days with westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean.

Nematoda Gastrointestinal Pada Sapi Berdasarkan Ekologis Lingkungan

Gastrointestinal nematodes are a type of parasitic worm that is found in the digestive tract of humans and animals and can live in all areas, including fresh water, sea and land with a supportive environment. This research was to look at the percentage of gastrointestinal nematode infestation in cattle in Bireuen Regency as a lowland area from various levels of age groups and gender. The research samples were feces from 120 cattle divided into 3 age groups (0-6 months, 7-12 months, >12 months) and 2 genders (female and male). The examination was carried out using the centrifuge method. Samples are declared positive if gastrointestinal nematode eggs are found and the percentage is calculated using the prevalence formula and looking at differences in infestation levels analyzed using the chi-square formula. The research results showed that in the age group 0-7 months it was 35%, 7-12 months it was 22.5% and >12 months it was 15%. Between age groups the presence of these worms showed significant differences (P<0.05). Meanwhile, based on gender, female cows have a higher infestation, namely 23.9% compared to 15.2% for male cattle and there is a significant difference (P<0.05).

Технология получения мороженой икры морских ежей и оценка ее качества

Тhe living in the Far Eastern seas sea urchins are a source of roe, which has many healing properties. A number of nutritional supplements and drugs have been developed on the basis of sea urchin roe. Food products from sea urchin roe are not available on the Russian market due to its rapid deterioration during storage. The influence of primary processing on the quality of gray and black sea urchin caviar during freezer storage was studied. It has been established that short-term temperature treatment of fresh sea urchin caviar before freezing can reduce moisture loss and eliminate its fluidity, significantly reduce the activity of hydrolytic processes of lipids and proteins and preserve the organoleptic properties of products during frozen storage. The organoleptic properties and physicochemical parameters of sea urchin caviar corresponded to the original ones after storage at a temperature of minus 18 °C for 6 months and at a temperature of minus 25 °C for 12 months. The protein content in frozen sea urchin caviar was 13.8–13.9%, fat — 6.3-7.3%, carbohydrates — 2.1–3.5%, minerals — 2.1–2.3%. In caviar lipids, the amount of phospholipids was 25.5–27.1%, PUFAs — 35.3–39.73%, a third of which were fatty acids of the omega-3 family, which indicates a high value of the lipid profile of sea urchin caviar. Frozen sea urchin caviar is a source of phosphorus, sulfur, iron, iodine, selenium, as well as fat-soluble vitamins.

Effects of in-utero personal exposure to PM2.5 sources and components on birthweight

In-utero exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and specific sources and components of PM2.5 have been linked with lower birthweight. However, previous results have been mixed, likely due to heterogeneity in sources impacting PM2.5 and due to measurement error from using ambient data. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PM2.5 sources and their high-loading components on birthweight using data from 198 women in the 3rd trimester from the MADRES cohort 48-h personal PM2.5 exposure monitoring sub-study. The mass contributions of six major sources of personal PM2.5 exposure were estimated for 198 pregnant women in the 3rd trimester using the EPA Positive Matrix Factorization v5.0 model, along with their 17 high-loading chemical components using optical carbon and X-ray fluorescence approaches. Single- and multi-pollutant linear regressions evaluated the association between personal PM2.5 sources/components and birthweight, adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, race, infant sex, parity, diabetes status, temperature, maternal education, and smoking history. Participants were predominately Hispanic (81%), with a mean (SD) gestational age of 39.1 (1.5) weeks and age of 28.2 (6.0) years. Mean birthweight was 3295.8 g (484.1) and mean PM2.5 exposure was 21.3 (14.4) µg/m3. A 1 SD increase in the mass contribution of the fresh sea salt source was associated with a 99.2 g decrease in birthweight (95% CI − 197.7, − 0.6), and aged sea salt was associated with a 70.1 g decrease in birthweight (95% CI − 141.7, 1.4). Magnesium, sodium, and chlorine were associated with lower birthweight, which remained after adjusting for PM2.5 mass. This study found evidence that major sources of personal PM2.5 including fresh and aged sea salt were negatively associated with birthweight, with the strongest effect on birthweight from Na and Mg. The effect of crustal and fuel oil sources differed by infant sex with negative associations seen in boys compared to positive associations in girls.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown to a port-city area: A two-year comparative PMF analysis of PM10 of polluting sources

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects that the COVID-19 lockdown had in the PM10 levels and sources in a city adjacent port where the transport of bulk materials is one of the main activities. For this, the 2020 PM10 chemistry and sources will be compared to an annual baseline period of 2017-18 in the same area.A total of 337 samples were chemically analyzed (30 chemical species) and a positive matrix factorization model was used to identify major PM10 sources. A Mann-Whitney test was used to find statistically relevant differences between periods.The model identified 8 factors two of them directly related to port activities (Shipping emissions and bulk materials), one associated to road traffic, three linked secondary sources (aged sea salt, secondary nitrate, ammonium sulfate) and two natural sources including fresh sea salt and long-range transport from Saharan intrusions.Road traffic and Shipping sources show a significant reduction in the lockdown period. However, after this period, the road traffic source quickly recovered showing no differences on a yearly basis with the reference year. Only the Shipping emissions source were greatly reduced in 2020 compared to 2017-18. On the other hand, the influence of natural sources kept PM10 from reducing drastically during the lockdown year (2020).

Large shift in the upper water column characteristics of the west-central Bay of Bengal during the last glacial-interglacial transition

The upper water column structure in the Bay of Bengal is strongly influenced by the monsoon and associated processes. However, the records of variation in water column stratification during different monsoon phases, are scarce from this region. Here, we have reconstructed the variation in monsoon induced upwelling, mixed layer and thermocline during the last glacial-interglacial transition, by using the relative abundance of mixed layer and thermocline dwelling planktic foraminifera, relative abundance of Globigerina bulloides and the stable oxygen isotopic ratio (δ18O) of surface dwelling Globigerinoides ruber. We report a weaker upwelling during the last glacial interval and late Greenlandian-Northgrippian Age, and strong upwelling during the deglaciation and Meghalayan Age. The intense upwelling shoaled the thermocline during the early glacial interval, last glacial maximum, late deglaciation and the Meghalayan Age. The mixed layer depth increased during the early deglaciation and Late Greenlandian-Northgrippian due to the reduced upwelling and stronger winter monsoon. The shift in the position of the core site with respect to the low salinity coastal currents, due to the rising sea level, also influenced the upper water column structure in the west-central Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the reorganization of the upper water column structure in the west-central Bay of Bengal, on the glacial-interglacial time scale, was mainly influenced by a combination of the upwelling, fresh water influx, sea level and winter monsoon.

UHPLC-MS/MS metabolomics analysis of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) processed using different methods

The effects of different processing methods on the nutritional components of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) are of concern to consumers who select sea cucumber products. This study employed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to examine the metabolites in fresh, unsoaked salted, soaked salted, and instant sea cucumber body wall samples sourced from Dalian, China. Metabolites were evaluated utilizing partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and subsequently subjected to KEGG metabolic pathway analysis for further investigation. PLS-DA effectively discriminated the body wall metabolites of sea cucumbers obtained via various processing techniques. The differential metabolites identified predominantly encompassed amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Subsequent KEGG metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated a significant association between lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism and the specific processing methods employed. The assessment of nutritional differences corresponding to the various A. japonicus processing methods was conducted. The findings of this study can assist in the choice of sea cucumber products and the selection of suitable processing methods.

Evaluation of Pomological Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds of Wild Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides L.) and Hawthorn (Crataegus songarica) from Walnut-Fruit Forest Kyzyl-Unkur, Kyrgyzstan

There are different berries and fruits naturally growing in the walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan, however, their composition and bioactive compounds have not been studied. This study aims to contribute to the limited literature on dietary fibres, ash, bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and physical parameters of wild sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) and hawthorn (Crataegus songarica) from walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan. The standard food analysis techniques and DPPH assay were used to determine the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of the samples, respectively. The total amount of polyphenols in the extracts was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau micro method. The content of vitamin C in fresh sea buckthorn was higher than in hawthorn, but hawthorn has advantages in terms of the amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Both studied species have high nutritional values and are recommended to be used in the diet to improve the food security of the local population.