Walleye pollock and Pacific cod are cold-water semi-demersal species with similar life histories; however, their long-term catch trends have diverged since the late 1980s along their southern distribution limits in Korea and Japan. This study examined how warming-driven water-column changes differentially affect these species with contrasting spawning strategies (pelagic eggs: pollock; demersal eggs: cod). Using data from 1982 to 2023, spawning-season water-column structure, early life-stage thermal habitat suitability index (HSI), and habitat suitable depth (HSD; HSI ≥ 0.6) were compared with catches across three regional groups (A: Korean East/Japan Sea coast; B: Japanese East/Japan Sea coast; C: Japanese Pacific coast), and lead–lag relationships were assessed by cross-correlation function (CCF) analysis of detrended time series. Surface temperatures increased in all groups under Kuroshio-origin warm currents (A: East Korea Warm Current; B: Tsushima Warm Current; C: Kuroshio Extension), whereas bottom thermal conditions differed depending on regional cold-water masses. Pollock catches declined sharply in all groups after the late 1980s without recovery, even where surface HSI remained suitable. In Group A, pollock HSI declined or remained low in sub-regions, whereas suitable cod habitat persisted and catches increased. In parts of Groups B and C, cod catches declined after the early 2010s; HSD deepened in Group B and was negatively associated with catch five years later in B-1 (r = −0.72, p < 0.001), whereas HSD–catch relationships varied among Group C sub-regions. Contrasting spawning strategies therefore expose early life stages to different water-column layers, whereas catch responses depend on regional oceanographic conditions.
Pyroplastics are thermally altered plastic debris formed through processes such as melting, deformation, charring, or partial combustion, commonly associated with fires in coastal environments. In recent years, pyroplastic have been found on a global scale, both in marine sandy and pebble shore regions. In this article, we examine the global occurrence and distinctive characteristics of pyroplastics, together with their potential environmental fate and associated impacts. The quantity of pyroplastics that are discovered on coastal beaches (n = 11, 69%) is almost twice as high as the amount found on island beaches (n = 5, 31). Pyroplastic may fragment into secondary microplastic and contain potentially hazardous metals. The polymer types most frequently found in pyroplastic are polypropylene (n = 10, 26%), and polyethylene (n = 9, 23%). The heavy metals which are mostly occurred together within the pyroplastic are lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr). Most widely used spectrometer for the pyroplastic polymer analysis is Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) (n = 14, 78%). This review also highlights a governance gap, as current plastic pollution frameworks and beach monitoring systems rarely recognize pyroplastics and related plastic rock types as distinct categories requiring targeted waste management, monitoring, and policy responses. This study comprehensively presents the pyroplastic geological and environmental research implications with quantitative analysis of substantial published data, offering fundamental insights for future research planning.
Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming foodborne pathogen known for its high resistance to conventional sterilization methods, posing a persistent threat to food safety. In this study, a novel inactivation system was developed by combining superheated steam (SHS) with cold plasma, aiming to achieve enhanced inactivation of B. cereus spores on stainless steel surfaces. The system was designed to inject cold plasma gas directly into the SHS flow, ensuring simultaneous exposure to thermal and oxidative stress. Combined SHS-plasma (SHS-P) treatment at 150 degrees C for 18.88 min achieved an experimental reduction of 4.88 log CFU/cm2, that is sufficient to satisfy microbiological control requirements for spore-forming pathogens such as B. cereus and Clostridium perfringens in food processing applications. To clarify the inactivation mechanism, dipicolinic acid release, lipid peroxidation, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, and DNA integrity were assessed. SHS-P induced early iROS accumulation and DNA damage, followed by increased DPA release and membrane lipid peroxidation over time. Transmission electron microscopy further confirmed structural disruption in endospores following SHS-P treatment. Notably, the synergistic effects of SHS-P were more pronounced at 150 degrees C than at 200 degrees C, possibly due to differences in relative humidity and reactive species stability. These findings suggest that SHS-P is a promising, efficient strategy for inactivating B. cereus spores under milder conditions, with potential application in improving the microbiological safety of food contact surfaces without excessive thermal or chemical inputs.
Deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment followed by mechanical fibrillation is a promising approach for producing lignocellulosic nanofibrils (LCNFs) with enhanced properties. Despite considerable efforts to optimize DES pretreatment conditions, the effect of the washing solvent, specifically its water content, on lignin content and LCNF properties has been largely overlooked. This study investigates the impact of water content in a dioxane/water washing solvent following DES pretreatment on red pine wood powder using a choline chloride/lactic acid DES. The variation in pretreatment yield and lignin content were first analyzed. Subsequent mechanical fibrillation produced LCNFs with differing lignin contents. Increase in the water content from 20
