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• Up to 13 L H 2 /L-d were obtained with binary hydrolysates of agave bagasse in CSTR. • Binary hydrolysates improved H 2 production compared to individual hydrolysates. • The substrate availability is the limiting factor of H 2 production in TBRs. • The H 2 consumption by homoacetogenesis is lower in TBR than in CSTR. • The type of reactor and hydrolysate were decisive in the cost of H 2 production. Continuous hydrogen (H 2) production from individual (Stonezyme, IH) and binary (Celluclast-Viscozyme, BH) enzymatic hydrolysates of agave bagasse was evaluated in continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) and trickling bed reactors (TBR). The volumetric H 2 production rates (VHPR) in CSTR were 13 and 2.25 L H 2 /L-d with BH and IH, respectively. Meanwhile, VHPR of 5.76 and 2.0 L H 2 /L-d were obtained in the TBR configuration using BH and IH, respectively. Differences on VHPR between reactors could be explained by substrate availability, which is intrinsic to the growth mode of each reactor configuration; while differences of VHPR between hydrolysates were possibly related to the composition of enzymatic hydrolysates. Furthermore, homoacetogenesis was strongly influenced by H 2 and substrate transfer conditions. Considering VHPR, H 2 yields, and costs of hydrolysis, hydrogen production from binary hydrolysates of agave bagasse was identified as the most promising alternative evaluated with scale-up potential for the production of energy biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of two different stunning methods on critical blood values in fattening pigs at a federal inspection slaughtering plant were monitored. A total of 658 pigs from the same genetic line and origin, were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: reference baseline levels (resting pigs; T1), stunning with CO2 (T2) and stunned electrically (T3). Energetic profile, acid imbalance and blood gas levels, were monitored. Significant differences (p ⩽0.05) between treatments for all variables were found, CO2 stunned pigs showed hypercapnia, hypercalcemia, hyperglucemia, lactic acidemia, and an increase in haematocrit, coupled with reduced pH, , and Na; electrically stunned pigs had reduced blood pH, and . The remaining indicators were increased in relation to the resting swine. Thus CO2 stunning leads to a major imbalance because of mineral and acid base gaseous interchange, compared to electric stunning, thus possibly compromising animal welfare. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One of the main functions of infrared thermography (IRT) consists in detecting temperature changes in organisms caused by variations in surface blood circulation. IRT is a useful tool that has been used mainly as a diagnostic method for various stress-causing pathologies, though recent suggestions indicate that it can be used to assess the block quality of certain body regions. In the field of anaesthesiology, IRT has been applied to brachial and epidural blocks, while in algology, changes in surface blood circulation associated with sympathetic activity have been investigated. Thermography has also been employed to complement pain level scales based on the facial expressions of patients in critical condition, or after surgery. In addition, it has been used as a tool in research designed to evaluate different surgical procedures in human medicine, as in the case of surgical burrs for placing dental implants, where IRT helps assess the degree of heating associated with bone devascularisation, reduction in vascular perfusion as a consequence of stroke, and changes in the autonomous nervous system, or the degree of vascular changes in flaps applied to burn patients. In veterinary medicine, thermography has brought several benefits for animals in terms of evaluating lesions, diseases, and surgical procedures. The aim of this review is to evaluate how IRT can be used as a tool in surgical procedures, cases of vascular change, and pain monitoring in veterinary medicine with an emphasis on small animals. • The detection of haemodynamic changes in vascular tissues by infrared thermography (IRT) is a reliable method for evaluating the functioning of the ANS (in cases of surgical and post-surgical pain). • IRT is not limited to detecting pathological changes (i.e. , those caused by disease or inflammation). • IRT allows specialists to identify changes in microcirculation caused by the use of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]