Compression principle and Zipf’s Law of brevity in infochemical communication

Compression has been presented as a general principle of animal communication. Zipf’s Law of brevity is a manifestation of this postulate and can be generalized as the tendency of more frequent communicative elements to be shorter. Previous works supported this claim, showing evidence of Zipf’s Law of brevity in animal acoustical communication and human language. However, a significant part of the communicative effort in biological systems is carried out in other transmission channels, such as those based on infochemicals. To fill this gap, we seek, for the first time, evidence of this principle in infochemical communication by analysing the statistical tendency of more frequent infochemicals to be chemically shorter and lighter. We analyse data from the largest and most comprehensive open-access infochemical database known as Pherobase, recovering Zipf’s Law of brevity in interspecific communication (allelochemicals) but not in intraspecific communication (pheromones). Moreover, these results are robust even when addressing different magnitudes of study or mathematical approaches. Therefore, different dynamics from the compression principle would dominate intraspecific chemical communication, defying the universality of Zipf’s Law of brevity. To conclude, we discuss the exception found for pheromones in the light of other potential communicative paradigms such as pressures on successful communication or the Handicap principle.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida SubmarinaObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::15 - Vida d'Ecosistemes TerrestresPostprint (author's final draft

Estudi de les característiques de l'hidrogen com a combustible i de les implicacions sobre el disseny i funcionament d'un MCIA.

[ES] El trabajo propuesto tiene como propósito principal el estudio del hidrógeno como combustible, analizando sus principales diferencias con otros combustibles convencionales a la hora de ser introducido en un MCIA dadas sus peculiares propiedades. Para ello, se considerarán las diferentes posibilidades de introducción de hidrógeno en motores, haciendo un análisis de como varían algunas propiedades una vez introducido el hidrógeno dentro del motor, es decir, qué efecto tiene la compresión sobre propiedades relevantes de la mezcla aire-combustible. Se debe plantear la reacción de combustión del hidrógeno, y a continuación se considera la combustión de una mezcla hidrógeno-aire dentro de un motor, estimando las prestaciones, la liberación de calor y las emisiones producidas en el motor y su control.[EN] The main purpose of the proposed work is the study of hydrogen as a fuel, analyzing its main differences with other conventional fuels when it is introduced in a MCIA given its peculiar properties. For this purpose, the different possibilities of introducing hydrogen in engines will be considered, making an analysis of how some properties vary once the hydrogen is introduced into the engine, that is to say, what effect compression has on relevant properties of the air-fuel mixture. The hydrogen combustion reaction must be considered, and then the combustion of a hydrogen-air mixture inside an engine is considered, estimating the performance, heat release and emissions produced in the engine and their control.Torre González, CI. (2022). Estudio de las características del hidrógeno como combustible y de las implicaciones sobre el diseño y funcionamiento de un MCIA. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/18505

Desvelando los misterios de las feromonas

Aunque a los humanos nos llame más la atención todo lo audiovisual, la mayor parte de la comunicación que se da en los seres vivos se realiza mediante señales químicas. La vida es química, más que cualquier otra cosa. La comunicación entre cada célula en el interior de los organismos es fundamentalmente química, como también la que realizan las bacterias entre sí, las plantas para crecer y multiplicarse, o los insectos. Las leyes que rigen estos canales químicos de comunicación siguen siendo, en gran medida, un misterio. En este artículo se resumen las principales leyes lingüísticas que se han encontrado en la comunicación química, tras el análisis de la base de datos Pherobase.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::15 - Vida d'Ecosistemes TerrestresObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida SubmarinaPostprint (published version

Emergence of linguistic laws in human voice

Linguistic laws constitute one of the quantitative cornerstones of modern cognitive sciences and have been routinely investigated in written corpora, or in the equivalent transcription of oral corpora. This means that inferences of statistical patterns of language in acoustics are biased by the arbitrary, language-dependent segmentation of the signal, and virtually precludes the possibility of making comparative studies between human voice and other animal communication systems. Here we bridge this gap by proposing a method that allows to measure such patterns in acoustic signals of arbitrary origin, without needs to have access to the language corpus underneath. The method has been applied to sixteen different human languages, recovering successfully some well-known laws of human communication at timescales even below the phoneme and finding yet another link between complexity and criticality in a biological system. These methods further pave the way for new comparative studies in animal communication or the analysis of signals of unknown code.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Carbo vegetabilis at 30 CH and Belacol 100 in the treatment of swine diarrhea

Carbo vegetabilis at 30 HC, a homeopathic remedy, and Belacol 100, were economic and clinically compared in treating piglets with diarrhea. A sample of eighty 10-day old animals with an initial mean weight of 2.6 kg distrib- uted into two groups was studied. Group I received ten sublingual drops of Carbo vegetabilis at 30 HC every 12 hours for five days, while Group II was orally administered 260 mg/kg of Belacol 100 for five days. A chi-square test of 5 % significance and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. Piglet appetite showed no significant differences on the third and fifth days under treatment; however, weight gain was highly significant (P < 0.001) in those homoeopathically treated. On the other hand, this therapy proved to be more economic than the conventional one

Permanent cardiac sarcomere changes in a rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induces fetal cardiac remodelling and dysfunction, which persists postnatally and may explain the link between low birth weight and increased cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. However, the cellular and molecular bases for these changes are still not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that IUGR is associated with structural and functional gene expression changes in the fetal sarcomere cytoarchitecture, which remain present in adulthood. Methods and results: IUGR was induced in New Zealand pregnant rabbits by selective ligation of the utero-placental vessels. Fetal echocardiography demonstrated more globular hearts and signs of cardiac dysfunction in IUGR. Second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM) showed shorter sarcomere length and shorter A-band and thick-thin filament interaction lengths, that were already present in utero and persisted at 70 postnatal days (adulthood). Sarcomeric M-band (GO: 0031430) functional term was over-represented in IUGR fetal hearts. Conclusion: The results suggest that IUGR induces cardiac dysfunction and permanent changes on the sarcomere

Efectividad de la China officinalis a la 6 CH sobre la Disentería porcina en precebas

A clinical assay phase II, open, non-sequential and randomized was carried out on suffering swine dysentery fattening pigs at the Swine raising Center in Ciego de Avila, with the objective of assessing the clinical evolution, dehydration and appetite during treatment with China officinalis 6 CH and Tylobel-DHS, and estimating the economical effects on the diarrheas produced by the disease. The sample was distributed in two groups, each one of 40 animals: (1) treated with 5 sublingual drops of China officinalis 6 CH, every 12 hours the first day and every 24 h during the rest of the days up to seven, and Ringer solution (100-300 mL intra-peritoneal) according to the evaluated dehydration; (2) treated with Tylobel-DHS every 24 hours for seven days via intramuscular (1 mL/kg de peso) and Ringer solution the same as in group 1. Comparing the clinical evolution and dehydration, significant differences (p<0.05) between both groups were not observed. The appetite showed significant differences (p<0.05) favoring the homeopathically treated animals. It was demonstrated that the assayed homeopathic technique was more effective and economically feasible than the conventional one what gives the possibility of reducing the use of Tylobel-DHS in the therapy of swine dysentery.Se realizó un ensayo clínico fase II, abierto, no secuencial y aleatorizado en cerdos de preceba, que padecían de Disentería porcina en el Centro Porcino El Azufre en la provincia de Ciego de Ávila, con el objetivo de evaluar la evolución clínica, deshidratación y el apetito en las mismas durante los tratamientos con China officinalis a la 6 CH y Tylobel–DHS y estimar los efectos económicos en las terapéuticas de diarreas producidas por esta enfermedad. La muestra se distribuyó en dos grupos, cada uno con 40 animales: (1) tratados con cinco gotas sublinguales de China officinalis a la 6 CH, cada 12 horas el primer día y cada 24 los restantes durante siete días; y solución Ringer según evaluación de la deshidratación 100-300 Ml intraperitoneal. Grupo (2) tratado con Tylobel - DHS, cada 24 horas durante siete días por vía intramuscular, (1 ml/kg. de peso) y solución Ringer según evaluación de la deshidratación de 100 a 300 ml intraperitoneal. Al comparar la evolución clínica y deshidratación, no se observaron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos (Prueba de Chi-cuadrado). El apetito entre ambos grupos mostró diferencia significativa (P<0,05), a favor de los animales tratados homeopáticamente. Quedó demostrado que la técnica homeopática ensayada resultó más efectiva y económica que la convencional, permitiéndonos reducir el uso de Tylobel-DHS en la terapia de la Disentería porcina

Efectividad del Licopodium clavatum a la 30 CH y la Tetraciclina amortiguada sobre los trastornos respiratorios en precebas porcinas

To evaluate the effectiveness of Licopodium clavatum at 30 CH on respiratory disorders, in precursors, 100 affected animals were investigated at 45 days of age in the La Cojiquera central La Granjita in the province of Camagüey, Cuba. The population was divided into two groups, each with 50 individuals; Group I was administered five sublingual drops of Licopodium clavatum at 30 CH, every 12 hours during the first day and every 24 hours for the remaining six days. Group II treated with Tetracycline buffered every 12 hours., For seven days intramuscularly in a dose of 4 mg / kg of weight. There were no significant differences in the recovery and respiratory frequency of the animals. When comparing the appetite, the temperature (Chi-square test), significant differences were found (P <0.05) between both groups, with superior behavior in the homoeopathically treated animals; which shows that homeopathic treatment is cheaper than conventional treatment.Para evaluar la efectividad del Licopodium clavatum a la 30 CH sobre los trastornos respiratorios, en precebas por- cinas, se investigaron 100 animales afectados con edad de 45 días de nacidos en la Cochiquera central La Granjita en la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba. La población se distribuyó en dos grupos, cada uno con 50 individuos; al grupo I se le administró cinco gotas sublinguales de Licopodium clavatum a la 30 CH, cada 12 horas durante el primer día y ca- da 24 los restantes seis días. El grupo II tratado con Tetraciclina amortiguada cada 12 horas., durante siete días por vía intramuscular en dosis de 4 mg/kg de peso. No existieron diferencias significativas en la recuperación y frecuen- cia respiratoria de los animales. Al comparar el apetito, la temperatura (prueba de Chi-cuadrado) se comprobaron di- ferencias  significativas  (P < 0,05)  entre  ambos  grupos,  con  comportamiento  superior  en  los  animales  tratados homeopáticamente; lo que demuestra que el tratamiento homeopático es más económico que el convencional

Carbo vegetabilisa la 30 CH y Belacol 100 en el tratamiento de diarreas porcinas.

Se comparó económica y clínicamente el medicamento homeopático Carbo vegetabilisa la 30 CH con Belacol 100, en crías porcinas afectadas con diarrea. Se investigaron 80 animales con 10 días de nacidos y un peso medio inicial de 2,6 kg, distribuidos en dos grupos. Al grupo I se le administró Carbo vegetabilis a la 30 CH, 10 gotas sublingualescada 12 h hasta el quinto día. El grupo II recibió 260 mg/kg de Belacol 100, porvía oral cada 24 h hasta elquinto día. Se aplicó la pruebade Chicuadrado para un nivel de significación del5 % yse realizó unanálisisde va-rianza. El apetito al tercer y quinto día no tuvo diferencias significativas. El peso fue altamente significativo (P< 0,001), a favor de los tratados homeopáticamente, además de resultar más económico que el medicamento convencional.Carbo vegetabilisat 30 HC and Belacol 100 as Remediesfor Diarrheic Piglets. ABSTRACTCarbovegetabilis at30 HC, a homeophaticremedy, and Belacol 100 were economic and clinically compared in treating piglets with diarrhea. A sample of 80 animals with 10 days old and initial mean weightof 2,6 kg distributed into two groups was studied. Group I received ten sublingual drops of Carbo vegetabilis at 30 H Cevery12 hours for five days, while Group II wasorally administered 260 mg/kg of Belacol 100 for five days. A chisquaretestof 5 % significance and ananalysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. Piglets appetite showed no significant differences atthe third and fifth daysunder treatment;however, weightgain was highly significant (P < 0,001) in those homeophatically treated. On the other hand, this therapy proved to bemore economic than the conventional one

Indirect estimation of overhead line ampacity in overhead lines integrating wind farms

Ampacity techniques have been used by Distributor System Operators (DSO) and Transport System Operators (TSO) in order to increase the static rate of transport and distribution infrastructures, especially those who are used for the grid integration of renewable energy. In some cases, especially when the overhead lines are used to evacuate energy from wind farms, there is a direct correlation between the ampacity of the overhead lines and the active power produced by the wind farms. This papers analyses this correlation considering the most important weather parameters like wind, ambient temperature and solar irradiation.This work was supported by the Spanish Government under the R+D initiative INNPACTO with reference IPT-2011-1447-920000