Abstract. The paper examines the possible relationship of anomalous variations of different atmospheric and ionospheric parameters observed around the time of a strong earthquake (M w 7.8) which occurred in Mexico (state of Colima) on 21 January 2003. These variations are interpreted within the framework of the developed model of the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere coupling. The main attention is focused on the processes in the near ground layer of the atmosphere involving the ionization of air by radon, the water molecules' attachment to the formed ions, and the corresponding changes in the latent heat. Model considerations are supported by experimental measurements showing the local diminution of air humidity one week prior to the earthquake, accompanied by the anomalous thermal infrared (TIR) signals and surface latent heat flux (SLHF) and anomalous variations of the total electron content (TEC) registered over the epicenter of the impending earthquake three days prior to the main earthquake event. Statistical processing of the data of the GPS receivers network, together with various other atmospheric parameters demonstrate the possibility of an early warning of an impending strong earthquake.Keywords. Atmospheric composition and structure (Ion chemistry of the atmosphere) -Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (Atmospheric electricity) -Ionosphere (Ionosphere-atmosphere interactions)

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A spectroradiometer with wedge interference filters (SWIF) (the filters were produced by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) and a CCD matrix (which was of Russian production) that functions as the sensor has been designed and built for use in ground-based optical sensing of the atmosphere and the Earth's surface in the spectral range of 0.35-1.15 µm. Absolute calibration of this instrument was performed through a series of observations of direct solar radiation at Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) in Hawaii in May and June 1993. Spectral optical depth (SOD) measurements that were made during these field experiments provided detailed spectral information about both aerosol extinction (scattering plus absorption) and molecular absorption in the atmosphere above the site at MLO. The aerosol-SOD measurements were compared with narrow-band radiometer measurements at wavelengths of 380, 500, and 778 nm The SWIF and narrow-band radiometer measurements are in agreement to within the experimental error. At a wavelength of 500 nm, the aerosol SOD was found to be approximately 0.045. Adescription of the SWIF instrument, its absolute calibration, and the determination of atmospheric SOD's at MLO are presented.

Polymers of organoalkoxysilanes (or polyalkoxysilanes) were synthesized through sol-gel process using different organosilanes: Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), (3-Glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), Trimethoxy(propyl)silane (TMPS), and/or Triethoxy(octyl)silane (EOS). Different carboxylic acids (acetic, formic, and citric) were used to prepare polyalkoxysilanes, with citric acid acting as a reactant rather than a catalyst for the sol-gel reaction. Silica-chitosan hybrid materials were synthesized reacting polyalkoxysilanes and chitosan, one of the most important and most studied natural polymers, through sol-gel process. The synthesized materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) and solid-state Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (solid-state   13C-NMR) spectroscopy, obtaining information on the structural properties of each modified materials. The results obtained by NMR indicate that the oxirane group of GPTMS remains in all reaction products to form different polyalkoxysilanes.

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Resumen:Este texto tiene como protagonistas a siete edificios novohispanos fundados en el siglo XVI que funcionaron como centros de estudios. Se trata de los conventos dedicados a Santo Domingo en las ciudades de españoles de México, Puebla y Oaxaca y los de Oaxtepec y Yanhuitlán, establecidos en pueblos de indios, así como los colegios de San Luis de la Puebla y de Portaçoeli de la ciudad de México. Palabras clave: colegios dominicos, época novohispana, siglo XVI, México, Puebla, Oaxaca, Oaxtepec, Yanhuitlán.**********************************************************The study centers and the Dominican schools in the novohispanic period Abstract:This text has as protagonists the seven novohispanic buildings founded in the 16th century which functioned as Study centers. It’s about the convents built to Saint Domingo in the Spanish cities of Mexico, Puebla and those of Oaxaca and Yanhuitlan; they were stablished in the Indian towns, as well as the colleges of Saint Louis of Puebla and of Portaçoeli of theMexico city. Key words: Dominican colleges, novohispanic period, 16th century, Mexico, Puebla, Oaxaca, Oaxtepec, Yanhuitlan.**********************************************************Os centros de studos e colégios dominicos da época novohispanaResumo:O presente texto tem como protagonistas sete edifícios novo-hispanos fundados no século XVI que funcionaram como centros de estudos. Trata-se dos conventos dedicados a Santo Domingo nas  cidades de espanhóis de México, Puebla e Oaxaca e os de Oaxtepec e Yanhuitlán, estabelecidos nos  povos de índios, assim como os colégios de San Luis de la Puebla e de Portaçoeli da cidade do México. Palavras chave: colégios dominicos, época novo-hispana, século XVI, México, Puebla, Oaxaca, Oaxtepec, Yanhuitlán.

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Con objeto de poder predecir fenómenos meteorológicos y climáticos se realiza una simulación de los procesos heliofísicos sabre los procesos atmosféricos en la Tierra. Previamente, presentamos una revisión de los mecanismos físicos de la influencia de la actividad solar, actividad geomagnética y de otros factores cosmofísicos sobre el comportamiento del tiempo, presión, temperatura, precipitación, tormentas y circulación atmosférica. Se discuten los mecanismos de influencia de la actividad solar sabre los parámetros meteorológicos y climatológicos así como el comportamiento de los datos experimentales de esos parámetros durante diferentes ciclos de la actividad solar. Se comparan las predicciones de modelos teóricos de la influencia de la actividad solar sobre la atmósfera baja con el comportamiento de los datos experimentales: nuestros resultados demuestran la existencia de una estrecha relación entre las variaciones de los parámetros atmosféricos, las variaciones de los rayos cósmicos galácticos, los rayos cósmicos solares y transparencia atmosférica. Se analizan las predicciones de los diferentes modelos en el campo de la helioclimatología y se demuestra que el modelo de Pudovkin sobre la influencia de la actividad solar sobre la baja atmósfera es razonablemente correcto. Finalmente, se propone un método para la predicción de los diferentes parámetros meteorológicos y climatológicos usando datos anteriores de estos parámetros conjuntamente con datos de actividad solar, rayos cósmicos galácticos y rayos cósmicos solares.doi: sin doi