First joint observations of space weather events over Mexico

Abstract. The Mexican Space Weather Service (SCiESMEX in Spanish) and National Space Weather Laboratory (LANCE in Spanish) were organized in 2014 and in 2016, respectively, to provide space weather monitoring and alerts, as well as scientific research in Mexico. In this work, we presenttheresultsofthefirstjointobservationsoftwoevents (22 June and 29 September 2015) with our local network of instruments and their related products. This network includes the MEXART radio telescope (solar flare and radio burst), the Compact Astronomical Low-frequency, Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories (CALLISTO)attheMEXARTstation(solarradioburst),the Mexico City Cosmic Ray Observatory (cosmic ray fluxes), GPS receiver networks (ionospheric disturbances), and the Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory (geomagnetic field). The observations show that we detected significant space weather effects over the Mexican territory: geomagnetic and ionospheric disturbances (22 June 2015), variations in cosmicrayfluxes,andalsoradiocommunications’interferences (29September2015).Theeffectsoftheseperturbationswere registered,forthefirsttime,usingspaceweatherproductsby SCiESMEX:totalelectroncontent(TEC)maps,regionalgeomagneticindexKmex,radiospectrographsoflowfrequency, and cosmic ray fluxes. These results prove the importance of monitoring space weather phenomena in the region and the need to strengthening the instrumentation network

First observations of oblique ionospheric sounding chirp signal in Mexico

The results of the first experiment of oblique ionospheric sounding (OIS) chirp signal reception in Mexico are reported. Maximal and Lowest Observed Frequencies variations were studied under the quiet Space Weather conditions. The diurnal ionospheric variations by OIS signal confirm the results based on GNSS data in the Mexican region. The best HF radio propagation conditions along the considered path are during morning and daytime hours. The multi-hop propagation is frequent. The interlayer propagation modes are present at nighttime

Fighting cancer with marine products

Innovación en TICDesde los últimos años, la obtención de fármacos procedentes de organismos marinos se ha convertido en una de las líneas más interesantes en el desarrollo de nuevos tratamientos, principalmente antitumorales, aunque también antiinflamatorios, antivirales, antibacterianos, etc. [6] Los avances en este campo de investigación se obstaculizan por las particularidades del medio marino o el hecho de que estos compuestos sólo se pueden obtener en cantidades mínimas. Sin embargo, también se ponen de manifiesto con la presencia de dos fármacos en el mercado, Yondelis y Ziconotide [5], derivados de productos naturales marinos. Además, hay un número considerable de otros productos que se encuentran en fases clínicas. Una alternativa al aislamiento directo del producto natural para su estudio farmacológico y posterior comercialización consiste en el desarrollo de diferentes rutas sintéticas que permitan obtener estos productos de una manera más rápida y eficaz.Obtaining drugs from marine organisms have been disclosed in recent years as one of the most interesting lines in the development of new treatments, particularly antitumor, but also anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, etc. [6] Despite the numerous obstacles particularities of the marine environment and that these compounds have been obtained only in trace amounts, advances in this field of research is evident in the market presence of either drug Yondelis and Ziconotide [5] natural products derived from marine and a considerable number of other products are in clinical phases. An alternative to the direct isolation of the natural product for pharmacological and subsequent marketing study is the development of different synthetic routes to these products to obtain a quicker and more effective manner

TEC behavior over the Mexican region

With the advent of the Navigation Satellites the Total Electron Content (TEC) has become one of the main parameters of the ionosphere. This is the result of a continuous TEC monitoring and rather dense network of GPS receivers. For Mexican region having no ionosondes the use of TEC for ionospheric conditions studies and monitoring has a special value. To study the behaviour of TEC and for its applied aspects two types of source-files are used worldwide: IONEX (global maps) and RINEX (local data) depending on the task solved. Magnetometer and satellite data from CHAMP and DMSP were involved in the analysis. First, benefits and limitations of TEC derived from both types of files are discussed in regard to the estimation of the ionosphere state in the Mexican region. Second, using both methods the specific features of diurnal, seasonal and annual patterns in TEC behaviour over Mexico were revealed, among which are the shift of the diurnal maximum to 14 LT, dependence on solar activity, high probability of night-time enhancements, presence of annual and winter anomalies. Third, it was revealed that the positive short-lived TEC enhancements are characteristic for Mexican region. They may occur even under quiet conditions. The answer is given what part of the ionosphere is responsible for TEC change during these positive disturbances. The results for Mexico were compared to the neighboring regions and South-East zone

First joint observations of space weather events over Mexico

The Mexican Space Weather Service (SCiESMEX in Spanish) and National Space Weather Laboratory (LANCE in Spanish) were organized in 2014 and in 2016, respectively, to provide space weather monitoring and alerts, as well as scientific research in Mexico. In this work, we present the results of the first joint observations of two events (22 June and 29 September 2015) with our local network of instruments and their related products. This network includes the MEXART radio telescope (solar flare and radio burst), the Compact Astronomical Low-frequency, Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories (CALLISTO) at the MEXART station (solar radio burst), the Mexico City Cosmic Ray Observatory (cosmic ray fluxes), GPS receiver networks (ionospheric disturbances), and the Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory (geomagnetic field). The observations show that we detected significant space weather effects over the Mexican territory: geomagnetic and ionospheric disturbances (22 June 2015), variations in cosmic ray fluxes, and also radio communications' interferences (29 September 2015). The effects of these perturbations were registered, for the first time, using space weather products by SCiESMEX: total electron content (TEC) maps, regional geomagnetic index Kmex, radio spectrographs of low frequency, and cosmic ray fluxes. These results prove the importance of monitoring space weather phenomena in the region and the need to strengthening the instrumentation network.ISSN:0992-7689ISSN:0939-4176ISSN:1432-057

Assessment of Morelian Meteoroid Impact on Mexican Environment

Possible ionospheric effects of the Morelian meteoroid that passed and exploded over Mexico on 19 February 2020 (18 February 2020 local time) were estimated. The meteoroid trajectory, velocity and time of occurrence were calculated based on outdoor camera records. Modeling was used to estimate the meteoroid initial diameter, density, mass, velocity, energy and their change during its flight in the atmosphere. The ensemble of ionospheric scintillation indices calculated from the high-rate GNSS data and the filtered slant Total Electron Content data were used to reveal the presence of ionospheric disturbances generated by shock waves excited by the meteoroid flight and explosion. The first ionospheric responses to phenomena accompanying the meteoroid were detected (2.5–3.5) min after the explosion. The disturbances were attenuated quickly with distance from their source and were rarely recorded by GNSS receivers located more than 600 km from the meteoroid explosion site. The ionospheric disturbances of intermediate-scale, small-scale, shock-acoustic-wave-scale and sometimes medium-scale were revealed. The detected disturbances corresponded to the range of acoustic-gravity waves. An asymmetry of the disturbance manifestation in different directions was observed. The obtained results are in accordance with results of the observation of other meteoroids. Although the object was smaller and of less energy than other known meteoroids, it is an interesting case because, to the best of our knowledge, it isthe first known to us low-latitude meteoroid with the detected ionospheric effects

The risk of COVID-19 death is much greater and age dependent with type I IFN autoantibodies

International audienceSignificance There is growing evidence that preexisting autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) are strong determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. It is important to estimate their quantitative impact on COVID-19 mortality upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, by age and sex, as both the prevalence of these autoantibodies and the risk of COVID-19 death increase with age and are higher in men. Using an unvaccinated sample of 1,261 deceased patients and 34,159 individuals from the general population, we found that autoantibodies against type I IFNs strongly increased the SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate at all ages, in both men and women. Autoantibodies against type I IFNs are strong and common predictors of life-threatening COVID-19. Testing for these autoantibodies should be considered in the general population

The risk of COVID-19 death is much greater and age dependent with type I IFN autoantibodies

International audienceSignificance There is growing evidence that preexisting autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) are strong determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. It is important to estimate their quantitative impact on COVID-19 mortality upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, by age and sex, as both the prevalence of these autoantibodies and the risk of COVID-19 death increase with age and are higher in men. Using an unvaccinated sample of 1,261 deceased patients and 34,159 individuals from the general population, we found that autoantibodies against type I IFNs strongly increased the SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate at all ages, in both men and women. Autoantibodies against type I IFNs are strong and common predictors of life-threatening COVID-19. Testing for these autoantibodies should be considered in the general population

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field