EZH2 regulates neuroepithelium structure and neuroblast proliferation by repressing p21

The function of EZH2 as a transcription repressor is well characterized. However, its role during vertebrate development is still poorly understood, particularly in neurogenesis. Here, we uncover the role of EZH2 in controlling the integrity of the neural tube and allowing proper progenitor proliferation. We demonstrate that knocking down the EZH2 in chick embryo neural tubes unexpectedly disrupts the neuroepithelium (NE) structure, correlating with alteration of the Rho pathway, and reduces neural progenitor proliferation. Moreover, we use transcriptional profiling and functional assays to show that EZH2-mediated repression of p21contributes to both processes. Accordingly, overexpression of cytoplasmic p21induces NE structural alterations and p21suppression rescues proliferation defects and partially compensates for the structural alterations and the Rho activity. Overall, our findings describe a new role of EZH2 in controlling the NE integrity in the neural tube to allow proper progenitor proliferation.This study was supported by grants CSD2006-00049, BFU2009-11527, BFU-2012-34261 to M.A.M.-B. and BFU2009-11527 and BIO2006-15557 to X.C. from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, 090210 from Fundaciò La Marató de TV3 and Fondation Jérôme Lejeune to M.A.M.-B. and 200420E578 from the CSIC to X.C. N.A., C.E. and M.A.G. received an I3P fellowship (I3P-BPD2005) and FPU fellowship, respectivelyPeer Reviewe

Biodiversity burdens in Spanish conventional and low-impact single-family homes

Biodiversity loss caused by housing is not a well-defined sector of environmental impact. This research quantifies effects on biodiversity of an average Spanish Single-Family House (SFH) with 180 m2 of built surface. The current Spanish SFH stock GWP amounts to 1.16 Gt CO2eq in a 50-year life cycle, 40 % of which is embodied in the building materials and the 60 % are emissions due to the use of the building. This stock also impacts with 10.2 Gt 1,4-DCB the land, water and human health. SFHs also drive 6052 species extinct in a 50 year life cycle, and account for 3.03 M years of life lost due to premature death or lived with a disability. Divided by the 16 M people living in Spanish SFHs, each one lost 0.19 years of their lives (68.1 days) due to their home's impacts on human health. The article compares a reference conventional building against three low-impact cases, to understand how different building techniques and materials influence environmental outcomes that keep biodiversity loss the lowest possible. Scenarios include a standard brick and concrete house as Scenario 0 (SC0, Base), a timber Passivhaus as Scenario 1 (SC1), a straw-bale house with renewable energies as Scenario 2 (SC2), and an earth bioclimatic house as Scenario 3 (SC3). An initial Global Warming Potential (GWP) analysis was performed to relate previous building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies with biodiversity metrics. Three main biodiversity metrics; ecotoxicity (as midpoint indicator), biodiversity loss and damage to human health (both as endpoint indicators) have been considered. Compared to SC0 with 1292 kgCO2-eq·m−2 (516 embodied) of GWP, we found that SC1 emitted −47.0 % of that, SC2–41.4 % and SC3–80.9 %. Concerning ecotoxicity, where SC0 has 11,399 kg 1,4 DCB, the results are −27.9 % in SC1, −19.2 % in SC2, and −45.6 % in SC3. Regarding biodiversity loss, where SC0 has 7.54 E−06 species.yr·m−2, the impacts are −30.9 % in SC1, −32.6 % in SC2, and −58.6 % in SC3. Human health damage in SC0 being 3.37 E−03 DALY, has been reduced in the timber home (SC1) is −44.2 %, of the Straw SFH (SC2) −39.2 %, and of the earth house (SC3) −67.1 %. This article shows that with current existing technological solutions GWP could be reduced in −80.9 %, ecotoxicity in −45.6 %, biodiversity loss in −58.6 % and human health in −67.1 %. Spanish Single-Family Houses built in timber, earth or straw-bale are real alternatives to current cement traditional building.The authors are grateful for the support provided by Life Cycle Thinking Group (LCTG) with the grant funded by the University of the Basque Country (GIU21/010)

Diskurtso komunitatea. Bertsolaritzaren kasua.

[EU] Ikerketa honetan Bertsolaritza diskurtso komunitate gisa aztertu dut, hau da, Bertsolaritza diskurtso praktika zenbaiten bidez osatutako komunitate bat delako hipotesitik zein diskurtso duen aztertu dut. Diskurtso komunitatearen ezaugarriak landu dira Gizarte Psikologiaren ikuspegitik, eta komunitate horren diskurtsoa eta praktikak zehazteko, 2001 eta 2017ko Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketaren finaleko gaiak analizatu dira diskurtso analisiaren metodologia erabiliz[ES] En este trabajo de investigación se ha profundizado en el Bertsolarismo como comunidad discursiva, es decir, el Bertsolarismo como una práctica aglutinadora relacionada con una comunidad concreta. Las características de dicha comunidad se han trabajado desde la teoría de la Psicologia social, y para concretar, tanto la práctica como el discurso de dicha comunidad, se ha utilizado la metodología de análisis discursivo aplicado a las dos finales del 2001 y 2017 de Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa, Campeonato de Bertsolaris de Euskal Herria.[ENG] This research analyses the "bertsolaritza" as a discoursive community, this is, I have analyzed the discourse starting from the hypothesis that the bertsolaritza constitutes a community through the (shared) discursive practices. Characteristics of the discursive community have been studied from the perspective of the Social Psychology, in order to define the discourse and practices of said community, the topics of the 2001 and 2017 "Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa" (Bertsolaris championship of the Basque Country) finals have been analyzed using the method of discourse analysis

Los precintos árabo-musulmanes de la Península Ibérica y Septimania: de la conquista Omeya del 711 a la formación de Al-Andalus como estado

30 p. -- Bibliogr.: p. 27-30El presente trabajo abordará el estudio de los 149 precintos hallados en la Península Ibérica y la Septimania. Estos objetos arqueológicos presentan leyendas que nos remiten al proceso de conquista que llevaron a cabo los bereberes y árabes en el 711 sobre los territorios del Regnum Gothorum y la formación de un Estado que en sus primeros momentos quedó conformado como provincia del Califato Omeya y después como un Emirato independiente, es decir, al-Andalus, evidenciándose de esta forma algunos aspectos administrativos, fiscales y sociales de la sociedad andalusí del siglo VIII

Life Cycle Analysis Challenges through Building Rating Schemes within the European Framework

The decarbonisation of buildings is a crucial milestone if European cities mean to reach their mitigation targets. The construction sector was responsible for 38% of the GHG emissions in 2020. From these emissions, 11% is calculated to be currently embodied in building materials. In this context, an evaluation from a life cycle perspective is becoming increasingly necessary to achieve the objectives set. Currently, there are different building rating systems (BRS) at European level that allow the evaluation of the degree of sustainability of buildings. During this study, the authors have evaluated to what extent and how the most extended five BRS (NF Habitat HQE, VERDE, DGNB, BREEAM, and HPI systems) in the European framework have integrated the life cycle methodology during their evaluation process. Four methodologies have been used in the research in order to analyse these five systems: quantitative assessment, multi-level perspective, mapping–gap analysis, and expert interviews. Although each methodology has produced different results, the need to harmonise the evaluation criteria at the European level, the insufficient consistency of data software, and the availability of skilled LCA professionals for wider LCA market penetration, among others, should be highlighted. The quality and harmonised data of construction products is required for LCA to give aggregated and transformative results.This research was funded by the research project LOCAL-REGEN (PID2019-104871RB-C22), supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) – State Research Agency/10.13039/501100011033

3D histologia, RGB-tik 3D-ra: 3D inpresio bidezko histologia objektu baten sorkuntza

Informazio kantitate handiak transmititzeko duten gaitasuna dela eta, irudiek izugarrizko garrantzia dute zientzia zein hezkuntza munduan. Teknologia berrien garapenarekin urtetik urtera handituz doa grafikoek, diagramek, argazkiek edota maketek gaur egungo gizartean duten garrantzia. Ondorioz, ikusmen arazoak dituzten pertsonek informazioa eskuratzeko geroz eta arazo gehiago dituzte. Lan honetan metodologia bat garatu da non histologiako 5 irudi aztertu, prozesatu eta 3D inprimaketarako artxibo gisa moldatuko diren.Las imágenes siempre han sido importantes en el ámbito científico-educativo, por su capacidad para transmitir grandes cantidades de información. Cada año se incrementa el peso de los gráficos, diagramas, fotografías o maquetas en este campo. Por lo tanto, las personas con alguna discapacidad visual tienen cada vez más problemas para acceder a dicha información. En este trabajo se desarrolla una metodología para analizar, procesar y crear 5 archivos de impresión 3D correspondientes a 5 imagenes del ámbito de la histologia.Due to their ability to transmit large amount of information, images have always been important in the scientific-educational field. The use of graphics, diagrams, photographs or models in these fields is increasing. Therefore, people with visual impairment have more problems while accessing this kind of information. In this work, a methodology for analyze, process and create a 3D printing archive from 5 histology images is carried out

Optimum operational lifespan of household appliances considering manufacturing and use stage improvements via life cycle assessment

To lessen the residential sector environmental burdens from the energy consumption of household appliances, notable efforts have been directed to replace existing energy-consuming appliances by new energy-efficient equipment. However, less attention has focused to understand the optimum operating period of households so reduced greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved. Conventional household appliances should be preferably replaced with new designs featuring improved energy efficient models, along with reduced environmental burdens associated with the manufacturing of the new products. Such studies, to the best of our knowledge, have not been extensively investigated. To address this gap, the global warming potential during the life cycle of three representative household appliances, a microwave oven, a dishwasher and a washing machine is analyzed using a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment. To provide guidelines towards impact reduction, the current situation and four new scenarios focused on material efficiency, recycled material, renewable electricity and responsible consumption are analyzed. Depending on the scenario, impacts of 84-261, 317-1330, and 533-1375 kg.CO2 eq/lifetime are obtained for a microwave, a dishwasher and a washing machine, respectively. Balancing energy efficiency and life- time when replacing a class A appliance, operating periods of 3.4-30, 2.7-26.2 and 4.6- 33.9 years for microwaves, dishwashers, and washing machines, render the lowest CO2 footprint. These results may assist manufacturers, policymakers and citizens to promote environmentally sustainable production and consumption patterns. (C)22 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.The authors are grateful for the support provided through the Basque Government (IT-1365-19) and the University of the Basque Country (GIC-18/22) grants