Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Free-CHP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Developing domestic Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems presents one obvious way to generate electricity with high efficiency, mitigate strain on the grid and local distribution systems, and reduce gross energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The domestic micro-CHP market is currently served by ICE, Stirling, and ORC systems, all of which possess significant issues that limit wide micro-CHP installations. In order to solve the current developing predicament of residential micro-CHP market, and to develop affordable and efficient residential micro-CHP products, excellent prime mover technologies need to be developed. The Free-Piston Reciprocating Joule-cycle Engines (FPRJEs) proposed by Prof. Tony Roskilly’s group are preferred for residential micro-CHP applications because of their high electrical efficiency (greater than 30%), multi-fuel potential, good operational flexibility, simple mechanical structure, and low frictional loss. An integrated FPRJE-based micro-CHP demonstration system has not to date been developed and a numerical model which can describe the whole FPRJE-based micro-CHP system accurately is also lacking. In this project, a novel, first-of-its-kind 5 kWe FPRJE-based micro-CHP system that can be used in domestic buildings will be modelled, designed, built, tested, and improved at Durham University. The successful implementation of this project will be the first to validate the theoretical modelling of this novel micro-CHP system and will significantly increase our body of knowledge with respect to free piston engines. We will also be able to determine the technical feasibility of this proposed concept which aims to surpass current micro-CHP system efficiencies and achieve higher efficiency. This research will significantly contribute to the EU’s gross energy consumption and CO2 emissions reduction, and low-carbon cities development. The experienced researcher will obtain research-related skills, transferable skills and networking from the project.

Mots clés : free piston, joule cycle engine, combined heat and power, linear generator

Participants :
- Durham University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet TinPSC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Developing new energy sources is an urgent issue, as fossil fuels will be exhausted in near future. Solar cells system is a promising renewable energy technology that converts sunlight to electricity. Today, crystalline silicon exhibits high power conversion efficiencies (PCE) and dominates the solar panel industry. The problem of silicon solar cells is that it suffers from high production cost due to tedious processing condition. Recently, organic-lead-halide perovskites have offered the promise of a breakthrough for next-generation solar cell devices, and the PCE is up to 22.6% over the past few years. In spite of high efficiency, the presence of toxic lead (Pb) will become problematic in the future for widespread deployment of this technology. It is prospective to replace Pb with less toxic tin (Sn). However, the poor stability (the easily oxidization of Sn2+ to Sn4+ by O2) and low efficiency are two major issues of Sn-based perovskites. This proposal targets air-stable, high efficient Sn-based perovskite solar cells by developing new Sn-based perovskites and electron transporting layer to match the band energy of perovskites. The expected fruits of the project will contribute to European excellence and competiveness in renewable energy field. The successful transfer of the results will promote economic growth and job supplies. In addition to the scientific objectives, the proposal will help the fellow to new acquire knowledge and reinforce his quality as an independent researcher, such as creativity, independent thinking, leadership and transfer qualities, which are critical for the fellow to secure a long-term position in a European university/institution, and eventually become a world renowned expert in the energy research field.

Mots clés : sn based perovskites, solar cells, stable, high power conversion efficiency

Participants :
- Linköping University (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 185857.2 €
Projet COEXIST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Development of a Confined, Optically Enhanced X-ray Imaging Source for Tomography (COEXIST). This project aims to leverage fundamental physics research to enhance the soft X-ray emission of a laser produced plasma light source, which is core to the development of a table-top soft X-ray tomograph (SXT) system. Soft X-ray light sources from a laser produced plasma is an emerging technology in table-top sub-cellular imaging, capable of providing high-contrast, whole cell (~ 15-micron penetration depth), natural (fully hydrated), 3-dimensional, high-resolution (< 25 nm) tomographs. Table top SXT systems are potentially a key research tool for future drug discovery and disease research, which currently rely on successful synchrotron beam-times applications for such images. Despite the potential, a fundamental drawback of table-top SXTs, when compared to synchrotron sources, is the relative brightness and thus the sample exposure time for imaging. The COEXIST project proposes to halve acquisition time of the SiriusXT soft X-ray light source and in turn improve image resolution, by increasing the laser plasma source brightness by up to a factor of ten This increase will be achieved via a combination of laser pre-pulsing, magnetic confinement and debris mitigation, technologies which have been proven via fundamental research, but have yet to emerge into a commercial SXT tool.

Mots clés : soft x ray, tomography, imaging, microscope, cellular imaging

Participants :
- Siriusxt limited (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 175866.0 €
Projet CASCARA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Diabetes causes a large and unevenly distributed health and economic burden within the population living with diabetes. Improved health behaviours have the potential to avert a large share of morbidity and mortality attributable to diabetes. However, adherence to recommended self-management remains challenging for many patients. This may (at least partly) explain the large overall disease burden in people with diabetes, as well as how that burden is distributed among patients. A better understanding of the patient and community level characteristics that affect behaviour change can inform more personalised, more effective health interventions that stimulate positive health behaviour changes, in turn reducing the overall burden associated with diabetes. CASCARA aims to provide novel and much needed evidence on characteristics predictive of (1) health behaviour change subsequent to a diabetes diagnosis and (2) of the resulting changes in diabetes complication risk factors. To achieve this, I will use causal econometric and epidemiologic methods as well as machine learning (ML) and causal mediation analysis. The commonly recommended behaviour changes I focus on comprise: improving diet, increasing physical activity, reducing smoking and alcohol consumption. In particular, CASCARA will address the following research objectives using longitudinal observational data from continental Europe, the UK and the US: 1. Investigate the effect of a diabetes diagnosis on health behaviours and potential heterogeneities across gender and socioeconomic status 2. Use of ML to identify potentially unanticipated socioeconomic, demographic and clinical characteristics affecting health behaviour change, for a more detailed understanding of its potential drivers 3. Use causal mediation analysis to identify the impact of different health behaviour changes on risk factors for diabetes complications (body mass index, hypertension status and blood glucose levels) post-diabetes diagnosis.

Mots clés : machine learning, diabetes

Participants :
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (Luxembourg) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet EPIORGABOLISM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Diabetic Nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). To date, treatment of DN is mainly based on drugs acting on glycaemic and blood pressure control, as there is no validated therapy able to stop the progression towards renal failure. One of the main impediments for developing new therapies for DN has been the lack of a good preclinical model which can recapitulate important functional, structural, and molecular features of advanced human diabetic kidney disease. Here, we aim to develop a DN modelling using human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) derived kidney organoids which can recapitulate the in vivo architecture, functionality, and genetic signature of DN. Due to the increasing evidences that links aberrant DNA methylation with kidney fibrosis and metabolic reprograming in DN, we hypothesize that early DN progression is promoted by the metabolic alterations occurring in diabetic patients, resulting in the epigenetic reprogramming of kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (KPTCs). Based in my background in the fields of metabolism and diabetes, together with the expertise of Dr. Montserrat in the field of somatic reprograming, DN and tissue regeneration/differentiation, this proposal seeks to:1) Elucidate the methylation status of the promoters/enhancers of genes encoding enzymes and regulators of fibrosis and fatty acid oxidation in proximal tubular cells obtained from diabetic patients at different stages of DN progression 2) Establish two in vitro models using hESC-derived kidney organoids; an engineered DN in vitro model, using CRISPR Cas9 to mimic the epigenome signature of DN patients and a physiological DN in vitro model which mimic the diabetic physiological chemistry. The information gained from this DN modelling will offer improved insight into disease pathology and progression. Moreover, it may also serve as a tool for drug discovery to identify therapeutic targets for DN.

Mots clés : methylation, crispr cas9, diabetic nephropathy, kidney organoids

Participants :
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet MMM-REBIO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic algae (microalgae) and one of the most common and diverse type of marine phytoplankton. Thanks to a flexible cell metabolism, they dominate in environmental conditions normally unfavorable for photosynthesis, i.e. freezing seawater, low light intensity and short photoperiod. Moreover, diatoms are able to synthesize storage lipids (20-50% of cell dry weight) that can be used for production of renewable biomass and high-value fatty acids. However, the success of these microalgae as feedstock depends on lowering the production cost. The proposed project aims to develop mixotrophic cultivation (i.e. the simultaneous use of light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and organic carbon for respiration) to maximize growth and outdoor productivity for selected strains from the Swedish west coast. The focus will be on the bloom-forming coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi (S. marinoi) whose sequence annotation is ongoing, and the recent knowledge on mixotrophic growth of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum will be employed. The main objectives will be: i) using the bloom-forming S. marinoi to better understand mixotrophic metabolism in diatoms; ii) exploring the optimal mixotrophic conditions for enhanced productivity of S. marinoi; iii) investigating the potential industrial applications of S. marinoi when cultivated under mixotrophy. To achieve these objectives, an interdisciplinary approach including computational, biophysical, analytical, biotechnological and biological methods will be employed. A mixotrophic outdoor cultivation of marine microalgae in the dynamic climate of the Swedish west coast could provide a higher total production of renewable biomass for industry.

Mots clés : diatoms, mixotrophic growth, photosynthesis, respiration, fatty acids

Participants :
- University of Gothenburg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191852.16 €
Projet TxnEvoClim (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Differences in gene expression play a key role in generating the phenotypic variability needed for adaptation. During evolution, the coding sequence of genes evolves on average much slower than their expression patterns, thus transcriptional regulation can be especially important for rapid adaptation to new environments. Climate is a major factor for plant adaptation, and both the dispersal of a plant from its native origin as well as climate change will often lower its fitness. Thus, understanding how gene expression patterns are modified to facilitate life in adverse climates would shed light on the trade-offs limiting adaptation. Studying how evolution has shaped plant transcriptomes so that these plants can grow in different ecological niches and their potential to adapt to a changing climate requires a large base of natural variability information. This has recently been accumulated for Arabidopsis thaliana, a model for genetic and evolutionary studies. In the proposed project I will use genomic and transcriptomic data from the A. thaliana 1001 Genomes Project, new measurements of gene expression under water deprivation, as well as newly available data on gene-regulation and field fitness, to define how gene expression is shaped by climate and the genetic potential to adapt to new environments. I will address the following: (1) In natural populations, how do gene expression patterns of individuals correspond to the particular adapted climates? (2) What is the genetic basis for the transcript differences and how is it reflected in modifications to the transcriptional network? (3) Can knowledge of climate-transcript variation relationships be predictive of individual strains more likely to survive in a new climate? As climate is changing due to global warming, the understanding of mechanisms by which plants adapt to climate becomes even more important in agriculture and in natural populations, and this project aims to illuminate the role of a central mechanism.

Mots clés : natural variation, transcription regulation, climate change, arabidopsis, fitness prediction

Participants :
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 186167.04 €
Projet NEURO_NMD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Differentiation of precursor cells into mature neurons relies on transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression that have to be coordinated in a precise spatiotemporal fashion. Alternative pre-mRNA splicing coupled to nonsense-mediated decay (AS-NMD) is a widespread post-transcriptional mechanism known to orchestrate gene expression dynamics in developmental contexts. Earlier studies identified several neural targets of this pathway; however, in most cases, the extent to which AS-NMD contributes to the overall gene expression dynamics and biological significance of this regulation is poorly understood. Moreover, whether AS-NMD target repertoire undergoes considerable changes in developing brain and how this might fit to the global regulation network underlying neuronal differentiation remains unclear. I will address these questions using two separate approaches. First, I will investigate novel AS-NMD targets encoding actin cytoskeleton factors and controlled by an important regulator of neuronal alternative splicing, Ptbp1. I will elucidate the extent of AS-NMD regulation in these genes by modulating the inclusion of the NMD-promoting exons with corresponding antisense oligonucleotides. in mouse embryonic stem cells undergoing neuronal differentiation, neural stem cells and primary neurons. Second, I will systematically analyse how NMD contributes to different stages of neuronal development by acutely inhibiting this pathway in a time-resolved manner using genetic means. I will then identify gene expression effects and functional consequences of NMD inactivation using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and appropriate cell biological methods. All in all, this work will provide critical quantitative insights into AS-NMD functions and uncover novel mechanisms allowing neurons to attain their unique morphological and functional properties.

Mots clés : alternative splicing, as nmd, neuronal differentiation, ptbp1, rna processing, rna stability

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet Promising Images (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Digital and electronic media play a central role in contemporary wedding rituals, be it during the preparation, the ritual itself or afterwards. Wedding photographers and videographers stage the couple during the wedding ritual and reception/party and these depictions shape the wedding couple’s and their guests’ memories in the future. The research question is: How do contemporary media representations of religious and secular weddings in Europe communicate norms and values? Weddings are understood as a constitutive rite de passage that is commonly practiced in religious traditions as well as in a variety of cultural and secular contexts. Secular and religious traits of wedding rituals produce a complex and often complementary relationship. Wedding practices shape and communicate gender, social, cultural and economic values of individuals and groups. The interdisciplinary research considers theories from the study of religion, cultural studies, media ethics, and political philosophy and applies a multi-methodological approach that includes media analysis, ethnographic studies, and qualitative methods. The project scrutinizes how media representations and practices enclose and reshape religious and secular norms and values as well as stereotypes with the intent to highlight the performativity of their mediatisation. Due to the power of images media ethical questions arise and the research provides a theoretical framework to discuss it. One of the intended short-term results is to suggest best practice for social actors in the field of wedding media productions and to develop research tools for analysing the mediatisation of values and norms. Long-term results are to increase social awareness of the performativity of images (that express hierarchical relationships among individuals, genders and in religions), in order to strengthen a more inclusive, secure, innovative, and reflective European society and culture, to improve respect and to prevent subordination.

Mots clés : weddding, mediatisation, rites de passage, gender, religion, secularisation, media ethics, ethnographic methods, media analysis, cultural studies, private and public sphere

Participants :
- University of Macerata (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet HISTORIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Direct conversion of photons into electricity is a promising clean energy solution to answer the challenge of energy supply security, competitiveness of the EU industry, electricity prices and climate change. Monocrystalline silicon (c-Si), the dominant technology on the photovoltaic (PV) market, benefits from a strong industry and record power conversion efficiency of 25%, with a cost decreasing every year. However, c-Si technology, mainly limited by material properties, has very little room for efficiency improvement. Much higher efficiencies has been achieved by stacking diodes made of III-V semiconductors; but for cost and availability reasons, the III-V solar cells are restricted to specific markets (space & terrestrial concentration). A hybrid solution combining the advantages III-V multi-junction cells with the benefits of Si, the most wide-spread PV material, offers great opportunities. Indeed, efficiencies up to 35% under 1-sun AM1.5G conditions is expected for a triple junction device based on conventional c-Si cells combined with additional (Al)GaAs and GaInP pn-junctions (4 µm of III-V material on top of a c-Si wafer). However the direct epitaxial growth of (Al)GaAs & GaInP on Si is highly mismatched and sufficient material quality has not been achieved so far. The innovative approach proposed in this project bypass the mismatch and enables to combine high crystal quality III-V compounds with Si through wafer bonding: III-V layers are grown lattice matched on GaAs or Ge and then bonded to Si, followed by substrate lift-off & re-use. The validity of the approach has been proven at Fraunhofer ISE with un-optimized GaInP/GaAs//Si triple-junction solar cells with >25% efficiency. This research project, relying on modeling and experimental work to optimize the cell structure (light trapping, bond interface quality, current matching, etc.), targets the significant breakthrough of a GaInP/GaAs//Si triple junction reaching >30% efficiency on large areas (>4cm2).

Mots clés : multijunction solar cells, iii v, silicon, wafer bonding

Participants :
- Fraunhofer Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159460.8 €