Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet PAST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Very often disciplinary and historical inertias drive current research, producing contradictions between available data and their interpretation. Lithic tools, constituting one of the most important archaeological record, are understood as a primary evidence of technological innovation and have been traditionally associated with male labour. Yet to extract information about behaviour and ways of life from these tools is difficult. Thus, the aims of PAST are, 1) to develop a sound methodology for understanding the role of specific tools and the socio-cultural aspects related to the tool use (e.g., raw material exploitation, gender division of labour), 2) to further our knowledge of the socio-ecological dynamics of the Chalcolithic communities of north-western South Asia (4th-2nd millennium BCE) by adding the information extracted from the study of lithic assemblages of key-sites, 3) to understand the change in the types of tools and their archaeological significance (are there typological or functional changes with the changing life styles of people from hunting and gathering to agriculturalists?) Through an interdisciplinary approach, PAST integrates systematic sampling with laboratory techniques in microbotanical remains extraction and the analysis and ethnographic research on gender roles in lithic production and use, aiming at providing critical frames of reference. The interdisciplinary nature of the work provides a holistic understanding of the context, involving new strategies for sampling in the field and different cutting-edge laboratory techniques of microfossil analysis. PAST is thus expected to enhance understanding about agricultural practices and socio-ecological dynamics of past societies during a transitional time in human history and to pioneer the understanding of how technological innovation is approached by means of analysing the gender division in lithic production and use.

Mots clés : lithic tools, indus valley civilization, phytoliths, south asia

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet PIGGY (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Virtually all aspects of society, industry and science are significantly impacted by increasingly complex computers and the software that they run. A major objective within computer science is to ensure that these computer systems are formally correct by developing ways to prove that a system correctly implements certain given properties, or ways to construct such a system. In this domain of computer science, an important topic is parity games. Many real-world systems run continuously and properties for such systems are described in temporal logics such as linear temporal logic (LTL) and various logics derived from or related to LTL. Solving parity games computes whether a given system has a property specified in these temporal logics, or constructs a system that implements such a property. Parity games are in addition a compelling subject for theoretical computer science because they are believed to be in the complexity class P; however, this has been an open question for over 20 years. In recent years, new algorithms have been discovered that solve parity games in quasi-polynomial time, while at the same time researchers have found quasi-polynomial lower bounds for several families of algorithms.In my publication on tangle learning, I propose the notion of a tangle and show that existing parity game solving algorithm implicitly explore tangles when reasoning about how a player can force the opponent to move through the parity game from A to B. The aim of this proposal is to understand the inherent complexity of solving parity games algorithmically. The strategy to achieve this is to obtain fundamental insights into the structure of tangles, how they are handled by parity game solving algorithms and how they arise in practical games.

Mots clés : parity games, model checking, verification, synthesis, complexity

Participants :
- University of Twente (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175572.48 €
Projet PhoToBe (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Vision is the sense for human beings. We can imagine how the world looks like for animals with visual systems like ours. But for animals with very different visual systems this differs, such as fan worms. Fan worms from different differ in their visual systems tremendously. Some have no visible eyes at all, maybe photosensitive cells not visible without technical help. Others have simple eyes consisting of a photoreceptor and a pigment cell. Others have complicated compound eyes, possibly mediating true vision. The different species form a progressing systems for studying eye evolution. These eyes evolved independently from vertebrate and insect eyes, because they are not in the head but on head appendages called fan. These eyes use also other phototransduction cascades than vertebrates or insects. However, what the exact components are, is unknown. My proposal seeks to answer that question.

Mots clés : evolution of vision, phototransduction

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet TACT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Visual acuity is dependent upon the transparency of the cornea. Corneal transparency can be compromised by various pathologies, infections, trauma, ageing, and surgery, all of which result in increased light scattering. Lack of ocular anterior segment transparency is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, with corneal causes alone affecting over 10 million people. In current clinical ophthalmology practice, corneal transparency is usually monitored subjectively and qualitatively via direct focal illumination using a slit-lamp biomicroscope. Aside from inherent subjective and qualitative drawbacks, including poor reproducibility, this method lacks the capability to register and resolve changes in opacity that may be subtle. Hence, there is a critical need for a reliable and practical tool to objectively quantify, characterize, and monitor corneal transparency towards effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The overall objective of this research programme is to address this unmet need by developing and validating advanced concepts and novel imaging modalities tailored to the needs of cornea assessment. The programme investigates (1) Quantitative Polarized Slit-lamp Biomicroscopy, (2) Multi-Wavelength Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography (FFOCT), and (3) Multi-Illumination Matrix FFOCT; all enabling ease of use, high resolution, and deep light-penetration characterization and imaging. The candidate will be in an excellent position to carry out the programme under the auspices of the ideal host (Institut de la Vision) and the ideal partner (Institut Langevin). The research will enhance our basic understanding of corneal transparency as well as lead to major changes and improvements in patient care and management. It will, moreover, open new avenues and spur further investigations of ocular media transparencies. The Fellowship will enable the candidate to continue innovations at the interface of physics and ophthalmology as an independent researcher.

Mots clés : ophthalmology, corneal transparency, light scattering, slit lamp biomicroscopy, full field ocular coherence tomography, light manipulation techniques

Participants :
- Sorbonne Université (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173076.0 €
Projet OBJECTPERMOD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Visual cognition is our ability to recognize the things we see around us and make inferences about their meaning and relationships. Deep convolutional neuronal network (CNN) models now achieve human-level performance on certain visual recognition tasks and currently provide the most powerful models of human visual cognition. A hallmark step in the development of human visual cognition is the acquisition of object permanence (OP). Object permanence is the ability to continue to mentally represent an object that has disappeared from view – for example because it is hidden behind another object. Current deep neural network models of vision lack this fundamental ability, limiting their power as models of human visual cognition and as artificially intelligent systems. In this action, I will study the computational mechanisms necessary for OP using a highly innovative approach that combines four elements: (1) a novel behavioral task that requires OP, (2) development of a deep recurrent neural network models, (3) testing of both human participants and models at the task, and (4) measurement of brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during task performance. The OP task involves viewing a scene of moving objects that occasionally become occluded behind other objects. Models will be trained to represent objects continually, even as they vanish behind an occluder, and selected to match behavioral and cortical-layer- resolved high-field fMRI data of human observers. The hosts, Prof Kriegeskorte at Columbia University and Prof Muckli at University of Glasgow are world-leading experts on deep neural network models of vision and cortical-layer-resolved highfield fMRI, respectively. The outcome of this action, a biologically plausible deep recurrent convolutional model that can explain behavior and brain activity, will significantly enhance our understanding of the computational principles of visual cognition, with implications also for AI technology.

Mots clés : object vision, convolutional neuronal networks, recurrent neuronal networks

Participants :
- University of Glasgow (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 271732.8 €
- Columbia University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet RealOrImagined (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Visual experience can either be triggered externally, by light entering our eyes during perception, or internally, during mental imagery. Perception and imagery rely on similar neural mechanisms; however, we generally do not mistake our mental imagery for reality. Here I propose to investigate the neural mechanisms responsible for this “reality monitoring” by combining insights from metacognition and visual neuroscience. Specifically, I propose that this function is supported by an evaluation of evidence from specific layers of visual cortex by frontal decision areas. I will test this using a novel experimental paradigm in combination with cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques. I will first investigate the decision process by determining whether frontal cortex carries information about the attributed source (real or imagined) of a visual experience. Then, I will test whether visual cortex could provide this evidence by determining whether layer-specific activation dissociates externally from internally triggered visual experience. Finally, I will investigate how this information is used for source attribution by characterizing the connectivity between visual and frontal areas during perceptual reality monitoring. This research will improve the understanding of the fundamentals of visual experience and will have important implications for perceptual misattributions such as hallucinations.

Mots clés : perception, metacognition, fmri

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet DESYNE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Vocal learning in songbirds is a complex sensorimotor behaviour with many established parallels to human speech and language learning. Here we aim to resolve the neural ultra-structure of a key premotor area in the songbird brain, HVC (proper name). HVC plays a major role in song learning and takes part in both song perception and production. To understand the neural mechanisms of tutor song memorization and emergence of stereotyped adult song, we plan to map the networks of HVC’s afferent and efferent synaptic connections and to explore the experience dependence of these connections during tutor-based song learning. Electron microscopy (EM) is a valuable approach for detecting synapses in densely labeled brain tissues. However, one of the main challenges of EM is to identify topographic origin of synapses as well as pre- and postsynaptic cell types. I plan to address this problem by combining EM and light microscopy using correlative array tomography (CAT), a technique for visualizing projection neuron networks (projectomics). CAT involves multiple steps of labeling, staining, scanning, and correlating datasets, which is a feasible but time consuming workflow. As high-risk addition to my plan of using CAT, I will also apply expansion microscopy (ExM) to this projectomics problem. The ExM approach is based on physical expansion of fluorescently labeled biological tissue prior to light microscopic imaging. ExM holds the promise of extremely efficient imaging beyond Abbe’s diffraction limit, which may allow it to replace EM for certain applications such as visualizing synaptic connections. ExM is a promising yet unexplored new tool for projectomics research and avian neuroanatomy in general. We will use ExM, CAT, or a combination, to resolve central and peripheral networks involved in tutor based song learning. Our work will contribute to visualizing the synaptic changes underlying birdsong learning and will explore the feasibility of ExM for projectomics research.

Mots clés : zebra finch, neural circuits of vocal learning and control, projectomics, correlative array tomography, expansion microscopy

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175419.6 €
Projet VOLATILE4ARCHAEO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Volatile Binding Media (VBM) are temporary consolidants for the protection of fragile heritage materials, as archaeological artifacts, during high-risk operations such as handling and transport to museums. VBM spontaneously pass from the solid to the gaseous state and do not require additional steps to be removed, without leaving residues. Cyclododecane (CDD), introduced in 1995, is currently the most common VBM. However, little is known about the interaction between VBM and different substrates, and even less about alternatives to CDD, hence this hinders the use of VBM in practice. Conservators would highly benefit from a range of VBM having different sublimation rates (able to be tailored for the specific case), and possibly also less hazardous for health and environment. In this project, CDC, alternative VBM (cyclododecanone, cyclododecanol, camphene, and menthol), and six mixtures of these materials are investigated, in terms of sublimation rate, interaction and compatibility with different substrates (wall painting and ceramic material), morphological changes of the surfaces and presence of residues. A high number of test specimens of mural paintings on mortar substrate and ceramics will be used, monitoring the sublimation of VBM and several chemical-physical parameters. The best VBM will be tested also on real historical objects, during the secondment in Marseille. The project results will be communicated through the website, two conference contributions and three peer-reviewed articles. The results will be also disseminated to the conservators and conservation science community, through seminars at the Host institutions and two workshops for conservators (one in Italy and one in Egypt), a VBM glossary, and an application manual. VOLATILE4ARCHAEO will deliver a wider range of options for short- or long-term consolidation using VBM along with experimental empirical data on their physical-chemical behavior.

Mots clés : temporary consolidants, porous, volatile binding, archaeometry, mural painting, ceramics

Participants :
- University of Bologna (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet VULCAN.ears (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Volcanic activity has a big impact on the economy and society. Nowadays, volcano monitoring (VM) is mainly based on the analysis of the seismicity, specifically on some type of precursory events (or classes) which appear before an eruption. The variability of the volcano-seismic classes and the increase of the seismicity in a volcano crisis difficult the manual supervised classification carried out by expert technicians to detect an event and assign it to its proper class. Most of the VM observatories demand an automatic Volcano Seismic Recognition (VSR) to quickly detect and analyse the precursory seismicity and to correctly assess the population risk, avoiding human casualties. Nevertheless, only a few VM facilities have their own VSR prototypes designed to monitor their volcanoes. The aim of this proposal is to build an automatic VSR system focused on recognising events in unsupervised scenarios, robust enough to be integrated into the VM centre of any volcano, allowing online risk assessment by real-time seismicity analysis. It will be based on state-of-the-art VSR technologies: a) class description by statistical means (structured Hidden Markov Models) and b) Parallel System Architecture (PSA-VSR) composed of specialised recognition channels, each designed to detect and classify events of a given type. To accomplish this goal, two objectives have to be achieved: 1. To build models robust enough, which requires gathering massive data from different types of volcanoes and searching the most efficient way to describe each class. 2. To maximise the system applicability: the system will be integrated into several VM scenarios and eruption forecasting tools to obtain useful feedback information. The interaction between machine learning and volcanology will be the key to build this innovative, long-awaited, standard solution in the VM area: a collaborative framework software able to recognise events from any volcano in real-time.

Mots clés : volcano monitoring, volcano forecasting, risk assessment, machine learning, statistical modelling, hidden markov models, feature extraction, feature selection, parallel architecture

Participants :
- University of Udine (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 180277.2 €
Projet SURGE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Volcanoes at high latitudes or at high elevations at temperate latitudes are commonly capped by glaciers. Understanding the dynamics of volcano-ice interaction is important because meltwater production can influence eruption style and lead to sudden outburst floods or explosive lava-water interactions. In addition, glaciovolcanic deposits can be useful terrestrial indicators of past environments. Glaciated volcanic systems are complex because meltwater availability and eruption style are dependent on a combination of magmatic, glacial and edifice characteristics. The relative influence of these characteristics are open fields of research. SURGE aims to improve our understanding of glaciovolcanic interactions by studying ice-confined deposits at Katla volcano, Iceland. Katla is a highly active and hazardous subglacial volcano from which all historic eruptions have occurred beneath an ice cap and have resulted in outburst floods. While the Holocene eruptive record at Katla is well-known, the older parts of the edifice have received little attention. A second aim of SURGE, therefore, is to improve our understanding of the pre-Holocene eruption history and edifice building at Katla. New geological mapping will be carried out to determine the eruption and emplacement processes of pre-Holocene formations. We will then use thermal modelling to determine the volume of ice that was melted during these eruptions in order to reconstruct the ancient glacier surface and extent. Finally, radiometric dating of the formations will be used to build an age-constrained record of glacier dimensions and eruptive activity at Katla. Our multidisciplinary approach will contribute to understanding of processes that occur beneath an ice cap or are too hazardous to observe. In addition, our estimates of ice volumes melted during these past eruptions will inform future hazard planning. The global prevalence of ice-capped volcanoes means that this study will have widespread relevance.

Mots clés : glacier, volcanic eruptions, meltwater, paleoenvironment, katla, iceland

Participants :
- University of Iceland (Islande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 184239.36 €
Projet WAVREP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

WAVREP aims to challenge the notion that wave energy should be considered only at energetic regions exposed to open ocean waters. More than 70% of EU coastlines have moderate wave energy resource of 3000-6000 W/m at deployment depths resulting in lower harsh conditions when compared to open ocean coasts. Most Wave Energy Converters (WECs) are developed for higher operational ranges (ocean coasts), with WEC capacity factors and availability at such areas not exceeding 15% and 40% respectively. Higher latitude regions encompass larger wave environments that can propagate high energy content from 5000-8000 W/m. However, such conditions impose significant stresses on the structural integrity and negatively affect expected energy production of WECs, with final capacity factors not exceeding 15-25% (device dependent). WECs at highly energetic wave environment also require higher survivability considerations and have reduced maintenance times. Such factors result at higher capital, operational and energy costs, hindering WECs cost-effectiveness. Using an interdisciplinary scientific methodology the project aims to provide a WEC that can attain higher availability and capacity factors over 60% and 30% respectively, enhancing its global applicability.

Mots clés : wave energy, renewable energy, numerical wave modeling, wave energy converters, levelized cost of energy, milder resources

Participants :
- Delft University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €