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

In tropical East and Southeast Asia, traditional settlement and land-use practices have created highly distinctive historic landscapes, especially in upland areas. This important cultural heritage remains largely unstudied by archaeologists and is consequently both undervalued and at risk. The “CaDHoKUHL” project will address this gap in knowledge by adopting an innovative GIS-based interdisciplinary approach combining landscape archaeology, geosciences, historical research, remote sensing, scientific dating and digital geospatial analysis. Its case-study will be Hong Kong (HK), where the mountainous hinterlands of the densely-populated coastal metropolis have conventionally been regarded as a ‘natural’ landscape, but this is a false picture: historic aerial photos and state-of-the-art remote sensing data reveal upland historic landscapes with features evidencing a diversity of past human activities. Dr Mick Atha (hereafter “the researcher”) will move from HK to the McCord Centre for Landscape at Newcastle University (UNEW) in the UK. There, with supervision by Prof. Sam Turner, he will receive in-depth specialist training in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a means to integrate and analyse a diversity of archaeological, historical, and remote sensing datasets and learn how to use Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC), a method of spatial analysis developed by the host institution. In addition, the researcher will also receive training in geoarchaeological and geochronological methods which, together with the GIS-based use of statistical algorithms, will allow the dating and modelling of upland landscape change through time. The training he receives will not only support original analyses and contribute substantially to archaeological knowledge in HK and the wider region, but will also significantly advance his goal of a reigniting a Europe-based career in interdisciplinary landscape studies and cutting-edge landscape archaeology research.

Mots clés : historic landscape characterisation, remote sensing, optically stimulated luminescence, terraces, interdisciplinarity, china, southeast asia, upland landscapes, earth sciences, scientific dating

Participants :
- Newcastle University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 337400.64 €
Projet DipInQuantum (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

In ultracold gases, novel physics can be explored taking advantage of the long-range, anisotropic interaction present between atoms or molecules with a large dipole. Such systems were probed first with Chromium atoms at the 5. Physikalisches Institut in Stuttgart (host institution). Lanthanide atoms carrying a stronger dipole moment have recently lifted high hopes for ground-breaking experiments with dipole-dipole interactions (DDI), our proposal plans on using Dysprosium. We aim to explore many-body physics associated with bosonic dipolar systems, in particular the spontaneous structuring of the ground state and the possible supersolid state. To do so we will use a high-resolution in-trap imaging of quasi-two- dimensional atomic clouds, with which we can image density modulations of the ground state revealing the first signs of long-range order. To pursue in this direction, we will study dipolar gases placed in tailored potentials, indeed the ground state in particular potential landscapes should display self-ordering and in some cases self-induced Josephson oscillations. Using the fermionic isotopes of Dysprosium, we plan on extending these methods to dipolar fermionic systems which are predicted to exhibit rich physics. Many proposals require an independent control of the short-range isotropic interaction. This requirement can be met by the use of magnetic Feshbach resonances present in Dysprosium. They offer the possibility to fine-tune the contact interaction despite the complex electronic structure of Dysprosium. Furthermore broad resonances will enable us to investigate few- body bound states, whose nature is modified in the presence of DDI.

Mots clés : quantum gases, many body physics, dipole dipole interaction, feshbach resonances, supersolidity

Participants :
- University of Stuttgart (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet HSMe-ImPredict (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

In vIn vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently widely applied to address the demographic challenge of our society. Unfortunately, only 30% of the IVF transferred embryos implant and develop to term. As IVF procedures have a stressful physical, emotional, and economic impact on families, especially on women, the field is in need of a methodology, capable to reliably assess embryo implantation potential. Metabolism is playing a crucial role in successful embryo development and implantation. Yet, current metabolic measurements are either indirect or invasive and lack clinical translation capacity. In this proposal, we innovate into the development of an optical methodology based on hyper-spectral imaging of native metabolic autofluorescence and subsequent phasor analysis, for measurement and quantification of mouse embryo metabolism in a fast, direct, non-invasive way. The proposed method has unparalleled advantage in discriminating large number of metabolites (at least 6) in low signal-to-noise conditions, allowing non-invasive imaging and providing direct insight to the embryo viability and implantation potential. We will build extensive metabolic profile libraries and correlate them with the respective in vivo/ ex vivo embryo implantation capacity to determine a metabolic fingerprint characteristic for implantation success. We will consolidate the study into a user-friendly software toolbox, capable to predict the implantation success of a previously unseen embryo. We envision that in the future, this new methodology can be translated beyond mouse model, becoming a valuable IVF clinical tool. The strong embryology and translational expertise of the host group and their clinical and tech-transfer partners , together with the advanced data processing expertise of the secondment group, will complement my know-how in optical microscopy and image analysis and help me to develop a fully-rounded skill-set of an independent translational bio-tech scientist through MSCA.

Mots clés : fluorescence microscopy, hyper spectral microscopy, phasor analysis, embryo implantation, metabolics, reproduction

Participants :
- Institute of Photonic Sciences (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet EWatLHC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

In view of the next run of the LHC, and of the impressive mole and quality of the collected data, accurate theoretical predictions will be mandatory in order to perform accurate measurements of the Standard Model parameters and to identify signals of the existence of new particles. If it is certainly true that impressive progresses have been achieved in the last years, in particular in the field of perturbative computations of cross sections and differential distributions, it is also true that much more has still to be done. The current proposal is focused on the computation of one class of corrections which affect LHC processes, the so-called NLO electro-weak correc- tions. This class of correction can have large impact in particular on events characterised by large energy scales, which will be more and more frequent at the next high-energy LHC run. Instead of proceeding on a process by process basis, the suggested path to follow is the one of automation, which has already proven successful in the case of NLO corrections originated by strong interactions. The automation of this class of corrections will allow to perform systematic studies about their effects on observables and processes relevant to the LHC.


Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet FUTURE-MOBILE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

In view of the rapid increase in demand for mobile data services, next generation wireless communication systems will have to provide greatly increased capacity density and high data rates greater than 50Gbps. However, satisfying these requirements for increasing numbers of users and connected devices, and increasingly bandwidth, processing power and energy-hungry applications will require a transformation in the way in which current mobile and wireless networks perform. Recently, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology, where each base station (BS) is equipped with a large number of antenna elements (typically tens or even hundreds) has emerged as a key enabler to achieve a 1000 times data rate and enormous spectral and energy efficiency. In order for massive MIMO to become a reality, the proposed work aims to explore transformative methods for the design of innovative techniques in 3 key challenging areas of massive MIMO communication systems: (i) fundamental limits; (ii), (ii) transmission strategy; and (iii) caching mechanisms. The solution is achieved with small remote antenna units equipped with compact massive MIMO arrays deployed over certain coverage regions, and developing practical signalling schemes, network coordination, and management protocols.

Mots clés : cellular systems, massive mimo, distributed massive mimo, distributed antenna systems, channel estimation, interference management

Participants :
- University of Kent (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet REMAINS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Increase of temperature and biodiversity loss are major threats in the early warning systems of the planet, the high-altitude ecosystems. The analysis of sediment records provides evidence on past response of species to climatic changes, offering a unique framework to anticipate/expand our ability to manage these ecosystems. Among the commonly used paleoindicators, the analysis of cladoceran subfossils has relied on classical morphological counting. However, recent advances in mass-spectrometry, which now need much lower sample sizes, and in molecular biology, with the use of sedimentary DNA, offer unprecedented opportunities to develop innovative approaches based on these REMAINS. The main goal of this project is to provide new advances to i) use cladoceran chitin as a paleothermometer and ii) establish a standard methodology to use their DNA in sediments. The intellectual merits of this proposal are threefold. First, it will use cutting-edge technology to measure subfossil chitin in lab assays, in situ calibration and validation phases. Second, it will address a new biological group not previously studied in ancient DNA. Last, by establishing new analytical methods for a very common component of lake sediments, the project will open up a new field in Paleolimnology and highlight how much hitherto untapped information is stored in paleorecords. The research approach will involve (i) the quantification of contribution of water-diet to H and O isotopes in chitin (ii) the field calibration between isotopic composition of chitin and temperature (iii) the paleothermometer validation in the sediment (iv) the establishment of a library of cladocerans by a genome skimming and (v) the development of a specific assay to identify them in sedimentary DNA. Framed in the “Environment & Climate Action” area from HORIZON 2020, the project addresses gaps in the knowledge needed to understand past changes and to protect natural resources, illustrated here by Sierra Nevada Mountains

Mots clés : cladocerans, stable isotopes, chitin, sedimentary dna, temperature reconstruction, biodiversity, global change

Participants :
- University of Granada (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet SARCOM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Increased antibiotic resistance (AMR) in a wide range of human pathogens is a growing public health threat, and the World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts a post-antibiotic era for the 21st century (WHO, 2014). The evolution of AMR in bacteria is determined by both the acquisition of resistance through horizontal gene transfer or chromosomal mutation and by the way resistance affects the competitive ability of a microbe in the presence and absence of antibiotics. The majority of research on selection for AMR to date has focused on detailed in vitro studies of selection for AMR in specific bacterial clones. More significantly, no studies to date have explicitly investigated the implication of being embedded in a complex community for the evolution of AMR. Therefore, in the proposed research I aim to use a multidisciplinary approach by for the first time combining the precision of in vitro experimental evolution experiments with the high resolution of molecular biology to study the evolution and spread of AMR in complex community contexts. The proposed project will allow me to complement my strong background in molecular biology and microbial ecology with evolutionary microbiology and novel bioinformatic approaches. Being situated in one of the most prominent microbial ecology and evolution laboratories worldwide, based at the Biosciences Department at the University of Exeter will be crucial for my personal development in becoming an independent European researcher. The University of Exeter provides an EU accredited program for academic training and personal career development. The proposed research will moreover provide ample opportunities to instigate and be involved in internal and international collaboration with world-leading researchers in diverse research fields. Furthermore, I aim to raise public awareness to the threat AMR bacteria possess to human health and involve the public in mitigation strategies to avoid the spread of AMR genes.

Mots clés : antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic resistance, plasmid, selection, complex community, sub inhibitory concentration, mobilome, permissiveness, mobilization

Participants :
- University of Exeter (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet PROCROP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Increased crop productivity through genetic improvement of plants has significantly impacted world agriculture and the world’s population. Crop plants have followed the general pattern of introduction, selection, and hybridization. Once introgressed, selection and breeding strategies have led to new cultivars with improved yield and adaptation. Unfortunately, many of these important traits are typically polygenic. The consequence is that only certain unique allele combinations comply to generate elite performing genotypes. The fixation of a given genotype occurs naturally in species that display an asexual type of seed production named apomixis (i.e. clonal seed production). Unfortunately, apomixis does not naturally occur in major crop species with few exceptions (Citrus, mango and mangosteen). In crop species, apomixis would enable the instantaneous fixation of the complete genome of the best plants. When coupled with male-sterility systems, apomictic reproduction (with no need for male contribution) could help in addressing issues related to transgene escape from GM crops to organic or conventional crops, and thereby allow for better coexistence systems. This trait by itself is highly valuable for agriculture, but despite many efforts it has never been possible to introduce it into the domesticated crop species of today. The financial and economic impacts of the development of apomixis technology and its application to major crops are amazing (€1800-2300 million per annum per crop). The overall goal of the proposal is to allow for a synergy of inter-related European and international expertise to better understand the mechanisms of sexual/apomictic plant reproduction and to facilitate the application of this increased knowledge in the development of new approaches for agriculture and food industry to increase productivity.

Mots clés : apomixis, crop improvement, gene function

Participants :
- Polo d'innovazione di genomica, genetica e biologia srl (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 157500.0 €
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Mexique) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Perugia (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 225000.0 €
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Argentine) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Milan (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 211500.0 €
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 144000.0 €
Projet SARTEA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Increased energy costs, the uncertainty of fossil fuel availability, and climate change concerns, have necessitated the quest for renewable energy resources. Solar adsorption systems are quiet, simple to operate, and can last for a long time. However, they have low cooling power density, and subsequently have to be bulky compared to similar solar thermal systems offering the same performance. This can increase their initial costs, especially for small and medium sized systems, thus reducing their uptake. Currently researchers have successfully tackled this issue by, for instance, using more than one adsorbent bed to adopt a continuous cycle, and using forced cooling for the adsorber bed and condenser. These have not resolved the bulk/cost issues, however. This innovative Fellowship will apply a thin layer nano-particles embedded adsorbent, nano-fluid based refrigerants and selectively absorbing solar plate collectors to the system. We will develop a robust simulation model to help with the design process. The system will be partly built using a novel diffusion bonding process that enables dissimilar materials to be joined seamlessly. We will test the adsorption properties of the novel adsorbent materials and apply them to the refrigerator. We aim to deliver a solar adsorption refrigerator that employs nano-technology and novel manufacturing methods, meets the performance improvements currently achievable but not with the bulk and complexity. We expect scholars and industry to also apply the technology demonstrated to several other uses, and for them to be more accessible to the general public. The Fellow has all the necessary skills and experience required (including chemical adsorption, thermodynamics, heat & mass transfer) while the host lab has all the infrastructure and experience of hosting researchers. The project is also timely as it fits into the EU Energy policy (ESTPP Vision 2030).

Mots clés : solar adsorption refrigeration, thermodynamics, chemical adsorption, adsorbents, nano particles

Participants :
- Coventry University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet MesoSi-CO2 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in our atmosphere are becoming evident and are having a tremendous effect on the global temperature rise. Growing awareness of greenhouse gas emissions has led to the implementation of chemical CO2 utilization technologies. Tri-reforming of methane (TRM) can not only produce synthesis gas (CO + H2) with desired H2/CO ratios (1.5–2.0) but can also eliminate carbon formation which is a serious problem in reforming of methane. Moreover, TRM allows converting CO2 directly from flue gases when applied in natural gas-fired power plants. However, a lack of catalysts able to operate efficiently with sufficient long-term stability hinders the development of the process. In this project, the proposed solution is to design a Ni-based mesoporous silica resistant to sintering and carbon formation and able to perform superior catalytic conversion of CO2. The synthesis of catalysts takes advantage of renewable bio-sources, zero-cost industrial waste and assistance of microwaves. The latter is applied to reduce power usage. The catalytic measurements will be performed with gas composition typical of flue gases from a natural-gas-fired power plant. The materials will be characterized by methods dedicated to examine physico-chemical features, such as XRD, N2 sorption, TPR, H2 chemisorption, TGA/DSC-MS, and XPS. The catalysts with optimal properties will be studied by steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA). Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) will be carried out to support the experiments. The understanding of possible deactivation mechanisms (carbon formation, sintering, selectivity towards side reactions) will be studied during the Secondment stay (Sorbonne Université, France). Operando XAS-XRD measurements will be performed to reveal the nature of active sites on the tri-reforming catalysts.

Mots clés : co2 utilization, tri reforming of methane, nickel, silica, rice husk ash

Participants :
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202158.72 €