Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet HALOS2020 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Weak gravitational lensing is a very powerful tool for investigating the relation between galaxies and their host dark matter halos. Thanks to current photometric surveys such as KiDS, DES and HSC, the quality of the data available for weak lensing studies is rapidly improving. However, there has not yet been a corresponding improvement in the methods used for the analysis of this data: most weak lensing studies are still carried out by stacking the signal in bins, resulting in a net loss of information. As an alternative to stacking, I have recently developed a new method to infer the distribution of halo masses of a population of galaxies with weak lensing data. The method, based on a Bayesian hierarchical inference formalism, allows for an easy exploration of correlations in many dimensions, and to directly constrain the intrinsic scatter in halo mass. In this project, I will use my method to look for correlations between halo mass and secondary galaxy properties at fixed stellar mass, such as the age of the stellar population, in KiDS data. I will first test the robustness of my method on hydrodynamical simulations. Then, after receiving a training on the most technical aspects of KiDS weak lensing measurements, I will apply it on real data. Finally, I will compare the results of my analysis with predictions from theoretical models. By detecting or ruling out correlations between halo mass and galaxy properties, I will be able to put powerful constraints on galaxy evolution models. This project will produce an immediate return in terms of science, and will pave the way for the use of more efficient analysis methods in future surveys such as Euclid.


Participants :
- Leiden University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet NOISE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Whale-watching of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) is an increasingly attractive tourist activity. However, it can lead to short-term behavioural effects on targeted animals, including alterations of dive patterns, swim speeds and behavioural states. Despite there being growing evidence for this type of disturbance, the sensory stimuli from whale-watch boats that trigger these impacts on cetaceans remains unclear, but demands urgent scientific attention. The objective of NOISE is to examine short-term behavioural responses of cetaceans to underwater noise from whale-watch boats. Previous studies on behavioural responses have examined the physical proximity of whale-watch boats to cetaceans, however as sound propagates well in water and is the primary sensory mode of cetaceans, underwater noise may ultimately trigger behavioural responses. NOISE proposes to use humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as a model species, it being the most targeted species for whale-watching globally. In NOISE I will test for the first time the hypothesis that boat noise rather than boat proximity is the primary driver of disturbance. I will do this by quantifying behavioural responses of focal whales to different boat noise levels, distances, approach types, and speeds. An observation boat will record before, during and after behavioural responses using state-of-the-art, non-invasive unmanned aerial vehicles and digital acoustic recording tags. NOISE thereby provides direct tests of whether underwater noise is the adequate stimulus that elicits short-term behavioural responses in cetaceans rather than physical proximity. Such insights will directly inform regulators and stakeholders on acceptable limits of boat noise, minimum distances, best approach types and maximum boat speeds used to minimise negative effects on cetaceans and thereby facilitate the sustainability of the whale-watch industry as part of the European Commission Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Mots clés : anthropogenic disturbance, underwater noise, cetacean, acoustics, marine mammal, behavioural ecology

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet CHILECTO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

What can Chinese teach us about the languages of Europe? Sociolinguistic research has obtained important insights into the dynamics of the languages of Europe: the emergence of pluricentric varieties, the global influence of English, the tendency towards informalization of the standard languages. But are these phenomena typically European, or are the same forces at work in other linguistic areas? A comparison with Chinese may provide an answer: I will analyze three varieties of Chinese (mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore) from the same perspectives that have been applied to the convergences and divergences of European languages, and with the same (quantitative, so-called ‘lectometric’) methods. Getting to know these methods better will be how I will benefit from the project. Conversely, the data that I will be able to obtain for the current evolution of Chinese will deepen the understanding of the European tendencies. For instance, does the size of the languages involved play a role, or the kind of language policies at work in the different countries? In practice, the project intends: 1) to evaluate lectometric measurements that have been recently developed for studying changes in the position of standard languages in Europe and offer a methodological guideline with which lexical variation among lects can be structured more comprehensively and cost-efficiently; 2) to identify the multifactorial variational structure that underlies the Chinese lexicon in written texts (synchronically); 3) to uncover how the stratificational distances among lects are changing progressively (diachronically) and to confront with what we find for Chinese and what we know about the processes in Europe. The project targets academics as well as policy makers. It will provide new insights into the (lectometric) study of language variation, and thus yield fine-grained empirical evidence for language planning at the political level.

Mots clés : lectometry, varieties of chinese, lexical variation, convergence and divergence, language planning and policy

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172800.0 €
Projet EvoColorIsla (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Statut du projet : SIGNED

What drives the evolution of female ornamentation? Explaining the evolution of signals found in nature has been a persistent challenge for biologists, but studies have focused mostly on male ornaments, neglecting the question of why and how these traits evolve in females. Oceanic islands around the world provide a “natural laboratory” setting to test evolutionary processes due to their simplified ecosystems, and high levels of endemic species with variation in some specific traits. In particular, island species experience changes in sociality, competition, and predation, all of which are known to influence ornamental traits. I propose to combine comparative analyses, based on museum data, and detailed experimental investigation in the field, using 3-D printed models, to examine how female (and male) ornaments have evolved in island birds worldwide, while accounting for ancestral mainland attributes. Specifically, I will investigate a) the social and ecological factors associated with changes in female and male ornamentation following island colonisation, and b) test experimentally how female and male ornamentation elicit predator and competitor responses on both island and mainland settings. The proposed project will thus have three key outcomes. First, it will determine how the transitions towards increased or decreased ornamentation in both sexes are influenced by changes in social, life-history and environmental factors. This will address the current disparity in our knowledge of elaborate signals in females vs. males and provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes that promote the diversity of sexual phenotypes. Second, the project will advance our understanding of the factors shaping the patterns of phenotypic change in island species. Finally, it will provide the first experimentally test of two central tenets of island ecology, such as lower predation and social competition pressure on islands compared to mainland.

Mots clés : social selection, ornamentation, bird plumage, competition, cooperation, islands, ornithology, adaptation, insularity, life history traits, environment, socioecology, avian visual models, 3d printing

Participants :
- Biopolis (Spain) (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159815.04 €
- University of Porto (Portugal) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet DYSC-EYE-7T (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

What is the foundation of numerical thinking and why do some people struggle with math so much? For children with Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) understanding even the most basic numerical and arithmetical concepts can pose a major challenge, despite their normal intelligence and schooling opportunities. Different etiological accounts attempted to identify the neurocognitive basis of this developmental disorder, yet a universally recognized diagnostic measure of DD is still missing. One possible cause of DD is the lack of a functional “number sense”, the capability to estimate the approximate number of objects in a visual scene, which is thought to be the precursor of formal mathematics. A different account attributes DD to the suboptimal recruitment of general cognitive functions (e.g. attention and cognitive control) and denies any role of the number sense in mathematical learning. Here I propose a third view where domain general cognitive functions are strongly but specifically affected in DD, being maximally dysfunctional when individuals have to deal with numerical quantities. The ambitious aim of DYSC-EYE-7T is to evaluate the role of attention in numerical cognition by means of eye tracking, pupillometry and ultra-high field (7T) imaging. For the first time, these techniques will be used to identify objective and reliable biomarkers of numerical processing: I will develop indices based on eye-movement speed and pupil-size modulation to track individuals’ focus of attention during numerical processing and detect dysfunctional strategies in DD. These indices will be combined with multivariate analysis of functional imaging data to read-out the neural representation of number at high resolution and to identify the cortical origin of the specific attentional deficit in DD. A full understanding of the neurocognitive basis of DD and the validation of unobtrusive methods suited for children will pave the way for precocious diagnosis and more effective interventions.

Mots clés : developmental dyscalculia, numerical cognition, eye tracking, pupillometry, functional magnetic imaging, specific learning disabilities, ultra high field imaging

Participants :
- University of Pisa (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 171473.28 €
Projet ACRO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

What makes a head different from a tail? In many animals, the asymmetries that underlieThe asymmetric distribution of cytoplasmic domains and RNAs is critical for asymmetric cell division and fate determination. Therefore, unraveling the mechanisms that drive the asymmetric distribution of the cytoplasm is essential for understanding animal development. Once fertilized, ascidian eggs undergo a massive cytoplasmic reorganization that precisely localizes developmental determinants (proteins and RNAs) to establish the anterior-posterior body axis. Following this reorganization, an invariant cleavage pattern predictably segregates determinants asymmetrically into blastomeres, conferring differential cell fates. Thus, polarity in the ascidian egg determines the body plan of the whole animal. Despite its vital role in establishing embryonic patterning, remarkably little is known about the mechanisms that orchestrate cytoplasmic reorganization and the distribution of developmental factors. In this project, I will use develop a multidisciplinary approach, combining high-resolution microscopy and force and cell shape manipulations, proximity biotinylation, proteomics, and transcriptomics to address the following fundamental questions: 1) What mechanisms regulate cytoplasmic reorganization and anterior-posterior polarity in the ascidian egg? 2) How is cytoplasmic reorganization translated into the precise positioning of developmental determinants? This study will shed light on the processes that define the anterior-posterior body axis and pattern of development in ascidians and deepen our understanding of how embryogenesis is conserved and has evolved among chordates. Throughout this project, I will not only acquire new technical skills but also build upon my project management, communication, and leadership skills towards my goal of becoming an independent researcher investigating how the cytoskeleton establishes cellular morphology and organization to inform cell function.

Mots clés : cytoplasmic reorganization, ascidians, body axis, microtubules, polarity

Participants :
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174167.04 €
Projet HumanUniqueness (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

What makes humans the dominant animal species on the planet? Much of the popular literature has emphasized similarities between humans and our closest animal relatives, especially the chimpanzee. But there can be no doubt that humans are special. A major human cognitive specialization is our ability to process conceptual information. We are able to form abstract concepts by combining sources of information and generalizing from current knowledge. These concepts can be invoked in the absence of immediate percepts and used to recognize exemplars not encountered before (e.g., recognizing a basset hound as a dog even after only encountering beagles in the past). To understand how our brain evolved the ability to process such conceptual information, we need to know what anatomical specializations occurred to allow this behavior. We still know little, but damage to the anterior temporal lobe in humans produces disruption to the production and manipulation of abstract concepts. We also know that the anterior temporal lobe has disproportionately expanded in the humans since our divergence from old world monkeys and that its connections with other parts of the brain have proliferated. Therefore, the goal of the current proposal is to investigate which anatomical specializations have developed in the human brain, compared to that of our closest animal relatives, and whether these are involved in the uniquely human ability to process conceptual information. We will use a combination of ineuroimaging techniques to investigate the organization of the human, chimpanzee, and macaque brains to identify parts of the temporal cortex that are unique to the human brain. Then, using functional neuroimaging in the human volunteers, we will test whether this unique area is indeed activated when people engage in the processing of conceptual information. Together, this presents a unique opportunity to study human uniqueness in a combined comparative and psychological project.

Mots clés : mind, chimpanzee, conceptual integration, connectivity, fmri, tractography

Participants :
- Radboud University Nijmegen (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet JS_SCZ (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

What makes us susceptible to a genetic disease is a central question in human genetics. Although, coding mutations have revealed the mechanisms of many genetic diseases, the same approach is not adequate to unravel the etiology of complex diseases such as schizophrenia (SCZ). Genome wide association studies revealed that the majority of SCZ-associated polymorphisms map to the non-coding regions and possibly alter gene expression. However, the functional consequence of these polymorphisms on gene regulation remains largely unknown. Although the onset of SCZ symptoms occurs in late adolescence, SCZ patients show differential expression of neurodevelopmental genes and defects in neuronal maturation. Therefore, it is postulated that the SCZ phenotype is a late manifestation of defects in neurogenesis and neuronal maturation. Based on the neurodevelopmental model of SCZ, I hypothesize that these SCZ-associated non-coding variants disrupt the function of enhancers active during neurogenesis/ neuronal maturation. Therefore, using cortical organoids as an experimental system, I plan to investigate 1) Which SCZ-associated non-coding polymorphisms are located in neurodevelopmentally active enhancers. 2) Whether and how these non-coding variants affect enhancer function. To this end, I will perform massively parallel reporter assay to inspect the enhancer activity of both control and mutant sequences of SCZ-linked cis regulatory elements in the neural progenitors and neurons of the developing cortical organoids. This assay will reveal any effect of non-coding variants on the level, cell type or developmental stage of reporter transcription. This effect can be then verified by analyzing the expression of associated genes to reveal how common, low disease-risk alleles contribute to SCZ-susceptibility. Furthermore, this novel combination of organoids and functional genomics will pave the way for investigation of non-coding variation for diverse human diseases and traits.

Mots clés : enhancers, organoids

Participants :
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 186167.04 €
Projet Spotifly (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

When a phenotype evolves twice in independent lineages, are the underlying molecular mechanisms similar? In the case of similar pigmentation patterns that have arisen independently in two fruit fly species, Drosophila tristis and Drosophila biarmipes, the question, becomes: is there a unique genetic path to gain a pigmentation spot on the wing? Each pigmentation pattern is prefigured by the developmental expression of yellow, a gene necessary for the production of black pigments. In each case, yellow expression results from a novel enhancer, both enhancers sharing no homology. To understand how these new regulatory activities have independently emerged, we will first perform an RNAi screen to identify transcription factors controlling each enhancer. We will then characterize the candidate transcription factors identified, assess their genetic sufficiency and the directness of the regulatory link. We will evaluate the degree of convergence in the control of the activity of the two enhancers by closely comparing the relationship between their structure and their function. We will compare sequences between species that carry the regulatory activity and species that do not. We will identify in which context binding sites that convey the activity evolved (position, spacing, orientation). Moreover, we will distinguish among sites contributing permissive or instructive (spatio-temporal) input. This project tackles the open question of how a new regulatory activity emerges. The contribution of each input is key element to enhancer activity, and is hardly understood in any system. The model we use may represent a rare case where the evolution of a regulatory activity can be deciphered functionally. Our work will also address the question of the repeated evolution of complex traits, often associated to regulatory changes. We will assess the level of functional constraint that may channel the emergence of the same regulatory activity to the same molecular mechanisms.

Mots clés : pigmentation, evolution, cis regulation, pattern, convergence, fruit fly

Participants :
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet CP-RehOP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

When an injury occurs to the developing brain, as in Cerebral Palsy (CP), these children typically experience sensorimotor disorders such as muscle weakness, abnormal muscle activity, and ataxia. Poor balance control is a primary deficit in CP, which has a large impact on a child’s daily life, since it is crucial for independent mobility and greatly affects the risk of falls. CP is the most common developmental cause of physical disability in the world, with a prevalence of 2-3 in 1000 live births. To improve their quality of life, adequate treatment is essential. However, studies investigating the effectiveness of balance rehabilitation in CP have revealed mixed results. This is due to two reasons. First, due to the various clinical scales and experimental measures available, each measuring different components of balance, it is very complex to diagnose balance control in CP. Second, it is currently unknown which are the underlying neural causes of poor balance control in CP. Since the success of well-targeted treatment depends on this basic knowledge, a novel experiment is suggested that provides fundamental insights in both areas. I will investigate whether balance training can promote postural and gait balance control in CP children. Clinical and experimental measures will be combined to allow for the determination of the best diagnostic tool for imbalance in CP. Using diffusion kurtosis imaging and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, I will examine the structural and functional brain networks involved in balance control in CP and whether advances in balance control are supported by neuroplastic changes. As some children will be less responsive to training, it is hypothesized that this innovative combination of behavioral and neurological assessments allows for the identification of the underlying causes of responsiveness, and, most importantly, the prediction of individual responsiveness based on medical brain images, using machine learning.

Mots clés : cerebral palsy, rehabilitation, balance, structural brain network, functional brain network, prediction, machine learning

Participants :
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 177598.8 €
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €