Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : BeyondtheElite (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The study of the human past
Entité participante : Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HUJI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1941688.0 €

The two fundamental challenges of this project are the integration of medieval Jewries and their histories within the framework of European history without undermining their distinct communal status and the creation of a history of everyday medieval Jewish life that includes those who were not part of the learned elite. The study will focus on the Jewish communities of northern Europe (roughly modern Germany, northern France and England) from 1100-1350. From the mid-thirteenth century these medieval Jewish communities were subject to growing persecution. The approaches proposed to access daily praxis seek to highlight tangible dimensions of religious life rather than the more common study of ideologies to date. This task is complex because the extant sources in Hebrew as well as those in Latin and vernacular were written by the learned elite and will require a broad survey of multiple textual and material sources. Four main strands will be examined and combined: 1. An outline of the strata of Jewish society, better defining the elites and other groups. 2. A study of select communal and familial spaces such as the house, the synagogue, the market place have yet to be examined as social spaces. 3. Ritual and urban rhythms especially the annual cycle, connecting between Jewish and Christian environments. 4. Material culture, as objects were used by Jews and Christians alike. Aspects of material culture, the physical environment and urban rhythms are often described as “neutral” yet will be mined to demonstrate how they exemplified difference while being simultaneously ubiquitous in local cultures. The deterioration of relations between Jews and Christians will provide a gauge for examining change during this period. The final stage of the project will include comparative case studies of other Jewish communities. I expect my findings will inform scholars of medieval culture at large and promote comparative methodologies for studying other minority ethnic groups

Mots-clés : jewish history,history of everyday life,material culture,ritual studies,minority studies
Projet ERC : ChemEpigen (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Southern Denmark — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : SDU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1266890.0 €

The ultimate aim of this ERC project is to provide a comprehensive and complete understanding, at the atomic-level of sophistication, of genuinely important biomolecular recognition processes in epigenetics that play key roles in human health and disease. At the biochemical level, epigenetics refers to mechanisms, such as enzymatic modifications of DNA and posttranslational modifications of the associated histone proteins, that regulate the activity of human genes. The proposed work aims to address epigenetics using the physical-organic chemistry approach that enables the elucidation of the elemental processes with unprecedented molecular/atomic detail. The project will experimentally and computationally examine non-covalent interactions between three essential constituents of the epigenetic biomolecular system, namely epigenetic proteins, histones and water, at the level of short histone peptides, intact histone proteins, the nucleosome assembly and nucleosome arrays. Our programme, built on synergistic thermodynamic, structural and computational studies, aims to unravel i) the underlying chemical origin of methyllysine-containing histones in epigenetics, ii) the chemical basis for the recognition of methylarginine-containing histones in epigenetic processes, and iii) the role of unstructured histone tails in biomolecular recognition, which together form the three main structural elements found in the epigenetic framework. Results from this work will be important from both a fundamental molecular perspective as well as from the biomedical perspective, because proteins involved in epigenetic regulation processes are currently regarded as important targets for numerous therapeutic interventions, most notably for cancer treatment.

Mots-clés : epigenetics,histone,molecular recognition,physical organic chemistry
Projet ERC : bi-BLOCK (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Entité participante : University of Bremen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1910769.0 €

The ultimate goal for the survival of all species on earth is to reproduce. This uncompromising principle has triggered the evolution of numerous adaptations. One strategy commonly employed by sexually reproducing eukaryotes is the production of tremendous amounts of sperm to maximize the likelihood of an egg becoming fertilised. High sperm to egg ratios are, however, associated with an increased risk of supernumerary sperm fusion. This so-called polyspermy is lethal in many organisms. Accordingly, eukaryotes have evolved polyspermy barriers, which are implemented at different levels in the reproductive process. Flowering plants tightly control the number of sperm-transporting pollen tubes approaching a single ovule by a so-called pollen tube block. We have recently shown that the pollen tube block is relaxed in ethylene hyposensitive plants. Capitalizing on these results, this project aims at identifying and characterising the molecular mechanisms underlying plant polyspermy barriers.

Mots-clés : fertilization,egg cell block,polyspermy,polyploidization
Projet ERC : In Motion (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : Tel Aviv University — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TAU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1999375.0 €

The ultimate goal of my research is to develop novel approaches to detect dynamical changes in cluttered time-dependent electromagnetic environments. Theoretical and experimental methods will be applied on a range of highly important problems, including radar tracking and optical imaging of complex processes on micro and nano scales. Nowadays demands, set by increasing complexity of systems under study, challenges applicability of existent solutions, opening a room of opportunities for multidisciplinary rewarding research. Scalability of Maxell’s equations with respect to frequency and classical-quantum correspondence principles suggest developing a broad range of dynamical phenomena by applying multidisciplinary concepts, as my team has recently demonstrated. Radio detection of macroscopic objects (e.g. airborne targets) and optical imaging of conformational changes in colloids (e.g. bio-chemical activities), being representative examples on a very diverse size scales, share similar underlining physics and engineering principles for their analysis. This multidisciplinary research considers the phenomena on macro, micro and nano scales, utilizing classical and quantum properties of electromagnetic radiation and light for achieving superior performances in detection beyond existing capabilities. Radio detection will be performed via mapping internal mechanical properties of a target, enabling attributing a unique signature in a clutter. The novel concept of ‘swimming antennas’, driven by holographic optical tweezers, will be developed for optical mapping of micro and nano scale motion. Slow decaying luminescent tags, conjugated with antennas, will allow monitoring a motion beyond the diffraction limit by considering quantum properties of light. Fundamental study and exploration of mechanical motion impact on photonic and electromagnetic applications, including tracking in a clutter, classical and quantum imaging and sensing is the core objective of the Proposal.

Mots-clés : metamaterials,nanophotonics,plasmonics,electromagnetic scattering
Projet ERC : Precision4Life (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Spectroswiss (Switzerland ) — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The unbeatable performance leaders in molecular analysis of biological and environmental samples are the Fourier transform mass spectrometers (FTMS): Orbitrap FTMS and ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR MS). However, even FTMS approaches suffer from performance limitations when facing the molecular complexity of samples in modern applications. The primary reasons for these limitations are the space charge effects – strong Coulombic interactions of many ions oscillating in the trapping devices. Applications suffering from space charge affects include those with (i) significant fluctuation of incoming ion currents; (ii) close spacing of molecular mass/charge ratios to be resolved; and (iii) high spectral dynamic range of ion intensities. To address these performance challenges and as a result of the completed ERC Starting Grant, we propose to increase precision of mass measurements in FT-ICR MS by using the direct cyclotron frequency measurements instead of the space charge-sensitive reduced cyclotron frequency measurements employed currently. We have confirmed the principal feasibility of FT-ICR MS at the cyclotron frequency on both types of commercial FT-ICR MS instruments on the lab level. The aim of our PoC grant application is to realize the benefits of FT-ICR MS at the cyclotron frequency by developing and seamlessly integrating the laboratory-level innovation into commercial instruments at an industry-grade level to leverage life and environmental sciences applications. The action plan includes: (i) enabling integration of prototype ICR mass analyzers into commercial FT-ICR MS instruments via feasibility studies and pilot projects; (ii) analyzing competitive advantages of the project’s outcomes over existing products and workflows, with a focus on frequency (mass) precision increase; (iii) clarifying IPR position, strategy; and (iv) performing market analysis.

Mots-clés : mass spectrometry,fourier transform mass spectrometry,ion cyclotron resonance,mass analyzer,mass accuracy,resolution,imaging mass spectrometry,proteomics,petroleomics
Projet ERC : MATCRACK (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Centrale Nantes — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ECN
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The understanding and the reliable prediction of material degradation, crack initiation and propagation is of vital importance in engineering. It allows the evaluation of product lifecycle and the criticality of exceptional loads. Also, it enables maintenance optimization in a wide range of industries (automotive, aircraft, nuclear…). Thanks to the ERC “XLS” grant, a new approach coined TLS (“Thick Level Set”) was developed to simulate crack propagation from sane material to critical rupture. The main advantage of this approach is that it takes into account both crack initiation and crack propagation without mesh size or mesh orientation dependency. This combination is not currently available in the industry. The TLS software sources (coined TTK for TLS Tool Kit) has been produced mostly during the ERC project. They were recently registered in the software protection agency. The POC goal is to transform the TTK software to industry usable software and to reach a win-win agreement with a well-established service company who will perform paid studies.

Mots-clés : fracture,damage,crack,simulation,software
Projet ERC : FUNGRAPH (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Inria
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2497161.0 €

The use of Computer Graphics (CG) is constantly expanding, e.g., in Virtual and Augmented Reality, requiring realistic interactive renderings of complex virtual environments at a much wider scale than available today. CG has many limitations we must overcome to satisfy these demands. High-quality accurate rendering needs expensive simulation, while fast approximate rendering algorithms have no guarantee on accuracy; both need manually-designed expensive-to-create content. Capture (e.g., reconstruction from photos) can provide content, but it is uncertain (i.e., inaccurate and incomplete). Image-based rendering (IBR) can display such content, but lacks flexibility to modify the scene. These different rendering algorithms have incompatible but complementary tradeoffs in quality, speed and flexibility; they cannot currently be used together, and only IBR can directly use captured content. To address these problems FunGraph will revisit the foundations of Computer Graphics, so these disparate methods can be used together, introducing the treatment of uncertainty to achieve this goal. FunGraph introduces estimation of rendering uncertainty, quantifying the expected error of rendering components, and propagation of input uncertainty of captured content to the renderer. The ultimate goal is to define a unified renderer exploiting the advantages of each approach in a single algorithm. Our methodology builds on the use of extensive synthetic (and captured) “ground truth” data, the domain of Uncertainty Quantification adapted to our problems and recent advances in machine learning – Bayesian Deep Learning in particular. FunGraph will fundamentally transform computer graphics, and rendering in particular, by proposing a principled methodology based on uncertainty to develop a new generation of algorithms that fully exploit the spectacular (but previously incompatible) advances in rendering, and fully benefit from the wealth offered by constantly improving captured content.

Mots-clés : computer graphics rendering,global illumination,image based rendering,content capture
Projet ERC : WD3D (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : University of Warwick — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1454650.0 €

The vast majority of stars will become white dwarfs at the end of the stellar life cycle. These remnants are precise cosmic clocks owing to their well constrained cooling rates. They provide one of the most sensitive tests of when baryonic structure formation began in the Universe. These compact matter laboratories also unravel the mass-loss in the post-main-sequence evolution and establish critical constraints for galactic evolution models. I will design a robust theoretical framework to shed new light on the interior structure of white dwarfs, associate them with their progenitor stars, and enhance their potential as probes of fundamental astrophysical relations. I have recently computed the first 3D simulations of pure-hydrogen white dwarf atmospheres including full radiation-hydrodynamics. These improved calculations demonstrate that the widely used 1D model atmospheres are unable to correctly solve the thermodynamic stratification of convective layers, and therefore lead to incorrect masses and cooling ages. My ambitious goal is to expand the 3D simulations to stellar remnants of all atmospheric compositions and connect these surface calculations to interior structure models. The project is timely since my improved theoretical tools will be essential to analyse the forthcoming Gaia sample, where the number of known white dwarfs is expected to increase by a factor of ten. I will use my theoretical framework with Gaia data, supplemented by other surveys and dedicated follow-up observations, to extract an unprecedented wealth of information from white dwarfs. I will set the standards for the star formation history and initial mass function in the Milky Way, as well as constrain the fundamental mass-radius relation for white dwarfs. I will also study evolved planetary systems that are currently being accreted in the convection zone of their white dwarf hosts, providing direct and unique insight into the bulk composition of exo-terrestrial material.

Mots-clés : white dwarfs,convection,radiation hydrodynamics,spectroscopy,model atmospheres,stellar structures
Projet ERC : PAIRPLASMA (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental constituents of matter
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2378958.0 €

The visible Universe is predominantly in the plasma state. On Earth, plasmas are less common, but they find many applications in industry and are also studied with the goal of providing an abundant energy source for mankind through fusion energy. The behaviour of plasmas studied thus far, in particular those that are magnetized, is very complex. The complexity manifests itself first and foremost as a host of different wave types, many of which are generically unstable and evolve into turbulence or violent instabilities. This complexity and the instability of these waves stems to a large degree from effects that can be traced back to the difference in mass between the positive and negative species, the ions and the electrons. In contrast to conventional ion-electron plasmas, electron-positron (pair) plasmas consist of equal-mass charged particles. This symmetry results in unique behaviour of the pair plasmas, a topic that has been intensively studied theoretically and numerically for decades but experimental studies are only just starting. These studies are not only driven by curiosity: Strongly magnetized electron-positron plasmas are believed to exist ubiquitously in pulsar magnetospheres and active galaxies in the Universe, and the entire Universe is believed to have been a matter-antimatter symmetric plasma in its earliest epochs after the Big Bang. We propose here to create and study the first long-lived and confined pair plasmas on Earth. This is now possible by combining novel techniques in plasma and beam physics. We will develop a levitated dipole confinement device and will fill it with readily available electrons and low-energy positrons from the world-leading steady-state positron source.
Projet ERC : PEP2D (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 533825.0 €

The vision behind the PEP2D project is to pioneer the realization of fully printed electronic circuits on flexible substrates as paper, leveraging the exceptional electronic properties of inks based on novel two- dimensional materials (2DMs), and through the wide-spread and low-cost inkjet printing technology. The development of fully printed electronic systems on flexible substrates as paper could have an unpreceded economical and societal impact on the European Union. Unleashing the potential of this technology could open new and wide applications, ranging from bio (e.g., smart patches for biometric readings), to food/medicine quality control (e.g, smart tags for checking the breaking of cold chain), or to anti-counterfeiting of valuable goods, just to cite few. Actually, technology is endeavouring to implement the main building blocks for electronic applications in the fast-growing market of flexible electronics expected to expand to 42 B€ by 2021, but available materials are missing the long-term stability and reliability, and device performance can be further improved. From this perspective, it is compulsory to develop new materials, and device architectures able to allow the fully printing of a working electronic system. PEP2D aims at designing a library of inkjet-printed electronic devices (transistors, and all linear and nonlinear components) and circuits (digital logic, memory circuits, amplifiers, transmitters, receivers) enabled by 2DMs based inks, to be eventually obtained through the use of a single tool as the inkjet process, without the need of any additional fabrications steps (i.e., use of resists, etching etc.) and in air (not in glovebox). Such a goal will be achieved by means of the synergic and complementary activities pursued within the project and based on advanced modelling and design of inkjet-printed devices and circuits, which will lead the activity on the realization and measurements of printed electronic systems.

Mots-clés : multi scale device simulations,two dimensional materials
Projet ERC : MDDS (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Technion – Israel Institute of Technology — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2493705.0 €

The way data science algorithms and techniques, central to the Internet and on-line media, are designed need to be revolutionized. Current designs ignore participants' strategic incentives. Our vision is the establishment of an entirely new repertoire of incentive-compatible data science algorithms and techniques, obtained through pioneering the application of game-theoretic mechanism design for data science. Game theory is the branch of mathematics dealing with the modeling and analysis of multi-agent interactions. Mechanism design is the part of game theory that deals with the design of protocols/algorithms for environments consisting of self-motivated participants. Mechanism design has been central to bridging computer science and game theory. It has been widely applied to electronic commerce, advertising and routing networks, and led to significant contributions. On the other hand, data science is flowering, with major applications in search and information retrieval, on-line recommendation systems, clustering and segmentation, and social networks analysis. Quite surprisingly, although the incentives of publishers/firms/customers in such data science contexts are of great importance, mechanism design in the related settings has been almost completely neglected. The proposal aims at building theoretical foundations, providing algorithms, as well as validating through experiments, a fundamental bridge between mechanism design and data science. The ultimate success of this research would be the replacement of classical relevance ranking, segmentation, on-line explore \& exploit, and influencers' detection algorithms by incentive-compatible ones, creating the next generation of data science algorithms..