Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Medical Treatments in Medieval Leprosaria. Exploring Healing Remedies through Dental Calculus Analysis (MEDICAL)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-03-01
End date: 2022-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171473.28
EU funding (EUR): 171473.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Leprosy was an iconic disease in medieval Europe. From the 11th century, several leprosy hospitals were founded as a mitigative response to the risk of infection. Medieval treatises and chronicles suggest that leprosy was treated with medicinal plants and other ingredients of mineral and animal origin. However, very little is known about the methods used to diagnose and treat this disease within leprosaria, and medical treatments of leprosy have very rarely put in their physical context so far. Through the analysis of the dental calculus, the MEDICAL project aims to explore the medical care offered to people who experienced leprosy and lived in leprosaria in Northern Europe during the medieval period (1100-1550AD). To date, these medical treatments have never been analysed from an archaeological perspective and the study of skeletal remains recovered from selected historic leprosy cemeteries offers an unparalleled opportunity to investigate medical treatments further. The MEDICAL project will focus on two north European case studies: the cemeteries of St. Leonard at Peterborough (England) and Saint-Thomas d’Aizier (France). The research will be developed at the Department of Oral and Maxillo Facial Sciences at the Sapienza University in Rome (host institution) and at the Department of Archaeology of Durham University (secondment). Under the supervision of Professor Emanuela Cristiani (Rome) and Professor Charlotte Roberts (Durham), the applicant Dr Elena Fiorin will analyse human dental calculus employing optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy with X-ray microanalysis using Energy and Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. This project ultimately seeks to shed new light on the history of medieval medicine developing a novel and fresh archaeological methodology for the study of infectious diseases in the ‘golden age of bacteria’.

Keywords: bioarchaeology,human dental calculus,medieval leprosaria,northern europe,medieval medicine,leprosy,palaeopathology,optical microscopy
Prediction and validation of in vivo dendritic processing (DendritesInVivo)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-03-01
End date: 2022-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Integration of synaptic input by single neurons is fundamental to computation in the brain. The output of every cell within a network is shaped by the elaborate morphology of its dendritic tree, and a suite of biophysical mechanisms that confer nonlinear processing capabilities. Over past decades, a remarkable synergy between theory and experiment has elucidated key strategies by which single-cell processing could thus enhance the neural code. However, a critical gap in current understanding remains: which operations from the vast dendritic repertoire are actually employed in vivo? One major obstacle to addressing this problem is that the statistics of in vivo input patterns are largely unknown. Thus, it is unclear how salient information is presented to the dendrites of a neuron, and by extension, what mechanisms are used for its transduction to action potential output at the axon. I aim to answer these questions by combining my expertise with that of the host lab to formulate theoretical predictions and then validate them with in vivo experiments. Specifically, I will construct a computational model of a cortical neuron that learns to discriminate synaptic input patterns, and use it to discover the optimal scheme for encoding and decoding information. I will thus predict the spatiotemporal patterns of synaptic input to stimulus-tuned neurons, and the biophysical mechanisms through which this information can be extracted. I will then test these predictions in primary visual cortex of awake behaving mice through two-photon dual-colour imaging of presynaptic glutamate release and postsynaptic calcium dynamics. By relating the algorithmic and biological function of neurons in the living brain, I anticipate this project will yield important insights into general principles of neural computation.

Keywords: dendrites,neural computation
Circular Thermoset Materials: How to exploit Precision Engineered Macromolecules in their Bottom-up Design? (CiMaC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Panel description: New materials and new synthetic approaches, structure-properties relations, solid state chemistry, molecular architecture, organic chemistry
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANT (ERC-2020-ADG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-11-01
End date: 2026-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2482500.0
EU funding (EUR): 2482500.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

While displaying superior properties compared to thermoplastic polymers, thermosets – which have an annual global production of 40 million tons and are for example used in windmill blades and adhesives – represent a major worldwide challenge. Their crosslinked structure presents many hurdles when it comes to recycling and responding to Europe’s desire for a circular economy. The overarching objective of the CiMaC-program is to propose ground-breaking solutions to the major shortcomings of Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs), being their long-term dimensional stability and (re)processing ability when using industrial techniques, thereby enabling the urgent uptake of these revolutionary thermosets from academic research to an industrial level. Covalent dynamic chemistry should ideally enable a combination of the bulk processing possible when using thermoplastics and the high durability of thermosets. Today, however, the chemical design of CANs, with ultrafast (re)processing potential, along with dimensional stability under service conditions, represents the holy grail in sustainable material science. The unique concept to tackle this ultimate goal will start from my recognized expertise in precision macromolecular chemistry. The central idea is that the use of precisely engineered telechelic macromolecules as CAN-precursors will allow an unprecedented regulation of the resulting CAN properties through control over different molecular parameters, such as tacticity and internal catalysis. First, several innovative synthetic protocols/methodologies will be developed to make such unique telechelic structures on a large enough scale for material science. After their incorporation into CANs, the key findings within the CiMaC knowledge platform on reprocessing and long-term performance of crosslinked materials, will be implemented for both the development of robust, on-demand debondable adhesives, as well as for providing the first upscalable extrudable thermoset materials.

Keywords: precision macromolecular chemistry,circular polymeric materials,covalent adaptable networks,debonding adhesives,extrudable thermoset materials
Missing Migrants: Identifying and Shaping Obligations for Protection (MIRO)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2024-03-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174806.4
EU funding (EUR): 174806.4
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Every year, thousands of migrants go missing, leaving behind families, who suffer not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or not. These human tragedies have been acknowledged and recognised by key international actors, such as in the 2018 UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. At the same time, the very term ‘missing migrants’ is not legally (or otherwise) defined and most broadly includes all migrants whose whereabouts remain unknown. While international organisations (IOs) engage with the issue of ‘missing migrants’, they each conceptualise the phenomenon differently, focusing variously on only those migrants that are lost at sea, die unidentified, are secretly deprived of liberty, those who appear to have been trafficked, or disappear into the informal economy. Against this background, MIRO will identify the key facets of an umbrella concept of ‘missing migrant’ (a legally informed empirical concept), which will facilitate the identification of key legal obligations across various domains of international law. This in turn will provide the basis for an analysis and critique of institutional practices. The project’s main goal is to identify and interpret international legal obligations regarding ‘missing migrants’ and accordingly critique and shape the practices of the EU (including its externalization practices), its Member States and pertinent IOs. The project’s aims will be achieved through doctrinal legal research, semi-structured interviews, four study visits to IOs, and an expert workshop. The project output will include two policy papers, two articles, one book chapter, conference presentations, and blog posts. The MIRO project will build on the applicant’s expertise on missing persons and enforced disappearances, who will pursue research into new fields, in particular migration and IO law. The fellowship will be a continuation of her academic steps towards attaining an independent academic position and heading a research team.

Keywords: obligations of international organizations,families of missing migrants
“Can bean yield losses caused by drought, heat stress and climate change be ameliorated by enhancing pod-specific stomatal conductance?” (Pod Yield)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Mexico
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2017-06-12
End date: 2020-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 237493.8
EU funding (EUR): 237493.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

CO2-induced climate change is causing global warming and droughts, resulting in crop yield losses. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is among the most important food crops worldwide, but is very vulnerable to heat- and drought-induced yield losses. The key objective of this project is to experimentally test the potential for increased pod transpiration to enhance bean pod yield under climate-change-associated drought and heat stress. I will fill an empirical void by, for the first time, testing this critical hypothesis in (1) naturally drought- and heat- tolerant tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) using transcriptomic analysis, and (2) by transgenic enhancement of pod-specific stomatal conductance in the stress-intolerant common bean (P. vulgaris). For comparative transcriptomic analysis of Phaseolus pod drought and heat responses I will be trained in RNAseq, and for transgenic experiments I will produce stable Phaseolus transformants and characterise pod water flux by cutting-edge terahertz spectroscopy during the out-going phase in the lab of Prof. Covarrubias at the Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (IBT-UNAM). I have designed a soybean promoter-driven construct that will direct expression of a dominant Arabidopsis allele to enhance Phaseolus pod stomatal opening and this will be compatible for use in many legume crops. To transfer this important agri-tech innovation back to Europe, I will characterise tepary bean and the transgenic plant’s growth and yield responses to a Future Climate Change Scenario during the return phase at the beneficiary, the University of Sheffield (USFD). At the USFD the group of Prof. Gray has unique expertise in stomatal and guard cell responses to elevated [CO2] and combines infrared thermography and infrared-gas analysis to phenotype whole-plant CO2 growth responses. The project uses an interdisciplinary and translational approach to tackle food security issues under climate change.

Keywords: drought,crop yield,heat stress,bean,stomata,transcriptomics
Development of a multifunctional system for complex aerostructures ASSembly, ASSisted by Neural Network (AssAssiNN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Sky 2
Action type: Innovation actions
Partnership: CS2 (Art-187)
Countries involved: Italy,Spain,Switzerland
Call: Development of a multifunctional system for complex aerostructures assembly, assisted by neural network softwares (H2020-CS2-CFP10-2019-01, 2019)
Start date: 2020-07-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1005677.5
EU funding (EUR): 899252.5
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

In today’s workplace, the increasing use of new technologies such as Artificial Neural NeIn today’s workplace, the increasing use of new technologies such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mixed and Augmented Reality (MR/AR) and Collaborative Robotic (Co-Robot) is helping to improve the productivity of many industries. Therefore, a future aircraft factory would be incomplete if essential technologies are not considered. It is, therefore, necessary to innovate the assembly and quality control processes of aerostructures taking advantage of the new support of these new technologies. This will help to achieve higher efficiency and quality in aircraft production and to reduce the risk of failures due to manual activities to zero. The main objective of the ASSASSINN project is to develop and validate a robust multifunctional assembly cell able to assist manual activities as the installation of typical fuselage systems and equipment, including cabling through the cabin structures or the application of sealant.This cell will guide the worker using Mixed and Augmented Reality during the assembly and inspection processes. The worker will be assisted by a Co-Robot while Artificial Intelligence algorithm based on Neural Networks will check the quality of the results. The solution proposed by ASSASSINN will take into consideration the driver factors indispensable for the industrialization: increased structural integration, reduced total costs and structural weight, enhanced multifunctional materials, reduced environmental impact and extended duration of aircraft life. The project counts with a strong consortium composed of 3 different partners with complementary profiles and large expertise: two research centers, CEIT and SUPSI, with a background and expertise in MR/AR, robotics and artificial intelligence; and an aeronautic manufacturing engineering, HB Technology, who is strongly consolidated in the aircraft production and assembly sector.

Keywords: artifical intelligence,neural network,quality inspection,machine learning,cobot,assembly,fuselage,composite
Modelling Of Whole-brain Slow oscillatory dynamics in physiology and pathology (MoWS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-11-01
End date: 2023-01-15
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183473.28
EU funding (EUR): 183473.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The brain is a complex system whose function relies on a dynamic information exchange between trillions of neural connections organised hierarchically: local neuronal circuits are interconnected to form large-scale functional networks spanning several brain areas. Neural oscillations are the result of this multilevel interaction and regulate vital processes, from sleep to attention. Neurophysiological techniques, such as electrophysiological recordings or brain imaging, can only investigate separately the micro- and macro-circuits that, together, generate global activity patterns. To date, despite significant recent technical advancements, the causal roles between local and global brain activity, and between global dynamics and overall brain function, remain largely unknown. In this context, complementary computational approaches can dramatically improve the understanding of the multilevel functional organization of the brain. This project aims to develop the first model of whole-brain slow oscillations based on the integration of multi-scale neural activity. Slow neural oscillations (<1Hz) regulate key functions such as synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation and sensory processing. Moreover, abnormalities in this brain rhythm have been linked to the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders. The novelty of my model lays in three aspects. It will include pyramidal neurons, parvalbumin interneurons and somatostatin interneurons, following on the experimental results defining their differential roles in regulating slow waves; it will be based on the integration of multi-scale experimental data acquired in-house (local field potential recordings and fMRI); it will be used to model the slow dynamics alterations occurring in genetically defined autistic-like disorders. This solid and highly credible computational tool will advance our understanding of the physiology of brain oscillations and will potentially impact the diagnostic and therapeutic paths for autism.

Keywords: multi scale brain modelling,slow oscillatory dynamics,integrate and fire models,interneurons,connectome,fmri,mouse models,brain imaging,electrophysiology,autism
Functional materials from on-surface linkage of molecular precursors (SURFINK)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2014-STG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2020-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1894723.0
EU funding (EUR): 1894723.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

With the advent of self-assembly, increasingly high hopes are being placed on supramolecular materials as future active components of a variety of devices. The main challenge remains the design and assembly of supramolecular structures with emerging functionalities tailored according to our needs. In this respect, the extensive research over the last decades has led to impressive progress in the self-assembly of molecular structures. However, self-assembly typically relies on non-covalent interactions, which are relatively weak and limit the structure’s stability and often even their functionality. Only recently the first covalently bonded organic networks were synthesized directly on substrate surfaces under ultra-high-vacuum, whose structure could be defined by appropriate design of the molecular precursors. The potential of this approach was immediately recognized and has attracted great attention. However, the field is still in its infancy, and the aim of this project is to lift this new concept to higher levels of sophistication reaching real functionality. For optimum tunability of the material’s properties, its structure must be controlled to the atomic level and allow great levels of complexity and perfection. Complexity can be reached e.g. with hybrid structures combining different types of precursors. In this project, this hardly explored approach will be applied to three families of materials of utmost timeliness and relevance: graphene nanoribbons, porous frameworks, and donor-acceptor networks. Along the pursuit of these objectives, side challenges that will be addressed are the extension of our currently available chemistry-on-surfaces toolbox by identification of new reactions, optimized reaction conditions, surfaces, and ultimately their combination strategies. A battery of tools, with special emphasis on scanning probe microscopies, will be used to visualize and characterize the reactions and physical-chemical properties of the resulting materials.

Keywords: on surface chemistry,bottom up synthesis of functional materials,graphene nanoribbons,heterogeneous catalysis,donor acceptor networks,photovoltaic processes,self assembly