Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Allochronic and ecological models of sympatric speciation of plam trees on a small isolated island (2MODELS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-07-01
End date: 2010-09-30
Duration (months): 15.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175836.7
EU funding (EUR): 175836.7
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Sympatric speciation, the origin of species without geographic isolation, is an outstanding and controversial issue for evolutionary biology. Theoretical work has shown it is plausible but difficult, mainly because it requires strong divergent selection and tight linkage among loci coding for different traits. Clear cases from nature were scarce until recently when sympatric speciation became the most likely explanation for the origins of sister species of cichlid fish, fruit flies and island palms. Although these examples are well supported, the processes underlying sympatric speciation remain unresolved. The aim of the proposed research is to develop and test two competing models for the sympatric speciation of sister palm tree species endemic to Lord Howe Island. In the allochronic speciation model, we expect speciation to be initiated by reduced gene flow caused by environmental effects on flowering time and temporal (neutral) assortative mating. This model is supported by a six weeks difference in the flowering peaks between the two species that is influenced by the soil type on which they grow. The allochronic model will be based on previous work by the applicant (Devaux &amp; Lande 2008). The competing scenario will be a classical ecological speciation model in which divergent selection to contrasted ecological niches drives speciation. In this case study, divergent selection is supported by specialization of each species to different soil types. The island palm system has been intensively studied by the host group (Savolainen et al. 2006), therefore the proposed modeling work would feed on empirical data and, as outlined in the proposal, it would illuminate back empirical research towards measuring key parameters predicted by the comparison of the two models. We expect this research to provide testable predictions for the processes leading to sympatric speciation in flowering plants in general.

Keywords: natural sciences,evolutionary biology,population genetics
Functional analysis of the sugar based signalling process coordinating plant cell wall, primary metabolism and photosynthesis (PLANT CELL WALL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2011-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171300.62
EU funding (EUR): 171300.62
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Photosynthesis enables the plant to capture solar energy and to store it in form of sugars in the plant cell wall. Therefore plant cell walls are of particular interest in terms of optimization of energy biomass characteristics and yield. The so-called cell wall integrity mechanism monitors the state of the plant cell wall and initiates changes in its structure and composition to maintain the functional integrity. The proposed research focuses on the dissection of this mechanism by analysing the cross-talk between cell wall stress response and primary metabolism / photosynthesis. To investigate the role of sugars in the signal transduction of the cell wall stress response, I will establish the FRET-based nanosensor technique to visualise sugars in planta using Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and determine changes in sugar concentrations in response to cellulose biosynthesis inhibition (CBI, caused by isoxaben). In addition, I will investigate the role of a cell wall invertase (ATCWINV6) in sugar signalling processes during CBI. Therefore, a detailed phenotypic characterisation of mutant plants and functional analysis of the gene / protein will be performed. To determine the effects of cell wall stress on plant metabolism I will perform detailed metabolic profiling of wildtype Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to CBI in combination with expression profiling of photosynthesis and starch metabolism genes. Furthermore, selected mutants involved in the cell wall stress response will be analysed regarding changes in sugar concentrations and metabolic effects in response to CBI. The results of this project will contribute to the understanding of the cell wall integrity mechanism that can change / regulate the quality of biomass. By shining light on the regulatory connection between cellulose biosynthesis and metabolism / photosynthesis this project will help to develop novel strategies to improve biomass quantity.

Keywords: plant cell wall,cellulose biosynthesis inhibition (cbi),arabidopsis thaliana,isoxaben,sugar,primary metabolism,photosynthesis,fret-based nanosensors,cell wall invertase,metabolic profiling
Bioengineering the neural stem cell niche to identify regulators of fate determination (BIOENGINEERED NICHES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2012-03-31
Duration (months): 31.0
Total project cost (EUR): 190297.28
EU funding (EUR): 190297.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Although neural stem cells (NSC) have been isolated successfully and characterized relatively extensively, little is known about the role of their natural microenvironment, the so-called niche, in influencing their behavior. The role of distinct niche signals and their spatial orientation in regulating the choice between quiescence, self-renewal or differentiation is poorly understood, due in part to a lack of suitable in vitro model systems. The main goal of the proposed project is to investigate how extracellular signals affect symmetric/asymmetric cell division of single neural stem cells. This will be achieved by generating artificial microenvironments recapitulating key biochemical and structural characteristics of stem cell niches, that allow to expose NSCs to a variety of protein signals in a spatially-controlled fashion, and allow high-throughput tracking of single stem cells by time-lapse microscopy and retrospective fate analysis. Understanding the basic mechanisms that regulate the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of tissue-resident stem cells will open up new opportunities for their clinical application.

Keywords: neural stem cell,bioengineering,stem cell niche,time-lapse microscopy,asymmetric cell division,fate determinants
Role of siRNA-mediated DNA methylation in the root stem cell niche (STEMRB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-01-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169425.4
EU funding (EUR): 169425.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can give rise to different cell types in multicellular organisms. Plant and animal stem cells are usually not specified by the same subset of genes, even though the niche organizations are very similar. The Retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and its plant homologue RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED (RBR) in stem cell identity however constitutes a possible common pathway in both kingdoms (1). We want to further explore possible similarities in stem cell control, so we focused on RBR interactors in order to find conserved mechanisms. RBR shares two main protein-protein interaction domains with its animal homologs; one interacts with the transcription factor E2F and the other with LxCxE containing motif proteins (such as viral proteins and histone deacetylases). Interestingly, we have found that two proteins implicated in siRNA mediated silencing contain LxCxE domains, and both mutants show a root phenotype. Our aim is to characterize the role of siRNA-mediated silencing in the root meristem stem cells, and to identify the role of RBR in this pathway. It has been found that small inhibitory RNAs control the shoot apical meristem and flowering transition as well as root cap cell formation and lateral root formation (2,3). We will try to identify the role that siRNAs have in stem cell identity.

Keywords: plant genetics,stem cells,differentiation,evolution,retinoblastoma,small rnas,sirna,dna methylation,chromatin remodelling
Voltage and calcium dynamics and synaptic transmission within neuronal microcircuits in the vestibular cerebellum (VESTIBCELLDYNAMICS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166011.55
EU funding (EUR): 166011.55
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A fundamental goal of neuroscience is to understand how neurons communicate and encode information. Information transfer between neurons is classically thought to be mediated through rapid all-or-none membrane potential changes, called action potentials (APs), which lead to presynaptic calcium entry and neurotransmitter release. Recently, however, analog transmission has been detected through passive propagation of subthreshold depolarization down axons. Dendrites too exhibit active and passive properties. Technical constraints have made electrophysiological recordings from fine neuronal processes difficult, but advancements in optical imaging have opened avenues for monitoring fluctuations in membrane voltage and calcium signals with increased temporal and spatial resolution. The laboratory where I will do my postdoctoral work is developing novel methods for optical detection of membrane voltage. We will use these optical techniques to study both subcellular membrane potentials and rapid intracellular calcium changes in fine axonal and dendritic processes. The vestibulocerebellum is the oldest part of the cerebellum and processes specific proprioceptive information. This region is anatomically well-defined, with clearly identifiable cell types. While circuit function and cell connectivity in this region are well understood, little is known about how information is processed within the granule cell (GC) layer. Notably, these cells are electrically compact and may exhibit analog signaling. This work will provide novel insight into depolarization and calcium signaling in GC axons and fine dendrites of inhibitory stellate cells that they target. I will address the following questions: 1. Do subthreshold depolarizations propagate and elicit calcium influx in GC axon terminals? 2. Do subthreshold depolarizations influence neurotransmitter release in GC axon terminals? 3. How do APs and subthreshold depolarization propagate and sum along thin dendrites of stellate cells?

Keywords: neurophysiology,neurobiology,neurosciences,synaptic physiology,cerebellum,synaptic integration
Statistics of Solar Flare Activity for Space Weather Predictions (PREDICTING FLARES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Ireland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-01-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168055.05
EU funding (EUR): 168055.05
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Solar flares are spectacular demonstrations of solar activity, releasing large amounts of energy from the complex magnetic fields of sunspot groups. Along with coronal mass ejections, solar flares are a major contributor to space weather – the interaction of solar magnetic fields and particles with the Earth’s magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. Knowledge of the processes that drive this interaction is of importance not just to solar physics but also to human space endeavour, because space-based technological systems can suffer interruptions, damage, or terminal failure. Understanding the fundamental physics of solar flares is thus of importance in developing accurate and reliable space-weather forecasts. I propose to investigate the statistics of solar X-ray flares as a function of the physical properties of the sunspot groups from which they originate, thus improving our understanding of the physical conditions required for flare activity. These sunspot group flaring distributions will then be developed into a near-realtime flare-prediction tool using Bayesian techniques, providing novel physically motivated probability measures for future flare events. This represents a unique approach to understanding and interpreting the precise physical conditions that result in flare energy release. This work is vital to the European Community as highlighted by the recent Pathfinder Initiative to make sense of complexity and extreme events and ESA’s proposed Space Weather Programme. During the fellowship, I envisage developing my grant-writing, student supervision, lecturing, and conference-organising skills. This will diversify and extend my knowledge to a level of professional maturity whereby I can apply for and successfully obtain a tenure track academic post at a European research institute.

Keywords: astrophysics,solar physics,space weather,flare forecasting,statistics,algorithms,probability theory
Efficient Phylogenetics and the Caecilian Tree of Life (EFFICIENT-C-TREE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-02-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 23.0
Total project cost (EUR): 164871.86
EU funding (EUR): 164871.86
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main aim of this research project is to develop and evaluate intelligent sampling strategies that will enable more efficient construction of large-scale phylogenetic trees, and ultimately the Tree of Life. The project aims to reconstruct a large, near-comprehensive phylogeny of caecilian amphibians, and to use it to compare supertree and supermatrix approaches for building trees of life, as well as to investigate experimental design strategies intended to maximize the efficiency of large phylogeny reconstruction. The most innovative part of the project will be the use of supertrees in the development of strategies to effectively identify areas of poor overlap in large phylogenies. This is virtually an unexplored, cutting-edge area in the field of systematics and supertree reconstruction. It is hoped that the strategies developed in this project will have broad applicability and will become essential to efficiently plan and successfully culminate ambitious research initiatives aiming tree of life reconstruction (with real savings in time and cost), which is primary to almost every biological study (phylogenetic knowledge is necessary for the correct classification of any organism). Hence, these results will contribute to the more efficient implementation of strategies of conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity and natural resources, which is very timely and in line with the objectives of EU environmental research under FP7. Ultimately, the proposed project will put Europe at the forefront of tree of life reconstruction, as well as of amphibian systematics and evolution (particularly of caecilians). The high quality and profile of the fellow, together with the vast expertise of the host group, and the scientific excellence of the receiving institution will ensure that overall goals are successfully met in time.

Keywords: biological sciences,evolutionary biology,phylogeny,computational biology,biodiversity inventory: systematics phylogeny taxonomy,systematic zoology,molecular genetics,tree of life,caecilian,gymnophiona
From the Planetary to the Nanoscale: Magnetism at the Interface (PNMI)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-10-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 44.0
Total project cost (EUR): 231422.99
EU funding (EUR): 231422.99
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Magnetic anomalies from deep sources are commonly thought to be induced by the present Earth&apos;s field to magnetite bearing rocks. Such magnetism is limited by the Curie isotherm of magnetite related to the local thermal gradient. The proposed research challenges this picture and is important for understanding large scale crustal anomalies. Natural rhombohedral oxides of the Fe2O3-FeTiO3 solid solution series with fine-scale exsolution intergrowths can retain a strong and very stable magnetic remanence to higher temperatures than magnetite. Their remanence can be important in the magnetism of crust at depth which currently is intensely investigated by satellite surveys on Earth and on extraterrestrial bodies. Two challenges stand out for understanding magnetism at high pressure and temperature. First, stability of nanoscale mineral intergrowths should be explored in experimental runs, followed by close examination of results under room-temperature conditions by EMP and TEM. Second, the direct effect of pressure and temperature on magnetic properties of single phases, solid solutions, and intergrowths must be investigated. This requires direct observations at pressure and temperature. BGI has a phenomenal background in high-pressure experiments at crustal conditions. It also has excellent background and equipment for exploring materials before and after experiments using electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction and high-resolution TEM. A Mössbauer- spectroscopy system through a diamond-anvil cell at pressure and temperature will allow direct recording of magnetic transitions under deep crustal conditions. To come into conjunction with these special capabilities and these highly advanced scientists in complementary, but different fields of science, will provide a unique opportunity for my research and career to move ahead towards an understanding of magnetic behaviour of the deep crust. This will lead to more definitive results in interpretation of deep-seated anomalies.

Keywords: geophysics,magnetic anomalies,high-pressure,nanomagnetism,tem
Chromatin dynamics during X-inactivation: assessing the role of different chromatin changes in the loss of gene activity and the gain of gene silencing (SIMAOROCHAXCI)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-10-01
End date: 2011-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165444.54
EU funding (EUR): 165444.54
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

X-inactivation (XCI) is an epigenetic phenomenon resulting in transcriptional silencing to attain gene dosage parity between XX females and XY males. XCI involves coating of the non-coding Xist RNA followed by depletion of euchromatic marks and shortly after accumulation of heterochromatic marks. The chromatin modifying activities that are involved in these steps and their functional interplay remain poorly understood however. We will specifically assess how euchromatic marks, such as H3K4 methylation and H3 and H4 acetylation, are lost shortly after Xist RNA coating and the importance of this loss in gene silencing and heterochromatin formation. First, we will perform functional studies in differentiating XX ES cells, including knockdown of chromatin modifying candidates, such as H3K4 demethylases and histone deacetylases. Second, we will investigate how specific X-linked loci behave during XCI, using a Lac or Tet operator tagging system. This will allow us to (a) visualise a locus in living cells and assess the exact timing of recruitment of proteins of interest (fused to a fluorescent protein), in control and knockdown situations; and (b) target specific chromatin factors (using the Lac or Tet repressor fusion) to a locus in order to assess the impact of chromatin changes on XCI. In summary, the two complementary strategies outlined here should provide us with new insights into the roles that various chromatin changes associated with XCI actually play in this process. This should also give new insights into the process of gene regulation in other systems.

Keywords: x-inactivation,h3k4 demethylases,histone deacetylases,mouse xx stem cells,short hairpin rnas,lac and tet operator/repressor system
Characterizing the effects of the Mediterannean diet on endothelial dysfunction (ENDOMED)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-06-01
End date: 2011-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 161162.47
EU funding (EUR): 161162.47
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

It is well established that death rates from cardiovascular disease are substantially lower in Mediterranean countries, which has been attributed the consumption of an unique collection of foods referred to as the Mediterranean diet. Although the mechanisms underlying the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease remain largely unclear, a important role for polyphenols and monounsaturated fatty acids, which are abundantly present in olive oil, is suspected. Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark for the initial stage of vascular dysfunction and has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Consumption of high fat meals result in an impaired postprandial endothelial function as measured by flow-mediated dilatation, markers of inflammation and markers of oxidative stress. However, the mechanism that mediate the effects of high fat meals on endothelial function remains unclear. The aim of the present project is to uncover the mechanisms that underlie the preventive effects of the Mediterranean diet on development of cardiovascular diseases, with a focus on endothelial dysfunction and the specific impact of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols. To that end, we will perform whole genome expression profiling on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells collected from 20 healthy young Caucasian men that received a milkshake containing 55 grams of SFA enriched or MUFA enriched fat as part of a single-blind cross-over dietary intervention trial. In addition, we will expose freshly isolated HUVEC and PBMC with specific dietary fatty acids and polyphenols for analysis of gene expression and protein secretion of specific markers of endothelial activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Characterizing the activity and mechanism of action of these dietary components may lead to the identification of valuable new targets in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: endothelial dysfunction,mediterranean diet,mono-unsaturated fatty acids,polyphenols,nutrigenomics,transcriptomics