Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Potassium:Absolute Chronologies Calibrated Using Really Accurate TIMS Experiments (K:ACCURATE)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 203049.6
EU funding (EUR): 203049.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Accurate and precise geochronology is fundamental to earth sciences, essential for the quantification of rates and durations of geological processes and in unravelling cause and effect relationships. The 40Ar/39Ar technique has the widest temporal range of any geochronometer, can be applied to many K-rich rocks, and is used to solve key questions in earth, life, and planetary sciences. Modern mass spectrometers generate measurements with analytical uncertainties (precision) much smaller than the uncertainty of the fundamental constants required for age calculations (accuracy). Whilst precision is often better than 0.1%, accuracy is limited to ~ 2.5% due to uncertainties in the decay of 40K and absolute ages of mineral standards. Many of these parameters are based on poorly documented studies from the 1960s and 1970s and need to be improved. I aim to improve the accuracy of the 40Ar/39Ar system from ~2.5% to ~0.5%, calibrated against SI standards and independent from other geochronometers. Objectives include: (1) develop an SI traceable isotopic standard for measuring absolute abundances of 40K, (2) measure the absolute amount of 40K in mineral standards, (3) measure the natural relative abundances of K isotopes and recalculate the partial decay constant of 40K to 40Ca, and (4) test improvements in technique accuracy with other geochronometers (e.g. U-Pb and astronomical tuning). The determination of absolute 40K abundances described in this project is complementary to my current project in a Marie Curie ITN that develops a system for measuring absolute abundances of 40Ar. The long overdue measurements for both K and Ar will facilitate the first principles recalibration of the age of 40Ar/39Ar mineral standards, allow a future redetermination of the 40K decay scheme, and improve the accuracy of the 40Ar/39Ar technique. Ultimately, I aim to deliver the tools with which earth scientists will “dissect” deep geological time with hitherto unattainable resolution.

Keywords: isotope geochemistry,geochronology,thermal ionization mass spectrometry,geological timescale,potassium,standards
RADAR-based ASH monitoring and foreCASTing by integrating of remote sensing techniques and volcanic plume models (RASHCAST)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200549.6
EU funding (EUR): 200549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Our understanding and ability to predict and respond to volcanic hazards and in particular to ash cloud diffusion in the atmosphere cannot be properly addressed in the absence of reliable ash observational and forecasting system. In this respect, the proposed research aims at investigating ways to improve several main aspects, that is: i) the quantitative estimation of ash concentration in the atmosphere shortly after a volcanic eruption, ii) the tracking and simulations of the evolution of ash plume by numerical models, iii) the integration of information acquired by different remote sensors, mainly ground based radar and satellite radiometers. These tasks are facilitated by multi-instrument observations available from past volcanic eruptions already collected over the years. The scientific merit of this proposal is the synergistic use of these observations and numerical models which will uniquely support investigations on ash cloud quantitative estimation and its validation with independent information. Besides the scientific repercussions, one of the main operational impacts of the proposed project is to give a contribution to aviation advisory centers to move from the current zero tolerance to ash threshold concept for an optimal air traffic regulation. The adopted methodology foresees the combined use of the Active Tracer High resolution Atmospheric Model (ATHAM) to simulate the mesoscale evolution of ash cloud and observational data: mainly ground radar and satellite radiometers. Radar retrievals of ash cloud features will be used to provide accurate initialization for ATHAM and for comparison with satellite observations. Moreover, electromagnetic models will be used to set up inversion algorithms and homogenize radar and satellite measurements in terms of ash concentration. This step will allow developing a Model-based Integrated Ash Remote Sensing (MIARS) algorithm able to merge information with different characteristic (coverage, spatial scale etc.).

Keywords: ash cloud monitoring,remote sensing,radar retrievals,ash cloud numerical forecasting,satellite observations
Overnight Volatility in Financial Markets: Causes and Consequences (OVERNIGHT VOLATILITY)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-22
End date: 2013-11-11
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179477.8
EU funding (EUR): 179477.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project consists of four parts, each of which will analyze a different aspect of interbank overnight rate volatility (hereafter “OV”). In the first part of the project, the implications of OV on longer term interest rates will be investigated. The expectations hypothesis notes that longer-term rates should equal expected future short-term rates plus a term premium. We will look for evidence that OV can affect the term premium embedded in longer-term rates. The analysis will be conducted for the US, Euro Area, and the UK. Cross-country comparisons are essential to identify the impact of OV under different monetary policy frameworks. We expect to find that lower OV in the interbank market leads to a lower term premium by reducing uncertainty, and thus lower longer-term rates for a given setting of the overnight rate. In the second part of the project, we will focus on the sensitivity of OV to different reserve management regimes by utilizing a dynamic optimization model of daily reserve management. Using this model, we will investigate the implications of alternative reserve management strategies on OV including the reserve management practices at the Fed and the ECB. This way, we will check whether a particular reserve management strategy is preferable in terms of achieving lower OV. The third part of the project will utilize an interdisciplinary causal search algorithm to investigate the links between OV and broader macroeconomic variables such as the GDP, the price level, and the yield curve in a structural vector auturegression framework. The last part of the project will develop an intertemporal optimization model to estimate the demand for term deposit facilities and their implications on OV. Term deposit facilities are established by the central banks (Fed, ECB, RBA) during the recent financial crisis. Because of the current nature of these developments, there has not been any work done understanding the functioning of these deposit facilities.

Keywords: macroeconomics,interdisciplinary causal search,monetary economics,monetary transmission mechanism,expectations hypothesis,term premia,term deposit facilities,reserve management,econometrics
Experimental generation of distant quantum dot spin entanglement (QUANTUMDOTS)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 187028.8
EU funding (EUR): 187028.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Quantum dot spins, known as “artificial atoms”, not only provide platforms for studying spin dynamics in a solid-state environment, but also serve as promising candidates for implementing scalable quantum computation. Considerate efforts have been devoted to manipulating quantum dot spins as qubits. Precise preparation of initial qubits and complete control of a single quantum spin with optical means have been reported. Until now, however, the generation of distant quantum dot spin entanglement still remains challenging. Here, we propose to prepare quantum dot spin entangled states by making the photons from two distant quantum dots interfering on a wave-guide beam splitter, which is out of reach of all previous experiments. We also plan to study problems of fundamental importance in quantum mechanics, such as entanglement swapping, entanglement purification and testing of Bell inequality with quantum dot spins.

Keywords: physics,quantum computation,quantum entanglement,optics,solid state physics,quantum dots.
Photo-Triggered Reversible Assembly of Polymers in Water (PHOTOTRAP)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2013-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200549.6
EU funding (EUR): 200549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The dynamic three dimensional structure of enzymes is dictated by secondary bonding interactions and plays a crucial role in both molecular recognition and allosteric regulation. “Smart” supramolecular polymers, similarly to natural enzymes, are also capable of undergoing self-organization into a defined structure on account of non-covalent interactions and subsequently exerting a function. A major limitation in the field of supramolecular self-assembly, however, has been access to synthetic systems showing reversible aggregation in water. The goal of this project is to prepare supramolecular polymers which demonstrate hierarchical assembly and light-triggered actuation in aqueous media. The self-assembly motif that will be exploited in the proposed materials is based on cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), a macrocyclic host molecule capable of simultaneously accommodating two guest molecules, including guests that display a photo-triggered binding affinity such as azobenzene or stilbene derivatives. Photochromic guests for CB[8] will be synthesized and combined with a variety of polymeric architectures; and CB[8] will be utilized as a molecular “handcuff” to hold together polymeric chains. This concept will be exploited in the light-controlled supramolecular polymerization of macromonomers and the preparation of polymeric micelles showing tuneable coordination modes. The light-induced modification of the stability, permeability or even morphology of the micelles will be explored. This project addresses major challenges in polymer science such as understanding the factors that determine the binding dynamics of supramolecular polymers in water and exerting reversible photo-control over macromolecular aggregation with impact on substance delivery applications, viscosity modification and the design of self-healable materials. This is a multidisciplinary project that will deliver a highly valuable educational training for the candidate in a cutting-edge scientific environment.

Keywords: polymer chemistry,organic chemistry,supramolecular chemistry,supramolecular polymers,cucurbit[u]uril,aqueous self-assembly,azobenzene,controlled radical polimerization,polymeric micelles
MicroRNA and metabolic programming in rainbow trout (MIRTROUT)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-06
End date: 2013-07-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 197064.0
EU funding (EUR): 197064.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Carnivorous fish require high-protein intake for protein synthesis and energy purposes and are currently fed high-protein diets based mainly on fishmeal. However, fish meal replacement by carbohydrates is important for sustainable aquaculture in order to decrease nitrogen waste in aquatic environment and preserve marine resources. Unfortunately, rainbow trout is considered as poor user of dietary carbohydrates. Thus, understanding how metabolism is regulated in carnivorous fish constitutes the first objective of our proposal. The second is to determine whether early metabolic programming may help us to tailor fish metabolism to new sustainable diets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate protein expression mainly by targeting the 3’ UTR region of mRNAs. miRNAs have been involved in the regulation of metabolism related gene expression as well as in the control of insulin/amino acids signalling. The main objective of this project is to analyze the nutritional regulation and metabolic programming of hepatic microRNA levels in rainbow trout. The study will be first focussed on the miRNA122 which is characteristic from the liver and involved in the regulation of cholesterol and triglycerides synthesis. Two important research projects concerning the whole sequencing of the rainbow trout genome and the analysis of the differential expression of the miRNA profile in different tissues of rainbow trout at different nutritional status are currently in progress and will give us the opportunity to enlarge the study to other interesting miRNA for hepatic metabolism and find target genes for these miRNA. Our proposal will be divided in three tasks: 1. Nutritional and hormonal regulation of hepatic miRNAs levels. 2. Time-course evolution of hepatic miRNAs during fish development and growth. 3. Influence of metabolic programming on hepatic miRNA levels and metabolism control.

Keywords: nutritional sciences,functional biology,molecular biology,metabolism,micrornas,metabolic programming,gene expression
A universal approach for analyzing the diet of omnivorous mammals based on DNA barcoding and next generation sequencing: application to the brown bear population in northern Italy (BEARMOLECULARDIET)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-05-01
End date: 2013-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185748.0
EU funding (EUR): 185748.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The brown bear population in northern Italy is the result of a recent translocation and is of conservation concern also due to the high impact of human activities in the modern Alpine ecosystem. Diet studies are particularly important for endangered species or for population of conservation interest because accurate knowledge of animal diet is fundamental for evaluating the ecology of animals in their habitat. The general goal of the proposed project is to develop a universal and standardized tool for comprehensive molecular non-invasive diet analysis of omnivorous mammals, to validate it using the brown bear population in northern Italy, and finally to evaluate its use for understanding brown bear ecology in this region highly impacted by human presence. In particular, I intend to 1. set up a universal protocol based on DNA barcoding and next generation sequencing to identify the taxon of plant and animal components in bear faeces; 2. use the developed protocol to assess the diet at the population level; 3. determine diet at the individual level to address differences by age classes, sex, geographic areas, and for bears responsible for damages; and 4. compare results of molecular diet analysis with results from microscopic examination of faeces for bears in the region. This study is expected to reveal the potential of the new approach for diet analysis for more extensive ecological investigations that will contribute to bear conservation in the region. Information gained from this study will be transferred to local agencies involved in educational programs for promoting bear awareness and acceptance. In addition, the implementation of this project, involving mobility of the fellow to a European research institution leader in the application of DNA barcoding to ecological studies, offers a unique opportunity for professional development through training in research under the supervision of an experienced scientist and in new techniques in molecular ecology.

Keywords: animal ecology,conservation biology,omnivorous diet analysis,dna barcoding,molecular genetics,next generation sequencing,universal markers,ursus arctos
microRNA regulation of apoptosis and differentiation during early mammalian development (MEMD)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2013-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200549.6
EU funding (EUR): 200549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A number of crucial events involved in embryo patterning occur during early post-implantation development in mammals. These include the differentiation of the pluripotent epiblast into the different embryo lineages, the specification of the body axes and morphogenetic events such as the cavitation of the embryo by programmed cell death. Embryonic Stem (ES) cells derived from the undifferentiated epiblast represent a powerful tool for the development of new therapies, however to successfully manipulate them it is necessary to understand how they differentiate in the embryo in vivo. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that bind in a complementary way to target mRNAs and repress gene expression; they can be grouped into functional families that are predicted to target the same genes. They have been implicated in many biological processes including development and disease and miRNA-based therapies are currently under development. A number of miRNAs have been found to play key roles in the control of proliferation, pluripotency and differentiation in in vitro systems, however whether this reflects their role in the differentiation of the epiblast in vivo remains unknown. The proposed research aims to gain insight into the role of miRNAs in the control of differentiation and cell death during early mouse development. First, we will describe the expression pattern of miRNAs already selected as being highly expressed in the early embryo. Second, we will use a combination of in vitro and in silico approaches to identify the real targets of the two most highly expressed miRNA families in the early embryo. And finally we will analyse the specific role of these two families in differentiation and cell death by combining ES cell differentiation and embryo analysis. Altogether the proposed investigation will provide valuable information about miRNA regulation of cell differentiation and apoptosis during early embryo development.

Keywords: health sciences,micrornas,embryo,mammalian development,apoptosis,es cell differentiation
The embodied social cognition and processes of prejudice: Malodours, disgust and prejudice (THE SCENT OF BIGOTRY)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-01-02
End date: 2014-01-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 211185.0
EU funding (EUR): 211185.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The objectives of the planned activities are (1) to conduct cutting-edge research on physical and psychological conditions that stimulate and maintain good intergroup relations; (2) to develop a trans-national collaborations with experts working in that area; and (3) to provide the experienced researcher (Polish, based in UK) with new knowledge (embodiment, social neuroscience), experience (research management, new research methodologies) and complementary training (research design, dissemination, advanced statistics) that will help her achieve a leading independent position and professional maturity. The project studies why social groups perceived on a symbolic level as ‘impure’ are often avoided and excluded. It adopts the ground-breaking embodiment perspective in social psychology, which proposes that abstract concepts (e.g. moral impurity) are build upon concrete bodily experiences (e.g., physical impurity). The main hypothesis is that prejudice can result from negative moral emotions that involve an automatic (basic and unconscious) food rejection system cued by odours. This system prevents contamination of the body by avoidance or expulsion of unhealthy substances. This perspective addresses those aspects of prejudice (the persistent obstacle to intergroup harmony) that are outside of people’s conscious awareness and control. Three experimental psychological studies will be conducted under a supervision of the scientist in charge and a team of 3 experts at an international research centre (Cis-ISCTE) in Portugal. They will use priming procedures (subtle activation of related concepts) and methods of indirect attitude assessment to examine the effects of malodour (vs pleasant scent) on prejudice. Results are likely to have theoretical implications and applied value in providing useful information for policy making aiming at remediating prejudice and improving intergroup relations in a cost-effective and subtle way.

Keywords: social sciences,social psychology,embodied social cognition,prejudice,malodours