Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Towards an improved animal phylogeny: Congruence between morphology and molecules in basal metazoans (PHYLOBAS)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-10-14
End date: 2012-10-13
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 229077.83
EU funding (EUR): 229077.83
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Comparative zoology is predicated on the assumption of a phylogenetic history. Today, phylogenetics relies on using explicit algorithmical methods to infer the past from features of contemporary species, with the fossil record as the only window to the history of life on our planet. A new field of research, called phylogenomics, uses large numbers of sequences to reconstruct the evolutionary history of organisms. Genomic data may palliate phylogenetic problems caused by sampling effects by expanding the number of characters for comparisons from hundreds to thousands. The congruence of results obtained from various data sets and/or various methods is the key validation of evolutionary inference. The value of morphology to corroborate and understand metazoan phylogeny and body plan evolution is now incontestable. It is the scientific aim of this project to resolve the phylogeny of basal metazoans using a phylogenomic approach and corroborating the results with morphological data of basal animals.

Keywords: natural sciences,zoology,animal morphology,systematic zoology,biological sciences
Colloidal delivery systems for phytochemicals; Ayurveda (AYURVEDA)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-07-01
End date: 2011-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 161729.48
EU funding (EUR): 161729.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Ayurveda medicaments composed of herbs or mixtures of herbs is one of the world oldest medical systems. The medicinal value of herbs comes from the natural bioactive molecules collectively known as phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are diverse in nature and they have multiple applications and can be used as a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical. Although thousands of phytochemicals have been identified and many of their benefits have already been proven,ayurvedic medications have lagged far behind in becoming a well-accepted medical &amp; health care system. Also, the diverse potentials of ayurvedic actives haven’t been exploited completely by the food and personal care industries. The main reason for this is the challenge involved in formulating phytochemicals into complex product matrixes, which can enable their effective delivery and keep the product stable. Recent advances in colloidal science and technology have introduced modern techniques, which could be applied for designing of effective delivery systems. Thus, the present research will be aimed at applying the principles of colloidal science for structuring and delivery of phytochemicals in different product formats. The particle size, composition, morphology, and surface properties will be controlled through proper fabrication approaches. The behaviour (aggregation,assembly) of these particles will be studied in relation to bioavailability and product stability. Here, for the first time, we will apply an integrated approach where nutritional, formulation, stability, and organoleptic aspects will be considered on the basis of their origin–the physico-chemical and colloidal properties of the individual ingredients. The research will be undertaken to exploit untapped potentials of ayurvedic actives by introducing modern delivery technologies to the world of ayurveda. The outcome of the proposed research will be effectively applicable to various sectors such as pharmaceuticals,foods and consumer care.

Keywords: ayurvedic actives,colloidal delivery systems,phytochemicals,colloids,soft condensed matter
Speech and Audio Capture in Adverse Environments (SPOTFORMING)

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: 2010-10-31
Duration (months): 9.0
Total project cost (EUR): 182484.78
EU funding (EUR): 182484.78
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The acquisition and localization of desired sounds is essential in a broad range of acoustical applications, such as surveillance, security monitoring, heath-care monitoring, video-conferencing systems. The desired sounds that are received by an acoustic sensor are degraded by room reverberation, background noise, and other interferences. This degradation may lead to total unintelligibility of the desired sounds (speech and audio) and decreases the performance of automatic speech recognition systems. Therefore, Acoustic Signal Processing (ASP) techniques that capture desired sounds or their source locations from low-quality signals are of major importance. While state-of-the-art ASP algorithms are able to reduce noise, the development of practical algorithms that can eliminate the degradations caused by reverberation in a noisy environment have not yet emerged. Furthermore, it should be noted that many, if not all, existing ASP techniques fail completely or experience a dramatically reduced performance when noise and reverberation are present. The main objective of this project is to develop advanced ASP algorithms that will allow the capture of desired sounds and their source locations in strongly adverse environments. We anticipate that this objective can be achieved by using distributed acoustic sensors and sensor arrays that measure the sound pressure, as well as the particle velocity. In addition, we propose to exploit statistical room acoustic theory in the development of advanced ASP algorithms.

Keywords: technological sciences
Migrants, Work and Social Inclusion (MIWSINC)

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: 2010-08-01
End date: 2012-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174319.84
EU funding (EUR): 174319.84
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

As immigrant populations have grown in many European cities over recent decades, ethnic enterprises have come to play an increasingly prominent role in urban economies However, for migrants actually working in ethnic firms their employment may play a large part in shaping their subsequent integration into their host society. Ethnic economies may be perceived as the most feasible avenue of economic attainment for recent migrants and from this position, ethnic enterprises could be considered as advantageous to the settlement process. On the other hand, research has indicated that many overseas migrants to Britain are employed in low paid, exploitative types of work. Frequently this is for small ethnically based enterprises that offer little stability and few long term prospects. This research aims to examine the relationship between gender, labour in the ethnic economy and the social inclusion of migrants in the wider society. With special reference to the Turkish community in Britain, this research will focus on the relationship between Turkish women’s work and their position in British society, through focusing on how ethnically based employment affects their capacity to become socially integrated in the dominant society. During the research, an ethnographic and qualitative study will be conducted. This will involve the collection of life histories, in-depth interviews, case studies, focus group meetings and interviews with local government officials and community-based organisations. The sample of 60 women will be located with the assistance of Turkish community organisations, pre-existing contacts among the local Turkish community and a chain-referral method of sampling whereby research participants will introduce further participants.

Keywords: turkish women,migration,social integration,work,ethnic economies
Metallopolymers with Metal-Metal Bonds: The Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Novel Molecular Wires (SPIM)

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: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181350.76
EU funding (EUR): 181350.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In this project the synthesis of metal-metal bonded oligomeric or polymeric linear metal chain complexes from metal-metal bonded dimetallic units by various methods is proposed. Nanoscience applications of the newly synthesized materials, e.g. as molecular wires, will be investigated. The proposed research on Metallopolymers with Metal-Metal Bonds: The Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Novel Molecular Wires is at the cutting edge of the advanced functional polymer field and is both highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. The project involves synthetic inorganic and coordination chemistry, synthetic polymer chemistry and polymer materials science and nanoscience. The project described herein would thus have a substantial multidisciplinary impact that reaches beyond purely the chemical sciences into materials science and physics.

Keywords: functional polymer,metallopolymer,metal -metal bond,molecular wire,nanoscience
The role of lipid membranes in dengue virus assembly (DENGUE VIRUS CAPSID)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-06-05
End date: 2011-06-04
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 137311.75
EU funding (EUR): 137311.75
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Viral hemorrhagic fever is a serious health threat mostly caused by the Dengue Virus (DV), which infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide yearly. Aedes spp. mosquitoes, the disease vectors endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, are spreading to temperate regions. A. aegypti, the main vector, is now found in Madeira, Portugal, and A. albopictus, a less frequent albeit potential vector, is present in several European countries. Conditions for a possible dengue outbreak in Europe are now set, only being necessary the mosquitoes to enter in contact with human viral carriers, as recently occurred in the A. albopictus promoted Chikungunya fever 2007 outbreak in Italy. DV infection is therefore a potential clinical problem for Europe, as stated in the EU FP7 Emerging Epidemics program (http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/). Once infected, no specific treatment is available, partially due to the lack of detailed information on the molecular mechanisms of viral assembly. The project intends to fill that gap by studying the viral assembly capsid protein, in biologically relevant conditions, using lipid bilayers mimicking biological membranes and intracellular lipid droplets isolated from hepatic cell lines. The project gathers the complementary expertise of two teams, each having a distinct yet synergistic role. Prof. Da Poian, from the Medical Biochemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has expertise in cell and molecular biology, NMR and calorimetry studies applied to DV proteins. Prof. Santos, from the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal, is skilled in light scattering spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy applied to lipid bilayers interaction with viral proteins. Thus the project assembles an eclectic gathering of complementary expertise to study the role of lipid membranes in dengue viral assembly. Following this approach, it is expected to open a gateway to the future development of capsid assembly-targeted therapies.

Keywords: dengue virus capsid protein,protein-membrane interactions,isotitration calorimetry (itc),atomic force microscopy (afm),structural biology and biophysics
Semiconductor Spintronics: Spin Polarisation and Nanodevices (SEMISPINNANO)

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: 2009-04-01
End date: 2011-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181350.76
EU funding (EUR): 181350.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed research programme addresses important issues in the field of ferromagnetic semiconductor spintronics which are of fundamental and potential technological importance. At the core of the project are the objectives of measuring the carrier spin polarisation in ferromagnetic semiconductors (a key quantity for spintronics) and of producing nanoscale ferromagnetic semiconductor single electron transistors which promise new spintronic functionalities. The applicant and the host Semiconductor Spintronics Group are uniquely matched to make this timely and important project possible. The applicant is an expert in the field of superconductivity and its interplay with magnetism who has extensive experience of focused ion beam nano-patterning and Point Contact Andreev Reflection spectroscopy, which makes possible the measurement of spin polarisation. The host Semiconductor Spintronics Group are internationally-leading in the field of ferromagnetic semiconductor materials and device development. This research project is very complementary to, but clearly differentiated from, existing research projects at Nottingham. In essence the intention is for the applicant to apply her particular expertise and techniques to materials fabricated at Nottingham for the realisation of important advances in semiconductor spintronics, thus greatly benefiting applicant and host institution.

Keywords: physics of semiconductors,electronic,magnetic and superconductive properties,nanoelectronics
Catalytic C-H activation-Initiated Tandem Reactions: Devise, Study and Application to natural renewable molecules (CHAT)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-08-31
End date: 2012-08-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 229077.83
EU funding (EUR): 229077.83
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

On the one hand, it is now assumed that in the near future the starting materials in chemistry have to come from renewable feedstock and not only from petroleum cracking. On the other hand, the stability of the chemical bonds in saturated hydrocarbons makes them generally unreactive, and a large variety of hydrocarbons constitute a large lowcost feedstock misused, which is treated as fuel or waste. But the invention of processes in which carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds in hydrocarbons can be activated is allowing chemists to exploit organic compounds in previously unimaginable ways. The reactions initiated by C-H activation could revolutionize the chemical industry and is nowadays a reality. The impressive potential of catalytic C-H activation reactions represents a new milestone in organic synthesis. An approach to treat the first issue described would be to “C-H activate” natural renewable molecules (simple molecules obtained easily from, for example, oil from plants) and employ them as starting materials for fine chemistry. The global objective of this project is to learn the last top advances in catalytic C-H activation and apply them to the transformation of natural renewable molecules. The specific aims of my research project are: 1) Devising C-H activation-initiated tandem reactions with Rhodium catalysts and explore its application to organic synthesis. 2) Transfer the developed methodology to the transformation of some natural renewable products – in particular Oleic Acid – into valuable molecules like drugs or drug-precursors. 3) Initiate the development of new catalysts for C-H activation-initiated tandem reactions based on group 10 metals

Keywords: homogeneous catalysis - ch activation - renewable feedstock
LEGAL ASPECTS OF MERGERS (LAM)

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: Israel
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 213495.26
EU funding (EUR): 213495.26
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed project is a large-scale empirical study of legal aspects of corporate mergers. Mergers and acquisitions are transformative events in the life of corporations. The responsibility on corporate managers to make the right decisions in these events is great, and the potential for divergence between their interests and those of shareholders is high: Managers may resist a sale at a large premium to keep their job, push for a sale at an inadequate price to secure high retirement benefits, or overpay in acquisitions to increase their own power. An intricate system of legal rules is in place to minimize such self-serving behavior. But do the rules work? Do they have undesirable effects? The goal of the project is to answer these questions quantitatively and propose how the law can be improved. The project will begin with a study of shareholder involvement in mergers. The specific questions that will be examined are whether shareholder voting prevents poor managerial decisions, and whether managers bundle controversial governance changes with mergers to secure shareholder approval of both. Once this part of the study is completed, I will proceed to examining other legal aspects of mergers, such as deal structure, risk allocation, and taxation.

Keywords: social sciences,business law
Computational modelling of electromagnetic control of melt flows and heat/mass transfer during manufacturing of bulk photovoltaic materials (ECPM)

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: 2009-08-01
End date: 2010-07-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 121110.23
EU funding (EUR): 121110.23
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This is a continuation of our experimental and numerical study of instabilities of melt flows in Czochralski growth of optical oxide crystals, which we plan to extend for bulk growth of photovoltaic materials. Our general target is a full-scale computational modeling of a bulk crystal growth technological process. The research is based on state-of-the-art numerical codes, and experimental and numerical results, which were developed and obtained in our previous studies, in which we established cooperation between Tel-Aviv University (Israel), University of Nottingham (UK) and Institute of Crystal Growth (Berlin, Germany). Our recent results posed new unanswered questions and problems, which are being addressed now. This application is assumed to cover the expenses of a one year stay of Israeli PI in University of Nottingham. The computational codes we developed, as well as setups built for experimental modeling allow us to extend the study to other monocristalline materials. In the present project we wish to focus on manufacturing of photovoltaic materials needed for wider and more effective utilization of solar energy. In the framework of the project the model experimental studies will be continued in Tel-Aviv University, the computational codes will be developed in University of Nottingham by joined efforts of UK and Israeli PIs, crystal growth experiments and the heaviest computations will be carried out in Berlin. The numerical codes will be extended to include additional physical effects and to be able to run fully 3D simulations thus reflecting real growth conditions.

Keywords: energy technology,computational physics,hydrodynamics,materials engineering
Evolving Phenotypic plasticity and Plant Invasiveness: An inter-disciplinary approach (EVOPLASTINV)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-05-01
End date: 2012-04-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 237283.61
EU funding (EUR): 237283.61
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Biodiversity is changing due to global climate change and local drivers such as the introduction of invasive species, which are considered one of the greatest threats to natural ecosystems. Despite increasing impacts, little is known about the evolutionary mechanisms that lead to invasiveness in introduced species. It is thought that the greater the breadth of environmental conditions across which a species can maintain fitness, the greater the likelihood of being invasive. A major way that plants achieve this kind of niche breadth is by means of adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity is the capacity of a given genotype to express different phenotypes under different environmental conditions. Adaptive plasticity may play an important role in facilitating biological invasions, and invasive species are often characterized by unusually high plasticity. At the intraspecific level, invasive populations are more plastic than those in the native range of the species and some studies predict that greater levels of environmental heterogeneity should select for enhanced phenotypic plasticity. Yet few studies have compared patterns of plasticity among distinct populations of invasive plant species. The potential to evolve adaptive plasticity depends on genetic variation for environmental response. Furthermore, if genetic variation for plasticity (termed genotype x environment interaction, or G x E) exists in introduced populations, and genotypes with more plasticity have a fitness advantage in the new environmental range, this will lead to evolution of increased plasticity. The goal of this project is to understand the potential of introduced plant species to rapidly evolve adaptive plasticity in response to novel environmental conditions, and how evolutionary potential may contribute to invasiveness of new habitats. In a broader sense, the ultimate goal is to expand the knowledge on plant adaptation to rapid environmental change.

Keywords: plant ecology,invasive species,global change,evolutionary biology,phenotypic plasticity