Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Shifts in ecosystems state in Mediterranean landscapes: when, where and how? The interacting effects of multiple disturbances under climate change (RESCRI)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-01-07
End date: 2017-01-06
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 223002.2
EU funding (EUR): 223002.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The consequences of altered disturbance regimes in the context of global change will be profound. Despite the interacting effects of multiple disturbances and of altered disturbance regimes are extremely difficult to predict, it is becoming increasingly clear that many ecosystems have critical thresholds at which the system shifts abruptly from one state to another. Such behavior has profound implications for ecosystem management and conservation and for the sustained production of ecosystem services. Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) may be among the most impacted systems by global climate change drivers as a result of increased recurrence in climatically-induced drought events and its interaction with altered fire regimes. Although MTEs vegetation is highly adapted to fire and drought, alteration of such disturbances can promote ecosystems shifts due to crossing of ecosystem thresholds and/or altered system feedbacks. However, little work has been done in MTEs in this respect and the understanding of mechanisms underlying their resilience and the combined and synergistic effects of multiple disturbances need to be better understood. This proposal aims to fill an important scientific knowledge gap by evaluating ecological mechanisms governing system behavior and the occurrence of alternate states in MTEs. The main objectives are i) to increase our capability in predicting changes in ecosystem properties and dynamics and ii) to assess early-warning signals that may indicate proximity to drastic system changes, to aid in the definition of adaptive management policies to successfully address environmental threats. A novel dynamic modeling framework incorporating the stochastic effects of multiple disturbances (fire and drought) and their interaction with vegetation characteristics will be developed. Extensive future scenario-based simulations will serve to identify tipping points that may cause dramatic and surprising shifts in ecosystems’ state.

Keywords: alternate stable states,climate change,disturbances,drought,ecosystem dynamics,ecosystem modeling,fire,fire-vegetation feedbacks,management policies,mediterranean ecosystems,resilience
To the roots of induced systemic resistance in the Arabidopsis-Trichoderma-Fusarium tripartite interaction (TO THE ROOTS OF ISR)

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: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2016-11-30
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 199298.1
EU funding (EUR): 199298.1
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Biological control organisms (BCOs) can form an important component of more sustainable agriculture. Trichoderma spp. are soil fungi with great potential in this respect. They can trigger induced systemic resistance (ISR) in the plant, leading to a more rapid and robust systemic activation of defense when the plant is subsequently challenged by a pathogen. However, genome-wide investigations of the tripartite plant-Trichoderma-pathogen interaction are scarce, although they provide substantial novel information to improve our understanding of ISR and form the basis for development of rational disease management options. In addition, root responses have been neglected despite the fact that they are the first point of contact for soil microbes and drive above-ground plant responses. The research objective of this project is to identify the defining plant responses originating in roots that drive the ISR process in the Arabidopsis-Fusarium-Trichoderma interaction. This will be achieved by a comparative genomics study of the tripartite interaction in Arabidopsis roots, with Fusarium as soil-borne plant pathogen (core expertise of outgoing host CSIRO Plant Industry Brisbane, Australia) and Trichoderma as BCO (core expertise of return host CPMG, KU Leuven, Belgium). The unique character of this project is to bridge research domains on Trichoderma and Fusarium plant responses, thereby focusing on the largely unknown processes that take place in plant roots. Novel expertise on this interaction will be acquired during the outgoing phase and transferred to the ERA for implementation at the return host institute, in collaboration with the outgoing host and afterwards also other ERA laboratories, to the benefit of biocontrol research in general. In addition, the project foresees a thorough complementary skills training for the applicant. Overall the project is aimed at turning the applicant into a well-trained, internationally-oriented expert in biocontrol and ISR mechanisms.

Keywords: induced systemic resistance,biocontrol,trichoderma,fusarium,arabidopsis,plant roots
Ideational Change through Collective Learning: Public Deliberation and the Decentring and Re-centring of Structures of Meaning (LEARNINGDEMOI)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-07-01
End date: 2017-01-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168794.4
EU funding (EUR): 168794.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal pursues three objectives. First, to contribute to our understanding of the processes of ideational change that are triggered by public communication. In particular, it concentrates on the decentring and re-centring of socially shared structures of meaning. This is a topic that will be addressed empirically through three case studies. Second, by dealing with this question, this project is expected to contribute to deliberative theory's current endeavour to formulate more realistic models of public deliberation. In this regard, rhetorical and systemic perspectives have gained momentum within deliberative theory in the last years, showing a similar ambition to link normative political theory, on the one hand, and empirical research and actual political practice on the other; as well as to develop a more realistic macro approach to deliberative democracy, in contradistinction to previous approaches focusing on minipublics and specific participatory arenas. This project should be understood against this background. Its working hypothesis says that the theoretical framework developed by Habermasian cognitive sociology can illuminate the (communicatively) rational dimension of actual processes of ideational change, paving the way for a more realistic, yet normatively informed, perspective on public deliberation. Finally, this proposal, along with additional training activities, has been designed to support the fellow in attaining a leading independent position by enhancing his international visibility and integration in the European academic community.
Development of multi-level electron correlation methods in quantum chemistry (NEWQUANTUM)

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: Norway
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-06-01
End date: 2017-05-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 398465.4
EU funding (EUR): 398465.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Electronic structure methods are important tools used to understand, study and predict the behavior of molecular systems. Advancement of these methods is the main objective of this proposal. The applicability of accurate electron correlation methods is limited by the steep increase in the computational cost when the size of the molecular system is increased. In this project a new approach is proposed where the computational cost of the electron correlation part becomes constant with the size of the molecular system. This is obtained using multi-level methods where different levels of theory can be applied to different parts of the system. In this way, the calculation of the total wave function is avoided and only the part relevant for a local molecular property is determined. The methods are said to have size-intensive complexity. The multi-level approach will be developed in many directions. For single molecules I will develop coupled cluster wave function and response methods, together with multi-configurational self-consistent field methods using density matrix renormalization group theory. The multi-level approach will also be developed for systems with periodic boundary conditions. The developed methods will be used to simulate chiroptical properties of molecules and study the dynamics of excited states for molecules with biological interest. The multi-level methods will also be used to simulate solvent effects on molecular properties.

Keywords: quantum chemistry,electron-correlation,coupled cluster theory,response theory and molecular properties
Vascular remodelling and miRNA therapeutics (VASCMIR)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health
Countries involved: United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-07-01
End date: 2020-06-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2494944.0
EU funding (EUR): 2494944.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The central hypothesis of VascmiR is that microRNAs (miRs) fundamentally control pathological remodelling of the vasculature. The complexity of vascular bed heterogeneity and subsequent response to injury, the potential importance of miRNA in vascular pathology and the paucity in knowledge relating to many facets of miRNA function in the vessel wall including target pathways, mechanistic features of miRNA-mediated cell:cell communication mediated by miRNA export and uptake etc. provides an excellent opportunity for groundbreaking basic and translational research in the field. VascmiR will envelop these concepts in a broad, cutting edge portfolio of high risk and in-depth studies that encompass fundamental research, mouse genetics to create novel models and miR intervention studies in small and large animal models coupled with targeted miRNA therapeutics. Collective synergy by assessing pulmonary as well as peripheral venous and arterial pathological vascular remodelling models of disease under a single funding mechanism will afford substantial scientific advancement. VascmiR will go beyond current state-of-the-art and create new knowledge of miRNA in vascular pathologies, all of which have important unmet clinical need. VascmiR will streamline fundamental new opportunities for targeted miRNA-based therapeutics to improve human health in cardiovascular setting. I envisage that a co-ordinated, multifaceted and integrative programme in these vascular pathology settings to better understand the mechanistic role of miRNA in vascular remodelling will have a major impact on the field, leading to early translation of advanced miRNA therapeutics in the vasculature.

Keywords: microrna,vascular therapeutics,virus
Algorithmic Foundations of Geometry Understanding in Higher Dimensions (GUDHI)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-02-01
End date: 2019-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2497597.0
EU funding (EUR): 2497597.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The central goal of this proposal is to settle the algorithmic foundations of geometry understanding in dimensions higher than 3. We coin the term geometry understanding to encompass a collection of tasks including the computer representation and the approximation of geometric structures, and the inference of geometric or topological properties of sampled shapes. The need to understand geometric structures is ubiquitous in science and has become an essential part of scientific computing and data analysis. Geometry understanding is by no means limited to three dimensions. Many applications in physics, biology, and engineering require a keen understanding of the geometry of a variety of higher dimensional spaces to capture concise information from the underlying often highly nonlinear structure of data. Our approach is complementary to manifold learning techniques and aims at developing an effective theory for geometric and topological data analysis. To reach these objectives, the guiding principle will be to foster a symbiotic relationship between theory and practice, and to address fundamental research issues along three parallel advancing fronts. We will simultaneously develop mathematical approaches providing theoretical guarantees, effective algorithms that are amenable to theoretical analysis and rigorous experimental validation, and perennial software development. We will undertake the development of a high-quality open source software platform to implement the most important geometric data structures and algorithms at the heart of geometry understanding in higher dimensions. The platform will be a unique vehicle towards researchers from other fields and will serve as a basis for groundbreaking advances in scientific computing and data analysis.

Keywords: computational geometry and topology
Solar Energy Conversion in Molecular Multi-Junctions (TRIPLESOLAR)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2493585.0
EU funding (EUR): 2493585.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project focuses on investigating and developing novel principles for solar-to-electricity and solar-to-fuel conversion using organic semiconductors and employing multiple photons in a process that mimics natural photosynthesis. The goal is to develop efficient solar energy convertors based on cheap and abundant materials that offer prospects to be employed on large scale and contribute to global conversion and storage of solar energy. Presently, state-of-the-art polymer solar cells reach power conversion efficiencies of ~10% in solar light. Projected efficiencies are as high as 20% when multi-junction solar cells can be employed. Closing this gap is a tremendous challenge that will require pushing every single step in the conversion process to its intrinsic limits, eliminating losses close to perfection. In addition to efficient conversion, storage of energy is crucial because solar electricity supply and demand are intermittent. Capturing solar energy in chemical bonds of molecular fuels is most effective in terms energy density and the first firm ideas are emerging on how this can be achieved. We will use our expertise in the area of polymer solar cells to create multi-junction molecular solar-to-electricity conversion devices with unprecedented power conversion efficiencies and develop new concepts for efficient solar-to-chemical conversion. To reach these ambitious goals, the project focuses on investigating fundamental questions regarding charge generation and on developing new organic materials, electrocatalysts and devices for solar-to-electricity and solar-to-fuel conversion. The activities involve designing and synthesizing new materials, performing photophysical and morphological studies, analyzing charge and exciton transport in relation to morphology, developing new interfacial layers, electrocatalysis, and exploring the use of multi-junction configuration devices in solar cells and artificial leaves.

Keywords: organic solar cells solar fuels
Neutral Quasi-Particles in Mesoscopic Physics (NEUTRAL)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: Israel
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2428042.0
EU funding (EUR): 2428042.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I propose to study ‘neutral excitations’ in 2d and 1d electronic systems. Such excitations, rarely studied, are unique since they are chargeless but may carry energy. Being byproducts of electron interaction, they come in a few flavors: (i) Downstream modes in composite edge channels of the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) regime; (ii) Upstream modes in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) regime; and (iii) Zero energy Majorana states (localized or propagating quasi-particles), in non-abelian FQHE states and in 1d topological P-wave superconductors. My main interests in neutral modes in the QHE regime are: (a) Their direct association with the nature of the wavefunction of the quantum state; (b) Being excited when a charge mode is being partitioned (say, by a quantum point contact), they may play a prime role in dephasing interference of quasi-particles due to the energy they rob (in the partitioning process). As for detecting Majorana quasi-particles, and aside from the exciting physics, their non-abelian nature makes them attractive as building blocks in ‘decoherence resistant’ systems. Based on our acquired abilities, such as material growth, processing techniques, and sensitive measurement techniques, I plan to perform experiments, which include: thorough studies of downstream and upstream neutral modes via shot noise and thermoelectric current measurements; proving (or disproving) their involvement in dephasing fractionally charged quasi-particles; growing and processing structures that harbor Majorana states (in 1d nano-wires and in 2d FQHE regime; and, possibly, eventually, manipulate Majorana states (by coupling and braiding). Experiments will employ, e.g., ultra-low temperatures, sensitive shot noise measurements, cross-correlation of current fluctuations, and interference of quasi-particles (charge and neutral) in novel interferometers.

Keywords: quantum hall effect,fractional charges,majorana quasi-particles,nano-wires,2deg
Design and Self-Assembly of Organometallic-Based Polypnictogen Materials and Discrete Nano-sized Supramolecules (SELFPHOS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-02-01
End date: 2019-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499853.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499853.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In view of current developments in the fields of porous materials and discrete nano-sized molecules and aggregates the lack of organometallic-based compounds acting as nodes together with functionalized organic linkers in such materials and as linkers and building blocks for nano-sized spheres and aggregates is obvious. By using organometallic polyphosphorus compounds it was possible to synthesize unprecedented prototypes of such materials and molecular nano-sized superspheres. These ground-breaking discoveries will be subsequently further developed to excess a qualitatively novel level of research by using polypnictogen starting materials. Key targets will be the generation of rigid 3D organometallic-based materials, discrete supramolecular nano-sized aggregates (charged moiety approach) and novel fullerene-like supramolecules as nano-spheres, nano-capsules and nano-wheels (neutral moiety approach). Especially the latter approach will generate unprecedented spheres and molecules which are extreme in size and function as there are multifunctional binding sites; multi-magnetic properties; tuning templates in size; generating, encapsulating and releasing highly reactive intermediates and reaction components. Finally, the work will move beyond our knowledge of known structurally characterized fullerenes by the development of non-carbon based alternatives within and beyond the fullerene topology.
Redox sensing and signalling in cardiovascular health and disease (CARDIOREDOX)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2013-ADG, 2013)
Start date: 2013-12-01
End date: 2019-11-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2255659.0
EU funding (EUR): 2255659.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We want to determine how oxidants are sensed and transduced into a biological effect within the cardiovascular system. The proposed work will focus on thiol-based redox sensors, defining their role in heart and blood vessel function during health and disease. Although this laboratory has studied the molecular basis of redox signaling for more than a decade, the subject is still in its relative infancy with considerable scope for major advances. Oxidant signaling remains a ‘hot topic’ with high profile studies confirming a fundamental role for redox control of protein and cellular function continuing to emerge. The molecular basis of redox sensing is the reaction of an oxidant with target proteins. This gives rise to oxidative post-translational modifications, most commonly of cysteinyl thiols, potentially altering the activity of proteins to regulate cell or tissue function. One of the reasons there are so many unanswered questions about redox sensing and signaling is the diversity of oxidant molecules produced by cells that can interact with sensor proteins to alter their function. This application is aimed at extending our knowledge of redox sensing and signalling, allowing us to define its importance in cardiovascular health and disease.