Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
A Novel Lens-walled Compound Parabolic Concentrator (Lens-walled CPC) PV/Thermal System (LENS-WALLED CPC)

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-2009-IIF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-05-01
End date: 2013-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181103.2
EU funding (EUR): 181103.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This International Fellowship will bring an excellent Chinese researcher to work in the Europe. The project has been carefully chosen to match the researcher's expertise in PV/Thermal assisted heat pump systems with the expertise in non-tracking solar concentration and sustainable building technology at the University of Nottingham so as to maximise the benefit to the Europe. The proposed project aims to develop a novel lens-walled compound parabolic concentrator (lens-walled CPC) PV/Thermal system for building-integrated applications. The sector of buildings accounts for about 40% of the total energy consumption in the Europe. The proposed system may play an important role in promoting solar energy applications in buildings, hence make a significant contribution to the EU target in cutting CO2 emissions. The proposed lens-walled CPC is an innovative idea and has the advantage of larger acceptance angle for solar radiation compared with a common CPC of the same geometrical concentration ratio. The lens-walled CPC PV/Thermal panel is the key component in the proposed system and comprises an array of mini lens-walled CPCs to give the appearance of a flat panel. The proposed system has the potential to reduce the sizes of PV modules by up to four times compared with common installations and would have better overall electricity and thermal performance. The proposed system is very suitable for non-tracking solar concentration PV/Thermal applications in residential and commercial buildings and will have a potential large market worldwide. Development of the proposed technology requires comprehensive scientific knowledge including PV/Thermal, solar concentration, heat pump and sustainable building design. The training of the researcher will be achieved through regular supervision and mentoring and a carefully managed research programme including computer modelling, testing and monitoring of the proposed technology as well as economic and environmental analyses.

Keywords: pv concntrators,pv building applications,solar thermal technology,energy-efficient building designs
Modulating interhemispheric interaction in physiology and disease (BILATERAL MODULATION)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-01-01
End date: 2013-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180103.2
EU funding (EUR): 180103.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Homotopic areas of primary motor cortices of both hemispheres are tightly interconnected and show both inhibitory and excitatory interactions, which are delicately balanced in healthy subjects. In disease this balance can be lost or impaired. Accordingly, some movement disorders occur lateralised. In early Parkinson’s Disease (PD) symptoms begin unilaterally, although unilateral changes on the cortical level are lacking. In focal task-induced hand dystonia (FHD) symptoms solely occur on one side and only spread in a minority of patients also to the other side. However, the pathophysiological role of interhemispheric interaction between both primary motor cortices in PD and FHD and its influence on cerebro-muscular coupling and cerebral oscillatory networks subserving motor activity is not finally understood yet. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) allows to modulate human brain activity. Using this feature it becomes possible to explore the characteristics of physiological and pathological cerebral networks and to modify these temporarily. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) enables us to characterise oscillatory synchronisation in the human brain. Moreover, MEG offers the possibility to scrutinise cerebro-muscular and cerebro-cerebral couplings. This allows to describe broad cerebral oscillatory networks including interhemispheric coupling. Combining rTMS and MEG the proposed project aims to reveal, how rTMS acts on the interhemispheric interaction in patients suffering from both PD and FHD and healthy subjects. Moreover, changes of oscillatory synchronisation induced by rTMS, i.e. resting state brain activity, cerebral oscillatory networks and cerebro-muscular coupling, will be characterised. Hence, results have the potential to enhance our understanding of the role of interhemispheric interaction in physiology and disease and to characterise the impact of disturbance of this interaction in PD and FHD.

Keywords: health sciences,neurosciences,neurophysiology,neurology,transcranial magnetic stimulation,magnetoencephalography,parkinsons disease,dystonia,motor system,movement disorders
Cross-talk of cell metabolism and post-transcriptional control via RNA-binding enzymes? (COREMEN)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-04-01
End date: 2012-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162161.0
EU funding (EUR): 162161.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The role of metabolic enzymes in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression is barely explored, with only a few cases deeply studied so far, such as aconitase 1 in iron metabolism or GAIT complex control of pro-inflammatory genes. Here, we propose to identify metabolic enzymes that interact specifically with mRNA by unbiased proteomic and transcriptomic approaches and to investigate their potential roles as gene expression regulators. Metabolic enzymes able to bind mRNAs will be identified by an effective crosslinking method, followed by oligo d(T) isolation and mass spectrometry in both human and yeast systems. Following this first screening, we will select three conserved key metabolic enzymes involved in the regulation of different metabolic pathways for further in depth exploration. Using cross-linking and immunoprecipitation assays followed by deep sequencing, we will identify the specific pool of mRNAs bound to each selected metabolic enzyme. Next, we will determine the RNA motif and the protein domain responsible for the interaction with biochemical and bioinformatic tools. Finally, the effect of overexpression and depletion of these metabolic enzymes in the post-transcriptional control of their target mRNAs will be analyzed. Overall, the proposed project will explore a potential new layer of cell regulation.

Keywords: natural sciences,metabolism,metabolic enzymes,regulation of gene expression,rna-binding,post-transcriptional regulons
Investigating a novel role of Notch3 as a dependence receptor and its relevance in vivo (NOTCH3DR)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-07-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 14.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166145.6
EU funding (EUR): 166145.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cell survival depends on the integration of numerous signals provided by the extracellular environment. Activation of signal transduction by transmembrane receptors is assumed to occur following interaction with a specific ligand. However, some receptors, called dependence receptors (DRs) have been shown to mediate a signal in the absence of ligand. These receptors share the ability to mediate two opposing signals: in the presence of their cognate ligand, they transduce survival signals, whereas, in the absence of their ligand, they induce apoptosis. This idea was initially proposed for the Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) receptor, and now, number of such receptors has increased over the past ten years. There are now a dozen DRs described including the netrin-1 receptors DCC and UNC5H1-4, RET, TrkC, neogenin, and Patched. Identifying new dependence receptors is an important challenge since it causes a paradigm shift of a specific signalling pathway and alters our understanding of the developmental and physiological processes involving such receptors. For example, the DRs concept revealed a novel role for DCC in colon cancer, for netrin-1 in breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Despite sharing little structural homology, all DRs contain a Dependence Associated Receptor Transmembrane (DART) motif, induce apoptosis in the absence of ligand and are cleaved by caspases to release a pro-apoptotic fragment. Preliminary data shows that Notch3 shares these characteristics. Notch3 is a member of the family of Notch receptors which regulates various stages in development and cancer as the receptors control cellular differentiation, proliferation and death. Notch3 has never been studied as a dependence receptor and the aim of this application is thus to further characterise Notch3 dependence signalling. We will study the mechanisms of Notch3-induced cell death and its relevance in physiological models, the involution of the mammary gland and lung cancers.

Keywords: health sciences,apoptosis,dependence receptors,notch
Direct Enantioselective N-Acyl Iminium Cyclisation Cascades (DIRENICC)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-03-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 22.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171740.8
EU funding (EUR): 171740.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We wish to develop new asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysed cyclisation reactions through direct condensation that will allow the efficient and highly enantioselective construction of azabicyclic and azaspirocyclic structures from readily available starting materials. This will constitute a new, powerful and broadly applicable organocatalytic asymmetric strategy to such target molecules. The concept of our proposal is to generate and exploit reactive N-acyl iminium ions in cyclisation reactions whereby the chiral environment of an associated chiral conjugate base of a Brønsted acid HA* governs enantioselectivity. The starting materials for the reaction sequence would be readily available ketoesters (or ketoacids) and a primary amine tethered to a suitable pi-nucleophilic trap. Initial condensation of the starting materials would an enamide intermediate. On protonation by HA* in a low polarity solvent, tight ion pairing of the N-acyl iminium ion with the chiral conjugate base of the Brønsted acid should occur. Provided there is sufficient ordering and effective facial differentiation in this ion pair, attack of the pendant pi-nucleophile will give rise to enantioselectivity in the (irreversible) cyclisation step. With at least three points of diversity, numerous multicyclic structures bearing additional functionality and spectator groups can be readily accessed. This will enable the repeated application of the method in target synthesis. During the course of the Fellowship, through physical organic chemistry techniques and molecular modelling calculations we would like to elucidate the mechanistic pathway and origins of stereocontrol. Finally we wish to apply the methodology in the formal synthesis of an alkaloid natural product. Therefore this multidisciplinary Fellowship project will involve the development of innovative asymmetric organic methods, physical organic chemistry, computational chemistry and target oriented synthesis.

Keywords: physical sciences,organic chemistry,homogeneous catalysis,carbon chemistry
Development of high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, mechanoelectrical transducer integrating artificial hair cell with artificial neurons. (COCHLEAR SENSOR)

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-2009-IIF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-08-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 120144.8
EU funding (EUR): 120144.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The human ear distinguishes sounds with astonishing sensitivity. It is able to resolve frequencies differing by 0.2% over 130 decibels of intensity. To achieve this feat the ear combines different strategies which we will implement in sensors of unprecedented sensitivity. The ear uses the power of Brownian noise in the cochlear fluid to enhance the detection of weak periodic signals. Each frequency is analyzed by specialized auditory hair cells which have different lengths and use a property called negative stiffness to enhance detection sensitivity. The incoming fellow has recently proposed a theoretical scheme for amplification by negative stiffness which he has demonstrated using a bench top experiment. Through a series of recent papers, the host group has conceived and studied a biomimetic neuron which sums and thresholds electrical pulses. In particular, the neuron demonstrates the amplification of useful signals by random noise using a property known as stochastic resonance. The present project will integrate artificial hair cells with semiconductor neurons to deliver highly sensitive, low power, scalable mechano-electrical transducers. We will study the amplification properties of the hair-neuron system. We will then integrate artificial hairs on neurons to make an artificial cochlea of microscopic size. We will fabricate hairs of different length/diameter aspect ratio to detect specific audio frequencies and code the sound intensity in the firing rate of the neuron. This fellowship will thus prepare the next generation of hearing aids, hydrophones and voice recognition systems by incorporating advances in non-linear physics and nanoscience in our cochlear sensor. The sensor will improve the range of sub-marine detection and lead to smarter, smaller hearing aids thanks to the monolithic integration of the receiver with the neural network. The fellowship will establish a EU-Korea pole of collaboration in this multidisciplinary emergent field.

Keywords: physical sciences,technological sciences,natural sciences
Study of the aging-related changes of the gamma-secretase complex and evaluation to what extent those contribute to amyloid accumulation in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (Γ-SECRETASE AGING)

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: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 160100.0
EU funding (EUR): 160100.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The main hallmark of AD is presence of the extraneuronal senile plaques composed of amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ). Aβ is produced when a transmembrane glycoprotein called Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) is consecutively cleaved by two proteases: the γ-secretase and the β-secretase. γ-Secretase can render distinct length isoforms of Aβ, with Aβ40 and Aβ42 most studied in the context of AD pathology. Aging is the single most important risk factor for sporadic AD. The molecular basis for this remains unclear. In the rare genetic forms of AD, i.e. familial AD (FAD) mutations in the genes involved in the production of Aβ are causative, strongly suggesting that abnormal Aβ generation can cause the disease. For the sporadic disease it is mostly proposed that lack of Aβ clearance is involved in the Abeta accumulation, but direct proof for this hypothesis is lacking, and the possibility that changes in Abeta production are playing a role becomes an interesting possibility. It has been shown that clinical mutations in the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase act by loss of function of the protease, which makes it conceivable that loss of function effects in aging might have similar effects on γ-secretase in the aged brain. This assumption finds support in interesting observations that Aβ42 becomes elevated in the brain of sporadic AD patients and in rodent models of the disease at advanced age. Moreover, some recent evidences in rodents corroborate this hypothesis even further as an age-dependent shift of γ-secretase activity towards a higher Aβ42 production was observed. The main goals of our project are accordingly: (1) evaluation of changes in γ-secretase activity in the aging brain by evaluating the effects on Aβ production (2) to elucidate the age-associated molecular events responsible for these changes. The outcome of these studies can shed light on the origin of this devastating disease in the elderly.

Keywords: alzheimer's disease,aging,oxidative stress,gamma-secretase,neurobiology,neurochemistry,health sciences,brain research
Game theory and cooperation from economics to evolutionary biology (GAMES)

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-2009-IIF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-09-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 241482.4
EU funding (EUR): 241482.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I will use game theory to study how ideas initially developed in economics can be applied to the problem of the evolution of cooperation in biology. Cooperation is usually explained by evolutionary theory by invoking iterations, which allow reciprocation, punishment or reputation effects; the prisoner’s dilemma has become the standard model to analyse these problems. However, there are other possible explanations and different, more appropriate theoretical models that can shed light on the problem. First, in a bilateral relationship in which one individual contracts another to carry out an action, setting the right costs and rewards of the interaction may lead the possible partners to screen themselves according to their own interest. Moreover, by making the reward conditional on the outcome of the effort, an individual can give an incentive to the partner to cooperate even in the absence of iterations. These two ideas are known in microeconomics as adverse selection and moral hazard. In the first part of my research I will develop similar models for evolutionary biology, analyse the differences of the assumptions and extend the models to cases of biological interest. Second, social dilemmas arising in N-person games can often be more properly described as a volunteer’s dilemma, in which if volunteering is costly, but so is failure to produce the public good, cheaters can invade and form a stable mixed equilibrium with cooperators. The dilemma is that the benefit for the group decreases with group size because the larger the group is, the less likely it is that someone volunteers. I will analyse this problem for cases in which individuals are related, more than one volunteer is needed and other specific assumptions. This will provide predictions that will be tested with behavioural experiments and will ultimately provide practical solution for the production of collective goods.

Keywords: evolutionary biology,game theory,cooperation
Disentanglement of the 1D electronic properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes via separation, co-doping and filling (D1SCO-FIL)

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: Austria
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-07-15
End date: 2013-09-23
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166622.8
EU funding (EUR): 166622.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project comprises a combined theoretical and experimental approach to engineer substitutionally doped and metallicity separated single walled carbon nanotubes with novel fillings with tailored electronic and optical properties. It aims at significantly advancing the limits of current capabilities that employ functionalized nanotubes with an option to underpin the research field in a short timescale. These predicted and engineered 1D structures act simultaneously as primed bulk n- or p- type material as host for novel fillings (fullerenes, metallocenes, and rare earth compounds) yielding also novel hybrid structures of a metallic core and a semiconducting host. The ultimate goal is a disentanglement of the interplay between charge transfer and hybridizations and bonding environment gaining sound information on the correlated 1D electronic and optical properties with unprecedented level using both the encaged compounds and heteroatoms as tracers. Optical, Raman and high energy spectroscopies and contemporary ab-initio theoretical spectroscopy will be used as a key to analyse these tailor made modifications and the influence of doping, and chemical interactions on the ground and excited state and the electronic transport properties. The final outcome will give a detailed assessment of the application potential in nanooptics and nanomechanics. This project has a highly interdisciplinary nature relying on three different research areas, based on the outstanding candidate’s experience in heteronanotubes, the worldwide renowned spectroscopic expertise of the host and the world-class expertise in theoretical spectroscopy of the training cooperation partner. This project will allow the candidate to strengthen a well established intra-european collaboration and to greatly broaden her scientific background, making of her one of the most highly recognized scientist in her field. This will boost her career to the next scientific level.

Keywords: physical sciences,condensed matter properties,solid state physics,nanotechnology,nanosystems,chemical physics