Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
How do galaxies get their gas? (GALGASSKA)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-03-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Observing the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time is one of the key priorities for the new Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the next-generation radio telescope that will be built in South Africa and Australia over the next decade. Its large size and extreme sensitivity mean it will have a huge impact on astrophysics. In the run-up to the SKA, several SKA-precursor telescopes are starting to probe SKA science already. We describe a project covering an important aspect of one of the SKA science questions, namely to establish where the gas in galaxies comes from. Galaxies seem to form stars at a rate that makes it impossible to sustain their current gas reservoirs over the lifetime of the universe. They must therefore continuously acquire pristine gas from somewhere. Theory predicts the existence of a "cosmic web" of gas and dark matter surrounding the galaxies which provides this new fuel. With ultra-sensitive observations it will be possible to directly observe this "accretion" of gas. Using the Dutch APERTIF, the Australian ASKAP and the South African MeerKAT SKA precursor telescopes (this project has already been allocated 8 months of observing time on the latter), we will directly observe the presence and establish the importance of accretion. The outcome will have a significant impact on our current models for galaxy evolution, and will guide future SKA work. This project also fulfills the recent call of the European Parliament for greater collaboration with Africa in the field of radio astronomy (Written Declaration 45/2011).

Keywords: p301 astronomy - astrophysics and cosmology,galaxies,radio astronomy,galaxy evolution
Spinning Mesh Disc Reactors: A New Paradigm for Photocatalytic and Enzymatic Reaction Intensification (SMDR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project will develop a new paradigm in spinning disc process intensification technology: the spinning mesh disc reactor (SMDR). The SMDR uses a high surface area rotating mesh supporting a catalyst to create process intensification. A liquid is centrifugally forced and accelerated into the mesh creating rapid mixing and increased heat and mass transfer rates compared to conventional reactors, accelerating reaction rates. It is superior to conventional spinning disc reactors as the mesh keeps all of the catalyst in the intensified (spinning) reaction zone and helps to protect these catalysts from deactivation from excessive hydrodynamic forces, allowing fragile nanostructured catalysts and enzymes to be used. Therefore the aim of this research is to fully characterise the SMDR for two important reaction systems: (1) nanostructured photocatalytic systems for the degradation of harmful trace pharmaceuticals in wastewater, (2) enzymatic biochemical transformations of waste oils (in particular to biodiesel). Reaction rates and mechanism, mass transfer effects, catalyst reusability and durability, all compared to conventional reactors, will be evaluated both experimentally and mathematically. Residence time distributions, high speed camera analysis of mesh flows and computational fluid dynamics will be used to evaluate reactor hydrodynamics and operation. This project will enable Dr Patterson to successfully integrate into the EU by providing him with a secure basis from which to transfer, build and extend his existing research base from New Zealand to the University of Bath. It will provide him and his research group with the funds to access the analysis and characterisation equipment needed to produce high impact research. Ultimately this grant will provide the foundation from which Dr Patterson will build a world leading group in the EU in the area of Nanostructured and Tuneable Materials for sustainable applications in Separation and Reaction Engineering.

Keywords: g302 chemical engineering - technical chemistry,catalysis and biochemical reactor engineering,reaction intensification,photocatalysis,enzyme immobilisation.
Olfactory correlation of rapid host plant shift in the European corn borer (HOST SHIFT)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Hungary
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-10-01
End date: 2018-03-23
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Insects have a matchless capability to adapt, which is apparent from the beguiling diversity of insects, as well as in their notorious habit to invade our agro-ecosystems. As insects rely strongly on their sense of smell, such adaptive radiation and speciation events are generally accompanied olfactory adaptation. Yet, the neuroethological bases of olfactory adaptation remain largely elusive. The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, is a textbook example of pheromone polymorphism. The existence of two clearly differentiated pheromone strains intrigued the curiosity of the chemical ecologists, especially since these pheromone strains seem to be fixed to different host plants. One pheromone strain strongly prefers ancestral host plants such as hop and mugwort, whereas the other strain has shifted to maize since its introduction in Europe in the 16th century. We are close to completing the characterization of molecular and physiological changes underlying its radical shift in pheromone preference. Although, the shift in the olfactory circuitry underlying this dichotomy in host choice is unknown. I will characterize the olfactory component of this host plant divergence in the ECB using a multidisciplinary approach, including electrophysiology, chemical analysis peripheral neurophysiology, central neuroanatomy, bahvioral and field tests. The host shift of the ECB serves as an example of host shifts induced through human created ecological niches. In addition, concomitant with our study of how the olfactory circuitry accommodates shifts, I will identify hop, mugwort and maize volatiles that attract ECB, which can be useful in novel monitoring control strategies of this pest species.

Keywords: european corn borer,ostrinia nubilalis,insect neurophysiology,electrophysiology,host plant choice,evolution,behavior
Maximizing sensitivity and resolution in edge illumination - based X-ray phase-contrast imaging methods (MAXPCI)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-06-01
End date: 2017-05-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main goal of MAXPCI is the development and application of a high-potential X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI) technique. XPCI has demonstrated much improved contrast compared to conventional absorption-based methods, especially when soft biological tissues (made of light elements) and high X-ray energies are considered. Due to the need of most XPCI techniques to use highly coherent radiation, however, its widespread application in normal laboratories has been until now very restricted. The edge-illumination (EI) technique, also referred to as coded-aperture (CA) technique when implemented with conventional X-ray sources, has a high potential to bridge this gap thus allowing the full exploitation of XPCI. In particular, the technique has a simple and flexible setup, and has been demonstrated to provide high phase-contrast signals also with spatially and temporally incoherent sources. More specifically, this project aims at maximizing the performance of the EI/CA technique by pushing the thresholds of the obtainable spatial resolution and sensitivity. Advances in this sense have already been demonstrated with synchrotron radiation (SR) sources: these will be optimized and then translated to conventional X-ray sources. Quantitative methods allowing the extraction of sample absorption, refraction and scattering information will also be developed, in particular single-shot ones (i.e. requiring only one input image). These will allow a reduction in the dose to the sample as well as shorter acquisition times, which are of paramount importance in particular for medical and biological imaging. The obtained advances will be exploited for various applications. In particular, the project will concentrate on three subjects that have very high potential impact: 1) breast tissue imaging (cancer detection and study of tumor invasion), 2) imaging of articular cartilage in small animals (osteoarthritis studies), 3) detection of defects in composite materials.

Keywords: p320 medical physics,g314 medical engineering and technology,x-ray imaging,physics modeling,phase contrast,materials characterization,synchrotron radiation,cancer detection,l702 diagnostic tools
Identification of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Effector Proteins mediating virulence on Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes (SEPARATE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-03-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic fungus notorious for its broad host range, including notably oilseed rape, sunflower, lettuce, carrot, onion and potato. In most cases there is no variety with significant resistance or tolerance known to date. Small secreted proteins and low molecular weight metabolites have been reported in several necrotrophic fungi as critical for virulence. However, the role of these effector proteins in S. sclerotiorum virulence is largely unknown, and the molecular mechanisms by which S. sclerotiorum promotes host susceptibility remain poorly understood. We recently discovered that susceptibility to S. sclerotiorum is highly variable among A. thaliana accessions and our preliminary analyses on S. sclerotiorum genome sequence identified promising effector candidates. The objective of this proposal is to validate the function of S. sclerotiorum effector candidates in altering plant cells to promote susceptibility. We will (i) document the diversity of S. sclerotiorum effector protein candidates; (ii) identify effector candidates that promote susceptibility to S. sclerotiorum and (iii) identify effector candidates required for S. sclerotiorum virulence. This project will have a significant impact on our understanding of plant-microbe interactions by providing insights into key molecular processes regulating susceptibility to a necrotrophic pathogen. Besides, it will open new perspectives toward the development of tolerant crop varieties.

Keywords: l101 molecular biology and interactions,l201 genomics - comparative genomics - functional genomics,l813 agriculture related to crop production,l607 microbiology,l601 innate immunity
Advanced control of renewable energy generation systems based on fuel cells\wind power (ACRES)

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-2011-IIF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-05-07
End date: 2013-05-06
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 116852.6
EU funding (EUR): 116852.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The European Union is conscious about the fundamental problems arisen from the current energy system, based mainly on hydrocarbons and has a firm commitment to encourage renewable energy technologies research. Among experts in energy there is a growing trend to promote Decentralised Electrical Generation Systems (DEGS) with modular efficient non polluting generation plants. DEGS that incorporate hydrogen as an energetic vector are of particular interest. Hydrogen can be easily produced, stored and efficiently converted into electricity by means of fuel cells, adding great flexibility to DEGS. However, fuel cells based DEGS exhibit complex non linear behaviour, have inaccessible variables and withstand severe disturbances, so special controllers are required. A wide range of linear controllers have been already proposed, but the validity of the results cannot be extrapolated. The development of advanced control systems for fuel cell based DEGS that incorporate renewable energy sources is then not merely a challenging area of research, but is also a field of great interest for environmental, social, economic and strategic reasons. The key aim of this project is the development of advanced controllers capable to improve the efficiency of fuel cells\wind power based DEGS. They will be implemented and tested in the ACES labs in Barcelona. The results of this implementation will be used to assess the theoretical developments and will also provide a technology demonstrator to aid technology transfer to industry. The main objectives of the proposed project are threefold: - Scientific. Advanced controllers will be developed to improve the efficiency of DEGS - Knowledge transfer. The Visiting Professor will instruct and train the host group in new control techniques, particularly higher order sliding mode. - Strategic. The Visiting Professor will advise the host group in the new trends of renewable energies generation systems integration and control.

Keywords: control engineering,sliding mode control,variable structure control,control of renewable energy systems
New chemical biology tools for proteome-wide of profiling of protein-protein interaction partners of post-translational arginine methylation (ProbesPTRM) (PROBESPTRM)

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-2011-IIF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-07-01
End date: 2014-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209033.4
EU funding (EUR): 209033.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Protein arginine methylation, catalyzed by a family of enzymes called protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), is emerging as an important post-translational modification (PTM) that modulates diverse cellular processes, and dysregulation of this process has been implicated in many human pathological conditions ranging from heart diseases to cancer. Proteins that recognize this PTM in vivo and the associated protein-protein interactions (PPI) are responsible for its key biological implications. However, we currently lack reliable techniques to identify specific protein interaction partners of this important PTM. The proposed project aims to develop new chemical probes and technologies that will enable for the first time proteome-wide global analysis of protein interaction partners that recognize post-translationally methylated arginine residues in proteins. Specifically, we aim to develop novel photoaffinity-based probes that will be used to selectively enrich, fluorescently label and subsequently identify the protein interactome of this modification. A library of peptide-based probes will be generated using solid-phase peptide synthesis. The design of the peptide probe library is in such a way that each probe is equipped with a unique form of methylated arginine so that the library will permit rapid, large-scale comprehensive profiling of interaction partners of all the four different forms of methylated arginine containing proteins in cell lysates and in intact cells. At the second stage of the project, a protein-based probe will be generated using expressed protein ligation (EPL). This probe, by virtue of the presence of the full protein sequence, is expected to provide greater degrees of specificities and sensitivities in the detection of protein interactomes. The results of the proposed study will shed light on the basic mechanisms and biological implications of protein arginine methylation in various aspects of cellular physiology and pathology

Keywords: organic chemistry,chemical biology,post-translational modification,protein chemistry,protein total synthesis,peptide chemistry
Mire Ecosystem Transition Area Flux (METAFLUX)

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: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2014-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 241042.4
EU funding (EUR): 241042.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Peatlands or mires contain about one third of this global terrestrial carbon pool which are located on between 3 and 6% of the global land area. In the boreal and sub-arctic areas permafrost covers about 18,782 x 103 km2 and peatlands or mires cover about 19% of this area. Observed mean annual air temperatures in these regions have increased by 2-3oC since the 1950s. Thawing permafrost leads to changes in the form and function of northern peatlands and is characterised by the transition of dry palsa mires to wetter peatland pits, depressions and pools. This project aims to use advance geospatial techniques (GIS, remote sensing and environmental modelling) to produce robust models that examine the impact of transition areas on the carbon balance of northern mire ecosystems.

Keywords: land cover and degradation,environmental monitoring,carbon cycle (climate change),wetland ecosystems (climate change),remote sensing (climate change)
Integrable Structures in Supersymmetric Gauge Theory and its String Dual (INTGAUGESTRING)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF, 2011)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2016-08-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 266289.0
EU funding (EUR): 266289.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

For the first time in history, completely solving an interacting four-dimensional quantum gauge theory appears to be within reach, thanks to the gauge-string duality and the integrable structures discovered in planar maximally supersymmetric Yang--Mills theory and its string dual. Pursuing this overall goal, the present proposal aims at studying two important types of quantities in these theories: Structure constants and scattering amplitudes. The outgoing phase is to be carried out at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton under the supervision of Prof. Juan Maldacena, the discoverer of the gauge-string duality and a world-leading figure in the identification and application of the integrable structures appearing in this context. The project will be completed at the DESY Hamburg theory group, where the applicant will be supervised by Prof. Volker Schomerus. The successful completion of the project will contribute significantly towards understanding the gauge-string duality, as well as the general structure of gauge theory scattering amplitudes. The excellent scientific and complementary training provided during the execution of the project will have a strong impact on the career prospects of the researcher, whose goal is to establish himself permanently at a leading European research institution.

Keywords: mathematical physics,quantum field theory,elementary particles and fields,string theory,supersymmetry,integrable systems,ads/cft duality
Dessins and Arithmetic (DESSARITH)

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-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2014-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209033.4
EU funding (EUR): 209033.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A dessin d’enfant is a type of graph drawing used to study algebraic groups and to provide combinatorial invariants for the action of the absolute Galois group. This project aims to develop new algorithms for computing dessins d’enfants and use these and other methods to attack Diophantine equations. In particular, we are interested in the Generalized Fermat Equation, which has been described by Darmon as the "new holy grail of number theory" in the sense that it replaces Fermat's Last Theorem as the major unsolved Diophantine problem. Our aim is to provide a practical method of translating any specific case of the generalized Fermat equation to a problem of determining rational points on curves. The field of curves is a rich one with many eminent practitioners and this translation is the surest way to provide progress for the generalized Fermat equation. The tool for this translation will be our dessins computed by our new algorithm.

Keywords: number theory