Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a value creation chain with European SMEs for the efficient production of diffractive structured glass optics – Next Generation Optics – (NGOPTICS)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Germany,Finland,Germany,Netherlands,Netherlands,Germany
Call:  (FP7-SME-2011, 2011)
Start date: 2011-12-01
End date: 2013-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1496102.6
EU funding (EUR): 1132400.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

The overall goal of the NGOptics project is to provide the participating SMEs technological solutions for the production of the next generation in glass optics. Therefore the establishment and qualification of a value creation chain with one SME at each process step capable for the efficient production of hybrid (diffractive structured and curved, e.g. apseric) glass optics will be conducted. The actual trend towards miniaturization, function integration and higher imaging quality is shown through the increased demand for structured, high performance glass optics within the past months and years. Besides this trend the quantity of customer specified optical systems increase dramatically and has to be considered, specially in Europe, where quality and performance is a major factor for differentiation. Still the participating SMEs, who are altogether involved in optics production and application, are not able to provide the demanded optics and technologies due to the high complexity and challenging manufacturing processes. Therefore it is often impossible or only partially possible to realize numerous innovative applications in photonics. In order to not loose today’s European market position, in particular of the partner SMEs in NGOptics, and to intensely strengthen their future position in the photonics world market this project (Next Generation Optics – NGOptics) is urgently necessary. Two different applications have been defined by the project participants POG and FocalSpec, a high quality laser objective and a new measurement device for thin film thickness measurement. The developed technology and the therewith produced diffractive glass optics will enable this new applications as a demonstration of the technology potential. This will serve as driving force for the project consortium and will deliver several new challenges all faced in NGOptics.

Keywords: diffractive glass optics manufacturing,precision glass moulding,ultra precision grinding,diamond turning,pvd coating
Structural studies on the ParMRC plasmid DNA partitioning complex (PARMRC)

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: 2009-04-01
End date: 2011-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172434.64
EU funding (EUR): 172434.64
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The segregation of newly replicated DNA is an essential process in all prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ensuring the propagation of DNA to daughter cells. In bacteria, the plasmid partitioning system helps in the proper segregation of low copy number plasmids during cell division. The type II plasmid partitioning system (ParMRC) consists of three major elements – a parC DNA site, which acts as a centromeric region, and two proteins, one of which (ParR) binds to the centromeric region, and the filament-forming, actin-like protein ParM. The relative simplicity of the ParMRC plasmid partitioning system makes it an attractive model for studying DNA segregation. Although the ParMRC plasmid partitioning system has been characterized so as to provide an overview of the various complex structures formed, further structural studies using crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy can help in understanding the molecular mechanism of action. The activation of ParM and polymerization in the presence of ATP and the ParRC complex, de-polymerization in the presence of ADP and the dynamic instability of the filaments, and how these lead to the movement of the plasmids to the opposite ends of the cell are some of the mysteries that require investigation. The proposal tries to address the two key issues - i) conformational dynamics of ParM and mechanism of filament assembly, ii) interaction between ParRC complex and ParM. A few strategies that will be employed for tackling these problems through structural studies using a combination of crystallography and cryo electron microscopy are described. The proposed area of research will help the fellow to gain expertise in the field of cryo-electron microscopy, as well as contribute to the progress of the existing crystallographic work in the lab, following which independent work in the characterization of macromolecular complexes can be initiated in the home country.

Keywords: structural biology,plasmid partitioning complex
Environmental Proteomics: Methods development and characterization of proteinaceous compounds in environmental samples (ENVIPRO)

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: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-09-30
End date: 2012-11-29
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165512.01
EU funding (EUR): 165512.01
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

To date, substantial effort has been devoted to characterize the microbial communities in environmental samples, to understand the role of individual microbes and to unravel the key processes controlling the functioning of various ecosystems. Several culture-based methods and culture-independent DNA-based techniques have been developed for the assessment of microbial diversity, but these have some serious disadvantages (inefficient, laborious, slow, not informative about microorganisms function). Although these approaches enable the phylogenetic analysis of microbial communities, they do not necessary tell us what individual microorganisms can do and if they play any role in ecosystem functioning. The analysis of messenger-RNA has been suggested as an alternative approach for the retrieval of useful information about cell’s major activities, but mRNA molecules degrade very rapidly and their analysis is usually problematic. In the last few years, there has been increasing interest in the potential applications of proteomics in the fields of environmental chemistry and ecology. Recently, proteomics opened a new avenue for the study of microorganisms in the different environmental compartments and the elucidation of their role in biogeochemical processes. Considering that proteins are the end products of gene expression, the identification and characterization of proteinaceous molecules in environmental matrices can provide information not only for the processes taking place but also for the identity of the active microbial species. The key objective of this proposed research project is to develop/optimize an appropriate proteomic workflow that will be properly tailored toward mass-spectrometry based characterization of proteins/peptides in complex environmental matrices. More importantly, the applicability and efficiency of the developed method will be evaluated in a variety of environmental samples (e.g. soils, sediments, aerosols, etc).

Keywords: environment,proteins,environmental proteomics,environmental chemistry,microorganisms,instrumental analysis,soil,sediment,water,aerosols
Synthetic Superantibodies – Bioinspired Engineering of Artificial Receptor Structures (SUPERANTIBODIES)

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: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171300.62
EU funding (EUR): 171300.62
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project “Superantibodies” encompasses an interdisciplinary approach to accomplish the first instance of a biohybrid, yet fully synthetic three dimensional recognition element by converging the benefits of natural biorecognition with those of a synthetic approach. The bio-inspired concept is modelled on the antibody binding site whose binding capacity is the result of a defined three-dimensional structure in which loops of polypeptides cooperatively interact with the antigen through specific biomolecular interactions. The project implements a combination of modern biomolecular and bioanalytical techniques to identify peptides within these structures that are pivotal for the interaction with the antigen, and to use organic chemistry to synthetically mimic these peptides whilst maintaining their biological function. Affinity driven self-assembly between these peptides and their specific antigen is used to produce templates for a subsequent molecular imprinting process, resulting in a site-specific integration of peptides into the structural backbone of a molecularly imprinted polymer. It is hypothesised that it will be possible to rationally engineer recognition elements with tailored affinities by changing the number and the type of the embedded peptides to rationally create structures whose affinity can outperform that of naturally derived antibodies. This proposal is built on the expertises and scientific strengths of Dr Heiko Andresen while taking him in new directions. The multidisciplinary group of Dr Molly Stevens provides a fertile environment for the scientific and professional development of the applicant, and Imperial’s infrastructures and dedication to high-quality professional and personal career development strongly support Dr Andresen in reaching a position of professional maturity. The project proposal is in line with aims and policy objectives of the FP7, with particular high relevance for the theme-crossing FP7 initiative ‘NanoMedicine’.

Keywords: biomaterial engineering,biomedical engineering,biotechnology,nanobiotechnology,biohybrid technology
Gratings in air-core photonic bandgap fibres for applications within communications, lasers and sensors (GRATING)

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): 246983.34
EU funding (EUR): 246983.34
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to inscribe novel gratings, including fibre Bragg gratings and long period fibre gratings, within air-core photonic bandgap fibres (PBFs) and to systematically investigate their applications within optical communications, fibre lasers and sensors. If successful the project will open the door to a host of new grating-based devices. This project will address the fundamental problem of how to induce a periodic index modulation that can be experienced by an optical mode propagating within an air core – a problem that has seriously obstructed the development of gratings and grating-based devices in air-core PBFs for the past decade. I propose to investigate several promising techniques for perturbing/deforming periodically the air holes along the fibre axis with either a CO2 laser, or a femtosecond laser. In addition, I shall develop a special air-core PBF with a photosensitive core wall that should allow grating inscription using the common UV laser exposure technique. Air-core PBF gratings are quite distinct from any former gratings in index-guiding fibres and have unique optical properties due to the air core. Moreover, the unique microstructure in air-core PBFs will allow thermo- or electro-optic polymers and other advanced materials to be incorporated into the air holes/core, offering a new platform for developing innovative communication and sensing devices. Active and passive devices such as in-fibre polarisers, tunable filters, and pulse compressors could be used to develop next generation all-optical fibre communication networks. The smart sensing elements to be developed, especially gas, biochemical, and biophotonic sensors, could be used to monitor environmental pollution, gas concentration, water quality, and the health of railways, bridges, building, and mines. Such applications will greatly promote communication, laser and sensing technologies and should lead to significant economic and societal benefits to Europe.

Keywords: applied optics,optical fibre communications,optical fibre sensors,optical fibre gratings,photonic bandgap fibres,photonic crystal fibres
Direct Investigation of a Folding Energy Landscape and Its Implications for the Unexplained Folding Behaviour of Spectrin Domains (SPECTRINROUGHNESS)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2011-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180801.44
EU funding (EUR): 180801.44
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Spectrin domains R15, R16 and R17 are found in tandem arrays in proteins of the cytoskeleton, and spectrin itself is believed to be responsible for maintaining the shape of erythrocites by imparting elasticity to the cell membrane. These three domains share virtually identical structure, stability, contact order, helical propensity, and transition state structure. However, in spite of the striking structural resemblance and the apparently common function, these proteins fold to their native conformation with a speed that varies over more than three orders of magnitude. Why? There is some evidence to suggest that such diversity originates from energy landscape “roughness”. Slow folding domains (R16 and R17) appear to have rough energy landscapes, whereas the fast folding domain R15 has a smooth energy landscape. By means of a novel, single-molecule spectroscopic technique developed by Prof. Benjamin Schuler at the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Zurich, I want to test this hypothesis, investigating directly the energy landscape of these homologous spectrin domains, quantifying the roughness of their energy landscape, and discover its sequence determinants. This research is the first direct investigation of energy landscape roughness of proteins for which this feature is believed to clearly affect the folding rate. These studies could not only result in substantial conceptual progress in the field of protein folding, providing a missing link between theory and experiment, but also lead to further developments of the single-molecule spectroscopy for biophysical investigation in general

Keywords: molecular biophysics,physical chemistry,protein structural dynamics,single-molecule protein folding,single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy,fret
Novel Calix[4]arene Based Macrocyclic Heteroditopic Receptor Molecules for Ion-Pair Recognition and Interlocked Molecules Capable of Induced Molecular Motion. (IEFACP)

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: 2009-09-14
End date: 2011-09-13
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181350.76
EU funding (EUR): 181350.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Due to the potential uses that mechanically bonded molecules may have as molecular switches, sensors and machines, the interest being shown in discovering imaginative and high yielding templation methods for their construction and surface assembly is ever increasing. The use of rotaxane and catenane cavities as binding domains for the recognition and sensing of guest species because it remains underdeveloped which is surprising given their unique three-dimensional topological interlocked cavity design. In addition the host-guest binding and the molecular machine like behaviour of such mechanically bonded molecules will be studied.

Keywords: * calix[4]arene * macrocyclic heteroditopic receptors * ion-pair recognition * molecular motion * surface-assembled systems * nanotechnological machine * supramolecular chemistry.
The Circle Method, Character Sums, and Quadratic Forms (CIRCLE METHOD)

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: 2010-08-01
End date: 2013-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173185.81
EU funding (EUR): 173185.81
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal investigates a series of problems in analytic number theory linked by the themes of the circle method, character sums, and quadratic forms. The first set of objectives, for the circle method, proposes innovative extensions of Kloosterman refinements. In particular we propose a novel two-dimensional Kloosterman refinement, the first of its kind, with impact on questions such as whether two quadratic forms must simultaneously attain prime values. Additionally, we propose to develop further the so-called double Kloosterman refinement in order to obtain asymptotics for solutions of non-singular homogeneous cubic equations in seven or more variables. The second set of objectives, for character sums, intersects the circle method with a fresh idea for an improvement of Hua’s inequality via estimates for exponential sums; this has immediate implications for Waring’s problem, as well as for discrete fractional integral operators in harmonic analysis. For more general character sums, we propose two novel approaches to bounding character sums by Burgess’ method, in one case by a highly original method using the modularity of elliptic curves. The third set of objectives, for quadratic forms, linked by the first problem to the circle method, additionally proposes to investigate two new approaches to counting values of quadratic forms, with applications in both number theory and analysis. This proposal presents innovative methods at the cutting edge of number theory for reaching each of these objectives. This project would bring an outstanding mathematics post-doctoral researcher to Europe, introducing her exceptional research expertise into the European mathematical community, providing her with critical training for the foundation of an independent research career, and establishing a long-term collaboration between mathematicians in Europe and the US, upon her return to her home country.

Keywords: analytic number theory,circle method,character sums,quadratic forms
The production, crystallisation, and structure determination and analysis of membrane proteins involved in the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (DGAPA76)

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: Ireland,Ireland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-04-01
End date: 2012-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177921.03
EU funding (EUR): 177921.03
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Experimentally, membranes and their lipid and protein components, are extremely challenging to work with. They are the main interface between the biological cell contents and the exterior medium and this makes them important targets when looking at human disease in pathogenic species. However membrane proteins require innovative and specialized strategies and techniques to produce, purify, characterize, and, in the case of structural biology, to crystallize for structure determination. This project aims to shed light on one particular protein export system present in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa while further developing the in meso crystallization method, the data collection and data processing strategies. We will perform structure-function studies on the alkaline protease system present in pseudomonal and related species. This system is one of the important virulent factors used by these pathogens to create a favourable environment for continued infection. Increasing our knowledge on this system will be important to improve the life of patients with cystic fibrosis and those affected by bacterial refractory keratitis. We aim to clone, express, purify and crystallize three membrane proteins involved in the alkaline protease expression system by exploiting the knowledge and experience that resides within the Membrane Structural and Functional Biological. Become proficient and independent in the execution of these highly specialized techniques as applied to membrane proteins. Contribute to the methodology development from in meso crystallogenesis and crystal harvesting to diffraction data collection and processing using multiple small crystals (&lt;80 microns). Train group members in data collection and processing, and structure determination. Solve the structure of one novel membrane protein involved in virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biochemically and biophysically characterise the target protein.

Keywords: health sciences,biological sciences,structural biology,physics,x-ray diffraction,membrane proteins,proteases,protein export,pseudomonas