Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Nanoengineering of functional lanthanide tetrapyrrole systems (NANOLANTA)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-02
End date: 2011-09-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169851.34
EU funding (EUR): 169851.34
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The paradigm of the project is to develop a whole set of novel 2D and 3D nanostructures of next generation organic materials (lanthanide porphyroids) on metallic surfaces. This experience will help the researcher to become a principal investigator in the near future. The organic nanostructures will be created in ultra high vacuum conditions by molecular beam organic deposition on metallic monocrystalline substrates. The samples will be geometrically characterized by low temperature STM; electrically by STS, XPS, UPS and NEXAFS; and magnetically by XMCD and Kerr at ultra low temperature. The complexity of the project means a quite interdisplinary work both scientifically and technically. A close collaboration is expected among experimental physicists, experimental chemists and theoretical physicists (ab initio and DFT). We will use two porphyroids: phthalocyanines and porphyrins, because of their remarkable temperature stability, photoelectric properties and versatility. These are aromatic macrocycle molecules with a empty cavity in their centre. The idea is first to grow one monolayer film of porphyroid and then filled the cavities by a subsequent deposition of a lanthanide material, creating a single decker. This nanostructure will be used as a template where to study the coordination properties of the huge lanthanide atom. One set of experiments will be related to catalytic properties towards the adsorption of oxygen and carbon dioxide. A second step of experiments would imply the deposition of a porphyroid on top of the lanthanide porphyroid film with the objective of creating a double decker nanostructures (porphyroid/lanthanide/porphyroid). The proximity of the two rings make them promising as basic units for: molecular semiconductors; optical gas sensors (including artificial noses), electrochemical sensors and mass sensors; organic field-effect transistors; and single molecular magnets. These applications are priorities of the European Technology Platforms.

Keywords: surface chemistry,self-assembly,supramolecular chemistry,surface physics,scanning tunneling microscopy,scanning tunneling spectroscopy,nanodevices
Primary mouse hepatocytes as a model system to study polarized endocytic trafficking (PRIMARY HEPATOCYTES)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-01-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 146050.52
EU funding (EUR): 146050.52
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Hepatocytes as polarized cells consist of two distinct membranes, the apical (towards the bile) and the basolateral (towards the blood and each other). Discrete endosomal networks and machineries are responsible for their proper maintenance and function. Therefore, internalized cargo is delivered specifically via different populations of endosomes to the apical and basolateral membranes ensuring their specificity in trafficking and signaling. Isolated mouse hepatocytes maintain polarity and in vivo functionality when cultured using a 3D collagen sandwich system and provide therefore a good model system to study polarized trafficking. By adapting functional transport assays we can quantitatively measure the flow through the endosomal system using immunofluorescence microscopy. The aim of our project is to develop a mathematical model that can describe and predict the behavior of the endocytic pathway in hepatocytes with respect to cargo transport as well as signaling. It is clear in fact from resent studies that a complete understanding of the signaling machinery will not be achieved without taken into account the endocytic trafficking of signaling molecules. To pursue this goal, we set out to characterize in a quantitative fashion the endosomal distribution in the apical versus basolateral area by using confocal imaging analysis. The acquired data are fit into modeling software, to model mathematically the endosomal system. These results are compared with data we obtained in non-polarized HeLa cells. This system has been used to identify regulators of endocytosis in a functional genomics screen. The genes identified therein will be tested in isolated primary mouse hepatocytes. This will help us to understand the function of the endosomal system in hepatocytes and how it differs compared to a non-polarized cell.

Keywords: cell biology,primary mouse hepatocytes,endocytosis,polarity,trafficking,modeling,rab5,3d culture systems,apical and basolateral membranes
Social and cultural knowledge as a resource for knowledge-based development of the European periphery: evidence from Portugal and Croatia (SOCICULTKNOW)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-04-01
End date: 2011-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 156078.43
EU funding (EUR): 156078.43
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The fundamental goal of the project is a detailed study of the spatial context assisting or hindering the European periphery in its development towards a “knowledge society”, the evaluation of its existing development strategies and policies for strengths and weaknesses, and the development of new and more efficient ones, which would take better into account the local social and cultural spatial context. Why are spatial disparities of development in contemporary Europe being rebuilt time and again? What particular elements of the socio-economic, political and cultural spatial context are responsible for, or contribute to the persistence of development drawbacks in peripheral countries and regions and present an obstacle to their successful transition to a knowledge-based economy and society? How can social and cultural knowledge be used to help the European periphery on the way to a “knowledge soсiety”? These research questions will be investigated on the base of case studies through a comparative analysis of two regions in peripheral European countries: “Centro” in Portugal and Dalmatia in Croatia. The project will address the topic focusing on three main dimensions: regional territorial identity, governance, and human potential. Each of them will be studied using two research methods: the “top-down” macroscopic method comprising “desk studies” of secondary sources of data and the “bottom-up” microscopic method comprising field studies of primary sources of data. The integration of these two methods will allow a diversified and multifaceted grasp of the processes taking place in the European periphery and influence the chances of its successful knowledge-based development. The skills and competencies that will be acquired by the fellow during the execution of the project will strongly enhance his potential for pursuing a successful research career in a European context and making a valuable contribution to the knowledge-based society.

Keywords: social geography,human geography,regional geography,knowledge,development,periphery
Wnt Signalling in Colorectal Carcinogenesis and Intestinal Homeostasis (WNT IN THE INTESTINE)

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): 183618.8
EU funding (EUR): 183618.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The intestinal epithelium is a highly self-renewing tissue, which is replenished by multipotent stem cells. Deregulation of normal intestinal homeostasis often results in malignant transformation. Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in western world. Inactivating mutations of the Apc (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli) gene is key for colorectal cancer; up to 80% of sporadic colorectal cancers have Apc mutations. The main tumour suppressive function of Apc is to negatively regulate Wnt signalling, however the functional significance of the pathways downstream of Apc remains elusive. Furthermore, the contribution of intestinal stem cells to colorectal cancer is unclear. The host laboratory has generated a mouse model to study the acute consequences of Apc loss in vivo. Using microarray analysis the lab has identified numerous novel Wnt target genes that are up regulated at all stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. These genes may be important modifiers of the Apc phenotypes but, given their number and potential redundancies, they cannot be tested in a high throughput manner in the mouse. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the best model organisms to perform genetic screens. Recent reports have shown that the Drosophila adult gut has remarkable resemblance to the vertebrate intestine. Importantly, Drosophila intestinal stem cells have been unambiguously identified. In this proposal I will: A) Generate a Drosophila model of Apc driven gut tumourigenesis. B) Test the fly orthologues of the mouse candidate target genes in this system. C) Test the modifiers of the Drosophila phenotype in the mouse model of Apc loss. Ours is a novel approach, which takes advantage of two in vivo genetic model systems to shed light into the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating malignant transformation within the intestinal epithelium.

Keywords: cancer research,wnt signaling,colorectal cancer,stem cells,drosophila,mouse,health sciences,genetics
electromagnetic Doppler reflection and refraction in artificially-dielectric objects (EL DORADO)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-20
End date: 2011-09-19
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 219258.35
EU funding (EUR): 219258.35
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The goal of this project is the achievement of sharp dynamic (i.e., time dependent) reflecting/refracting interfaces in metamaterials. Metamaterials are artificially structured materials, designed to interact with electromagnetic waves, and whose structure has feature size well below the wavelength. This implies that the detailed structure is not resolved in the interaction, and the material behaves as a homogeneous medium to the wave. Thus one can fabricate materials with properties that are not found in natural materials. Most known examples are metamaterials that exhibit simultaneously a negative real part of dielectric permittivity and a negative real part of magnetic permeability for a designed range of electromagnetic wavelengths. In this project, however, we aim at achieving fast and large tunability of permittivity in real time. This will let us generate dielectric refracting and reflecting dynamic interfaces. The difference from the known phenomenon of reflection and refraction is that here we can move these interfaces, and - importantly - with no true mechanical motions of media. Absence of mechanical motions allows for potentially very high speed &quot;movements&quot;, making this an enabling technique to observe intriguing phenomena, such as photonic energy lifters, strong Doppler shifts, wavelength converters, and, potentially, event horizons and emission of Unruh radiation. The work will be performed at Harvard University (USA) for the outgoing phase (12 months), and at the Università degli Studi di Trento for the return phase (12 months).

Keywords: physical sciences,terahertz,metamaterial,doppler effect
Seismic Signature of Plumes and the Heat Budget of Earth’s Mantle: Bridging the Gap Between Theoretical High-Performance Computations and Observations (SAPHERE)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-02-01
End date: 2012-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173401.73
EU funding (EUR): 173401.73
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The long-lived paradox between geochemical arguments for two compositionally distinct mantle reservoirs and geophysical evidence for extensive mass exchange between upper and lower mantle has still not been resolved in a manner to reach consensus. Recently, finite frequency tomography has produced images of large lower mantle plumes, which potentially carry a significant amount of heat through the mantle. This raises the prospect that the dynamic role of these plumes is larger than inferred classically from observation of dynamic topography. A consistent evaluation of this question requires a combination of large-scale numerical forward simulations of mantle circulation, mineral physics and seismology, complementing the tomographic inversions. We shall wish to focus on the boundary between the upper and lower mantle (the 660 km discontinuity) using seismic data from French Polynesia (the PLUME experiment). The most important aspect will be to test whether the seismic velocity images should be interpreted as a thermal boundary layer at the discontinuity, as sometimes suggested, or if the anomalies reflect a multi-phase transition pattern. Thereby, we estimate the heat transported by plumes through the mantle and the probability of mass exchange across this boundary. Tools to answer this question are: high-performance computations based on 3D finite element as well as 3D spectral element techniques to model mantle circulation and 3D global wave propagation, respectively. In addition, a thermodynamically self-consistent mineralogical model based on Gibbs Free Energy minimization is used to relate temperatures to seismic velocities. First theoretical investigations based on the above approach have demonstrated its feasibility and potential for the proposed project (Schuberth et al. [2008a,b]). The results of this study will be relevant to geophysical as well as to geochemical deep Earth studies and will help in building conceptual models of the Earth.

Keywords: earth,mantle,plumes,heat flux,3 d modelling,high-performcance computing,geodynamics,seismology,tomography,wave propagation,mineral physics,seismic discontinuities
The function and dynamic of cholesterol during Plasmodium liver stage infection (LIPID & INFECTION)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-04-22
End date: 2011-04-21
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 148048.66
EU funding (EUR): 148048.66
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Plasmodium parasites are the causative agents of malaria, amongst the most prevalent and severe human infectious diseases. Liver infection by Plasmodium sporozoites is the first obligatory step of malaria and a quite attractive target for prophylactic strategies against the disease. At this stage, each sporozoite invades a single hepatocyte and develops into thousands of merozoites that are released into the bloodstream. Preliminary results of the host laboratory clearly show that a hepatocyte receptor, SR-BI, plays a crucial role both in invasion and development of Plasmodium in the liver. In its physiological role, SR-BI is a central component of the cholesterol uptake by cells. Thus, the overall aim of this project is to reveal whether and how cholesterol uptake by SR-BI is critical for hepatocyte infection by Plasmodium. By using various cell biology approaches, we propose to: 1) describe the chronology of cholesterol requirements during the infection, 2) investigate the SR-BI and cholesterol organization and dynamic at the sporozoite-host cell interphase and 3) determine the role of SR-BI in delivering cholesterol for Plasmodium development inside hepatocytes. Achieving this plan of work will, hopefully, provide a rationale for a potential SR-BI/cholesterol-based anti-malarial prophylactic intervention, and contribute to the European excellence by reaching one of the main goals of the 7th Framework Programme regarding Action to Confront Infectious Diseases.

Keywords: cell biology,host-parasite interactions,parasitology,plasmodium,hepatocyte
Dark Matter and Stars in the Dark Ages (DAMIDA)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-11-12
End date: 2011-11-11
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 157279.59
EU funding (EUR): 157279.59
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The possibility that the first stars in the universe may be powered by dark matter annihilation rather than nuclear fusion has been recently proposed in the literature. This intriguing phenomenology defines a new field, in which particle dark matter properties affect the characteristics of astrophysical populations in the young universe. In DAMiDA we propose a thorough approach to the problem: stellar evolution in the presence of dark matter annihilation, the survival of these stars through the evolution of the first galaxies, the nature and impact of the feedback of these objects on the formation and evolution of subsequent structures will all be addressed with different techniques. The final aim is to provide links between dark matter properties and astrophysical observables of high redshift. This will allow the particle and astro physics communities to either use forthcoming astrophysical data, provided by means of planned observational campaigns to constrain the nature of elusive dark matter, and particle experiments aimed to study the nature of dark matter to shed light on the high redshift universe.

Keywords: physical sciences,dark matter,cosmology,early universe,first stars
String theory (STRING THEORY)

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: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-01-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 139845.15
EU funding (EUR): 139845.15
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Recently a new class of three dimensional N=8 and N=6 superconformal theory has been discovered. These theories are defined by a classical action and have a (discrete) parameter k that can serve as a coupling constant. Taking k large (coupling small) one can use perturbation Feynman diagram techniques. The theory for k=1 is particularly interesting as it is conjectured to be the N=8 theory living on coincident M2 branes (membranes). Membranes are extended objects in M-theory, and some believe these could be the defining objects of M-theory, much like strings are defining objects of perturbative string theory. This connection between strings and membranes could be interesting to study more and could shed light on M-theory itself. In the nearest future my research will focus on these newly discovered superconformal theories from various viewpoints.

Keywords: natural sciences,physical sciences
Internationalism and the Congo Question (1875-1914) (CONGO QUESTION)

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: 2009-11-16
End date: 2012-03-15
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 237117.36
EU funding (EUR): 237117.36
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Between 1875 and 1914, the &quot;Congo question&quot; prompted an unusual concentration of liberal, Protestant, Catholic, Islamic and socialist organisations on humanitarian issues, as the international community confronted the problem of integrating Central Africa into the world order. The objective of the project is to elucidate how the interaction of these five &quot;internationals&quot; in the colonial field shaped a global civil society, and what role Africans played in this process through their growing involvement with international religious associations in particular. By combining reassessment of the role of transnational movements in international history, new insights into the cross-currents of influence connecting colonies and metropoles, and reconsideration of the vitality of religion in the modern age, the project will make an important contribution to global history. The project&apos;s objective will be realised through a book of about 250 pp. intended for a major academic publisher, and through a broader comparative conference on the role of colonial scandals in giving rise to a global &quot;public sphere&quot; between the Boer War and the First World War. The scientific and organisational skills enhanced by the project, with associated teaching, will prepare the applicant for an independent career in a field in which Europe has a critical need for highly qualified scholars, able to think and network on a continental scale. The Congo question, which involved colonisers, missionaries and publics from all over Europe (and the US), was a unique catalyst of transnational linkages, creating a political space beyond the nation-state. Through an innovative methodology aimed at recovering African &quot;voices&quot; through written sources, the project moves beyond a narrow Eurocentric perspective on the &quot;public sphere&quot;. The work will thus deepen our understanding of the interaction between internationalism and imperialism in forging a global civil society connecting Europe to the rest of the world.

Keywords: modern history,colonial history,political history,history of transnational movements,african history,history of religions