Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Ethnic/Cultural Conflicts and Patterns of Violence (ECCO)

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: Norway
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-08-01
End date: 2013-03-31
Duration (months): 32.0
Total project cost (EUR): 204564.16
EU funding (EUR): 204564.16
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In most quantitative studies, ethnic conflict is treated as an event affecting an entire ethnic group. These studies fail to take into account large variations in the intensity of violence across group members, the group’s territory and over time. The key innovation of this project is to analyze how ethnic violence is organized within a group, and how its application develops over space and time. In doing so, the project relies on spatial agent-based simulation to develop spatial-temporal models of ethnic group mobilization, both in a national and a transnational setting. These models operate on real-world geographies and make it possible to incorporate findings from qualitative research, thus yielding a conceptually rich representation of reality. Furthermore, the project employs spatial-temporal statistics to test the impact of the determinants of violence on a larger set of cases. The conceptual innovation of disaggregating ethnic groups combined with these two novel methods improves our understanding of the how ethnic violence occurs. Ultimately, this will contribute to the development of better policies directed at the mitigation or prevention of violence. The fellow will work at PRIO, one of the premier peace and conflict research institutes in the world by publication record, specifically at the Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW) whichi is a designated national Centre of Excellence. PRIO&apos;s reputation with international organizations and governments as a source of research-based expertise regarding conflict resolution and peacebuilding ensures dissemination of the project&apos;s results to the policy community.

Keywords: social sciences,political sciences,geography,peace and conflict studies,sociology
CORPUS OF MALTESE & MALTESE ENGLISH SPEECH (COMMES)

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: 2009-10-15
End date: 2012-06-14
Duration (months): 32.0
Total project cost (EUR): 160552.37
EU funding (EUR): 160552.37
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal aims to enable the holder of the fellowship to undertake further training through research with the Inst. für Linguistik – PHONETIK (IfL), Univ. zu Köln. Diversification of competence should allow her to contribute further to research on developing multilingual human language technologies (HLTs), in areas such as text-to-speech (TTS) & spoken language translation involving both Maltese (Mlt) & the variety of English of speakers of Mlt, Maltese English (ME). Like other languages of small communities, Mlt as also ME, are understudied e.g. in their phonetics & phonology, especially their prosody & intonation. Research is hindered by the unavailability of structured resources, i.e. annotated corpora. Limited research often results in poor quality spoken output, particularly of the intonational interface, in HLTs developed for Mlt. This proposal aims to: 1) enable further research on the prosody & intonation of Mlt & ME, in particular on contrastive intonation & on prosody & emotion, by developing computer-based annotation standards & implementing database management techniques for use with spoken corpora of Mlt & ME; 2) provide annotated data from such corpora for use by both the research community & those involved in developing HLT tools such as more natural sounding TTS systems for use in the Maltese context. Working on Mlt in Köln will locate the research in the broad context of multilingualism supported there; work on variation & variability in ME will further understanding of phenomena arising in contexts of languages in contact. More generally, in the spirit of support for cultural & linguistic diversity in Europe, this research will enable Mlt, one of the languages of post-2004 enlargement for which expertise & resources are still in need of development, to “join the club” of other, more widely researched languages, ensuring that the principle of language equality be respected.

Keywords: linguistics,phonology,phonetics,computational linguistics,multilingual access technology,data management,speech processing,comparative linguistics,speech communication
Hydrodynamic interactions in non-equilibrium colloidal phenomena (HINECOP)

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): 172434.64
EU funding (EUR): 172434.64
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I plan to investigate, by means of computer simulations, the role of solvent flow in colloidal phenomena such as crystal nucleation and gel formation. Besides, I aim to rationalise the mechanical properties of colloidal gels in terms of the properties of their building blocks and of their route of formation. Colloids are particles of size about a millionth of a metre dispersed in a solvent. Due to their much larger size, materials made out of colloids display new properties with respect to their atomic counterparts, and these can be exploited for technological, industrial or medical purposes. In order to build new colloidal materials it is essential to understand the dynamics of the process through which they form. In particular, it is crucial to understand how both the interaction potential and the solvent flow affect the behaviour of a colloidal suspension on its way towards a colloidal material. Although the influence of the former has already received quite some attention, the role of hydrodynamics has been much less studied thus far. The target of this research programme is to fill this gap for two important colloidal phenomena: crystal nucleation and gel formation. Besides, a rationalisation of the mechanical properties of colloidal gels will be attempted. I expect my work to substantially enhance the understanding of these non-equilibrium processes. This, in turn, should contribute to the design of colloidal materials such as crystals or gels as well as to a better control of the mechanical properties of the latter.

Keywords: soft matter,chemical physics,colloid,computer simulations,gel,crystal nucleation,hydrodynamic interactions,lattice-boltzmann
Vertical Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Applications (VSABLA)

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: Denmark
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 296089.38
EU funding (EUR): 296089.38
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Research on renewable energy sources becomes of crucial importance in view of global warming, fossil fuels crises and nuclear power dangers. Wind energy gradually takes bigger part of energy production in Western European countries and is planned to develop further. This process depends on new technologies (size, shape and materials of blades and higher turbines), but also specific meteorological research on vertical wind profile is required. Both the construction and energy production of new more efficient wind turbines are presently impeded by the meteorological parametrizations in the models used. Further, both wind energy assessment models and mesoscale meteorological models implement surface layer wind profile parametrizations (valid up to 50-80 meters) for turbines of height 200-300 meters above ground. Recently published by the applicants analysis suggests improved parametrizations of the wind profile in the lower few hundred meters above ground revealing the importance of the atmospheric boundary layer height. The new wind profile parametrization was tested over flat grassland, flat suburban area and over sea. Still, the parameters that control the wind profile above 100 meters are poorly understood. Further research, both experimental and theoretical, is needed to check applicability limits and to streamline the formulations. The results can be directly implemented in wind power assessment models and mesoscale meteorological models. Deepening the understanding of the processes (wind, temperature and turbulence profiles) within the atmospheric boundary layer has many other important applications, such as atmospheric dispersion for accidental releases, air pollution, parametrizations in climate models, loads on tall buildings, etc. The research will be conducted through experimental campaigns, data analyses and theoretical considerations. Implementation strategy and first applications in existing wind energy assessment models will be done.

Keywords: natural sciences,atmospheric boundary layer,wind profile,wind energy,boundary layer parametrizations,meteorological experiments andl measurements,air pollution,atmospheric dispersion
Towards Holographic QCD and beyond (HQCD)

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: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 227417.4
EU funding (EUR): 227417.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main goal of the proposal is to construct a holographic QCD model. Our preliminary results strongly suggest that D7-branes embedded in a 10d supergravity background based on the deformed conifold is the proper setup to study various QCD phenomena like chiral symmetry breaking, confinement etc. We also intent to find new deformed cones and the corresponding 10d backgrounds. Our second aim is to use these deformed cones for the warped D-brane inflation scenario. In particular, we would like to know whether the new models allow for slow roll inflation.

Keywords: mathematical physics,quantum field theory,relativity,string theory,qcd,cosmology
Analysis of early HIV-1 induced changes in host gene expression following infection of primary cells (GIFHIVIPC)

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: 2010-01-01
End date: 2012-04-30
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179649.73
EU funding (EUR): 179649.73
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection induces the depletion of the CD4-positive T cells in infected persons, leading to AIDS. The currently available treatments for HIV-1 infection do not cure the infection, display many side effects, lead to drug resistance, and are expensive. Consequently, there is a real need to further define the cell host/virus interactions that are either required for viral replication, or are capable of controlling infection. Little is known regarding the changes in cellular gene and microRNA expression that occur in host cells in response to HIV-1 infection. I propose to conduct detailed, time-dependent genome wide analyses of human gene expression in primary cells following HIV-1 infection, by using a combination of micro-arrays and deep sequencing methods. This study will be conducted in primary blood cells (the natural targets of HIV-1 infection) such as resting or activated CD4-positive T cells, monocyte-derived macrophages and monocytes. Reverse transcription in combination with quantitative real-time PCR will be used to validate observed changes in host gene expression. I plan to identify both the viral determinants and the cellular signal transduction pathways responsible for altered gene expression. Finally, I will analyse the functional relevance of the mRNAs and microRNAs induced, with respect to the potential control or suppression of HIV-1 infection. This work will provide new information on the interactions between HIV-1 and infected cells, on the ability of host cells to respond rapidly to virus infection, and on mechanisms of cell-mediated resistance to infection.

Keywords: virology - hiv-1 infection - cellular gene (mrnas,micrornas) induction - primary blood cells - cd4-positive t cells - monocytes-
Mapping of evolution and adaptation of the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein by glycan array cartography (GLYCAN CARTOGRAPHY)

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: 2009-12-01
End date: 2011-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 170733.61
EU funding (EUR): 170733.61
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Influenza viruses belong to the family of Orthomyxoviridae and cause acute viral disease of the respiratory tract. Influenza virus enters the cell via receptor-mediated endocytosis and subsequent fusion with the cell membrane. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) is responsible for these binding and fusion events. HA binds to sialic acid (SA) receptors on the host cell-surface. These SA receptors vary in structures and are species and tissue specific. The preference for a certain SA receptor is influenza virus specific; human and avian influenza viruses prefer (SA)-α2-6-Gal and (SA)-α2-3-Gal terminated structures respectively. Studies on the interactions of glycan binding proteins such as HA have advanced significantly since the development of glycan array technologies. Using this new technology it has been shown that the receptor specificity is more complex than previously recognized and is not solely dependent on the type of glycan sialic-acid linkage, but also involves glycan modifications, such as fucosylation, sulphation, etc. There is a huge potential in the use of glycan arrays in the understanding of receptor specificity, but a major drawback for this technique is the opacity of the array data, making it difficult to interpret the data and compare data of different arrays. We propose to set up glycan array cartography, a novel method for the analysis of glycan array data in clear accessible maps, providing a spatial layout of assay components (virus strains and SA receptors), allowing the precise measurement of distances and directions amongst components. These analyses will build on the expertise of the host institution on antigenic cartography. The glycan array maps will be thoroughly tested and linked to sequence data, classical binding studies, structural modelling, and antigenic cartography. We anticipate that these studies will increase the value of glycan arrays, and help to increase our understanding of receptor specificity of influenza viruses.

Keywords: health sciences,natural sciences,influenza,glycomics,evolution,hemagglutinin,cartography,host range,h3n2,h5n1,receptor,multi-dimensional scaling
The 3Ps of Distributed Information Delivery: Preferences, Privacy and Performance (DIP3)

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: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194549.17
EU funding (EUR): 194549.17
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Today there is an abundance of data on line. The grand challenge is turning this huge amount of data to knowledge useful to the individual users of the Internet. DiP3 will address this challenge by tackling one form of data processing, often referred to as “push” data delivery. In push data delivery, instead of explicitly searching for information, users get notified when relevant information becomes available. Examples of such systems include RSS feeds, news alerts and aggregators. The scientific objective of the proposal is to derive models, algorithms and techniques to control both the amount and quality of information received by users. To this end, we propose incorporating user preferences in data delivery to rank data items based on their relevance to the users. Although preference specification has been extensively studied, there is little previous research work on incorporating preferences in Internet-scale data delivery. Furthermore, DIP3 will exploit the inherent social connections between users in Web 2.0 as expressed through social networks, social tagging, and other community-based features to enhance preference specification and ranked information delivery. The project will focus on two issues central to the success of such systems: privacy preservation and performance. Besides the sought research achievements, the main objective of the project is to reinforce the international dimension of the career of the European researcher by giving her the opportunity to be trained at the outgoing host institution, namely the College of Computing in Georgia Institute of Technology, US, whose graduate program is listed among the top-10 ones in the US for 2008. Within the College, the DiSL lab produces high-level research in large-scale distributed systems examining performance, security and privacy. The researcher will return to her institution, the Computer Science Department of the University of Ioannina, with new knowledge and experience.

Keywords: database management,computer systems,internet technology
Local Democratization, Governance, Citizen Empowerment, and Regime Legitimacy in China (LOCALDEMOCRATIZATION)

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: 2010-03-25
End date: 2012-03-24
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173185.81
EU funding (EUR): 173185.81
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The EU’s relationship with China is critical for the EU and for the future of the world. Our two economies are intertwined. Yet China is a one-party state, with a different view of democracy from that of the West. How long can China’s political system be sustained? How should the EU promote democracy, human rights, and citizens’ empowerment in China? The EU scholarly and policy communities have little capacity to answer these urgent questions. One failure of the EU’s research on China’s political change is the neglect of political developments at levels of government below the central state. This project will support Nottingham in its mission to become the leading centre for contemporary China Studies in Europe, by building a partnership between Nottingham and one of China’s top political research centres, to launch a study of democratization at the local level in China. The project will assess the democratization that is taking place in thousands of townships across China. It studies the effects of democratic reforms on the quality of local governance, on environmental protection and sustainable development, and on citizens’ participation and empowerment. It will compare the impacts of local democratization in 20 townships, using a mixture of methodologies that include case studies, surveys and interviews. Dr Zhengxu Wang, research coordinator at the China Policy Institute of the University of Nottingham and an expert on democratisation in China, will lead the project within his growing inter-disciplinary team of China analysts. Dr Ma Deyong, one of the most promising young scholars on local governance and democratization in China, will join as a Marie Curie Fellow from a top Chinese university, Nankai University. This project will greatly enhance EU academic community’s capacity in China studies, and help the EU develop better policies to promote democratization, human rights, citizen empowerment, and sustainable development in China.

Keywords: democracy,human rights,china,governance,political reform local development,local community,citizen participation,political legitimacy of chinese government,democratization of china
Modelling Market Interaction (MMI)

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: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172834.72
EU funding (EUR): 172834.72
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

It is widely recognised that the standard notion of market equilibrium omits many aspects of how real markets function. Who sets prices, who trades with whom and how the market settles, if it does on a single price for each good are largely unanswered questions. To obtain an understanding of how markets actually function and their dynamics, we have to allow for the different degrees of rationality of market participants, learning mechanisms and the structure of the interactions between the various agents. The idea of this project is to base the analysis on observed empirical facts and the basic claim is that markets have to be analysed as complex adaptive systems, where each institution and set of rules influences individual behaviours in a specific way. Our modelling approach is a mix of different research methodologies: empirical, theoretical, experimental, and computational. The present project will concentrate on two market environments, i.e., perishable goods market and electricity markets. In the former, the goods are not storable and thus inter-temporal arbitrage opportunities do not occur, whereas the latter is a paradigmatic example of complex market where multi-settlement market mechanisms are a standard feature. This research will have a strong social impact as poorly functioning market mechanisms can lead to high prices and to price discrimination, which are current strong concerns in Europe as a result of the recent increase in inflation and the complicated contagious feedback from prices to expectations and consumer confidence. My training in computer science, engineering and economics gives me the necessary experimental and theoretical background to carry out this study. Very encouraging preliminary results have already been obtained in collaboration with the research group in Marseille and within the context of the STREP, “ComplexMarkets”. The project results should be of interest to a wide audience of researchers in economics and to policymakers.

Keywords: applied economics,commodity studies,market analysis,auctions and bargaining,microeconomics,experimental economics,computational economics,interaction,expectations and aggregation