Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Exchange Rates and Fundamentals (FOREX & FUNDAMENTALS)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 83869.7
EU funding (EUR): 83869.7
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal builds upon the seminal work of Engel & West (JPE, 2005) on the relationship between FX rates (FXRs) & fundamentals (FMs). They deal with the long-standing puzzle in international economics, which is the difficulty of linking floating FXRs to macroeconomic FMs. In this project, we take a new line of attack on the question of co-movement between FXRs & FMs as well as between FXRs. We work with the class of asset-pricing models of Engel & West (EW). We attempt to empirically verify their theoretical conclusion that large discount factors account for random walk behavior in FXRs. We also deal with the following: if the FX models imply RW behavior, so that their changes are unpredictable, how then can we validate the models? The study investigates different forecasting horizons & frequencies of the 6 “FX majors” & differentials of Macro-FMs relative to US. The project develops in three phases; first we explore the “nature” & direction of FXRs-FMs causality. Then a new linear/nonlinear causality-based model selection methodology is introduced & applied to forecasting. Finally, the causality-based criteria are compared to well-known methods & forecast measures. We extend the various linear multivariate models of EW towards nonlinear ones with time-varying parameters, structural breaks, regime switches & Bayesian estimation. The recent evidence on causality is based on the linear parametric Granger test, although it has low power against nonlinear alternatives. The nonparametric test by Hiemstra-Jones (1994), which is a modified version of the Baek-Brock’s (1992), is regarded a test for nonlinear dynamic causal relationship. We employ a multi-step empirical methodology as in Bekiros & Diks (2008), using multivariate VAR/VECM/GARCH filtering combined with linear & nonlinear causality tests. Improved knowledge of the direction & nature of causalities will expand the information set available to policymakers for decision-making.

Keywords: applied economics,econometrics,macroeconomics
Molecule formation and quantum correlations in optical lattices (MOLOPTLAT)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-10-01
End date: 2012-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 146717.0
EU funding (EUR): 146717.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Motivated by recent successes on the creation of ground-state, ultra-cold molecules particularly in experiments in Orsay (France) and Innsbruck (Austria), we want to address several questions on the possibility and future prospects to create a molecular gas trapped in an optical lattice. The use of optical lattices in experiments with cold atoms, pioneered by the group of Immanuel Bloch at Garching (Germany) has led to a new research field, directed to the simulation of condensed matter systems with ultra-cold gases. Our project is to study the process of molecule formation in an optical lattice. The first thing to analyse is how to model the atom-atom interactions, as deeply-bound molecules explore the short-range part of the interatomic potential, a new degree of freedom not present in cold atom experiments. Once the interactions are determined, we will focus our attention on the actual process of molecule formation, paying special attention to the possible quantum, many-body and density dependent effects that appear. Finally, it is also part of the project the study of possible applications to build strongly-correlated states of matter that can be used to study quantum correlations and in quantum information processing.

Keywords: atomic physics,molecular physics,condensed matter properties,quantum mechanics
Biological interaction and the intermittent character of Evolution (BIOINTERACTION)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-07-01
End date: 2012-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165540.8
EU funding (EUR): 165540.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The objective of BioInteraction is to gain mathematical insights on the intermittent process of biological evolution, where periods of ecological stability are punctured by brief phases in which the biological system readjusts by eliminating networks of species and generating new ones. BioInteraction will confront such process from the perspective of statistical physics, the branch of science that yielding the most advanced tools for linking individual-level interaction to complex aggregate phenomena. Darwin’s insights regarding the interplay between the everyday interacting ecology and long-term evolution have received relatively little attention due to the great complexity involved in such process. The increasingly globalised nature of our world, however, is revealing that an understanding of systems comprising many interacting agents is a result that needs to be delivered by research if some of the most important issues facing us from an environmental, energetic and social point of view are to be met. Within this Project the fellow will start from a successful interacting framework for the mathematical study of evolution which has been developed by the host (the Tangled Nature model), in order to probe ways of characterizing evolution by observable quantities, as well as by studying in depth the process of information feedback between individual genotypes and phenotypes. For the fellow the biological nature of the Project will represent a definite paradigm shift with respect to his background in the study of social systems: the common substrate of statistical physics, however, will allow him to build a personal and independent contribution, while acquiring a wealth of new skills. Such valuable scientific cross-fertilization will add to the Project’s opportunity of securing a scientific bond between two important European regions (UK and Italy) which the fellow has been carefully setting up through the course of his career.

Keywords: natural sciences,physical sciences,evolutionary ecology,interaction,complexity,evolutionary observable quantities,genotype-phenotype interaction
The role of chromatin modifier protein hDaxx and its interaction partners in intrinsic resistance to virus infection. (CELLULAR ANTIVIRALS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-06-01
End date: 2012-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172240.8
EU funding (EUR): 172240.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 are significant and common human pathogens. Although most infections are mild, they cause one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, infections in the eye can lead to blindness, active genital herpes necessitates caesarean delivery, and herpes encephalitis is usually fatal. Current anti-HSV drugs based on acyclovir are effective, but there will be a future need for alternative antiviral treatments. After a primary infection, HSV establishes a lifelong latent state from which it reactivates periodically, leading to recurring disease. Latent viral genomes are in a heterochromatin-like state in which transcription of almost all viral genes is repressed. Reactivation involves de-repression of viral gene transcription. Understanding the mechanisms by which HSV can establish, maintain and reactivate from latent infections may reveal avenues for the development of novel therapies. Cells express certain proteins that confer intrinsic resistance to DNA virus infections by repressing viral transcription. In turn, viruses encode proteins that combat this repression and thus increase viral gene expression. The interplay between these pathways determines whether HSV initiates a lytic or quiescent infection and is likely to be important in the regulation of latency. This project proposes to study hDaxx, a cellular protein that contributes to intrinsic antiviral resistance by repressing viral gene expression at the earliest stages of infection. Using novel technologies to deplete cells of endogenous hDaxx, then to reintroduce expression of normal and mutant forms of the protein, this project will define the sequence motifs and interaction partners of hDaxx that are required for its antiviral activity. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in hDaxx mediated repression, and the way in which its activity is counteracted by viral regulators, may reveal novel avenues for the treatment of herpesvirus infections.

Keywords: natural sciences,virology,herpes simplex virus,cell biology,molecular biology
Regulation of pneumolysin in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae: A single cell approach (PNEUMO-CELL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: European Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG, 2009)
Start date: 2010-11-01
End date: 2013-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 45000.0
EU funding (EUR): 45000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen causing invasive (pneumonia, meningitis, bacteraemia) and non-invasive (acute otitis media, sinusitis) disease in young children and in elderly and/or immuno-compromised adults. The molecular mechanisms underlying S. pneumoniae virulence are not fully understood. Single-cell methodologies, including the sub-cellular localization of proteins by fluorescence microscopy, have been instrumental in studying fundamental processes in bacteria and these methodologies are potentially of great use to investigate S. pneumoniae virulence. Recently, we have developed a cell biology toolkit for S. pneumoniae, allowing us to perform gene expression and protein localization studies at the single cell level in live cells. A major S. pneumoniae virulence factor is pneumolysin which is encoded by the ply gene. Pneumolysin is highly immunogenic and binds to cholesterol in the membrane of host cells and its haemolytic activity induces cell lysis. Pneumolysin is one of the best characterized virulence factors of S. pneumoniae, but surprisingly little is known about its transcriptional regulation. Interestingly, pneumolysin is produced in the cytoplasm of S. pneumoniae and can only be released by lysis of the producer. This represents a fascinating paradox: if all cells lyse at the same time, the clonal lineage becomes extinct. Thus, mechanisms must exist to ensure that not all cells release or produce pneumolysin at the same time. This proposal is aimed at unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying heterogeneous pneumolysin gene regulation and release using single cell analytical techniques. The host institute has excellent knowledge and facilities to perform S. pneumococcus molecular genetics and cell biology, and together with the single cell biology expertise of the researcher, this partnership should provide important insights into S. pneumoniae pathogenesis.

Keywords: microbiology,molecular biology,cell biology,medical microbiology,molecular genetics
High-throughput sequencing to analyse genome variation and evolution in Map strains. (MAPSEQ)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 87370.4
EU funding (EUR): 87370.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project proposed for the IEF concerns Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (Map) which causes Johne’s disease (JD), a chronic gastroenteritis affecting principally ruminants and responsible for significant global economic losses to the livestock and associated industries. Controversially, Map has been associated with Crohn’s disease in humans. The epidemiology of paratuberculosis is poorly understood and there is little information on the virulence of strain types, interspecies transmission or wildlife reservoirs. The project will analyse genome sequences from 100 Map isolates to study genetic diversity and evolution. An understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of Map populations has important implications for the control of JD and genome information can provide insights into virulence, pathogenicity and host preference. The objectives are to assemble and annotate the genome sequence of a Type I Map strain, to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that can discriminate the different strain types, human and pigmented isolates and to perform phylogenetic analysis. Few whole genome intraspecies comparisons of pathogenic bacteria have been done on this scale and this will be the first of such studies in mycobacteria. The project employs state-of-the-art technologies for genome sequencing and analyses and has a European dimension. The fellow will acquire crucial new bioinformatics skills and transferable skills that complement her current knowledge and experience to progress her chosen career in the field of evolutionary biology and diversification of pathogens. This will give her a competitive advantage for a senior research position and will promote networking of scientists across Europe, thereby contributing to the European Research Area.

Keywords: animal diagnostics,bacterial pathogens of animals,mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis,genome sequence,snp
Authentication of fats and fat products used in food and feed (FATAUTHENTICATION)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-10-15
End date: 2012-10-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169035.2
EU funding (EUR): 169035.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Quality assessment of foods and raw materials is fundamental for maintaining high quality standards. Fats, oils and other fat products are directly consumed by humans and are also used as ingredients in foods and feed, therefore their authenticity is of great importance regarding food safety aspects, their sensory and nutritional quality, legal compliance, economic reasons and guarantee of a well-defined quality. Furthermore, quality of fat products used in feeds is essential due to their influence in the food chain. To assess the authenticity of a fat product it is fundamental to know their biological and geographical origin, technologies applied, fat modification techniques used, and chemical composition of the authentic oils and potential adulterants. The detection of adulteration of foods is possible through the identification of discriminative markers of the adulterant. Recently, the volatile profile might be used as a fingerprint of each fat product. By analysing results using multivariate statistical techniques (as PLS-DA) new statistical models might be created to assign fat products into identity classes. These models will be useful to determine rapidly the identity (and therefore the quality, including the origin, composition, safety and stability) of fat products. In this project, it will be selected a wide range of fat products used in foods and feeds (covering biological, geographical and technological variation, and novel fat products). Markers for authenticity will be analyzed using state-of-the-art technology (GC , PTR-MS) and statistical models will be created (by PLS-DA) to define identity classes. The results that can be obtained from this project are of interest for industrial applications, the assessment of food safety, the detection of adulterations, and in the information and protection of consumers. Furthermore, the applicant will acquire experience in new analytical and statistical techniques useful for her future research.

Keywords: agricultural sciences,food products,analytical chemistry,food chemistry
Structure of Herpesviral cell access (SHERPA)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-09-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 204903.2
EU funding (EUR): 204903.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Membrane-bound proteins play several important roles in biological processes and viral infections make no exception. Especially for enveloped viruses, where the virion-mediated fusion with the target membrane starts the infection cycle and insights about the viral membrane proteins acting as fusion machineries provide targets for drug design. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, a member of the enveloped Herpesvirus family) is a widespread highly adapted human pathogen, representing the leading infectious cause of congenital brain defects and a major source of life-threatening complications in transplant recipients and immunodeficient individuals. HCMV is also associated to cancer progression and to the immunosenescence. Licensed drugs for anti-HCMV treatment are characterized by weak activity and high toxicity, and alternative viral targets must be found to develop novel therapeutic strategies. The herpesviral fusion machinery presents an unusal complexity with four up to seven viral proteins involved. A dynamic molecular model of the fusion mechanics is still lacking for HCMV, and a structural description of fusion players is completely absent, thus preventing the rational design of HCMV fusion inhibitors. The present project aims to the structural investigation of HCMV fusion machinery by its in vitro reconstitution with the purified viral players and their crystallisation for structure determination by X-ray diffraction. Molecular biology of the HCMV entry is the current subject of the researcher proponent. The hosting scientist, with a well established espertise in structural studies of membrane proteins and as part of international collaborating networks devoted to foster knowledge and dissemination in the field, will provide the appropriate training environment to develop the researcher interest in the structural virology, a study branch of strong appeal to the european research area for linking basic science and translational research.

Keywords: virology,structural biology,functional biology
Atmospheric Exchange of Persistent Chemicals in Bothnian Bay, Northern Baltic Sea (BAYEX)

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: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IIF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-04-15
End date: 2013-04-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 239693.2
EU funding (EUR): 239693.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Atmospheric deposition and air-sea exchange of persistent chemicals in Bothnian Bay are investigated with goals of understanding current atmospheric loadings and how future loadings will respond to changes in ice cover and air concentrations. Substances examined are organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), current-use pesticides (CUPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), substances which have been shown to undergo long-range transport and deposition in the Arctic and other remote locations. The CUP endosulfan and the BFRs polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are listed among the eight “hazardous substances of specific concern to the Baltic Sea” by the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). PBDEs were recently added to the Stockholm Convention, and endosulfan and trifluralin are candidate substances. Concentrations of target chemicals are measured in air, Bay water, Bay snowpack, and rain. Seasonal and annual atmospheric loadings to the Bay are estimated from: a) air-water gas exchange, b) winter deposition in the snowpack, and c) rain deposition. Chemical “markers” (enantiomers of chiral compounds, natural bromoanisoles) are employed to trace air-water gas exchange, with emphasis on the effects of ice cover loss and the spring phytoplankton bloom. Enantiomer proportions are also used to follow microbially mediated diagenesis of chiral chemicals in water and soils. The project brings benefits to Sweden and the European community by making the first atmospheric deposition estimates for these substances in the northern Baltic, providing the first data on two HELCOM hazardous substances in Bay air and water, complimenting air measurements made at European Monitoring and Evaluation Program (EMEP) stations in southern Sweden and arctic Finland, and linking with the EU project ARCRISK at Svalbard by providing measurements for a common suite of chemicals at a continental subarctic site. The applicant brings to Umeå University more than 30 years’ experience in atmospheric transport a

Keywords: persistent organic pollutants,pops,pesticides,chiral chemicals,air,water,atmospheric transport,atmospheric deposition,air-water exchange