Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Mathematics and Mechanics of growth and remodelling of bio-filaments (GROWINGRODS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2014-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200371.8
EU funding (EUR): 200371.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims at developing a theory of growth, dynamics and mechanics of bio-ﬁlaments including branching processes. It will then be applied to a variety of physically and biologically interesting systems. At the mathematical level, the growth of biological ﬁlaments involves interesting aspects of both kinematics and dynamics of curves. A natural starting point for the modeling of bioﬁlaments is to consider them as thin elastic rods subjected to external constraints. The basic idea is to cross-sectionally average all stresses along the space curve representing the centreline of the rod. This leads to a set of equations, the Kirchhoff equations, relating averaged forces and moments to the curve’s strains (characterized by the curvatures, shears, and extension). These equations provide the starting point for much theoretical analysis and numerical modeling. They are valid for a large range of scales and have been used to model many different structures including DNA, vines and plants. Early work will be the basis for establishing a general and rigorous theory of growing elastic rods that we referred to as morphoelastic rods. Various microscopic mechanisms for the generation of intrinsic macroscopic curvature, torsion and twist will be studied. Furthermore, the initiation of branching points will be described. Simultaneously, we will consider various applications in life sciences to motivate these general theories. In particular, in collaboration with various biologists, we will model the growth of neurons and plants.

Keywords: biomathematics,morphoelasticity,solid mechanics
Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon Nitrides Supported Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Green Catalysis under Visible Light (NOMGCNP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2014-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209033.4
EU funding (EUR): 209033.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The present synthetic methodologies in chemical industry must be significantly improved to enable producing many chemicals by employing environmental-friendly and sustainable procedures. One of the main challenges for establishing a sustainable society is to mimic natural photosynthesis and develop stable and efficient photocatalysts for various chemical transformations under visible light irradiation that is almost never depleted out. Chemically stable graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is an easily available organo-catalyst featuring a semiconductor band gap of 2.7 eV corresponding to an optical wavelength of 460 nm. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the visible-light-response of g-C3N4 photocatalyst originates from an electron transition from the valence band populated by N2p orbital to the conduction band formed by C2p orbital. In this project, novel photocatalysts based on mesoporous polymeric graphic carbon nitrides (mpg-C3N4) supported Au, Pd or Au-Pd nanoparticles (M@mpg-C3N4; M = Au, Pd, or Au-Pd) will be developed by a co-impregnation or sol-gel method. The catalytic performance of the as-prepared M@mpg-C3N4 catalyst under visible light irradiation will also be investigated. In the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from water and oxygen catalyzed by M@mpg-C3N4, the reaction is initiated by electron (e-) and hole (h+) pairs generated by the visible-light-irradiation on mpg-C3N4. The photo-generated electron reduces molecular oxygen which directly reacts with water to produce hydrogen peroxide on the surface of noble metal nanoparticles. For the oxidation of alcohols in water, alcohols will be oxidized by hydrogen peroxide in-situ generated from water and oxygen in the presence of M@mpg-C3N4 under visible light. Moreover, oxygen activated by mpg-C3N4 under visible light will directly oxidize the primary carbon-hydrogen bonds in toluene by noble metal nanoparticles in M@mpg-C3N4 to efficiently produce benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, etc.

Keywords: heterogeneous catalysis,photocatalysis,carbon nitride,noble metel nanoparticles,hydrogen peroxide,alcohol,aldehyde,oxidation,mesoporous materials
The advanced instrumentation on the basis of 3D RZP for modern UV and X-ray sources (3D RZP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG, 2011)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2016-01-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The most important, in terms of understanding the nature of physical phenomena, experiments require time resolution on the scale of femto- (10-15) and atto (10-18)-seconds. Class of physical phenomena under investigation with pulsed radiation is very wide: understanding chemical dynamics when the timescales of nuclear and electronic motion can coincide, femtosecond movies of a chemical reaction, ultrafast dissociation investigations, spin dynamics investigations. The next-generation light sources [energy-recovery linear accelerators, X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) and High Harmonic Generators] is opening new avenues on research, due to their very large peak power and short pulses. Availability of suitable diffractive optics is the basis of further progress in measurement techniques. The quality of achievable results depends first of all on the availability of high-quality optical components. Therefore, the project focuses on development of new methods of time-resolved x-ray spectroscopy based on novel 3D diffractive optical elements (3D DOE) with unique combination of properties. The project includes development of theory and technology of the optics as well as application of this optics to atomic, molecular and condensed matter physics. These 3D DOE are required in the broad energy range between 100 eV and 20 keV. The proposed 3D DOE are based on the principle of energy dispersion in the focal plane of a Reflection Fresnel Zone Plate. Such elements are presently not available nowhere in the world. The project will include: - 3D DOE design and ray-tracing calculations; - modification of the 3D DOE fabrication technique; - upgrading the instrumentation for 3D DOE fabrication; - 3D DOE fabrication and testing; - design and construction of the monochromator for ultrafast experiments; - construction of the detection system for parallel signal registration; - conducting test-experiments on atomic, molecular or condensed matter physics

Keywords: time resolved experiments,3d reflection diffractive optics,free electron lasers,synchrotron sources,nanofabrication
Synthesis of Smart Virus-like Hierarchical Structures Based-on Polymer-Peptide Conjugates and the Potential Application in Drug Delivery (SMARTSTRUCTURES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-07-01
End date: 2014-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209033.4
EU funding (EUR): 209033.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In this proposal, we intend to combine the advantages of virus and polymersome structural motifs into one integrated model as a promising strategy to construct hybrid structures that are efficient delivery vehicles. First, folic acid-modified polyN-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-poly(L-cysteine) conjugate (FA-PHPMA-b-PLC) will be synthesized. The biocompatible PHPMA is used as the hydrophilic part, and PLC is chosen for its ability to aggregate in water (by either hydrogen or covalent bonding via beta-sheet formation or disulphide linkage). Not only do the thiol groups in PLC chain play an important role for covalent loading of drugs/proteins/genes via thiol exchange with disulfide groups, but also the oxidation of the cysteine residues to form intra- and intermolecular disulfide bridges further stabilize the polymersome structure. After forming the polymersome, the biomolecules will be incorporated by either covalent or noncovalent mechanisms. Finally, zinc oxide nanoparticles modified by disulfide-linked pyridine will be covalently encapsulated into the PLC shell to obtain the hybrid virus-like structure with ZnO nanoparticles as a key component of the coronal layer. We anticipate that the constructed hybrid structure will enter the target cell by endocytosis. The low pH in the endosome (pH~5) will then accelerate the dissolution of the ZnO nanoparticles and release the biomolecules. Subsequently, glutathione in the cytoplasm will reduce the cross-linked disulfides in PLC shell and lead to the disassembly of the polymersome. Therefore, as a new hybrid structure that integrates significant advantages of both the polymersome and virus models of biomolecule delivery, it is reasonable to believe that it will provide a new advance for the design of delivery vehicles for the cure of cancer-related diseases.

Keywords: biomineralization,self-assembly,polymersome,raft,drug delivery
Development of an innovative bio-based resin for aeronautical applications (BME CLEAN SKY 027)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1)
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Sky
Action type: Article 171 of the Treaty
Partnership: CLEAN-SKY (Art-185)
Countries involved: Hungary
Call:  (SP1-JTI-CS-2011-02, 2011)
Start date: 2012-03-01
End date: 2014-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 349999.2
EU funding (EUR): 262499.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of this project is the replacement of traditional mineral oil based plastics with innovative bio-based resin systems for aeronautical applications. Due to the high quality requirements of this field this challenge is much larger than in other industrial segments, therefore the use of functionalized plant oils alone as bio-components of matrices in aeronautical composites is not enough. According to our concept flame retarded special hybrid thermosetting polymer system has to be prepared using bio-based components. Innovative combination of new ideas of resin synthesis including click chemistry and sol gel reactions (providing flexibility of organic component balanced with hardness and thermal stability of the inorganic component), patented environmentally friendly reactive flame retardant components and modification of natural fibre by (patented) organic chemical and/or enzymatic method will result in bio-based epoxy composites of highly enhanced performance. The knowledge of a recently patented idea will be adapted to improve the recyclability of thermosetting bio-composites. The robustness of the technology will be ensured by process controlled reactors equipped with unique spectrometric feedback. The team of proposers includes various research groups of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), whose activities (preparative green chemistry, enzymatic reactions, reactive fire retardancy, hybrid bio-composites, and innovative structural and mechanical evaluation) complete each other. The experiences of the proposers acquired in realization of another current CleanSky project represent a good starting point for achieving the required scientific and technical quality.

Keywords: green chemistry,click chemistry,sol-gel reactions,environmentally friendly reactive flame retardant,hybrid thermosetting bio-composites,balanced flexibility,spectrometry controlled reactors
Decisions and Behaviors for Cognitive Automobiles Research (DBCAR)

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-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-05-09
End date: 2014-05-08
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 167390.4
EU funding (EUR): 167390.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The research presented herein belongs to the Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) field. ITS are application of information and communication technologies to the transportation system. The purposed work is to design behaviors and decisions for Autonomous Vehicles (vehicles that drive by itself, also known as the "driverless cars"). After a correct interpretation of a traffic situation, the most appropriate behavior will be triggered, a path to follow will be designed, and the proper orders will be sent to the car actuators (steering wheel, throttle and brake). The host center, “Institut für Mess- und Regelungstechnik” of the Karlsruher Institute of Technologie (KIT) conducts research on Cognitive Automobiles. Specifically it operates 2 experimental vehicles. One of them participated in the Darpa Urban Challenge competition of autonomous vehicles and successfully reached its finals. And the team at KIT has won the 2011 Grand Cooperative Driving Challenge, an international competition of cooperative vehicles which took place in the Netherlands. Cognitive Automobiles research project is divided in three sub-projects: sub-project A: “Distributed Sensorial Perception”, sub-project B: “Behavior Decision, Generation, and Conduction”, and sub-project C: “Automobiles and IT Basis System”. This proposal will collaborate in sub-project B area. It will focus in two main tasks: First, the trajectories of cooperative vehicles at intersections are preplanned to optimize the expected flow of vehicles at a high safety level. Second, trajectories and maneuvers of cooperative vehicles are continuously monitored with respect to safety and are dynamically adjusted with respect to the actual safety level. To perform these cooperative maneuvers several vehicles will have to plan and negotiate trajectories very quickly.

Keywords: technological sciences,road transport technology,intelligent transport systems,autonomous vehicles,artificial intelligence,robotics,knowledge engineering,distributed computing
NEW THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENTS WITH APPLICATION IN THE AREA OF CYLINDRICAL MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS (CONFORMAL)

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: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IIF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-11-27
End date: 2014-11-26
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 227800.0
EU funding (EUR): 227800.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Progress in practical implementation of conformal antennas has resulted in an ever-rising use of this type of antennas on aircrafts and spacecrafts as well as in flush mounted shipboards and in mobile communication systems. An accurate modeling of these applications requires new theoretical developments. Being much more complicated, the theory of cylindrical microstrip antennas is not developed up to the same level as planar microstrip antenna theory, and advancing this theory would give major advantages. The major goal of this project is to solve the most problematic points in the modern theory of cylindrically conformal antennas, namely, the need for efficient approaches to analyze a cylindrical microstrip antenna array whose size considerably exceeds the wavelength of operation (i.e., large arrays) and whose patches are of a complex shape. New and effective theoretical developments which include new physical ideas and concepts will be built to realize the analysis of a number of novel cylindrically conformal antenna arrays of a large electric size with patches of a complex shape. The expected outcomes will provide us with not only new theoretical knowledge but also with a new, powerful and flexible software tool useful for the design of a wide variety of realistic cylindrically conformal antenna systems, which are finding increasing applications in wireless communication. In particular, the results of this project can be used in the design of wireless networking mobile base stations with beam forming capability. The project will be delivered through an IIF (Dr Oleksandr Svezhentsev, experienced researcher > 10 years) from the Usikov Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IRE NASU) to the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Katholieke Unversiteit Leuven, Belgium.

Keywords: technological sciences,electrical engineering,telecommunications engineering
Macromolecular Dynamics in an Optimized Microfluidic Cross-Slot Geometry: Application to Biofluid Analogues and Prosthetic Fluid Formulation (MICRO-BIORHEOLOGY)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IIF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-07-02
End date: 2014-07-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 208672.4
EU funding (EUR): 208672.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Extensional flows occur widely in important biological functions of complex fluids, e.g. blood circulation, respiratory and gastrointestinal mucin flows and the synovial fluid in the joints. Extensional flows can significantly stretch the long-chain molecules present in such fluids, resulting in dramatic increases in flow resistance that are not quantified by standard rheological tests, yet are vital for full characterization of fluid samples. We propose to test the potential of a novel microfluidic chip for performing microfluidic extensional rheology measurements. The chip is based on the classic cross-slot design but has an optimized form so as to provide a pure planar extensional flow of constant strain rate along the exit channels. The novel geometry will be validated through a combination of state-of-the-art experimental techniques performed on model dilute polymer solutions in comparison with numerical simulations using viscoelastic fluid flow models. Subsequently we will use the device to study the extensional flow behaviour of model biofluid analogues based on solutions of well-characterized hyaluronic acid and mucin samples. These long-chain molecules are found in fluids such as synovial fluid and mucus, the flow properties of which can be altered by e.g. over or under expression or degradation of molecular chain length. Such altered rheology of body fluids is associated with conditions ranging from mucositis to cystic fibrosis and arthritis. There will be several outcomes of major importance from this work. Firstly we will be producing a state-of-the-art microfluidic extensional rheometer for testing miniature fluid samples. Second, we will be gaining much needed insight into the development of diseases and leading the way to improved therapeutics and formulation of prosthetic fluids. From a more fundamental perspective, we will be obtaining benchmark data on model biofluids for comparison with future work on healthy and diseased physiological fluids.

Keywords: molecular biophysics,soft matter and polymer physics,experimental rheology,non-newtonian fluid dynamics,extensional flow,microfluidics,molecular orientation,birefringence,extensional viscosity
Simulating the Dark Universe (SIDUN)

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-2011-IEF, 2011)
Start date: 2012-11-01
End date: 2014-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185763.6
EU funding (EUR): 185763.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

One of the most challenging tasks for theoretical and observational cosmology in the next decade will be to understand the fundamental nature and properties of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. To this end, several ambitious observational programs are presently ongoing or have been planned for the near future, with the aim to reach unprecedented accuracy in the investigation of the dark sector of the Universe. The large wealth of high-quality data expected from these wide surveys will however require equally reliable and accurate theoretical predictions for different and competing cosmological scenarios in order to exploit at best their potential discriminating power. Such predictions often need to rely on large numerical simulations of structure formation which require sophisticated algorithms and the use of large supercomputing systems. However, while suitable simulation techniques have now been firmly established for the standard cosmological model, new algorithms and new simulations are needed in order to provide a comparable set of predictions for a significant number of alternative and competing scenarios. The present proposed research program aims at developing suitable numerical codes and perform large simulations for a wide range of non-standard cosmological models, ranging from dynamical Dark Energy scenarios, to Modified Gravity Theories, to alternative Dark Matter particle candidates or different types of primordial non-Gaussianity. Without such effort the discriminating power of any observational enterprise would not be exploited at best and might fail to shed light on the Dark Universe. The present proposed research plan is therefore an essential step to provide a direct link between theory and observations in cosmology, with a particular relevance for the success of present and future observational programs of the European scientific community.

Keywords: cosmology,dark energy,dark matter,modified gravity,non-standard cosmological models,n-body simulations,structure formation