Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Studies of the Sources, Properties and Environmental Behaviour of Exhaust Nanoparticles from Road Vehicles (FASTER)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Earth system science
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2394959.0
EU funding (EUR): 2394959.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Despite intensive abatement efforts, airborne particulate matter remains a major public health issue with costs across the European Union estimated at 600 billion euros in 2005. Road traffic remains one of the major sources of particulate matter, and diesel emissions are by far the largest source of atmospheric nanoparticles in urban areas. Semi-volatile organic compounds emitted largely in the condensed matter phase are a major component of diesel emissions, and as primary particles are advected from their road traffic source, the semi-volatile compounds vaporise and are oxidised, forming a greater mass of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, the semi-volatile compounds are extremely poorly characterised as they are not resolved by traditional gas chromatographic methods, presenting an unresolved complex mixture (UCM). For this reason, despite being a major precursor of SOA, such compounds are often poorly represented or completely omitted from atmospheric chemistry-transport models. This proposal is concerned with applying new two dimensional gas chromatographic methods to characterisation of the UCM at a molecular level which will be followed by studies of the physico-chemical properties of representative components of the semi-volatile emissions. The very abundant nucleation nanoparticle mode of diesel emissions is comprised almost entirely of semi-volatile organic material and hence these particles are progressively lost from the atmosphere by evaporation. Until now, there has been insufficient knowledge of the properties of the semi-volatile components to model this behaviour reliably. Such processes will be quantified through both controlled laboratory studies and carefully designed field measurements. Numerical models on both a street canyon and a neighbourhood (5x5 km) scale will be developed to simulate the key processes, such that spatial patterns and size distributions will be predicted, and compared with independent measurements.

Keywords: engine emissions,2 dimensional gas chromotography,semi-volatile organic compounds,airborne nanoparticles,numerical modelling
Imaging Magnetism in Nanostructures using Electron Holography (IMAGINE)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical sciences
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499140.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499140.0
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

Future developments in the control, functionalization and manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles and nanoscale magnetic devices require an understanding of collinear and non-collinear spin configurations and correlated changes of electronic structure on the sub-nanometer scale. In this project, an experimental methodology will be developed to allow magnetic spin structures in differently shaped nanomagnets to be visualized quantitatively and correlated with their crystallographic, compositional and defect structures. The project is based on the development of electron holography in the transmission electron microscope. It aims to provide quantitative measurements of internal magnetic fields in nanoparticles and devices that have characteristic dimensions of between 2 and 20 nm with a spatial resolution of better than 1 nm, both in projection and in three dimensions. Developments in instrumentation will allow the measurements to be acquired in situ in the electron microscope at elevated and reduced specimen temperatures and in the presence of oxidizing and reducing gases. The project is highly interdisciplinary, requiring close collaboration between scientists working on nanoparticle synthesis, device fabrication, magnetic modeling, computational mathematics and characterization techniques. It will provide a powerful new analytical tool at the frontiers of the highest spatial resolution analysis of spin and electronic structures that will have far-reaching impact beyond a specific research domain, not only in fundamental magnetism but also for applications that include magnetic recording, spintronics, catalysis and biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles. The methodology will also benefit European industry by providing a new leading edge in the fast growing international market of in situ transmission electron microscopy.

Keywords: transmission electron microscopy electron holography
SOX: Short distance neutrino Oscillations with BoreXino (SOX)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Countries involved: Italy
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-06-01
End date: 2018-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3451600.0
EU funding (EUR): 3451600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We propose to realize an experiment sensitive to a large fraction of the parameter space for short distance neutrino flavor oscillations into sterile components. The experiment aims at the clear and unambiguous discovery, or at the definitive disproof, of the so called neutrino anomalies, a set of circumstantial evidences of electron neutrino disappearance at short distance from the source observed by several experiments. The interpretation of the anomalies as oscillations into sterile neutrino components is also supported by cosmological data, which consistently indicate that the total number of neutrinos might be larger than three. If successful, we will demonstrate the existence of sterile neutrinos, opening a brand new era in fundamental particle physics and in cosmology. A solid signal would mean the discovery of the first particles beyond the Standard Electroweak Model and would have profound implications in our understanding of the Universe. In case of a negative result, we would close a long standing debate about the reality of the neutrino anomalies, probe the existence of new physics in low energy neutrino interactions, provide a measurement or a limit of neutrino magnetic moment, and give Borexino a superb energy calibration, very beneficial for high-precision solar neutrino measurements. The experiment will be done by placing a well designed artificial neutrino (or antineutrino) source close or inside the Borexino solar neutrino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The superb Borexino sensitivity, its large size, and its very low radioactive background will be the key elements of the experiment. The expected sensitivity, calculated with high precision Monte Carlo simulations which implements the deep knowledge of the detector response developed by the collaboration and by the P.I. in particular, is sufficient to guarantee either a clear discovery or the complete exclusion of sterile neutrinos as an explanation of the neutrino anomalies.

Keywords: sterile neutrinos,neutrino oscillations,neutrino magnetic moment
Innovative Materials Processing Using Non-Equilibrium Plasmas (IMPUNEP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Products and process engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 68.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499283.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499283.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Current bulk materials processing methods are nearing their limit in terms of ability to produce innovative materials with compositional and structural consistency. The aim of this ambitious project is to remove barriers to materials development, by researching novel methods for the processing of engineering materials, using advanced non-equilibrium plasma systems, to achieve a paradigm shift in the field of materials synthesis. These new processes have the potential to overcome the constraints of existing methods and also be environmentally friendly and produce novel materials with enhanced properties (mechanical, chemical and physical). The research will utilise plasmas in ways not used before (in bulk materials synthesis rather than thin film formation) and it will investigate different types of plasmas (vacuum, atmospheric and electrolytic), to ensure optimisation of the processing routes across the whole range of material types (including metals, ceramics and composites). The materials synthesised will have benefits for products across key applications sectors, including energy, healthcare and aerospace. The processes will avoid harmful chemicals and will make optimum use of scarce material resources. This interdisciplinary project (involving engineers, physicists, chemists and modellers) has fundamental “blue skies” and transformative aspects. It is also high-risk due to the aim to produce “bulk” materials at adequate rates and with consistent uniform structures, compositions and phases (and therefore properties) throughout the material. There are many challenges to overcome, relating to the study of the plasma systems and materials produced; these aspects will be pursued using empirical and modelling approaches. The research will pursue new lines of enquiry using an unconventional synthesis approach whilst operating at the interface with more established discipline areas of plasma physics, materials chemistry, process diagnostics, modelling and control.

Keywords: materials synthesis processing
Development of a Research Environment for Advanced Modelling of Soft matter (DREAMS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Italy
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2018-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2152600.0
EU funding (EUR): 2152600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

DREAMS aims at developing an integrated theoretical-computational approach for the efficient description of linear and non-linear spectroscopies of several classes of organic probes, dispersed in polymeric matrices that range in complexity from simple polyolefins all the way to large biomolecules (proteins and polysaccharides). In order to reach this objective, developments along the following lines are required: (i) elaboration of new theoretical models, to expand the scope of currently available treatments; (ii) definition of specific treatments for intermediate regions / regimes in the context of space- and time-multiscale descriptions; (iii) algorithmic implementation of the developed models / protocols in computational codes and, (iv) their efficient integration allowing for seamless flow of information and easy use by non-specialists. A crucial asset for the success of the planned theoretical-computational developments is represented by an extensive network of solid collaborations with leading experimental groups, that will be involved in the synthesis and characterization of the different chromophore / matrix systems, as well as in the in-depth characterization of their spectroscopic responses. These interactions will thus allow for a stringent and exhaustive validation of the capabilities required of a general and versatile computational tool; at the same time, the experimental groups will make full use of advanced theoretical interpretations in the context of a real-world technological problem. In summary, DREAMS relies on a carefully planned combination of theoretical developments, computational implementations, and interactions with experimentalists, in order to achieve a novel and cutting-edge result, namely to provide the scientific community with a set of computational tools that will make possible the simulation and prediction of response and spectroscopic properties of multi-component materials.

Keywords: computational chemistry,dft,quantum chemistry,ab-initio,computational spectroscopy,molecular properties,simulation and modeling tools,anharmonicity,molecular design,multiscale methods
Novel Energy Materials: Engineering Science and Integrated Systems (NEMESIS) (NEMESIS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Products and process engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 71.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2266020.0
EU funding (EUR): 2266020.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of NEMESIS is to establish a world leading research center in ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting and energy generation. I will deliver cutting edge multi-disciplinary research encompassing materials, physics, chemistry and electrical engineering and develop ground breaking materials and structures for energy creation. The internationally leading research center will be dedicated to developing new and innovative solutions to generating and harvesting energy using novel materials at the macro- to nano-scale. Key challenges and novel technical approaches are: 1. To create energy harvesting nano-generators to convert vibrations into electrical energy in hostile environments (e.g. wireless sensors in near engine applications). 2. To enable broadband energy harvesting to generate electrical energy from ambient vibrations which generally exhibit multiple time-dependent frequencies. 3. To produce Curie-temperature tuned nano-structured pyroelectrics to optimise the electrical energy scavenged from temperature fluctuations. To further enhance the energy generation I aim to couple thermal expansion and pyroelectric effects to produce a new class of thermal energy harvesting materials and systems. 4. To create nano-structured ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials for novel water-splitting applications. Two approaches will be considered, the use of the internal electrical fields present in ferroelectrics to prevent recombination of photo-excited electron-hole pairs and the electric charge generated on mechanically stressed piezoelectric nano-rods which convert water to hydrogen and oxygen.

Keywords: ferroelectric,piezoelectric,energy,nanostructure,ceramics
Cooperative Phenomena in Supramolecular Nanostructures (COSUN)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-05-01
End date: 2019-04-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2452688.0
EU funding (EUR): 2452688.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Many of the remarkable properties of molecular nanostructures are cooperative effects. A system is described as cooperative when it behaves differently from expectations based on the properties of its individual components. Multivalent cooperativity is crucial for biological molecular recognition, yet the factors determining the magnitude of this effect are poorly understood. Excitonic cooperativity is exploited in sensitive detectors for explosives, and is the basis of photosynthetic light harvesting. Electronic cooperativity is illustrated on the molecular scale by the phenomenon of aromaticity, and on a larger scale by metallic conductivity. Magnetic properties provide many examples of cooperativity. The magnitude of cooperative effects increases with the strength of coupling between the individual components, and with the number of coupled components. Cooperative systems exhibit sharp changes in behavior in response to small changes in conditions, such as transitions from free to bound, fluorescent to non-fluorescent, or conductive to insulating. The tendency towards an “all-or-nothing” response is often useful; in the limit of a very large ensemble, it leads to phase transitions. The CoSuN project will extend methodology developed in Oxford to create large monodisperse supramolecular nanostructures which are uniquely suited for exploring multivalent, excitonic and electronic cooperativity. The template-directed synthesis of these nanostructures is made possible by strong multivalent cooperativity, while the electronic coupling between the individual subunits results in other cooperative phenomena. This project will clarify understanding of cooperative molecular recognition. It will also help to solve some of the mysteries of photosynthesis and reveal the first molecular manifestations of coherent quantum mechanical phenomena, such as Aharonov-Bohm effects.

Keywords: supramolecular,templates,cooperativity,self-assembly,macrocycles,porphyrins,molecular materials,pi-systems,light-harvesting
Extracting science from surveys of our Galaxy (ESSOG)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Universe sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2012-ADG_20120216, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1954460.0
EU funding (EUR): 1954460.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The goal is to put in place the infrastructure required to extract the promised science for large surveys of our Galaxy that are underway and will culminate in ESA's Cornerstone Mission Gaia. Dynamical models are fundamental to this process because surveys are heavily biased by the Sun's location in the Galaxy. Novel dynamical models will be built and novel methods of fitting them to the data developed. With their help we will be able to constrain the distribution of dark matter in the Galaxy. By modelling the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Galaxy we expect to be able to infer much information about how the Galaxy was assembled, and thus test the prevailing cosmological paradigm. During the grant period we will be applying our tools to ground-based surveys, but the first version of the Gaia Catalogue will become available at the end of the grant period, and our goal is to have everything ready and tested for its prompt exploitation.
Mechanisms of cell dysfunction by aggregation dynamics of polyQ-containing proteins (MECHAGGRENAMICS)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-11-01
End date: 2016-10-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of several ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s disease (HD), Alzheimer’s disease and prion-mediated diseases. Different cellular pathways influence the rate of aggregation, and clearance of intermediate protein species and aggregates in the cell (for example, autophagy or proteasomal degradation). Many signalling pathways regulate these processes. These signalling events, and the molecular pathways downstream are not completely understood. In HD there is an inverse correlation between the number of CAG triplets found in mutated huntingtin (htt) and the age-of-onset of the symptoms. However, there is a wide variation in the age-at-onset of the disease among carriers of short mutant glutamine tracts, suggesting that the genetic background strongly influences the severity of the disease. Hence the broad objective of this proposal is to find molecules that modulate protein aggregation. We will use in vivo (C. elegans) and in vitro (mammalian cells) models of HD to find new molecules and pathways that modulate aggregation and toxicity induced by polyglutamines. The second objective of this proposal is to understand the mechanism by which mHtt toxic species alter cellular processes, with special focus on pre-synaptic function.

Keywords: protein aggregation,huntington disease,synaptic funtion,c. elegans
TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL MODULATION OF ANTIVIRAL MAVS SIGNALING (VIROPERO)

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: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Viruses are of great importance for global public health. The first line of cellular defenses against viral infection begins with the binding of viral RNA to intracellular pathogen recognition receptors. Such interaction triggers the conformational change of these receptors and allows subsequent interaction with the adaptor molecule MAVS. Once activated, MAVS recruits a signaling complex able to activate transcription factors that induce the direct expression of ‘early IFN stimulated genes’ (ISGs), which have direct anti-viral effect. Until recently, the key adaptor molecule MAVS, was thought to localize exclusively at the mitochondrial membrane, therefore establishing mitochondria as a unique platform for antiviral signaling. Recent work has revealed that MAVS is also found on peroxisomes, organelles that are best known for lipids oxidation. Interestingly, peroxisomal MAVS induces a direct, rapid and transient, IFN-independent expression of ISGs, whereas mitochondrial MAVS induces both IFN and ISGs with delayed kinetics. Therefore, MAVS localization determines the type of signaling pathway activated during viral infection. The set of genes that are induced by peroxisomal MAVS and mitochondrial MAVS differ, suggesting that signaling from both organelles may be coordinated to ensure maximal antiviral gene expression. We propose to characterize the molecular basis for the regulation and coordination between peroxisomal and mitochondrial MAVS signaling in the context of infection by a variety of medically important viruses. The overall goal of this project is to understand innate immunity mechanisms that are taking places very early after virus infection. A better understanding of this arm of the innate immune response should shed some light on important mechanisms such as the control of virus replication by the host cell, the cell tropism of the virus and the development of disease. Such understanding is key to the development of strategies to fight viruses.

Keywords: medically important viruses,innate immunity,public health,mavs signaling,peroxisomes,ifn stimulated genes,control of virus replication,cell tropism of the virus,development of disease