Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Phase-locking of terahertz quantum cascade lasers (TERAPHASE)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-05-09
End date: 2013-05-08
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185248.0
EU funding (EUR): 185248.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, between the infrared and microwave range, has historically suffered from a lack of sources and detectors, leading to the phrase ‘terahertz gap’ to be coined. In recent years however there have been a number of sources and detectors developed in this region. Two of these new technologies are THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) and THz quantum cascade lasers (QCL). In this project we seek to combine these technologies and phase-lock the THz QCL in the time domain to a TDS system. This will allow the temporal resolution and coherent detection of the electric field output of the QCL and will permit investigations into the fundamental laser processes of the ultra-fast gain build-up, saturation and recovery times over time-scales of pico-seconds. The first stage of the project will demonstrate the effect of phase locking by injection of a THz pulse into the QCL and forcing the latter to show laser action at a known phase. In the latter stages of the project, the process of phase locking will be used to unambiguously demonstrate mode-locking and the generation of THz pulses from a QCL in the time domain. As well as directly measuring the electric field dynamics of a mode-locked laser, the essential parameters governing mode-locking such as gain lifetimes will be investigated. Finally, as well as insights into fundamental physics of ultra-fast laser field build-up, this project will have several technological benefits. The resulting system will produce short, high-power, phase-resolved pulses of THz radiation that are currently only available at large scale facilities. These generated ultra-fast pulses can be designed in terms of duration, tunability and bandwidth using the unique QCL property of bandstructure engineering. As such, this project will have far reaching benefits for scientific research and the European technology industry.

Keywords: physical sciences,semiconductor lasers,quantum cascade lasers,terahertz,phase-locking,mode-locking
Single Chain Polymer Nanoparticles (SCPNANOPART)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2013-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177185.6
EU funding (EUR): 177185.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The following proposal deals with the synthesis of single chain polymer nanoparticles from a supramolecular approach. To the date, collapse of random coil polymer is done through covalent cross-linking of the chain. In our approach, first we will synthesize block-copolymers with suitable functionalization. The methodology to obtain this block copolymer will be thoroughly studied. Then, the different supramolecular units attached will promote, when triggered, the folding and collapse of a random coil into a well defined nanoparticle. The folding process will be studied with a large variety of techniques such as gel permeation chromatography, diffusion ordered-NMR or atomic force microscopy imaging. Moreover, we will try to control the folding process, as Nature do with biomacromolecules, in order to create well defined architectures. Finally, we will explore the potential applications of this new compartimentalized systems. Thus, catalysis might be one of the most challenging topics, due to folding promotes the existence of different environments to perform reactions. Other applications in the field of semiconducting materials or single-chain imprinting for recognition will be also envisaged.

Keywords: instrumental techniques,spectrochemistry,macromolecular chemistry,polymer chemistry,structural chemistry
high fidelity Presence and Interaction: convergence of computer graphics, vision and robotics for improving human-robot and human-computer interaction (HIFI-PRINTER)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 217950.0
EU funding (EUR): 217950.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

While interacting with virtual characters in a virtual environment or with a humanoid robot in the real world, several key enabling technologies are needed for the “suspension of disbelief” or feeling of presence (“being there”) and natural communication between the real user and the virtual or robotic equivalent. The aim of this project is the convergence of the most essential high-fidelity presence and interaction computer graphics and vision enabling technologies for improving human-computer and human-robot interaction in virtual as well as augmented reality environments, involving novel virtual characters and humanoids. On one hand, based on the extensive prior research experience of the fellow in computer graphics and real-time virtual character simulation technologies (realistic rendering, natural animation, and believable face & body simulation), a novel mathematical unified framework will be researched in this project as one key enabling technology in human-computer interaction. One the other hand, the ability of virtual characters or humanoids to visually perceive and understand articulated human motion (be that gestures, actions, expressions, etc) and to appropriately react or imitate this motion depending on the requirements of the specific task at hand is another key enabling technology in which the fellow will be trained explicitly by the host FORTH-CVRLab in this project. So far the fellow has been utilizing extensively such vision-based techniques in his research career, but most often as “black-boxes” without having being formally introduced to their intrinsic characteristics, as he has being rather focusing on graphics and presence research. The host in this project will expose directly the fellow in the latest vision and robotics technologies and also empower him to directly implement them via the new unified framework in both robotic humanoids as well as ambient intelligent virtual characters.

Keywords: technological sciences,computer graphics,virtual reality,augmented reality
Understanding mechanisms regulating endoplasmic reticulum dynamics in hippocampal synaptic plasticity (SYNAPTIC ER)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-06
End date: 2014-08-05
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209592.8
EU funding (EUR): 209592.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Dendritic spines are microdomains with dynamic distribution of ionotropic glutamate receptors and associated proteins involved in synaptic transmission. In the hippocampus, two forms of long-lasting changes in synaptic activity — long-term potentiation and long-term depression (LTD) — are thought to underlie learning and memory processes. Of the three ionotropic glutamate receptors, it is the AMPA receptor (AMPAR) that mediates the majority of fast excitatory synaptic transmissions in spines. Most AMPARs are calcium impermeable. The incorporation of AMPAR GluA2 subunit is important for this functional characteristic and this occurs before the exit from endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER is dynamically distributed in subpopulations of hippocampal dendritic spines. These ER-containing spines can play important roles in many neuronal functions, and ER expulsion from spines is likely to affect spine signaling and plasticity. But whilst research on receptor trafficking and the associated postsynaptic protein complex has greatly advanced our understanding on LTD, the contribution of spine ER dynamics has been over-looked. In this connection, the present proposal aims to test the hypothesis that dynamic ER distribution in spines can contribute to synaptic plasticity by elucidating whether there are any common mechanisms regulating AMPAR GluA2 subunits and ER dynamics in relation to metabotropic glutamate receptor dependent LTD induction. This is a novel approach and requires combination of advanced live-cell imaging and electrophysiological recordings to study how the structural and functional plasticity in a single spine accords with the dynamic change in ER and the intracellular molecular events. It is anticipated that this research will shed insights into the physiologies and pathophysiologies of synaptic ER and contribute to a significant step forward in synaptic research.

Keywords: neurobiology,brain research,endoplasmic reticulum dynamics,ampar glua2,long-term depression,dhpg,metabotropic glutamate receptor,imaging and electrophysiological recordings.
''THINK outside the box'' design practices for optimal, more competitive and durable structural COMPOSITEs (THINKCOMPOSITE)

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: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 239731.55
EU funding (EUR): 239731.55
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Engineers and scientists need to push the boundaries of composites research to make them more competitive. This calls attention for advances in materials and “thinking outside the box” design practices as opposed to traditional design rules, because the materials options and traditional design strategies have been responsible for the boundaries of the “box”. The proposed research aims to quest for an innovative material alternative and effective design practices. The project and associated visit to composites design group lead by Prof Stephen W Tsai at Stanford University will provide advanced training on several computational/practical techniques in composites research.. Three computational tools are integrated within a formal structural optimization framework and potential by multi-axial tape laying in design is examined. The tools are - Micromechanics of Failure (MMF): basis of a multi-scale model that bridges the behavior of constituents to real-life structures - Time-temperature superposition principle: provides information for life prediction to be built upon the MMF integrated constituent fatigue behavior rather than multitude of composites designs - 3DBEAM II: accurate and efficient design tool to assess unconventional designs, analyzing the real-life composite beam and frame structures. Case study will be aeroelastic tailoring by anisotropic design and the framework will eventually address the following potential contribution areas: •Innovations in manufacturing and design through the use of multi axial tapes •Systematic assessment of the design/lamination schemes for the usual performance metrics vs weight including the multi-axial material •Introduction of the MMF and TTS in design optimization framework •Introducing the realistic preliminary design tools adaptable to multidisciplinary optimization

Keywords: composite materials,lightweight structures,aircraft materials,design optimization
Impact of socio-economical inequalities in the progression of HIV infection at individual and contextual level in Europe (HIVDIS)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-06-30
End date: 2014-06-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 159365.6
EU funding (EUR): 159365.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Background. The HIV epidemic is a major public health issue in Europe. Over the last decade significant changes in the epidemic have taken place with a increasing proportion of HIV infections being in migrants and women. In turn, these groups might not fully benefit from life-saving antiretroviral treatments (ART), because of barriers to HIV testing and to ART. To date no study with sufficient sample size has explored the role of socio-economic determinants in heath of HIV infected patients in Europe. The role of contextual factors in the health of HIV patients, such as ethnic density, and lower area income level, have not been studied. Objective. We aim to study the socio-economic determinants of inequalities in HIV diagnosis, disease progression, and treatment initiation in Western Europe. Moreover, we will explore the extent to which the variability of HIV prognosis is attributable to either individual (gender, ethnicity, social class) or contextual factors (income area, ethnic density). We will use the routinely collected data of HIV infected patients that will be merged by the newly established EuroCoord collaboration. Methods. The routinely collected database from the newly established EuroCoord collaboration provides information on socio-economic determinants on 250,000 HIV infected individuals from various EU countries. HIV disease progression will be defined as rate of CD4 decline or time to AIDS or death. Marginal structural models to account for time varying confounding will be used to explore differences by socio-economic groups of the effect of ART on the risk of AIDS and mortality. Multilevel and latent variable models will be used to explore the role of contextual factors on HIV progression. Public health implications. This research will help EU health care planners to identify and target groups of HIV infected individuals likely to face barriers to HIV testing and ART and thus prevent HIV-related mortality in more vulnerable populations.

Keywords: inequalities,epidemiology,statistics
HUMAN ADAPTATIONAL PATTERNS TO ARID ENVIRONMENTS IN NORTH AFRICA (HUMANARIDADAPT)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200549.6
EU funding (EUR): 200549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The relationship between climate and culture is one of the most important areas of debate in the case of the Late Pleistocene, c.60,000-10,000 BP (years ago), when profound and frequently abrupt climatic changes coincided with significant human migrations and shifts in behavioural complexity. A major weakness in past research is that models of climate:people interactions in the Late Pleistocene have been based on regional data sets of very variable quality, so it is impossible to move beyond broad generalisations about how humans did or did not respond to climatic change. This is particularly the case in North Africa, the focus of the proposed project. There were certainly climate shifts, but they did not result in uniform environmental change: the peak of cold conditions c.18,000 BP was characterized by considerable aridity and steppe-like vegetation, but certain locations may have remained better-watered ‘rifugia’. Cultural shifts were also profound but not uniform: in the Maghreb, for example, ‘Iberomaurusian’ stone technologies continued to be used from c.24,000 BP right up to the end of the Pleistocene c.10,000 BP, whereas in Libya a distinctive Late Stone Age industry (‘Dabban’) was replaced by an ‘Oranian’ industry in some respects similar to the Maghreb Iberomaurusian c.15,000 BP. The relationships between shifts in climate, environment, and human behaviour therefore remain obscure. The proposed project will examine the stone industries of two contrasting case study regions in Libya where the results can be compared with high quality palaeoenvironmental and palaeoeconomic data. It will apply innovative methodologies to determine the likely significance of technological change in terms of cultural (social networks) and behavioural (subsistence) shifts. Integrating the various data sets will yield a nuanced perspective on human responses to climate change in North Africa in the Late Pleistocene, of wide relevance for Palaeolithic studies generally.

Keywords: humanities,climate,environment,settlement system,maghreb,oranian,iberomaurusian,dabban,late pleistocene,late stone age,libya,vegetation,technological change.
NAnoscience with SUrface MEtal CArbenes (NASUMECA)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162242.4
EU funding (EUR): 162242.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The central theme of this project is elucidating and exploiting the reactivity of metal carbenes on well-defined surfaces. We propose to use surface science techniques in vacuo (mainly scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, temperature programmed reactions, near edge X-ray adsorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) to address olefin metathesis reactions and provide an understanding at the single molecule level. Harnessing the reactivity of the metal carbenes, we will develop methods for growing conjugated single molecule wires from the metal center and assess their electronic properties. The potential applications are highly relevant to the Research Strategy Agendas of the European Technology Platforms concerning sustainable chemistry, nanoelectronics and novel materials. The pairing of the researcher’s experience and host institution’s infrastructure is ideal for this project to fulfill its objectives and it will be a springboard for the researcher to reach a group leader position in the near future.

Keywords: heterogeneous catalysis,surface chemistry,surface physics,olefin metathesis reactions,scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy,molecular wires,nanodevices
Synthesis and Evaluation of 18F-Labelled N-F Reagents (SELEFLU)

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-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-12
End date: 2013-09-11
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 201049.6
EU funding (EUR): 201049.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The overall objective of this proposal is to capitalise on our expertise in synthetic and fluorine organic chemistry by undertaking a research programme aimed at exploring the value of 18F-labelled N-F reagents. Upon completion of the proposed research programme, we hope to provide 18F-radiochemists with a toolbox filled with novel 18F-radiosynthetic strategies. The unconventional and innovative methods that we will investigate are designed to address well recognised pending problems in 18F-radiolabelling and to offer unprecedented radiosynthetic routes to access 18F-labelled targets. The impact of the novel radiochemistry we propose to develop is far reaching to advance Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a non-invasive molecular imaging technique used clinically for diagnostic purpose and drug discovery. This expanding highly interdisciplinary area of research relies on radiotracers labelled with a positron-emitting radioisotope. 18F-Labelled molecules are frequently used because of the advantageous properties of the 18F in comparison with other non-metallic radioisotopes. For rapid progress, the radiochemistry available for 18F-labelling should be sufficiently diverse for any designed 18F-radiotracers to be accessible regardless of the point of attachment of the 18F-label. To date, this is far from the reality, as current methodologies to construct 18F-labelled molecules present with limitations. The emphasis of this proposal is on the development and use of 18F-labelled N-F reagents of high specific activity for electrophilic fluorination. These reagents should allow for the production of 18F-labelled radiotracers in high radiochemical yield, purity and specific activity.

Keywords: organic chemistry,fluorination,n-f reagents,18f-radiochemistry,pet
How Can “Images Drive Out Images”? The Use and Function of Devotional Imagery in Heinrich Seuse’s Exemplar: A Reassessment (BILDE)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168985.6
EU funding (EUR): 168985.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of this research and training programme is to provide new answers to art historical questions on the use and function of images in the meditative practices of the Late Middle Ages. I will do this by focusing on the highly problematic case of Heinrich Seuse’s Exemplar in an interdisciplinary way, combining Visual and Textual studies. For this reason I am applying to Leiden University Institute for Cultural Disciplines, which hosts a research group working on the mystical tradition of the Rhineland an the Low Countries (the Initial Training Network "Mobility of Ideas and Transmission of Texts") and where, as an art historian, I will gain training in the fields of Medieval Textual studies and Manuscripts studies. Heinrich Seuse (†1366) was one of the most influential mystic writers in the Rhineland during the Middle Ages. In the Exemplar (a compilation of his texts accompanied by drawings he designed) Seuse offers a complex example of the relationship between text and images in the spiritual realm and a theory of devotional imagery based on a key phrase: “Drive out images with images”. Oft-quoted, but generally misunderstood, this concept needs to be reassessed in order to fully understand Seuse’s conception of devotional imagery. Scholars often state that for medieval mystics, images were important at the beginning of the meditative process but that they were simply tools to be left behind in order to move beyond the sensory world. Yet, with this phrase, Seuse offers a more subtle vision of this process: images should not be dispensed with entirely, instead each image must be replaced by another so that they complete and correct each other. This idea of continual interchanging modifies our understanding of the contemplative theory of the Exemplar. During this fellowship I will engage in the study of text-image issues and of the image theory in the Exemplar, in order to give a more accurate interpretation of the late medieval practice of religious meditation.

Keywords: visual studies,textual studies,art history,german literature,manuscripts studies,iconography,mystical literature,history of religions,medieval studies,history of the christian church,codicology