Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATION OF THE GENOME: A DAPHNIA MODEL UNDER CULTURAL EUTROPHIATION (ADAPT-ENVGENOME)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2015-01-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 301843.8
EU funding (EUR): 301843.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Organisms, including man, play an important role in ecosystem processes. However, little work has examined how man-made environmental changes affect the way organisms evolve and adapt to modified ecosystems. Our aim is to explore the evolutionary mechanisms involved in local adaptation of species to anthropogenic environmental changes. The project will assess how cultural eutrophication (i.e. nutrient enrichment of freshwater systems) influences evolutionary changes in organisms using a multidisciplinary approach involving population genetics, genomics, and palaeo-genetics. The applicant will focus on genes from pathways involved in the handling of phosphorous (P) in natural populations. The model chosen is the waterflea, Daphnia pulex. The applicant expects to find changes in the genotypic composition and physiological mechanisms both over time (between populations resurrected from dormant egg banks at different dated layers in sediment cores) and over space (between extant populations inhabiting lakes that differ in eutrophication history). The main objectives are: 1) Characterize neutral genotypes and those under selection from cores and extant populations within each lake; and 2) Find natural genotypes differentially-adapted to low and high carbon (C):P levels, via genomic (transcriptome) tracking. This multidisciplinary approach represents an original way to tackle problems of great evolutionary, ecological, and economical importance. Particularly, cultural eutrophication is a major ecological concern of increasing importance due to the direct implications for humans. This IOF proposal will involve two high quality institutions, Univ. of Oklahoma (UO) and Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). Other international collaborations with the UO Biological Station (UOBS), Daphnia Genomics Consortium (DGC), and Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CGB) will be established.

Keywords: environmental change,eutrophication,freshwater ecosystems,human impact,genome adaptation,natural selection,ecological genomics,palaeo-genetics,physiology
Quercus Ilex proteomic studies on the germination and early seedling growth under drought stress (QUIPROD)

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: 2011-10-17
End date: 2013-04-16
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174610.0
EU funding (EUR): 174610.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

BACKGROUND: Proteomics is a high-throughput approach that could provide comprehensive understanding of complex developmental processes. Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) is a dominant tree in Mediterranean natural communities. Oak seeds are recalcitrant. Seed proteome and germination under stress are studied predominantly in cereals and model plants, but there is very limited information on forest species. OBJECTIVES: This project aims to study germination and early seedling growth of Holm oak at the proteome level, focusing particularly on how these processes are affected by drought. Emphasis will be placed on phosphorylation and ubiquitination as major posttranslational modifications (PTM). Proteome analysis will be complemented with data at the metabolite and transcript levels and with cytochemical observations. METHODOLOGY: Holistic and targeted approaches will be combined. Holistic approach – by using gel and gel-free, including label free quantitation approaches coupled to MS, changes in the protein and PTM profiles associated with the germination and stress responses will be analyzed. PTM will be detected by specific staining or Western blot. Appropriate statistical analysis, algorithms, databases and repositories will be used. Targeted approach – the oxidative status of the tissues will be monitored and more detailed analysis of some proteins of interest will be performed at the transcript level. Analyses at the metabolite level will include carbohydrates (ethanol extraction, GC-MS), aminoacid derivates (ethanol extraction, HPLC quantification), some secondary metabolites (GC or HPLC). Histochemical staining of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and H2O2 will also be performed. EXPECTED RESULTS: To gain deeper knowledge of the response to drought in a recalcitrant seed- producing tree species at the earliest developmental stages. The relevance of specific PTMs will be evaluated. Proteomic data will be validated by complementary targeted studies.

Keywords: natural sciences,holm oak,seed germination,seedling,proteome,drought stress,oxidativestress,post-translational modifications,transcript profile,metabolites,cytology
Understanding of ORMDL3 biology will provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of asthma (ASTHMA AND ORMDL3)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 27.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174087.77
EU funding (EUR): 174087.77
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Asthma affects up to 30 million children and adults in Europe and many more around the world. Today, asthma can be treated but not cured. Major efforts to understand the mechanisms leading to the disease are needed to better intervene and potentially prevent asthma. Genetic susceptibility and environmental factors are thought to cause the disease. However, until recently systematic approaches to identify major genetic susceptibility factors were not feasible. Within the GABRIEL Consortium we lately identified a novel and major susceptibility locus specifically for childhood asthma on chromosome 17q21 by genome wide association studies. ORDML3, a gene in that locus seems to contribute significantly to the association with asthma. ORMDL3 is coding for a protein with so far unknown function located in the endoplasmic reticulum. With this project we aim to increase our understanding of ORMDL3 function and its role in asthma pathogenesis. Collaborating with the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, we will use transgenic mice to determine the biological profile of ORMDL3 in different cells and tissues and to identify interaction partners and pathways that involve ORMDL3. We will study the role of ORMDL3 in asthma genesis using asthma mouse models and explore the potential of ORMDL3 as a therapeutic target. This project will provide the opportunity to increase our knowledge on asthma considerably and at the same time, give the opportunity to acquire new research skills at the post doc level exactly as outlined by the aims of the “Marie Curie Outgoing Fellowship”. It will allow a substantial transfer of knowledge and establish close ties with one of the top 5 immunology centers in the US. Upon return from the US, the applicant will be integrated in a highly active and supportive research environment to establish herself as an independent researcher.

Keywords: asthma,ormdl3,laboratory animal science,immunology,mouse model of airway inflammation,sirna
Mechanism based modelling of plastic deformation (MECHAMODE)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-10-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 293615.07
EU funding (EUR): 293615.07
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A fierce competition between structural materials such as steels, aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys and polymers takes place in the transportation area. Design concepts for light-weight structures require tailored materials, which generally combine high strength and low weight. Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) exhibit exceptional properties that can lead to a drastic reduction in the weight of structures and, consequently, significant energy savings and emission reduction. However, due to their high strength, many new manufacturing issues are emerging and failure phenomena during service must be carefully evaluated in order to avoid catastrophic events. To use the full potential of these steels, accurate tools for the prediction of deformation during the forming process and a proper failure characterisation is required. In this proposal constitutive models based on deformation mechanisms will be developed, implemented into the framework of finite elements, verified and validated. This will be done by means of a multidisciplinary approach involving metal physics, advanced mechanical characterisation, process monitoring and technological tests. To achieve the goal, experimental procedures have to be optimised in order to feed constitutive equations with the necessary parameters. Special emphasis will be put on the micromechanics of deformation twinning, which is one of the dominant mechanisms in TWIP (twinning induced plasticity) steels and magnesium. Novel numerical tools will be developed making it possible to perform numerical predictions of forming processes and in-service performance. Together with experienced scientists in Korea microstructure-property relations will be established for newly developed steel materials. The proposed methodology itself, however, can be applied to metallic materials in general. A continuation of the cooperation is hence possible once the future research focus of the researcher should be in a different class of materials.

Keywords: mechanical engineering,finite element modelling,numerical simulations,constitutive models,structural mechanics,process simulation,twinning,mechanical testing,magnesium
The altering of the agricultural labour's meaning through the multifunctional model of agricultural activity as an answer to the crisis caused by the loss of jobs in the agricultural sector. (AGROCLINICAL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-02-01
End date: 2012-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 157846.6
EU funding (EUR): 157846.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Economy globalization has led to the development of a new work ideology in companies. The employee’s contribution to the competitiveness of the company and his/her direct responsibility for maintaining his/her position in the company comprise the central axis of this ideology. The model appeals to the employee&apos;s ability to adjust to a continuously changing economic environment, readjusting his/her knowledge and abilities to the company&apos;s demands. The goal of this project is to recognize whether the globalization processes induce similar social upheavals in the agricultural sector, as well, and whether multi-functional model of agriculture could counterbalance the social upheavals brought by global competition for food production. “Struggle of positions” (la lutte des places) is Vincent de Gaulejac’s central theory concerning changes in the workplace due to the prevalence of the above model. A similar “struggle” seems to have begun in the agricultural sector and the question that remains is what the future hold for the agricultural sector because of the transformations induced by the new Agricultural policy. This project has the following specific aims: 1. To show the transformations induced by the new economic conditions in the social composition of the agricultural profession 2. To describe the consequences in the agricultural professional identity, if the professional practices proposed by the new model of agricultural work are adopted. 3. To show whether, in the face of changes in the agricultural work standards, a group of farmers can be re-established in their history, formulate new plans, make decisions and think of new actions.

Keywords: rural sociology,social psychology,multifunctional model of agriculture,professional identity
WDM Optical Phase-modulated Radio-over-Fiber Systems (WOPROF)

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: Denmark
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-06-01
End date: 2011-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 215851.75
EU funding (EUR): 215851.75
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Fast, reliable and everywhere are the qualifiers for access to information. Therefore to provide both high capacity and flexibility, the transport of wireless and wireline signals is converging into a common telecommunication infrastructure. In this project, we focus on the study of wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical phase modulated radio-over-fiber (RoF) system, which is a promising solution to implement broadband seamless wireless-wireline access networks. One important feature of phase modulated, radio-over-fiber systems, is their robust transmission, high spectral efficiency and high dynamic range properties, not achievable by conventional intensity modulated systems. However, to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive theoretical and/or experimental study of the performance of these WDM RoF systems has been reported yet. Furthermore, the stringent requirements of future communications links in terms of capacity, flexibility and multi-service support, motivate us to undertake a concise assessment of the ultimate achievable performance of wireline/wireless converged systems. The goal of this project is to theoretically and experimentally investigate the performance of multi-channel phase modulated radio-over-fiber optical links for the transmission wireless and wireline signals. The timely generated knowledge in this project will contribute to extend the state-of-the-art and to enhance European research excellence and competitiveness in developing solutions for future telecommunication networks.

Keywords: wireless systems,wavelength-division-multiplexing,radio-over-fiber,phase modulation,wireless-wireline access networks
Development of the circuits in the locust brain for the early detection and avoidance of looming objects. (NEURAL DEVELOPMENT)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 182484.78
EU funding (EUR): 182484.78
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Looming detection is crucial for animals to efficiently respond to approaching stimuli. Extensive research has been done to characterise and understand the neural circuits underlying such capacity. The locust has been established as a preferred model because it has a pair of large and uniquely identified visual neurons, the lobula giant movement detector (LGMD) and the postsynaptic descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) that respond selectively to the images of an object approaching towards its eye. These neurons have been associated with the triggering of last moment avoidance responses such as gliding dives during flight. So far, all studies have used adult locusts. However these animals avoid predation by birds throughout their lives and the preferred escape response varies during development. Juvenile locusts display escape behaviours on the ground, such as hiding and jumping, that require more time than emergency dives and therefore are triggered early in the loom. DCMD may have a role in guiding these early reactions as it starts responding long before collision. However there have been no attempts yet to record from the DCMD during hiding. The present research aims at characterising the visual cues that produce the hiding response in the adult and studying the possible involvement of the LGMD and DCMD neurons in such behaviour. It also intends to quantify the behavioural strategies displayed at different stages of the locust’s life, relating them to the development of the neural circuit involved in looming detection. For this study we will use electrophysiological recordings in juvenile and adult locusts. We will also study the ultrastructure and synaptic connections during development, and relate it to what is already known in the adult. This may lead to a better understanding of the LGMD-DCMD circuitry and an improvement of the biologically inspired robots and warning sensor for imminent collisions in cars that are already based in such circuit.

Keywords: behavioural biology
Plasma membrane to nucleus trafficking of the transcriptional co-activator BRX - characterization of a novel hormone signaling pathway in plants (BRXTRAFFIC)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180801.44
EU funding (EUR): 180801.44
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A major question in biology is how external and internal cues are perceived by the organism and translated into an adequate response at the cellular level. For instance, organ growth in plants involves a phase of cell expansion, which requires extensive rearrangement of cell wall structure and is triggered by systemic cues, such as phytohormones. The complex topic how such cues are interpreted is of major interest in the field of cell biology, which has succeeded in deciphering various intra-cellular signaling pathways. Nevertheless, additional, conceptually different pathways very likely remain to be discovered. A recent example for a conceptually novel pathway is the perception of the phytohormone auxin in the nucleus by direct binding to and regulation of a certain class of E3 ubiquitin ligases, the auxin receptors . Auxin is of pivotal importance in various processes of plant development throughout the life cycle, mainly through its dose-dependent influence on cell proliferation and elongation. In this proposal, we aim to investigate a novel, parallel auxin signaling pathway involving the plant-specific BRX protein that has been recently discovered in the host lab. Unlike the nuclear auxin receptor pathway, this pathway involves plasma membrane to nucleus signaling and responds to alterations in trans-cellular auxin transport, a key phenomenon in plant organogenesis. The aim of this proposal is to solidify the evidence for this pathway and characterize it in more detail to answer two key questions: i) how is BRX, a transcriptional co-activator, targeted to the plasma membrane in a polar fashion? and ii) what is the mechanistic basis for endocytosis-rate and hormone-triggered nuclear import of BRX? We expect that the anticipated results will not only shed light on a novel pathway of pivotal importance in cellular growth of plants, but also conceptually add to our understanding of intra-cellular signaling pathways in general.

Keywords: natural sciences,biology,cell biology,developmental biology,plant genetics
Functional characterization of indirect dendritic cell activation and its impact on adaptive immunity (DC-ACTIVATION)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-03-31
End date: 2012-03-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181350.76
EU funding (EUR): 181350.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

During infection, recognition of the infectious microorganism by the innate immune system leads to dendritic cell (DC) activation. This process is essential for the induction of antigen-specific adaptive immune responses. DC can be activated directly by conserved pathogen molecules or indirectly by inflammatory mediators released by other cell types that recognized such molecules. However, recent studies revealed that inflammation cannot completely substitute for direct DC recognition of microbes and that indirect DC activation is insufficient for immunologic priming. We will explore which aspects of DC activation are dependent on direct microbial priming by microarray comparison of directly and indirectly activated DC. The aim is to identify the critical signals that are necessary and sufficient to convert resting DC into immunostimulatory antigen presenting cells that are fully competent to prime T cell responses. Moreover, we will determine whether the same rules apply for pattern recognition receptors other than toll-like receptors. Finally, the fate of T cells primed by indirectly activated DC will be investigated. Particularly, we will evaluate whether these cells have acquired any signature indicative of regulatory properties. Understanding the signals that initiate and regulate DC activation is critical to our ability to manipulate the immune system for vaccination and therapy.

Keywords: dendritic cell,innate immune system,pattern-recognition receptor,t cell,adaptive immunity,immunology