Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Femtosecond laser induced nanoclusters in glasses for photonic applications (FEMTONANO)

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: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2010-02-28
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 86083.96
EU funding (EUR): 86083.96
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Lately composite materials containing metal nanoparticules have found an increasing number of applications in different fields of science and technology. In particular glasses containing metallic nanoparticules are of great interest for photonics because of their unique linear and nonlinear optical properties, which are determined by surface plasma oscillations of the metal clusters. The surface plasmon resonance depends strongly on shape, distribution and concentration of the nanoparticules, as well as on the surrounding dielectric matrix. This offers the opportunity to manufacture very promising new nonlinear materials, nanodevices and optical elements by manipulation of the nanostructural properties of the composite medium. Recently, laser-based techniques leading to modifications of shape and size of the metal clusters have increasingly become of great interest and proved to provide a very powerful and flexible tool to control and optimize the linear and nonlinear optical properties of such materials. More generally, this technique allows the engineering of the optical properties of the material via gaining control over the spatial distribution of nanoparticules in the glass matrix. The possibility to 3D spatially structure the linear and non-linear properties of various materials leads thus to consider femtosecond laser as a fantastic tool. However, a deeper understanding of the light-matter interaction, with emphasis on multiphotons processes, is profoundly needed for the development of new optical devices based on nanoparticules mastering. This proposal is thus dedicated to 1/ to understand the processes of the formation of metallic nanostructures in glassy media and 2/ to manipulate, to master the nanocluster shape and mostly distribution within the dielectric matrix. This will allow structuring the non-linear properties in the dielectric matrix on demand.

Keywords: photochemistry,applied optics,materials engineering,femto-chemistry,femto-physic,photonics,nanoclusters,silica glasses
Heterologous immunity to Epstein-Barr virus: dissecting the role of cross-reactive CD8 T cells in mediating disease outcome in children, young adults and the elderly. (EBV HORIZONS)

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: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 240373.81
EU funding (EUR): 240373.81
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Viral infections, and the associated tumors and disease that they cause, are a major source of economic and social burden in Europe. There is an urgent need to understand the basic mechanisms behind their pathogenesis to accelerate the rational design of vaccines and therapeutics. The training of highly skilled immunologists is vital to support this process. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a medically important infection, responsible for a diverse range of severe pathologies, including acute infectious mononucleosis (AIM), head and neck cancers and immuno-proliferative disorders. Cross-reactive memory T cells have recently been found to play a role in mediating EBV-induced AIM. This proposal aims to systematically dissect the mechanisms of CD8 T cell cross-reactivity in children, young adults and the elderly using EBV as an example of viral infection in humans. Using a combination of novel and sophisticated molecular and cellular techniques, these studies will 1) examine the role of T cell cross-reactivity in the development of clonal dominance patterns, 2) identify novel cross-reactive ligands, 3) characterize the functional and phenotypic characteristics of cross-reactive CD8 T cells, and 4) determine the binding kinetics of cross-reactive T cells with various ligands. It is highly likely that these cross reactive T cell responses to EBV only begin to scratch the surface of the prevalence and potential impact of heterologous immunity on vaccines and immunopathology. This training will be carried out in the Selin laboratory that has pioneered the field of heterologous immunity, and in the Price laboratory that has developed unique tools to probe the molecular mechanisms behind these phenomena. This training will provide a solid foundation for the long-term career development of the researcher, and endow her with an essential tool-box of resources, complementary skills and knowledge to perform outstanding research on viral immunopathogenesis in Europe.

Keywords: cd8 t cells,immunopathology,vaccines,medical microbiology,herpes viruses,epstein-barr virus
Physiological characterization of PK2 in the control of fertility, and its interaction with kisspeptins (PK2-KISS)

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-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-04-01
End date: 2012-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 225998.97
EU funding (EUR): 225998.97
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Reproduction is a complex process governed by the interplay of central and peripheral factors. The major signal controlling reproduction is the hypothalamic GnRH, responsible of the release of pituitary gonadotropins that drive gonadal function. Thus, diverse conditions disturbing reproductive function are related to defects in factors and/or routes involved in the control of GnRH release. As an example, kisspeptins (encoded by the Kiss1 gene) and their receptor GPR54 have emerged as essential gatekeepers of GnRH neurons, and disruption of kisspeptin/GPR54 signaling lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) in humans and mice (one of the most relevant breakthroughs in contemporary Neuroendocrinology). However, the mechanisms that regulate the hypothalamic Kiss1 system remain partially unknown. Recently, prokineticin-2 (PK2) and its receptor (PKR2) have been involved in the control of reproductive maturation and/or function, as loss-of-function mutations in either the receptor or the ligand lead to HH. Considering that PK2 was originally described as a circadian pacemaker from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN; the central translator of the photoperiodic status to the organism) and that key aspects of reproductive function (such as the preovulatory LH surge; responsible for ovulation) are exquisitely timed, the AIM of this project is to explore the basis for the regulatory actions of the PK2/PK2R system on GnRH neurons, and to evaluate whether Kiss1 neurons operate as essential relay for such a transmission. To accomplish this goal, a combination of gene expression (RT-PCR, in situ hybridization), protein (ICC) assays and functional (hormonal) tests, will be implemented in wild-type and genetically-modified mice. Implementation of this project will broaden our basic knowledge on the physiological mechanisms governing reproduction in mammals; knowledge which might be translatable to rational therapeutic strategies for the control (promotion or blockade) of fertility.

Keywords: health sciences,neurophysiology,pk2/pk2r,kisspeptins,gnrh,reproduction
Phenomenology of strings: generalized structures, non-perturbative physics and supersymmetry breaking. (STRING PHENO)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 154911.75
EU funding (EUR): 154911.75
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project is concerned with the characterization of the physics associated with the moduli stabilization and supersymmetry breaking at a TeV scale in String Theory compactifications. Although a lot of progress has been made, a complete picture of the low energy physics of String Theory is still far from being achieved. We plan to improve our understanding of several unexplored aspects which may help to establish a possible link with the experiments. Concretely, we propose to research the phenomenological properties of the recently discovered generalized structures. These turn out to be the natural objects for compactifying the theory to four dimensions, generalizing the Calabi-Yau case, and constituting a perfect framework for flux compactifications. We want to engineer the non-supersymmetric deformations and to identify the patterns of soft supersymmetry breaking arising at low energies. This also involves a better understanding of the non-perturbative physics induced by stringy instantons, and how these could affect the perturbative physics. The deepening into these issues is clearly related to some of the most pressing problems in String Theory.

Keywords: quantum mechanics,quantum field theory,string theory,particle physics,phenomenology
Stretch Effects on Hydrogen/Methane/Air Laminar Flame Propagation and Extinction (STRELA)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-08-01
End date: 2010-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 223971.79
EU funding (EUR): 223971.79
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A detailed experimental study of single front lean laminar hydrogen/methane/air stretched flames propagation and extinction is proposed to carry out. Flames gas-dynamic, thermal, and chemical structure will be characterized using Particle Image Velocimetry, thin filament pyrometry, and PLIFmethods. Flames propagating in vertical half opened channels of various diameters will be studied to establish the coupled effects of the flame stretch and radiation heat transfer, preferential diffusion and heat loss to wall on a single-front flame propagation and extinction. The proposed research will provide new fundamental knowledge concerning safety characteristics for delivery, handling and utilization of hydrogen/methane/air mixtures. Newly obtained results are expected to be valuable for the improvement of flamelet-based codes for modeling turbulent combustion in practical devices operating on these novel fuel blends. A group of researchers from the Host Organization leaded by the Incoming Researcher will participate in the proposed work. It is expected that Incoming Researcher will train researchers of the Host Organization in methodologies for performing in-plane laser based measurements in round channels, extracting various flame characteristics from Particle Image Velocimetry measurements, and application of different non-intrusive diagnostics for combustion studies. In turn, the Incoming Researcher will acquire such valuable for his future career skills as performing PLIF measurements, leading collective experiments, and writing research proposals. Mutual exchange visits of leading researchers of the Host Organization and of Odessa National University, Ukraine, are planned during the proposed project implementation. During these visits, researchers will share their knowledge, methodologies and new ideas, and will discuss and plan future collaboration in the form of exchange of PhD students and joint participation in international projects.

Keywords: fuels technology,fuel combustion,hydrogen safety,exhaust emissions,energy environmental impact,pollution prevention,natural gas technology
Single spin manipulation in locally oxidized p-type semiconductor heterostructures (SSM-ILOPSH)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178163.71
EU funding (EUR): 178163.71
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Exploring the different relaxation mechanisms leading to spin decoherence and thus the realization of long spin lifetimes in single electron nanodevices is one of the central issues in nowadays spintronics. Although such effects have been widely studied in 2DEG-based nano-constrictions, the possibility of the utilization of stronger correlation phenomena characteristic to valence band holes on the transport properties of confined 2DHG systems has remained still unexplored. Recently it has become possible to C-dope (100) AlGaAs heterostructures for high-mobility 2-dimensional hole gases (2DHG) showing clear signatures of the fractional quantum Hall effect. Such structures lend themselves for the fabrication of quantum wires, quantum point contacts and quantum dots, provided they can be grown close (less than 100 nm) to the sample surface and that stable charging configurations can be obtained. The host institute has pioneered the fabrication of nanostructures with local oxidation of semiconductor heterostructures by using the biased tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). The host has already demonstrated that oxide lines lead to laterally insulating behavior separating the plane of the 2DHG into various electrically disconnected areas. The proposed project aims to develop novel schemes for determining spin-related material parameters (g-factor, spin-orbit coupling strength) in various AFM lithographically defined 2DHG nanostructures via transport measurements. This is essential in order to explore electron spin dynamics, decoherence and relaxation in quantum dot and double-dot semiconductor spin qubits, and to determine conditions for coherent transfer of spin in nano/micro-circuits as well as methods of detection of spin currents. These experiments help to understand and control the coherent spin states of individual charge carriers, which is fundamental for the field of quantum computation in a solid state environment.

Keywords: spintronics,spin coherence time,spin-orbit interaction,semiconductor heterostructures,p-gaas,local oxidation with biased scanning force microscope,single hole quantum dot,transport measurements
Subunit localization of the Drosophila 26S proteasome by means of 3D cryo electron microscopy (26S PROTEASOME)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-06-01
End date: 2010-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158127.84
EU funding (EUR): 158127.84
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In eukaryotic cells, the majority of cytosolic and nuclear proteins are degraded via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Proteins carrying multiubiquitin tags are selected and degraded by the 26S proteasome, which is a large molecular assembly built from 30 different subunits.Two major components form the 26S complex: the proteolytic core particle (CP) and the regulatory particles (RPs).Whereas the structure and enzymatic mechanism of the CP have been studied in great detail, current understanding of the structure and function of the RP is lagging behind, together with the correct structural analysis of the 26S proteasomes. As a consequence of the low structural stability of the complex, electron micrographs of 26S preparations display structural heterogeneity that complicates image analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction. In the research proposal presented here, extensive effort will be devoted for the elucidation of the subunit topology of the RP. For this purpose, subunits will be labelled with various techniques, and their position within the 26S proteasome will be mapped by means of single particle cryo-electron microscopy. By applying 3D cryo-electron microscopy, the localisation of the labelled subunits can be reliably interpreted in terms of topology.The research project also aims to identify the subunits involved in the formation of the binding surfaces between the base and lid subcomplexes of the RP and the identification of the subunits involved in linking them. In the third stage of the project we will focus on mapping the tetraubiquitin binding site of the 26S proteasome by comparing the structure of the tetraubiquitin-26S proteasome complexes with the structure of 26S proteasome without tetraubiquitin. These approaches will allow for the first time the exact mapping of individual subunits within the RP and will allow us to better understand the interactions occurring between different subunits and between multiubiquitylated substrates and subunits.

Keywords: single particle cryo-electron microscopy,immuno-labelling,26s proteasome,subunit topology
Optimization of Water-Gas-Shift catalysts: a fundamental and mechanistic approach (NANOWGS)

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-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-11-01
End date: 2011-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 225715.46
EU funding (EUR): 225715.46
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The water gas shift (WGS) reaction is a critical process in purifying hydrogen for fuel cells. As the employment of hydrogen as energy carrier is improving worldwide, the use of cost-effective low temperature WGS catalysts is required. The rational design and optimization of catalysts needs the understanding of catalyst structure and function under reaction conditions. The project will focus on the study of metal/CeO2 and metal/TiO2 systems. In-situ studies to determine the structure and oxidation state of high surface area catalysts under reaction conditions will be coupled with mechanistic studies on well-defined model systems. Computational modelling of chemisorption of reactants, stability of intermediates and activation barriers will help to get a better picture of reaction mechanism. The acquired knowledge will be employed for a rational design and preparation of an advanced generation of highly active catalysts.

Keywords: computational chemistry,reaction mechanisms ands dynamics,surface chemistry,hydrogen production
Influence of the in utero environment on the risk of allergy development for the child (INUTERAL)

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: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2010-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177887.92
EU funding (EUR): 177887.92
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Today allergies are a major public health problem. Previous cross-sectional studies have found that children growing up with an anthroposophic lifestyle have a lower prevalence of IgE-mediated allergic diseases. This observation strengthens the hypothesis on importance of interaction between environment and our immune system during early childhood regarding allergy. The focus of this project is to assess if lifestyle and allergy states of the parents can cause differences in the in utero environment, and assess if these in utero differences can influence the risk of allergy development for the child. I will take advantage of a unique prospective multidisciplinary study where 330 families with an anthroposophic or conventional lifestyle will be followed during pregnancy and up to at least five years of age of the child. I will assess the in utero immune states by analysing placenta and blood samples with novel methods for epigenetic studies on immune related genes and microRNA regulation, and with immunohistochemstry, quantitative real-time (Qt-) PCR, flow cytometry, and cytometric bead array, and ELISA for cytokine analyses. The unknown function of the placental IgE will be investigated and its origin and specificity determined. The role of Hofbauer cells, placental macrophages, will be assessed by assays for migration, phagocytosis, radical production, and capacity to activate T cells. Gene expression profiles, indicating polarisation, of the Hofbauer cells will be analysed after differential stimulation by Qt-PCR. The results will be correlated to allergic symptoms and allergen specific serum IgE-levels in parents and child, lifestyle and environmental exposures. Obtained knowledge on the development of our immune system in relation to lifestyle and environment can be further used to develop early diagnostics, primary preventive, and therapeutic measures to decrease allergy in the future, both for the individual at risk as well as for the general population.

Keywords: allergy development,lifestyle,in utero environment,placenta,cord blood
Development of multiscale methods in planning of nano MEMS (GAKO2007CA)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-02-07
End date: 2011-02-06
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 224573.28
EU funding (EUR): 224573.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The mathematical multiscale theories intensively developed in the last decades and collected high potential of theoretical methods. These methods are not completely used in engineering, although there exists a great variety of arguments evidently related to problems treated by the multiscale theories. The aim of this project is to give a contribution for closing this "gap" through joint work of mathematicians, mechanics and engineers. The specific goal of the project is to develop multiscale methods in nanotechnologies with orientation to prediction of new effects in complex structures as nano MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems). We hope that the effects found not only will demonstrate effectiveness of mathematical multiscale theories as method solution of applied problems but will lead to design new structures, materials and devices.

Keywords: engineering mathematics,electronic engineering,mechanical engineering