Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The molecular basis of post-initiation regulation of RNA transcription (PIRT)

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-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178874.06
EU funding (EUR): 178874.06
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Since RNA transcription is an important early step in the process of gene expression, it is tightly regulated at all its constituent phases. These include initiation of transcription, elongation and termination of the process at the end of the gene or operon. Post-initiation regulation of RNA transcription during the elongation phase by the alternative pathways of termination, pausing or elongation allows the cell or organism subtle control over the expression of genes that are constitutively expressed or produced in response to environmental signals. Pausing is a central event in this type of regulation, halting the elongation complex at pause or termination sites, allowing regulation or termination events to occur. These signals can be modulated by protein and RNA transcription cofactors, examples of which have been found in bacteria, fungi and mammals. It is the kinetic competition between the rates of these alternative pathways that are available to the elongation complex at pause or termination sites, which are modulated by transcription cofactors. This proposal aims to understand how these kinetic rates are altered by transcription cofactors using a novel surface plasmon resonance (Biacore) assay to study two bacterial antitermination systems. In order for this to be possible, it is important to understand how these transcriptional cofactors localize to, and assemble on, the elongation complexes at these sites. This project proposes to use various biophysical and biochemical methods to determine the structure of the protein cofactors and nascent RNA sequences upstream of the termination sites as well as the binding affinity and order of assembly of the protein co-factors on these sequences. This information will be used to develop, and screen for, agents that can artificially modify this post-initiation regulation of transcription to treat bacterial infections or to enhance the desired qualities of agriculturally important bacteria.

Keywords: rna transcription,kinetics,termination,surface plasmon resonance,protein-rna interaction,drug development
cooperation between BCL6 and c-Jun in lymphoma development and progression (BCL6-C-JUN-CAX)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-12-01
End date: 2010-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178307.05
EU funding (EUR): 178307.05
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Sequential activation of different oncogenes drive the step-wise progression of precancerous cells to highly malignant tumors. A molecular understanding of the transformation events is crucial to develop anti-cancer therapies. In this sense, The AP-1 transcription factor has gained special attention in the last decades due to its key role in the tumor development. AP-1 comprises a family of dimeric basic region-leucine zipper transcription factors. The founding members of the AP-1 family, c-Fos and c-Jun, were both originally identified as oncogenes. C-Jun is the most potent transcriptional activator in its group. The induction of AP-1 by pro-inflammatory cytokines and genotoxic stress is mostly mediated by JNK that mediates c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation in its transactivation domain, increasing the transcription of target genes. The B-cell Leukemia-6 (BCL6) proto-oncogene encodes a transcriptional repressor required for the formation of Germinal Centers (GC) which are important in pathology, since GC B cells are thought to represent the cell of origin of most types of human B cell lymphomas. Transgenic mouse overexpressing BCL6 have been generated and they could not fully recapitulate the human disease, suggesting that cooperation with a second oncogene may be required. Previously it has been observed that c-Jun and Bcl6 physically interact, however the significance of this interaction for tumour development was not investigated. The host lab has recently confirmed the association of c-Jun and BCL6 and in this proposal we will investigate whether c-Jun activation cooperates with BCL6 in lymphoma development. A multidisciplinary study, including in vitro and in vivo approaches will be used to define the nature of the cooperation between BCL6 and c-Jun in lymphoma development and progression. Transgenic approaches, including generation of a lymphoma mouse model together with biochemistry and molecular biology techniques will be used to unravel their cooperation

Keywords: health sciences,leukemia,bcl6,ap-1,lymphoma,c-jun,mice,oncogenic hits,therapy
A multiscale theoretical investigation of carbon monoxide oxidation on gold nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications (CO OXIDATION)

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: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-04-01
End date: 2011-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 210567.21
EU funding (EUR): 210567.21
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A multiscale theoretical investigation of the CO oxidation on Au nanostructures supported on various oxides is proposed. Since Haruta’s 1987 discovery of the exceptional activity of gold (Au) nanoparticles (2-5 nm in diameter), many groups have verified this exceptional activity towards many reactions when supported on certain oxides. For example, the Au/TiO2 system exhibits unprecedented activity in low temperature CO oxidation via O2. CO oxidation is of paramount importance not only in automotive catalysis but also in modern energy related applications including hydrogen production via the water-gas shift reaction with steam from fossil and renewable fuels, hydrogen purification via selective oxidation of hydrogen with oxygen, fuel cells, etc. Although the high activity of Au is beyond any doubt, there is still much debate on the nature of active sites and the underlying reaction mechanisms. Herein, a multiscale bottom-up approach will be developed that cuts among “ab-initio” and semi-empirical (free-energy related) techniques and integrates this information into first-principles Monte Carlo kinetics simulations in order to explain the exceptional reactivity of Au nanoparticles on certain supports, explore its electronic properties and eventually pave the way for design of efficient catalysts for hydrogen purification and fuel cells applications.

Keywords: computational chemistry,heterogeneous catalysis,quantum chemistry,chemical engineering,applied thermodynamics,molecular chemistry,reaction mechanisms ands dynamics,surface chemistry,molecular physics
Bright Solitons and Dynamics in Bose-Fermi Mixtures (SOLINMIX)

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: Austria
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 160182.68
EU funding (EUR): 160182.68
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The study of wave mechanics and propagation in non-linear media is a fundamental concept within physics. In particular, solitons (non-dispersive wave packets) are a general solution to the non-linear wave equation. Their existence is maintained by a non-linear interaction that counteracts the effects of dispersion. We will investigate bright solitons in an ultracold quantum-degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture where the required non-linear interaction is provided by the attraction between the Bose and Fermi components. To date, although theoretically predicted, solitons have not been observed in a Bose-Fermi mixture. To achieve our goal, we will use a Bose-Einstein condensate of the bosonic isotope Rb-87 and a spin-polarised degenerate Fermi gas of the fermionic isotope K-40. As well as being of fundamental scientific interest, the realisation and characterisation of bright matter-wave solitons in a Bose-Fermi mixture could facilitate future experiments in such areas as soliton interferometry and soliton-surface interactions for the development of sensitive surface probes, which would, respectively, have ramifications for the fields of precision measurement and surface science. The experiment will be carried out using an atom chip, an extremely good tool for studying quantum degenerate gases in a low-dimensional system (specifically an effectively 1D system), a proposed requirement for the realisation of bright solitons in Bose-Fermi mixtures. The main goals of the project are to ascertain experimentally under which conditions a Bose-Fermi mixture can be considered as one-dimensional, i.e., can be termed “effectively 1D”; the investigation of a new tool for varying atom-atom interaction strengths; the realisation of bright solitons in a Bose-Fermi mixture; the observation and characterisation of the formation and density profiles of single solitons and soliton trains; and, ultimately, the controlled collision of two bright matter-wave solitons.

Keywords: physical sciences,experimental physics,atomic physics,ultracold matter,atom chips,bose-einstein condensate,degenerate fermi gas,bose-fermi mixtures,bright solitons
The Stanley Grange Medieval Iron Project: Production, Exchange, and Technology Transfer in Medieval Europe (MEDIEVAL IRON)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-15
End date: 2010-03-14
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 133588.54
EU funding (EUR): 133588.54
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

European iron technology changed dramatically during the Middle Ages, as the ancient but inefficient “bloomery” production technique was gradually succeeded by the blast furnace. Such technological developments had a dramatic impact on European society and economy, and facilitated many of the developments of the subsequent Industrial Revolution. Unfortunately, we lack information on some of the fundamental issues underlying this transition. The applicant, Dr. Patrice de Rijk, will examine these issues through the scientific analysis and historical contextualisation of the important medieval iron smelting site at Stanley Grange, Derbyshire, UK. As a result of his research, important new insights will be developed into the progression and transfer of medieval iron technology, and of the economic and cultural ties that bound together individuals, institutions, and states in pre-modern Europe. The tangible benefits of the research are numerous: 1) For the host institution (the University of Nottingham), the applicant’s research represents the addition of new technical and intellectual expertise. It will facilitate the conversion of a forgotten post-excavation backlog stored in the University Museum into a primary research resource. 2) For the applicant, the unique combination of expertise in medieval archaeology and ancient materials at Nottingham will have a clear and measurable benefit to his intellectual development. By conducting his research, teaching, and working within a UK university, the applicant’s chances of achieving long-term re-integration into European academic life will be dramatically improved. 3) For the European Research Area, the research and training will produce one of the very few scholars with pan-European expertise in medieval iron technology, and the ability to interpret evidence in its full technological and historical context. This represents a true contribution to new European expertise and excellence in these fields.

Keywords: archaeology,archaeometallurgy,medieval europe,iron smelting,ancient technology,england
A model for Pyrenean Treeline: from individuals to landscapes under a changing climate (PYRTREELINEMOD)

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: 2008-06-02
End date: 2010-06-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 151663.92
EU funding (EUR): 151663.92
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Alpine ecosystems belong to the most endangered in the word, given their high sensibility to human induced impacts. Recent studies have detected a response of the boundary between subalpine forests and alpine zones (i.e. the treeline) to climate change, but there is an ongoing controversy about whether or not and how treelines may advance or retreat under current climate trends. This question is however of great interest for the biodiversity of alpine ecotones, and changes in the treeline would have important implications for the global carbon cycle. Thus, there is a need to understand the mechanisms shaping treelines and how different factors operate on them both at local and landscape scales. This project is designed to disentangle treeline dynamics, i.e. its spatiotemporal variation and long-term responses to climatic forcing and biological interactions using advanced modeling techniques and an extensive dataset of individual tree age, growth, position, size and recruitment in Pinus uncinata at the Pyrenean range. Spatially-explicit, individual-based models will be employed to simulate treeline spatiotemporal dynamics including both abiotic (temperature and precipitation, especially snow) and biotic factors (e.g. seed viability and dispersal, tree growth), as well as potential synergisms. First, modeling efforts will focus on the local scale and then, the entire Pyrenees will be modeled by upscaling, retaining only the relevant detail necessary to describe broad scale dynamics. Finally, the landscape scale model will be used to project treeline dynamics forced under different climate change scenarios generated through regional climate models. In all stages, a pattern-oriented modeling strategy will be used to examine the sensitivity of model predictions and assumptions, and to optimize model performance. The project will make a significant advance in finding reliable conservation policies for alpine areas, especially those related to climate change mitigation.

Keywords: climate change impact,ecological modelling,landscape ecology,mountain ecosystems,nature conservation,spatiotemporal dynamics,treeline,and upscaling of local dynamics
Nonautonomous Bifurcation Theory (NBT)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2010-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 160658.97
EU funding (EUR): 160658.97
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The mathematical concept of a dynamical system is founded on the fact that motions of many application processes are subjected to certain rules. Simple movements of a pendulum, complicated physical phenomena, chemical reactions, biological interactions (e.g., in predator-prey models) or even sociological patterns can be described via dynamical systems. Both the direct applicability of dynamical systems in numerous situations of the real life and the creation of the chaos theory in the 1960s have provided a great impetus to the theory of dynamical systems in the last decades and were a main reason for its success and popularity. For modeling real world phenomena, however, it is often inevitable to assume that the underlying rules are time-dependent, and the notion of a dynamical system is extended to this situation by the concept of a nonautonomous dynamical system. Nonautonomous situations arise quite frequently in the applied sciences, for instance, in studies of pollution spreading processes in coastal environments and climate modeling. In general, dynamical systems depend on parameters which reflect conditions influencing the system. In the dynamical bifurcation theory, the qualitative behaviour of the system under variation of these parameters is discussed. Although, the bifurcation theory for autonomous dynamical systems is a major object of research in the study of dynamical systems since decades, a corresponding theory for nonautonomous systems is still in its infancy, but in the last ten years, many renowned scientists started to think about nonautonomous bifurcation problems. The research and training project at hand aims at making major progress in the development of the nonautonomous bifurcation theory. In particular, further bifurcation patterns for low-dimensional systems are to be found, and moreover, high-dimensional systems shall be examined via reduction principles.

Keywords: nonautonomous bifurcation theory,attractor,repeller,hopf bifurcation,center manifold reduction,normal forms
The role of mesophilic crenarchaea in soil nitrification (CRENECO)

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-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-05-05
End date: 2010-05-04
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169390.93
EU funding (EUR): 169390.93
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of the project is to determine the role of a recently discovered, ubiquitous and abundant group of microorganisms, the autotrophic, ammonia oxidising mesophilic crenarchaea, in a major biogeochemical cycling process, soil nitrification. Microcosm systems will be used to determine the changes in diversity and activities of both bacterial and crenarchaeal ammonia oxidiser communities, and nitrification rates, under the influence of major environmental factors, ammonia concentration and oxygen availability. Experiments will be carried out in two contrasting European soils, fertilised and unfertilised grassland soils and wetland soils, subject to different levels of oxygen availability. In addition, the distribution of ammonia oxidation potential and carbon dioxide fixation throughout the crenarchaeal kingdom will be determined. The project will employ advanced molecular techniques and the fellow will therefore receive extensive training in cutting-edge techniques used to determine the links between microbial community structure and ecosystem function. These techniques will involve cultivation-independent in situ methods for determination of changes in community structure, transcriptional activity, stable isotope probing, metagenomics and 454 pyrosequencing. Training will be organised through a personal development plan which will also include formal courses and training programmes in complementary, generic skills operated by the host institution. The fellow will also develop supervisory skills through supervision of Master project students. Training will be supplemented through transnational collaboration and through national and international collaborations in multidisciplinary projects. The project will develop the conceptual, technical and managerial skills of the fellow to place him in a position of developing and managing an independent research group addressing major scientific questions of direct relevance to European environmental science initiatives.

Keywords: biodiversity,nitrogen cycling,environmental change,soil nitrification,molecular microbial ecology,mesophilic crenarchaea,autotrophy,ammonia,microcosms,stable isotope probing,metagenomics
siRNA-based therapy for cerebral tauopathies (SITAU)

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: 2008-02-15
End date: 2010-02-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158694.85
EU funding (EUR): 158694.85
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Neurodegenerative disorders are an increasing healthcare problem. Many of these diseases are characterized by aggregation of proteins, which leads to neuronal dysregulation and cell death. Neurofibrillary tangles, pathological aggregates of tau protein, are the characteristic neuropathological stigmata defining a group of disorders termed Tauopathies. In Frontotemporal Dementias with Parkinsonism linked to Chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), mutations in the tau gene have been identified as cause of the disease. Mice expressing FTDP-17-mutant tau protein develop age-related accumulations of neurofibrillary tangles, behavioural impairments and neuronal cell loss, similar to patients with FTDP-17. When the expression of such mutant tau protein was suppressed by means of a tetracycline-controlled expression system in mice with advanced pathology, cognitive deficits were reversed and neuronal loss was prevented. We therefore propose to study if the small inference RNA (siRNA) technique can be instrumentalized in transgenic mice overexpressing human wild-type or mutant tau (R406/P301S) to suppress tau-gene expression, neuronal cell loss and behavioural deficits. To achieve widespread distribution of siRNA in the brain, a polyethyleneimine delivery system with intracerebroventricular administration will be used, which technique has a good chance to qualify for clinical application. We believe that this project will significantly advance the research in tau-related pathologies.

Keywords: neurodegeneration,ftdp-17,sirna,tau,tauopathies,polyethyleneimine