Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Priming in an aquatic ecosystem - Stream biofilms as hotspots for carbon cycling (PRIMA)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175844.8
EU funding (EUR): 175844.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Recent findings concerning the role of inland waters in global carbon cycling is currently having a major impact of the view of the global carbon cycle. These findings highlight inland waters - such as streams, rivers and lakes - as major sites of carbon cycling, implying that they must be considered in the context of climate change. Microbial degradation of organic carbon is a process that is central to carbon cycling in all ecosystems. In soils, microbial degradation of recalcitrant carbon is often controlled by the availability of labile carbon sources. This is linked to the priming effect (PE). Mounting evidence suggests that PE is also important in aquatic ecosystems but it has yet to be explicitly addressed. Biofilms are vital components of aquatic ecosystems. In stream biofilms, heterotrophic bacteria and algae coexist in close proximity, exposing the bacteria to both recalcitrant organic carbon of terrestrial origin and labile organic carbon from the algae. This could make stream biofilms hotspots for PE. In PRIMA, I propose an innovative effort cutting across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, spanning single-cell to ecosystem scales, and combining methods from biogeochemistry and molecular microbiology to study PE in stream biofilms. Carbon flux in stream biofilm microcosms and in ecosystem scale stream mesocosms will be measured to quantify PE and its implications for carbon cycling in streams. The mechanisms of PE will be addressed on single-cell and community scales using cutting edge methods, such as NanoSIMS and 454-sequencing. I am an experienced researcher trained in Norway and Sweden. In PRIMA, I seek to combine my existing skills with the unique expertise and facilities of Prof. Tom J. Battin at the University of Vienna. The many conceptual and methodological training objectives of PRIMA, as well as its outstanding scientific quality, will strengthen my scientific skills and will enable me to reach my goals as an independent researcher.

Keywords: water-climate interactions,biogeochemistry,bacteriology,soil biology,freshwater ecology,algology,aquatic biology,carbon cycle (climate change),microbiology,biofilms,stream ecosystems,priming
National Minorities at War: Integration, Identity and Combat Motivation among Poles in German and Austro-Hungarian Society, 1914-18 (POLMIN-1418)

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: Poland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 207790.0
EU funding (EUR): 207790.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The rise of globalisation since the Second World War has entailed not only large movements of goods and capital across European borders but also mass migration. By 2005, 8.6 per cent of the inhabitants in EU-25 countries were foreign-born. The issue of how best to integrate socially these often ethnically and religiously diverse peoples has become an important subject of debate both within individual nations and at the level of the Commission of the European Communities. Often forgotten, however, is the fact that this dilemma is not new. This project will provide original insights into minority integration through a comparative historical case study. It takes as its focus the Polish minorities living within German and Austro-Hungarian borders during the First World War. In the forty years before 1914, these two states had adopted diametrically opposed policies to win Poles’ loyalties: whereas German governments had pursued obtrusive campaigns of cultural and linguistic assimilation, Austria-Hungary had granted extensive political and cultural autonomy. By comparing Poles’ readiness to defend these states in 1914, as well as their subsequent commitment to their rulers’ war efforts, the study will assess which method of integration proved more successful. Two further outcomes, contributing to two interdisciplinary academic debates, are also expected from this research. Firstly, by examining Poles’ attitudes and conduct during the years 1914-18, the project will shed light on the growth of Polish national identity in the early twentieth century and engage with sociological and political scientific literature on the relationship between war and the rise of national consciousnesses. Secondly, by evaluating the performance of Polish troops fighting for Fatherlands which were not their own, the study will help to resolve the longstanding scholarly controversy about the importance of ideological beliefs, especially patriotism, for martial efficiency.

Keywords: modern history,social history,political history,military history,polish studies,political science,sociology,societal behaviour,social policy,involving society,minority integration
When Neurons Touch-Elucidating the Role of Neuroligins in the Formation, Development, Maturation, and Maintenance of Synapses (SYNAPSE NL)

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: 2011-04-01
End date: 2013-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162742.4
EU funding (EUR): 162742.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proper coupling between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons is essential for synaptic signalling. Synapse formation, maturation, and maintenance are controlled by cell adhesion systems that recruit and organise the synaptic protein machinery. One such system comprises presynaptic neurexins and postsynaptic neuroligins. Of the five known neuroligins, neuroligin 1 is specific for excitatory synapses, while neuroligin 2 is specific for inhibitory synapses and Neuroligin 3 is found on both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The synaptic localisation of neuroligins 4 and 5 is unknown. The neuroligin/neurexin system is critically involved in the accumulation of scaffold and receptor proteins at postsynapses. However, the mechanisms by which this protein recruitment proceeds are still largely unknown. Loss of neuroligins and dysfunction of the neuroligin/neurexin system are associated with synaptic defects in vitro and in vivo, and mutations in neuroligin 3 or 4 cause monogenic forms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in humans. Correspondingly, neuroligin 4 deficient mice show social interaction and communication deficits that are reminiscent of ASD. In this study, I will employ a wide spectrum of genetic, biochemical, cell biological, and electrophysiological methods in combination with mice lacking one or multiple neuroligins to (1) identify novel neuroligin interactors, to (2) characterise functional interactions and redundancies among neuroligins and other adhesion proteins with regard to synapse formation, function, and plasticity, and to (3) generate a conditional knock-in mouse for neuroligin 4 and study the autistic phenotype and behavioural responses in the mature brain. These studies will aid in elucidating the function of the neuroligin/neurexin system in the normal brain as well as in synaptopathic conditions, such as ASD, in which the function of the neuroligin/neurexin system is perturbed.

Keywords: synapse,cell-adhesion,neuroligins,neurexins and autism
Memory Control; The role of NKG2D and the T-cell receptor in memory T cell biology. (NKG2D IN T-CELLS)

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: Croatia
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173220.8
EU funding (EUR): 173220.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Despite our advances in medical sciences, infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C remain an important health problem for our society. Also, targeting the immune system towards cancer is a promising therapy to fight this disease. Cellular immunity mediated by memory CD8 T-cells provides vital protection against infections and the development of tumors. Understanding the formation and maintenance of these cells is therefore an essential step towards using these cells in a therapeutic way. Maintenance of T-cells must balance the need of their protective responses with the cost of sustaining specialized cells which may never again in life be required. The mechanisms controlling this balance are largely unknown. NKG2D is expressed on effector and memory T-cells and binds ligands which are upregulated in infected and oncogenic cells. NKG2D signaling promotes survival of lymphocytes via activation of the PI3K-signaling pathway. NK cells deficient for NKG2D undergo apoptosis more rapidly, showing its function in mediating viability and suggesting a role in memory T-cell maintenance. The T-cell receptor (TCR) has also been shown to be important for T-cell survival. TCR deficiency leads to a higher turn-over of memory T-cells. The pro-survival signaling cascade engaged by the TCR is unknown, but recent insights in tonic B-cell receptor signaling suggest involvement of the PI3K pathway. This research project will investigate the role of NKG2D, the TCR and their intracellular signaling in memory T-cell biology. We will conduct our studies on a molecular, cellular and physiological level, using unique mouse models and advanced immunological techniques. We consider our project scientifically and socially relevant, as it will provide new insights in the mechanisms controlling memory T-cell biology. Understanding these processes will provide new leads for future research and their manipulation may pose promising future targets for the development of more efficient vaccines.

Keywords: health sciences,immunology,t-cells,memory,nkg2d,tcr,pi3k,survival,immunity
VASCULAR BONE (VB)

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: 2012-02-13
End date: 2014-02-12
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209592.8
EU funding (EUR): 209592.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Abstract The European population is ageing, forecasting a growing demand of health care solutions. The demand for biomaterials, either for orthopaedics, dental or maxilla-facial applications, will follow this trend. According to Biomet report, it is estimated that in Europe, 180,000 man and 610,000 women will suffer from hip fracture due to osteoporosis. These numbers will grow until 2050. Bearing in mind European population ageing as well as the status of social and financial indicators, it is urgent to develop more successful bone substitutes. A large number of bone substitutes made of calcium phosphate-based materials are commercially available. Despite the progresses that have been made with regard to their biocompatibility, one research area is being serious neglected: the study of the capability of acquiring blood vessels (angiogenic capability). The presence of blood vessels is the first critical step of bone regeneration and affects the implant success rate. The present proposal aims to tackle this problem through the development of a bone substitute with angiogenic potential, the VASCULAR BONE.

Keywords: health sciences,technological sciences
New Strong Forces at the Large Hadron Collider (NSFLHC)

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: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-11-01
End date: 2013-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 157600.0
EU funding (EUR): 157600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will hopefully uncover some of the fundamental mysteries of particle physics: What is the origin of the observed asymmetry between electromagnetic and weak interactions ? What is the origin of electron and quark masses ? Does the Higgs boson exist ? What is the dark matter of the universe made of ? What is the origin of the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry ? In order to answer (some of) these questions from a theoretical standpoint several models have been proposed. Among these the most thoroughly analyzed are the "standard model" and "supersymmetry". A very intriguing possibility is that the symmetry between electromagnetic and weak interactions is broken dynamically by a new kind of strong force, known as "technicolor" (TC). Although very appealing, TC has received less attention than competing theories, because its strong nature makes it more difficult to analyze. However in the past few years a lot of progress has been made to understand strong dynamics, and we are in a position to make specific predictions about the signatures of TC at colliders. Based on the recent findings, we aim to analyze the most relevant aspects of TC phenomenology at the LHC, and propose new mechanisms for fermion mass generation in the context of TC theories.

Keywords: physical sciences,strong forces,lhc
Beyond "the West" and "the East": Occidentalism, Orientalism, and Self-Orientalism in Italy-Japan Relations (BETWATE)

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-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-08-05
End date: 2013-08-04
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 244575.0
EU funding (EUR): 244575.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Since the 1990s, Japan has become the most popular “eastern” country in Italy, while, on the other hand, Italy has turned into the most attractive “western” country in Japan, especially among women and youth. This research project will investigate the reasons of this reciprocal popularity by focusing on mutual discourses and practices regarding “Japan” and “the East” in Italy, and regarding “Italy” and the “West” in Japan, respectively. It will analyse the most influential intersections of Japan-Italy relations from the late nineteenth century to the present, in relation to issues of national/regional/global identity, culture, and power. In order to map the imagined geography of “Japan“ and “Italy“ as seen from both sides, historical investigation will be conducted on the genealogy (1860s-1890s), climax (1930s-1940s), and maturation (1960s-1980s) of modern Italy-Japan relations. This will be followed by an ethnographic investigation of the social practices involved in the present popularity of “J-culture“ (animation, comics, videogames) in Italy, and of the “Italy boom“ (food, fashion, life-style) in Japan. Particular attention will be paid to the renegotiation between new transcultural identity processes on the local level and institutionalised nation-branding of the “Cool Japan“ and of the “Made in Italy” in the globalised market. The inter-disciplinary perspective adopted by this study is aimed at contributing to critical enquiry into the notions of “the West” (Occidentalism) and of “the East” (Orientalism). It will focus on the interrelational, intersectional, and complicit dynamics of mutual perceptions seen in Italy-Japan relations. The final scope is to elaborate an interrelational theory of Occidentalism, Orientalism, and Self-Orientalism, as well as to attest the reproduction or dismissal of its hegemonic relevance, in accordance to the transnational imperatives induced by present regionalism in Europe/Asia and globalization in the world.

Keywords: japanese cultural studies,italian cultural studies,postcolonial studies,sociology of culture,occidentalism,orientalism,self-orientalism,hegemony,intersectionality,transculturation
Nanoparticle development for molecular imaging and drug delivery (NANOMEDICINE/IMAGING)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 225945.0
EU funding (EUR): 225945.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed research will explore new strategies in nanomedicine and develop novel materials for drug delivery, molecular imaging, proteomics and metabolomics. The four main objectives can be summarized as nanoparticle assembly, application of nanoparticles to molecular imaging, novel ligand design for drug delivery and viral detection and inhibition. Assembly of nanoparticles into unique signalling platforms will be achieved via novel ligand design for gold and silver nanoparticles and will enhance the utility of such particles towards molecular imaging. Success will make vibrational microscopy using functionalized nanoparticles a viable alternative to fluorescent probes for medical imaging. Applications in molecular imaging will focus on visualizing proteins at the surface of neurons with glycosylated nanoparticles to understand how these signalling proteins change in number and localization in response to stimuli and how these protein traits vary between healthy and diseased neurons. These data are critical in understanding the causes and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This research will result in novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention, which itself may be possible using the functionalized nanoparticles as drug delivery agents. Glycosylation of the surface of the nanoparticles is critical for improving the bioavailability of nanoparticles for this objective. In the third objective of this project, photo-cleavable groups will be introduced into the nanoparticle ligand framework and used to release drugs at targets upon two-photon excitation of the nanoparticles. Thereby a single photon is emitted that can cleave the photo-labile group binding the drug to the particle. Finally, glycosylated nanoparticles will be used to image hepatitis C viral particles in vivo and to inhibit their entry into liver cells.

Keywords: inorganic chemistry,molecular chemistry,pharmaceutical chemistry,surface chemistry,nanotechnology,nanobiotechnology
Bringing Human Neuromotor Intelligence to Robots (H2R)

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: 2011-08-01
End date: 2013-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194849.6
EU funding (EUR): 194849.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The H2R project will bring a solid theoretical understanding of human neuromotor control, and develop novel control methods for robots interacting with environments and with humans, based on human control strategies for interactions. The biomimetic motor behaviour for robots will perform better than the existing robotic controllers, and closer to human performance in terms of compliant interaction with the environment and adaptation to its dynamic characteristics, intrinsic safety and reliability, and energy efficiency. This novel controller will be implemented and demonstrated on rehabilitation and cooperative robots, in collaboration with European partners. This project may deeply impact applications where successful task completion requires people and robots to collaborate directly in a shared workspace.

Keywords: robotics,neurophysiology,systems theory,biomedical engineering
Exploring the Molecular Bases that Regulate Apoptosis, Cytokine production and Interaction with Neutrophil Granulocytes by 6-sulfo LacNAc+ dendritic cells (slanDC) (EMBRACING SLANDC)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180584.0
EU funding (EUR): 180584.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Dendritic cells (DC) are composed of multiple subsets with distinct functions at the interface of the innate and adaptive immunity. Two major subsets of DC circulate in human peripheral blood: the myeloid DC (mDC) and the plasmacytoid DC (pDC), which can be distinguished by the expression of specific surface markers. Within mDC, slanDC are the most abundant in human blood and are characterized by a selective phenotype (6-sulfo LacNAc+, CD1c–, CD11c+, CD14–, CD16+, CD45RA+, C5aR+). They undergo spontaneous maturation if cultured in the absence of erythrocytes. Once matured, they are characterized by a high potential to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12p70 and TNFα, to prime naive T cells to become Th1 cells and to activate NK cell responses. While slanDCs may certainly play a crucial role in the control of immune response, a detailed knowledge on their involvement in autoimmunity, transplantation rejection and cancer biology is still missing. The central importance of slanDC in immune regulation makes, therefore, additional studies necessary to better understand the biologic role of this DC subset. For such a purpose, the project will focus on three main objectives: (1) to study the molecular mechanism(s) regulating IL-12p70 production by slanDC during their maturation and their cross-talk with neutrophils. To reach this objective, I will determine how IL-12p70 gene expression is controlled at a transcriptional and post-transcriptional level upon activation by TLR agonists and other stimuli. (2) to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) whereby LPS regulates slanDC survival: expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and ceramide metabolism will be analyzed. (3) to study the pattern of chemokine/chemokine receptor expression by TLR-activated slanDC. Results obtained from this project will provide new knowledge on the functional specializations of human DC subsets and, therefore, new concepts to immune disease pathogenesis and design of novel therapies.

Keywords: dendritic cells,slandc,pdc,mdc,neutrophils,toll-like receptors (tlr),lipopolysaccharide (lps),cytokines,il-12p70,tnf,chemokines,chemokine receptor,myd88,trif,irf3,bcl-2,chip,elisa