Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Emotion Recognition: A Statistical Learning Approach (LearningEmotions)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-04
End date: 2023-01-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Statistical learning refers to the ability to learn through the discovery of patterns and structures. I propose to investigate emotion recognition using a statistical learning perspective in order to understand (i) why some emotions are harder to recognise than others; and (ii) why individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD individuals) have more difficulty recognising emotions than neurotypicals (i.e., individuals without autism). I argue that part of the difficulty in recognising certain emotions lies in how reliable or consistent the auditory and visual cues are in signalling the emotion. That is, if particular cues consistently signal or have a high probability of signalling an emotion (e.g., 'happy' is consistently signaled by squinty eyes and grin/smile), then that emotion would be easier to recognise than emotions that are signalled by inconsistent cues (e.g., sarcasm may have varied expressions depending on the individual, context, etc. and so sarcasm would be more difficult to recognise). To investigate this, I will use an audio-visual emotion database that is currently under development to quantify the variability of cues across speakers in signalling the intended emotion. I propose that the difficulty ASD individuals have with recognising emotions lies in a general difficulty with consolidating probabilistic information. In terms of emotion recognition, this would manifest as a difficulty with making a correct inference of the intended emotion given particular cues, which vary in their probabilities in signalling the emotion. To investigate this hypothesis, I will conduct a behavioural and a neural experiment comparing ASD individuals with neurotypicals on probabilistic learning to determine whether group differences exist and whether probabilistic learning is related to emotion recognition. Outcomes of this project may inform intervention practices for ASD individuals and provide a general framework of understanding other ASD characteristics.

Keywords: autism,statistical learning,probabilistic learning,emotion
A nematode host-range paradox: how can one of the apparently most specialised obligate biotrophic plant-parasites also have the largest host rangeNemHostRangeParadoxA nematode h (NemHostRangeParadox)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-10-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 224933.76
EU funding (EUR): 224933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is an obligate biotrophic pathogen with a remarkable ability to deliver “effector” molecules into its host plant, allowing it to reproducibly and exquisitely alter plant immunity, development, and physiology. Paradoxically, this nematode also has the widest host range of any obligate biotroph: parasitizing more than 3,000 different species. I hypothesize that the polyploid nature of its genome allows it to harbor an “effector” repertoire that not only allows for this broad host range, but its differentially deployed across its host range. To address this hypothesis, we have carefully pre-selected plant species across the botanical orders covering the main groups across the phylum. We will infect each species with M. incognita and, in a “trans-kingdom linked transcriptome” we will analysed nematode gene expression, and plant gene expression, at the same time in each susceptible interaction. These data will allow us to determine: 1) Is there a core set of effectors that are invariantly deployed, independent of host, and/or are subsets “chosen” for particular hosts or groups of hosts?; 2) Are there conserved plant genes manipulated by M. incognita during the infection?; and 3) Finally, are some plant or nematode genes required for specific interactions or group of interactions? These data will allow us to address a long-standing question in the field, and I believe understanding how M. incognita can infect such a broad host range may be a key to future control.

Keywords: root knot nematode,polyphagia,effectors
The Making of the Earth – Reading the Geochemical Code from Meteorites and the Earth’s Oldest Rocks (INFANT EARTH)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Earth system science
Panel description: Physical geography, geology, geophysics, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, climatology, cryology, ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemical cycles, natural resources management
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2014-ADG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2021-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499735.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499735.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

It is still an open question how Earth became the rocky habitable planet as we know it today. This is because there is a significant time gap of several 100 million years between Earth’s oldest rock archives (ca. 4 billion years old) and most extraterrestrial samples like meteorites that archive the birth of our solar system ca. 4.5 billion years ago. Within this time gap, three key processes that shaped our planet took place, i.e., Earth’s growth via asteroidal collisions, formation of the metal core and a first solid crust, and the delivery of volatiles such as water. Because rock samples are lacking, these fundamental processes have to be traced indirectly, by using highly sophisticated geochemical tools like isotope or trace element compositions of younger rocks or meteorites. With this proposal, I plan to better unravel Earth’s earliest history and better identify its building blocks, by combining the geochemical record locked in Earth`s oldest rocks and extraterrestrial samples. The ground breaking nature of this work is the development of new geochemical techniques that are way beyond the current state of art, and many of them will be applied at an unprecedented level of sensitivity and precision. I will cover three linked approaches, namely high precision analyses of (i) nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies, (ii) radiogenic isotopes and (iii) trace elements. To better constrain the history of volatile delivery to the nascent Earth, a focus will be on comparing the geochemical record provided by refractory and volatile elements. In their synergy, the results will provide a major advance in unravelling Earth’s earliest history. INFANTEARTH builds on high profile research strengths of our group, where a unique pool of collaborating scientists and analytical equipment are available. We have also acquired a nearly unique collection of Earth’s oldest rock samples and of extraterrestrial samples supplied from institutions such as NASA or collaborating museums.

Keywords: cosmochemistry,mass spectrometry,early earth,archean,meteorites,moon
Mechanistic studies of metal-dependent DNA cleavage in Type II topoisomerase toward the rational design of novel anticancer drugs (Targeting TopoII)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-11-06
End date: 2019-11-05
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180277.2
EU funding (EUR): 180277.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Type II topoisomerase (TopoII) metalloenzymes are crucial in regulating DNA topology in replication, transcription, recombination, and repair processes. TopoII is thus a validated target for clinical antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Recent high-resolution X-ray structures of the TopoII/DNA complex showed multiple metal ions bound to the TopoII active site. On the basis of these novel findings, a unified two-metal-ion reaction mechanism for TopoII catalysis has been proposed. However, it is still not clear how this Mg-aided two-metal-ion mechanism permits TopoII to cleave and relegate back DNA strands. Building on our previous studies on metalloenzymes, we seek here to clarify TopoII’s two-metal-aided enzymatic mechanism and identify novel TopoII inhibitors, thus completing the proposer’s computational skill set, boosting her chances of establishing and leading soon an independent computational group. We propose two objectives: First, we will depict the reaction path connecting the enzymatic reactants and products in TopoII. We will achieve this using state-of-the-art computational methodologies such as molecular dynamics (MD) and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations coupled to enhanced sampling techniques for free-energy estimates. We will thus elucidate the metal ion dynamics in TopoII catalysis, together with the metal-induced structural changes that affect the reactivity and efficiency of TopoII catalysis. Importantly, we will investigate TopoII catalysis in the presence of either the catalytic Mg or inhibitory Zn ions in the catalytic pocket. Secondly, we will integrate mechanistic insights on TopoII catalysis with the recent structural and biophysical data on TopoII to decipher drug resistance and identify new TopoII inhibitors. To this end, docking and MD simulations will be used to facilitate the discovery of potent TopoII inhibitors as a first step toward more effective anticancer drugs and new, urgently needed antibiotics.

Keywords: topoisomerase,enzymes,structure based drug discovery,anti cancer,antibiotic,molecular,dynamics,metadynamics
Cross-Cultural Experimental Analyses of Tax Morale (ChEATAX)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-07-01
End date: 2019-12-10
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200194.8
EU funding (EUR): 200194.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Tax evasion is a large and growing problem in almost all countries (Murphy’s 2012 report “Closing the European Tax Gap” estimated that “tax evasion in the European Union is approximatively € 860 billion a year”). This problem is particularly extreme in Southern European countries as Italy, Spain and Greece. Recent experimental and survey analyses revealed that individual’s intrinsic motivation to pay taxes is not only influenced by tax rates and audit probabilities, but also by social and cultural norms. Designing effective policies for reducing tax evasion thus requires understanding the behavioural aspects of tax compliance decisions. The previous experimental analyses on tax compliance were mainly carried out in the Centre-North of Italy (Milan, Bologna and Rome) and assumed the taxpayer as an isolated individual. My proposed research, entitled “Cross-Cultural Experimental Analyses of Tax Compliance” (ChEATAX) will innovate by taking a broader perspective on tax morale from the perspectives of both geography and level of analysis. In this way, ChEATAX can advance knowledge by addressing two long-standing gaps in the literature: the North-South discrepancies in Italian tax compliance, and the impact of social norms and social interactions on tax morale. To isolate cultural effects as a factor in tax compliance, this aim will be pursued by collecting survey and laboratory data in Italy and Denmark, respectively representing Southern and Northern European societies, and in the South and the North of Italy to capture disparities in Italian tax compliance. The outputs of this project will help understanding how different countries can establish and foster cooperation with taxpayers to enforce tax compliance.

Keywords: tax compliance,tax evasion,cross cultural experiments
Raccoon.Recovery – effective mobile data driven hand rehabilitation solution (Raccoon.Recovery)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Ukraine
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-06-01
End date: 2018-11-30
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

At any given moment, there are millions of people in the world who need rehabilitation, including hand physical rehabilitation. At hospitals, doctors are forced to use either traditional hand rehabilitation methods (massages, modeling of plasticine, puzzles), expensive large installations, that can’t be used out of hospital, or expensive mobile solutions with limited software functionality. There are also people with hand disabilities, particularly those with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia condition. We provide users, doctors, and hospitals with Raccoon.Recovery – effective mobile data driven hand rehabilitation solution. The solution consists of 3 main components: Raccoon.Clip – a universal controller that is placed on a palm like a clip; Software developed for hospitals that collects and processes data from controller to create gaming-based rehabilitation programs; and Smartphone application for users. Equipped with powerful analytics module, the solution helps patients in need of rehabilitation to choose most appropriate game for further treatment. Besides, the solution is highly portable and can be used literally everywhere. Hospitals can increase their customer flow, since doctors don’t have to spend so much time on reporting and other paperwork related to patient treatment, but instead can focus on helping their patients get better. Doctors also get loyal customers who are offered engaging solutions during their stay in hospitals, as well as after leaving it. Besides, doctors can now easily ensure quality of prescribed treatment, as the solution provides feedback on patient’s recovery. People with disability condition can benefit from Raccoon.Clip, which is a part of the Raccoon.Recovery solution, and has a unique form – there’s no need to hold a controller in hand, which means it can be used by people with minimum hand strength. Besides rehabilitation training, the device can also be used as a universal controller for browsing PC or mobile.

Keywords: rehabilitation solution,hand rehabilitation,data driven rehab,machine learning,ai based treatment recommendation,medtech,gamification,gamified rehabilitation,wearables
seismic off-fault Deformation: A multi-scale iMAGing to constrain Earthquake energy budget (DAMAGE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-01-13
End date: 2022-06-15
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 184707.84
EU funding (EUR): 184707.84
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Earthquakes are one of the deadliest geo-hazards in the world causing huge societal and economic impact. Destructive earthquakes are generally represented by ruptures which nucleate, grow and terminate along pre-existing faults with catastrophic strain energy release. Seismological observations and theoretical arguments demonstrated that most of earthquake energy is dissipated into heat by friction within the core of faults at depth. The remaining energy amount is the one driven to the Earth surface by seismic waves and associated to the generation of extensive DAMAGE in the vicinity of seismic faults. Vast research was recently performed to investigate on-fault mechanisms during earthquakes whereas much less has been done to constrain the physical processes and energy sinks associated to coseismic off-fault deformation. I propose here to systematically study off-fault coseismic damage in carbonates, which are the rocks where most of the destructive seismicity striking Europe is hosted. The proposed research is innovative since it tackles a scientific topic which was so far overlooked with a multiscale interdisciplinary approach combining: detailed field structural and geophysical characterization of exhumed active fault zones, compressive and tensile dynamic loading tests on carbonate rocks, and microstructural-petrophysical characterization of natural and experimental fault rocks. This integrated strategy will lead to build a wealth of novel datasets to quantify the damage structure and scaling relations of seismogenic fault zones in carbonates. Newly conceived rock deformation experiments will then help to determine the mechanical origin of coseismic damage in carbonates. The research will be conducted at Universitè Grenoble-Alpes with a secondment at University of Manchester. The experience of the supervisors and the equipment at both organizations will guarantee the successful progress of the research and my professional growth as independent researcher.

Keywords: earthquakes,off fault damage,structural geology,geophysics,rock mechanics
Services in Support for Business and Innovation in Croatia - Key Account Management - SSBI-CRO-KAM5 (SSBI-CRO-KAM5)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Specific Grant agreement
Countries involved: Croatia,Croatia,Croatia,Croatia,Croatia
Call: H2020 ENTREPRISE EUROPE NETWORK SGA4 2020-2021 (H2020-EEN-SGA4-2020-2021, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2021-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 78625.0
EU funding (EUR): 78625.0
Participants: 6
Project status: CLOSED

This action will establish and provide the innovation support services addressing in general Croatian SMEs with significant innovation activities and in particular the beneficiaries of the SME instrument, of Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) and Future and Emerging Technologies Open (FET-Open). The action will provide continuation of the SSBI-CRO-KAM, SSBI-CRO-KAM-2, SSBI-CRO-KAM-3, and SSBI-CRO-KAM-4 proposal which is currently implemented under the remit of H2020 for the period of 2019. Based on the findings from previous actions and on the analysis of the needs and of the potential of the region (carried out through 1on1 consultations with other relevant partners/stakeholders supporting innovation in Croatia) the consortium defined service packages that will be delivered to the SMEs: • 12 service packages for Key Account Management (KAM) of successful SME beneficiaries of SME Instrument, FTI and FET-Open, with an aim of identifying bottlenecks to creating economic impact in companies • 35 service packages for Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC), with the goal to improve clients’ capacity to manage innovation processes, increasing their efficiency and effectiveness. Project partners HAMAG-BICRO, UNIST, TPV, TERA and STEPRI will each individually provide number of service packages according to the analysis of regional needs (regional coverage, number and readiness of clients). Direct impact from the Action will be a more effective and efficient conduction of innovation processes, and an enhanced growth and profitability of SMEs receiving the services.

Keywords: innovation,h2020,sme instrument,fet open
Algorithms for Complex Collective Decisions on Structured Domains (ACCORD)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2014-STG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-07-01
End date: 2020-12-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1395933.0
EU funding (EUR): 1395933.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Algorithms for Complex Collective Decisions on Structured Domains. The aim of this proposal is to substantially advance the field of Computational Social Choice, by developing new tools and methodologies that can be used for making complex group decisions in rich and structured environments. We consider settings where each member of a decision-making body has preferences over a finite set of alternatives, and the goal is to synthesise a collective preference over these alternatives, which may take the form of a partial order over the set of alternatives with a predefined structure: examples include selecting a fixed-size set of alternatives, a ranking of the alternatives, a winner and up to two runner-ups, etc. We will formulate desiderata that apply to such preference aggregation procedures, design specific procedures that satisfy as many of these desiderata as possible, and develop efficient algorithms for computing them. As the latter step may be infeasible on general preference domains, we will focus on identifying the least restrictive domains that enable efficient computation, and use real-life preference data to verify whether the associated restrictions are likely to be satisfied in realistic preference aggregation scenarios. Also, we will determine whether our preference aggregation procedures are computationally resistant to malicious behavior. To lower the cognitive burden on the decision-makers, we will extend our procedures to accept partial rankings as inputs. Finally, to further contribute towards bridging the gap between theory and practice of collective decision making, we will provide open-source software implementations of our procedures, and reach out to the potential users to obtain feedback on their practical applicability.

Keywords: computational social choice