Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
ReVINK (REVINK)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185581.8
EU funding (EUR): 185581.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Verification is an important technique to ensure quality of a system and detect scenarios in which requirements can be violated. For complex systems with multiple interacting components, one of the crucial requirements is a component's ability to achieve a given goal. However, verification of strategic abilities is computationally hard, and the existing model checking algorithms cope with it only partially. This applies especially to systems where components have limited knowledge of the global state of the world. In this project, we propose to advance verification of strategic interaction by focusing more on models, and less on algorithms. Our research hypothesis is that model checking algorithms are approaching the limits of their potential when applied to arbitrary abstract models. On the other hand, certain representations can be more succinct or provide better structural properties. For instance, Reaction Systems encourage the modeler to abstract away from features of individual components. Likewise, Modular Interpreted Systems support additional structural information about separation of interacting components. In order to systematically explore different representations, we identify 3 basic modeling levels for interaction and knowledge. The Agent Level focuses on actions, mental states, and social features of components. The Effectivity Level provides a uniform mathematical representation in terms of abstract effectivity. The population level focuses on interaction between large groups of similar components, and abstracts away from sporadic behaviors. We will begin by establishing mappings between models (and classes of models) from different levels. Based on these mappings, we will identify suitable model equivalences and abstractions that produce more succinct and/or structurally well-behaved models. Finally, we will investigate application of symbolic model checking algorithms to the resulting representations.

Keywords: verification of multi-agent systems,model checking,modal logic,computational complexity,algorithms and tools
mRNA translational regulation in heart failure (MRNA IN HEART)

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-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-01
End date: 2016-08-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 187414.8
EU funding (EUR): 187414.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Protein synthesis is among the principal biological processes underlying cardiac hypertrophy, an early event in many forms of heart failure (HF). It is associated with worsening of cardiac function after long-term exposure to noxae. The rate-limiting step of protein synthesis is mRNA translation, which is controlled by factors involved in initiation and/or elongation. 4E-BPs regulate the translation of a subset of mRNAs by competing with eIF4G for binding to eIF4E, preventing the assembly of eIF4F and hence inhibiting translation. The overall aim of this project is to determine the role of the Eif4E-binding proteins in protein synthesis in the cardiomyocyte, identifying 4E-BP-regulated mRNAs that mediate cardiac function in normal and disease states. We recently generated a cardiac-specific mTOR-/- mouse line and found that it develops rapid cardiac dilation and impaired heart function without undergoing an initial hypertrophic phase; mortality reached 100% within 8 weeks of inducing the deletion with tamoxifen (TMX). A striking feature of this HF model is the accumulation of the dephosphorylated (active) form of the mTOR substrate 4E-BP1 within the myocardium. We noticed that this occurs also in other models of HF, including embryonic mTOR-/- heart, pressure-overloaded wild-type (WT) mice, raptor-/- mice, and MLP-/- mice. When mTOR-/- mice were crossed with 4E-BP1-/- mice, 4E-BP1 accumulation was abolished, cardiac function was ameliorated, and survival was significantly, albeit only partially, improved. Therefore, we hypothesized that elevated dephosphorylated 4E-BP is linked to heart failure through translational inhibition of a subset of mTOR-activated mRNAs. This project will add new, significant information on the regulation of gene expression in compensatory hypertrophy after stress and on the pathophysiology of myocardial hypertrophy and failure.

Keywords: cardiovascular,heart failure,mrna translation,protein synthesis,cardiac hypertrophy
Main group element catalysts and bond activation reagents (MGPCAT)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-31
End date: 2016-05-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In modern technological processes nearly 75% of all chemicals require a catalyst for their production. Moreover, very frequently the most demanding stages require a late Transition Metal based catalyst because of their exceptional ability to activate relatively inert non-polar chemical bonds such as H-H or C-H linkages. However, application of such systems is likely to become increasingly difficult, due to a lack of sustainable availability, together with the high cost and toxicity of these metals. Therefore replacement of precious Transition Metals with inexpensive, abundant, and (in most cases) less toxic Main Group element analogues is at the cutting edge of modern research. We propose to use an approach based on the application of the unique electronic properties of anionic boryl ligands to construct complexes of the Main Group elements with reactivity comparable to Transition Metal systems. Our main goal is to establish the fundamental ground rules for catalyst design in what is an entirely new area of endeavour contributing to the “cheap metals for noble tasks” strategy.

Keywords: main group elements,boron,tin,germanium,phosphorus,boryl,bond activation,homogeneous catalysis
Comparative genomics and gene expression profile of sexual and parthenogenetic Ischnura hastata (Insecta, Odonata) (ODOGEN)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 231283.2
EU funding (EUR): 231283.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Understanding the evolutionary consequences of sexual and asexual reproduction remains one of the most hotly-debated topics in evolutionary biology, with contemporary genomics technology now offering the prospect of shedding new light on this issue. Despite a lower intrinsic population growth rate, because sexual species maintain greater genetic diversity they should have greater prospects of adaptation and survival through unpredictable or changing environments; and recombination during meiosis could reduce mutational load. Indeed, sexual reproduction is the predominant mode of reproduction in multicellular organisms and likely evolved early in the history of eukaryotes. Asexual reproduction has been largely considered as an evolutionary dead-end, with almost all contemporary asexuals being the result of the secondary loss of sexuality. The mode of origin and the age of an asexual lineage will influence its levels of genetic diversity, ecological adaptability and ability to compete with sexual relatives. Comparative genomic analysis of sexual and related asexual lineages are crucial to better understand the widely-debated consequences of loss of sex, the adaptive potential of sexual reproduction and the changes in genome organization associated with different evolutionary transitions between reproductive modes. I. hastata is the only odonate species known to be parthenogenetic and one rare examples of an arthropod that fulfils the criteria of obligate parthenogenesis, diploidy, and geographic isolation from sexual relatives. As the evolutionary transition from obligate diplodiploidy to asexuality is unlikely to revert to amphimixis, I. hastata is expected to have the genomic signature of the mechanisms behind loss of sex. This project aims to determine the genomic consequences of the abandonment of sexual reproduction in Ischnura hastata, to evaluate the impact of this exceptional evolutionary transition upon genomic architecture of this species.

Keywords: comparative genomics,asexual reproduction,parthenogenesis,evolution of sex,non-model organism
Hydra Glue: Bioadhesion of a freshwater polyp (HYDRAGLUE)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-01
End date: 2016-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179137.2
EU funding (EUR): 179137.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A fundamental challenge in materials science is engineering durable adhesive bonds in a wet environment. Biological adhesives offer remarkable performances in their natural context and have the potential to inspire novel adhesives for an increasing variety of biotechnologies applications, providing more elegant solutions to modern engineering and biomedical adhesive requirements. The main goal of my project is identifying novel molecules that are involved in biological adhesion using as model organism the cnidarian Hydra magnipapillata. This species harbours several features that render it as suited to study biological adhesion including the strong adhesion in wet surfaces through basal disc-secreting-mucous cells, the state-of-the-art methodological toolbox and, the excellent knowledge of the biological features of this organism. I will gradually narrow down the number of candidate genes that are involved in adhesion, by: first, generating a highly basal disc specific transcriptome database followed by in-situ hybridization screen of basal disc specific genes. Next, knockdown of selected genes will be performed using RNA interference which will result in a non-adhesive phenotype. As of phenotypic validation by electron microscopy, genes will be selected to generate polyclonal antibodies, to further pull-down the adhesive proteins which will then be analysed by Mass Spectometry. The carbohydrate components involved in adhesion will additionally be investigated using lectin staining. Using this iterative multidisciplinary approach, the adhesion´s mechanism can be experimentally studied, and theoretically analysed in order to bring innovative bio-inspired adhesives to the market. Expected outcomes will ultimately to process the appropriate protein/s into useful application that mimics their adapted functions in the Hydra.

Keywords: biological adhesives,organismic attachment,bio-inspired adhesives,freshwater adhesion,hydra basal disc,cnidaria
Nanoparticle based direct absorption oscillating heat pipes for solar thermal systems (NANODAOHP)

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-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Developing sustainable solar energy technology becomes extremely important to secure our energy future. A highly novel solar thermal technology, from both nanotechnology and phase change approaches, is proposed in this project to address the limitations associated with conventional solar thermal collectors. In this innovative technology, direct absorption nanoparticles are used to overcome the surface-controlled heat transfer limitation and absorb solar energy directly in the carrying fluid, and oscillating vapour bubbles (in oscillating heat pipes) are used to drive the fluids instead of pumps. Preliminary studies have shown the feasibility of the new concept, which has both prosperous scientific and applicaton propsects. Scientifically, it extends the direct absorption nanoparticles into a phase change domain, and practically it could promote the emergence of a new generation of solar collector. A systematic program is proposed in this project to address the challenges associated with the novel concept, which extends from suitable direct absorption nanofluid formulation, understanding the role of nanoparticles in the evaporation and condensation process, to its performance in ossillating heat pipes. The project is an ambitious, highly novel piece of work ideally suited to a Fellow with a strong background in solar energy and thermal science and engineering. The Fellow in question, Dr Lizhan Bai is perfectly (perhaps uniquely) suited to drive this project to success as he has independently designed, constructed and experimented with a number of challenging flow and heat transfer devices, especially heat pipe systems, and has outstanding analytical and mathematical modelling capability, which will contribute uniquely to the project. It will allow significant knowledge transfer into Europe, especially heat pipe systems, and create potentials long term collaborations and mutually beneficial co-operation between Europe and China.

Keywords: nanoparticles,direct absorption,nanofluids,oscillating heat pipe,solar thermal energy
Narrated Injustice Compensation Claims and Transgenerational Narratives of Injustice (NARRATED INJUSTICE)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175974.6
EU funding (EUR): 175974.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Acknowledging historical injustice has become a major issue in a changing Europe since the End of the Cold War, but also worldwide, visible when the UN proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Reconciliation. Payments made by states to victims of historical injustice have become a common political practice, however, we still know little about how compensation desires are re-narrated across the generations, and how media and public debates shape those narratives of injustice. In the Netherlands one can study exemplarily how European post-war and post-colonial memories affected each other in the last decade and developed into a new form of claim culture. Therefore this project looks at two Dutch case studies, the payments made to Dutch Jewish victims since 2000 and how these payments became a reference-point for present (post-colonial) claims from descendants of former slaves, Surinamese and Dutch Antilleans. Analyzing both case studies in a comparative set-up will contribute to the understanding of the imaginations linked to such payments in the postmemory generation, to explore the multidirectionality of memory, and to specify the role of culture in such narratives of injustice. This project will be hosted in the research program on Understanding the Age of Transitional Justice: Narratives in a Historical Perspective at the NIOD, which will allow the Fellow to relate insights from Holocaust-research to present debates on post-colonial legacies, which will contribute to reflection upon Europe’s multiple identities. By getting involved in a vigorous network, discussing issues of transitional justice and memory from an interdisciplinary, transnational, and comparative approach, this fellowship will be of major importance for the Fellow’s development in terms of knowledge-transfer, creating new networks and leadership skills.

Keywords: compensation,memory,narrative,identity,generation
The genetic basis of division of labor: testing the “reproductive groundplan hypothesis” in ants (GENELAB)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 231283.2
EU funding (EUR): 231283.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The evolution and maintenance of cooperation in the face of inevitable conflicts, is regarded as one of the major questions in biology today. Answering this question requires understanding both the proximate basis of cooperative behavior and its comparative biology, but studies integrating experimental and comparative approaches are rare. Social insects are one of the pinnacles of sociality, with societies characterized by reproductive division of labour, one of the major evolutionary transitions in biological organization. While most of the research in the last century has focused on the ultimate reasons favoring cooperation, the methodological advances during the last decade has provided the tools necessary to study the genetic basis of cooperation directly. The “reproductive groundplan hypothesis” (RPGH) has emerged as one potentially powerful explanation for the proximate mechanisms for the evolution of eusociality. It postulates that conserved gene networks, which underlie the reproductive physiology and behavior of solitary insects, were co-opted and modified during the evolution of eusocial insects to generate worker division of labor. This hypothesis is potentially of fundamental and far-reaching importance for our understanding of the mechanistic basis by which eusociality evolved, but empirical evidence in support of the hypothesis is still limited to only a few species. This project will combine large scale phylogenetic tests of the RPGH, with endocrinology, state of the art molecular techniques (RNA interference) and classic behavioral analysis, to investigate if the RPGH applies to ants and therefore represents a general explanatory framework for the evolution of division of labour in social insects. The training in three cutting-edge sets of techniques will provide a step-change in the research capabilities of the applicant, and the results will provide fundamental insights into the proximate and ultimate basis for the evolution of cooperation.

Keywords: division of labor,behavior
Implementing Crystalline Materials as the Active Medium in Organic Solid State Lasers: Pushing Forward the Limits of Electrically Driven Lasers (LASERS FORWARD)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 231283.2
EU funding (EUR): 231283.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Organic π-conjugated materials have been studied intensively to promote their application in opto-electronic devices, especially in the field of light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solid state lasers (OSLs). OSL research is driven by the expectation of tuneable, cheap and flexible devices as well as new application areas, in particular in optical computing, data processing and sensing applications. Despite great success in optically pumped lasers, electrically driven lasers have not yet been realised, although the prerequisite - high internal quantum efficiencies of electrically generated photons - has been demonstrated in OLEDs. Thus, electrically pumped OSLs are mainly impeded by non-radiative losses by bimolecular recombination such as singlet-singlet, singlet-triplet and singlet-polaron quenching at higher excitation densities accompanied by the low charge carrier mobilities in the organic materials. These limitations might be overcome by organic crystals and crystalline films with well-defined long range molecular order which offer superior charge transport properties compared to amorphous materials. However, several challenges have to be faced integrating single crystals as the active medium in OSL devices, which define the key tasks of the project. 1. Understanding and optimising how different electronic/excitonic interactions and processes in organic crystalline materials affect the optical gain. 2. Examining the role of different bimolecular annihilation processes such as singlet singlet, singlet-triplet, and singlet–polaron in crystalline materials at high excitation densities, which limit the performance of such devices. 3. Imprinting resonator structures on the crystalline materials to reduce resonator losses. 4. Testing the viability as active materials in electrically injected lasers and also by indirect electrical pumping recently demonstrated in the host group.

Keywords: organic solid state laser,molecular crystals,structure property relationships,exciton annihilation and diffusion,resonator structures,optical and electrical pumping,charge transport.