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Exoplanets Molecular Atmospheric Composition "The search for and characterization of exoplanets are among the most active and rapidly advancing fields in modern astrophysics. To date, more than 4000 exoplanets have been detected, spanning wide ranges in physical, orbital and stellar parameters, and with a great variety of system architectures. Understanding the causes of exoplanet diversity and variety is a stated goal of the next-generation of ESA/NASA missions. In this context, I propose to develop the project ""Exoplanets Molecular Atmospheric Composition"" (ExoMAC), together with the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) under the supervision of Dr. Enric Pallé. The project consists...
The role of intravesicular ATP in excitatory and inhibitory synapses of the central nervous system COST-ATP pretends to establish the role of intravesicular ATP in excitatory and inhibitory synapses of the central nervous system (CNS). Although, several laboratories have characterized the crucial interaction between ATP and catecholamines to permit its large accumulation in secretory vesicles of chromaffin cells, this crucial mechanism has not been studied in synaptic vesicles where high concentrations of neurotransmitters are needed for neuronal communication in the CNS. COST-ATP will combine the experience of the host laboratory in ATP as an accumulator of neurotransmitters in chromaffin cells...
Galaxy Sizes as Tracers of Dark Matter I propose the project Galaxy Sizes as Tracers of Dark Matter (GALSIZE) to be supervised by Prof. Courteau at Queen’s University in Kingston (Canada, Third Country for the outgoing phase) and by Prof. Knapen at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC, Tenerife, Spain, beneficiary institution and host for the incoming phase). The main scientific goals are to (S01) establish a new paradigm of galaxy data-model comparisons, developing a definitive theory of disk formation based on galaxy sizes; (S02) characterize the nature of, and coupling between, dark and luminous matter in galaxies, with...
Age-related arterial dysfunction and gut dysbiosis in mice and cetaceans Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in Europe. Arterial dysfunction develops with aging making advancing age the primary risk factor for CVD. Advancing age can induce adverse changes in the gut microbiome, which in turn, can activate systemic pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways with detrimental downstream consequences. One main objective of this project is to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in modulating arterial function with aging. To approach this objective, I will carry out two experimental studies: 1) mouse-to mouse transplant of gut microbiota...
Climate Science from Space: Synergies for a greener innovation economy Conference The Portuguese Presidency, with the support of the European Commission, and in coherence with national strategic priorities aims organising an event entitled: Climate Science from Space: Synergies for a greener innovation economy. This event (conference) is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education underlying issues of major relevance to the Societal Challenge Climate Action. Hence, featuring innovation and technologies towards clean transformation with the aim of providing an appropriate balance between environmental, economic and social elements. The concept dovetails with the 18-month Trio...
Palaeolithic ungulate hunting strategies in the eastern Iberian Peninsula through advanced proteomic profiling Recent zooarchaeological analyses have suggested that Neanderthals were skilled hunters. Yet, there is still a vivid debate on whether Middle Palaeolithic human groups were also capable of more effective, and diverse, sophisticated food-processing behaviours, in particular through specialised hunting. Traditionally, archaeologists have relied on the osteological analysis of bone assemblages to determine prey mortality patterns, where species variability, age and seasonality data are calculated. Although this approach has yielded a great deal of important information about the Pleistocene hominin hunting strategies, there is a considerable lack of...
Single Frequency Laser Inside a Crystal At a time when the climate emergency and an ever growing energy-demanding population are major issues facing the world, it is clearer than ever that new integrated sensing technologies are needed to: (1) locally adapt to climate change (by monitoring and preventing environmental catastrophes) and (2) globally mitigate it (by developing the future greener technologies which will require from advanced self-monitoring system integrated sensors).State-of-the-art heterogeneous silicon photonics or plasmonics cannot withstand real-world environments and must be carefully protected; this leading to the question: Will it be possible to foresee a nanophotonic technology capable of...
Biostimulants nanoencapsulation to increase yield under drought stress A biostimulant (BS) is understood as any compound, microorganism or mixture of them, with the exception of fertilizers and pesticides1. BSs are commonly ecofriendly substances and inert for the ecosystems, their utilization is widely reported in the literature as enhancing tolerance against stress or increasing yield in the field2. Regarding plant health, BSs are presented as a good alternative to achieve the yearly EU goals announced in the communication: “A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system” 3. A good example of this way of thinking is...
Watching the risk factors: Artificial intelligence and the prevention of chronic conditions Digital healthcare may prevent poor health. Personalised early risk prediction by artificial intelligence can empower citizens to adopt healthier habits and a better lifestyle. This project aims at defining a general personalised early risk prediction model that will be used to support individual preventive measures as well as early intervention. New digital tools are designed to empower both citizens and patients. Furthermore, the impact of the new digital tools on health and care pathways are investigated. Three main scenarios are included: 1. Chronic sun damage and the fight...
Architecture for Unified Regional and Open digital ecosystems for Smart Communities and wider Rural Areas Large scale application Lower population and business density make it more challenging to develop private businesses and public services in rural areas, negatively impacting socio-economic indicators. Rural areas are key to solve climate change, food, biomass and energy challenges. Favourable climate for entrepreneurship is needed for better provision of jobs, basic services, including health and care, connectivity, smart transport, energy solutions and attractiveness as whole, overcoming digital divide between rural and urban areas. AURORAL focus on delivering a digital environment of interoperable services through platforms...
ERA-NET Urban Transformation Capacities The sense of urgency for a rapid sustainable transformation of our cities has never been greater. There is an increasing need to stake out pathways for such a transition, to reach acceptance of the need for transformation and enabling capacity building. The current approaches to target urban challenges and meet different international goals are often fragmented and incoherent as they are based on different ambitions and understandings of how cities and urban areas operate. Research and innovation contribute with evidence on how to address urban dilemmas, while supporting capacity building for urban transformation and turning wicked...
Multi-hazard and sYstemic framework for enhancing Risk-Informed mAnagement and Decision-making in the E.U. MYRIAD-EU’s vision is to catalyse the paradigm shift required to move towards a multi-risk, multi-sector, systemic approach to risk management. Our aim is that by the end of MYRIAD-EU policy-makers, decision-makers, and practitioners can develop forward-looking disaster risk management pathways that assess trade-offs and synergies across sectors, hazards, and scales. We will co-develop the first harmonised framework for multi-hazard, multi-sector, systemic risk management. It provides a set of practical guidelines for carrying out a multi-risk assessment, formalised in guidance protocols. We will develop a web-based dashboard for...
Technologies for Ocean Sensing TechOceanS will produce and demonstrate in multiple underwater vehicles, 9 new technologies enabling a step change in ocean biology, chemistry and plastic observation. The technologies include 5 sensors, two imaging systems, a sampler and a new image processing method using Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enables data compression and transmission of information about key variables from the remote ocean. All the systems are robust and submersible to >2000 m and collectively measure at least 63% (12/19) of priority Biogeochemical and Biology and Ecosystems “Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs)” and at least 53% (39/73) of these EOV’s sub-variables. The...
New Approach to Underwater Technologies for Innovative, Low-cost Ocean obServation NAUTILOS will fill in existing marine observation and modelling gaps through the development of a new generation of cost-effective sensors and samplers for physical (salinity, temperature), chemical (inorganic carbon, nutrients, oxygen), and biological (phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine mammals) essential ocean variables, in addition to micro-/nano-plastics, to improve our understanding of environmental change and anthropogenic impacts related to aquaculture, fisheries, and marine litter. Newly developed marine technologies will be integrated with different observing platforms and deployed through the use of novel approaches in a broad range of key environmental settings (e.g. from...
Land-Based Solutions for Plastics in the Sea There are 5,250 billion plastic particles floating on the surface on the world's seas and oceans, equivalent to 268,940 metric tons of waste. These fragments move with the currents before washing up on beaches, islands, coral atolls or one of the five great ocean gyres. Because MP cannot be removed form oceans, proactive action regarding research on plastic alternatives and strategies to prevent plastic entering the environment should be taken promptly. Despite the research increasing, there is still a lack of suitable and validated analytical methods for detection and quantification of small micro-...